cleopatra-第8章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



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

will　her　kisses　tire。　Art　thou　set　toward　ambition？　She　will　unlock

thy　inner　heart；　and　show　thee　roads　that　lead　to　glory。　Art　thou　worn

and　weary？　She　has　comfort　in　her　breast。　Art　thou　fallen？　She　can

lift　thee　up；　and　to　the　illusion　of　thy　sense　gild　defeat　with

triumph。　Ay；　Harmachis；　she　can　do　these　things；　for　Nature　ever

fights　upon　her　side；　and　while　she　does　them　she　can　deceive　and

shape　a　secret　end　in　which　thou　hast　no　part。　And　thus　Woman　rules

the　world。　For　her　are　wars；　for　her　men　spend　their　strength　in

gathering　gains；　for　her　they　do　well　and　ill；　and　seek　for　greatness；

to　find　oblivion。　But　still　she　sits　like　yonder　Sphinx；　and　smiles；

and　no　man　has　ever　read　all　the　riddle　of　her　smile；　or　known　all　the

mystery　of　her　heart。　Mock　not！　mock　not！　Harmachis；　for　he　must　be

great　indeed　who　can　defy　the　power　of　Woman；　which；　pressing　round

him　like　the　invisible　air；　is　often　strongest　when　the　senses　least

discover　it。〃



I　laughed　aloud。　〃Thou　speakest　earnestly；　my　uncle　Sepa；〃　I　said；

〃one　might　almost　think　that　thou　hadst　not　come　unscathed　through

this　fierce　fire　of　temptation。　Well；　for　myself；　I　fear　not　woman　and

her　wiles；　I　know　naught　of　them；　and　naught　do　I　wish　to　know；　and　I

still　hold　that　this　C？sar　was　a　fool。　Had　I　stood　where　C？sar　stood；

to　cool　its　wantonness　that　bale　of　rugs　should　have　been　rolled　down

the　palace　steps；　into　the　harbour　mud。〃



〃Nay；　cease！　cease！〃　he　cried　aloud。　〃It　is　evil　to　speak　thus；　may

the　Gods　avert　the　omen　and　preserve　to　thee　this　cold　strength　of

which　thou　boastest。　Oh！　man；　thou　knowest　not！thou　in　thy　strength

and　beauty　that　is　without　compare；　in　the　power　of　thy　learning　and

the　sweetness　of　thy　tonguethou　knowest　not！　The　world　where　thou

must　mix　is　not　a　sanctuary　as　that　of　the　Divine　Isis。　But　thereit

may　be　so！　Pray　that　thy　heart's　ice　may　never　melt；　so　thou　shalt　be

great　and　happy　and　Egypt　shall　be　delivered。　And　now　let　me　take　up

my　talethou　seest；　Harmachis；　even　in　so　grave　a　story　woman　claims

her　place。　The　young　Ptolemy；　Cleopatra's　brother；　being　loosed　of

C？sar；　treacherously　turned　on　him。　Then　C？sar　and　Mithridates　stormed

the　camp　of　Ptolemy；　who　took　to　flight　across　the　river。　But　his　boat

was　sunk　by　the　fugitives　who　pressed　upon　it；　and　such　was　the

miserable　end　of　Ptolemy。



〃Thereon；　the　war　being　ended；　though　she　had　but　then　borne　him　a

son；　C？sarion；　C？sar　appointed　the　younger　Ptolemy　to　rule　with

Cleopatra；　and　be　her　husband　in　name；　and　he　himself　departed　for

Rome；　bearing　with　him　the　beautiful　Princess　Arsino？　to　follow　his

triumph　in　her　chains。　But　the　great　C？sar　is　no　more。　He　died　as　he

had　lived；　in　blood；　and　right　royally。　And　but　now　Cleopatra；　the

Queen；　if　my　tidings　may　be　trusted；　has　slain　Ptolemy；　her　brother

and　husband；　by　poison；　and　taken　the　child　C？sarion　to　be　her　fellow

on　the　throne；　which　she　holds　by　the　help　of　the　Roman　legions；　and；

as　they　say；　of　young　Sextus　Pompeius；　who　has　succeeded　C？sar　in　her

love。　But；　Harmachis；　the　whole　land　boils　and　seethes　against　her。　In

every　city　the　children　of　Khem　talk　of　the　deliverer　who　is　to　come

and　thou　art　he；　Harmachis。　The　time　is　almost　ripe。　The　hour　is　nigh

at　hand。　Go　thou　back　to　Abouthis　and　learn　the　last　secrets　of　the

Gods；　and　meet　those　who　shall　direct　the　bursting　of　the　storm。　Then

act；　Harmachisact；　I　say；　and　strike　home　for　Khem；　rid　the　land　of

the　Roman　and　the　Greek；　and　take　thy　place　upon　the　throne　of　thy

