cleopatra-第38章

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arms　of　wanton　Egypt。〃



She　bowed　her　head　awhile；　and　then；　as　I　spoke　not；　once　more　went

on：



〃Let　all　my　sin　be　told；　Harmachis；　and　then　let　justice　come。　See

now；　this　thing　happened。　Half　did　Cleopatra　learn　to　love　thee；　and

deep　in　her　heart　she　bethought　her　of　taking　thee　to　wedded　husband。

For　the　sake　of　this　half　love　of　hers　she　spared　the　lives　of　those

in　the　plot　whom　she　had　meshed；　bethinking　her　that　if　she　wedded

thee　she　might　use　them　and　thee　to　draw　the　heart　of　Egypt；　which

loves　not　her　nor　any　Ptolemy。　And　then；　once　again　she　entrapped

thee；　and　in　thy　folly　thou　didst　betray　to　her　the　secret　of　the

hidden　wealth　of　Egypt；　which　to…day　she　squanders　to　delight　the

luxurious　Antony；　and；　of　a　truth；　at　that　time　she　purposed　to　make

good　her　oath　and　marry　thee。　But　on　the　very　morn　when　Dellius　came

for　answer　she　sent　for　me；　and　telling　me　allfor　my　wit；　above　any；

she　holds　at　pricedemanded　of　me　my　judgment　whether　she　should　defy

Antony　and　wed　thee；　or　whether　she　should　put　the　thought　away　and

come　to　Antony。　And　Inow　mark　thou　all　my　sinI；　in　my　bitter

jealousy；　rather　than　I　would　see　her　thy　wedded　wife　and　thou　her

loving　lord；　counselled　her　most　strictly　that　she　should　come　to

Antony；　well　knowingfor　I　had　had　speech　with　Delliusthat　if　she

came；　this　weak　Antony　would　fall　like　a　ripe　fruit　at　her　feet；　as；

indeed；　he　has　fallen。　And　but　now　I　have　shown　thee　the　issue　of　the

scheme。　Antony　loves　Cleopatra　and　Cleopatra　loves　Antony；　and　thou

art　robbed；　and　matters　have　gone　well　for　me；　who　of　all　women　on　the

earth　to…night　am　the　wretchedest　by　far。　For　when　I　saw　how　thy　heart

broke　but　now；　my　heart　seemed　to　break　with　thine；　and　I　could　no

longer　bear　the　burden　of　my　evil　deeds；　but　knew　that　I　must　tell

them　and　take　my　punishment。



〃And　now；　Harmachis；　I　have　no　more　to　say；　save　that　I　thank　thee　for

thy　courtesy　in　hearkening；　and　this　one　thing　I　add。　Driven　by　my

great　love　I　have　sinned　against　thee　unto　death！　I　have　ruined　thee；

I　have　ruined　Khem；　and　myself　also　I　have　ruined！　Let　death　reward

me！　Slay　thou　me；　HarmachisI　will　gladly　die　upon　thy　sword；　ay；　and

kiss　its　blade！　Slay　thou　me　and　go；　for　if　thou　slayest　me　not；

myself　I　will　surely　slay！〃　And　she　threw　herself　upon　her　knees；

lifting　her　fair　breast　toward　me；　that　I　might　smite　her　with　my

dagger。　And；　in　my　bitter　fury；　I　was　minded　to　strike；　for；　above

all；　I　thought　how；　when　I　was　fallen；　this　woman；　who　herself　was　my

cause　of　shame；　had　scourged　me　with　her　whip　of　scorn。　But　it　is　hard

to　slay　a　fair　woman；　and；　even　as　I　lifted　my　hand　to　strike；　I

remembered　that　she　had　now　twice　saved　my　life。



〃Woman！　thou　shameless　woman！〃　I　said；　〃arise！　I　slay　thee　not！　Who　am

I；　that　I　should　judge　thy　crime；　that；　with　mine　own；　doth　overtop

all　earthly　judgment？〃



〃Slay　me；　Harmachis！〃　she　moaned；　〃slay　me；　or　I　slay　myself！　My

burden　is　too　great　for　me　to　bear！　Be　not　so　deadly　calm！　Curse　me；

and　slay！〃



〃What　was　it　that　thou　didst　say　to　me　just　now；　Charmionthat　as　I

had　sown　so　I　must　reap？　It　is　not　lawful　that　thou　shouldst　slay

thyself；　it　is　not　lawful　that　I；　thine　equal　in　sin；　should　slay　thee

because　through　thee　I　sinned。　As　/thou/　hast　sown；　Charmion；　so　must

/thou/　also　reap。　Base　woman！　whose　cruel　jealousy　has　brought　all

these　woes　on　me　and　Egypt；　livelive　on；　and　from　year　to　year　pluck

the　bitter　fruit　of　crime！　Haunted　be　thy　sleep　by　visions　of　thy

outraged　Gods；　whose　vengeance　awaits　thee　and　me　in　their　dim　Amenti！

