cleopatra-第27章

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

Farewell。〃



The　eyes　of　Cleopatra　flashed　as　she　hearkened　to　these　high　words；

and　I　saw　her　hands　tighten　on　the　golden　lions'　heads　whereon　they

rested。



〃We　have　had　the　flattery；〃　she　said；　〃and　now；　lest　we　be　cloyed　with

sweets；　we　have　its　antidote！　Listen　thou；　Dellius：　the　charges　in

that　letter；　or；　rather；　in　that　writ　of　summons；　are　false；　as　all

folk　can　bear　us　witness。　But　it　is　not　now；　and　it　is　not　to　thee；

that　We　will　make　defence　of　our　acts　of　war　and　policy。　Nor　will　We

leave　our　kingdom　to　journey　into　far　Cilicia；　and　there；　like　some

poor　suppliant　at　law；　plead　our　cause　before　the　Court　of　the　Noble

Antony。　If　Antony　would　have　speech　with　us；　and　inquire　concerning

these　high　matters；　the　sea　is　open；　and　his　welcome　shall　be　royal。

Let　him　come　thither！　That　is　our　answer　to　thee　and　to　the

Triumvirate；　O　Dellius！〃



But　Dellius　smiled　as　one　who　would　put　away　the　weight　of　wrath；　and

once　more　spoke：



〃Royal　Egypt；　thou　knowest　not　the　noble　Antony。　He　is　stern　on　paper；

and　ever　he　sets　down　his　thoughts　as　though　his　stylus　were　a　spear

dipped　in　the　blood　of　men。　But　face　to　face　with　him；　thou；　of　all

the　world；　shalt　find　him　the　gentlest　warrior　that　ever　won　a　battle。

Be　advised；　O　Egypt！　and　come。　Send　me　not　hence　with　such　angry

words；　for　if　thou　dost　draw　Antony　to　Alexandria；　then　woe　to

Alexandria；　to　the　people　of　the　Nile；　and　to　thee；　great　Egypt！　For

then　he　will　come　armed　and　breathing　war；　and　it　shall　go　hard　with

thee；　who　dost　defy　the　gathered　might　of　Rome。　I　pray　thee；　then；

obey　this　summons。　Come　to　Cilicia；　come　with　peaceful　gifts　and　not

in　arms。　Come　in　thy　beauty；　and　tricked　in　thy　best　attire；　and　thou

hast　naught　to　fear　from　the　noble　Antony。〃　He　paused　and　looked　at

her　meaningly；　while　I；　taking　his　drift；　felt　the　angry　blood　surge

into　my　face。



Cleopatra；　too；　understood；　for　I　saw　her　rest　her　chin　upon　her　hand

and　the　cloud　of　thought　gathered　in　her　eyes。　For　a　time　she　sat

thus；　while　the　crafty　Dellius　watched　her　curiously。　And　Charmion；

standing　with　the　other　ladies　by　the　throne；　she　also　read　his

meaning；　for　her　face　lit　up；　as　a　summer　cloud　lights　in　the　evening

when　the　broad　lightning　flares　behind　it。　Then　once　more　it　grew　pale

and　quiet。



At　length　Cleopatra　spoke。　〃This　is　a　heavy　matter；〃　she　said；　'and

therefore；　noble　Dellius；　we　must　have　time　to　let　our　judgment　ripen。

Rest　thou　here；　and　make　thee　as　merry　as　our　poor　circumstances

allow。　Thou　shalt　have　thy　answer　within　ten　days。〃



The　envoy　thought　awhile；　then　replied　smiling：　〃It　is　well；　O　Egypt；

on　the　tenth　day　from　now　I　will　attend　for　my　answer；　and　on　the

eleventh　I　sail　hence　to　join　Antony　my　Lord。〃



Once　more；　at　a　sign　from　Cleopatra；　the　trumpets　blared；　and　he

withdrew　bowing。







CHAPTER　X



OF　THE　TROUBLE　OF　CLEOPATRA；　OF　HER　OATH　TO　HARMACHIS；　AND

OF　THE　TELLING　BY　HARMACHIS　TO　CLEOPATRA　OF　THE　SECRET　OF

THE　TREASURE　THAT　LAY　BENEATH　THE　MASS　OF　〃HER〃



That　same　night　Cleopatra　summoned　me　to　her　private　chamber。　I　went；

and　found　her　much　troubled　in　mind；　never　before　had　I　seen　her　so

deeply　moved。　She　was　alone；　and；　like　some　trapped　lioness；　walked　to

and　fro　across　the　marble　floor；　while　thought　chased　thought　across

her　mind；　each；　as　clouds　scudding　over　the　sea；　for　a　moment　casting

its　shadow　in　her　deep　eyes。



〃So　thou　art　come；　Harmachis；〃　she　said；　resting　for　a　while；　as　she

took　my　hand。　〃Counsel　me；　for　never　did　I　need　counsel　more。　Oh；　what

