cleopatra-第7章

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presence　of　the　God　Apis；　the　Ptah　who　deigns　to　dwell　among　men　in

the　form　of　a　bull。　The　God　was　black；　and　on　his　forehead　there　was　a

white　square；　on　his　back　was　a　white　mark　shaped　like　an　eagle；

beneath　his　tongue　was　the　likeness　of　a　scarab？us；　in　his　tail　were

double　hairs；　and　a　plate　of　pure　gold　hung　between　his　horns。　I

entered　the　place　of　the　God　and　worshipped；　while　the　High　Priest　and

those　with　him　stood　aside；　watching　earnestly。　And　when　I　had

worshipped；　saying　the　words　which　had　been　told　me；　the　God　knelt；

and　lay　down　before　me。　Then　the　High　Priest　and　those　with　him；　who；

as　I　heard　in　after　time；　were　great　men　of　Upper　Egypt；　approached

wondering；　and；　saying　no　word；　made　obeisance　to　me　because　of　the

omen。　And　many　other　things　I　saw　in　Memphis　that　are　too　long　to

write　of　here。



On　the　fourth　day　some　priests　of　Annu　came　to　lead　me　to　Sepa；　my

uncle；　the　High　Priest　of　Annu。　So；　having　bidden　farewell　to　those　of

Memphis；　we　crossed　the　river　and　rode　on　asses　two　parts　of　a　day's

journey　through　many　villages；　which　we　found　in　great　poverty　because

of　the　oppression　of　the　tax…gatherers。　Also；　as　we　went；　I　saw　for

the　first　time　the　great　pyramids　that　are　beyond　the　image　of　the　God

Horemkhu；　that　Sphinx　whom　the　Greeks　name　Harmachis；　and　the　Temples

of　the　Divine　Mother　Isis；　Queen　of　the　Memnonia；　and　the　God　Osiris；

Lord　of　Rosatou；　of　which　temples；　together　with　the　Temple　of　the

worship　of　the　Divine　Menkau…ra；　I；　Harmachis；　am　by　right　Divine　the

Hereditary　High　Priest。　I　saw　them　and　marvelled　at　their　greatness

and　the　white　carven　limestone；　and　red　granite　of　Syene；　that　flashed

the　sun's　rays　back　to　heaven。　But　at　this　time　I　knew　nothing　of　the

treasure　that　was　hid　in　/Her/；　which　is　the　third　among　the　pyramids

would　I　had　never　known　of　it！



And　so　at　last　we　came　within　sight　of　Annu；　which　after　Memphis　has

been　seen　is　no　large　town；　but　stands　on　raised　ground；　before　which

are　lakes　fed　by　a　canal。　Behind　the　town　is　the　inclosed　field　of　the

Temple　of　the　God　Ra。



We　dismounted　at　the　pylon；　and　were　met　beneath　the　portico　by　a　man

not　great　of　stature；　but　of　noble　aspect；　having　his　head　shaven；　and

with　dark　eyes　that　twinkled　like　the　further　stars。



〃Hold！〃　he　cried；　in　a　great　voice　which　fitted　his　weak　body　but　ill。

〃Hold！　I　am　Sepa；　who　opens　the　mouth　of　the　Gods！〃



〃And　I；〃　I　said；　〃am　Harmachis；　son　of　Amenemhat；　Hereditary　High

Priest　and　Ruler　of　the　Holy　City　Abouthis；　and　I　bear　letters　to

thee；　O　Sepa！〃



〃Enter；〃　he　said。　〃Enter！〃　scanning　me　all　the　while　with　his

twinkling　eyes。　〃Enter；　my　son！〃　And　he　took　me　and　led　me　to　a

chamber　in　the　inner　hall；　closed　to　the　door；　and　then；　having

glanced　at　the　letters　that　I　brought；　of　a　sudden　he　fell　upon　my

neck　and　embraced　me。



〃Welcome；〃　he　cried；　〃welcome；　son　of　my　own　sister；　and　hope　of　Khem！

Not　in　vain　have　I　prayed　the　Gods　that　I　might　live　to　look　upon　thy

face　and　impart　to　thee　the　wisdom　which　perchance　I　alone　have

mastered　of　those　who　are　left　alive　in　Egypt。　There　are　few　whom　it

is　lawful　that　I　should　teach。　But　thine　is　the　great　destiny；　and

thine　shall　be　the　ears　to　hear　the　lessons　of　the　Gods。〃



And　he　embraced　me　once　more　and　bade　me　go　bathe　and　eat；　saying　that

on　the　morrow　he　would　speak　with　me　further。



This　of　a　truth　he　did；　and　at　such　length　that　I　will　forbear　to　set

down　all　he　said　both　then　and　afterwards；　for　if　I　did　so　there　would

be　no　papyrus　left　in　Egypt　when　the　task　was　ended。　Therefore；　having

