cleopatra-第15章

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

Turning；　she　said　some　word　to　her　guards。　They　came　forward　and　led

me　to　her；　while　all　the　multitude　waited　silently　to　see　me　slain。



I　stood　before　her；　my　arms　folded　on　my　breast。　Overcome　though　I　was

by　the　wonder　of　her　loveliness　I　hated　her　in　my　heart；　this　woman

who　dared　to　clothe　herself　in　the　dress　of　Isis；　this　usurper　who　sat

upon　my　throne；　this　wanton　squandering　the　wealth　of　Egypt　in

chariots　and　perfumes。　When　she　had　looked　me　over　from　head　to　the

feet；　she　spake　in　a　low　full　voice　and　in　the　tongue　of　Khemi　which

she　alone　had　learned　of　all　the　Lagid？：



〃And　who　and　what　art　thou；　Egyptianfor　Egyptian　I　see　thou　artwho

darest　to　smite　my　slave　when　I　make　progress　through　my　city？〃



〃I　am　Harmachis；〃　I　answered　boldly。　〃Harmachis；　the　astrologer；

adopted　son　of　the　High　Priest　and　Governor　of　Abouthis；　who　am　come

hither　to　seek　my　fortune。　I　smote　thy　slave；　O　Queen；　because　for　no

fault　he　struck　down　the　woman　yonder。　Ask　of　those　who　saw；　royal

Egypt。〃



〃Harmachis；〃　she　said；　〃the　name　has　a　high　soundand　thou　hast　a

high　look；〃　and　then；　speaking　to　a　soldier　who　had　seen　all；　she　bade

him　tell　her　what　had　come　to　pass。　This　he　did　truthfully；　being

friendly　disposed　towards　me　because　I　had　overcome　the　Nubian。

Thereon　she　turned　and　spoke　to　the　girl　bearing　the　fan　who　stood

beside　hera　woman　with　curling　hair　and　shy　dark　eyes；　very

beautiful　to　see。　The　girl　answered　somewhat。　Then　Cleopatra　bade　them

bring　the　slave　to　her。　So　they　led　forward　the　giant；　who　had　found

his　breath　again；　and　with　him　the　woman　whom　he　had　smitten　down。



〃Thou　dog！〃　she　said；　in　the　same　low　voice；　〃thou　coward！　who；　being

strong；　didst　smite　down　this　woman；　and；　being　a　coward；　wast

overthrown　of　this　young　man。　See；　thou；　I　will　teach　thee　manners。

Henceforth；　when　thou　smitest　women　it　shall　be　with　thy　left　arm。　Ho；

guards；　seize　this　black　slave　and　strike　off　his　right　hand。〃



Her　command　given；　she　sank　back　in　her　golden　chariot；　and　again　the

cloud　gathered　in　her　eyes。　But　the　guards　seized　the　giant；　and；

notwithstanding　his　cries　and　prayers　for　mercy；　struck　off　his　hand

with　a　sword　upon　the　wood　of　the　scaffolding　and　he　was　carried　away

groaning。　Then　the　procession　moved　on　again。　As　it　went　the　fair

woman　with　the　fan　turned　her　head；　caught　my　eye；　and　smiled　and

nodded　as　though　she　rejoiced；　at　which　I　wondered　somewhat。



The　people　cheered　also　and　made　jests；　saying　that　I　should　soon

practice　astrology　in　the　palace。　But；　as　soon　as　we　might；　I　and　my

uncle　escaped；　and　made　our　way　back　to　the　house。　All　the　while　he

rated　me　for　my　rashness；　but　when　we　came　to　the　chamber　of　the　house

he　embraced　me　and　rejoiced　greatly；　because　I　had　overthrown　the

giant　with　so　little　hurt　to　myself。







CHAPTER　II



OF　THE　COMING　OF　CHARMION；　AND　OF　THE　WRATH　OF　SEPA



That　same　night；　while　we　sat　at　supper　in　the　house；　there　came　a

knock　upon　the　door。　It　was　opened；　and　a　woman　passed　in　wrapped　from

head　to　foot　in　a　large　dark　peplos　or　cloak　in　such　fashion　that　her

face　could　not　be　clearly　seen。



My　uncle　rose；　and　as　he　did　so　the　woman　uttered　the　secret　word。



〃I　am　come；　my　father；〃　she　said　in　a　sweet　clear　voice；　〃though　of　a

truth　it　was　not　easy　to　escape　the　revels　at　the　palace　yonder。　But　I

told　the　Queen　that　the　sun　and　the　riot　in　the　streets　had　made　me

sick；　and　she　let　me　go。〃



〃It　is　well；〃　he　answered。　〃Unveil　thyself；　here　thou　art　safe。〃



With　a　little　sigh　of　weariness　she　unclasped　the　peplos　and　let　it

