Cleopatra.............................................................................................................................................................1

H. Rider Haggard .....................................................................................................................................1

I have for a long while hoped to be allowed to dedicate some book of mine to you, and now I bring you this

work, because whatever its shortcomings, and whatever judgment may be passed upon it by yourself and

I trust that you will receive from my romance of "Cleopatra" some such pleasure as lightened the labour of its

building up; and that it may convey to your mind a picture, however imperfect, of the old and mysterious

The history of the ruin of Antony and Cleopatra must have struck many students of the records of their age as

one of the most inexplicable of tragic tales. What malign influence and secret hates were at work, continually

sapping their prosperity and blinding their judgment? Why did Cleopatra fly at Actium, and why did Antony

follow her, leaving his fleet and army to destruction? An attempt is made in this romance to suggest a

The reader is asked to bear in mind, however, that the story is told, not from the modern point of view, but as

from the broken heart and with the lips of an Egyptian patriot of royal blood; no mere beast worshipper, but

a priest instructed in the inmost mysteries, who believed firmly in the personal existence of the gods of

Khem, in the possibility of communion with them, and in the certainty of immortal life with its rewards and

punishments; to whom also the bewildering and often gross symbolism of the Osirian Faith was nothing but a

veil woven to obscure secrets of the Sanctuary. Whatever proportion of truth there may have been in their

spiritual claims and imaginings, if indeed there was any, such men as the Prince Harmachis have been told of

in the annals of every great religion, and, as is shown by the testimony of monumental and sacred

inscriptions, they were not unknown among the worshippers of the Egyptian Gods, and more especially of

Unfortunately it is scarcely possible to write a book of this nature and period without introducing a certain

amount of illustrative matter, for by no other means can the long dead past be made to live again before the

reader's eyes with all its accessories of faded pomp and forgotten mystery. To such students as seek a story

only, and are not interested in the faith, ceremonies, or customs of the Mother of Religion and Civilisation,

ancient Egypt, it is, however, respectfully suggested that they should exercise the art of skipping, and open

That version of the death of Cleopatra has been preferred which attributes her end to poison. According to

Plutarch its actual manner is very uncertain, though popular rumour ascribed it to the bite of an asp. She

seems, however, to have carried out her design under the advice of that shadowy personage, her physician,

Olympus, and it is more than doubtful if he would have resorted to such a fantastic and uncertain method of

It may be mentioned that so late as the reign of Ptolemy Epiphanes, pretenders of native blood, one of whom

was named Harmachis, are known to have advanced their claims to the throne of Egypt. Moreover, there was

a book of prophecy current among the priesthood which declared that after the nations of the Greeks the God

Harsefi would create the "chief who is to come." It will therefore be seen that, although it lacks historical

confirmation, the story of the great plot formed to stamp out the dynasty of the Macedonian Lagidae and

place Harmachis on the throne is not in itself improbable. Indeed, it is possible that many such plots were

entered into by Egyptian patriots during the long ages of their country's bondage. But ancient history tells us

The Chant of Isis and the Song of Cleopatra, which appear in these pages, are done into verse from the

writer's prose by Mr. Andrew Lang, and the dirge sung by Charmion is translated by the same hand from the

In the recesses of the desolate Libyan mountains that lie behind the temple and city of Abydus, the supposed

burying place of the holy Osiris, a tomb was recently discovered, among the contents of which were the

papyrus rolls whereupon this history is written. The tomb itself is spacious, but otherwise remarkable only for

the depth of the shaft which descends vertically from the rockhewn cave, that once served as the mortuary

chapel for the friends and relatives of the departed, to the coffinchamber beneath. This shaft is no less than

eightynine feet in depth. The chamber at its foot was found to contain three coffins only, though it is large

enough for many more. Two of these, which in all probability inclosed the bodies of the High Priest,

Amenemhat, and of his wife, father and mother of Harmachis, the hero of this history, the shameless Arabs

The Arabs broke the bodies up. With unhallowed hands they tore the holy Amenemhat and the frame of her

who had, as it is written, been filled with the spirit of the Hathorstore them limb from limb, searching for

treasure amidst their bonesperhaps, as is their custom, selling the very bones for a few piastres to the last

ignorant tourist who came their way, seeking what he might destroy. For in Egypt the unhappy, the living

But as it chanced, some little while afterwards, one who is known to this writer, and a doctor by profession,

passed up the Nile to Abydus, and became acquainted with the men who had done this thing. They revealed

to him the secret of the place, telling him that one coffin yet remained entombed. It seemed to be the coffin of

a poor person, they said, and therefore, being pressed for time, they had left it unviolated. Moved by curiosity

to explore the recesses of a tomb as yet unprofaned by tourists, my friend bribed the Arabs to show it to him.

"I slept that night near the Temple of Seti, and started before daybreak on the following morning. With me

were a crosseyed rascal named AliAli Baba I named himthe man from whom I got the ring which I am

sending you, and a small but choice assortment of his fellow thieves. Within an hour after sunrise we reached

the valley where the tomb is. It is a desolate place, into which the sun pours his scorching heat all the long

day through, till the huge brown rocks which are strewn about become so hot that one can scarcely bear to

touch them, and the sand scorches the feet. It was already too hot to walk, so we rode on donkeys, some way

up the valleywhere a vulture floating far in the blue overhead was the only other visitortill we came to

an enormous boulder polished by centuries of action of sun and sand. Here Ali halted, saying that the tomb

was under the stone. Accordingly, we dismounted, and, leaving the donkeys in charge of a fellah boy, went

up to the rock. Beneath it was a small hole, barely large enough for a man to creep through. Indeed it had

been dug by jackals, for the doorway and some part of the cave were entirely silted up, and it was by means

of this jackal hole that the tomb had been discovered. Ali crept in on his hands and knees, and I followed, to

find myself in a place cold after the hot outside air, and, in contrast with the light, filled with a dazzling

darkness. We lit our candles, and, the select body of thieves having arrived, I made an examination. We were

in a cave the size of a large room, and hollowed by hand, the further part of the cave being almost free from

drift dust. On the walls are religious paintings of the usual Ptolemaic character, and among them one of a

majestic old man with a long white beard, who is seated in a carved chair holding a wand in his hand.[*]