Haunted　be　thy　days　by　memories　of　that　man　whom　thy　fierce　love

brought　to　shame　and　ruin；　and　by　the　sight　of　Khem　a　prey　to　the

insatiate　Cleopatra　and　a　slave　to　Roman　Antony。〃



〃Oh；　speak　not　thus；　Harmachis！　Thy　words　are　sharper　than　any　sword；

and　more　surely；　if　more　slowly；　shall　they　slay！　Listen；　Harmachis；〃

and　she　grasped　my　robe：　〃when　thou　wast　great；　and　all　power　lay

within　thy　grasp；　thou　didst　reject　me。　Wilt　reject　me　now　that

Cleopatra　hast　cast　thee　from　hernow　that　thou　art　poor　and　shamed

and　with　no　pillow　to　thy　head？　Still　am　I　fair；　and　still　I　worship

thee。　Let　me　fly　with　thee；　and　make　atonement　for　my　lifelong　love。

Or；　if　this　be　too　great　a　thing　to　ask；　let　me　be　but　as　thy　sister

and　thy　servantthy　very　slave；　so　that　I　may　still　look　upon　thy

face；　and　share　thy　trouble　and　minister　to　thee。　O　Harmachis；　let　me

but　come　and　I　will　brave　all　things　and　endure　all　things；　and

nothing　but　Death　himself　shall　stay　me　from　thy　side。　For　I　do

believe　that　the　love　that　sank　me　to　so　low　a　depth；　dragging　thee

with　me；　can　yet　lift　me　to　an　equal　height；　and　thee　with　me！〃



〃Wouldst　tempt　me　to　fresh　sin；　woman？　And　dost　thou　think；　Charmion；

that　in　some　hovel　where　I　must　hide；　I　could　bear；　day　by　day；　to

look　upon　thy　fair　face；　and　seeing；　remember　that　those　lips　betrayed

me？　Not　thus　easily　shalt　thou　atone！　This　I　know　even　now：　many　and

heavy　shall　be　thy　lonely　days　of　penance！　Perchance　that　hour　of

vengeance　yet　may　come；　and　perchance　thou　shalt　live　to　play　thy　part

in　it。　Thou　must　still　abide　in　the　Court　of　Cleopatra；　and；　while

thou　art　there；　if　I　yet　live；　I　will　from　time　to　time　find　means　to

give　thee　tidings。　Perhaps　a　day　may　dawn　when　once　more　I　shall　need

thy　service。　Now；　swear　that；　in　this　event；　thou　wilt　not　fail　me　a

second　time。〃



〃I　swear；　Harmachis！I　swear！　May　everlasting　torments；　too　hideous

to　be　dreamedmore　hideous；　even；　by　far；　than　those　that　wring　me

nowbe　my　portion　if　I　fail　thee　in　one　jot　or　tittleay；　though　I

wait　a　lifetime　for　thy　word！〃



〃It　is　well；　see　that　thou　keep　the　oathnot　twice　may　we　betray。　I

go　to　work　out　my　fate；　abide　thou　to　work　out　thine。　Perchance　our

divers　threads　will　once　more　mingle　ere　the　web　be　spun。　Charmion；

who　unasked　didst　love　meand　who；　prompted　by　that　gentle　love　of

thine；　didst　betray　and　ruin　mefare　thee　well！〃



She　gazed　wildly　upon　my　faceshe　stretched　out　her　arms　as　though　to

clasp　me；　then；　in　the　agony　of　her　despair；　she　cast　herself　at

length　and　grovelled　upon　the　ground。



I　took　up　the　sack　of　clothing　and　the　staff　and　gained　the　door；　and；

as　I　passed　it；　I　threw　one　last　glance　upon　her。　There　she　lay；　with

arms　outstretchedmore　white　than　her　white　robesher　dark　hair

streaming　about　her；　and　her　fair　brows　hidden　in　the　dust。



And　thus　I　left　her；　nor　did　I　again　set　my　eyes　upon　her　till　nine

long　years　had　come　and　gone。



＇Here　ends　the　second　and　largest　roll　of　papyrus。＇









BOOK　III



THE　VENGEANCE　OF　HARMACHIS







CHAPTER　I



OF　THE　ESCAPE　OF　HARMACHIS　FROM　TARSUS；　OF　HIS　BEING　CAST

FORTH　AS　AN　OFFERING　TO　THE　GODS　OF　THE　SEA；　OF　HIS　SOJOURN　IN

THE　ISLE　OF　CYPRUS；　OF　HIS　RETURN　TO　ABOUTHIS；　AND　OF　THE

DEATH　OF　AMENEMHAT



I　made　my　way　down　the　stair　in　safety；　and　presently　stood　in　the

courtyard　of　that　great　house。　It　was　but　an　hour　from　dawn；　and　none

were　stirring。　The　last　reveller　had　drunk　his　fill；　the　dancing…girls

had　ceased　their　dancing；　and　silence　lay　upon　the　city。　I　drew　near

the　gate；　and　was　challenged　by　an　officer　who　stood　on　guard；　wrapped

in　a　heavy　cloak。