days　have　the　Gods　measured　out　to　medays　restless　as　the　ocean！　I

have　known　no　peace　from　childhood　up；　and　it　seems　none　shall　I　know。

Scarce　by　a　very　little　have　I　escaped　thy　dagger's　point；　Harmachis；

when　this　new　trouble；　that；　like　a　storm；　has　gathered　beneath　the

horizon's　rim；　suddenly　bursts　over　me。　Didst　mark　that　tigerish　fop？

Well　should　I　love　to　trap　him！　How　soft　he　spoke！　Ay；　he　purred　like

a　cat；　and　all　the　time　he　stretched　his　claws。　Didst　hear　the　letter；

too？　it　has　an　ugly　sound。　I　know　this　Antony。　When　I　was　but　a　child；

budding　into　womanhood；　I　saw　him；　but　my　eyes　were　ever　quick；　and　I

took　his　measure。　Half　Hercules　and　half　a　fool；　with　a　dash　of　genius

veining　his　folly　through。　Easily　led　by　those　who　enter　at　the　gates

of　his　voluptuous　sense；　but　if　crossed；　an　iron　foe。　True　to　his

friends；　if；　indeed；　he　loves　them；　and　ofttimes　false　to　his　own

interest。　Generous；　hardy；　and　in　adversity　a　man　of　virtue；　in

prosperity　a　sot　and　a　slave　to　woman。　That　is　Antony。　How　deal　with

such　a　man；　whom　fate　and　opportunity；　despite　himself；　have　set　on

the　crest　of　fortune's　wave？　One　day　it　will　overwhelm　him；　but　till

that　day　he　sweeps　across　the　world　and　laughs　at　those　who　drown。〃



〃Antony　is　but　a　man；〃　I　answered；　〃and　a　man　with　many　foes；　and；

being　but　a　man；　he　can　be　overthrown。〃



〃Ay；　he　can　be　overthrown；　but　he　is　one　of　three；　Harmachis。　Now　that

Cassius　hath　gone　where　all　fools　go；　Rome　has　thrown　out　a　hydra

head。　Crush　one；　and　another　hisses　in　thy　face。　There's　Lepidus；　and

with　him；　that　young　Octavianus；　whose　cold　eyes　may　yet　with　a　smile

of　triumph　look　on　the　murdered　forms　of　empty；　worthless　Lepidus；　of

Antony；　and　of　Cleopatra。　If　I　go　not　to　Cilicia；　mark　thou！　Antony

will　knit　up　a　peace　with　these　Parthians；　and；　taking　the　tales　they

tell　of　me　for　truthand；　indeed；　there　is　truth　in　themwill　fall

with　all　his　force　on　Egypt。　And　how　then？〃



〃How　then？　Why；　then　we'll　drum　him　back　to　Rome。〃



〃Ah；　thou　sayest　so；　and；　perchance；　Harmachis；　had　I　not　won　that

game　we　played　together　some　twelve　days　gone；　thou；　being　Pharaoh；

mightest　well　have　done　this　thing；　for　round　thy　throne　old　Egypt

would　have　gathered。　But　Egypt　loves　not　me　nor　my　Greek　blood；　and　I

have　but　now　scattered　that　great　plot　of　thine；　in　which　half　the

land　was　meshed。　Will　these　men；　then；　arise　to　succour　me？　Were　Egypt

true　to　me；　I　could；　indeed；　hold　my　own　against　all　the　force　that

Rome　may　bring；　but　Egypt　hates　me；　and　had　as　lief　be　ruled　by　the

Roman　as　the　Greek。　Still　I　might　make　defence　had　I　the　gold；　for

with　money　soldiers　can　be　bought　to　feed　the　maw　of　mercenary　battle。

But　I　have　none；　my　treasuries　are　dry；　and　though　there　is　wealth　in

the　land；　yet　debts　perplex　me。　These　wars　have　brought　me　ruin；　and　I

know　not　how　to　find　a　talent。　Perchance；　Harmachis；　thou　who　art；　by

hereditary　right；　Priest　of　the　Pyramids；〃　and　she　drew　near　and

looked　me　in　the　eyes；　〃perchance；　if　long　descended　rumour　does　not

lie；　thou　canst　tell　me　where　I　can　touch　the　gold　to　save　thy　land

from　ruin；　and　thy　Love　from　the　grasp　of　Antony？　Say；　is　it　so？〃



I　thought　a　while；　and　then　I　answered：



〃And　if　such　a　tale　were　true；　and　if　I　could　show　thee　treasure

stored　by　the　mighty　Pharaohs　of　the　most　far…off　age　against　the

needs　of　Khem；　how　can　I　know　that　thou　wouldst　indeed　make　use　of

that　wealth　to　those　good　ends？〃



〃Is　there；　then；　a　treasure？〃　she　asked　curiously。　〃Nay；　fret　me　not；

Harmachis；　for　of　a　truth　the　very　name　of　gold　at　this　time　of　want

is　like　the　sight　of　water　in　the　desert。〃