Before him passes a procession of priests bearing sacred images. In the right hand corner of the tomb is the

shaft of the mummypit, a squaremouthed well cut in the black rock. We had brought a beam of

thornwood, and this was now laid across the pit and a rope made fast to it. Then Aliwho, to do him

justice, is a courageous thieftook hold of the rope, and, putting some candles into the breast of his robe,

placed his bare feet against the smooth sides of the well and began to descent with great rapidity. Very soon

he had vanished into blackness, and the agitation of the cord alone told us that anything was going on below.

At last the rope ceased shaking and a faint shout came rumbling up the well, announcing Ali's safe arrival.

Then, far below, a tiny star of light appeared. He had lit the candle, thereby disturbing hundreds of bats that

flitted up in an endless stream and as silently as spirits. The rope was hauled up again, and now it was my

turn; but, as I declined to trust my neck to the handoverhand method of descent, the end of the cord was

made fast round my middle and I was lowered bodily into those sacred depths. Nor was it a pleasant journey,

for, if the masters of the situation above had made any mistake, I should have been dashed to pieces. Also,

the bats continually flew into my face and clung to my hair, and I have a great dislike of bats. At last, after

some minutes of jerking and dangling, I found myself standing in a narrow passage by the side of the worthy

Ali, covered with bats and perspiration, and with the skin rubbed off my knees and knuckles. Then another

man came down, hand over hand like a sailor, and as the rest were told to stop above we were ready to go on.

Ali went first with his candleof course we each had a candle leading the way down a long passage about

five feet high. At length the passage widened out, and we were in the tombchamber: I think the hottest and

most silent place that I ever entered. It was simply stifling. This chamber is a square room cut in the rock and

totally devoid of paintings or sculpture. I held up the candles and looked round. About the place were strewn

the coffin lids and the mummied remains of the two bodies that the Arabs had previously violated. The

paintings on the former were, I noticed, of great beauty, though, having no knowledge of hieroglyphics, I

could not decipher them. Beads and spicy wrappings lay around the remains, which, I saw, were those of a

man and a woman.[+] The head had been broken off the body of the man. I took it up and looked at it. It had

been closely shavedafter death, I should say, from the general indicationsand the features were

disfigured with gold leaf. But notwithstanding this, and the shrinkage of the flesh, I think the face was one of

the most imposing and beautiful that I ever saw. It was that of a very old man, and his dead countenance still

wore so calm and solemn, indeed, so awful a look, that I grew quite superstitious (though as you know, I am

pretty well accustomed to dead people), and put the head down in a hurry. There were still some wrappings

left upon the face of the second body, and I did not remove them; but she must have been a fine large woman

"'There the other mummy,' said Ali, pointing to a large and solid case that seemed to have been carelessly

"I went up to it and carefully examined it. It was well made, but of perfectly plain cedarwoodnot an

"'Never see one like him before,' said Ali. 'Bury great hurry, he no "mafish," no "fineesh." Throw him down

"I looked at the plain case till at last my interest was thoroughly aroused. I was so shocked by the sight of the

scattered dust of the departed that I had made up my mind not to touch the remaining coffin but now my

"Ali had brought a mallet and a cold chisel with him, and, having set the coffin straight, he began upon it with

all the zeal of an experienced tombbreaker. And then he pointed out another thing. Most mummycases are

fastened by four little tongues of wood, two on either side, which are fixed in the upper half, and, passing into

mortices cut to receive them in the thickness of the lower half, are there held fast by pegs of hard wood. But

this mummy case had eight such tongues. Evidently it had been thought well to secure it firmly. At last, with

great difficulty, we raised the massive lid, which was nearly three inches thick, and there, covered over with a

"Ali looked at it with open eyesand no wonder. For this mummy was not as other mummies are. Mummies

in general lie upon their backs, as stiff and calm as though they were cut from wood; but this mummy lay

upon its side, and, the wrappings notwithstanding, its knees were slightly bent. More than that, indeed, the

gold mask, which, after the fashion of the Ptolemaic period, had been set upon the face, had worked down,

"It was impossible, seeing these things, to avoid the conclusion that the mummy before us had moved with

"We lifted the body out of the coffin, nearly choking ourselves with mummy dust in the process, and there

beneath it half hidden among the spices, we made our first find. It was a roll of papyrus, carelessly fastened

and wrapped in a piece of mummy cloth, having to all appearance been thrown into the coffin at the moment

[*] This roll contained the third unfinished book of the history. The other two rolls were neatly fastened in the

usual fashion. All three are written by one hand in the Demotic character.Editor.

"Ali eyed the papyrus greedily, but I seized it and put it in my pocket, for it was agreed that I was to have all

that might be discovered. Then we began to unwrap the body. It was covered with very broad strong

bandages, thickly wound and roughly tied, sometimes by means of simple knots, the whole working the

appearance of having been executed in great haste and with difficulty. Just over the head was a large lump.

Presently, the bandages covering it were off, and there, on the face, lay a second roll of papyrus. I put down

my hand to lift it, but it would not come away. It appeared to be fixed to the stout seamless shroud which was

drawn over the whole body, and tied beneath the feetas a farmer ties sacks. This shroud, which was also

thickly waxed, was in one piece, being made to fit the form like a garment. I took a candle and examined the

roll and then I saw why it was fast. The spices had congealed and glued it to the sacklike shroud. It was

"Then we went on with our dreadful task in silence. With much care we ripped loose the sacklike garment,

and at last the body of a man lay 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.

