cleopatra-第20章

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illumined　by　gleams　of　sudden　splendour　born　within　their　starry

depths。　All　those　wonders　I　saw；　though　I　have　small　skill　in　telling

them。　But　even　then　I　knew　that　it　was　not　in　these　charms　alone　that

the　might　of　Cleopatra's　beauty　lay。　It　was　rather　in　a　glory　and　a

radiance　cast　through　the　fleshly　covering　from　the　fierce　soul

within。　For　she　was　a　Thing　of　Flame　like　unto　which　no　woman　has　ever

been　or　ever　will　be。　Even　when　she　brooded；　the　fire　of　her　quick

heart　shone　through　her。　But　when　she　woke；　and　the　lightning　leapt

suddenly　from　her　eyes；　and　the　passion…laden　music　of　her　speech

chimed　upon　her　lips；　ah！　then；　who　can　tell　how　Cleopatra　seemed？　For

in　her　met　all　the　splendours　that　have　been　given　to　woman　for　her

glory；　and　all　the　genius　which　man　has　won　from　heaven。　And　with　them

dwelt　every　evil　of　that　greater　sort；　which　fearing　nothing；　and

making　a　mock　of　laws；　has　taken　empires　for　its　place　of　play；　and；

smiling；　watered　the　growth　of　its　desires　with　the　rich　blood　of　men。

In　her　breast　they　gathered；　together　fashioning　that　Cleopatra　whom

no　man　may　draw；　and　yet　whom　no　man；　having　seen；　ever　can　forget。

They　fashioned　her　grand　as　the　Spirit　of　Storm；　lovely　as　Lightning；

cruel　as　Pestilence；　yet　with　a　heart；　and　what　she　did　is　known。　Woe

to　the　world　when　such　another　comes　to　curse　it！



For　a　moment　I　met　Cleopatra's　eyes　as　she　idly　bent　herself　to　find

the　tumult's　cause。　At　first　they　were　sombre　and　dark；　as　though　they

saw　indeed；　but　the　brain　read　nothing。　Then　they　awoke；　and　their

very　colour　seemed　to　change　as　the　colour　of　the　sea　changes　when　the

water　is　shaken。　First；　there　was　anger　written　in　them；　next　an　idle

noting；　then；　when　she　looked　upon　the　huge　bulk　of　the　man　whom　I　had

overcome；　and　knew　him　for　the　gladiator；　something；　perchance；　that

was　not　far　from　wonder。　At　the　least　they　softened；　though；　indeed；

her　face　changed　no　whit。　But　he　who　would　read　Cleopatra's　mind　had

need　to　watch　her　eyes；　for　her　countenance　varied　but　a　little。

Turning；　she　said　some　word　to　her　guards。　They　came　forward　and　led

me　to　her；　while　all　the　multitude　waited　silently　to　see　me　slain。



I　stood　before　her；　my　arms　folded　on　my　breast。　Overcome　though　I　was

by　the　wonder　of　her　loveliness　I　hated　her　in　my　heart；　this　woman

who　dared　to　clothe　herself　in　the　dress　of　Isis；　this　usurper　who　sat

upon　my　throne；　this　wanton　squandering　the　wealth　of　Egypt　in

chariots　and　perfumes。　When　she　had　looked　me　over　from　head　to　the

feet；　she　spake　in　a　low　full　voice　and　in　the　tongue　of　Khemi　which

she　alone　had　learned　of　all　the　Lagid？：



〃And　who　and　what　art　thou；　Egyptianfor　Egyptian　I　see　thou　artwho

darest　to　smite　my　slave　when　I　make　progress　through　my　city？〃



〃I　am　Harmachis；〃　I　answered　boldly。　〃Harmachis；　the　astrologer；

adopted　son　of　the　High　Priest　and　Governor　of　Abouthis；　who　am　come

hither　to　seek　my　fortune。　I　smote　thy　slave；　O　Queen；　because　for　no

fault　he　struck　down　the　woman　yonder。　Ask　of　those　who　saw；　royal

Egypt。〃



〃Harmachis；〃　she　said；　〃the　name　has　a　high　soundand　thou　hast　a

high　look；〃　and　then；　speaking　to　a　soldier　who　had　seen　all；　she　bade

him　tell　her　what　had　come　to　pass。　This　he　did　truthfully；　being

friendly　disposed　towards　me　because　I　had　overcome　the　Nubian。

Thereon　she　turned　and　spoke　to　the　girl　bearing　the　fan　who　stood

beside　hera　woman　with　curling　hair　and　shy　dark　eyes；　very

beautiful　to　see。　The　girl　answered　somewhat。　Then　Cleopatra　bade　them

bring　the　slave　to　her。　So　they　led　forward　the　giant；　who　had　found

his　breath　again；　and　with　him　the　woman　whom　he　had　smitten　down。



〃Thou　dog！〃　she　said；　in　the　same　low　voice；　〃thou　coward！　who；　being

strong；　didst　smite　down　this　woman；　and；　being　a　coward；　wast

overthrown　of　this　young　man。　See；　thou；　I　will　teach　thee　manners。

Henceforth；　when　thou　smitest　women　it　shall　be　with　thy　left　arm。　Ho；