〃I　believe；〃　I　said；　〃that　there　is　such　a　treasure；　though　I　myself

have　never　seen　it。　But　I　know　this；　that　if　it　still　lie　in　the　place

where　it　was　set；　it　is　because　so　heavy　a　curse　will　rest　upon　him

who　shall　lay　hands　on　it　wickedly　and　for　selfish　ends；　that　none　of

those　Pharaohs　to　whom　it　has　been　shown　have　dared　to　touch　it；

however　sore　their　need。〃



〃So；〃　she　said；　〃they　were　cowardly　aforetime；　or　else　their　need　was

not　great。　Wilt　thou　show　me　this　treasure；　then；　Harmachis？〃



〃Perhaps；〃　I　answered；　〃I　will　show　it　to　thee　if　it　still　be　there；

when　thou　hast　sworn　that　thou　wilt　use　it　to　defend　Egypt　from　this

Roman　Antony　and　for　the　welfare　of　her　people。〃



〃I　swear　it！〃　she　said　earnestly。　〃Oh；　I　swear　by　every　God　in　Khem

that　if　thou　showest　me　this　great　treasure；　I　will　defy　Antony　and

send　Dellius　back　to　Cilicia　with　sharper　words　than　those　he　brought。

Yes；　I'll　do　more；　Harmachis：　so　soon　as　may　be；　I　will　take　thee　to

husband　before　all　the　world；　and　thou　thyself　shalt　carry　out　thy

plans　and　beat　off　the　Roman　eagles。〃



Thus　she　spoke；　gazing　at　me　with　truthful；　earnest　eyes。　I　believed

her；　and　for　the　first　time　since　my　fall　was　for　a　moment　happy；

thinking　that　all　was　not　lost　to　me；　and　that　with　Cleopatra；　whom　I

loved　thus　madly；　I　might　yet　win　my　place　and　power　back。



〃Swear　it；　Cleopatra！〃　I　said。



〃I　swear；　beloved！　and　thus　I　seal　my　oath！〃　and　she　kissed　me　on　the

forehead。　And　I；　too；　kissed　her；　and　we　talked　of　what　we　would　do

when　we　were　wed；　and　how　we　should　overcome　the　Roman。



And　thus　I　was　again　beguiled；　though　I　believe　that；　had　it　not　been

for　the　jealous　anger　of　Charmionwhich；　as　shall　be　seen；　was　ever

urging　her　forward　to　fresh　deeds　of　shameCleopatra　would　have

wedded　me　and　broken　with　the　Roman。　And；　indeed；　in　the　issue；　it　had

been　better　for　her　and　Egypt。



We　sat　far　into　the　night；　and　I　revealed　to　her　somewhat　of　that

ancient　secret　of　the　mighty　treasure　hid　beneath　the　mass　of　/Her/。

Thither；　it　was　agreed；　we　should　go　on　the　morrow；　and　the　second

night　from　now　attempt　its　search。　So；　early　on　the　next　day；　a　boat

was　secretly　made　ready；　and　Cleopatra　entered　it；　veiled　as　an

Egyptian　lady　about　to　make　a　pilgrimage　to　the　Temple　of　Horemkhu。

And　I　also　entered；　cloaked　as　a　pilgrim；　and　with　us　ten　of　her　most

trusted　servants　disguised　as　sailors。　But　Charmion　went　not　with　us。

We　sailed　with　a　fair　wind　from　the　Canopic　mouth　of　the　Nile；　and

that　night；　pushing　on　with　the　moon；　we　reached　Sais　at　midnight；　and

here　rested　for　a　while。　At　dawn　we　once　more　loosed　our　craft；　and

all　that　day　sailed　swiftly；　till；　at　last；　at　the　third　hour　from　the

sunset；　we　came　in　sight　of　the　lights　of　that　fortress　which　is

called　Babylon。　Here；　on　the　opposite　bank　of　the　river；　we　moored　our

ship　safely　in　a　bed　of　reeds。



Then；　on　foot　and　secretly；　we　set　out　for　the　pyramids；　which　were　at

a　distance　of　two　leagues；　Cleopatra；　I　and　one　trusted　eunuch；　for　we

left　the　other　servants　with　the　boat。　Only　I　caught　an　ass　for

Cleopatra　to　ride　that　was　wandering　in　a　tilled　field；　and　threw　a

cloak　upon　it。　She　sat　on　it　and　I　led　the　ass　by　paths　I　knew；　the

eunuch　following　us　on　foot。　And；　within　little　more　than　an　hour；

having　gained　the　great　causeway；　we　saw　the　mighty　pyramids　towering

up　through　the　moonlit　air　and　aweing　us　to　silence。　We　passed　on　in

utter　silence；　through　the　haunted　city　of　the　dead；　for　all　around　us

stood　the　solemn　tombs；　till　at　length　we　climbed　the　rocky　hill；　and

stood　in　the　deep　shadow　of　Khufu　Khut；　the