"For the rest, the usual opening on the left side through which the embalmers did their work was absent; the

finelycut 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

"Well, there was nothing more to find, and now that the excitement was over, what between the heat, the

"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. Goodbye, '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

"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

And O you whose eyes fall upon these pages, see, they have been translated, and they have been printed, and

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,

He tells you how the smouldering loyalty of the land of Khem blazed up before it died, and how fiercely the

old Timeconsecrated Faith struggled against the conquering tide of Change that rose, like Nile at flood, and

Here, in his pages, you shall learn the glory of Isis the Manyshaped, the Executrix of Decrees. Here you

shall make acquaintance with the shade of Cleopatra, that "Thing of Flame," whose passionbreathing beauty

shaped the destiny of Empires. Here you shall read how the soul of Charmion was slain of the sword her

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 today 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.

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,

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 prisontower, I, the Word of Shame, watch thy

fluttering banners, Abouthis, flaunting from thy pylon walls, and hear the chants as the long procession winds

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 fortresswalls. I weepI weep tears of blood: for mine is the

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 passed

my youth in yonder fields watching the baser people at their labours and going in and out at will among the

great courts of the temples. Of my mother I knew naught, for she died when I yet hung at the breast. But

before she died in the reign of Ptolemy Aul�tes, who is named the Piper, so did the old wife, Atoua, told me,

my mother took a golden ur�us, the snake symbol of our Royalty of Egypt, from a coffer of ivory and laid it

on my brow. And those who saw her do this believed that she was distraught of the Divinity, and in her

madness foreshadowed that the day of the Macedonian Lagid� was ended, and that Egypt's sceptre should

pass again to the hand of Egypt's true and Royal race. But when my father, the old High Priest Amenemhat,

whose only child I was, she who was his wife before my mother having been, for what crime I know not,

cursed with barrenness by Sekhet: I say when my father came in and saw what the dying woman had done, he

lifted up his hands towards the vault of heaven and adored the Invisible, because of the sign that had been

sent. And as he adored, the Hathors[*] filled my dying mother with the Spirit of Prophecy, and she rose in

strength from the couch and prostrated herself thrice before the cradle where I lay asleep, the Royal asp upon

"Hail to thee, fruit of my womb! Hail to thee, Royal child! Hail to thee, Pharaoh that shalt be! Hail to thee,

God that shalt purge the land, Divine seed of Nektnebf, the descended from Isis. Keep thee pure, and thou

shalt rule and deliver Egypt and not be broken. But if thou dost fail in thy hour of trial, then may the curse of

all the Gods of Egypt rest upon thee, and the curse of thy Royal forefathers, the justified, who ruled the land

before thee from the age of Horus. Then in life mayst thou be wretched, and after death may Osiris refuse

thee, and the judges of Amenti give judgment against thee, and Set and Sekhet torment thee, till such time as

thy sin is purged, and the Gods of Egypt, called by strange names, are once more worshipped in the Temples

of Egypt, and the staff of the Oppressor is broken, and the footsteps of the Foreigner are swept clean, and the

When she had spoken thus, the Spirit of Prophecy went out of her, and she fell dead across the cradle where I

But my father, Amenemhat, the High Priest, trembled, and was very fearful, both because of the words which

had been said by the Spirit of the Hathors through the mouth of my mother, and because what had been

uttered was treason against Ptolemy. For he knew that, if the matter should come to the ears of Ptolemy,

Pharaoh would send his guards to destroy the life of the child concerning whom such things were prophesied.

Therefore, my father shut the doors, and caused all those who stood by to swear upon the holy symbol of his

office, and by the name of the Divine Three, and by the Soul of her who lay dead upon the stones beside

Now among the company was the old wife, Atoua, who had been the nurse of my mother, and loved her well;

and in these days, though I know not how it had been in the past, nor how it shall be in the future, there is no

oath that can bind a woman's tongue. And so it came about that byandby, when the matter had become

homely in her mind, and her fear had fallen from her, she spoke of the prophecy to her daughter, who nursed

me at the breast now that my mother was dead. She did this as they walked together in the desert carrying

food to the husband of the daughter, who was a sculptor, and shaped effigies of the holy Gods in the tombs

that are fashioned in the rocktelling the daughter, my nurse, how great must be her care and love toward

the child that should one day be Pharaoh, and drive the Ptolemies from Egypt. But the daughter, my nurse,

was so filled with wonder at what she heard that she could not keep the tale locked within her breast, and in

the night she awoke her husband, and, in her turn, whispered it to him, and thereby compassed her own

destruction, and the destruction of her child, my fosterbrother. For the man told his friend, and the friend

Now, Pharaoh was much troubled thereat, for though when he was full of wine he would make a mock of the

God of the Egyptians, and swear that the Roman Senate was the only God to whom he bowed the knee, yet in

his heart he was terribly afraid, as I have learned from one who was his physician. For when he was alone at

night he would scream and cry aloud to the great Serapis, who indeed is no true God, and to other Gods,

fearing lest he should be murdered and his soul handed over to the tormentors. Also, when he felt his throne

tremble under him, he would send large presents to the temples, asking a message from the oracles, and more

especially from the oracle that is at Phil�. Therefore, when it came to his ears that the wife of the High Priest

of the great and ancient Temple of Abouthis had been filled with the Spirit of Prophecy before she died, and

foretold that her son should be Pharaoh, he was much afraid, and summoning some trusty guardswho,

being Greeks, did not fear to do sacrilegehe despatched them by boat up the Nile, with orders to come to

Abouthis and cut off the head of the child of the High Priest and bring it to him in a basket.

