cleopatra-第4章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



smote　off　his　head　with　a　sword；　and　the　eunuch　drew　forth　the　signet

of　Pharaoh　as　warrant　for　the　deed　and　showed　it　to　the　old　wife；

Atoua；　bidding　her　tell　the　High　Priest　that　his　son　should　be　King

without　a　head。



And　as　they　went　one　of　their　number　saw　me　playing　in　the　dirt　and

called　out　that　there　was　more　breeding　in　yonder　brat　than　in　the

Prince　Harmachis；　and　for　a　moment　they　wavered；　thinking　to　slay　me

also；　but　in　the　end　they　passed　on；　bearing　the　head　of　my　foster…

brother；　for　they　loved　not　to　murder　little　children。



After　a　while；　the　mother　of　the　dead　child　returned　from　the　market…

place；　and　when　she　found　what　had　been　done；　she　and　her　husband

would　have　killed　Atoua　the　old　wife；　her　mother；　and　given　me　up　to

the　soldiers　of　Pharaoh。　But　my　father　came　in　also　and　learned　the

truth；　and　he　caused　the　man　and　his　wife　to　be　seized　by　night　and

hidden　away　in　the　dark　places　of　the　temple；　so　that　none　saw　them

more。



But　I　would　to…day　that　it　had　been　the　will　of　the　Gods　that　I　had

been　slain　of　the　soldiers　and　not　the　innocent　child。







Thereafter　it　was　given　out　that　the　High　Priest　Amenemhat　had　taken

me　to　be　as　a　son　to　him　in　the　place　of　that　Harmachis　who　was　slain

of　Pharaoh。







CHAPTER　II



OF　THE　DISOBEDIENCE　OF　HARMACHIS；　OF　THE　SLAYING　OF　THE

LION；　AND　OF　THE　SPEECH　OF　THE　OLD　WIFE；　ATOUA



And　after　these　things　Ptolemy　the　Piper　troubled　us　no　more；　nor　did

he　again　send　his　soldiers　to　seek　for　him　of　whom　it　was　prophesied

that　he　should　be　Pharaoh。　For　the　head　of　the　child；　my　foster…

brother；　was　brought　to　him　by　the　eunuch　as　he　sat　in　his　palace　of

marble　at　Alexandria；　flushed　with　Cyprian　wine；　and　played　upon　the

flute　before　his　women。　And　at　his　bidding　the　eunuch　lifted　up　the

head　by　the　hair　for　him　to　look　on。　Then　he　laughed　and　smote　it　on

the　cheek　with　his　sandal；　bidding　one　of　the　girls　crown　Pharaoh　with

flowers。　And　he　bowed　the　knee；　and　mocked　the　head　of　the　innocent

child。　But　the　girl；　who　was　sharp　of　tonguefor　all　of　this　I　heard

in　after　yearssaid　to　him　that　〃he　did　well　to　bow　the　knee；　for

this　child　was　indeed　Pharaoh；　the　greatest　of　Pharaohs；　and　his　name

was　the　/Osiris/　and　his　throne　was　/Death/。〃



Aulêtes　was　much　troubled　at　these　words；　and　trembled；　for；　being　a

wicked　man；　he　greatly　feared　entering　into　Amenti。　So　he　caused　the

girl　to　be　slain　because　of　the　evil　omen　of　her　saying；　crying　that

he　would　send　her　to　worship　that　Pharaoh　whom　she　had　named。　And　the

other　women　he　sent　away；　and　played　no　more　upon　the　flute　till　he

was　once　again　drunk　on　the　morrow。　But　the　Alexandrians　made　a　song

on　the　matter；　which　is　still　sung　about　the　streets。　And　this　is　the

beginning　of　it



　　Ptolemy　the　Piper　played

　　　　Over　dead　and　dying；

　　Piped　and　played　he　well。

　　　　Sure　that　flute　of　his　was　made

　　Of　the　dank　reed　sighing

　　　　O'er　the　streams　of　Hell。

　　There　beneath　the　shadows　grey；

　　　　With　the　sisters　three；

　　Shall　he　pipe　for　many　a　day。

　　　　May　the　Frog　his　butler　be！

　　　　And　his　wine　the　water　of　that　countrie

　　　　　　Ptolemy　the　Piper！



After　this　the　years　passed　on；　nor　did　I；　being　very　little；　know

anything　of　the　great　things　that　came　to　pass　in　Egypt；　nor　is　it　my

purpose　to　set　them　out　here。　For　I；　Harmachis；　having　little　time

left　to　me；　will　only　speak　of　those　things　with　which　I　have　been

concerned。



And　as　the　time　went　on；　my　father　and　the　teachers　instructed　me　in

the　ancient　learning　of　our　people；　and　in　such　matters　appertaining

