cleopatra-第17章

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your　sake。〃



Charmion　turned　and　looked　at　me　carelessly。　〃Ay；　I　remember；〃　she

said；　〃and　so　he　hasat　least；　the　Queen　would　see　his　tricks；　but　if

he　can　do　none　better　than　cause　a　sot〃here　she　cast　a　glance　of

scorn　at　the　wondering　Paulus〃to　follow　his　nose　through　the　gates

he　guards；　he　had　better　go　whence　he　came。　Follow　me；　Sir　Magician；

and　for　thee；　Brennus；　I　say；　keep　thy　riotous　crew　more　quiet。　For

thee；　most　honourable　Paulus；　get　thee　sober；　and　next　time　I　am　asked

for　at　the　gates　give　him　who　asks　a　hearing。〃　And；　with　a　queenly　nod

of　her　small　head；　she　turned　and　led　the　way；　followed　at　a　distance

by　myself　and　the　armed　slave。



We　passed　up　the　marble　walk　which　runs　through　the　garden　grounds；

and　is　set　on　either　side　with　marble　statues；　for　the　most　part　of

heathen　Gods　and　Goddesses；　with　which　these　Lagid？　were　not　ashamed

to　defile　their　royal　dwellings。　At　length　we　came　to　a　beautiful

portico　with　fluted　columns　of　the　Grecian　style　of　art；　where　we

found　more　guards；　who　made　way　for　the　Lady　Charmion。　Crossing　the

portico　we　reached　a　marble　vestibule　where　a　fountain　splashed

softly；　and　thence　by　a　low　doorway　a　second　chamber；　known　as　the

Alabaster　Hall；　most　beautiful　to　see。　Its　roof　was　upheld　by　light

columns　of　black　marble；　but　all　its　walls　were　panelled　with

alabaster；　on　which　Grecian　legends　were　engraved。　Its　floor　was　of

rich　and　many…hued　mosaic　that　told　the　tale　of　the　passion　of　Psyche

for　the　Grecian　God　of　Love；　and　about　it　were　set　chairs　of　ivory　and

gold。　Charmion　bade　the　armed　slave　stay　at　the　doorway　of　this

chamber；　so　that　we　passed　in　alone；　for　the　place　was　empty　except

for　two　eunuchs　who　stood　with　drawn　swords　before　the　curtain　at　the

further　end。



〃I　am　vexed；　my　Lord；〃　she　said；　speaking　very　low　and　shyly；　〃that

thou　shouldst　have　met　with　such　affronts　at　the　gate；　but　the　guard

there　served　a　double　watch；　and　I　had　given　my　commands　to　the

officer　of　the　company　that　should　have　relieved　it。　Those　Roman

officers　are　ever　insolent；　who；　though　they　seem　to　serve；　know　well

that　Egypt　is　their　plaything。　But　it　is　not　amiss；　for　these　rough

soldiers　are　superstitious；　and　will　fear　thee。　Now　bide　thou　here

while　I　go　into　Cleopatra's　chamber；　where　she　sleeps。　I　have　but　just

sung　her　to　sleep；　and　if　she　be　awake　I　will　call　thee；　for　she　waits

thy　coming。〃　And　without　more　words　she　glided　from　my　side。



In　a　little　time　she　returned；　and　coming　to　me　spoke：



〃Wouldst　see　the　fairest　woman　in　all　the　world；　asleep？〃　she

whispered；　〃if　so；　follow　me。　Nay；　fear　not；　when　she　awakes　she　will

but　laugh；　for　she　bade　me　be　sure　to　bring　thee　instantly；　whether

she　slept　or　woke。　See；　I　have　her　signet。〃



So　we　passed　up　the　beautiful　chamber　till　we　came　to　where　the

eunuchs　stood　with　drawn　swords；　and　these　would　have　barred　my　entry。

But　Charmion　frowned；　and　drawing　the　signet　from　her　bosom　held　it

before　their　eyes。　Having　examined　the　writing　that　was　on　the　ring；

they　bowed；　dropping　their　sword　points　and　we　passed　through　the

heavy　curtains　broidered　with　gold　into　the　resting…place　of

Cleopatra。　It　was　beautiful　beyond　imaginingbeautiful　with　many

coloured　marbles；　with　gold　and　ivory；　gems　and　flowersall　art　can

furnish　and　all　luxury　can　dream　of　were　here。　Here　were　pictures　so

real　that　birds　might　have　pecked　the　painted　fruits；　here　were

statues　of　woman's　loveliness　frozen　into　stone；　here　were　draperies

fine　as　softest　silk；　but　woven　of　a　web　of　gold；　here　were　couches