But, as it chanced, the boat in which the guards came was of deep draught, and, the time of their coming

being at the lowest ebb of the river, it struck and remained fast upon a bank of mud that is opposite the mouth

of the road running across the plains to Abouthis, and, as the north wind was blowing very fiercely, it was

like to sink. Thereon the guards of Pharaoh called out to the common people, who laboured at lifting water

along the banks of the river, to come with boats and take them off; but, seeing that they were Greeks of

Alexandria, the people would not, for the Egyptians do not love the Greeks. Then the guards cried that they

were on Pharaoh's business, and still the people would not, asking what was their business. Whereon a

eunuch among them who had made himself drunk in his fear, told them that they came to slay the child of

Amenemhat, the High Priest, of whom it was prophesied that he should be Pharaoh and sweep the Greeks

from Egypt. And then the people feared to stand longer in doubt, but brought boats, not knowing what might

be meant by the man's words. But there was one amongst thema farmer and an overseer of canalswho

was a kinsman of my mother's and had been present when she prophesied; and he turned and ran swiftly for

three parts of an hour, till he came to where I lay in the house that is without the north wall of the great

Temple. Now, as it chanced, my father was away in that part of the Place of Tombs which is to the left of the

large fortress, and Pharaoh's guards, mounted on asses, were hard upon us. Then the messenger cried to the

old wife, Atoua, whose tongue had brought about the evil, and told how the soldiers drew near to slay me.

And they looked at each other, not knowing what to do; for, had they hid me, the guards would not have

stayed their search till I was found. But the man, gazing through the doorway, saw a little child at play:

"It is my grandchild," she answered, "the fosterbrother of the Prince Harmachis; the child to whose mother

"Woman," he said, "thou knowest thy duty, do it!" and he again pointed at the child. "I command thee, by the

Atoua trembled exceedingly, because the child was of her own blood; but, nevertheless, she took the boy and

washed him and set a robe of silk upon him, and laid him on my cradle. And me she took and smeared with

mud to make my fair skin darker, and, drawing my garment from me, set me to play in the dirt of the yard,

Then the man hid himself, and presently the soldiers rode up and asked of the old wife if this were the

dwelling of the High Priest Amenemhat? And she told them yea, and, bidding them enter, offered them honey

When they had drunk, the eunuch who was with them asked if that were the son of Amenemhat who lay in

the cradle; and she said "Yeayea," and began to tell the guards how he would be great, for it had been

But the Greek guards laughed, and one of them, seizing the child, smote off his head with a sword; and the

eunuch drew forth the signet of Pharaoh as warrant for the deed and showed it to the old wife, Atoua, bidding

And as they went one of their number saw me playing in the dirt and called out that there was more breeding

in yonder brat than in the Prince Harmachis; and for a moment they wavered, thinking to slay me also, but in

the end they passed on, bearing the head of my foster brother, for they loved not to murder little children.

After a while, the mother of the dead child returned from the market place, and when she found what had

been done, she and her husband would have killed Atoua the old wife, her mother, and given me up to the

soldiers of Pharaoh. But my father came in also and learned the truth, and he caused the man and his wife to

be seized by night and hidden away in the dark places of the temple, so that none saw them more.

But I would today that it had been the will of the Gods that I had been slain of the soldiers and not the

Thereafter it was given out that the High Priest Amenemhat had taken me to be as a son to him in the place of

And after these things Ptolemy the Piper troubled us no more, nor did he again send his soldiers to seek for

him of whom it was prophesied that he should be Pharaoh. For the head of the child, my foster brother, was

brought to him by the eunuch as he sat in his palace of marble at Alexandria, flushed with Cyprian wine, and

played upon the flute before his women. And at his bidding the eunuch lifted up the head by the hair for him

to look on. Then he laughed and smote it on the cheek with his sandal, bidding one of the girls crown

Pharaoh with flowers. And he bowed the knee, and mocked the head of the innocent child. But the girl, who

was sharp of tonguefor all of this I heard in after yearssaid to him that "he did well to bow the knee, for

this child was indeed Pharaoh, the greatest of Pharaohs, and his name was the Osiris and his throne was

Aul�tes was much troubled at these words, and trembled, for, being a wicked man, he greatly feared entering

into Amenti. So he caused the girl to be slain because of the evil omen of her saying; crying that he would

send her to worship that Pharaoh whom she had named. And the other women he sent away, and played no

more upon the flute till he was once again drunk on the morrow. But the Alexandrians made a song on the

After this the years passed on, nor did I, being very little, know anything of the great things that came to pass

in Egypt; nor is it my purpose to set them out here. For I, Harmachis, having little time left to me, will only

And as the time went on, my father and the teachers instructed me in the ancient learning of our people, and

in such matters appertaining to the Gods as it is meet that children should know. So I grew strong and

comely, for my hair was black as the hair of the divine Nout, and my eyes were blue as the blue lotus, and my

skin was like the alabaster within the sanctuaries. For now that these glories have passed from me I may

speak of them without shame. I was strong also. There was no youth of my years in Abouthis who could

stand against me to wrestle with me, nor could any throw so far with the sling or spear. And I much yearned

to hunt the lion; but he whom I called my father forbade me, telling me that my life was of too great worth to

be so lightly hazarded. But when I bowed before him and prayed he would make his meaning clear to me, the

old man frowned and answered that the Gods made all things clear in their own season. For my part,

however, I went away in wroth, for there was a youth in Abouthis who with others had slain a lion which fell

upon his father's herds, and, being envious of my strength and beauty, he set it about that I was cowardly at

heart, in that when I went out to hunt I only slew jackals and gazelles. Now, this was when I had reached my

It chanced, therefore, that as I went sore at heart from the presence of the High Priest, I met this youth, who

called to me and mocked me, bidding me know the country people had told him that a great lion was down

among the rushes by the banks of the canal which runs past the Temple, lying at a distance of thirty stadia

from Abouthis. And, still mocking me, he asked me if I would come and help him slay this lion, or would I

go and sit among the old women and bid them comb my side lock? This bitter word so angered me that I was

near to falling on him; but in place therefore, forgetting my father's saying, I answered that if he would come

alone, I would go with him and seek this lion, and he should learn if I were indeed a coward. And at first he

would not, for, as men know, it is our custom to hunt the lion in companies; so it was my hour to mock. Then

he went and fetched his bow and arrows and a sharp knife. And I brought forth my heavy spear, which had a

shaft of thornwood, and at its end a pomegranate in silver, to hold the hand from slipping; and, in silence,

we went, side by side, to where the lion lay. When we came to the place, it was near sundown; and there,

upon the mud of the canalbank, we found the lion's slot, which ran into a thick clump of reeds.