divine　fathers　and　be　a　King　of　men。　For　to　this　end　thou　wast　born；　O

Prince！〃







CHAPTER　V



OF　THE　RETURN　OF　HARMACHIS　TO　ABOUTHIS；　OF　THE　CELEBRATION

OF　THE　MYSTERIES；　OF　THE　CHANT　OF　ISIS；　AND　OF　THE　WARNING

OF　AMENEMHAT



On　the　next　day　I　embraced　my　uncle　Sepa；　and　with　an　eager　heart

departed　from　Annu　back　to　Abouthis。　To　be　short；　I　came　thither　in

safety；　having　been　absent　five　years　and　a　month；　being　now　no　more　a

boy　but　a　man　full　grown　and　having　my　mind　well　stocked　with　the

knowledge　of　men　and　the　ancient　wisdom　of　Egypt。　So　once　again　I　saw

the　old　lands；　and　the　known　faces；　though　of　these　some　few　were

wanting；　having　been　gathered　to　Osiris。　Now；　as；　riding　across　the

fields；　I　came　nigh　to　the　enclosure　of　the　Temple；　the　priests　and

people　issued　forth　to　bid　me　welcome；　and　with　them　the　old　wife；

Atoua；　who；　but　for　a　few　added　wrinkles　that　Time　had　cut　upon　her

forehead；　was　just　as　she　had　been　when　she　threw　the　sandal　after　me

five　long　years　before。



〃/La！　la！　la！/〃　she　cried；　〃and　there　thou　art；　my　bonny　lad；　more

bonny　even　than　thou　wert！　/La！/　what　a　man！　what　shoulders！　and　what

a　face　and　form！　Ah；　it　does　an　old　woman　credit　to　have　dandled　thee！

But　thou　art　over…pale；　those　priests　down　there　at　Annu　have　starved

thee；　surely？　Starve　not　thyself：　the　Gods　love　not　a　skeleton。　'Empty

stomach　makes　empty　head'　as　they　say　at　Alexandria。　But　this　is　a

glad　hour；　ay；　a　joyous　hour。　Come　income　in！〃　and　as　I　lighted　down

she　embraced　me。



But　I　thrust　her　aside。　〃My　father！　where　is　my　father？〃　I　cried；　〃I

see　him　not！〃



〃Nay；　nay；　have　no　fear；〃　she　answered；　'his　Holiness　is　well；　he

waits　thee　in　his　chamber。　There；　pass　on。　O　happy　day！　O　happy

Abouthis！〃



So　I　went；　or　rather　ran；　and　reached　the　chamber　of　which　I　have

written；　and　there　at　the　table　sat　my　father；　Amenemhat；　the　same　as

he　had　been；　but　very　old。　I　came　to　him　and；　kneeling　before　him；

kissed　his　hand；　and　he　blessed　me。



〃Look　up；　my　son；〃　he　said；　〃let　my　old　eyes　gaze　upon　thy　face；　that

I　may　read　thy　heart。〃



So　I　lifted　up　my　head；　and　he　looked　upon　me　long　and　earnestly。



〃I　read　thee；〃　he　said　at　length；　〃thou　art　pure　and　strong　in　wisdom；

I　have　not　been　deceived　in　thee。　Oh；　the　years　have　been　lonely；　but

I　did　well　to　send　thee　hence。　Now；　tell　me　of　thy　life；　for　thy

letters　have　told　me　little；　and　thou　canst　not　know；　my　son；　how

hungry　is　a　father's　heart。〃



And　so　I　told　him；　we　sat　far　into　the　night　and　talked　together。　And

in　the　end　he　bade　me　know　that　I　must　now　prepare　to　be　initiated

into　those　last　mysteries　that　are　learned　of　the　chosen　of　the　Gods。



And　so　it　came　about　that　for　a　space　of　three　months　I　prepared

myself　according　to　the　holy　customs。　I　ate　no　meat。　I　was　constant　in

the　sanctuaries；　in　the　study　of　the　secrets　of　the　Great　Sacrifice

and　of　the　woe　of　the　Holy　Mother。　I　watched　and　prayed　before　the

altars。　I　lifted　up　my　soul　to　God；　ay；　in　dreams　I　communed　with　the

Invisible；　till　at　length　earth　and　earth's　desires　seemed　to　pass

from　me。　I　longed　no　more　for　the　glory　of　this　world；　my　heart　hung

above　it　as　an　eagle　on　his　outstretched　wings；　and　the　voice　of　the

world's　blame　could　not　stir　it；　and　the　vision　of　its　beauty　brought

no　delight。　For　above　me　was　the　vast　vault　of　heaven；　where　in

unalterable　procession　the　stars　pass　on；　drawing　after　them　the

destinies　of　men；　where　the　Holy　Ones　sit　upon　their　burning　thrones；

and　watch　the　chariot…wheels　of　Fate　as　they　roll　from　sphere　to

sphere。　O　hours　of　holy　contemplation！　who；　having　once　tasted　of　your

