cleopatra-第29章

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　〃Nout；　thy　Mother；　wraps　thee　in　the　spell　of　Her　holy　name。



　〃The　name　of　thy　Mother；　Nout；　is　the　mystery　of　Heaven。



　〃Nout；　thy　Mother；　gathers　thee　to　the　number　of　the　Gods。



　〃Nout；　thy　Mother；　breathes　on　thy　foes　and　utterly　destroys　them。



　〃O　Pharaoh　Menkau…ra；　who　livest　for　ever！〃



〃Where；　then；　is　the　treasure？〃　she　asked　again。　〃Here；　indeed；　is　the

body　of　the　Divine　Menkau…ra；　but　the　flesh　even　of　Pharaohs　is　not

gold；　and　if　the　face　of　this　Sphinx　be　gold　how　may　we　move　it？〃



For　answer　I　bade　her　stand　upon　the　Sphinx　and　grasp　the　upper　part

of　the　coffin　while　I　grasped　its　foot。　Then；　at　my　word；　we　lifted；

and　the　lid　of　the　case；　which　was　not　fixed；　came　away；　and　we　set　it

upon　the　floor。　And　there　in　the　case　was　the　mummy　of　Pharaoh；　as　it

had　been　laid　three　thousand　years　before。　It　was　a　large　mummy；　and

somewhat　ungainly。　Nor　was　it　adorned　with　a　gilded　mask；　as　is　the

fashion　of　our　day；　for　the　head　was　wrapped　in　clothes　yellow　with

age；　which　were　made　fast　with　pink　flaxen　bandages；　under　which　were

pushed　the　stems　of　lotus…blooms。　And　on　the　breast；　wreathed　round

with　lotus…flowers；　lay　a　large　plate　of　gold　closely　written　over

with　sacred　writing。　I　lifted　up　the　plate；　and；　holding　it　to　the

light；　I　read：



　〃I；　Menkau…ra；　the　Osirian；　aforetime　Pharaoh　of　the　Land　of　Khem；

　　who　in　my　day　did　live　justly　and　ever　walked　in　the　path　marked

　　for　my　feet　by　the　decree　of　the　Invisible；　who　was　the　beginning

　　and　is　the　end；　speak　from　my　tomb　to　those　who　after　me　shall　for

　　an　hour　sit　upon　my　Throne。　Behold；　I；　Menkau…ra；　the　Osirian；

　　having　in　the　days　of　my　life　been　warned　of　a　dream　that　a　time

　　will　come　when　Khem　shall　fear　to　fall　into　the　hands　of

　　strangers；　and　her　monarch　shall　have　great　need　of　treasure

　　wherewith　to　furnish　armies　to　drive　the　barbarian　back；　have　out

　　of　my　wisdom　done　this　thing。　For　it　having　pleased　the　protecting

　　Gods　to　give　me　wealth　beyond　any　Pharaoh　who　has　been　since　the

　　days　of　Horusthousands　of　cattle　and　geese；　thousands　of　calves

　　and　asses；　thousands　of　measures　of　corn；　and　hundreds　of　measures

　　of　gold　and　gems；　this　wealth　I　have　used　sparingly；　and　that

　　which　remains　I　have　bartered　for　precious　stoneseven　for

　　emeralds；　the　most　beautiful　and　largest　that　are　in　the　world。

　　These　stones；　then；　I　have　stored　up　against　that　day　of　the　need

　　of　Khem。　But　because　as　there　have　been；　so　there　shall　be；　those

　　who　do　wickedly　on　the　earth；　and　who；　in　the　lust　of　gain；　might

　　seize　this　wealth　that　I　have　stored；　and　put　it　to　their　uses；

　　behold；　thou　Unborn　One；　who　in　the　fulness　of　time　shalt　stand

　　above　me　and　read　this　that　I　have　caused　to　be　written；　I　have

　　stored　the　treasure　thuseven　among　my　bones。　Therefore；　O　thou

　　Unborn　One；　sleeping　in　the　womb　of　Nout；　I　say　this　to　thee！　If

　　thou　indeed　hast　need　of　riches　to　save　Khem　from　the　foes　of

　　Khem；　fear　not　and　delay　not；　but　tear　me；　the　Osirian；　from　my

　　tomb；　loose　my　wrappings　and　rip　the　treasure　from　my　breast；　and

　　all　shall　be　well　with　thee；　for　this　only　I　do　command；　that　thou

　　dost　replace　my　bones　within　my　hollow　coffin。　But　if　the　need　be

　　passing　and　not　great；　or　if　there　be　guile　in　thy　heart；　then　the

　　curse　of　Menkau…ra　be　on　thee！　On　thee　be　the　curse　that　shall

　　smite　him　who　breaks　in　upon　the　dead！　On　thee　be　the　curse　that

　　follows　the　traitor！　On　thee　be　the　curse　that　smites　him　who

　　outrages　the　Majesty　of　the　Gods！　Unhappy　shalt　thou　live；　in