guards；　seize　this　black　slave　and　strike　off　his　right　hand。〃



Her　command　given；　she　sank　back　in　her　golden　chariot；　and　again　the

cloud　gathered　in　her　eyes。　But　the　guards　seized　the　giant；　and；

notwithstanding　his　cries　and　prayers　for　mercy；　struck　off　his　hand

with　a　sword　upon　the　wood　of　the　scaffolding　and　he　was　carried　away

groaning。　Then　the　procession　moved　on　again。　As　it　went　the　fair

woman　with　the　fan　turned　her　head；　caught　my　eye；　and　smiled　and

nodded　as　though　she　rejoiced；　at　which　I　wondered　somewhat。



The　people　cheered　also　and　made　jests；　saying　that　I　should　soon

practice　astrology　in　the　palace。　But；　as　soon　as　we　might；　I　and　my

uncle　escaped；　and　made　our　way　back　to　the　house。　All　the　while　he

rated　me　for　my　rashness；　but　when　we　came　to　the　chamber　of　the　house

he　embraced　me　and　rejoiced　greatly；　because　I　had　overthrown　the

giant　with　so　little　hurt　to　myself。







CHAPTER　II



OF　THE　COMING　OF　CHARMION；　AND　OF　THE　WRATH　OF　SEPA



That　same　night；　while　we　sat　at　supper　in　the　house；　there　came　a

knock　upon　the　door。　It　was　opened；　and　a　woman　passed　in　wrapped　from

head　to　foot　in　a　large　dark　peplos　or　cloak　in　such　fashion　that　her

face　could　not　be　clearly　seen。



My　uncle　rose；　and　as　he　did　so　the　woman　uttered　the　secret　word。



〃I　am　come；　my　father；〃　she　said　in　a　sweet　clear　voice；　〃though　of　a

truth　it　was　not　easy　to　escape　the　revels　at　the　palace　yonder。　But　I

told　the　Queen　that　the　sun　and　the　riot　in　the　streets　had　made　me

sick；　and　she　let　me　go。〃



〃It　is　well；〃　he　answered。　〃Unveil　thyself；　here　thou　art　safe。〃



With　a　little　sigh　of　weariness　she　unclasped　the　peplos　and　let　it

slip　from　her；　giving　to　my　sight　the　face　and　form　of　that　beauteous

girl　who　had　stood　to　fan　Cleopatra　in　the　chariot。　For　she　was　very

fair　and　pleasant　to　look　upon；　and　her　Grecian　robes　clung　sweetly

about　her　supple　limbs　and　budding　form。　Her　wayward　hair；　flowing　in

a　hundred　little　curls；　was　bound　in　with　a　golden　fillet；　and　on　her

feet　were　sandals　fastened　with　studs　of　gold。　Her　cheeks　blushed　like

a　flower；　and　her　dark　soft　eyes　were　downcast；　as　though　with

modesty；　but　smiles　and　dimples　trembled　about　her　lips。



My　uncle　frowned　when　his　eyes　fell　upon　her　dress。



〃Why　comest　thou　in　this　garb；　Charmion？〃　he　asked　sternly。　〃Is　not

the　dress　of　thy　mothers　good　enough　for　thee？　This　is　no　time　or

place　for　woman's　vanities。　Thou　art　not　here　to　conquer；　but　to

obey。〃



〃Nay；　be　not　wroth；　my　father；〃　she　answered　softly；　〃perchance　thou

knowest　not　that　she　whom　I　serve　will　have　none　of　our　Egyptian

dress；　it　is　out　of　fashion。　To　wear　it　would　have　been　to　court

suspicionalso　I　came　in　haste。〃　And　as　she　spoke　I　saw　that　all　the

while　she　watched　me　covertly　through　the　long　lashes　which　fringed

her　modest　eyes。



〃Well；　well；〃　he　said　sharply；　fixing　his　keen　glance　upon　her　face；

〃doubtless　thou　speakest　truth；　Charmion。　Be　ever　mindful　of　thy　oath；

girl；　and　of　the　cause　to　which　thou　art　sworn。　Be　not　light…minded；

and　I　charge　thee　forget　the　beauty　with　which　thou　hast　been　cursed。

For　mark　thou　this；　Charmion：　fail　us　but　one　jot；　and　vengeance　shall

fall　on　theethe　vengeance　of　man　and　the　vengeance　of　the　Gods！　To

this　service；〃　he　continued；　lashing　himself　to　anger　as　he　went　on

till　his　great　voice　rang　in　the　narrow　room；　〃thou　hast　been　bred；　to

this　end　thou　hast　been　instructed　and　placed　where　thou　art　to　gain

the　ear　of　that　wicked　wanton　whom　thou　seemest　to　serve。　See　thou

forget　it　not；　see　that　the　luxury　of　yonder　Court　does　not　corrupt

thy　purity　and　divert　thy　aim；　Charmion；〃　and　his　eyes　flashed　and　his

small　form　seemed　to　grow　till　it　attained　to　dignitynay；　almost　to

grandeur。



〃Charmion；〃　he　went　on；　advancing　towards　her　with　outstretched

finger；　〃I　say　that　at　times　I　do　not　trust　thee。　But　two　nights　gone

I　dreamed　I　saw　thee　standing　in　the　desert。　I　saw　thee　laugh　and　lift

thy　hand　to　hea