cleopatra-第26章

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lips　apart　and　flowing　locks；　and　stamped　upon　her　face　the　look　of

utter　tenderness　that　she　alone　could　wear。　Ay；　still；　after　all　the

years；　I　seem　to　see　her　come　as　erst　she　came；　and　still　I　wake　to

know　her　an　unutterable　lie！



And　thus　one　day　she　came。　She　had　fled　in　haste；　she　said；　from　some

great　council　summoned　concerning　the　wars　of　Antony　in　Syria；　and　she

came；　as　she　had　left　the　council；　in　all　her　robes　of　state；　the

sceptre　in　her　hand；　and　on　her　brow　the　ur？us　diadem　of　gold。　There

she　sat　before　me；　laughing；　for；　wearying　of　them；　she　had　told　the

envoys　to　whom　she　gave　audience　in　the　council　that　she　was　called

from　their　presence　by　a　sudden　message　come　from　Rome；　and　the　jest

seemed　merry　to　her。　Suddenly　she　rose；　took　the　diadem　from　her　brow；

and　set　it　on　my　hair；　and　on　my　shoulders　her　royal　mantle；　and　in　my

hand　the　sceptre；　and　bowed　the　knee　before　me。　Then；　laughing　again；

she　kissed　me　on　the　lips；　and　said　I　was　indeed　her　King。　But；

remembering　how　I　had　been　crowned　in　the　halls　of　Abouthis；　and

remembering　also　that　wreath　of　roses　of　which　the　odour　haunts　me

yet；　I　rose；　pale　with　wrath；　and　cast　the　trinkets　from　me；　asking

how　she　dared　to　mock　meher　caged　bird。　And　I　think　there　was　that

about　me　which　startled　her；　for　she　fell　back。



〃Nay；　Harmachis；〃　she　said；　〃be　not　wroth！　How　knowest　thou　that　I

mock　thee？　How　knowest　thou　that　thou　shalt　not　be　Pharaoh　in　fact　and

deed？〃



〃What　meanest　thou？〃　I　said。　〃Wilt　thou；　then；　wed　me　before　Egypt？

How　else　can　I　be　Pharaoh　now？〃



She　cast　down　her　eyes。　〃Perchance；　love；　it　is　in　my　mind　to　wed

thee；〃　she　said　gently。　〃Listen；〃　she　went　on：　〃Thou　growest　pale；

here；　in　this　prison；　and　thou　dost　eat　little。　Gainsay　me　not！　I　know

it　from　the　slaves。　I　have　kept　thee　here；　Harmachis；　for　thy　own

sake；　that　is　so　dear　to　me；　and　for　thy　own　sake；　and　thy　honour's

sake；　thou　must　still　seem　to　be　my　prisoner。　Else　wouldst　thou　be

shamed　and　slainay；　murdered　secretly。　But　I　can　meet　thee　here　no

more！　therefore　to…morrow　I　shall　free　thee　in　all；　save　in　the　name；

and　thou　shalt　once　more　be　seen　at　Court　as　my　astronomer。　And　I　will

give　this　reasonthat　thou　hast　cleared　thyself；　and；　moreover；　that

thy　auguries　as　regards　the　war　have　been　auguries　of　truthas；

indeed；　they　have；　though　for　this　I　have　no　cause　to　thank　thee；

seeing　that　thou　didst　suit　thy　prophecies　to　fit　thy　cause。　Now；

farewell；　for　I　must　return　to　those　heavy…browed　ambassadors；　and

grow　not　so　sudden　wroth；　Harmachis；　for　who　knows　what　may　come　to

pass　betwixt　thee　and　me？〃



And；　with　a　little　nod；　she　went；　leaving　it　on　my　mind　that　she　had

it　in　her　heart　to　wed　me　openly。　And　of　a　truth；　I　believe　that；　at

this　hour；　such　was　her　thought。　For；　if　she　loved　me　not；　still　she

held　me　dear；　and　as　yet　she　had　not　wearied　of　me。



On　the　morrow　Cleopatra　came　not；　but　Charmion　cameCharmion；　whom　I

had　not　seen　since　that　fatal　night　of　ruin。　She　entered　and　stood

before　me；　with　pale　face　and　downcast　eyes；　and　her　first　words　were

words　of　bitterness。



〃Pardon　me；〃　she　said；　in　her　gentle　voice；　〃in　that　I　dare　to　come　to

thee　in　Cleopatra's　place。　Thy　joy　is　not　delayed　for　long；　for　thou

shalt　see　her　presently。〃



I　shrank　at　her　words；　as　well　I　might；　and；　seeing　her　vantage；　she

seized　it。



〃I　come；　Harmachisroyal　no　more！I　come　to　say　that　thou　art　free！

Thou　art　free　to　face　thine　own　infamy；　and　see　it　thrown　back　from

every　eye　which　trusted　thee；　as　shadows　are　from　water。　I　come　to

