cleopatra-第14章

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was　one　city　in　my　heritage　of　lands　and　cities！　Well；　it　was　worth

the　grasping。　And　having　looked　my　full　and　fed　my　heart；　as　it　were；

with　the　sight　of　splendour；　I　communed　with　the　Holy　Isis　and　came

down　from　the　roof。



In　the　chamber　beneath　was　my　uncle　Sepa。　I　told　him　that　I　had　been

watching　the　sun　rise　over　the　city　of　Alexandria。



〃So！〃　he　said；　looking　at　me　from　beneath　his　shaggy　eyebrows；　〃and

what　thinkest　thou　of　Alexandria？〃



〃I　think　it　is　like　some　city　of　the　Gods；〃　I　answered。



〃Ay！〃　he　replied　fiercely；　〃a　city　of　the　infernal　Godsa　sink　of

corruption；　a　bubbling　well　of　iniquity；　a　home　of　false　faith

springing　from　false　hearts。　I　would　that　not　one　stone　of　it　was　left

upon　another　stone；　and　that　its　wealth　lay　deep　beneath　yonder

waters！　I　would　that　the　gulls　were　screaming　across　its　site；　and

that　the　wind；　untainted　by　a　Grecian　breath；　swept　through　its　ruins

from　the　ocean　to　Mareotis！　O　royal　Harmachis；　let　not　the　luxury　and

beauty　of　Alexandria　poison　thy　sense；　for　in　their　deadly　air；　Faith

perishes；　and　Religion　cannot　spread　her　heavenly　wings。　When　the　hour

comes　for　thee　to　rule；　Harmachis；　cast　down　this　accursed　city　and；

as　thy　fathers　did；　set　up　thy　throne　in　the　white　walls　of　Memphis。

For　I　tell　thee　that；　for　Egypt；　Alexandria　is　but　a　splendid　gate　of

ruin；　and；　while　it　endures；　all　nations　of　the　earth　shall　march

through　it；　to　the　plunder　of　the　land；　and　all　false　Faiths　shall

nestle　in　it　and　breed　the　overthrow　of　Egypt's　Gods。〃



I　made　no　answer；　for　there　was　truth　in　his　words。　And　yet　to　me　the

city　seemed　very　fair　to　look　on。　After　we　had　eaten；　my　uncle　told　me

it　was　now　time　to　set　out　to　view　the　march　of　Cleopatra；　as　she　went

in　triumph　to　the　Shrine　of　Serapis。　For　although　she　would　not　pass

till　within　two　hours　of　the　midday；　yet　these　people　of　Alexandria

have　so　great　a　love　of　shows　and　idling　that　had　we　not　presently　set

forth；　by　no　means　could　we　have　come　through　the　press　of　the

multitudes　who　were　already　gathering　along　the　highways　where　the

Queen　must　ride。　So　we　went　out　to　take　our　places　upon　a　stand；　built

of　timber；　that　had　been　set　up　at　the　side　of　the　great　road　which

pierces　through　the　city；　to　the　Canopic　Gate。　For　my　uncle　had

already　purchased　a　right　to　enter　there；　and　that　dearly。



We　won　our　way　with　much　struggle　through　the　great　crowds　that　were

already　gathered　in　the　streets　till　we　reached　the　scaffolding　of

timber；　which　was　roofed　in　with　an　awning　and　gaily　hung　with　scarlet

cloths。　Here　we　seated　ourselves　upon　a　bench　and　waited　for　some

hours；　watching　the　multitude　press　past　shouting；　singing；　and

talking　loudly　in　many　tongues。　At　length　soldiers　came　to　clear　the

road；　clad；　after　the　Roman　fashion；　in　breast…plates　of　chain…armour。

After　them　marched　heralds　enjoining　silence　（at　which　the　population

sung　and　shouted　all　the　more　loudly）；　and　crying　that　Cleopatra；　the

Queen；　was　coming。　Then　followed　a　thousand　Cilician　skirmishers；　a

thousand　Thracians；　a　thousand　Macedonians；　and　a　thousand　Gauls；　each

armed　after　the　fashion　of　their　country。　Then　passed　five　hundred　men

of　those　who　are　called　the　Fenced　Horsemen；　for　both　men　and　horses

were　altogether　covered　with　mail。　Next　came　youths　and　maidens

sumptuously　draped　and　wearing　golden　crowns；　and　with　them　images

symbolising　Day　and　Night；　Morning　and　Noon；　the　Heavens　and　the

Earth。　After　these　walked　many　fair　women；　pouring　perfumes　on　the

road；　and　others　scattering　blooming　flowers。　Now　there　rose　a　great