"Now, thou boaster," I said, "wilt thou lead the way into yonder reeds, or shall I?" And I made as though I

"Nay, nay," he answered, "be not so mad! The brute will spring upon thee and rend thee. See! I will shoot

among the reeds. Perchance, if he sleeps, it will arouse him." And he drew his bow at a venture.

How it chanced I know not, but the arrow struck the sleeping lion, and, like a flash of light from the belly of a

cloud, he bounded from the shelter of the reeds, and stood before us with bristling mane and yellow eyes, the

But courage had left the breast of the boaster, his jaw dropped down and his fingers unloosed their hold so

that the bow fell from them; then, with a loud cry he turned and fled behind me, leaving the lion in my path.

But while I stood waiting my doom, for though I was sore afraid I would not fly, the lion crouched himself,

and turning not aside, with one great bound swept over me, touching me not. He lit, and again he bounded

full upon the boaster's back, striking him such a blow with his great paw that his head was crushed as an egg

thrown against a stone. He fell down dead, and the lion stood and roared over him. Then I was mad with

horror, and, scarce knowing what I did, I grasped my spear and with a shout I charged. As I charged the lion

lifted himself up above me. He smote at me with his paw; but with all my strength I drove the broad spear

into his throat, and, shrinking from the agony of the steel, his blow fell short and did no more than rip my

skin. Back he fell, the great spear far in his throat; then rising, he roared in pain and leapt twice the height of

a man straight into the air, smiting at the spear with his forepaws. Twice he leapt thus, horrible to see, and

twice he fell upon his back. Then his strength spent itself with his rushing blood, and, groaning like a bull, he

died; while I, being but a lad, stood and trembled with fear now that all cause of fear had passed.

But as I stood and gazed at the body of him who had taunted me, and at the carcass of the lion, a woman

came running towards me, even the same old wife, Atoua, who, though I knew it not as yet, had offered up

her flesh and blood that I might be saved alive. For she had been gathering simples, in which she had great

skill, by the water's edge, not knowing that there was a lion near (and, indeed, the lions, for the most part, are

not found in the tilled land, but rather in the desert and the Libyan mountains), and had seen from a distance

that which I have set down. Now, when she was come, she knew me for Harmachis, and, bending herself, she

made obeisance to me, and saluted me, calling me Royal, and worthy of all honour, and beloved, and chosen

But I, thinking that terror had made her sick of mind, asked her of what she would speak.

"Is it a great thing," I asked, "that I should slay a lion? Is it a matter worthy of such talk as thine? There live,

and have lived, men who have slain many lions. Did not the Divine Amenhetep the Osirian slay with his

own hand more than a hundred lions? Is it not written on the scarab�us that hangs within my father's

chamber, that he slew lions aforetime? And have not others done likewise? Why then, speakest thou thus, O

All of which I said, because, having now slain the lion, I was minded, after the manner of youth, to hold it as

a thing of no account. But she did not cease to make obeisance, and to call me by names that are too high to

"O Royal One," she cried, "wisely did thy mother prophecy. Surely the Holy Spirit, the Knepth, was in her, O

thou conceived by a God! See the omen. The lion therehe growls within the Capitol at Romeand the

dead man, he is the Ptolemythe Macedonian spawn that, like a foreign weed, hath overgrown the land of

Nile; with the Macedonian Lagid� thou shalt go to smite the lion of Rome. But the Macedonian cur shall fly,

and the Roman lion shall strike him down, and thou shalt strike down the lion, and the land of Khem shall

once more be free! free! Keep thyself but pure, according to the commandment of the Gods, O son of the

Royal House; O hope of Khemi! be but ware of Woman the Destroyer, and as I have said, so shall it be. I am

poor and wretched; yea, stricken with sorrow. I have sinned in speaking of what should be hid, and for my sin

I have paid in the coin of that which was born of my womb; willingly have I paid for thee. But I have still of

the wisdom of our people, nor do the Gods, in whose eyes all are equal, turn their countenance from the poor;

the Divine Mother Isis hath spoken to mebut last night she spakebidding me come hither to gather

herbs, and read to thee the signs that I should see. And as I have said, so it shall come to pass, if thou canst

but endure the weight of the great temptation. Come hither, Royal One!" and she led me to the edge of the

canal, where the water was deep, and still and blue. "Now gaze upon that face as the water throws it back. Is

not that brow fitted to bear the double crown? Do not those gentle eyes mirror the majesty of kings? Hath not

the Ptah, the Creator, fashioned that form to fit the Imperial garb, and awe the glance of multitudes looking