much　to　tell　and　but　little　time　to　tell　it；　I　will　pass　over　the

events　of　the　years　that　followed。



For　this　was　the　manner　of　my　life。　I　rose　early；　I　attended　the

worship　of　the　Temple；　and　I　gave　my　days　to　study。　I　learnt　of　the

rites　of　religion　and　their　meaning；　and　of　the　beginning　of　the　Gods

and　the　beginning　of　the　Upper　World。　I　learnt　of　the　mystery　of　the

movements　of　the　stars；　and　of　how　the　earth　rolls　on　among　them。　I

was　instructed　in　that　ancient　knowledge　which　is　called　magic；　and　in

the　way　of　interpretation　of　dreams；　and　of　the　drawing　nigh　to　God。　I

was　taught　the　language　of　symbols　and　their　outer　and　inner　secrets。

I　became　acquainted　with　the　eternal　laws　of　Good　and　Evil；　and　with

the　mystery　of　that　trust　which　is　held　of　man；　also　I　learnt　the

secrets　of　the　pyramidswhich　I　would　that　I　had　never　known。

Further；　I　read　the　records　of　the　past；　and　of　the　acts　and　words　of

the　ancient　kings　who　were　before　me　since　the　rule　of　Horus　upon

earth；　and　I　was　made　to　know　all　craft　of　state；　the　lore　of　earth；

and　with　it　the　history　of　Greece　and　Rome。　Also　I　learnt　the　Grecian

and　Roman　tongues；　of　which　indeed　I　already　had　some　knowledgeand

all　this　while；　for　five　long　years；　I　kept　my　hands　clean　and　my

heart　pure；　and　did　no　evil　in　the　sight　of　God　or　man；　but　laboured

heavily　to　acquire　all　things；　and　to　prepare　myself　for　the　destiny

that　awaited　me。



Twice　every　year　greetings　and　letters　came　from　my　father　Amenemhat；

and　twice　every　year　I　sent　back　my　answers　asking　if　the　time　had

come　to　cease　from　labour。　And　so　the　days　of　my　probation　sped　away

till　I　grew　faint　and　weary　at　heart；　for　being　now　a　man；　ay　and

learned；　I　longed　to　make　a　beginning　of　the　life　of　men。　And　often　I

wondered　if　this　talk　and　prophecy　of　the　things　that　were　to　be　was

but　a　dream　born　of　the　brains　of　men　whose　wish　ran　before　their

thought。　I　was；　indeed；　of　the　Royal　blood；　that　I　knew：　for　my　uncle；

Sepa　the　Priest；　showed　me　a　secret　record　of　the　descent；　traced

without　break　from　father　to　son；　and　graven　in　mystic　symbols　on　a

tablet　of　the　stone　of　Syene。　But　of　what　avail　was　it　to　be　Royal　by

right　when　Egypt；　my　heritage；　was　a　slavea　slave　to　do　the　pleasure

and　minister　to　the　luxury　of　the　Macedonian　Lagid？ay；　and　when　she

had　been　so　long　a　serf　that；　perchance；　she　had　forgotten　how　to　put

off　the　servile　smile　of　Bondage　and　once　more　to　look　across　the

world　with　Freedom's　happy　eyes？



Then　I　bethought　me　of　my　prayer　upon　the　pylon　tower　of　Abouthis　and

of　the　answer　given　to　my　prayer；　and　wondered　if　that；　too；　were　a

dream。



And　one　night；　as；　weary　with　study；　I　walked　within　the　sacred　grove

that　is　in　the　garden　of　the　temple；　and　mused　thus；　I　met　my　uncle

Sepa；　who　also　was　walking　and　thinking。



〃Hold！〃　he　cried　in　his　great　voice；　〃why　is　thy　face　so　sad；

Harmachis？　Has　the　last　problem　that　we　studied　overwhelmed　thee？〃



〃Nay；　my　uncle；〃　I　answered；　〃I　am　overwhelmed　indeed；　but　not　of　the

problem；　it　was　a　light　one。　My　heart　is　heavy；　for　I　am　weary　of　life

within　these　cloisters；　and　the　piled…up　weight　of　knowledge　crushes

me。　It　is　of　no　avail　to　store　up　force　which　cannot　be　used。〃



〃Ah；　thou　art　impatient；　Harmachis；〃　he　answered；　〃it　is　ever　the　way

of　foolish　youth。　Thou　wouldst　taste　of　the　battle；　thou　dost　tire　of

watching　the　breakers　fall　upon　the　beach；　thou　wouldst　plunge　into

them　and　venture　the　desperate　hazard　of　the　war。　And　so　thou　wouldst

be　going；　Harmachis？　The　bird　would　fly　the　nest　as；　when　they　are

grown；　the　swallows　fly　from　the　eaves　of　the　Temple。　Well；　it　shall

