\"Nay，Iwillnotburnany，\"saidPhorenice，\"butyoushalllookuponmysword—playtillyouaretired。\"
Iheardhersaythatwithsomemaliciousamusement，knowing（asoneoftheSeven）howshehadcalleddownthefiresoftheskytoburnthatcloven—hoofedhorseofferedinsacrifice，andknowingtoo，fullwell，thatshecouldbringdownnofirehere。Buttheygaveuslittleenoughtimeforwordycourtesies。TheirEmpressneverwentfarunattended，and，foraughtthewretchesknew，anescortmightbeclosebehind。Sowhatpilferingtheydid，itbehovedthemtogetdonequickly。
Theyclosedin，jostlingoneanothertobefirst，andthereekoftheirfilthybodiesmadeuscough。AgrimyhandlaunchedouttoseizesomeofthejewelswhichflashedonPhorenice’sbreast，andIloppeditoffattheelbow，sothatitfellatherfeet，andasecondlaterwewereengaged。
\"Yourbacktomine，comrade，\"criedshe，withalaugh，andthendrewandlaidaboutherwithfinedexterity。Bah！butitwasmereslaughter，thatfirstbout。
Thecrowdhustledinwardswithsuchgreedinesstoseizewhattheycould，thatnonehadspacetodrawbackelbowforathrust，andwetwokeptacircleroundusbysheerwhirlingofsteel。Itisnecessarytodoone’sworkcleanlyinthesebouts，aswoundedleftonthegroundunnoticedbeforeoneareasdangerousassomanysnakes。ButaswecircledroundinourbattlingInotedthatallofPhorenice’squarrylaypeacefulandstill。BytheGods！butshecouldplayafinesword，thisdaintyEmpress。Shetouchedlifewitheverythrust。