and　carpets　such　as　I　never　saw。　The　air；　too；　was　sweet　with　perfume；

while　through　the　open　window　places　came　the　far　murmur　of　the　sea。

And　at　the　further　end　of　the　chamber；　on　a　couch　of　gleaming　silk　and

sheltered　by　a　net　of　finest　gauze；　Cleopatra　lay　asleep。　There　she

laythe　fairest　thing　that　man　ever　sawfairer　than　a　dream；　and　the

web　of　her　dark　hair　flowed　all　about　her。　One　white；　rounded　arm　made

a　pillow　for　her　head；　and　one　hung　down　towards　the　ground。　Her　rich

lips　were　parted　in　a　smile；　showing　the　ivory　lines　of　teeth；　and　her

rosy　limbs　were　draped　in　so　thin　a　robe　of　the　silk　of　Cos；　held

about　her　by　a　jewelled　girdle；　that　the　white　gleam　of　flesh　shone

through　it。　I　stood　astonished；　and　though　my　thoughts　had　little　bent

that　way；　the　sight　of　her　beauty　struck　me　like　a　blow；　so　that　for　a

moment　I　lost　myself　as　it　were　in　the　vision　of　its　power；　and　was

grieved　at　heart　because　I　must　slay　so　fair　a　thing。



Turning　suddenly　from　the　sight；　I　found　Charmion　watching　me　with　her

quick　eyeswatching　as　though　she　would　search　my　heart。　And；　indeed；

something　of　my　thought　must　have　been　written　on　my　face　in　a

language　that　she　could　read；　for　she　whispered　in　my　ear：



〃Ay；　it　is　pity；　is　it　not？　Harmachis；　being　but　a　man；　methinks　that

thou　wilt　need　all　thy　ghostly　strength　to　nerve　thee　to　the　deed！〃



I　frowned；　but　before　I　could　frame　an　answer　she　touched　me　lightly

on　the　arm　and　pointed　to　the　Queen。　A　change　had　come　upon　her：　her

hands　were　clenched；　and　about　her　face；　all　rosy　with　the　hue　of

sleep；　gathered　a　cloud　of　fear。　Her　breath　came　quick；　she　raised　her

arms　as　though　to　ward　away　a　blow；　then　with　a　stifled　moan　sat　up

and　opened　the　windows　of　her　eyes。　They　were　dark；　dark　as　night；　but

when　the　light　found　them　they　grew　blue　as　the　sky　grows　blue　before

the　blushing　of　the　dawn。



〃C？sarion？〃　she　said；　〃where　is　my　son　C？sarion？Was　it　then　a　dream？

I　dreamed　that　JuliusJulius　who　is　deadcame　to　me；　a　bloody　toga

wrapped　about　his　face；　and　having　thrown　his　arms　about　his　child　led

him　away。　Then　I　dreamed　I　dieddied　in　blood　and　agony；　and　one　I

might　not　see　mocked　me　as　I　died。　/Ah！/　who　is　that　man？〃



〃Peace；　Madam！　peace！〃　said　Charmion。　〃It　is　but　the　magician

Harmachis；　whom　thou　didst　bid　me　bring　to　thee　at　this　hour。〃



〃Ah！　the　magicianthat　Harmachis　who　overthrew　the　giant？　I　remember

now。　He　is　welcome。　Tell　me；　Sir　Magician；　can　thy　magic　mirror　call

forth　an　answer　to　this　dream？　Nay；　how　strange　a　thing　is　Sleep；　that

wrapping　the　mind　in　a　web　of　darkness；　straightly　compels　it　to　its

will！　Whence；　then；　come　those　images　of　fear　rising　on　the　horizon　of

the　soul　like　some　untimely　moon　upon　a　midday　sky？　Who　grants　them

power　to　stalk　so　lifelike　from　Memory's　halls；　and；　pointing　to　their

wounds；　thus　confront　the　Present　with　the　Past？　Are　they；　then；

messengers？　Does　the　half…death　of　sleep　give　them　foothold　in　our

brains；　and　thus　upknit　the　cut　thread　of　human　kinship？　That　was

C？sar's　self；　I　tell　thee；　who　but　now　stood　at　my　side　and　murmured

through　his　muffled　robe　warning　words　of　which　the　memory　is　lost　to

me。　Read　me　this　riddle；　thou　Egyptian　Sphinx；＇*＇　and　I'll　show　thee　a

rosier　path　to　fortune　than　all　thy　stars　can　point。　Thou　hast　brought

the　omen；　solve　thou　its　problem。〃



＇*＇　Alluding　to　his　name。　Harmachis　was　the　Grecian　title　of　the

　　　　divinity　of　the　Sphinx；　as　Horemkhu　was　the　Egyptian。Editor。



〃I　come　in　a　good　hour；　most　mighty　Queen；〃　I　answered；　〃for　I　have

some　skill　in　the　mysteries　of　Sleep；　that　is；　as　thou　hast　rightly

guessed；　a　stair　by　which　those　who　are　gathered　to　Osiris　may　from

