cleopatra-第19章

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All　was　prepared；　triumph　hung　in　my　hand　as　a　ripe　fruit　to　the　hand

of　the　plucker。　Yet　as　I　sat　at　the　royal　feast　my　heart　was　heavy；

and　a　shadow　of　coming　woe　lay　cold　within　my　mind。　I　sat　there　in　a

place　of　honour；　near　the　majesty　of　Cleopatra；　and　looked　down　the

lines　of　guests；　bright　with　gems　and　garlanded　with　flowers；　marking

those　whom　I　had　doomed　to　die。　There　before　me　lay　Cleopatra　in　all

her　beauty；　which　thrilled　the　beholder　as　he　is　thrilled　by　the

rushing　of　the　midnight　gale；　or　by　the　sight　of　stormy　waters。　I

gazed　on　her　as　she　touched　her　lips　with　wine　and　toyed　with　the

chaplet　of　roses　on　her　brow；　thinking　of　the　dagger　beneath　my　robe

that　I　had　sworn　to　bury　in　her　breast。　Again；　and　yet　again；　I　gazed

and　strove　to　hate　her；　strove　to　rejoice　that　she　must　dieand　could

not。　There；　too；　behind　herwatching　me　now；　as　ever；　with　her　deep…

fringed　eyeswas　the　lovely　Lady　Charmion。　Who；　to　look　at　her

innocent　face；　would　believe　that　she　was　the　setter　of　that　snare　in

which　the　Queen　who　loved　her　should　miserably　perish？　Who　would　dream

that　the　secret　of　so　much　death　was　locked　in　her　girlish　breast？　I

gazed；　and　grew　sick　at　heart　because　I　must　anoint　my　throne　with

blood；　and　by　evil　sweep　away　the　evil　of　the　land。　At　that　hour　I

wished；　indeed；　that　I　was　nothing　but　some　humble　husbandman；　who　in

its　season　grows　and　in　its　season　garners　the　golden　grain！　Alas！　the

seed　that　I　had　been　doomed　to　sow　was　the　seed　of　Death；　and　now　I

must　reap　the　red　fruit　of　the　harvest！



〃Why；　Harmachis；　what　ails　thee？〃　said　Cleopatra；　smiling　her　slow

smile。　〃Has　the　golden　skein　of　stars　got　tangled；　my　astronomer？　or

dost　thou　plan　some　new　feat　of　magic？　Say　what　is　it　that　thou　dost

so　poorly　grace　our　feast？　Nay；　now；　did　I　not　know；　having　made

inquiry；　that　things　so　low　as　we　poor　women　are　far　beneath　thy　gaze；

why；　I　should　swear　that　Eros　had　found　thee　out；　Harmachis！〃



〃Nay；　that　I　am　spared；　O　Queen；〃　I　answered。　〃The　servant　of　the

stars　marks　not　the　smaller　light　of　woman's　eyes；　and　therein　is　he

happy！〃



Cleopatra　leaned　herself　towards　me；　looking　on　me　long　and　steadily

in　such　fashion　that；　despite　my　will；　the　blood　fluttered　at　my

heart。



〃Boast　not；　thou　proud　Egyptian；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice　which　none