slip　from　her；　giving　to　my　sight　the　face　and　form　of　that　beauteous

girl　who　had　stood　to　fan　Cleopatra　in　the　chariot。　For　she　was　very

fair　and　pleasant　to　look　upon；　and　her　Grecian　robes　clung　sweetly

about　her　supple　limbs　and　budding　form。　Her　wayward　hair；　flowing　in

a　hundred　little　curls；　was　bound　in　with　a　golden　fillet；　and　on　her

feet　were　sandals　fastened　with　studs　of　gold。　Her　cheeks　blushed　like

a　flower；　and　her　dark　soft　eyes　were　downcast；　as　though　with

modesty；　but　smiles　and　dimples　trembled　about　her　lips。



My　uncle　frowned　when　his　eyes　fell　upon　her　dress。



〃Why　comest　thou　in　this　garb；　Charmion？〃　he　asked　sternly。　〃Is　not

the　dress　of　thy　mothers　good　enough　for　thee？　This　is　no　time　or

place　for　woman's　vanities。　Thou　art　not　here　to　conquer；　but　to

obey。〃



〃Nay；　be　not　wroth；　my　father；〃　she　answered　softly；　〃perchance　thou

knowest　not　that　she　whom　I　serve　will　have　none　of　our　Egyptian

dress；　it　is　out　of　fashion。　To　wear　it　would　have　been　to　court

suspicionalso　I　came　in　haste。〃　And　as　she　spoke　I　saw　that　all　the

while　she　watched　me　covertly　through　the　long　lashes　which　fringed

her　modest　eyes。



〃Well；　well；〃　he　said　sharply；　fixing　his　keen　glance　upon　her　face；

〃doubtless　thou　speakest　truth；　Charmion。　Be　ever　mindful　of　thy　oath；

girl；　and　of　the　cause　to　which　thou　art　sworn。　Be　not　light…minded；

and　I　charge　thee　forget　the　beauty　with　which　thou　hast　been　cursed。

For　mark　thou　this；　Charmion：　fail　us　but　one　jot；　and　vengeance　shall

fall　on　theethe　vengeance　of　man　and　the　vengeance　of　the　Gods！　To

this　service；〃　he　continued；　lashing　himself　to　anger　as　he　went　on

till　his　great　voice　rang　in　the　narrow　room；　〃thou　hast　been　bred；　to

this　end　thou　hast　been　instructed　and　placed　where　thou　art　to　gain

the　ear　of　that　wicked　wanton　whom　thou　seemest　to　serve。　See　thou

forget　it　not；　see　that　the　luxury　of　yonder　Court　does　not　corrupt

thy　purity　and　divert　thy　aim；　Charmion；〃　and　his　eyes　flashed　and　his

small　form　seemed　to　grow　till　it　attained　to　dignitynay；　almost　to

grandeur。



〃Charmion；〃　he　went　on；　advancing　towards　her　with　outstretched

finger；　〃I　say　that　at　times　I　do　not　trust　thee。　But　two　nights　gone

I　dreamed　I　saw　thee　standing　in　the　desert。　I　saw　thee　laugh　and　lift

thy　hand　to　heaven；　and　from　it　fell　a　rain　of　blood；　then　the　sky

sank　down　on　the　land　of　Khem　and　covered　it。　Whence　came　the　dream；

girl；　and　what　is　its　meaning？　I　have　naught　against　thee　as　yet；　but

hearken！　On　the　moment　that　I　have；　though　thou　art　of　my　kin；　and　I

have　loved　theeon　that　moment；　I　say；　I　will　doom　those　delicate

limbs；　which　thou　lovest　so　much　to　show；　to　the　kite　and　the　jackal；

and　the　soul　within　thee　to　all　the　tortures　of　the　Gods！　Unburied

shalt　thou　lie；　and　bodiless　and　accursed　shalt　thou　wander　in　Amenti！

ay；　for　ever　and　ever！〃



He　paused；　for　his　sudden　burst　of　passion　had　spent　itself。　But　by

it；　more　clearly　than　before；　I　saw　how　deep　a　heart　this　man　had

beneath　the　cloak　of　his　merriness　and　simplicity　of　mien；　and　how

fiercely　the　mind　within　him　was　set　upon　his　aim。　As　for　the　girl；

she　shrank　from　him　terrified；　and；　placing　her　hands　before　her　sweet

face；　began　to　weep。



〃Nay；　speak　not　so；　my　father；〃　she　said；　between　her　sobs；　〃for　what

have　I　done？　I　know　nothing　of　the　evil　wandering　of　thy　dreams。　I　am

no　soothsayer　that　I　should　read　dreams。　Have　I　not　carried　out　all

things　according　to　thy　desire？　Have　I　not　been　ever　mindful　of　that

dread　oath？〃and　she　trembled。　〃Have　I　not　played　the　spy　and　told