time　to　time　enter　at　the　gateways　of　our　living　sense；　and；　by　signs

and　words　that　can　be　read　of　instructed　mortals；　repeat　the　echoes　of

that　Hall　of　Truth　which　is　their　habitation。　Yes；　Sleep　is　a　stair　by

which　the　messengers　of　the　guardian　Gods　may　descend　in　many　shapes

upon　the　spirit　of　their　choice。　For；　O　Queen；　to　those　who　hold　the

key；　the　madness　of　our　dreams　can　show　a　clearer　purpose　and　speak

more　certainly　than　all　the　acted　wisdom　of　our　waking　life；　which　is

a　dream　indeed。　Thou　didst　see　great　C？sar　in　his　bloody　robe；　and　he

threw　his　arms　about　the　Prince　C？sarion　and　led　him　hence。　Hearken

now　to　the　secret　of　thy　vision。　It　was　C？sar's　self　thou　sawest

coming　to　thy　side　from　Amenti　in　such　a　guise　as　might　not　be

mistaken。　When　he　embraced　the　child　C？sarion　he　did　it　for　a　sign

that　to　him；　and　him　alone；　had　passed　his　greatness　and　his　love。

When　he　seemed　to　lead　him　hence　he　led　him　forth　from　Egypt　to　be

crowned　in　the　Capitol；　crowned　the　Emperor　of　Rome　and　Lord　of　all

the　Lands。　For　the　rest；　I　know　not。　It　is　hid　from　me。〃



Thus；　then；　I　read　the　vision；　though　to　my　sense　it　had　a　darker

meaning。　But　it　is　not　well　to　prophesy　evil　unto　Kings。



Meanwhile　Cleopatra　had　risen；　and；　having　thrown　back　the　gnat　gauze；

was　seated　upon　the　edge　of　her　couch；　her　eyes　fixed　upon　my　face；

while　her　fingers　played　with　her　girdle's　jewelled　ends。



〃Of　a　truth；〃　she　cried；　〃thou　art　the　best　of　all　magicians；　for　thou

readest　my　heart；　and　drawest　a　hidden　sweet　out　of　the　rough　shell　of

evil　omen！〃



〃Ay；　O　Queen；〃　said　Charmion；　who　stood　by　with　downcast　eyes；　and　I

thought　that　there　was　bitter　meaning　in　her　soft　tones；　〃may　no

rougher　words　ever　affront　thy　ears；　and　no　evil　presage　tread　less

closely　upon　its　happy　sense。〃



Cleopatra　placed　her　hands　behind　her　head　and；　leaning　back；　looked

at　me　with　half…shut　eyes。



〃Come；　show　us　of　thy　magic；　Egyptian；〃　she　said。　〃It　is　yet　hot

abroad；　and　I　am　weary　of　those　Hebrew　Ambassadors　and　their　talk　of

Herod　and　Jerusalem。　I　hate　that　Herod；　as　he　shall　findand　will

have　none　of　the　Ambassadors　to…day；　though　I　yearn　a　little　to　try　my

Hebrew　on　them。　What　canst　thou　do？　Hast　thou　no　new　trick？　By

Serapis！　if　thou　canst　conjure　as　well　as　thou　canst　prophesy；　thou

shalt　have　a　place　at　Court；　with　pay　and　perquisites　to　boot；　if　thy

lofty　soul　does　not　scorn　perquisites。〃



〃Nay；〃　I　answered；　〃all　tricks　are　old；　but　there　are　some　forms　of

magic　to　be　rarely　used；　and　with　discretion；　that　may　be　new　to　thee；

O　Queen！　Art　thou　afraid　to　venture　on　the　charm？〃



〃I　fear　nothing；　go　on　and　do　thy　worst。　Come；　Charmion；　and　sit　by

me。　But；　stay；　where　are　all　the　girls？Iras　and　Merira？they；　too；

love　magic。〃



〃Not　so；〃　I　said；　〃the　charms　work　ill　before　so　many。　Now　behold！〃

and；　gazing　at　the　twain；　I　cast　my　wand　upon　the　marble　and　murmured

a　spell。　For　a　moment　it　was　still；　and　then；　as　I　muttered；　the　rod

slowly　began　to　writhe。　It　bent　itself；　it　stood　on　end；　and　moved　of

its　own　motion。　Next　it　put　on　scales；　and　behold　it　was　a　serpent

that　crawled　and　fiercely　hissed。



〃Fie　on　thee！〃　cried　Cleopatra；　clapping　her　hands；　〃callest　thou　that

magic？　Why；　it　is　an　old　trick　that　any　wayside　conjurer　can　do。　I

have　seen　it　a　score　of　times。〃



〃Wait；　O　Queen；〃　I　answered；　〃thou　hast　not　seen　all。〃　And；　as　I

spoke；　the　serpent　seemed　to　break　in　fragments；　and　from　each

fragment　grew　a　new　serpent。　And　these；　too；　broke　in　fragments　and

bred　others；　till　in　a　little　while　the　place；　to　their　glamoured

sight；　was　a　seething　sea　of　snakes；　that