　　blood　and　misery　shalt　thou　die；　and　in　misery　shalt　thou　be

　　tormented　for　ever　and　for　ever！　For；　Wicked　One；　there　in　Amenti

　　we　shall　come　face　to　face！



　〃And　to　the　end　of　the　keeping　of　this　secret；　I；　Menkau…ra；　have

　　set　up　a　Temple　of　my　Worship；　which　I　have　built　upon　the

　　eastern　side　of　this　my　House　of　Death。　It　shall　be　made　known

　　from　time　to　time　to　the　Hereditary　High　Priest　of　this　my　Temple。

　　And　if　any　High　Priest　that　shall　be　do　reveal　this　secret　to

　　another　than　the　Pharaoh；　or　Her　who　wears　the　Pharaoh's　crown　and

　　is　seated　upon　the　throne　of　Khem；　accursed　be　he　also。　Thus　have

　　I；　Menkau…ra；　the　Osirian；　written。　Now　to　thee；　who；　sleeping　in

　　the　womb　of　Nout；　yet　shall　upon　a　time　stand　over　me　and　read；　I

　　say；　judge　thou！　and　if　thou　judgest　evilly；　on　thee　shall　fall

　　this　the　curse　of　Menkau…ra　from　which　there　is　no　escape。

　　Greeting　and　farewell。〃



〃Thou　hast　heard；　O　Cleopatra；〃　I　said　solemnly；　〃now　search　thy

heart；　judge　thou；　and　for　thine　own　sake　judge　justly。〃



She　bent　her　head　in　thought。



〃I　fear　to　do　this　thing；〃　she　said　presently。　〃Let　us　hence。〃



〃It　is　well；〃　I　said；　with　a　lightening　of　the　heart；　and　bent　down　to

lift　the　wooden　lid。　For　I；　too；　feared。



〃And　yet；　what　said　the　writing　of　the　Divine　Menkau…ra？it　was

emeralds；　was　it　not？　And　emeralds　are　now　so　rare　and　hard　to　come

by。　Ever　did　I　love　emeralds；　and　I　can　never　find　them　without　a

flaw。〃



〃It　is　not　a　matter　of　what　thou　dost　love；　Cleopatra；〃　I　said；　〃it　is

a　matter　of　the　need　of　Khem　and　of　the　secret　meaning　of　thy　heart；

which　thou　alone　canst　know。〃



〃Ay；　surely；　Harmachis；　surely！　And　is　not　the　need　of　Egypt　great？

There　is　no　gold　in　the　treasury；　and　how　can　I　defy　the　Roman　if　I

have　no　gold？　And　have　I　not　sworn　to　thee　that　I　will　wed　thee　and

defy　the　Roman；　and　do　I　not　swear　it　againyes；　even　in　this　solemn

hour；　with　my　hand　upon　dead　Pharaoh's　heart？　Why；　here　is　that

occasion　of　which　the　Divine　Menkau…ra　dreamed。　Thou　seest　it　is　so；

for　else　Hat…shepsu　or　Rameses　or　some　other　Pharaoh　had　drawn　forth

the　gems。　But　no；　they　left　them　to　come　to　this　hour　because　the　time

was　not　yet　come。　Now　it　must　be　come；　for　if　I　take　not　the　gems　the

Roman　will　surely　seize　on　Egypt；　and　then　there　will　be　no　Pharaoh　to

whom　the　secret　may　be　told。　Nay；　let　us　away　with　fears　and　to　the

work。　Why　dost　look　so　frightened？　Having　pure　hearts；　there　is　naught

to　fear；　Harmachis。〃



〃Even　as　thou　wilt；〃　I　said　again；　〃it　is　for　thee　to　judge；　since　if

thou　judgest　falsely　on　thee　will　surely　fall　the　curse　from　which

there　is　no　escape。〃



〃So；　Harmachis；　take　Pharaoh's　head　and　I　will　take　his　Oh；　what

an　awful　place　is　this！〃　and　suddenly　she　clung　to　me。　〃Methought　I

saw　a　shadow　yonder　in　the　darkness！　Methought　that　it　moved　toward　us

and　then　straightway　vanished！　Let　us　be　going！　Didst　thou　see

naught？〃



〃I　saw　nothing；　Cleopatra；　but　mayhap　it　was　the　Spirit　of　the　Divine

Menkau…ra；　for　the　spirit　ever　hovers　round　its　mortal　tenement。　Let

us；　then；　be　going；　I　shall　be　right　glad　to　go。〃



She　made　as　though　to　start；　then　turned　back　again　and　spoke　once

more。



〃It　was　naughtnaught　but　the　mind　that；　in　such　a　house　of　Horror；

bodies　forth　those　shadowy　forms　of　fear　it　dreads　to　see。　Nay；　I　must

look　upon　these　emeralds；　indeed；　if　I　die；　I　must　look！　Cometo　the

work！〃　and　stooping；　she　with　her　own　hands　lifted　from　the　tomb　one

of　the　four　alabaster　jars；　each　sealed　with　the　graven　likeness　of

the　heads　of　the　protecting　Gods；　that　held　the　holy　heart　and

entrails　of　the　Divine　Menkau…ra。　But　nothing　was　found　in　these　jars；

