cleopatra-第6章

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

went；　and　after　the　Persian　came　the　Macedonian；　and　now　for　nigh　upon

three　hundred　years　the　Lagid？　have　usurped　the　double　crown；　defiling

the　land　of　Khem　and　corrupting　the　worship　of　its　Gods。　And　mark　thou

this：　but　now；　two　weeks　since；　Ptolemy　Neus　Dionysus；　Ptolemy　Aulêtes

the　Piper；　who　would　have　slain　thee；　is　dead；　and　but　now　hath　the

Eunuch　Pothinus；　that　very　eunuch　who　came　hither；　years　ago；　to　cut

thee　off；　set　at　naught　the　will　of　his　master；　the　dead　Aulêtes；　and

placed　the　boy　Ptolemy　upon　the　throne。　And　therefore　his　sister

Cleopatra；　that　fierce　and　beautiful　girl；　has　fled　into　Syria；　and

there；　if　I　err　not；　she　will　gather　her　armies　and　make　war　upon　her

brother　Ptolemy：　for　by　her　father's　will　she　was　left　joint…sovereign

with　him。　And；　meanwhile；　mark　thou　this；　my　son：　the　Roman　eagle

hangs　on　high；　waiting　with　ready　talons　till　such　time　as　he　may　fall

upon　the　fat　wether　Egypt　and　rend　him。　And　mark　again：　the　people　of

Egypt　are　weary　of　the　foreign　yoke；　they　hate　the　memory　of　the

Persians；　and　they　are　sick　at　heart　of　being　named　〃Men　of　Macedonia〃

in　the　markets　of　Alexandria。　The　whole　land　mutters　and　murmurs

beneath　the　yoke　of　the　Greek　and　the　shadow　of　the　Roman。



〃Have　we　not　been　oppressed？　Have　not　our　children　been　butchered　and

our　gains　wrung　from　us　to　fill　the　bottomless　greed　and　lust　of　the

Lagid？？　Have　not　the　temples　been　forsaken？ay；　have　not　the

majesties　of　the　Eternal　Gods　been　set　at　naught　by　these　Grecian

babblers；　who　have　dared　to　meddle　with　the　immortal　truths；　and　name

the　Most　High　by　another　nameby　the　name　of　Serapisconfounding　the

substance　of　the　Invisible？　Does　not　Egypt　cry　aloud　for　freedom？and

shall　she　cry　in　vain？　Nay；　nay；　for　thou；　my　son；　art　the　appointed

way　of　deliverance。　To　thee；　being　sunk　in　eld；　I　have　decreed　my

rights。　Already　thy　name　is　whispered　in　many　a　sanctuary；　from　Abu　to

Athu；　already　priests　and　people　swear　allegiance；　even　by　the　sacred

symbols；　unto　him　who　shall　be　declared　to　them。　Still；　the　time　is

not　yet；　thou　art　too　green　a　sapling　to　bear　the　weight　of　such　a

storm。　But　to…day　thou　wast　tried　and　found　wanting。



〃He　who　would　serve　the　Gods；　Harmachis；　must　put　aside　the　failings

of　the　flesh。　Taunts　must　not　move　him；　nor　any　lusts　of　man。　Thine　is

a　high　mission；　but　this　thou　must　learn。　If　thou　learn　it　not；　thou

shalt　fail　therein；　and　then；　my　curse　be　on　thee！　and　the　curse　of

Egypt；　and　the　curse　of　Egypt's　broken　Gods！　For　know　thou　this；　that

even　the　Gods；　who　are　immortal；　may；　in　the　interwoven　scheme　of

things；　lean　upon　the　man　who　is　their　instrument；　as　a　warrior　on　his

sword。　And　woe　be　to　the　sword　that　snaps　in　the　hour　of　battle；　for

it　shall　be　thrown　aside　to　rust　or　perchance　be　melted　with　fire！

Therefore；　make　thy　heart　pure　and　high　and　strong；　for　thine　is　no

common　lot；　and　thine　no　mortal　meed。　Triumph；　Harmachis；　and　in　glory

thou　shalt　goin　glory　here　and　hereafter！　Fail；　and　woewoe　be　on

thee！〃



He　paused　and　bowed　his　head；　and　then　went　on：



〃Of　these　matters　thou　shalt　hear　more　hereafter。　Meanwhile；　thou　hast

much　to　learn。　To…morrow　I　will　give　thee　letters；　and　thou　shalt

journey　down　the　Nile；　past　white…walled　Memphis　to　Annu。　There　thou

shalt　sojourn　certain　years；　and　learn　more　of　our　ancient　wisdom

beneath　the　shadow　of　those　secret　pyramids　of　which　thou；　too；　art

the　Hereditary　High　Priest　that　is　to　be。　And　meanwhile；　I　will　sit

here　and　watch；　for　my　hour　is　not　yet；　and；　by　the　help　of　the　Gods；

