cleopatra-第5章

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

turn　their　countenance　from　the　poor；　the　Divine　Mother　Isis　hath

spoken　to　mebut　last　night　she　spakebidding　me　come　hither　to

gather　herbs；　and　read　to　thee　the　signs　that　I　should　see。　And　as　I

have　said；　so　it　shall　come　to　pass；　if　thou　canst　but　endure　the

weight　of　the　great　temptation。　Come　hither；　Royal　One！〃　and　she　led

me　to　the　edge　of　the　canal；　where　the　water　was　deep；　and　still　and

blue。　〃Now　gaze　upon　that　face　as　the　water　throws　it　back。　Is　not

that　brow　fitted　to　bear　the　double　crown？　Do　not　those　gentle　eyes

mirror　the　majesty　of　kings？　Hath　not　the　Ptah；　the　Creator；　fashioned

that　form　to　fit　the　Imperial　garb；　and　awe　the　glance　of　multitudes

looking　through　thee　to　God？



〃Nay；　nay！〃　she　went　on　in　another　voicea　shrill　old　wife's　voice

〃I　willbe　not　so　foolish；　boythe　scratch　of　a　lion　is　a　venomous

thing；　a　terrible　thing；　yea；　as　bad　as　the　bite　of　an　aspit　must　be

treated；　else　it　will　fester；　and　all　thy　days　thou　shalt　dream　of

lions；　ay；　and　snakes；　and；　also；　it　will　break　out　in　sores。　But　I

know　of　itI　know。　I　am　not　crazed　for　nothing。　For　mark！　everything

has　its　balancein　madness　is　much　wisdom；　and　in　wisdom　much

madness。　/La！　la！　la！/　Pharaoh　himself　can't　say　where　the　one　begins

and　the　other　ends。　Now；　don't　stand　gazing　there；　looking　as　silly　as

a　cat　in　a　crocus…coloured　robe；　as　they　say　in　Alexandria；　but　just

let　me　stick　these　green　things　on　the　place；　and　in　six　days　you'll

heal　up　as　white　as　a　three…year…child。　Never　mind　the　smart　of　it；

lad。　By　Him　who　sleeps　at　Phil？；　or　at　Abouthis；　or　at　Abydusas　our

divine　masters　have　it　nowor　wherever　He　does　sleep；　which　is　a

thing　we　shall　all　find　out　before　we　want　toby　Osiris；　I　say；

you'll　live　to　be　as　clean　from　scars　as　a　sacrifice　to　Isis　at　the

new　moon；　if　you'll　but　let　me　put　it　on。



〃Is　it　not　so；　good　folk？〃and　she　turned　to　address　some　people　who；

while　she　prophesied；　had　assembled　unseen　by　me〃I've　been　speaking

a　spell　over　him；　just　to　make　a　way　for　the　virtue　of　my　medicine

/la！　la！/　there's　nothing　like　a　spell。　If　you　don't　believe　it；　just

you　come　to　me　next　time　your　wives　are　barren；　it's　better　than

scraping　every　pillar　in　the　Temple　of　Osiris；　I'll　warrant。　I'll　make

'em　bear　like　a　twenty…year…old　palm。　But　then；　you　see；　you　must　know

what　to　saythat's　the　pointeverything　comes　to　a　point　at　last。

/La！　la！/〃



Now；　when　I　heard　all　this；　I；　Harmachis；　put　my　hand　to　my　head；　not

knowing　if　I　dreamed。　But　presently　looking　up；　I　saw　a　grey…haired

man　among　those　who　were　gathered　together；　who　watched　us　sharply；

and　afterwards　I　learned　that　this　man　was　the　spy　of　Ptolemy；　the

very　man；　indeed；　who　had　wellnigh　caused　me　to　be　slain　of　Pharaoh

when　I　was　in　my　cradle。　Then　I　understood　why　Atoua　spoke　so

foolishly。



〃Thine　are　strange　spells；　old　wife；〃　the　spy　said。　〃Thou　didst　speak

of　Pharaoh　and　the　double　crown　and　of　the　form　fashioned　by　Ptah　to

bear　it；　is　it　not　so？〃



〃Yea；　yeapart　of　the　spell；　thou　fool；　and　what　can　one　swear　by

better　nowadays　than　by　the　Divine　Pharaoh　the　Piper；　whom；　and　whose

music；　may　the　Gods　preserve　to　charm　this　happy　land？what　better

than　by　the　double　crown　he　wearsgrace　to　great　Alexander　of

Macedonia？　By　the　way；　you　know　about　everything：　have　they　got　back

his　chlamys　yet；　which　Mithridates　took　to　Cos？　Pompey　wore　it　last；

didn't　he？in　his　triumph；　toojust　fancy　Pompey　in　the　cloak　of

Alexander！a　puppy…dog　in　a　lion's　skin！　And　talking　of　lionslook

what　this　lad　hath　doneslain　a　lion　with　his　own　spear；　and　right

