cleopatra-第47章

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doctor。〃



〃Hold　a　while！〃　I　said　in　a　slow　and　solemn　voice；　〃and　beware　how　ye

try　to　murder　the　servant　of　the　Gods。　I　am　no　traitor。　For　myself；　I

abide　the　event　here　in　Alexandria；　but　to　you　I　say；　Flee；　flee　to

C？sar！　I　serve　Antony　and　the　QueenI　serve　them　truly；　but　above　all

I　serve　the　Holy　Gods；　and　what　they　make　known　to　me；　that；　Lords；　I

do　know。　And　I　know　this：　that　Antony　is　doomed；　and　Cleopatra　is

doomed；　for　C？sar　conquers。　Therefore；　because　I　honour　you；　noble

gentlemen；　and　think　with　pity　on　your　wives；　left　widowed；　and　your

little　fatherless　children；　that　shall；　if　ye　hold　to　Antony；　be　sold

as　slavestherefore；　I　say；　cling　to　Antony　if　ye　will　and　die；　or

flee　to　C？sar　and　be　saved！　And　this　I　say　because　it　is　so　ordained

of　the　Gods。〃



〃The　Gods！〃　they　growled；　〃what　Gods？　Slit　the　traitor's　throat；　and

stop　his　ill…omened　talk！〃



〃Let　him　show　us　a　sign　from　his　Gods　or　let　him　die：　I　do　mistrust

this　man；〃　said　another。



〃Stand　back；　ye　fools！〃　I　cried。　〃Stand　backfree　mine　armsand　I

will　show　you　a　sign；〃　and　there　was　that　in　my　face　which　frightened

them；　for　they　freed　me　and　stood　back。　Then　I　lifted　up　my　hands　and

putting　out　all　my　strength　of　soul　searched　the　depths　of　space　till

my　Spirit　communed　with　the　Spirit　of　my　Mother　Isis。　Only　the　Word　of

Power　I　uttered　not；　as　I　had　been　bidden。　And　the　holy　mystery　of　the

Goddess　answered　to　my　Spirit's　cry；　falling　in　awful　silence　upon　the

face　of　the　earth。　Deeper　and　deeper　grew　the　terrible　silence；　even

the　dogs　ceased　to　howl；　and　in　the　city　men　stood　still　afeared。

Then；　from　far　away；　there　came　the　ghostly　music　of　the　sistra。　Faint

it　was　at　first；　but　ever　as　it　came　it　grew　more　loud；　till　the　air

shivered　with　the　unearthly　sound　of　terror。　I　said　naught；　but

pointed　with　my　hand　toward　the　sky。　And　behold！　bosomed　upon　the　air；

floated　a　vast　veiled　Shape　that；　heralded　by　the　swelling　music　of

the　sistra；　drew　slowly　near；　till　its　shadow　lay　upon　us。　It　came；　it

passed；　it　went　toward　the　camp　of　C？sar；　till　at　length　the　music

died　away；　and　the　awful　Shape　was　swallowed　in　the　night。



〃It　is　Bacchus！〃　cried　one。　〃Bacchus；　who　leaves　lost　Antony！〃　and；　as

he　spoke；　there　rose　a　groan　of　terror　from　all　the　camp。



But　I　knew　that　it　was　not　Bacchus；　the　false　God；　but　the　Divine　Isis

who　deserted　Khem；　and；　passing　over　the　edge　of　the　world；　sought　her

home　in　space；　to　be　no　more　known　of　men。　For　though　her　worship　is

still　upheld；　though　still　she　is　here　and　in　all　Earths；　Isis

manifests　herself　no　more　in　Egypt。　I　hid　my　face　and　prayed；　but　when

I　lifted　it　from　my　robe；　lo！　all　had　fled　and　I　was　alone。







CHAPTER　VII



OF　THE　SURRENDER　OF　THE　TROOPS　AND　FLEET　OF　ANTONY　BEFORE

THE　CANOPIC　GATE；　OF　THE　END　OF　ANTONY；　AND　OF　THE　BREWING　OF

THE　DRAUGHT　OF　DEATH



On　the　morrow；　at　dawn；　Antony　came　forth　and　gave　command　that　his

fleet　should　advance　against　the　fleet　of　C？sar；　and　that　his　cavalry

should　open　the　land…battle　with　the　cavalry　of　C？sar。　Accordingly；

the　fleet　advanced　in　a　triple　line；　and　the　fleet　of　C？sar　came　out

to　meet　it。　But　when　they　met；　the　galleys　of　Antony　lifted　their　oars

in　greeting；　and　passed　over　to　the　galleys　of　C？sar；　and　they　sailed

away　together。　And　the　cavalry　of　Antony　rode　forth　beyond　the

Hippodrome　to　charge　the　cavalry　of　C？sar；　but　when　they　met；　they

lowered　their　swords　and　passed　over　to　the　camp　of　C？sar；　deserting

Antony。　Then　Antony　grew　mad　with　rage　and　terrible　to　see。　He　shouted

