cleopatra-第48章

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hour　fortune　has　fled　from　melost　in　my　depth　of　love　for　thee；　thou

Beautiful。　I　mind　it！〃　he　gasped；　〃then　didst　thou　drink　the　pearl　in

wanton　play；　and　then　did　that　astrologer　of　thine　call　out　his　hour

'The　hour　of　the　coming　of　the　curse　of　Menkau…ra。'　Through　all　the

after…days　those　words　have　haunted　me；　and　now　at　the　last　they　ring

in　my　ears。〃



〃He　is　long　dead；　my　love；〃　she　whispered。



〃If　he　be　dead；　then　I　am　near　him。　What　meant　he？〃



〃He　is　dead；　the　accursed　man！no　more　of　him！　Oh！　turn　and　kiss　me；

for　thy　face　grows　white。　The　end　is　near！〃



He　kissed　her　on　the　lips；　and　for　a　little　while　so　they　stayed；　to

the　moment　of　death；　babbling　their　passion　in　each　other's　ears；　like

lovers　newly　wed。　Even　to　my　jealous　heart；　it　was　a　strange　and　awful

thing　to　see。







Presently；　I　saw　the　Change　of　Death　gather　on　his　face。　His　head　fell

back。



〃Farewell；　Egypt；　farewell！I　die！〃



Cleopatra　lifted　herself　upon　her　hands；　gazed　wildly　on　his　ashen

face；　and　then；　with　a　great　cry；　she　sank　back　swooning。







But　Antony　yet　lived；　though　the　power　of　speech　had　left　him。　Then　I

drew　near　and；　kneeling；　made　pretence　to　minister　to　him。　And　as　I

ministered　I　whispered　in　his　ear：



〃Antony；〃　I　whispered；　〃Cleopatra　was　my　love　before　she　passed　from

me　to　thee。　I　am　Harmachis；　that　astrologer　who　stood　behind　thy　couch

at　Tarsus；　and　I　have　been　the　chief　minister　of　thy　ruin。



〃/Die；　Antony！the　curse　of　Menkau…ra　hath　fallen！/〃



He　raised　himself；　and　stared　upon　my　face。　He　could　not　speak；　but；

gibbering；　he　pointed　at　me。　Then　with　a　groan　his　spirit　fled。



Thus　did　I　accomplish　my　revenge　upon　Roman　Antony；　the　World…loser。







Thereafter；　we　recovered　Cleopatra　from　her　swoon；　for　not　yet　was　I

minded　that　she　should　die。　And　taking　the　body　of　Antony；　C？sar

permitting；　I　and　Atoua　caused　it　to　be　most　skilfully　embalmed　after

our　Egyptian　fashion；　covering　the　face　with　a　mask　of　gold　fashioned

like　to　the　features　of　Antony。　Also　I　wrote　upon　his　breast　his　name

and　titles；　and　painted　his　name　and　the　name　of　his　father　within　his

inner　coffin；　and　drew　the　form　of　the　Holy　Nout　folding　her　wings

about　him。



Then　with　great　pomp　Cleopatra　laid　him　in　that　sepulchre　which　had

been　made　ready；　and　in　a　sarcophagus　of　alabaster。　Now；　this

sarcophagus　was　fashioned　so　large　that　place　was　left　in　it　for　a

second　coffin；　for　Cleopatra　would　lie　by　Antony　at　the　last。



These　things　then　happened。　And　but　a　little　while　after　I　learned

tidings　from　one　Cornelius　Dolabella；　a　noble　Roman　who　waited　upon

C？sar；　and；　moved　by　the　beauty　that　swayed　the　souls　of　all　who

looked　upon　her；　had　pity　for　the　woes　of　Cleopatra。　He　bade　me　warn

herfor；　as　her　physician；　it　was　allowed　me　to　pass　in　and　out　of

the　tomb　where　she　dweltthat　in　three　days　she　would　be　sent　away　to

Rome；　together　with　her　children；　save　C？sarion；　whom　Octavian　had

already　slain；　that　she　might　walk　in　the　triumph　of　C？sar。

Accordingly　I　went　in；　and　found　her　sitting；　as　now　she　always　sat；

plunged　in　a　half　stupor；　and　before　her　that　blood…stained　robe　with

which　she　had　staunched　the　wounds　of　Antony。　For　on　this　she　would

continually　feast　her　eyes。



〃See　how　faint　they　grow；　Olympus；〃　she　said；　lifting　her　sad　face　and

pointing　to　the　rusty　stains；　〃and　he　so　lately　dead！　Why；　Gratitude

could　not　fade　more　fast。　What　is　now　thy　news？　Evil　tidings　is　writ

large　in　those　dark　eyes　of　thine；　which　ever　bring　back　to　me

something　that　still　slips　my　mind。〃