"Nay, nay!" she went on in another voicea shrill old wife's voice "I willbe not so foolish, boythe

scratch of a lion is a venomous thing, a terrible thing; yea, as bad as the bite of an aspit must be treated,

else it will fester, and all thy days thou shalt dream of lions; ay, and snakes; and, also, it will break out in

sores. But I know of itI know. I am not crazed for nothing. For mark! everything has its balancein

madness is much wisdom, and in wisdom much madness. La! la! la! Pharaoh himself can't say where the one

begins and the other ends. Now, don't stand gazing there, looking as silly as a cat in a crocuscoloured robe,

as they say in Alexandria; but just let me stick these green things on the place, and in six days you'll heal up

as white as a threeyearchild. Never mind the smart of it, lad. By Him who sleeps at Phil�, or at Abouthis,

or at Abydusas our divine masters have it nowor wherever He does sleep, which is a thing we shall all

find out before we want toby Osiris, I say, you'll live to be as clean from scars as a sacrifice to Isis at the

"Is it not so, good folk?"and she turned to address some people who, while she prophesied, had assembled

unseen by me"I've been speaking a spell over him, just to make a way for the virtue of my medicine la!

la! there's nothing like a spell. If you don't believe it, just you come to me next time your wives are barren;

it's better than scraping every pillar in the Temple of Osiris, I'll warrant. I'll make 'em bear like a

twentyyearold palm. But then, you see, you must know what to saythat's the pointeverything comes

Now, when I heard all this, I, Harmachis, put my hand to my head, not knowing if I dreamed. But presently

looking up, I saw a greyhaired man among those who were gathered together, who watched us sharply, and

afterwards I learned that this man was the spy of Ptolemy, the very man, indeed, who had wellnigh caused me

to be slain of Pharaoh when I was in my cradle. Then I understood why Atoua spoke so foolishly.

"Thine are strange spells, old wife," the spy said. "Thou didst speak of Pharaoh and the double crown and of

"Yea, yeapart of the spell, thou fool; and what can one swear by better nowadays than by the Divine

Pharaoh the Piper, whom, and whose music, may the Gods preserve to charm this happy land?what better

than by the double crown he wearsgrace to great Alexander of Macedonia? By the way, you know about

everything: have they got back his chlamys yet, which Mithridates took to Cos? Pompey wore it last, didn't

he?in his triumph, toojust fancy Pompey in the cloak of Alexander!a puppydog in a lion's skin! And

talking of lionslook what this lad hath doneslain a lion with his own spear; and right glad you village

folks should be to see it, for it was a very fierce lionjust see his teeth and his clawshis claws!they are

enough to make a poor silly old woman like me shriek to look at them! And the body there, the dead

bodythe lion slew it. Alack! he's an Osiris[*] now, the bodyand to think of it, but an hour ago he was an

everyday mortal like you or me! Well, away with him to the embalmers. He'll soon swell in the sun and burst,

and that will save them the trouble of cutting him open. Not that they will spend a talent of silver over him

anyway. Seventy days in natronthat's all he's likely to get. La! la! how my tongue does run, and it's getting

dark. Come, aren't you going to take away the body of that poor lad, and the lion, too? There, my boy, you

keep those herbs on, and you'll never feel your scratches. I know a thing or two for all I'm crazy, and you, my

own grandson! Dear, dear, I'm glad his Holiness the High Priest adopted you when PharaohOsiris bless his

holy namemade an end of his son; you look so bonny. I warrant the real Harmachis could not have killed a

"You know too much and talk too fast," grumbled the spy, now quite deceived. "Well, he is a brave youth.

Here, you men, bear this body back to Abouthis, and some of you stop and help me skin the lion. We'll send

the skin to you, young man," he went on; "not that you deserve it: to attack a lion like that was the act of a

fool, and a fool deserves what he getsdestruction. Never attack the strong until you are stronger."

For a while as I, Harmachis, went, the juice of the green herbs which the old wife, Atoua, had placed upon

my wounds caused me much smart, but presently the pain ceased. And, of a truth, I believe that there was

virtue in them, for within two days my flesh healed up, so that after a time no marks remained. But I

bethought me that I had disobeyed the word of the old High Priest, Amenemhat, who was called my father.

For till this day I knew not that he was in truth my father according to the flesh, having been taught that his

own son was slain as I have written; and that he had been pleased, with the sanction of the Divine ones, to

take me as an adopted son and rear me up, that I might in due season fulfil an office about the Temple.

Therefore I was much troubled, for I feared the old man, who was very terrible in his anger, and ever spoke

with the cold voice of Wisdom. Nevertheless, I determined to go in to him and confess my fault and bear

such punishment as he should be pleased to put upon me. So with the red spear in my hand, and the red

wounds on my breast, I passed through the outer court of the great temple and came to the door of the place

where the High Priest dwelt. It is a great chamber, sculptured round about with the images of the solemn

Gods, and the sunlight comes to it in the daytime by an opening cut through the stones of the massy roof. But

at night it was lit by a swinging lamp of bronze. I passed in without noise, for the door was not altogether

shut, and, pushing my way through the heavy curtains that were beyond, I stood with a beating heart within

The lamp was lit, for the darkness had fallen, and by its light I saw the old man seated in a chair of ivory and

ebony at a table of stone on which were spread mystic writings of the words of Life and Death. But he read

no more, for he slept, and his long white beard rested upon the table like the beard of a dead man. The soft

light from the lamp fell on him, on the papyri and the gold ring upon his hand, where were graven the

symbols of the Invisible One, but all around was shadow. It fell on the shaven head, on the white robe, on the

cedar staff of priesthood at his side, and on the ivory of the lionfooted chair; it showed the mighty brow of

power, the features cut in kingly mould, the white eyebrows, and the dark hollows of the deepset eyes. I

looked and trembled, for there was about him that which was more than the dignity of man. He had lived so

long with the Gods, and so long kept company with them and with thoughts divine, he was so deeply versed

in all those mysteries which we do but faintly discern, here in this upper air, that even now, before his time,

he partook of the nature of the Osiris, and was a thing to shake humanity with fear.