to　his　legions　to　stand　firm　and　wait　attack；　and　for　a　little　while

they　stood。　One　man；　howeverthat　same　officer　who　would　have　slain

me　on　the　yesternightstrove　to　fly；　but　Antony　seized　him　with　his

own　hand；　threw　him　to　the　earth；　and；　springing　from　his　horse；　drew

his　sword　to　slay　him。　He　held　his　sword　on　high；　while　the　man；

covering　his　face；　awaited　death。　But　Antony　dropped　his　sword　and

bade　him　rise。



〃Go！〃　he　said。　〃Go　to　C？sar；　and　prosper！　I　did　love　thee　once。　Why；

then；　among　so　many　traitors；　should　I　single　thee　out　for　death？〃



The　man　rose　and　looked　upon　him　sorrowfully。　Then；　shame　overwhelming

him；　with　a　great　cry　he　tore　open　his　shirt　of　mail；　plunged　his

sword　into　his　own　heart　and　fell　down　dead。　Antony　stood　and　gazed　at

him；　but　he　said　never　a　word。　Meanwhile　the　ranks　of　C？sar's　legions

drew　near；　and　so　soon　as　they　crossed　spears　the　legions　of　Antony

turned　and　fled。　Then　the　soldiers　of　C？sar　stood　still　mocking　them；

but　scarce　a　man　was　slain；　for　they　pursued　not。



〃Fly；　Lord　Antony！　fly！〃　cried　Eros；　his　servant；　who　alone　with　me

stayed　by　him。　〃Fly　ere　thou　art　dragged　a　prisoner　to　C？sar！〃



So　he　turned　and　fled；　groaning　heavily。　I　went　with　him；　and　as　we

rode　through　the　Canopic　gate；　where　many　folk　stood　wondering；　Antony

spoke　to　me：



〃Go；　thou；　Olympus；　go　to　the　Queen　and　say：　'Antony　sends　greeting　to

Cleopatra；　who　hath　betrayed　him！　To　Cleopatra　he　sends　greeting　and

farewell！'〃



And　so　I　went　to　the　tomb；　but　Antony　fled　to　the　palace。　When　I　came

to　the　tomb　I　knocked　upon　the　door；　and　Charmion　looked　forth　from

the　window。



〃Open；〃　I　cried；　and　she　opened。



〃What　news；　Harmachis？〃　she　whispered。



〃Charmion；〃　I　said；　〃the　end　is　at　hand。　Antony　is　fled！〃



〃It　is　well；〃　she　answered；　〃I　am　aweary。〃



And　there　on　her　golden　bed　sat　Cleopatra。



〃Speak；　man！〃　she　cried。



〃Antony　has　fled；　his　forces　are　fled；　C？sar　draws　near。　To　Cleopatra

the　great　Antony　sends　greeting　and　farewell。　Greeting　to　Cleopatra

who　betrayed　him；　and　farewell。〃



〃It　is　a　lie！〃　she　screamed；　〃I　betrayed　him　not！　Thou；　Olympus；　go

swiftly　to　Antony　and　answer　thus：　'To　Antony；　Cleopatra；　who　hath　not

betrayed　him；　sends　greeting　and　farewell。　Cleopatra　is　no　more。'〃



And　so　I　went；　following　out　my　purpose。　In　the　Alabaster　Hall　I　found

Antony　pacing　to　and　fro；　tossing　his　hands　toward　heaven；　and　with

him　Eros；　for　of　all　his　servants　Eros　alone　remained　by　this　fallen

man。



〃Lord　Antony；〃　I　said；　〃Egypt　bids　thee　farewell。　Egypt　is　dead　by　her

own　hand。〃



〃Dead！　dead！〃　he　whispered；　〃and　is　Egypt　dead？　and　is　that　form　of

glory　now　food　for　worms？　Oh；　what　a　woman　was　this！　E'en　now　my　heart

goes　out　towards　her。　And　shall　she　outdo　me　at　the　last；　I　who　have

been　so　great；　shall　I　become　so　small　that　a　woman　can　overtop　my

courage　and　pass　where　I　fear　to　follow？　Eros；　thou　hast　loved　me　from

a　boymindest　thou　how　I　found　thee　starving　in　the　desert；　and　made

thee　rich；　giving　thee　place　and　wealth？　Come；　now　pay　me　back。　Draw

that　sword　thou　wearest　and　make　an　end　of　the　woes　of　Antony。〃



〃Oh；　Sire；〃　cried　the　Greek；　〃I　cannot！　How　can　I　take　away　the　life

of　godlike　Antony？〃



〃Answer　me　not；　Eros；　but　in　the　last　extreme　of　fate　this　I　charge

thee。　Do　thou　my　bidding；　or　begone　and　leave　me　quite　alone！　No　more

will　I　see　thy　face；　thou　unfaithful　servant！〃



Then　Eros　drew　his　sword　and　Antony　knelt　before　him　and　bared　his

breast；　turning　his　eyes　to　heaven。　But　Eros；　crying　〃I　cannot！　oh；　I

cannot！〃　plunged　the　sword　to　his　own　heart；　and　fell　dead。



Antony　rose　and　gazed　upon　him。　〃Why；　Eros；　that　was　nobly　done；〃　he