〃The　news　is　ill；　O　Queen；〃　I　answered。　〃I　have　this　from　the　lips　of

Dolabella；　who　has　it　straight　from　C？sar's　secretary。　On　the　third

day　from　now　C？sar　will　send　thee　and　the　Princes　Ptolemy　and

Alexander　and　the　Princess　Cleopatra　to　Rome；　there　to　feast　the　eyes

of　the　Roman　mob；　and　be　led　in　triumph　to　that　Capitol　where　thou

didst　swear　to　set　thy　throne！〃



〃Never；　never！〃　she　cried；　springing　to　her　feet。　〃Never　will　I　walk

in　chains　in　C？sar's　triumph！　What　must　I　do？　Charmion；　tell　me　what　I

can　do！〃



And　Charmion；　rising；　stood　before　her；　looking　at　her　through　the

long　lashes　of　her　downcast　eyes。



〃Lady；　thou　canst　die；〃　she　said　quietly。



〃Ay；　of　a　truth　I　had　forgotten；　I　can　die。　Olympus；　hast　thou　the

drug？〃



〃Nay；　but　if　the　Queen　wills　it；　by　to…morrow　morn　it　shall　be　brewed

a　drug　so　swift　and　strong　that　not　the　Gods　themselves　can　hold　him

who　drinks　it　back　from　sleep。〃



〃Let　it　be　made　ready；　thou　Master　of　Death！〃



I　bowed；　and　withdrew　myself；　and　all　that　night　I　and　old　Atoua

laboured　at　the　distilling　of　the　deadly　draught。　At　length　it　was

done；　and　Atoua　poured　it　into　a　crystal　phial；　and　held　it　to　the

light　of　the　fire；　for　it　was　white　as　the　purest　water。



〃/La！　la！/〃　she　sang；　in　her　shrill　voice；　〃a　drink　for　a　Queen！　When

fifty　drops　of　that　water　of　my　brewing　have　passed　those　red　lips　of

hers；　thou　wilt　indeed　be　avenged　of　Cleopatra；　O　Harmachis！　Ah；　that

I　could　be　there　to　see　thy　Ruin　ruined！　/La！　la！/　it　would　be　sweet

to　see！〃



〃Vengeance　is　an　arrow　that　oft…times　falls　upon　the　archer's　head；〃　I

answered；　bethinking　me　of　Charmion's　saying。







CHAPTER　VIII



OF　THE　LAST　SUPPER　OF　CLEOPATRA；　OF　THE　SONG　OF　CHARMION；

OF　THE　DRINKING　OF　THE　DRAUGHT　OF　DEATH；　OF　THE　REVEALING　OF　HARMACHIS；

OF　THE　SUMMONING　OF　THE　SPIRITS　BY　HARMACHIS；

AND　OF　THE　DEATH　OF　CLEOPATRA



On　the　morrow　Cleopatra；　having　sought　leave　of　C？sar；　visited　the

tomb　of　Antony；　crying　that　the　Gods　of　Egypt　had　deserted　her。　And

when　she　had　kissed　the　coffin　and　covered　it　with　lotus…flowers　she

came　back；　bathed；　anointed　herself；　put　on　her　most　splendid　robes；

and；　together　with　Iras；　Charmion；　and　myself；　she　supped。　Now　as　she

supped　her　spirit　flared　up　wildly；　even　as　the　sky　lights　up　at

sunset；　and　once　more　she　laughed　and　sparkled　as　in　bygone　years；

telling　us　tales　of　feasts　which　she　and　Antony　had　eaten　of。　Never；

indeed；　did　I　see　her　look　more　beauteous　than　on　that　last　fatal

night　of　vengeance。　And　thus　her　mind　drew　on　to　that　supper　at　Tarsus

when　she　drank　the　pearl。



〃Strange；〃　she　said；　〃strange　that　at　the　last　the　mind　of　Antony

should　have　turned　back　to　that　night　among　all　the　nights　and　to　the

saying　of　Harmachis。　Charmion；　dost　thou　remember　Harmachis　the

Egyptian？〃



〃Surely；　O　Queen；〃　she　answered　slowly。



〃And　who；　then；　was　Harmachis？〃　I　asked；　for　I　would　learn　if　she

sorrowed　o'er　my　memory。



〃I　will　tell　thee。　It　is　a　strange　tale；　and　now　that　all　is　done　it

may　well　be　told。　This　Harmachis　was　of　the　ancient　race　of　the

Pharaohs；　and；　having；　indeed；　been　crowned　in　secret　at　Abydus；　was

sent　hither　to　Alexandria　to　carry　out　a　great　plot　that　had　been

formed　against　the　rule　of　us　royal　Lagid？。　He　came　and　gained　entry

to　the　palace　as　my　astrologer；　for　he　was　very　learned　in　all　magic

much　as　thou　art；　Olympusand　a　man　beautiful　to　see。　Now　this　was

his　plotthat　he　should　slay　me　and　be　named　Pharaoh。　In　truth　it　was

a　strong　one；　for　he　had　many　friends　in　Egypt；　and　I　had　few。　And　on

that　very　night　when　he　should　carry　out　his　purpose；　yea；　at　the　very

