cleopatra-第45章

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she　lay；　her　cloudy　hair　about　her　face　and　breast；　and　tears　flowing

from　her　deep　eyes。



〃O　Egypt！〃　he　cried；　〃behold　me　at　thy　feet！〃



She　sprang　from　the　couch。　〃And　art　thou　here；　my　love？〃　she　murmured；

〃then　once　again　are　all　things　well。　Come　near；　and　in　these　arms

forget　thy　sorrows　and　turn　my　grief　to　joy。　Oh；　Antony；　while　love　is

left　to　us；　still　have　we　all！〃



And　she　fell　upon　his　breast　and　kissed　him　wildly。







That　same　day；　Charmion　came　to　me　and　bade　me　prepare　a　poison　of　the

most　deadly　power。　And　this　at　first　I　would　not　do；　fearing　that

Cleopatra　would　therewith　make　an　end　of　Antony　before　his　time。　But

Charmion　showed　me　that　this　was　not　so；　and　told　me　also　for　what

purpose　was　the　poison。　Therefore　I　summoned　Atoua；　the　skilled　in

simples；　and　all　that　afternoon　we　laboured　at　the　deadly　work。　And

when　it　was　done；　Charmion　came　once　more；　bearing　with　her　a　chaplet

of　fresh　roses；　that　she　bade　me　steep　in　the　poison。



This　then　I　did。



That　night　at　the　great　feast　of　Cleopatra；　I　sat　near　Antony；　who　was

at　her　side；　and　wore　the　poisoned　wreath。　Now　as　the　feast　went　on；

the　wine　flowed　fast；　till　Antony　and　the　Queen　grew　merry。　And　she

told　him　of　her　plans；　and　of　how　even　now　her　galleys　were　being

drawn　by　the　canal　that　leads　from　Bubastis　on　the　Pelusiac　branch　of

the　Nile；　to　Clysma　at　the　head　of　the　Bay　of　Heroopolis。　For　it　was

her　design；　should　C？sar　prove　stubborn；　to　fly　with　Antony　and　her

treasure　down　the　Arabian　Gulf；　where　C？sar　had　no　fleet；　and　seek

some　new　home　in　India；　whither　her　foes　might　not　follow。　But；

indeed；　this　plan　came　to　nothing；　for　the　Arabs　of　Petra　burnt　the

galleys；　incited　thereto　by　a　message　sent　by　the　Jews　of　Alexandria；

who　hated　Cleopatra　and　were　hated　of　her。　For　I　caused　the　Jews　to　be

warned　of　what　was　being　done。



Now；　when　she　had　made　an　end　of　telling　him；　the　Queen　called　on　him

to　drink　a　cup　with　her；　to　the　success　of　this　new　scheme；　bidding

him；　as　she　did　so；　steep　his　wreath　of　roses　in　the　wine；　and　make

the　draught　more　sweet。　This；　then；　he　did；　and　it　being　done；　she

pledged　him。　But　when　he　was　about　to　pledge　her　back；　she　caught　his

hand；　crying　〃/Hold！/〃　whereat　he　paused；　wondering。



Now；　among　the　servants　of　Cleopatra　was　one　Eudosius；　a　steward；　and

this　Eudosius；　seeing　that　the　fortunes　of　Cleopatra　were　at　an　end；

had　laid　a　plan　to　fly　that　very　night　to　C？sar；　as　many　of　his

betters　had　done；　taking　with　him　all　the　treasure　in　the　palace　that

he　could　steal。　But　this　design　being　discovered　to　Cleopatra；　she

determined　to　be　avenged　upon　Eudosius。



〃Eudosius；〃　she　cried；　for　the　man　stood　near；　〃come　hither；　thou

faithful　servant！　Seest　thou　this　man；　most　noble　Antony；　through　all

our　troubles　he　has　clung　to　us　and　been　of　comfort　to　us。　Now；

therefore；　he　shall　be　rewarded　according　to　his　deserts　and　the

measure　of　his　faithfulness；　and　that　from　thine　own　hand。　Give　him

thy　golden　cup　of　wine；　and　let　him　drink　a　pledge　to　our　success；　the

cup　shall　be　his　guerdon。〃



And　still　wondering；　Antony　gave　it　to　the　man；　who；　stricken　in　his

guilty　mind；　took　it；　and　stood　trembling。　But　he　drank　not。



〃Drink！　thou　slave；　drink！〃　cried　Cleopatra；　half　rising　from　her　seat

and　flashing　a　fierce　look　on　his　white　face。　〃By　Serapis！　so　surely

as　I　yet　shall　sit　in　the　Capitol　at　Rome；　if　thou　dost　thus　flout　the

Lord　Antony；　I'll　have　thee　scourged　to　the　bones；　and　the　red　wine

poured　upon　thy　open　wounds　to　heal　them！　/Ah！/　at　length　thou