I stood and gazed, and as I stood he opened his dark eyes, but looked not on me, nor turned his head; and yet

"Why hast thou been disobedient to me, my son?" he said. "How came it that thou wentest forth against the

"How know I? Are there, then, no other ways of knowledge than by the senses? Ah, ignorant child! was not

my Spirit with thee when the lion sprang upon thy companion? Did I not pray Those set about thee to protect

thee, to make sure thy thrust when thou didst drive the spear into the lion's throat! How came it that thou

"Yes, I know it; and, because of the hot blood of youth, I forgive thee, Harmachis. But now listen to me, and

let my words sink into thy heart like the waters of Sihor into the thirsty sand at the rising of Sirius.[*] Listen

to me. The boaster was sent to thee as a temptation, he was sent as a trial of thy strength, and see! it has not

been equal to the burden. Therefore thy hour is put back. Hadst thou been strong in this matter, the path had

been made plain to thee even now. But thou hast failed, and therefore thy hour is put back."

[*] The dogstar, whose appearance marked the commencement of the overflow of the Nile.Editor.

"What was it, then, my son, that the old wife, Atoua, said to thee down by the bank of the canal?"

"Nay," I answered; "how should I believe such tales? Surely she is mad. All the people know her for mad."

"My son! my son!" he cried; "thou art wrong. She is not mad. The woman spoke the truth; she spoke not of

herself, but of the voice within her that cannot lie. For this Atoua is a prophetess and holy. Now learn thou

the destiny that the Gods of Egypt have given to thee to fulfil, and woe be unto thee if by any weakness thou

dost fail therein! Listen: thou art no stranger adopted into my house and the worship of the Temple; thou art

my very son, saved to me by this same woman. But, Harmachis, thou art more than this, for in thee and me

alone yet flows the Imperial blood of Egypt. Thou and I alone of men alive are descended, without break or

flaw, from that Pharaoh Nektnebf whom 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 Aul�tes 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 Aul�tes, 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 jointsovereign 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

"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 today 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

"Of these matters thou shalt hear more hereafter. Meanwhile, thou hast much to learn. Tomorrow I will give

thee letters, and thou shalt journey down the Nile, past whitewalled 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

"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,

"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

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 welltilled

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 Selfbegot, 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

"O AmenOsiris, the sacrifice by whom we are justified, Lord of the Region of the Winds, Ruler of the

"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

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

As the light came back, I gazed upon that which had been left within my hand. It was a bud of the holy lotus

And while I gazed behold! the lotus passed from my grasp and was gone, leaving me astonished.

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

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 sailormen 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

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 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

taxgatherers. 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 Menkaura, 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

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

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

"And I," I said, "am Harmachis, son of Amenemhat, Hereditary High Priest and Ruler of the Holy City

"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

"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

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

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 one night, as, weary with study, I walked within the sacred grove that is in the garden of the temple, and

"Hold!" he cried in his great voice; "why is thy face so sad, Harmachis? Has the last problem that we studied

"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 piledup weight of knowledge crushes me. It is

"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

"And whither shall I go, my uncle?" I asked rejoicing; "back to Abouthis to be initiated into the mysteries of

"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 Aul�tes 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 farseeing! 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

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 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

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,

"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

"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

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

"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

overpale; 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

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

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,

"Look up, my son," he said, "let my old eyes gaze upon thy face, that I may read thy heart."

"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

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 chariotwheels 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,

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

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 Godbegot. 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 whiterobed

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 sweetvoiced woman singer began to sing the Holy Chant, and thus she

She paused in her most sweet song, and the whole multitude took up the melancholy dirge:

Once more, as we bowed before the Holy, she sang, and sent the full breath of her glad music ringing up the

everlasting walls till the silence quivered with her round notes of melody, and the hearts of those who

hearkened stirred strangely in the breast. And thus, as we walked, she sang the song of Osiris risen, the song

The chanting ceased, and as the sun sank the High Priest raised the statue of the living God and held it before

the multitude that was now gathered in the court of the temple. Then, with a mighty and joyful shout of:

the people tore their black wrappings from their dress, revealing the white robes they wore beneath, and, as

But for me the ceremony was only begun, for tonight was the night of my initiation. Leaving the inner court

I bathed myself, and, clad in pure linen, passed, as it is ordained, into an inner, but not the inmost, sanctuary,

and laid the accustomed offerings on the altar. Then, lifting my hands to heaven, I remained for many hours

in contemplation, striving, by holy thoughts and prayer, to gather up my strength against the mighty moment

The hours sped slowly in the silence of the temple, till at length the door opened and my father Amenemhat,

the High Priest, came in, clad in white, and leading by the hand the Priest of Isis. For, having been married,

"Art thou ready?" said the priest, lifting the lamp he held so that its light fell upon my face. "O thou chosen

"Behold thee," he said again, in solemn tones, "it is no small thing. If thou wilt carry out this thy last desire,

understand, royal Harmachis, that now this very night thou must die for a while in the flesh, what time thy

soul shall look on spiritual things. And if thou diest and any evil shall be found within thy heart, when thou

comest at last into that awful presence, woe unto thee, Harmachis, for the breath of life shall no more enter in

at the gateway of thy mouth, thy body shall utterly perish, and what shall befall thy other parts, if I know, I

may not say.[*] Art thou prepared to be taken to the breast of Her who Was and Is and Shall Be, and in all

things to do Her holy will; for Her, while she shall so command, to put away the thought of earthly woman;

and to labour always for Her glory till at the end thy life is gathered to Her eternal life?"

[*] According to the Egyptian religion the being Man is composed of four parts: the body, the double or astral

shape (ka), the soul (bi), and the spark of life sprung from the Godhead (khou). Editor.