glad　you　village　folks　should　be　to　see　it；　for　it　was　a　very　fierce

lionjust　see　his　teeth　and　his　clawshis　claws！they　are　enough　to

make　a　poor　silly　old　woman　like　me　shriek　to　look　at　them！　And　the

body　there；　the　dead　bodythe　lion　slew　it。　Alack！　he's　an　Osiris＇*＇

now；　the　bodyand　to　think　of　it；　but　an　hour　ago　he　was　an　everyday

mortal　like　you　or　me！　Well；　away　with　him　to　the　embalmers。　He'll

soon　swell　in　the　sun　and　burst；　and　that　will　save　them　the　trouble

of　cutting　him　open。　Not　that　they　will　spend　a　talent　of　silver　over

him　anyway。　Seventy　days　in　natronthat's　all　he's　likely　to　get。

/La！　la！/　how　my　tongue　does　run；　and　it's　getting　dark。　Come；　aren't

you　going　to　take　away　the　body　of　that　poor　lad；　and　the　lion；　too？

There；　my　boy；　you　keep　those　herbs　on；　and　you'll　never　feel　your

scratches。　I　know　a　thing　or　two　for　all　I'm　crazy；　and　you；　my　own

grandson！　Dear；　dear；　I'm　glad　his　Holiness　the　High　Priest　adopted

you　when　PharaohOsiris　bless　his　holy　namemade　an　end　of　his　son；

you　look　so　bonny。　I　warrant　the　real　Harmachis　could　not　have　killed

a　lion　like　that。　Give　me　the　common　blood；　I　sayit's　so　lusty。〃



＇*＇　The　soul　when　it　has　been　absorbed　in　the　Godhead。Editor。



〃You　know　too　much　and　talk　too　fast；〃　grumbled　the　spy；　now　quite

deceived。　〃Well；　he　is　a　brave　youth。　Here；　you　men；　bear　this　body

back　to　Abouthis；　and　some　of　you　stop　and　help　me　skin　the　lion。

We'll　send　the　skin　to　you；　young　man；〃　he　went　on；　〃not　that　you

deserve　it：　to　attack　a　lion　like　that　was　the　act　of　a　fool；　and　a

fool　deserves　what　he　getsdestruction。　Never　attack　the　strong　until

you　are　stronger。〃



But　for　my　part　I　went　home　wondering。







CHAPTER　III



OF　THE　REBUKE　OF　AMENEMHAT；　OF　THE　PRAYER　OF　HARMACHIS；

AND　OF　THE　SIGN　GIVEN　BY　THE　HOLY　GODS



For　a　while　as　I；　Harmachis；　went；　the　juice　of　the　green　herbs　which

the　old　wife；　Atoua；　had　placed　upon　my　wounds　caused　me　much　smart；

but　presently　the　pain　ceased。　And；　of　a　truth；　I　believe　that　there

was　virtue　in　them；　for　within　two　days　my　flesh　healed　up；　so　that

after　a　time　no　marks　remained。　But　I　bethought　me　that　I　had

disobeyed　the　word　of　the　old　High　Priest；　Amenemhat；　who　was　called

my　father。　For　till　this　day　I　knew　not　that　he　was　in　truth　my　father

according　to　the　flesh；　having　been　taught　that　his　own　son　was　slain

as　I　have　written；　and　that　he　had　been　pleased；　with　the　sanction　of

the　Divine　ones；　to　take　me　as　an　adopted　son　and　rear　me　up；　that　I

might　in　due　season　fulfil　an　office　about　the　Temple。　Therefore　I　was

much　troubled；　for　I　feared　the　old　man；　who　was　very　terrible　in　his

anger；　and　ever　spoke　with　the　cold　voice　of　Wisdom。　Nevertheless；　I

determined　to　go　in　to　him　and　confess　my　fault　and　bear　such

punishment　as　he　should　be　pleased　to　put　upon　me。　So　with　the　red

spear　in　my　hand；　and　the　red　wounds　on　my　breast；　I　passed　through

the　outer　court　of　the　great　temple　and　came　to　the　door　of　the　place

where　the　High　Priest　dwelt。　It　is　a　great　chamber；　sculptured　round

about　with　the　images　of　the　solemn　Gods；　and　the　sunlight　comes　to　it

in　the　daytime　by　an　opening　cut　through　the　stones　of　the　massy　roof。

But　at　night　it　was　lit　by　a　swinging　lamp　of　bronze。　I　passed　in

without　noise；　for　the　door　was　not　altogether　shut；　and；　pushing　my

way　through　the　heavy　curtains　that　were　beyond；　I　stood　with　a

beating　heart　within　the　chamber。



The　lamp　was　lit；　for　the　darkness　had　fallen；　and　by　its　light　I　saw

the　old　man　seated　in　a　chair　of　ivory　and　ebony　at　a　table　of　stone