joy　could　wish　again　to　grovel　on　the　earth？　O　vile　flesh　to　drag　us

down！　I　would　that　thou　hadst　then　altogether　fallen　from　me；　and　left

my　spirit　free　to　seek　Osiris！



The　months　of　probation　passed　but　too　swiftly；　and　now　the　holy　day

drew　near　when　I　was　in　truth　to　be　united　to　the　universal　Mother。

Never　hath　Night　so　longed　for　the　promise　of　the　Dawn；　never　hath　the

heart　of　a　lover　so　passionately　desired　the　sweet　coming　of　his

bride；　as　I　longed　to　see　Thy　glorious　face；　O　Isis！　Even　now　that　I

have　been　faithless　to　Thee；　and　Thou　art　far　from　me；　O　Divine！　my

soul　goes　out　to　Thee；　and　once　more　I　know　But　as　it　is　bidden

that　I　should　draw　the　veil；　and　speak　of　things　which　have　not　been

told　since　the　beginning　of　this　world；　let　me　pass　on　and　reverently

set　down　the　history　of　that　holy　morn。



For　seven　days　the　great　festival　had　been　celebrated；　the　suffering

of　the　Lord　Osiris　had　been　commemorated；　the　grief　of　the　Mother　Isis

had　been　sung　and　glory　had　been　done　to　the　memory　of　the　coming　of

the　Divine　Child　Horus；　the　Son；　the　Avenger；　the　God…begot。　All　these

things　had　been　carried　out　according　to　the　ancient　rites。　The　boats

had　floated　on　the　sacred　lake；　the　priests　had　scourged　themselves

before　the　sanctuaries；　and　the　images　had　been　borne　through　the

streets　at　night。



And　now；　as　the　sun　sank　on　the　seventh　day；　once　more　the　great

procession　gathered　to　chant　the　woes　of　Isis　and　tell　how　the　evil

was　avenged。　We　went　in　silence　from　the　temple；　and　passed　through

the　city　ways。　First　came　those　who　clear　the　path；　then　my　father

Amenemhat　in　all　his　priestly　robes；　and　the　wand　of　cedar　in　his

hand。　Then；　clad　in　pure　linen；　I；　the　neophyte；　followed　alone；　and

after　me　the　white…robed　priests；　holding　aloft　banners　and　emblems　of

the　Gods。　Next　came　those　who　bear　the　sacred　boat；　and　after　them　the

singers　and　the　mourners；　while；　stretching　as　far　as　the　eye　could

reach；　all　the　people　marched；　clad　in　melancholy　black　because　Osiris

was　no　more。　We　went　in　silence　through　the　city　streets　till　at

length　we　came　to　the　wall　of　the　temple　and　passed　in。　And　as　my

father；　the　High　Priest；　entered　beneath　the　gateway　of　the　outer

pylon；　a　sweet…voiced　woman　singer　began　to　sing　the　Holy　Chant；　and

thus　she　sang：



　　　　　〃Sing　we　Osiris　dead；

　　　　　　Lament　the　fallen　head：

　　The　light　has　left　the　world；　the　world　is　grey。

　　　　　　Athwart　the　starry　skies

　　　　　　The　web　of　Darkness　flies；

　　And　Isis　weeps　Osiris　passed　away。

　　　　　　Your　tears；　ye　stars；　ye　fires；　ye　rivers；　shed；

　　　　　　Weep；　children　of　the　Nile；　weep　for　your　Lord　is　dead！〃



She　paused　in　her　most　sweet　song；　and　the　whole　multitude　took　up　the

melancholy　dirge：



　〃Softly　we　tread；　our　measured　footsteps　falling

　　　　　　Within　the　Sanctuary　Sevenfold；

　　Soft　on　the　Dead　that　liveth　are　we　calling：

　　　　　'Return；　Osiris；　from　thy　Kingdom　cold！

　　　　　　Return　to　them　that　worship　thee　of　old！'〃



The　chorus　ceased；　and　once　again　she　sang：



　　　　　〃Within　the　court　divine

　　　　　　The　Sevenfold　sacred　shrine

　　We　pass；　while　echoes　of　the　Temple　walls

　　　　　　Repeat　the　long　lament

　　　　　　The　sound　of　sorrow　sent

　　Far　up　within　the　imperishable　halls；

　　　　　　Where；　each　in　the　other's　arms；　the　Sisters　weep；

　　　　　　Isis　and　Nephthys；　o'er　His　unawaking　sleep。〃



And　then　again　rolled　forth　the　solemn　chorus　of　a　thousand　voices：



　〃Softly　we　tread；　our　measured　footsteps　falling

　　　　　　Within　the　Sanctuary　Sevenfold；

　　Soft　on　the　Dead　that　liveth　are　we　calling：

　　　　　'Return；　Osiris；　from　thy　Kingdom　cold！

　　　　　　Return　to　them　that　wors