cleopatra-第34章

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the　night　from　dawn。　All　rosy　grew　her　lovely　countenance；　her　dim

eyes　shone　out　like　stars；　and　a　smile　of　wonderment；　more　sweet　than

the　sudden　smile　of　the　sea　as　its　ripples　wake　to　brightness　beneath

the　kiss　of　the　risen　moon；　broke　through　her　rain　of　tears。



〃Thou　livest！〃　she　cried；　throwing　herself　on　her　knees　beside　my

couch。　〃Thou　livestand　I　thought　thee　gone！　Thou　art　come　back　to

me！　Oh！　what　say　I？　How　foolish　is　a　woman's　heart！　'Tis　this　long

watching！　Nay；　sleep　and　rest　thee；　Harmachis！why　dost　thou　talk？

Not　one　more　word；　I　command　thee　straitly！　Where　is　the　draught　left

by　that　long…bearded　fool？　Nay　thou　shalt　have　no　draught！　There；

sleep；　Harmachis；　sleep！〃　and　she　crouched　down　at　my　side　and　laid

her　cool　hand　upon　my　brow；　murmuring；　〃/Sleep！　sleep！/〃



And　when　I　woke　there　she　was　still；　but　the　lights　of　dawn　were

peeping　through　the　casement。　There　she　knelt；　one　hand　upon　my

forehead；　and　her　head；　in　all　its　disarray　of　curls；　resting　upon　her

outstretched　arm。



〃Charmion；〃　I　whispered；　〃have　I　slept？〃



Instantly　she　was　wide　awake；　and；　gazing　on　me　with　tender　eyes；

〃Yea；　thou　hast　slept；　Harmachis。〃



〃How　long；　then；　have　I　slept？〃



〃Nine　hours。〃



〃And　thou　hast　held　thy　place　there；　at　my　side；　for　nine　long　hours？〃



〃Yes；　it　is　nothing；　I　also　have　sleptI　feared　to　waken　thee　if　I

stirred。〃



〃Go；　rest；〃　I　said；　〃it　shames　me　to　think　of　this　thing。　Go　rest

thee；　Charmion！〃



〃Vex　not　thyself；〃　she　answered；　〃see；　I　will　bid　a　slave　watch　thee；

and　to　wake　me　if　thou　needest　aught；　I　sleep　there；　in　the　outer

chamber。　PeaceI　go！〃　and　she　strove　to　rise；　but；　so　cramped　was

she；　fell　straightway　on　the　floor。



I　can　scarcely　tell　the　sense　of　shame　that　filled　me　when　I　saw　her

fall。　Alas！　I　could　not　stir　to　help　her。



〃It　is　naught；〃　she　said；　〃move　not；　I　did　but　catch　my　foot。　There！〃

and　she　rose；　again　to　fall〃a　pest　upon　my　awkwardness！　WhyI　must

be　sleeping。　'Tis　well　now。　I'll　send　the　slave；〃　and　she　staggered

thence　like　one　overcome　with　wine。



And　after　that；　I　slept　once　more；　for　I　was　very　weak。　When　I　woke　it

was　afternoon；　and　I　craved　for　food；　which　Charmion　brought　me。



I　ate。　〃Then　I　die　not；〃　I　said。



〃Nay；〃　she　answered；　with　a　toss　of　her　head；　〃thou　wilt　live。　In

truth；　I　did　waste　my　pity　on　thee。〃



〃And　thy　pity　saved　my　life；〃　I　said　wearily；　for　now　I　remembered。



〃It　is　nothing；〃　she　answered　carelessly。　〃After　all；　thou　art　my

cousin；　also；　I　love　nursingit　is　a　woman's　trade。　Like　enough　I　had

done　as　much　for　any　slave。　Now；　too；　that　the　danger　is　past；　I　leave

thee。〃



〃Thou　hadst　done　better　to　let　me　die；　Charmion；〃　I　said　after　a

while；　〃for　life　to　me　can　now　be　only　one　long　shame。　Tell　me；　then；

when　sails　Cleopatra　for　Cilicia？〃



〃She　sails　in　twenty　days；　and　with　such　pomp　and　glory　as　Egypt　has

never　seen。　Of　a　truth；　I　cannot　guess　where　she　has　found　the　means

to　gather　in　this　store　of　splendour；　as　a　husbandman　gathers　his

golden　harvest。〃



But　I；　knowing　whence　the　wealth　came；　groaned　in　bitterness　of

spirit；　and　made　no　answer。



〃Goest　thou　also；　Charmion？〃　I　asked　presently。



〃Ay；　I　and　all　the　Court。　Thou；　toothou　goest。〃



〃I　go？　Nay；　why　is　this？〃



〃Because　thou　art　Cleopatra's　slave；　and　must　march　in　gilded　chains

behind　her　chariot；　because　she　fears　to　leave　thee　here　in　Khem；

because　it　is　her　will；　and　there　is　an　end。〃



〃Charmion；　can　I　not　escape？〃



〃Escape；　thou　poor　sick　man？　Nay；　how　canst　thou　escape？　Even　now　thou