tell　thee　that　the　great　plotthe　plot　of　twenty　years　and　moreis

at　its　utter　end。　None　have　been　slain；　indeed；　unless　it　is　Sepa；　who

has　vanished。　But　all　the　leaders　have　been　seized　and　put　in　chains；

or　driven　from　the　land；　and　their　party　is　broken　and　scattered。　The

storm　has　melted　before　it　burst。　Egypt　is　lost；　and　lost　for　ever；

for　her　last　hope　is　gone！　No　longer　may　she　strugglenow　for　all

time　she　must　bow　her　neck　to　the　yoke；　and　bare　her　back　to　the　rod

of　the　oppressor！〃



I　groaned　aloud。　〃Alas；　I　was　betrayed！〃　I　said。　〃Paulus　betrayed　us。〃



〃Thou　wast　betrayed？　Nay；　thou　thyself　wast　the　betrayer！　How　came　it

that　thou　didst　not　slay　Cleopatra　when　thou　wast　alone　with　her？

Speak；　thou　forsworn！〃



〃She　drugged　me；〃　I　said　again。



〃O　Harmachis！〃　answered　the　pitiless　girl；　〃how　low　art　thou　fallen

from　that　Prince　whom　once　I　knew！thou　who　dost　not　scorn　to　be　a

liar！　Yea；　thou　wast　druggeddrugged　with　a　love…philtre！　Yea；　thou

didst　sell　Egypt　and　thy　cause　for　the　price　of　a　wanton's　kiss！　Thou

Sorrow　and　thou　Shame！〃　she　went　on；　pointing　her　finger　at　me　and

lifting　her　eyes　to　my　face；　〃thou　Scorn！thou　Outcast！and　thou

Contempt！　Deny　if　it　thou　canst。　Ay；　shrink　from　meknowing　what　thou

art；　well　mayst　thou　shrink！　Crawl　to　Cleopatra's　feet；　and　kiss　her

sandals　till　such　time　as　it　pleases　her　to　trample　thee　in　thy

kindred　dirt；　but　from　all　honest　folk　/shrink！//shrink！/〃



My　soul　quivered　beneath　the　lash　of　her　bitter　scorn　and　hate；　but　I

had　no　words　to　answer。



〃How　comes　it；〃　I　said　at　last　in　a　heavy　voice；　〃that　thou；　too；　art

not　betrayed；　but　art　still　here　to　taunt　me；　thou　who　once　didst

swear　that　thou　didst　love　me？　Being　a　woman；　hast　thou　no　pity　for

the　frailty　of　man？〃



〃My　name　was　not　on　the　lists；〃　she　said；　dropping　her　dark　eyes。

〃Here　is　an　opportunity：　betray　me　also；　Harmachis！　Ay；　it　is　because

I　once　loved　theedost　thou；　indeed；　remember　it？that　I　feel　thy

fall　the　more。　The　shame　of　one　whom　we　have　loved　must　in　some　sort

become　our　shame；　and　must　ever　cling　to　us；　because　we　blindly　held　a

thing　so　base　close　to　our　inmost　heart。　Art　thou　also；　then；　a　fool？

Wouldst　thou；　fresh　from　thy　royal　wanton's　arms；　come　to　me　for

comfortto　/me/　of　all　the　world？〃



〃How　know　I；〃　I　said；　〃that　it　was　not　thou　who；　in　thy　jealous　anger；

didst　betray　our　plans？　Charmion；　long　ago　Sepa　warned　me　against

thee；　and　of　a　truth　now　that　I　recall〃



〃It　is　like　a　traitor；〃　she　broke　in；　reddening　to　her　brow；　〃to　think

that　all　are　of　his　family；　and　hold　a　common　mind！　Nay；　I　betrayed

thee　not；　it　was　that　poor　knave；　Paulus；　whose　heart　failed　him　at

the　last；　and　who　is　rightly　served。　Nor　will　I　stay　to　hear　thoughts

so　base。　Harmachisroyal　no　more！Cleopatra；　Queen　of　Egypt；　bids　me

say　that　thou　art　free；　and　that　she　waits　thee　in　the　Alabaster

Hall。〃



And　shooting　one　swift　glance　through　her　long　lashes　she　curtsied　and

was　gone。







So　once　more　I　came　and　went　about　the　Court；　though　but　sparingly；

for　my　heart　was　full　of　shame　and　terror；　and　on　every　face　I　feared

to　see　the　scorn　of　those　who　knew　me　for　what　I　was。　But　I　saw

nothing；　for　all　those　who　had　knowledge　of　the　plot　had　fled；　and

Charmion　had　spoken　no　word；　for　her　own　sake。　Also；　Cleopatra　had　put

it　about　that　I　was　innocent。　But　my　guilt　lay　heavy　on　me；　and　made

me　thin　and　wore　away　the　beauty　of　my　countenance。　And　though　I　was

free　in　name；　yet　I　was　ever　watched；　nor　might　I　stir　beyond　the

palace　grounds。



And　at　length　came　the　day　which　brought　with　it　Quintus　Dellius；　that

false　Roman　knight　who　ever　served　the　rising　star。　He　bore　letters　to

