cleopatra-第42章

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matters。　Thus；　then；　it　came　to　pass　that　no　more　need　Atoua　go　forth

to　seek　food　and　water；　for　the　people　brought　itmore　than　was

needful；　for　I　would　receive　no　fee。　Now　at　first；　fearing　lest　some

in　the　hermit　Olympus　might　know　the　lost　Harmachis；　I　would　only　meet

those　who　came　in　the　darkness　of　the　tomb。　But　afterwards；　when　I

learned　how　it　was　held　through　all　the　land　that　Harmachis　was

certainly　no　more；　I　came　forth　and　sat　in　the　mouth　of　the　tomb；　and

ministered　to　the　sick；　and　at　times　calculated　nativities　for　the

great。　And　thus　my　fame　grew　continually；　till　at　length　folk

journeyed　even　from　Memphis　and　Alexandria　to　visit　me；　and　from　them

I　learned　how　Antony　had　left　Cleopatra　for　a　while；　and；　Fulvia　being

dead；　had　married　Octavia；　the　sister　of　C？sar。　Many　other　things　I

learned　also。



And　in　the　second　year　I　did　this：　I　despatched　the　old　wife；　Atoua；

disguised　as　a　seller　of　simples；　to　Alexandria；　bidding　her　seek　out

Charmion；　and；　if　yet　she　found　her　faithful；　reveal　to　her　the　secret

of　my　way　of　life。　So　she　went；　and　in　the　fifth　month　from　her

sailing　returned；　bearing　Charmion's　greetings　and　a　token。　And　she

told　me　that　she　had　found　means　to　see　Charmion；　and；　in　talk；　had

let　fall　the　name　of　Harmachis；　speaking　of　me　as　one　dead；　at　which

Charmion；　unable　to　control　her　grief；　wept　aloud。　Then；　reading　her

heartfor　the　old　wife　was　very　clever；　and　held　the　key　of　knowledge

she　told　her　that　Harmachis　yet　lived；　and　sent　her　greetings。

Thereon　Charmion　wept　yet　more　with　joy；　and　kissed　the　old　wife；　and

made　her　gifts；　bidding　her　tell　me　that　she　had　kept　her　vow；　and

waited　for　my　coming　and　the　hour　of　vengeance。　So；　having　learned

many　secrets；　Atoua　returned　again　to　Tápé。



And　in　the　following　year　messengers　came　to　me　from　Cleopatra；

bearing　a　sealed　roll　and　great　gifts。　I　opened　the　roll；　and　read

this　in　it：



　〃Cleopatra　to　Olympus；　the　learned　Egyptian　who　dwells　in　the

　　Valley　of　Death　by　Tápé



　〃The　fame　of　thy　renown；　O　learned　Olympus；　hath　reached　our　ears。

　　Tell　thou；　then；　this　to　us；　and　if　thou　tellest　aright　greater

　　honour　and　wealth　shalt　thou　have　than　any　in　Egypt：　How　shall　we

　　win　back　the　love　of　noble　Antony；　who　is　bewitched　of　cunning

　　Octavia；　and　tarries　long　from　us？〃



Now；　in　this　I　saw　the　hand　of　Charmion；　who　had　made　my　renown　known

to　Cleopatra。



All　that　night　I　took　counsel　with　my　wisdom；　and　on　the　morrow　wrote

my　answer　as　it　was　put　into　my　heart　to　the　destruction　of　Cleopatra

and　Antony。　And　thus　I　wrote：



　〃Olympus　the　Egyptian　to　Cleopatra　the　Queen



　〃Go　forth　into　Syria　with　one　who　shall　be　sent　to　lead　thee；　thus

　　shalt　thou　win　Antony　to　thy　arms　again；　and　with　him　gifts　more

　　great　than　thou　canst　dream。〃



And　with　this　letter　I　dismissed　the　messengers；　bidding　them　share

the　presents　sent　by　Cleopatra　among　their　company。



So　they　went　wondering。



But　Cleopatra；　seizing　on　the　advice　to　which　her　passion　prompted

her；　departed　straightway　with　Fonteius　Capito　into　Syria；　and　there

the　thing　came　about　as　I　had　foretold；　for　Antony　was　subdued　of　her

and　gave　her　the　greater　part　of　Cilicia；　the　ocean　shore　of　Arabia

Nabath？a；　the　balm…bearing　provinces　of　Jud？a；　the　province　of

Ph？nicia；　the　province　of　C？le…Syria；　the　rich　isle　of　Cyprus；　and　all

the　library　of　Pergamus。　And　to　the　twin　children　that；　with　the　son

Ptolemy；　Cleopatra　had　borne　to　Antony；　he　impiously　gave　the　names　of

〃Kings；　the　Children　of　Kings〃of　Alexander　Helios；　as　the　Greeks