be　as　thou　desirest；　the　hour　is　at　hand。　I　have　taught　thee　all　that

I　have　learned；　and　methinks　that　the　pupil　has　outrun　his　master；〃

and　he　paused　and　wiped　his　bright　black　eyes；　for　he　was　very　sad　at

the　thought　of　my　departure。



〃And　whither　shall　I　go；　my　uncle？〃　I　asked　rejoicing；　〃back　to

Abouthis　to　be　initiated　into　the　mysteries　of　the　Gods？〃



〃Ay；　back　to　Abouthis；　and　from　Abouthis　to　Alexandria；　and　from

Alexandria　to　the　Throne　of　thy　fathers；　Harmachis！　Listen；　now；

things　are　thus：　Thou　knowest　how　Cleopatra；　the　Queen；　fled　into

Syria　when　that　false　eunuch　Pothinus　set　the　will　of　her　father

Aulêtes　at　naught　and　raised　her　brother　Ptolemy　to　the　sole　lordship

of　Egypt。　Thou　knowest　also　how　she　came　back；　like　a　Queen　indeed；

with　a　great　army　in　her　train；　and　lay　at　Pelusium；　and　how　at　this

juncture　the　mighty　C？sar；　that　great　man；　that　greatest　of　all　men；

sailed　with　a　weak　company　hither　to　Alexandria　from　Pharsalia's

bloody　field　in　hot　pursuit　of　Pompey。　But　he　found　Pompey　already

dead；　having　been　basely　murdered　by　Achillas；　the　General；　and　Lucius

Septimius；　the　chief　of　the　Roman　legions　in　Egypt；　and　thou　knowest

how　the　Alexandrians　were　troubled　at　his　coming　and　would　have　slain

his　lictors。　Then；　as　thou　hast　heard；　C？sar　seized　Ptolemy；　the　young

King；　and　his　sister　Arsino？；　and　bade　the　army　of　Cleopatra　and　the

army　of　Ptolemy；　under　Achillas；　which　lay　facing　each　other　at

Pelusium；　disband　and　go　their　ways。　And　for　answer　Achillas　marched

on　C？sar；　and　besieged　him　straitly　in　the　Bruchium　at　Alexandria；　and

so；　for　a　while；　things　were；　and　none　knew　who　should　reign　in　Egypt。

But　then　Cleopatra　took　up　the　dice；　and　threw　them；　and　this　was　the

throw　she　madein　truth；　it　was　a　bold　one。　For；　leaving　the　army　at

Pelusium；　she　came　at　dusk　to　the　harbour　of　Alexandria；　and　alone

with　the　Sicilian　Apollodorus　entered　and　landed。　Then　Apollodorus

bound　her　in　a　bale　of　rich　rugs；　such　as　are　made　in　Syria；　and　sent

the　rugs　as　a　present　to　C？sar。　And　when　the　rugs　were　unbound　in　the

palace；　behold！　within　them　was　the　fairest　girl　on　all　the　earthay；

and　the　most　witty　and　the　most　learned。　And　she　seduced　the　great

C？sareven　his　weight　of　years　did　not　avail　to　protect　him　from　her

charmsso　that；　as　a　fruit　of　his　folly；　he　wellnigh　lost　his　life；

and　all　the　glory　he　had　gained　in　a　hundred　wars。〃



〃The　fool！〃　I　broke　in〃the　fool！　Thou　callest　him　great；　but　how　can

the　man　be　truly　great　who　has　no　strength　to　stand　against　a　woman's

wiles？　C？sar；　with　the　world　hanging　on　his　word！　C？sar；　at　whose

breath　forty　legions　marched　and　changed　the　fate　of　peoples！　C？sar

the　cold！　the　far…seeing！　the　hero！C？sar　to　fall　like　a　ripe　fruit

into　a　false　girl's　lap！　Why；　in　the　issue；　of　what　common　clay　was

this　Roman　C？sar；　and　how　poor　a　thing！〃



But　Sepa　looked　at　me　and　shook　his　head。　〃Be　not　so　rash；　Harmachis；

and　talk　not　with　so　proud　a　voice。　Knowest　thou　not　that　in　every

suit　of　mail　there　is　a　joint；　and　woe　to　him　who　wears　the　harness　if

the　sword　should　search　it　out！　For　Woman；　in　her　weakness；　is　yet　the

strongest　force　upon　the　earth。　She　is　the　helm　of　all　things　human；

she　comes　in　many　shapes　and　knocks　at　many　doors；　she　is　quick　and

patient；　and　her　passion　is　not　ungovernable　like　that　of　man；　but　as

a　gentle　steed　that　she　can　guide　e'en　where　she　will；　and　as　occasion

offers　can　now　bit　up　and　now　give　rein。　She　has　a　captain's　eye；　and

stout　must　be　that　fortress　of　the　heart　in　which　she　finds　no　place

of　vantage。　Does　thy　blood　beat　fast　in　youth？　She　will　outrun　it；　nor

will　her　kisses　tire。　Art　thou　set