to　the　Gods　as　it　is　meet　that　children　should　know。　So　I　grew　strong

and　comely；　for　my　hair　was　black　as　the　hair　of　the　divine　Nout；　and

my　eyes　were　blue　as　the　blue　lotus；　and　my　skin　was　like　the

alabaster　within　the　sanctuaries。　For　now　that　these　glories　have

passed　from　me　I　may　speak　of　them　without　shame。　I　was　strong　also。

There　was　no　youth　of　my　years　in　Abouthis　who　could　stand　against　me

to　wrestle　with　me；　nor　could　any　throw　so　far　with　the　sling　or

spear。　And　I　much　yearned　to　hunt　the　lion；　but　he　whom　I　called　my

father　forbade　me；　telling　me　that　my　life　was　of　too　great　worth　to

be　so　lightly　hazarded。　But　when　I　bowed　before　him　and　prayed　he

would　make　his　meaning　clear　to　me；　the　old　man　frowned　and　answered

that　the　Gods　made　all　things　clear　in　their　own　season。　For　my　part；

however；　I　went　away　in　wroth；　for　there　was　a　youth　in　Abouthis　who

with　others　had　slain　a　lion　which　fell　upon　his　father's　herds；　and；

being　envious　of　my　strength　and　beauty；　he　set　it　about　that　I　was

cowardly　at　heart；　in　that　when　I　went　out　to　hunt　I　only　slew　jackals

and　gazelles。　Now；　this　was　when　I　had　reached　my　seventeenth　year　and

was　a　man　grown。



It　chanced；　therefore；　that　as　I　went　sore　at　heart　from　the　presence

of　the　High　Priest；　I　met　this　youth；　who　called　to　me　and　mocked　me；

bidding　me　know　the　country　people　had　told　him　that　a　great　lion　was

down　among　the　rushes　by　the　banks　of　the　canal　which　runs　past　the

Temple；　lying　at　a　distance　of　thirty　stadia　from　Abouthis。　And；　still

mocking　me；　he　asked　me　if　I　would　come　and　help　him　slay　this　lion；

or　would　I　go　and　sit　among　the　old　women　and　bid　them　comb　my　side

lock？　This　bitter　word　so　angered　me　that　I　was　near　to　falling　on

him；　but　in　place　therefore；　forgetting　my　father's　saying；　I　answered

that　if　he　would　come　alone；　I　would　go　with　him　and　seek　this　lion；

and　he　should　learn　if　I　were　indeed　a　coward。　And　at　first　he　would

not；　for；　as　men　know；　it　is　our　custom　to　hunt　the　lion　in　companies；

so　it　was　my　hour　to　mock。　Then　he　went　and　fetched　his　bow　and　arrows

and　a　sharp　knife。　And　I　brought　forth　my　heavy　spear；　which　had　a

shaft　of　thorn…wood；　and　at　its　end　a　pomegranate　in　silver；　to　hold

the　hand　from　slipping；　and；　in　silence；　we　went；　side　by　side；　to

where　the　lion　lay。　When　we　came　to　the　place；　it　was　near　sundown；

and　there；　upon　the　mud　of　the　canal…bank；　we　found　the　lion's　slot；

which　ran　into　a　thick　clump　of　reeds。



〃Now；　thou　boaster；〃　I　said；　〃wilt　thou　lead　the　way　into　yonder

reeds；　or　shall　I？〃　And　I　made　as　though　I　would　lead　the　way。



〃Nay；　nay；〃　he　answered；　〃be　not　so　mad！　The　brute　will　spring　upon

thee　and　rend　thee。　See！　I　will　shoot　among　the　reeds。　Perchance；　if

he　sleeps；　it　will　arouse　him。〃　And　he　drew　his　bow　at　a　venture。



How　it　chanced　I　know　not；　but　the　arrow　struck　the　sleeping　lion；

and；　like　a　flash　of　light　from　the　belly　of　a　cloud；　he　bounded　from

the　shelter　of　the　reeds；　and　stood　before　us　with　bristling　mane　and

yellow　eyes；　the　arrow　quivering　in　his　flank。　He　roared　aloud　in

fury；　and　the　earth　shook。



〃Shoot　with　the　bow；〃　I　cried；　〃shoot　swiftly　ere　he　spring！〃



But　courage　had　left　the　breast　of　the　boaster；　his　jaw　dropped　down

and　his　fingers　unloosed　their　hold　so　that　the　bow　fell　from　them；

then；　with　a　loud　cry　he　turned　and　fled　behind　me；　leaving　the　lion

in　my　path。　But　while　I　stood　waiting　my　doom；　for　though　I　was　sore

afraid　I　would　not　fly；　the　lion　crouched　himself；　and　turning　not

aside；　with　one　great　bound　swept　over　me；　touching　me　not。　He　lit；

and　again　he　bounded　full　upon　the　boaster's　back；　striking　him　such　a