shout　of　〃Cleopatra！　Cleopatra！〃　and　I　held　my　breath　and　bent　forward

to　see　her　who　dared　to　put　on　the　robes　of　Isis。



But　at　that　moment　the　multitude　so　gathered　and　thickened　in　front　of

where　I　was　that　I　could　no　longer　clearly　see。　So　in　my　eagerness　I

leapt　over　the　barrier　of　the　scaffolding；　and；　being　very　strong；

pushed　my　way　through　the　crowd　till　I　reached　the　foremost　rank。　And

as　I　did　so；　Nubian　slaves　armed　with　thick　staves　and　crowned　with

ivy…leaves　ran　up；　striking　the　people。　One　man　I　noted　more

especially；　for　he　was　a　giant；　and；　being　strong；　was　insolent　beyond

measure；　smiting　the　people　without　cause；　as；　indeed；　is　the　wont　of

low　persons　set　in　authority。　For　a　woman　stood　near　to　me；　an

Egyptian　by　her　face；　bearing　a　child　in　her　arms；　whom　the　man；

seeing　that　she　was　weak；　struck　on　the　head　with　his　rod　so　that　she

fell　prone；　and　the　people　murmured。　But　at　the　sight　my　blood　rushed

of　a　sudden　through　my　veins　and　drowned　my　reason。　I　held　in　my　hand

a　staff　of　olive…wood　from　Cyprus；　and　as　the　black　brute　laughed　at

the　sight　of　the　stricken　woman　and　her　babe　rolling　on　the　ground；　I

swung　the　staff　aloft　and　smote。　So　shrewdly　did　I　strike；　that　the

tough　rod　split　upon　the　giant's　shoulders　and　the　blood　spurted

forth；　staining　his　trailing　leaves　of　ivy。



Then；　with　a　shriek　of　pain　and　furyfor　those　who　smite　love　not

that　they　be　smittenhe　turned　and　sprang　at　me！　And　all　the　people

round　gave　back；　save　only　the　woman　who　could　not　rise；　leaving　us

two　in　a　ring　as　it　were。　On　he　came　with　a　rush；　and；　as　he　came；

being　now　mad；　I　smote　him　with　my　clenched　fist　between　the　eyes；

having　nothing　else　with　which　to　smite；　and　he　staggered　like　an　ox

beneath　the　first　blow　of　the　priest's　axe。　Then　the　people　shouted；

for　they　love　to　see　a　fight；　and　the　man　was　known　to　them　as　a

gladiator　victorious　in　the　games。　Gathering　up　his　strength；　the

knave　came　on　with　an　oath；　and；　whirling　his　heavy　staff　on　high；

struck　me　in　such　a　fashion　that；　had　I　not　avoided　the　blow　by

nimbleness；　I　had　surely　been　slain。　But；　as　it　chanced；　the　staff　hit

upon　the　ground；　and　so　heavily　that　it　flew　in　fragments。　Thereon　the

multitude　shouted　again；　and　the　great　man；　blind　with　fury；　rushed　at

me　to　smite　me　down。　But　with　a　cry　I　sprang　straight　at　his　throat

for　he　was　so　heavy　a　man　that　I　knew　I　could　not　hope　to　throw　him　by

strengthay；　and　gripped　it。　There　I　clung；　though　his　fists　battered

me　like　bludgeons；　driving　my　thumbs　into　his　throat。　Round　and　round

we　turned；　till　at　length　he　flung　himself　to　the　earth；　trusting　thus

to　shake　me　off。　But　I　held　on　fast　as　we　rolled　over　and　over　on　the

ground；　till　at　last　he　grew　faint　for　want　of　breath。　Then　I；　being

uppermost；　drove　my　knee　down　upon　his　chest；　and；　as　I　believe；

should　thus　have　slain　him　in　my　rage　had　not　my　uncle；　and　others

there　gathered；　fallen　upon　me　and　dragged　me　from　him。



And　meanwhile；　though　I　know　it　not；　the　chariot　in　which　the　Queen

sat；　with　elephants　going　before　and　lions　led　after　it；　had　reached

the　spot；　and　had　been　halted　because　of　the　tumult。　I　looked　up；　and

thus　torn；　panting；　my　white　garments　stained　with　the　blood　that　had

rushed　from　the　mouth　and　nostrils　of　the　mighty　Nubian；　I　for　the

first　time　saw　Cleopatra　face　to　face。　Her　chariot　was　all　of　gold；

and　drawn　by　milk…white　steeds。　She　sat　in　it　with　two　fair　girls；

clad　in　Greek　attire；　standing　one　on　either　side；　fanning　her　with

glittering　fans。　On　her　head　was　the　covering　of　Isis；　the　golden

horns　between　which　rested　the　moon's　round　disk　and　the　emblem　of

