However, when he had selected
all the white and I had placed a few of them according to my
fancy, I told him (rising in my slipper) he might crown me with
the remainder.
"The splendour of my apparel gave me a sensation of authority.
Soon as the flowers had taken their station on my head, I
expressed a dignified satisfaction at the taste displayed by my
father, just as if I could have seen how they appeared! But he
knew that there was at least as much pleasure as pride in it, and
perhaps we divided the latter (alas! not both) pretty equally.
"He now took me into the market-place, where a concourse of people
were waiting for the purchase of slaves. Merchants came and looked
at me; some commending, others disparaging; but all agreeing that
I was slender and delicate, that I could not live long, and that I
should give much trouble. Many would have bought the chlamys, but
there was something less saleable in the child and flowers.
"_AEsop_. Had thy features been coarse and thy voice rustic, they
would all have patted thy cheeks and found no fault in thee.
"_Rhodope_. As it was, every one had bought exactly such another
in time past, and been a loser by it. At these speeches, I
perceived the flowers tremble slightly on my bosom, from my
father's agitation.
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