blow　with　his　great　paw　that　his　head　was　crushed　as　an　egg　thrown

against　a　stone。　He　fell　down　dead；　and　the　lion　stood　and　roared　over

him。　Then　I　was　mad　with　horror；　and；　scarce　knowing　what　I　did；　I

grasped　my　spear　and　with　a　shout　I　charged。　As　I　charged　the　lion

lifted　himself　up　above　me。　He　smote　at　me　with　his　paw；　but　with　all

my　strength　I　drove　the　broad　spear　into　his　throat；　and；　shrinking

from　the　agony　of　the　steel；　his　blow　fell　short　and　did　no　more　than

rip　my　skin。　Back　he　fell；　the　great　spear　far　in　his　throat；　then

rising；　he　roared　in　pain　and　leapt　twice　the　height　of　a　man　straight

into　the　air；　smiting　at　the　spear　with　his　forepaws。　Twice　he　leapt

thus；　horrible　to　see；　and　twice　he　fell　upon　his　back。　Then　his

strength　spent　itself　with　his　rushing　blood；　and；　groaning　like　a

bull；　he　died；　while　I；　being　but　a　lad；　stood　and　trembled　with　fear

now　that　all　cause　of　fear　had　passed。



But　as　I　stood　and　gazed　at　the　body　of　him　who　had　taunted　me；　and　at

the　carcass　of　the　lion；　a　woman　came　running　towards　me；　even　the

same　old　wife；　Atoua；　who；　though　I　knew　it　not　as　yet；　had　offered　up

her　flesh　and　blood　that　I　might　be　saved　alive。　For　she　had　been

gathering　simples；　in　which　she　had　great　skill；　by　the　water's　edge；

not　knowing　that　there　was　a　lion　near　（and；　indeed；　the　lions；　for

the　most　part；　are　not　found　in　the　tilled　land；　but　rather　in　the

desert　and　the　Libyan　mountains）；　and　had　seen　from　a　distance　that

which　I　have　set　down。　Now；　when　she　was　come；　she　knew　me　for

Harmachis；　and；　bending　herself；　she　made　obeisance　to　me；　and　saluted

me；　calling　me　Royal；　and　worthy　of　all　honour；　and　beloved；　and

chosen　of　the　Holy　Three；　ay；　and　by　the　name　of　the　Pharaoh！　the

Deliverer！



But　I；　thinking　that　terror　had　made　her　sick　of　mind；　asked　her　of

what　she　would　speak。



〃Is　it　a　great　thing；〃　I　asked；　〃that　I　should　slay　a　lion？　Is　it　a

matter　worthy　of　such　talk　as　thine？　There　live；　and　have　lived；　men

who　have　slain　many　lions。　Did　not　the　Divine　Amen…hetep　the　Osirian

slay　with　his　own　hand　more　than　a　hundred　lions？　Is　it　not　written　on

the　scarab？us　that　hangs　within　my　father's　chamber；　that　he　slew

lions　aforetime？　And　have　not　others　done　likewise？　Why　then；　speakest

thou　thus；　O　foolish　woman？〃



All　of　which　I　said；　because；　having　now　slain　the　lion；　I　was　minded；

after　the　manner　of　youth；　to　hold　it　as　a　thing　of　no　account。　But

she　did　not　cease　to　make　obeisance；　and　to　call　me　by　names　that　are

too　high　to　be　written。



〃O　Royal　One；〃　she　cried；　〃wisely　did　thy　mother　prophecy。　Surely　the

Holy　Spirit；　the　Knepth；　was　in　her；　O　thou　conceived　by　a　God！　See

the　omen。　The　lion　therehe　growls　within　the　Capitol　at　Romeand

the　dead　man；　he　is　the　Ptolemythe　Macedonian　spawn　that；　like　a

foreign　weed；　hath　overgrown　the　land　of　Nile；　with　the　Macedonian

Lagid？　thou　shalt　go　to　smite　the　lion　of　Rome。　But　the　Macedonian　cur

shall　fly；　and　the　Roman　lion　shall　strike　him　down；　and　thou　shalt

strike　down　the　lion；　and　the　land　of　Khem　shall　once　more　be　free！

free！　Keep　thyself　but　pure；　according　to　the　commandment　of　the　Gods；

O　son　of　the　Royal　House；　O　hope　of　Khemi！　be　but　ware　of　Woman　the

Destroyer；　and　as　I　have　said；　so　shall　it　be。　I　am　poor　and　wretched；

yea；　stricken　with　sorrow。　I　have　sinned　in　speaking　of　what　should　be

hid；　and　for　my　sin　I　have　paid　in　the　coin　of　that　which　was　born　of

my　womb；　willingly　have　I　paid　for　thee。　But　I　have　still　of　the

wisdom　of　our　people；　nor　do　the　Gods；　in　whose　eyes　all　are　equal；

turn　their　countenance　from　the　poor；　the　Divine　M