hour；　came　Charmion　yonder；　and　told　the　plot　to　me；　saying　that　she

had　chanced　upon　its　clue。　But；　in　after　daysthough　I　have　said

little　thereon　to　thee；　CharmionI　misdoubted　me　much　of　that　tale　of

thine；　for；　by　the　Gods！　to　this　hour　I　believe　that　thou　didst　love

Harmachis；　and　because　he　scorned　thee　thou　didst　betray　him；　and　for

that　cause　also　hast　all　thy　days　remained　a　maid；　which　is　a　thing

unnatural。　Come；　Charmion；　tell　us；　for　naught　matters　now　at　the

end。〃



Charmion　shivered　and　made　answer：　〃It　is　true；　O　Queen；　I　also　was　of

the　plot；　and　because　Harmachis　scorned　me　I　betrayed　him；　and　because

of　my　great　love　for　him　I　have　remained　unwed。〃　And　she　glanced　up　at

me　and　caught　my　eyes；　then　let　the　modest　lashes　veil　her　own。



〃So！　I　thought　it。　Strange　are　the　ways　of　women！　But　little　cause；

methinks；　had　that　Harmachis　to　thank　thee　for　thy　love。　What　sayest

thou；　Olympus？　Ah；　and　so　thou　also　wast　a　traitor；　Charmion？　How

dangerous　are　the　paths　which　Monarchs　tread！　Well；　I　forgive　thee；

for　thou　hast　served　me　faithfully　since　that　hour。



〃But　to　my　tale。　Harmachis　I　dared　not　slay；　lest　his　great　party

should　rise　in　fury　and　cast　me　from　the　throne。　And　now　mark　the

issue。　Though　he　must　murder　me；　in　secret　this　Harmachis　loved　me；

and　something　thereof　I　guessed。　I　had　striven　a　little　to　draw　him　to

me；　for　the　sake　of　his　beauty　and　his　wit；　and　for　the　love　of　man

Cleopatra　never　strove　in　vain。　Therefore　when；　with　the　dagger　in　his

robe；　he　came　to　slay　me；　I　matched　my　charms　against　his　will；　and

need　I　tell　you；　being　man　and　woman；　how　I　won？　Oh；　never　can　I

forget　the　look　in　the　eyes　of　that　fallen　prince；　that　forsworn

priest；　that　discrowned　Pharaoh；　when；　lost　in　the　poppied　draught；　I

saw　him　sink　into　a　shameful　sleep　whence　he　might　no　more　wake　with

honour！　And；　thereaftertill；　in　the　end；　I　wearied　of　him；　and　his

sad　learned　mind；　for　his　guilty　soul　forbade　him　to　be　gaya　little

I　came　to　care　for　him；　though　not　to　love。　But　hehe　who　loved　me

clung　to　me　as　a　drunkard　to　the　cup　which　ruins　him。　Deeming　that　I

should　wed　him；　he　betrayed　to　me　the　secret　of　the　hidden　wealth　of

the　pyramid　of　/Her/for　at　the　time　I　much　needed　treasureand

together　we　dared　the　terrors　of　the　tomb　and　drew　it　forth；　even　from

dead　Pharaoh's　breast。　See；　this　emerald　was　a　part　thereof！〃and　she

pointed　to　the　great　scarab？us　that　she　had　drawn　from　the　holy　heart

of　Menkau…ra。



〃And　because　of　what　was　written　in　the　tomb；　and　of　that　Thing　which

we　saw　in　the　tombah；　pest　upon　it！　why　does　its　memory　haunt　me

now？and　also　because　of　policy；　for　I　would　fain　have　won　the　love

of　the　Egyptians；　I　was　minded　to　marry　this　Harmachis　and　declare　his

place　and　lineage　to　the　worlday；　and　by　his　aid　hold　Egypt　from　the

Roman。　For　Dellius　had　then　come　to　call　me　to　Antony；　and　after　much

thought　I　determined　to　send　him　back　with　sharp　words。　But　on　that

very　morning；　as　I　tired　me　for　the　Court；　came　Charmion　yonder；　and　I

told　her　this；　for　I　would　see　how　the　matter　fell　upon　her　mind。　Now

mark；　Olympus；　the　power　of　jealousy；　that　little　wedge　which　yet　has

strength　to　rend　the　tree　of　Empire；　that　secret　sword　which　can　carve

the　fate　of　Kings！　This　she　could　in　no　wise　beardeny　it；　Charmion；

if　thou　canst；　for　now　it　is　clear　to　me！that　the　man　she　loved

should　be　given　to　me　as　husbandme；　whom　/he/　loved！　And　therefore；

with　more　skill　and　wit　than　I　can　tell；　she　reasoned　with　me；　showing

that　I　should　by　no　means　do　this　thing；　but　journey　to　Antony；　and

for　that；　Charmion；　I　thank　thee；　now　that　all　is　come　and　gon