Cleopatra　from　Marcus　Antonius；　the　Triumvir；　who；　fresh　from　the

victory　of　Philippi；　was　now　in　Asia　wringing　gold　from　the　subject

kings　with　which　to　satisfy　the　greed　of　his　legionaries。



Well　I　mind　me　of　the　day。　Cleopatra；　clad　in　her　robes　of　state；

attended　by　the　officers　of　her　Court；　among　whom　I　stood；　sat　in　the

great　hall　on　her　throne　of　gold；　and　bade　the　heralds　admit　the

Ambassador　of　Antony；　the　Triumvir。　The　great　doors　were　thrown　wide；

and　amidst　the　blare　of　trumpets　and　salutes　of　the　Gallic　guards　the

Roman　came　in；　clad　in　glittering　golden　armour　and　a　scarlet　cloak　of

silk；　and　followed　by　his　suite　of　officers。　He　was　smooth…faced　and

fair　to　look　upon；　and　with　a　supple　form；　but　his　mouth　was　cold；　and

false　were　his　shifting　eyes。　And　while　the　heralds　called　out　his

name；　titles；　and　offices；　he　fixed　his　gaze　on　Cleopatrawho　sat

idly　on　her　throne　all　radiant　with　beautyas　a　man　who　is　amazed。

Then　when　the　heralds　had　made　an　end；　and　he　still　stood　thus；　not

stirring；　Cleopatra　spoke　in　the　Latin　tongue：



〃Greeting　to　thee；　noble　Dellius；　envoy　of　the　most　mighty　Antony；

whose　shadow　lies　across　the　world　as　though　Mars　himself　now　towered

up　above　us　petty　Princesgreeting　and　welcome　to　our　poor　city　of

Alexandria。　Unfold；　we　pray　thee；　the　purpose　of　thy　coming。〃



Still　the　crafty　Dellius　made　no　answer；　but　stood　as　a　man　amazed。



〃What　ails　thee；　noble　Dellius；　that　thou　dost　not　speak？〃　asked

Cleopatra。　〃Hast　thou；　then；　wandered　so　long　in　Asia　that　the　doors

of　Roman　speech　are　shut　to　thee？　What　tongue　hast　thou？　Name　it；　and

We　will　speak　in　itfor　all　tongues　are　known　to　Us。〃



Then　at　last　he　spoke　in　a　soft　full　voice：　〃Oh；　pardon　me；　most

lovely　Egypt；　if　I　have　thus　been　stricken　dumb　before　thee：　but　too

great　beauty；　like　Death　himself；　doth　paralyse　the　tongue　and　steal

our　sense　away。　The　eyes　of　him　who　looks　upon　the　fires　of　the　mid…

day　sun　are　blind　to　all　beside；　and　thus　this　sudden　vision　of　thy

glory；　royal　Egypt；　overwhelmed　my　mind；　and　left　me　helpless　and

unwitting　of　all　things　else。〃



〃Of　a　truth；　noble　Dellius；〃　answered　Cleopatra；　〃they　teach　a　pretty

school　of　flattery　yonder　in　Cilicia。〃



〃How　goes　the　saying　here　in　Alexandria？〃　replied　the　courtly　Roman：

〃'The　breath　of　flattery　cannot　waft　a　cloud；'＇*＇　does　it　not？　But　to

my　task。　Here；　royal　Egypt；　are　letters　under　the　hand　and　seal　of　the

noble　Antony　treating　of　certain　matters　of　the　State。　Is　it　thy

pleasure　that　I　should　read　them　openly？〃



＇*＇　In　other　words；　what　is　Divine　is　beyond　the　reach　of　human

　　　　praise。Editor。



〃Break　the　seals　and　read；〃　she　answered。



Then　bowing；　he　broke　the　seals　and　read：



〃The　/Triumviri　Reipublic？　Constituend？/；　by　the　mouth　of　Marcus

Antonius；　the　Triumvir；　to　Cleopatra；　by　grace　of　the　Roman　People

Queen　of　Upper　and　Lower　Egypt；　send　greeting。　Whereas　it　has　come　to

our　knowledge　that　thou；　Cleopatra；　hast；　contrary　to　thy　promise　and

thy　duty；　both　by　thy　servant　Allienus　and　by　thy　servant　Serapion；

the　Governor　of　Cyprus；　aided　the　rebel　murderer　Cassius　against　the

arms　of　the　most　noble　Triumvirate。　And；　whereas　it　has　come　to　our

knowledge　that　thou　thyself　wast　but　lately　making　ready　a　great　fleet

to　this　end。　We　summon　thee　that　thou　dost　without　delay　journey　to

Cilicia；　there　to　meet　the　noble　Antony；　and　in　person　make　answer

concerning　these　charges　which　are　laid　against　thee。　And　we　warn　thee

that　if　thou　dost　disobey　this　our　summons　it　is　at　thy　peril。

Farewell。〃



The　eyes　of　Cleopatra　flashed　as　she　hearkened　to　t