on　which　were　spread　mystic　writings　of　the　words　of　Life　and　Death。

But　he　read　no　more；　for　he　slept；　and　his　long　white　beard　rested

upon　the　table　like　the　beard　of　a　dead　man。　The　soft　light　from　the

lamp　fell　on　him；　on　the　papyri　and　the　gold　ring　upon　his　hand；　where

were　graven　the　symbols　of　the　Invisible　One；　but　all　around　was

shadow。　It　fell　on　the　shaven　head；　on　the　white　robe；　on　the　cedar

staff　of　priesthood　at　his　side；　and　on　the　ivory　of　the　lion…footed

chair；　it　showed　the　mighty　brow　of　power；　the　features　cut　in　kingly

mould；　the　white　eyebrows；　and　the　dark　hollows　of　the　deep…set　eyes。

I　looked　and　trembled；　for　there　was　about　him　that　which　was　more

than　the　dignity　of　man。　He　had　lived　so　long　with　the　Gods；　and　so

long　kept　company　with　them　and　with　thoughts　divine；　he　was　so　deeply

versed　in　all　those　mysteries　which　we　do　but　faintly　discern；　here　in

this　upper　air；　that　even　now；　before　his　time；　he　partook　of　the

nature　of　the　Osiris；　and　was　a　thing　to　shake　humanity　with　fear。



I　stood　and　gazed；　and　as　I　stood　he　opened　his　dark　eyes；　but　looked

not　on　me；　nor　turned　his　head；　and　yet　he　saw　me　and　spoke。



〃Why　hast　thou　been　disobedient　to　me；　my　son？〃　he　said。　〃How　came　it

that　thou　wentest　forth　against　the　lion　when　I　bade　thee　not？〃



〃How　knowest　thou；　my　father；　that　I　went　forth？〃　I　asked　in　fear。



〃How　know　I？　Are　there；　then；　no　other　ways　of　knowledge　than　by　the

senses？　Ah；　ignorant　child！　was　not　my　Spirit　with　thee　when　the　lion

sprang　upon　thy　companion？　Did　I　not　pray　Those　set　about　thee　to

protect　thee；　to　make　sure　thy　thrust　when　thou　didst　drive　the　spear

into　the　lion's　throat！　How　came　it　that　thou　wentest　forth；　my　son？〃



〃The　boaster　taunted　me；〃　I　answered；　〃and　I　went。〃



〃Yes；　I　know　it；　and；　because　of　the　hot　blood　of　youth；　I　forgive

thee；　Harmachis。　But　now　listen　to　me；　and　let　my　words　sink　into　thy

heart　like　the　waters　of　Sihor　into　the　thirsty　sand　at　the　rising　of

Sirius。＇*＇　Listen　to　me。　The　boaster　was　sent　to　thee　as　a　temptation；

he　was　sent　as　a　trial　of　thy　strength；　and　see！　it　has　not　been　equal

to　the　burden。　Therefore　thy　hour　is　put　back。　Hadst　thou　been　strong

in　this　matter；　the　path　had　been　made　plain　to　thee　even　now。　But

thou　hast　failed；　and　therefore　thy　hour　is　put　back。〃



＇*＇　The　dog…star；　whose　appearance　marked　the　commencement　of　the

　　　　overflow　of　the　Nile。Editor。



〃I　understand　thee　not；　my　father；〃　I　answered。



〃What　was　it；　then；　my　son；　that　the　old　wife；　Atoua；　said　to　thee

down　by　the　bank　of　the　canal？〃



Then　I　told　him　all　that　the　old　wife　had　said。



〃And　thou　believest；　Harmachis；　my　son？〃



〃Nay；〃　I　answered；　〃how　should　I　believe　such　tales？　Surely　she　is

mad。　All　the　people　know　her　for　mad。〃



Now　for　the　first　time　he　looked　towards　me；　who　was　standing　in　the

shadow。



〃My　son！　my　son！〃　he　cried；　〃thou　art　wrong。　She　is　not　mad。　The　woman

spoke　the　truth；　she　spoke　not　of　herself；　but　of　the　voice　within　her

that　cannot　lie。　For　this　Atoua　is　a　prophetess　and　holy。　Now　learn

thou　the　destiny　that　the　Gods　of　Egypt　have　given　to　thee　to　fulfil；

and　woe　be　unto　thee　if　by　any　weakness　thou　dost　fail　therein！

Listen：　thou　art　no　stranger　adopted　into　my　house　and　the　worship　of

the　Temple；　thou　art　my　very　son；　saved　to　me　by　this　same　woman。　But；

Harmachis；　thou　art　more　than　this；　for　in　thee　and　me　alone　yet　flows

the　Imperial　blood　of　Egypt。　Thou　and　I　alone　of　men　alive　are

descended；　without　break　or　flaw；　from　that　Pharaoh　Nekt…nebf　whom

Ochus　the　Persian　drove　from　Egypt。　The　Persian　came　and　the　Persian

went；　and　after　the　Persian　c