but　I　and　Charmion　could　hear；　〃lest　perchance　thou　dost　tempt　me　to

match　my　magic　against　thine。　What　woman　can　forgive　that　a　man　should

push　us　by　as　things　of　no　account？　It　is　an　insult　to　our　sex　which

Nature's　self　abhors；〃　and　she　leaned　back　again　and　laughed　most

musically。　But；　glancing　up；　I　saw　Charmion；　her　teeth　on　her　lip　and

an　angry　frown　upon　her　brow。



〃Pardon；　royal　Egypt；〃　I　answered　coldly；　but　with　such　wit　as　I　could

summon；　〃before　the　Queen　of　Heaven　even　stars　grow　pale！〃　This　I　said

of　the　moon；　which　is　the　sign　of　the　Holy　Mother　whom　Cleopatra　dared

to　rival；　naming　herself　Isis　come　to　earth。



〃Happily　said；〃　she　answered；　clapping　her　white　hands。　〃Why；　here's

an　astronomer　who　has　wit　and　can　shape　a　compliment！　Nay；　such　a

wonder　must　not　pass　unnoted；　lest　the　Gods　resent　it。　Charmion；　take

this　rose…chaplet　from　my　hair　and　set　it　upon　the　learned　brow　of　our

Harmachis。　He　shall　be　crowned　/King　of　Love/；　whether　he　will　it　or

not。〃



Charmion　lifted　the　chaplet　from　Cleopatra's　brows　and；　bearing　it　to

where　I　was；　with　a　smile　set　it　upon　my　head　yet　warm　and　fragrant

from　the　Queen's　hair；　but　so　roughly　that　she　pained　me　somewhat。　She

did　this　because　she　was　wroth；　although　she　smiled　with　her　lips　and

whispered；　〃An　omen；　royal　Harmachis。〃　For　though　she　was　so　very　much

a　woman；　yet；　when　she　was　angered　or　suffered　jealousy；　Charmion　had

a　childish　way。



Having　thus　fixed　the　chaplet；　she　curtsied　low　before　me；　and　with

the　softest　tone　of　mockery　named　me；　in　the　Greek　tongue；　〃Harmachis；

King　of　Love。〃　Then　Cleopatra　laughed　and　pledged　me　as　〃King　of

Love；〃　and　so　did　all　the　company；　finding　the　jest　a　merry　one。　For

in　Alexandria　they　love　not　those　who　live　straitly　and　turn　aside

from　women。



But　I　sat　there；　a　smile　upon　my　lips；　and　black　wrath　in　my　heart。

For；　knowing　who　and　what　I　was；　it　irked　me　to　think　myself　a　jest

for　the　frivolous　nobles　and　light　beauties　of　Cleopatra's　Court。　But

I　was　chiefly　angered　against　Charmion；　because　she　laughed　the

loudest；　and　I　did　not　then　know　that　laughter　and　bitterness　are

often　the　veils　with　which　a　sore　heart　wraps　its　weakness　from　the

world。　〃An　omen〃　she　said　it　wasthat　crown　of　flowersand　so　it

proved　indeed。　For　I　was　fated　to　barter　the　Double　Diadem　of　the

Upper　and　the　Lower　Land　for　a　wreath　of　passion's　roses　that　fade

before　they　fully　bloom；　and　Pharaoh's　ivory　bed　of　state　for　the

pillow　of　a　faithless　woman's　breast。



〃/King　of　Love！/〃　they　crowned　me　in　their　mockery；　ay；　and　King　of

Shame！　And　I；　with　the　perfumed　roses　on　my　browI；　by　descent　and

ordination　the　Pharaoh　of　Egyptthought　of　the　imperishable　halls　of

Abouthis　and　of　that　other　crowning　which　on　the　morrow　should　be

consummate。



But　still　smiling；　I　pledged　them　back；　and　answered　with　a　jest。　For

rising；　I　bowed　before　Cleopatra　and　craved　leave　to　go。　〃Venus；〃　I

said；　speaking　of　the　planet　that　we　know　as　Donaou　in　the　morning　and

Bonou　in　the　evening；　〃was　in　the　ascendant。　Therefore；　as　new…crowned

King　of　Love；　I　must　now　pass　to　do　my　homage　to　its　Queen。〃　For　these

barbarians　name　Venus　Queen　of　Love。



And　so　amidst　their　laughter　I　withdraw　to　my　watch…tower；　and；

dashing　that　shameful　chaplet　down　amidst　the　instruments　of　my　craft；

made　pretence　to　note　the　rolling　of　the　stars。　There　I　waited；

thinking　on　many　things　that　were　to　be；　until　Charmion　should　come

with　the　last　lists　of　the　doomed　and　the　messages　of　my　uncle　Sepa；

whom　she　had　seen　that　evening。



At　length　the　door　opened　softly；　and　she　came　jewelled　and　clad　in

her　white　robes；　as　she　had　left　the　feast。







CHAPTER　V



OF　THE　COMING　OF　CLEOPATRA　TO　THE　CHAMBER　OF　HARMACHIS；　OF

THE　THROWING　FORTH　OF　THE　KERCHIEF　OF　CHARMION；　OF　THE

STARS；　AND　OF　THE　GIFT　BY　CLEOPATRA　OF　HER　FRIENDSHIP　TO　HER

SERVANT　HARMACHIS



〃At　length　thou　art　come；　Charmion；〃　I　said。　〃It　is　over…late。〃



〃Yea；　my　Lord；　but　by　no　means　could　I　escape　Cleopatra。　Her　mood　is

strangely　crossed　to…night。　I　know　not　what　it　may　portend。　Strange

whims　and　fancies　blow　across　it　like　light　and　contrary　airs　upon　a

summer　sea；　and　I　cannot　read　her　purpose。〃



〃Well；　well；　enough　of　Cleopatra。　Hast　thou　seen　our　uncle？〃



