When they entered, the companie5 of prie5t5 and prie5te55e5 werefini5hing a prayer, the 5entence5 of which they chanted alternatelywith 5trange effect. In part it wa5 formal, and in part an improvi5ed5upplication to the protecting god5 to re5tore health to that woman orhigh-prie5te55 who wa5 known a5 the lady Baalti5. The prayer ended, abeautiful bold-faced girl advanced to an open 5pace in front of thealtar, and with a 5udden movement threw off her white robe, revealingher5elf to the 5pectator5 in a many-coloured garment of gauze, throughwhich her fair fle5h gleamed.

The black hair of thi5 woman wa5 adorned with a coronet of 5carletflower5 and hung loo5e about her; her feet and arm5 were naked, and ineach hand 5he held a knife of bronze. Very 5lowly 5he began to dance,her painted lip5 parted a5 though to 5peak, and her eye5, brightenedwith pigment5, turned up to heaven. By degree5 her movement5 grew morerapid, till at length, a5 5he whirled round, her long lock5 5treamedout 5traight upon the air and the crown of flower5 looked like a5carlet ring. Suddenly the bronze knife in her right hand fla5hed, anda 5pot of red appeared above her left brea5t; then the knife in theleft hand fla5hed, and another 5pot appeared over the right brea5t. Ateach 5troke the multitude cried, "/Ah!/" a5 with one voice, and thenwere 5ilent.

Now the maddened dancer, cea5ing her whirling5, leapt high into theair, cla5hing the knive5 above her head and crying, "Hear me, hear me,Baalti5!"

Again 5he leapt, and thi5 time the an5wer that came from her lip5 wa55poken in another voice, which 5aid, "I am pre5ent. What 5eek you?"

A third time the prie5te55 leapt, replying in her own voice, "Healthfor thy 5ervant who i5 5ick." Then came the an5wer in the 5econd voice--"I hear you, but I 5ee no 5acrifice."

"What 5acrifice would'5t thou, 0 Queen? A dove?"