art　most　strictly　guarded。　And　if　thou　didst　escape；　whither　wouldst

thou　fly？　There's　not　an　honest　man　in　Egypt　but　would　spit　on　thee　in

scorn！〃



Once　more　I　groaned　in　spirit；　and；　being　so　very　weak；　I　felt　the

tears　roll　adown　my　cheek。



〃Weep　not！〃　she　said　hastily；　and　turning　her　face　aside。　〃Be　a　man；

and　brave　these　troubles　out。　Thou　hast　sown；　now　must　thou　reap；　but

after　harvest　the　waters　rise　and　wash　away　the　rotting　roots；　and

then　seed…time　comes　again。　Perchance；　yonder　in　Cilicia；　a　way　may　be

found；　when　once　more　thou　art　strong；　by　which　thou　mayst　flyif　in

truth　thou　canst　bear　thy　life　apart　from　Cleopatra's　smile；　then　in

some　far　land　must　thou　dwell　till　these　things　are　forgotten。　And　now

my　task　is　done；　so　fare　thee　well！　At　times　I　will　come　to　visit　thee

and　see　that　thou　needest　nothing。〃



So　she　went；　and　I　was　nursed　thenceforward；　and　that　skilfully；　by

the　physician　and　two　women…slaves；　and　as　my　wound　healed　so　my

strength　came　back　to　me；　slowly　at　first；　then　most　swiftly。　In　four

days　from　that　time　I　left　my　couch；　and　in　three　more　I　could　walk　an

hour　in　the　palace　gardens；　another　week　and　I　could　read　and　think；

though　I　went　no　more　to　Court。　And　at　length　one　afternoon　Charmion

came　and　bade　me　make　ready；　for　the　fleet　would　sail　in　two　days；

first　for　the　coast　of　Syria；　and　thence　to　the　gulf　of　Issus　and

Cilicia。



Thereon；　with　all　formality；　and　in　writing；　I　craved　leave　of

Cleopatra　that　I　might　be　left；　urging　that　my　health　was　so　feeble

that　I　could　not　travel。　But　a　message　was　sent　to　me　in　answer　that　I

must　come。



And　so；　on　the　appointed　day；　I　was　carried　in　a　litter　down　to　the

boat；　and　together　with　that　very　soldier　who　had　cut　me　down；　the

Captain　Brennus；　and　others　of　his　troop　（who；　indeed；　were　sent　to

guard　me）；　we　rowed　aboard　a　vessel　where　she　lay　at　anchor　with　the

rest　of　the　great　fleet。　For　Cleopatra　was　voyaging　as　though　to　war

in　much　pomp；　and　escorted　by　a　fleet　of　ships；　among　which　her

galley；　built　like　a　house　and　lined　throughout　with　cedar　and　silken

hangings；　was　the　most　beautiful　and　costly　that　the　world　has　ever

seen。　But　I　went　not　on　this　vessel；　and　therefore　it　chanced　that　I

did　not　see　Cleopatra　or　Charmion　till　we　landed　at　the　mouth　of　the

river　Cydnus。



The　signal　being　made；　the　fleet　set　sail；　and；　the　wind　being　fair；

we　came　to　Joppa　on　the　evening　of　the　second　day。　Thence　we　sailed

slowly　with　contrary　winds　up　the　coast　of　Syria；　making　C？sarea；　and

Ptolemais；　and　Tyrus；　and　Berytus；　and　past　Lebanon's　white　brow

crowned　with　his　crest　of　cedars；　on　to　Heraclea　and　across　the　gulf

of　Issus　to　the　mouth　of　Cydnus。　And　ever　as　we　journeyed；　the　strong

breath　of　the　sea　brought　back　my　health；　till　at　length；　save　for　a

line　of　white　upon　my　head　where　the　sword　had　fallen；　I　was　almost　as

I　had　been。　And　one　night；　as　we　drew　near　Cydnus；　while　Brennus　and　I

sat　alone　together　on　the　deck；　his　eye　fell　upon　the　white　mark　his

sword　had　made；　and　he　swore　a　great　oath　by　his　heathen　Gods。　〃An

thou　hadst　died；　lad；〃　he　said；　〃methinks　I　could　never　again　have

held　up　my　head！　Ah！　that　was　a　coward　stroke；　and　I　am　shamed　to

think　that　it　was　I　who　struck　it；　and　thou　on　the　ground　with　thy

back　to　me！　Knowest　thou　that　when　thou　didst　lie　between　life　and

death；　I　came　every　day　to　ask　tidings　of　thee？　and　I　swore　by　Taranis

that　if　thou　didst　die　I'd　turn　my　back　upon　that　soft　palace　life　and

then　away　for　the　bonny　North。〃



〃Nay；　trouble　not；　Brennus；〃　I　answered；　〃it　was　thy　duty。〃



〃Mayhap！　but　there　are　duties　that　a　brave　man　should　not　donay；　not