spin　the　web　of　Death　wherein　thou　shalt　catch　and　hold　the　wasp　of

Macedonia。



〃Come　hither；　my　son；　come　hither　and　kiss　me　on　the　brow；　for　thou

art　my　hope；　and　all　the　hope　of　Egypt。　Be　but　true；　soar　to　the　eagle

crest　of　destiny；　and　thou　shalt　be　glorious　here　and　hereafter。　Be

false；　fail；　and　I　will　spit　upon　thee；　and　thou　shalt　be　accursed；

and　thy　soul　shall　remain　in　bondage　till　that　hour　when；　in　the　slow

flight　of　time；　the　evil　shall　once　more　grow　to　good　and　Egypt　shall

again　be　free。〃



I　drew　near；　trembling；　and　kissed　him　on　the　brow。　〃May　all　these

things　come　upon　me；　and　more；〃　I　said；　〃if　I　fail　thee；　my　father！〃



〃Nay！〃　he　cried；　〃not　me；　not　me；　but　rather　those　whose　will　I　do。

And　now　go；　my　son；　and　ponder　in　thy　heart；　and　in　thy　secret　heart

digest　my　words；　mark　what　thou　shalt　see；　and　gather　up　the　dew　of

wisdom；　making　thee　ready　for　the　battle。　Fear　not　for　thyself；　thou

art　protected　from　all　ill。　No　harm　may　touch　thee　from　without；

thyself　alone　can　be　thine　own　enemy。　I　have　said。〃



Then　I　went　forth　with　a　full　heart。　The　night　was　very　still；　and

none　were　stirring　in　the　temple　courts。　I　hurried　through　them；　and

reached　the　entrance　to　the　pylon　that　is　at　the　outer　gate。　Then；

seeking　solitude；　and；　as　it　were；　to　draw　near　to　heaven；　I　climbed

the　pylon's　two　hundred　steps；　until　at　length　I　reached　the　massive

roof。　Here　I　leaned　my　breast　against　the　parapet；　and　looked　forth。

As　I　looked；　the　red　edge　of　the　full　moon　floated　up　over　the　Arabian

hills；　and　her　rays　fell　upon　the　pylon　where　I　stood　and　the　temple

walls　beyond；　lighting　the　visages　of　the　carven　Gods。　Then　the　cold

light　struck　the　stretch　of　well…tilled　lands；　now　whitening　to　the

harvest；　and　as　the　heavenly　lamp　of　Isis　passed　up　to　the　sky；　her

rays　crept　slowly　down　to　the　valley；　where　Sihor；　father　of　the　land

of　Khem；　rolls　on　toward　the　sea。



Now　the　bright　beams　kissed　the　water　that　smiled　an　answer　back；　and

now　mountain　and　valley；　river；　temple；　town；　and　plain　were　flooded

with　white　light；　for　Mother　Isis　was　arisen；　and　threw　her　gleaming

robe　across　the　bosom　of　the　earth。　It　was　beautiful；　with　the　beauty

of　a　dream；　and　solemn　as　the　hour　after　death。　Mightily；　indeed；　the

temples　towered　up　against　the　face　of　night。　Never　had　they　seemed　so

grand　to　me　as　in　that　hourthose　eternal　shrines；　before　whose　walls

Time　himself　shall　wither。　And　it　was　to　be　mine　to　rule　this　moonlit

land；　mine　to　preserve　those　sacred　shrines；　and　cherish　the　honour　of

their　Gods；　mine　to　cast　out　the　Ptolemy　and　free　Egypt　from　the

foreign　yoke！　In　my　veins　ran　the　blood　of　those　great　Kings　who　await

the　day　of　Resurrection；　sleeping　in　the　tombs　of　the　valley　of

Thebes。　My　spirit　swelled　within　me　as　I　dreamed　upon　this　glorious

destiny；　I　closed　my　hands；　and　there；　upon　the　pylon；　I　prayed　as　I

had　never　prayed　before　to　the　Godhead；　who　is　called　by　many　names；

and　in　many　forms　made　manifest。



〃O　Amen；〃　I　prayed；　〃God　of　Gods；　who　hast　been　from　the　beginning；

Lord　of　Truth；　who　art；　and　of　whom　all　are；　who　givest　out　thy

Godhead　and　gatherest　it　up　again；　in　the　circle　of　whom　the　Divine

ones　move　and　are；　who　wast　from　all　time　the　Self…begot；　and　who

shalt　be　till　timehearken　unto　me。＇*＇



＇*＇　For　a　somewhat　similar　definition　of　the　Godhead　see　the　funeral

　　　　papyrus　of　Nesikhonsu；　a　Princess　of　the　Twenty…first　Dynasty。

　　　　Editor。



〃O　AmenOsiris；　the　sacrifice　by　whom　we　are　justified；　Lord　of　the

Region　of　the　Winds；　Ruler　of　the　Ages；　Dweller　in　the　West；　the

Supreme　in　Amenti；　hearken　unto　me。