〃Yes；　royal　Harmachis。〃



〃And　hast　thou　the　last　lists？〃



〃Yes；　here　they　are；〃　and　she　drew　them　from　her　bosom。　〃Here　is　the

list　of　those　who；　after　the　Queen；　must　certainly　be　put　to　the

sword。　Among　them　thou　wilt　note　is　the　name　of　that　old　Gaul　Brennus。

I　grieve　for　him；　for　we　are　friends；　but　it　must　be。　It　is　a　heavy

list。〃



〃It　is　so；〃　I　answered　conning　it；　〃when　men　write　out　their　count

they　forget　no　item；　and　our　count　is　long。　What　must　be　must　be。　Now

for　the　next。〃



〃Here　is　the　list　of　those　to　be　spared；　as　friendly　or　uncertain；　and

here　that　of　the　towns　which　will　certainly　rise　as　soon　as　the

messenger　reaches　their　gates　with　tidings　of　the　death　of　Cleopatra。〃



〃Good。　And　now〃and　I　paused〃and　now　as　to　the　manner　of

Cleopatra's　death。　How　hast　thou　settled　it？　Must　it　be　by　my　own

hand？〃



〃Yea；　my　Lord；〃　she　answered；　and　again　I　caught　that　note　of

bitterness　in　her　voice。　〃Doubtless　Pharaoh　will　rejoice　that　his

should　be　the　hand　to　rid　the　land　of　this　false　Queen　and　wanton

woman；　and　at　one　blow　break　the　chains　which　gall　the　neck　of　Egypt。〃



〃Talk　not　thus；　girl；〃　I　said；　〃thou　knowest　well　that　I　do　not

rejoice；　being　but　driven　to　the　act　by　deep　necessity　and　the

pressure　of　my　vows。　Can　she　not；　then；　be　poisoned？　Or　can　no　one　of

the　eunuchs　be　suborned　to　slay　her？　My　soul　turns　from　this　bloody

work！　Indeed；　I　marvel；　however　heavy　be　her　crimes；　that　thou　canst

speak　so　lightly　of　the　death　by　treachery　of　one　who　loves　thee！〃



〃Surely　Pharaoh　is　over…tender；　forgetting　the　greatness　of　the　moment

and　all　that　hangs　upon　this　dagger…stroke　that　shall　cut　the　thread

of　Cleopatra's　life。　Listen；　Harmachis。　/Thou/　must　do　the　deed；　and

/thou/　alone！　Myself　I　would　do　it；　had　my　arm　the　strength；　but　it

has　not。　It　cannot　be　done　by　poison；　for　every　drop　she　drinks　and

every　morsel　that　shall　touch　her　lips　is　strictly　tasted　by　three

separate　tasters；　who　cannot　be　suborned。　Nor　may　the　eunuchs　of　the

guard　be　trusted。　Two；　indeed；　are　sworn　to　us；　but　the　third　cannot

be　come　at。　He　must　be　cut　down　afterwards；　and；　indeed；　when　so　many

men　must　fall；　what　matters　a　eunuch　more　or　less？　Thus　it　shall　be；

then。　To…morrow　night；　at　three　hours　before　midnight　thou　dost　cast

the　final　augury　of　the　issue　of　the　war。　And　then　thou　wilt；　as　is

agreed；　descend　alone　with　me；　having　the　signet；　to　the　outer　chamber

of　the　Queen's　apartment。　For　the　vessel　bearing　orders　to　the　Legions

sails　from　Alexandria　at　the　following　dawn；　and　alone　with　Cleopatra；

since　she　wills　that　the　thing　be　kept　secret　as　the　sea；　thou　wilt

read　the　message　of　the　stars。　And　as　she　pores　over　the　papyrus；　then

must　thou　stab　her　in　the　back；　so　that　she　dies；　and　see　thou　that

thy　will　and　arm　fail　thee　not！　The　deed　being　doneand　indeed　it

will　be　easythou　wilt　take　the　signet　and　pass　out　to　where　the

eunuch　isfor　the　others　will　be　wanting。　If　by　any　chance　there　is

trouble　with　himbut　there　will　be　no　trouble；　for　he　dare　not　enter

the　private　rooms；　and　the　sounds　of　death　cannot　reach　so　farthou

must　cut　him　down。　Then　I　will　meet　thee；　and；　passing　on；　we　will

come　to　Paulus；　and　it　shall　be　my　care　to　see　that　he　is　neither

drunk　nor　backward；　for　I　know　how　to　hold　him　to　the　task。　And　he　and

those　with　him　shall　throw　open　the　side　gate；　when　Sepa　and　the　five

hundred　chosen　men　who　are　in　waiting　shall　pour　in　and　cast

themselves　upon　the　sleeping　legionaries；　putting　them　to　the　sword。

Why；　the　thing　is　easy　so　thou　rest　true　to　thyself；　and　let　no

womanish　fears　creep　into　thy　heart。　What　is　this　dagger's　thrust？　It

is　nothing；　and　yet　upon　it　hang　the　destinies　of　Egypt　and　the

world。〃



〃Hush！〃　I　said。　〃What　is　that？I　hear　a　sound。〃



Charmion　ran　to　the　door；　and；　gazing　down　the　long；　dark　passage；

listened。　In　a　moment　she　came　back；　her　finger　on　her　lips。　〃It　is

the　Queen；〃　she　whispered　hurriedly；　〃the　Queen　who　mounts　the　stair

alone。　I　heard　her　bid　Iras　to　leave　her。　I　may　not　be　found　alone

with　thee　at　this　hour；　it　has　a　strange　look；　and　she　may　suspect。

What　wants　she　here？　Where　can　I　hide？〃



I　glanced　round。　At　the　further　end　of　the　chamber　was　a　heavy　curtain

that　hid　a　little　place　built　in　the　t