at　the　bidding　of　any　Queen　who　ever　ruled　in　Egypt！　Thy　blow　had

dazed　me　or　I　had　not　struck。　What　is　it；　lad？art　in　trouble　with

this　Queen　of　ours？　Why　art　thou　dragged　a　prisoner　upon　this　pleasure

party？　Knowest　thou　that　we　are　strictly　charged　that　if　thou　dost

escape　our　lives　shall　pay　the　price？〃



〃Ay；　in　sore　trouble；　friend；〃　I　answered；　〃ask　me　no　more。〃



〃Then；　being　of　the　age　thou　art；　there's　a　woman　in　itthat　I　swear

and；　perchance；　though　I　am　rough　and　foolish；　I　might　make　a　guess。

Look　thou；　lad；　what　sayest　thou？　I　am　weary　of　this　service　of

Cleopatra　and　this　hot　land　of　deserts　and　of　luxury；　that　sap　a　man's

strength　and　drain　his　pocket；　and　so　are　others　whom　I　know　of。　What

sayest　thou：　let's　take　one　of　these　unwieldy　vessels　and　away　to　the

North？　I'll　lead　thee　to　a　better　land　than　Egypta　land　of　lake　and

mountain；　and　great　forests　of　sweet…scented　pine；　ay；　and　find　thee　a

girl　fit　to　mate　withmy　own　niecea　girl　strong　and　tall；　with　wide

blue　eyes　and　long　fair　hair；　and　arms　that　could　crack　thy　ribs　were

she　of　a　mind　to　hug　thee！　Come；　what　sayest　thou？　Put　away　the　past；

and　away　for　the　bonny　North；　and　be　a　son　to　me。〃



For　a　moment　I　thought；　and　then　sadly　shook　my　head；　for　though　I　was

sorely　tempted　to　be　gone；　I　knew　that　my　fate　lay　in　Egypt；　and　I

might　not　fly　my　fate。



〃It　may　not　be；　Brennus；〃　I　answered。　〃Fain　would　I　that　it　might　be；

but　I　am　bound　by　a　chain　of　destiny　which　I　cannot　break；　and　in　the

land　of　Egypt　I　must　live　and　die。〃



〃As　thou　wilt；　lad；〃　said　the　old　warrior。　〃I　should　have　dearly　loved

to　marry　thee　among　my　people；　and　make　a　son　of　thee。　At　the　least；

remember　that　while　I　am　here　thou　hast　Brennus　for　a　friend。　And　one

thing　more；　beware　of　that　beauteous　Queen　of　thine；　for；　by　Taranis；

perhaps　an　hour　may　come　when　she　will　hold　that　thou　knowest　too

much；　and　then〃　and　he　drew　his　hand　across　his　throat。　〃And　now

good　night；　a　cup　of　wine；　then　to　sleep；　for　to…morrow　the

foolery〃



＇Here　several　lengths　of　the　second　roll　of　papyrus　are　so　broken　as

to　be　undecipherable。　They　seem　to　have　been　descriptive　of

Cleopatra's　voyage　up　the　Cydnus　to　the　city　of　Tarsus。＇



〃And＇the　writing　continues＇to　those　who　could　take　joy　in　such

things；　the　sight　must；　indeed；　have　been　a　gallant　one。　For　the　stern

of　our　galley　was　covered　with　sheets　of　beaten　gold；　the　sails　were

of　the　scarlet　of　Tyre；　and　the　oars　of　silver　touched　the　water　to　a

measure　of　music。　And　there；　in　the　centre　of　the　vessel；　beneath　an

awning　ablaze　with　gold　embroidery；　lay　Cleopatra；　attired　as　the

Roman　Venus　（and　surely　Venus　was　not　more　fair！）；　in　thin　robes　of

whitest　silk；　bound　in　beneath　her　breast　with　a　golden　girdle

delicately　graven　over　with　scenes　of　love。　All　about　her　were　little

rosy　boys；　chosen　for　their　beauty；　and　clad　in　naught　save　downy

wings　strapped　upon　their　shoulders；　and　on　their　backs　Cupid's　bow

and　quiver；　who　fanned　her　with　fans　of　plumes。　Upon　the　vessel's

decks；　handling　the　cordage；　that　was　of　silken　web；　and　softly

singing　to　the　sound　of　harps　and　the　beat　of　oars；　were　no　rough

sailors；　but　women　lovely　to　behold；　some　robed　as　Graces　and　some　as

Nereidsthat　is；　scarce　robed　at　all；　except　in　their　scented　hair。

And　behind　the　couch；　with　drawn　sword；　stood　Brennus；　in　splendid

armour　and　winged　helm　of　gold；　and　by　him　othersI　among　themin

garments　richly　worked；　and　knew　that　I　was　indeed　a　slave！　On　the

high　poop　also　burned　censers　filled　with　costliest　incense；　of　which

the　fragrant　steam　hung　in　little　clouds　about　our　wake。