〃Who　passes；〃　said　the　voice　of　Brennus。



〃A　merchant；　may　it　please　you；　Sir；　who；　having　brought　gifts　from

Alexandria　to　a　lady　of　the　Queen's　household；　and；　having　been

entertained　of　the　lady；　now　departs　to　his　galley；〃　I　answered　in　a

feigned　voice。



〃Umph！〃　he　growled。　〃The　ladies　of　the　Queen's　household　keep　their

guests　late。　Well；　it　is　a　time　of　festival。　The　pass…word；　Sir

Shopkeeper？　Without　the　pass…word　you　must　needs　return　and　crave　the

lady's　further　hospitality。〃



〃'/Antony/；'　Sir；　and　a　right　good　word；　too。　Ah！　I've　wandered　far；

and　never　saw　I　so　goodly　a　man　or　so　great　a　general。　And；　mark　you；

Sir！　I've　travelled　far；　and　seen　many　generals。〃



〃Ay；　'/Antony/''s　the　word！　And　Antony　is　a　good　general　in　his　way

when　it　is　a　sober　way；　and　when　he　cannot　find　a　skirt　to　follow。

I've　served　with　Antonyand　against　him；　too；　and　know　his　points。

Well；　well；　he's　got　an　armful　now！〃



And　all　this　while　that　he　was　holding　me　in　talk；　the　sentry　had　been

pacing　to　and　fro　before　the　gate。　But　now　he　moved　a　little　way　to

the　right；　leaving　the　entrance　clear。



〃Fare　thee　well；　Harmachis；　and　begone！〃　whispered　Brennus；　leaning

forward　and　speaking　quickly。　〃Linger　not。　But　at　times　bethink　thee

of　Brennus　who　risked　his　neck　to　save　thine。　Farewell；　lad；　I　would

that　we　were　sailing　North　together；〃　and　he　turned　his　back　upon　me

and　began　to　hum　a　tune。



〃Farewell；　Brennus；　thou　honest　man；〃　I　answered；　and　was　gone。　And；

as　I　heard　long　afterwards；　when　on　the　morrow　the　hue　and　cry　was

raised　because　the　murderers　could　not　find　me；　though　they　sought　me

everywhere　to　slay　me；　Brennus　did　me　a　service。　For　he　swore　that　as

he　kept　his　watch　alone　an　hour　after　midnight　he　saw　me　come　and

stand　upon　the　parapet　of　the　roof；　that　then　I　stretched　out　my　robes

and　they　became　wings　on　which　I　floated　up　to　Heaven；　leaving　him

astonished。　And　all　those　about　the　Court　lent　ear　to　this　history；

believing　in　it；　because　of　the　great　fame　of　my　magic；　and　they

wondered　much　what　the　marvel　might　portend。　The　tale　also　travelled

into　Egypt；　and　did　much　to　save　my　good　name　among　those　whom　I　had

betrayed；　for　the　more　ignorant　among　them　believed　that　I　acted　not

of　my　will；　but　of　the　will　of　the　dread　Gods；　who　of　their　own

purpose　wafted　me　into　Heaven。　And　thus　to　this　day　the　saying　runs

that　〃/When　Harmachis　comes　again　Egypt　shall　be　free。/〃　But　alas；

Harmachis　comes　no　more！　Only　Cleopatra；　though　she　was　much　afraid；

doubted　her　of　the　tale；　and　sent　an　armed　vessel　to　search　for　the

Syrian　merchant；　but　not　to　find　him；　as　shall　be　told。







When　I　reached　the　galley　of　which　Charmion　had　spoken；　I　found　her

about　to　sail；　and　gave　the　writing　to　the　captain；　who　conned　it；

looking　on　me　curiously；　but　said　nothing。



So　I　went　aboard；　and　immediately　we　dropped　swiftly　down　the　river

with　the　current。　And　having　come　to　the　mouth　of　the　river

unchallenged；　though　we　passed　many　vessels；　we　put　out　to　sea　with　a

strong　favouring　wind　that　before　night　freshened　to　a　great　gale。

Then　the　sailor　men；　being　much　afraid；　would　have　put　about　and　run

for　the　mouth　of　Cydnus　again；　but　could　not　because　of　the　wildness

of　the　sea。　All　that　night　it　blew　furiously；　and　by　dawn　our　mast　was

carried　away；　and　we　rolled　helplessly　in　the　trough　of　the　great

waves。　But　I　sat　wrapped　in　a　cloak；　little　heeding；　and　because　I

showed　no　fear　the　sailors　cried　out　that　I　was　a　wizard；　and　sought

to　cast　me　into　the　sea；　but　the　captain　would　not。　At　dawn　the　wind

slackened；　but　ere　noon　it　once　more　blew　in　terrible　fury；　and　at　the