name　the　sun；　and　of　Cleopatra　Selene；　the　moon；　the　long…winged。



These　things　then　came　to　pass。



Now　on　her　return　to　Alexandria　Cleopatra　sent　me　great　gifts；　of

which　I　would　have　none；　and　prayed　me；　the　learned　Olympus；　to　come

to　her　at　Alexandria；　but　it　was　not　yet　time；　and　I　would　not。　But

thereafter　she　and　Antony　sent　many　times　to　me　for　counsel；　and　I

ever　counselled　them　to　their　ruin；　nor　did　my　prophecies　fail。







Thus　the　long　years　rolled　away；　and　I；　the　hermit　Olympus；　the

dweller　in　a　tomb；　the　eater　of　bread　and　the　drinker　of　water；　by

strength　of　the　wisdom　that　was　given　me　of　the　avenging　Power；　became

once　more　great　in　Khem。　For　I　grew　ever　wiser　as　I　trampled　the

desires　of　the　flesh　beneath　my　feet　and　turned　my　eyes　to　heaven。



At　length　eight　full　years　were　accomplished。　The　war　with　the

Parthians　had　come　and　gone；　and　Artavasdes；　King　of　Armenia；　had　been

led　in　triumph　through　the　streets　of　Alexandria。　Cleopatra　had

visited　Samos　and　Athens；　and；　by　her　counselling；　the　noble　Octavia

had　been　driven；　like　some　discarded　concubine；　from　the　house　of

Antony　at　Rome。　And　now；　at　the　last；　the　measure　of　the　folly　of

Antony　was　full　even　to　the　brim。　For　this　Master　of　the　World　had　no

longer　the　good　gift　of　reason；　he　was　lost　in　Cleopatra　as　I　had　been

lost。　Therefore；　in　the　event；　Octavianus　declared　war　against　him。



And　as　I　slept　upon　a　certain　day　in　the　chamber　of　the　Harpers；　in

the　tomb　of　Pharaoh　that　is　by　Tápé；　there　came　to　me　a　vision　of　my

father；　the　aged　Amenemhat；　and　he　stood　over　me；　leaning　on　his

staff；　and　spoke；　saying：



〃Look　forth；　my　son。〃



Then　I　looked　forth；　and　with　the　eyes　of　my　spirit　saw　the　sea；　and

two　great　fleets　grappling　in　war　hard　by　a　rocky　coast。　And　the

emblems　were　those　of　Octavian；　and　of　the　other　those　of　Cleopatra

and　Antony。　The　ships　of　Antony　and　Cleopatra　bore　down　upon　the　ships

of　C？sar；　and　drove　them　on；　for　victory　inclined　to　Antony。



I　looked　again。　There　sat　Cleopatra　in　a　gold…decked　galley　watching

the　fight　with　eager　eyes。　Then　I　cast　my　Spirit　on　her　so　that　she

seemed　to　hear　the　voice　of　dead　Harmachis　crying　in　her　ear。



〃/Fly；　Cleopatra；/〃　it　seemed　to　say；　〃/fly　or　perish！/〃



She　looked　up　wildly；　and　again　she　heard　my　Spirit's　cry。　Now　a

mighty　fear　took　hold　of　her。　She　called　aloud　to　the　sailors　to　hoist

the　sails　and　make　signal　to　her　fleet　to　put　about。　This　they　did

wondering　but　little　loath；　and　fled　in　haste　from　the　battle。



Then　a　great　roar　went　up　from　friend　and　foe。



〃Cleopatra　is　fled！　Cleopatra　is　fled！〃　And　I　saw　wreck　and　red　ruin

fall　upon　the　fleet　of　Antony　and　awoke　from　my　trance。



The　days　passed；　and　again　a　vision　of　my　father　came　to　me　and　spoke；

saying：



〃Arise；　my　son！the　hour　of　vengeance　is　at　hand！　Thy　plots　have　not

failed；　thy　prayers　have　been　heard。　By　the　bidding　of　the　Gods；　as

she　sat　in　her　galley　at　the　fight　of　Actium；　the　heart　of　Cleopatra

was　filled　with　fears；　so　that；　deeming　she　heard　thy　voice　bidding

her　fly　or　perish；　she　fled　with　all　her　fleet。　Now　the　strength　of

Actium　is　broken　on　the　sea。　Go　forth；　and　as　it　shall　be　put　into　thy

mind；　so　do　thou。〃



In　the　morning　I　awoke；　wondering；　and　went　to　the　mouth　of　the　tomb；

and　there；　coming　up　the　valley；　I　saw　the　messengers　of　Cleopatra；

and　with　them　a　Roman　guard。



〃What　will　ye　with　me　now？〃　I　asked；　sternly。



〃This　is　the　message　of　the　Queen　and　of　great　Antony；〃　answered　the

Captain；　bowing　low　before　me；　for　I　was　much　feared　by　all　men。　〃The

Queen　commands　thy　presence　at　Alexandria。　Many　times　has　she　sent；