save　only　what　should　be　there。



Then　together　we　mounted　on　the　Sphinx；　and　with　toil　drew　forth　the

body　of　the　Divine　Pharaoh；　laying　it　on　the　ground。　Now　Cleopatra

took　my　dagger；　and　with　it　cut　loose　the　bandages　which　held　the

wrappings　in　their　place；　and　the　lotus…flowers　that　had　been　set　in

them　by　loving　hands；　three　thousand　years　before；　fell　down　upon　the

pavement。　Then　we　searched　and　found　the　end　of　the　outer　bandage；

which　was　fixed　in　at　the　hinder　part　of　the　neck。　This　we　cut　loose；

for　it　was　glued　fast。　This　done；　we　began　to　unroll　the　wrappings　of

the　holy　corpse。　Setting　my　shoulders　against　the　sarcophagus；　I　sat

upon　the　rocky　floor；　the　body　resting　on　my　knees；　and；　as　I　turned

it；　Cleopatra　unwound　the　cloths；　and　awesome　was　the　task。　Presently

something　fell　out；　it　was　the　sceptre　of　the　Pharaoh；　fashioned　of

gold；　and　at　its　end　was　a　pomegranate　cut　from　a　single　emerald。



Cleopatra　seized　the　sceptre　and　gazed　on　it　in　silence。　Then　once

more　we　went　on　with　our　dread　business。　And　ever　as　we　unwound；　other

ornaments　of　gold；　such　as　are　buried　with　Pharaohs；　fell　from　the

wrappingscollars　and　bracelets；　models　of　sistra；　an　inlaid　axe；　and

an　image　of　the　holy　Osiris　and　of　the　holy　Khem。　At　length　all　the

bandages　were　unwound；　and　beneath　we　found　a　covering　of　coarsest

linen；　for　in　those　very　ancient　days　the　craftsmen　were　not　so

skilled　in　matters　pertaining　to　the　embalming　of　the　body　as　they　are

now。　And　on　the　linen　was　written　in　an　oval；　〃Menkau…ra；　Royal　Son　of

the　Sun。〃　We　could　in　no　wise　loosen　this　linen；　it　held　so　firm　on　to

the　body。　Therefore；　faint　with　the　great　heat；　choked　with　mummy　dust

and　the　odour　of　spices；　and　trembling　with　fear　of　our　unholy　task；

wrought　in　that　most　lonesome　and　holy　place；　we　laid　the　body　down；

and　ripped　away　the　last　covering　with　the　knife。　First　we　cleared

Pharaoh's　head；　and　now　the　face　that　no　man　had　gazed　on　for　three

thousand　years　was　open　to　our　view。　It　was　a　great　face；　with　a　bold

brow；　yet　crowned　with　the　royal　ur？us；　beneath　which　the　white　locks；

stained　yellow　by　the　spices；　fell　in　long；　straight　wisps。　Not　the

cold　stamp　of　death；　and　not　the　slow　flight　of　three　thousand　years；

had　found　power　to　mar　the　dignity　of　those　shrunken　features。　We

gazed　on　them；　and　then；　made　bold　with　fear；　stripped　the　covering

from　the　body。　There　at　last　it　lay　before　us；　stiff；　yellow；　and

dread　to　see；　and　on　the　left　side；　above　the　thigh；　was　the　cut

through　which　the　embalmers　had　done　their　work；　but　it　was　sewn　up　so

deftly　that　we　could　scarcely　find　the　mark。



〃The　gems　are　within；〃　I　whispered；　for　I　felt　that　the　body　was　very

heavy。　〃Now；　if　thy　heart　fail　thee　not；　thou　must　make　an　entry　to

this　poor　house　of　clay　that　once　was　Pharaoh；〃　and　I　gave　her　the

daggerthe　same　dagger　which　had　drunk　the　life　of　Paulus。



〃It　is　too　late　to　doubt；〃　she　answered；　lifting　her　white　beauteous

face　and　fixing　her　blue　eyes　all　big　with　terror　upon　my　own。　She

took　the　dagger；　and　with　set　teeth　the　Queen　of　this　day　plunged　it

into　the　dead　breast　of　the　Pharaoh　of　three　thousand　years　ago。　And

even　as　she　did　so　there　came　a　groaning　sound　from　the　opening　to　the

shaft　where　we　had　left　the　eunuch！　We　leapt　to　our　feet；　but　heard　no

more；　and　the　lamp…light　still　streamed　down　through　the　opening。



〃It　is　nothing；〃　I　said。　〃Let　us　make　an　end。〃



Then　with　much　toil　we　hacked　and　rent　the　hard　flesh　open；　and　as　we

did　so　I　heard　the　knife　point　grate　upon　the　gems　within。



Cleopatra　plunged　her　hand　into　the　dead　breast　and　drew　f