cleopatra-第3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！
before us。 Between his knees was a third roll of papyrus。 I secured
it； then held down the light and looked at him。 One glance at his face
was enough to tell a doctor how he had died。
〃This body was not much dried up。 Evidently it had not passed the
allotted seventy days in natron； and therefore the expression and
likeness were better preserved than is usual。 Without entering into
particulars； I will only say that I hope I shall never see such
another look as that which was frozen on this dead man's face。 Even
the Arabs recoiled from it in horror and began to mutter prayers。
〃For the rest； the usual opening on the left side through which the
embalmers did their work was absent； the finely…cut features were
those of a person of middle age； although the hair was already grey；
and the frame was that of a very powerful man； the shoulders being of
an extraordinary width。 I had not time to examine very closely；
however； for within a few seconds from its uncovering； the unembalmed
body began to crumble now that it was exposed to the action of the
air。 In five or six minutes there was literally nothing left of it but
a wisp of hair； the skull； and a few of the larger bones。 I noticed
that one of the tibi？I forget if it was the right or the lefthad
been fractured and very badly set。 It must have been quite an inch
shorter than the other。
〃Well； there was nothing more to find； and now that the excitement was
over； what between the heat； the exertion； and the smell of mummy dust
and spices； I felt more dead than alive。
〃I am tired of writing； and this ship rolls。 This letter； of course；
goes overland； and I am coming by 'long sea；' but I hope to be in
London within ten days after you get it。 Then I will tell you of my
pleasing experiences in the course of the ascent from the tomb…
chamber； and of how that prince of rascals； Ali Baba； and his thieves
tried to frighten me into handing over the papyri； and how I worsted
them。 Then； too； we will get the rolls deciphered。 I expect that they
only contain the usual thing； copies of the 'Book of the Dead；' but
there /may/ be something else in them。 Needless to say； I did not
narrate this little adventure in Egypt； or I should have had the
Boulac Museum people on my track。 Good…bye； 'Mafish Fineesh；' as Ali
Baba always said。〃
In due course； my friend； the writer of the letter from which I have
quoted； arrived in London； and on the very next day we paid a visit to
a learned acquaintance well versed in Hieroglyphics and Demotic
writing。 The anxiety with which we watched him skilfully damping and
unfolding one of the rolls and peering through his gold…rimmed glasses
at the mysterious characters may well be imagined。
〃Hum；〃 he said； 〃whatever it is； this is /not/ a copy of the 'Book of
the Dead。' By George； what's this？ CleCleoCleopatra Why； my
dear Sirs； as I am a living man； this is the history of somebody who
lived in the days of Cleopatra； /the/ Cleopatra； for here's Antony's
name with hers！ Well； there's six months' work before me heresix
months； at the very least！〃 And in that joyful prospect he fairly lost
control of himself； and skipped about the room； shaking hands with us
at intervals； and saying 〃I'll translateI'll translate it if it
kills me； and we will publish it； and； by the living Osiris； it shall
drive every Egyptologist in Europe mad with envy！ Oh； what a find！
what a most glorious find！〃
And O you whose eyes fall upon these pages； see； they have been
translated； and they have been printed； and here they lie before you
an undiscovered land wherein you are free to travel！
Harmachis speaks to you from his forgotten tomb。 The walls of Time
fall down； and； as at the lightning's leap； a picture from the past
starts upon your view； framed in the darkness of the ages。
He shows you those two Egypts which the silent pyramids looked down
upon long centuries agothe Egypt of the Greek； the Roman； and the
Ptolemy； and that other outworn Egypt of the Hierophant； hoary with
years； heavy with the legends of antiquity and the memory of long…lost
honours。
He tells you how the smouldering loyalty of the land of Khem blazed up
before it died； and how fiercely the old Time…consecrated Faith
struggled against the conquering tide of Change that rose； like Nile
at flood； and drowned the ancient Gods of Egypt。
Here； in his pages； you shall learn the glory of Isis the Many…shaped；
the Executrix of Decrees。 Here you shall make acquaintance with the
shade of Cleopatra； that 〃Thing of Flame；〃 whose passion…breathing
beauty shaped the destiny of Empires。 Here you shall read how the soul
of Charmion was slain of the sword her vengeance smithied。
Here Harmachis； the doomed Egyptian； being about to die； salutes you
who follow on the path he trod。 In the story of his broken years he
shows to you what may in its degree be the story of your own。 Crying
aloud from that dim Amenti＇*＇ where to…day he wears out his long
atoning time； he tells； in the history of his fall； the fate of him
who； however sorely tried； forgets his God； his Honour； and his
Country。
＇*＇ The Egyptian Hades or Purgatory。Editor。
BOOK I
THE PREPARATION OF HARMACHIS
CHAPTER I
OF THE BIRTH OF HARMACHIS； THE PROPHECY OF THE HATHORS；
AND THE SLAYING OF THE INNOCENT CHILD
By Osiris who sleeps at Abouthis； I write the truth。
I； Harmachis； Hereditary Priest of the Temple； reared by the divine
Sethi； aforetime a Pharaoh of Egypt； and now justified in Osiris and
ruling in Amenti。 I； Harmachis； by right Divine and by true descent of
blood King of the Double Crown； and Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower
Land。 I； Harmachis； who cast aside the opening flower of our hope； who
turned from the glorious path； who forgot the voice of God in
hearkening to the voice of woman。 I； Harmachis； the fallen； in whom
are gathered up all woes as waters are gathered in a desert well； who
have tasted of every shame； who through betrayal have betrayed； who in
losing the glory that is here have lost the glory which is to be； who
am utterly undoneI write； and； by Him who sleeps at Abouthis； I
write the truth。
O Egypt！dear land of Khem； whose black soil nourished up my mortal
partland that I have betrayedO Osiris！Isis！Horus！ye Gods of
Egypt whom I have betrayed！O ye temples whose pylons strike the sky；
whose faith I have betrayed！O Royal blood of the Pharaohs of eld；
that yet runs within these withered veinswhose virtue I have
betrayed！O Invisible Essence of all Good！ and O Fate； whose balance
rested on my handhear me； and； to the day of utter doom； bear me
witness that I write the truth。
Even while I write； beyond the fertile fields； the Nile is running
red； as though with blood。 Before me the sunlight beats upon the far
Arabian hills； and falls upon the piles of Abouthis。 Still the priests
make orison within the temples at Abouthis that know me no more； still
the sacrifice is offered； and the stony roofs echo back the people's
prayers。 Still from this lone cell within my prison…tower； I； the Word
of Shame； watch thy fluttering banners； Abouthis； flaunting from thy
pylon walls； and hear the chants as the long procession winds from
sanctuary to sanctuary。
Abouthis； lost Abouthis！ my heart goes out toward thee！ For the day
comes when the desert sands shall fill thy secret places！ Thy Gods are
doomed； O Abouthis！ New Faiths shall make a mock of all thy Holies；
and Centurion shall call upon Centurion across thy fortress…walls。 I
weepI weep tears of blood： for mine is the sin that brought about
these evils and mine for ever is their shame。
Behold； it is written hereafter。
Here in Abouthis I was born； I； Harmachis； and my father； the
justified in Osiris； was High Priest of the Temple of Sethi。 And on
that same day of my birth Cleopatra； the Queen of Egypt； was born
also。 I pass
