The heads of the Negresses formed big black spots on the line of the bands of the golden plates clasping the foreheads of the Roman women.

Others had silver arrows, emerald butterflies, or long bodkins set like suns in their hair.

Rings, clasps, necklaces, fringes, and bracelets shone amid the confusion of white, yellow, and blue garments; a rustling of light material became audible; the pattering of sandals might be heard together with the dull sound of naked feet as they were set down on the wood;--and here and there a tall eunuch, head and shoulders above them, smiled with his face in air.

When the shouting of the men had subsided they hid their faces in their sleeves, and together uttered a strange cry like the howling of a she-wolf, and so frenzied and strident was it that it seemed to make the great ebony staircase, with its thronging women, vibrate from top to bottom like a lyre.
The wind lifted their veils, and the slender stems of the papyrus plant rocked gently.

It was the month of Schebaz and the depth of winter.