drinkest！　Why；　what　is　it；　good　Eudosius？　art　sick？　Surely；　then；　this

wine　must　be　as　the　water　of　jealousy　of　those　Jews；　that　has　power　to

slay　the　false　and　strengthen　the　honest　only。　Go；　some　of　you；　search

this　man's　room；　methinks　he　is　a　traitor！〃



Meanwhile　the　man　stood；　his　hands　to　his　head。　Presently　he　began　to

tremble；　and　then　fell；　clutching　at　his　bosom；　as　though　to　tear　out

the　fire　in　his　heart。　He　staggered；　with　livid；　twisted　face　and

foaming　lips；　to　where　Cleopatra　lay　watching　him　with　a　slow　and

cruel　smile。



〃Ah；　traitor！　thou　hast　it　now！〃　she　said。　〃Prithee；　is　death　sweet？〃



〃Thou　wanton！〃　yelled　the　dying　man；　〃thou　hast　poisoned　me！　Thus

mayst　thou　also　perish！〃　and　with　one　shriek　he　flung　himself　upon

her。　She　saw　his　purpose；　and　swift　and　supple　as　a　tiger　sprang　to

one　side；　so　that　he　did　but　grasp　her　royal　cloak；　tearing　it　from

its　emerald　clasp。　Down　he　fell　upon　the　ground；　rolling　over　and　over

in　the　purple　chiton；　till　presently　he　lay　still　and　dead；　his

tormented　face　and　frozen　eyes　peering　ghastly　from　its　folds。



〃Ah！〃　said　the　Queen；　with　a　hard　laugh；　〃the　slave　died　wondrous

hard；　and　fain　would　have　drawn　me　with　him。　See；　he　has　borrowed　my

garment　for　a　pall！　Take　him　away　and　bury　him　in　his　livery。〃



〃What　means　Cleopatra？〃　said　Antony；　as　the　guards　dragged　the　corpse

away；　〃the　man　drank　of　my　cup。　What　is　the　purpose　of　this　most　sorry

jest？〃



〃It　serves　a　double　end；　noble　Antony！　This　very　night　that　man　would

have　fled　to　Octavianus；　bearing　of　our　treasure　with　him。　Well；　I

have　lent　him　wings；　for　the　dead　fly　fast！　Also　this：　thou　didst　fear

that　I　should　poison　thee；　my　Lord；　nay；　I　know　it。　See　now；　Antony；

how　easy　it　were　that　I　should　slay　thee　if　I　had　the　will。　That

wreath　of　roses　which　thou　didst　steep　within　the　cup　is　dewed　with

deadly　bane。　Had　I；　then；　a　mind　to　make　an　end　of　thee；　I　had　not

stayed　thy　hand。　O　Antony；　henceforth　trust　me！　Sooner　would　I　slay

myself　than　harm　one　hair　of　thy　beloved　head！　See；　here　come　my

messengers！　Speak；　what　did　ye　find？〃



〃Royal　Egypt；　we　found　this。　All　things　in　the　chamber　of　Eudosius　are

made　ready　for　flight；　and　in　his　baggage　is　much　treasure。〃



〃Thou　hearest？〃　she　said；　smiling　darkly。　〃Think　ye；　my　loyal　servants

all；　that　Cleopatra　is　one　with　whom　it　is　well　to　play　the　traitor？

Be　warned　by　this　Roman's　fate！〃







Then　a　great　silence　of　fear　fell　upon　the　company；　and　Antony　sat

also　silent。







CHAPTER　VI



OF　THE　WORKINGS　OF　THE　LEARNED　OLYMPUS　AT　MEMPHIS；　OF　THE

POISONINGS　OF　CLEOPATRA；　OF　THE　SPEECH　OF　ANTONY　TO　HIS

CAPTAINS；　AND　OF　THE　PASSING　OF　ISIS　FROM　THE　LAND　OF　KHEM



Now　I；　Harmachis；　must　make　speed　with　my　task；　setting　down　that

which　is　permitted　as　shortly　as　may　be；　and　leaving　much　untold。　For

of　this　I　am　warned；　that　Doom　draws　on　and　my　days　are　wellnigh　sped。

After　the　drawing　forth　of　Antony　from　the　Timonium　came　that　time　of

heavy　quiet　which　heralds　the　rising　of　the　desert　wind。　Antony　and

Cleopatra　once　again　gave　themselves　up　to　luxury；　and　night　by　night

feasted　in　splendour　at　the　palace。　They　sent　ambassadors　to　C？sar；

but　C？sar　would　have　none　of　them；　and；　this　hope　being　gone；　they

turned　their　minds　to　the　defence　of　Alexandria。　Men　were　gathered；

ships　were　built；　and　a　great　force　was　made　ready　against　the　coming

of　C？sar。



And　now；　aided　by　Charmion；　I　began　my　last　work　of　hate　and

vengeance。　I　wormed　myself　deep　into　the　secrets　of　the　palace；

counselling　all　things　for　evil。　I　bade　Cleopatra　keep　Antony　gay；

lest　he　should　brood　upon　his　sorrows：　and　thus　she　sapped　his