and　thou　wouldst　not　come；　now　she　bids　thee　to　come；　and　that

swiftly；　for　she　has　need　of　thy　counsel。〃



〃And　if　I　say　Nay；　soldier；　what　then？〃



〃These　are　my　orders；　most　holy　Olympus；　that　I　bring　thee　by　force。〃



I　laughed　aloud。　〃By　force；　thou　fool！　Use　not　such　talk　to　me；　lest　I

smite　thee　where　thou　art。　Know；　then；　that　I　can　kill　as　well　as

cure！〃



〃Pardon；　I　beseech　thee！〃　he　answered；　shrinking。　〃I　say　but　those

things　that　I　am　bid。〃



〃Well；　I　know　it；　Captain。　Fear　not；　I　come。〃



So　on　that　very　day　I　departed；　together　with　the　aged　Atoua。　Ay；　I

went　as　secretly　as　I　had　come；　and　the　tomb　of　the　Divine　Rameses

knew　me　no　more。　And　with　me　I　took　all　the　treasures　of　my　father；

Amenemhat；　for　I　was　not　minded　to　go　to　Alexandria　empty…handed　and

as　a　suppliant；　but　rather　as　a　man　of　much　wealth　and　condition。　Now；

as　I　went；　I　learned　that　Antony；　following　Cleopatra；　had；　indeed；

fled　from　Actium；　and　knew　that　the　end　drew　nigh。　For　this　and　many

other　things　had　I　foreseen　in　the　darkness　of　the　tomb　of　Tápé；　and

planned　to　bring　about。







Thus；　then；　I　came　to　Alexandria；　and　entered　into　a　house　which　had

been　made　ready　for　me　at　the　palace　gates。



And　that　very　night　Charmion　came　to　meCharmion　whom　I　had　not　seen

for　nine　long　years。







CHAPTER　IV



OF　THE　MEETING　OF　CHARMION　WITH　THE　LEARNED　OLYMPUS；　OF　HER

SPEECH　WITH　HIM；　OF　THE　COMING　OF　OLYMPUS　INTO　THE

PRESENCE　OF　CLEOPATRA；　AND　OF　THE　COMMANDS　OF　CLEOPATRA。



Clad　in　my　plain　black　robe；　I　sat　in　the　guest…chamber　of　the　house

that　had　been　made　ready　for　me。　I　sat　in　a　carven　lion…footed　chair；

and　looked　upon　the　swinging　lamps　of　scented　oil；　the　pictured

tapestries；　the　rich　Syrian　rugsand；　amidst　all　this　luxury；

bethought　me　of　that　tomb　of　the　Harpers　which　is　at　Tápé；　and　of　the

nine　long　years　of　dark　loneliness　and　preparation。　I　sat；　and

crouched　upon　a　rug　near　to　the　door；　lay　the　aged　Atoua。　Her　hair　was

white　as　snow；　and　shrivelled　with　age　was　the　wrinkled　countenance　of

the　woman　who；　when　all　deserted　me；　had　yet　clung　to　me；　in　her　great

love　forgetting　my　great　sins。　Nine　years！　nine　long　years！　and　now；

once　again；　I　set　my　foot　in　Alexandria！　Once　again　in　the　appointed

circle　of　things　I　came　forth　from　the　solitude　of　preparation　to　be　a

fate　to　Cleopatra；　and　this　second　time　I　came　not　forth　to　fail。



And　yet　how　changed　the　circumstance！　I　was　out　of　the　story：　my　part

now　was　but　the　part　of　the　sword　in　the　hands　of　Justice；　I　might　no

more　hope　to　make　Egypt　free　and　great　and　sit　upon　my　lawful　throne。

Khem　was　lost；　and　lost　was　I；　Harmachis。　In　the　rush　and　turmoil　of

events；　the　great　plot　of　which　I　had　been　the　pivot　was　covered　up

and　forgotten；　scarce　a　memory　of　it　remained。　The　curtain　of　dark

night　was　closing　in　upon　the　history　of　my　ancient　Race；　its　very

Gods　were　tottering　to　their　fall；　I　could　already；　in　the　spirit；

hear　the　shriek　of　the　Roman　eagles　as　they　flapped　their　wings　above

the　furthest　banks　of　Sihor。



Presently　I　roused　myself　and　bade　Atoua　go　seek　a　mirror　and　bring　it

to　me；　that　I　might　look　therein。



And　I　saw　this：　a　face　shrunken　and　pallid；　on　which　no　smile　came；

great　eyes　grown　wan　with　gazing　into　darkness　looking　out　beneath　the

shaven　head；　emptily；　as　the　hollow　eye…pits　of　a　skull；　a　wizened

halting　form　wasted　by　abstinence；　sorrow；　and　prayer；　a　long　wild

beard　of　iron　grey；　thin　blue…veined　hands　that　ever　trembled　like　a

leaf；　bowed　shoulders　and　lessened　limbs。　Time　and　grief　had　done

their　work　indeed；　scarce　could　I　think　myself