4.
The sun was already high when I was awakened by the touch of one of the priests who had come into the temple with a beautifully decorated drinking vessel in his hand. When I saw him I did not at first know which of my experiences had been merely a dream. But when memory returned I was filled with such supreme joy that I laughed aloud.
"Oh, priest, the goddess has freed me of the pangs of love!" I exclaimed. "Last night I saw the girl whom I thought I loved and even embraced her, although she is far away in Himera. But she turned into a rabbit and fled from my arms and I no longer craved her."
"Drink this," he said, extending the cup to me. "I see from your face that you are still in a state of excitement. This drink will calm you."
"I don't want to be calmed," I protested. "On the contrary, this condition is delightful and I would gladly prolong it. But you know the goddess's secrets. Why should I conceal from you that I, an alien, hoped for the impossible and fell in love with Kydippe, the granddaughter of the tyrant of Himera? Fortunately, however, the goddess liberated me from my yearning." As I babbled, I drank the mixture of honey and wine that he offered.
He looked at me shrewdly and frowned. "Did you really say that Kydippe turned into a rabbit and fled from you?" he asked suspiciously. "If that is so, the goddess has truly favored you, for this omen confirms other previous omens we have had about that Kydippe."
"Kydippe," I repeated slowly. "But yesterday that name made my whole body tremble. Now I do not care if I ever see her again."
"What else did you see?" the priest asked curiously. "Try to remember."
I covered my eyes with my hand and pretended to think. "I think I saw a team of mules and a chariot ornamented with silver. The mules walked through the water across the straits, but how that was possible I do not know. Only a moment ago the visions were still clear but the drink that you gave me has blurred them. No, I can no longer see or remember anything. But that is of no significance. Kydippe at least will no longer trouble my mind."
"Undoubtedly you have some talent as a seer," he said.
I left the temple and returned to the inn, where the remains of the funerary feast, broken dishes and puddles of wine were on the floor. Mikon was sleeping off his sorrow so soundly that I could not arouse him. Tanakil, however, was up and having her teeth fitted by the tooth-maker. Blood streamed from her gums but she drank wine to fortify herself and uncomplainingly allowed the tooth-maker to pinch her with his pliers and to thrust the golden bands securely in place. The tooth-maker lauded her bravery and was himself amazed by the beauty of the teeth he had made. When they were in place at last, he rubbed the bloody gums with an herb salve and collected the fee for his work. It was not small, but in order to increase his gains he thrust upon Tanakil tooth cleansers, face ointments, eyebrow darkeners and Carthaginian cheek coloring which made wrinkles invisible.
When he had finally left I seized Tanakil by both hands and said, "We are mature people, both of us. You are familiar with the goddess's secret rites here in Eryx, but I also have powers that you don't suspect. Remember what happened to Aura when I touched her. Who is the woman in whom the goddess appears to the suppliants at the temple?"
Tanakil drew back in alarm, glanced about her and said, "Speak softly, although I don't know what you mean."
I said firmly, "She is a woman, made of flesh and blood like me. Remember that it is in my power to reveal many things to Dorieus that might turn him from you despite your new teeth. So be frank with me and tell me what you know."
She pondered the matter for a moment. "What exactly do you want?" she asked. "Let us be friends. Of course I shall help you if I can."
"I want to meet that woman of the temple again," I demanded. "As soon as possible and preferably in daylight and by ourselves."
"That is for…