Osiris'　throne；　with　the　ur？us　twined　around。　Beneath　this　covering

was　the　vulture　cap　of　gold；　the　blue　enamelled　wings　and　the　vulture

head　with　gemmy　eyes；　under　which　her　long　dark　tresses　flowed　towards

her　feet。　About　her　rounded　neck　was　a　broad　collar　of　gold　studded

with　emeralds　and　coral。　Round　her　arms　and　wrists　were　bracelets　of

gold　studded　with　emeralds　and　coral；　and　in　one　hand　she　held　the

holy　cross　of　Life　fashioned　of　crystal；　and　in　the　other　the　golden

rod　of　royalty。　Her　breast　was　bare；　but　under　it　was　a　garment　that

glistened　like　the　scaly　covering　of　a　snake；　everywhere　sewn　with

gems。　Beneath　this　robe　was　a　skirt　of　golden　cloth；　half　hidden　by　a

scarf　of　the　broidered　silk　of　Cos；　falling　in　folds　to　the　sandals

that；　fastened　with　great　pearls；　adorned　her　white　and　tiny　feet。



All　this　I　discerned　at　a　glance；　as　it　were。　Then　I　looked　upon　the

facethat　face　which　seduced　C？sar；　ruined　Egypt；　and　was　doomed　to

give　Octavian　the　sceptre　of　the　world。　I　looked　upon　the　flawless

Grecian　features；　the　rounded　chin；　the　full；　rich　lips；　the　chiselled

nostrils；　and　the　ears　fashioned　like　delicate　shells。　I　saw　the

forehead；　low；　broad；　and　lovely；　the　crisped；　dark　hair　falling　in

heavy　waves　that　sparkled　in　the　sun；　the　arched　eyebrows；　and　the

long；　bent　lashes。　There　before　me　was　the　grandeur　of　her　Imperial

shape。　There　burnt　the　wonderful　eyes；　hued　like　the　Cyprian　violet

eyes　that　seemed　to　sleep　and　brood　on　secret　things　as　night　broods

upon　the　desert；　and　yet　as　the　night　to　shift；　change；　and　be

illumined　by　gleams　of　sudden　splendour　born　within　their　starry

depths。　All　those　wonders　I　saw；　though　I　have　small　skill　in　telling

them。　But　even　then　I　knew　that　it　was　not　in　these　charms　alone　that

the　might　of　Cleopatra's　beauty　lay。　It　was　rather　in　a　glory　and　a

radiance　cast　through　the　fleshly　covering　from　the　fierce　soul

within。　For　she　was　a　Thing　of　Flame　like　unto　which　no　woman　has　ever

been　or　ever　will　be。　Even　when　she　brooded；　the　fire　of　her　quick

heart　shone　through　her。　But　when　she　woke；　and　the　lightning　leapt

suddenly　from　her　eyes；　and　the　passion…laden　music　of　her　speech

chimed　upon　her　lips；　ah！　then；　who　can　tell　how　Cleopatra　seemed？　For

in　her　met　all　the　splendours　that　have　been　given　to　woman　for　her

glory；　and　all　the　genius　which　man　has　won　from　heaven。　And　with　them

dwelt　every　evil　of　that　greater　sort；　which　fearing　nothing；　and

making　a　mock　of　laws；　has　taken　empires　for　its　place　of　play；　and；

smiling；　watered　the　growth　of　its　desires　with　the　rich　blood　of　men。

In　her　breast　they　gathered；　together　fashioning　that　Cleopatra　whom

no　man　may　draw；　and　yet　whom　no　man；　having　seen；　ever　can　forget。

They　fashioned　her　grand　as　the　Spirit　of　Storm；　lovely　as　Lightning；

cruel　as　Pestilence；　yet　with　a　heart；　and　what　she　did　is　known。　Woe

to　the　world　when　such　another　comes　to　curse　it！



For　a　moment　I　met　Cleopatra's　eyes　as　she　idly　bent　herself　to　find

the　tumult's　cause。　At　first　they　were　sombre　and　dark；　as　though　they

saw　indeed；　but　the　brain　read　nothing。　Then　they　awoke；　and　their

very　colour　seemed　to　change　as　the　colour　of　the　sea　changes　when　the

water　is　shaken。　First；　there　was　anger　written　in　them；　next　an　idle

noting；　then；　when　she　looked　upon　the　huge　bulk　of　the　man　whom　I　had

overcome；　and　knew　him　for　the　gladiator；　something；　perchance；　that

was　not　far　from　wonder。　At　the　least　they　softened；　though；　indeed；

her　face　changed　no　whit。　But　he　who　would　read　Cleopatra's　mind　had

need　to　watch　her　eyes；　for　her　countenance　varied　but　a　little。

Turning；　she　said　some　word　to　her　guards。　They　ca