thee　all？　Have　I　not　won　the　heart　of　the　Queen；　so　that　she　loves　me

as　a　sister；　refusing　me　nothingay；　and　the　hearts　of　those　about

her？　Why　dost　thou　affright　me　thus　with　thy　words　and　threats？〃　and

she　wept　afresh；　looking　even　more　beautiful　in　her　sorrow　than　she

was　before。



〃Enough；　enough；〃　he　answered；　〃what　I　have　said；　I　have　said。　Be

warned；　and　affront　our　sight　no　more　with　this　wanton　dress。　Thinkest

thou　that　we　would　feed　our　eyes　upon　those　rounded　armswe　whose

stake　is　Egypt　and　who　are　dedicated　to　the　Gods　of　Egypt？　Girl；

behold　thy　cousin　and　thy　King！〃



She　ceased　weeping；　wiping　her　eyes　with　her　chiton；　and　I　saw　that

they　seemed　but　the　softer　for　her　tears。



〃Methinks；　most　royal　Harmachis；　and　beloved　Cousin；〃　she　said；　as　she

bent　before　me；　〃that　we　are　already　made　acquainted。〃



〃Yea；　Cousin；〃　I　answered；　not　without　shamefacedness；　for　I　had　never

before　spoken　to　so　fair　a　maid；　〃thou　wert　in　the　chariot　with

Cleopatra　this　day　when　I　struggled　with　the　Nubian？〃



〃Assuredly；〃　she　said；　with　a　smile　and　a　sudden　lighting　of　the　eyes；

〃it　was　a　gallant　fight　and　gallantly　didst　thou　overthrow　that　black

brute。　I　saw　the　fray　and；　though　I　knew　thee　not；　I　greatly　feared

for　one　so　brave。　But　I　paid　him　for　my　fright；　for　it　was　I　who　put

it　into　the　mind　of　Cleopatra　to　bid　the　guards　strike　off　his　hand

now；　knowing　who　thou　art；　I　would　I　had　said　his　head。〃　And　she

looked　up　shooting　a　glance　at　me　and　then　smiled。



〃Enough；〃　put　in　my　uncle　Sepa；　〃the　time　draws　on。　Tell　thou　thy

mission；　Charmion；　and　be　gone。〃



Then　her　manner　changed；　she　folded　her　hands　meekly　before　her　and

spoke：



〃Let　Pharaoh　hearken　to　his　handmaiden。　I　am　the　daughter　of　Pharaoh's

uncle；　the　brother　of　his　father；　who　is　now　long　dead；　and　therefore

in　my　veins　also　flows　the　Royal　blood　of　Egypt。　Also　I　am　of　the

ancient　Faith；　and　hate　these　Greeks；　and　to　see　thee　set　upon　the

throne　has　been　my　dearest　hope　now　for　many　years。　To　this　end　I；

Charmion；　have　put　aside　my　rank　and　become　serving…woman　to

Cleopatra；　that　I　might　cut　a　notch　in　which　thou　couldst　set　thy　foot

when　the　hour　came　for　thee　to　climb　the　throne。　And；　Pharaoh；　the

notch　is　cut。



〃This　then　is　our　plot；　royal　Cousin。　Thou　must　gain　an　entrance　to

the　Household　and　learn　its　ways　and　secrets；　and；　so　far　as　may　be；

suborn　the　eunuchs　and　captains；　some　of　whom　I　have　already　tempted。

This　done；　and　all　things　being　prepared　without；　thou　must　slay

Cleopatra；　and；　aided　by　me　with　those　whom　I　control；　in　the

confusion　that　shall　ensue；　throw　wide　the　gates；　and；　admitting　those

of　our　party　who　are　in　waiting；　put　such　of　the　troops　as　remain

faithful　to　the　sword　and　seize　the　Bruchium。　Which　being　finished；

within　two　days　thou　shalt　hold　this　fickle　Alexandria。　At　the　same

time　those　who　are　sworn　to　thee　in　every　city　of　Egypt　shall　rise　in

arms；　and　in　ten　days　from　the　death　of　Cleopatra　thou　shalt　indeed　be

Pharaoh。　This　is　the　counsel　which　has　been　taken；　and　thou　seest；

royal　Cousin；　that；　though　our　uncle　yonder　thinks　so　ill　of　me；　I

have　learned　my　partay；　and　played　it。〃



〃I　hear　thee；　Cousin；〃　I　answered；　marvelling　that　so　young　a　woman

she　had　but　twenty　yearscould　weave　so　bold　a　plot；　for　in　its

origin　the　scheme　was　hers。　But　in　those　days　I　little　knew　Charmion。

〃Go　on；　how　then　shall　I　gain　entrance　to　the　palace　of　Cleopatra？〃



〃Nay；　Cousin；　as　things　are　it　is　easy。　Thus：　Cleopatra　loves　to　look

upon　a　man；　andgive　me　pardonthy　face　and　form　are　fair。　To…day

she　noted　them；　and　twice　she　said　she　would　she　had　asked　where　that