〃O　Isis；　great　Mother　Goddess；　mother　of　the　Horusmysterious　Mother；

Sister；　Spouse；　hearken　unto　me。　If；　indeed；　I　am　the　chosen　of　the

Gods　to　carry　out　the　purpose　of　the　Gods；　let　a　sign　be　given　me；

even　now；　to　seal　my　life　to　the　life　above。　Stretch　out　your　arms

towards　me；　O　ye　Gods；　and　uncover　the　glory　of　your　countenance。

Hear！　ah；　hear　me！〃　And　I　cast　myself　upon　my　knees　and　lifted　up　my

eyes　to　heaven。



And　as　I　knelt；　a　cloud　grew　upon　the　face　of　the　moon　covering　it　up；

so　that　the　night　became　dark；　and　the　silence　deepened　all　around

even　the　dogs　far　below　in　the　city　ceased　to　howl；　while　the　silence

grew　and　grew　till　it　was　heavy　as　death。　I　felt　my　spirit　lifted　up

within　me；　and　my　hair　rose　upon　my　head。　Then　of　a　sudden　the　mighty

pylon　seemed　to　rock　beneath　my　feet；　a　great　wind　beat　about　my　brows

and　a　voice　spoke　within　my　heart：



〃Behold　a　sign！　Possess　thyself　in　patience；　O　Harmachis！〃



And　as　the　voice　spoke；　a　cold　hand　touched　my　hand；　and　left　somewhat

within　it。　Then　the　cloud　rolled　from　the　face　of　the　moon；　the　wind

passed；　the　pylon　ceased　to　tremble；　and　the　night　was　as　the　night

had　been。



As　the　light　came　back；　I　gazed　upon　that　which　had　been　left　within

my　hand。　It　was　a　bud　of　the　holy　lotus　new　breaking　into　bloom；　and

from　it　came　a　most　sweet　scent。



And　while　I　gazed　behold！　the　lotus　passed　from　my　grasp　and　was　gone；

leaving　me　astonished。







CHAPTER　IV



OF　THE　DEPARTURE　OF　HARMACHIS　AND　OF　HIS　MEETING　WITH　HIS

UNCLE　SEPA；　THE　HIGH　PRIEST　OF　ANNU　EL　RA；　OF　HIS　LIFE　AT　ANNU；

AND　OF　THE　WORDS　OF　SEPA



At　the　dawning　of　the　next　day　I　was　awakened　by　a　priest　of　the

temple；　who　brought　word　to　me　to　make　ready　for　the　journey　of　which

my　father　had　spoken；　inasmuch　as　there　was　an　occasion　for　me　to　pass

down　the　river　to　Annu　el　Ra。　Now　this　is　the　Heliopolis　of　the

Greeks；　whither　I　should　go　in　the　company　of　some　priests　of　Ptah　at

Memphis　who　had　come　hither　to　Abouthis　to　lay　the　body　of　one　of

their　great　men　in　the　tomb　that　had　been　prepared　near　the　resting

place　of　the　blessed　Osiris。



So　I　made　ready；　and　the　same　evening；　having　received　letters　and

embraced　my　father　and　those　about　the　temple　who　were　dear　to　me；　I

passed　down　the　banks　of　Sihor；　and　we　sailed　with　the　south　wind。　As

the　pilot　stood　upon　the　prow　and　with　a　rod　in　his　hand　bade　the

sailor…men　loosen　the　stakes　by　which　the　vessel　was　moored　to　the

banks；　the　old　wife；　Atoua；　hobbled　up；　her　basket　of　simples　in　her

hand；　and；　calling　out　farewell；　threw　a　sandal　after　me　for　good

chance；　which　sandal　I　kept　for　many　years。



So　we　sailed；　and　for　six　days　passed　down　the　wonderful　river；　making

fast　each　night　at　some　convenient　spot。　But　when　I　lost　sight　of　the

familiar　things　that　I　had　seen　day　by　day　since　I　had　eyes　to　see；

and　found　myself　alone　among　strange　faces；　I　felt　very　sore　at　heart；

and　would　have　wept　had　I　not　been　ashamed。　And　of　all　the　wonderful

things　I　saw　I　will　not　write　here；　for；　though　they　were　new　to　me；

have　they　not　been　known　to　men　since　such　time　as　the　Gods　ruled　in

Egypt？　But　the　priests　who　were　with　me　showed　me　no　little　honour　and

expounded　to　me　what　were　the　things　I　saw。



On　the　morning　of　the　seventh　day　we　came　to　Memphis；　the　city　of　the

White　Hall。　Here；　for　three　days　I　rested　from　my　journey　and　was

entertained　of　the　priests　of　the　wonderful　Temple　of　Ptah　the

Creator；　and　shown　the　beauties　of　the　great　and　marvellous　city。　Also

I　was　led　in　secret　by　the　High　Priest　and　two　others　into　the　holy

presence　of　the　God　Apis；　the　Ptah　w