said。　〃Thou　art　greater　than　I；　yet　I　have　learned　thy　lesson！〃　and　he

knelt　down　and　kissed　him。



Then；　rising　of　a　sudden；　he　drew　the　sword　from　the　heart　of　Eros；

plunged　it　into　his　bowels；　and　fell；　groaning；　on　the　couch。



〃O　thou；　Olympus；〃　he　cried；　〃this　pain　is　more　than　I　can　bear！　Make

an　end　of　me；　Olympus！〃



But　pity　stirred　me；　and　I　could　not　do　this　thing。



Therefore　I　drew　the　sword　from　his　vitals；　staunched　the　flow　of

blood；　and；　calling　to　those　who　came　crowding　in　to　see　Antony　die；　I

bade　them　summon　Atoua　from　my　house　at　the　palace　gates。　Presently

she　came；　bringing　with　her　simples　and　life…giving　draughts。　These　I

gave　to　Antony；　and　bade　Atoua　go　with　such　speed　as　her　old　limbs

might　to　Cleopatra；　in　the　tomb；　and　tell　her　of　the　state　of　Antony。



So　she　went；　and　after　a　while　returned；　saying　that　the　Queen　yet

lived　and　summoned　Antony　to　die　in　her　arms。　And　with　her　came

Diomedes。　When　Antony　heard；　his　ebbing　strength　came　back；　for　he　was

fain　to　look　upon　Cleopatra's　face　again。　So　I　called　to　the　slaves

who　peeped　and　peered　through　curtains　and　from　behind　pillars　to　see

this　great　man　dieand　together；　with　much　toil；　we　bore　him　thence

till　we　came　to　the　foot　of　the　Mausoleum。



But　Cleopatra；　being　afraid　of　treachery；　would　no　more　throw　wide　the

door；　so　she　let　down　a　rope　from　the　window　and　we　made　it　fast

beneath　the　arms　of　Antony。　Then　did　Cleopatra；　who　the　while　wept

most　bitterly；　together　with　Charmion　and　Iras　the　Greek；　pull　on　the

rope　with　all　their　strength；　while　we　lifted　from　below　till　the

dying　Antony　swung　in　the　air；　groaning　heavily；　and　the　blood　dropped

from　his　gaping　wound。　Twice　he　nearly　fell　to　earth：　but　Cleopatra；

striving　with　the　strength　of　love　and　of　despair；　held　him　till　at

length　she　drew　him　through　the　windowplace；　while　all　who　saw　the

dreadful　sight　wept　bitterly；　and　beat　their　breastsall　save　myself

and　Charmion。



When　he　was　in；　once　more　the　rope　was　let　down；　and；　with　some　aid

from　Charmion；　I　climbed　into　the　tomb；　drawing　up　the　rope　after　me。

There　I　found　Antony；　laid　upon　the　golden　bed　of　Cleopatra；　and　she；

her　breast　bare；　her　face　stained　with　tears；　and　her　hair　streaming

wildly　about　him；　knelt　at　his　side　and　kissed　him；　wiping　the　blood

from　his　wounds　with　her　robes　and　hair。　And　let　all　my　shame　be

written：　as　I　stood　and　watched　her　the　old　love　awoke　once　more

within　me；　and　mad　jealousy　raged　in　my　heart　becausethough　I　could

destroy　these　twainI　could　not　destroy　their　love。



〃O　Antony！　my　Sweet；　my　Husband；　and　my　God！〃　she　moaned。　〃Cruel

Antony；　hast　thou　the　heart　to　die　and　leave　me　to　my　lonely　shame？　I

will　follow　thee　swiftly　to　the　grave。　Antony；　awake！　awake！〃



He　lifted　up　his　head　and　called　for　wine；　which　I　gave　him；　mixing

therein　a　draught　that　might　allay　his　pain；　for　it　was　great。　And

when　he　had　drunk　he　bade　Cleopatra　lie　down　on　the　bed　beside　him；

and　put　her　arms　about　him；　and　this　she　did。　Then　was　Antony　once

more　a　man；　for；　forgetting　his　own　misery　and　pain；　he　counselled　her

as　to　her　own　safety：　but　to　this　talk　she　would　not　listen。



〃The　hour　is　short；〃　she　said；　〃let　us　speak　of　this　great　love　of

ours　that　hath　been　so　long　and　may　yet　endure　beyond　the　coasts　of

Death。　Mindest　thou　that　night　when　first　thou　didst　put　thine　arms

about　me　and　call　me　'Love'？　Oh！　happy；　happy　night！　Having　known　that

night　it　is　well　to　have　livedeven　to　this　bitter　end！〃



〃Ay；　Egypt；　I　mind　it　well　and　dwell　upon　its　memory；　though　from　that

hour　fortune　has　fled　from　melost　in