strength　and　energy　with　luxury　and　wine。　I　gave　him　of　my　draughts

draughts　that　sank　his　soul　in　dreams　of　happiness　and　power；　leaving

him　to　wake　to　a　heavier　misery。　Soon；　without　my　healing　medicine　he

could　not　sleep；　and　thus；　being　ever　at　his　side；　I　bound　his

weakened　will　to　mine；　till　at　last　he　would　do　little　if　I　said　not

〃It　is　well。〃　Cleopatra；　also　grown　very　superstitious；　leaned　much

upon　me；　for　I　prophesied　falsely　to　her　in　secret。



Moreover；　I　wove　other　webs。　My　fame　was　great　throughout　Egypt；　for

during　the　long　years　that　I　had　dwelt　in　Tápé　it　had　spread　through

all　the　land。　Therefore　many　men　of　note　came　to　me；　both　for　their

health's　sake　and　because　it　was　known　that　I　had　the　ear　of　Antony

and　the　Queen；　and；　in　these　days　of　doubt　and　trouble；　they　were　fain

to　learn　the　truth。　All　these　men　I　worked　upon　with　doubtful　words；

sapping　their　loyalty；　and　I　caused　many　to　fall　away；　and　yet　none

could　bear　an　evil　report　of　what　I　had　said。　Also；　Cleopatra　sent　me

to　Memphis；　there　to　move　the　Priests　and　Governors　that　they　should

gather　men　in　Upper　Egypt　for　the　defence　of　Alexandria。　And　I　went

and　spoke　to　the　priests　with　such　a　double　meaning　and　with　so　much

wisdom　that　they　knew　me　to　be　one　of　the　initiated　in　the　deeper

mysteries。　But　how　I；　Olympus　the　physician；　came　thus　to　be　initiated

none　might　say。　And　afterwards　they　sought　me　secretly；　and　I　gave

them　the　holy　sign　of　brotherhood；　and　thereunder　bade　them　not　to　ask

who　I　might　be；　but　send　no　aid　to　Cleopatra。　Rather；　I　said；　must

they　make　peace　with　C？sar；　for　by　C？sar's　grace　only　could　the

worship　of　the　Gods　endure　in　Khem。　So；　having　taken　counsel　of　the

Holy　Apis；　they　promised　in　public　to　give　help　to　Cleopatra；　but　in

secret　sent　an　embassy　to　C？sar。



Thus；　then；　it　came　to　pass　that　Egypt　gave　but　little　aid　to　its

hated　Macedonian　Queen。　Thence　from　Memphis　I　came　once　more　to

Alexandria；　and；　having　made　favourable　report；　continued　my　secret

work。　And；　indeed；　the　Alexandrians　could　not　easily　be　stirred；　for；

as　they　say　in　the　marketplace；　〃The　ass　looks　at　its　burden　and　is

blind　to　its　master。〃　Cleopatra　had　oppressed　them　so　long　that　the

Roman　was　like　a　welcome　friend。



Thus　the　time　passed　on；　and　every　night　found　Cleopatra　with　fewer

friends　than　that　which　had　gone　before；　for　in　evil　days　friends　fly

like　swallows　before　the　frost。　Yet　she　would　not　give　up　Antony；　whom

she　loved；　though　to　my　knowledge　C？sar；　by　his　freedman；　Thyreus；

made　promise　to　her　of　her　dominions　for　herself　and　for　her　children

if　she　would　but　slay　Antony；　or　even　betray　him　bound。　But　to　this

her　woman's　heartfor　still　she　had　a　heartwould　not　consent；　and；

moreover；　we　counselled　her　against　it；　for　of　necessity　we　must　hold

him　to　her；　lest；　Antony　escaping　or　being　slain；　Cleopatra　might　ride

out　the　storm　and　yet　be　Queen　of　Egypt。　And　this　grieved　me；　because

Antony；　though　weak；　was　still　a　brave　man；　and　a　great；　and；

moreover；　in　my　own　heart　I　read　the　lesson　of　his　woes。　For　were　we

not　akin　in　wretchedness？　Had　not　the　same　woman　robbed　us　of　Empire；

Friends；　and　Honour？　But　pity　has　no　place　in　politics；　nor　could　it

turn　my　feet　from　the　path　of　vengeance　it　was　ordained　that　I　should

tread。　C？sar　drew　nigh；　Pelusium　fell；　the　end　was　at　hand。　It　was

Charmion　who　brought　the　tidings　to　the　Queen　and　Antony；　as　they

slept　in　the　heat　of　the　day；　and　I　came　with　her。



〃Awake！〃　she　cried。　〃Awake！　This　is　no　time　for　sleep！　Seleucus　hath


surrendered　Pelusium　to　C？sar；　who　marches　straight　on　Alexandria！〃



With　a　great　oath；　Anton