"Farewell, my son," said my father; "be firm and triumph over things spiritual as thou shalt triumph over

things earthly. He who would truly rule the world must first be lifted up above the world. He must be at one

with God, for thus only shall he learn the secrets of the Divine. But beware! The Gods demand much of those

who dare to enter the circle of their Divinity. If they go back therefrom, they shall be judged of a sharper law,

and scourged with a heavier rod, for as their glory is, so shall their shame be. Therefore, make thy heart

strong, royal Harmachis! And when thou speedest down the ways of Night and enterest the Holies, remember

that from him to whom great gifts have been given shall gifts be required again. And nowif, indeed, thy

For a moment as my heart weighed these heavy words, I wavered, as well as I might. But I was filled with

longing to be gathered to the company of the Divine ones, and I knew that I had no evil in me, and desired to

do only the thing that is just. Therefore, having with so much labour drawn the bowstring to my ear, I was

fain to let fly the shaft. "Lead on," I cried with a loud voice; "lead on, thou holy Priest! I follow thee!"

OF THE INITIATION OF HARMACHIS; OF HIS VISIONS; OF HIS PASSING TO THE CITY THAT IS

In silence we passed into the Shrine of Isis. It was dark and bare only the feeble light from the lamp

gleamed faintly upon the sculptured walls, where, in a hundred effigies, the Holy Mother suckled the Holy

The priest closed the doors and bolted them. "Once again," he said, "art thou ready, Harmachis?"

He spoke no more; but, having lifted up his hands in prayer, led me to the centre of the Holy, and with a swift

"Look before thee, Harmachis!" he cried; and his voice sounded hollow in the solemn place.

I gazed and saw nothing. But from the niche that is high in the wall, where is hid that sacred symbol of the

Goddess on which few may look, there came a sound as of the rattling rods of the sistrum.[*] And as I

listened, awestruck, behold! I saw the outline of the symbol drawn as with fire upon the blackness of the air.

It hung above my head, and rattled while it hung. And, as it turned, I clearly saw the face of the Mother Isis

that is graven on the one side, and signifies unending Birth, and the face of her holy sister, Nephthys, that is

[*] A musical instrument peculiarly sacred to Isis of which the shape and rods had a mystic

Slowly it turned and swung as though some mystic dancer trod the air above me, and shook it in her hand.

Then of a sudden the end of the chamber became luminous, and in that white light I beheld picture after

picture. I saw the ancient Nile rolling through deserts to the sea. There were no men upon its banks, nor any

signs of man, nor any temples to the Gods. Only wild birds moved on Sihor's lonely face, and monstrous

brutes plunged and wallowed in his waters. The sun sank in majesty behind the Libyan Desert and stained the

waters red; the mountains towered up towards the silent sky; but in mountain, desert, and river there was no

sign of human life. Then I knew that I saw the world as it had been before man was, and a terror of its

The picture passed and another rose up in its place. Once again I saw the banks of Sihor, and on them

crowded wildfaced creatures, partaking of the nature of the ape more than of the nature of mankind. They

fought and slew each other. The wild birds sprang up in affright as the fire leapt from reed huts given by

foemen's hands to flame and pillage. They stole and rent and murdered, dashing out the brains of children

with axes of stone. And, though no voice told me, I knew that I saw man as he was tens of thousands of years

Yet another picture. Again I beheld the banks of Sihor; but on them fair cities bloomed like flowers. In and

out their gates went men and women, passing to and fro from wide, welltilled lands. But I saw no guards or

armies, and no weapons of war. All was wisdom, prosperity, and peace. And while I wondered, a glorious

Figure, clad in raiment that shone as flame, came from the gates of a shrine, and the sound of music went

before and followed after him. He mounted an ivory throne which was set in a marketplace facing the water:

and as the sun sank called in all the multitudes to prayer. With one voice they prayed, bending in adoration.

And I understood that herein was shown the reign of the Gods on earth, which was long before the days of

A change came over the dream. Still the same fair city, but other men men with greed and evil on their

faceswho hated the bonds of righteous doing, and set their hearts on sin. The evening came; the glorious

Figure mounted the throne and called to prayer, but none bowed themselves in adoration.

"We are aweary of thee!" they cried. "Make Evil King! Slay him! slay him! and loose the bonds of Evil!

"Ye know not what ye ask," he cried; "but as ye will, so be it! For if I die, by me, after much travail, shall ye

Even as he spoke, a Form, foul and hideous to behold, leapt upon him, cursing, slew him, tore him limb from

limb, and amidst the clamour of the people sat himself upon the throne and ruled. But a Shape whose face

was veiled passed down from heaven on shadowy wings, and with lamentations gathered up the rent

fragments of the Being. A moment she bent herself upon them, then lifted up her hands and wept. And as she

wept, behold! from her side there sprang a warrior armed and with a face like the face of Ra at noon. He, the

Avenger, hurled himself with a shout upon the Monster who had usurped the throne, and they closed in battle,

Then came picture after picture. I saw Powers and Peoples clad in various robes and speaking many tongues.

I saw them pass and pass in millionsloving, hating, struggling, dying. Some few were happy and some had

woe stamped upon their faces; but most bore not the seal of happiness nor of woe, but rather that of patience.

And ever as they passed from age to age, high above in the heavens the Avenger fought on with the Evil

Thing, while the scale of victory swung now here now there. But neither conquered, nor was it given to me to

And I understood that what I had beheld was the holy vision of the struggle between the Good and the Evil

Powers. I saw that man was created vile, but Those who are above took pity on him, and came down to him

to make him good and happy, for the two things are one thing. But man returned to his wicked way, and then

the bright Spirit of Good, who is of us called Osiris, but who has many names, offered himself up for the

evildoing of the race that had dethroned him. And from him and the Divine Mother, of whom all nature is,

sprang another spirit who is the Protector of us on earth, as Osiris is our justifier in Amenti.

Of a sudden, as I saw the visions, these things became clear to me. The mummy cloths of symbol and of

ceremony that wrap Osiris round fell from him, and I understood the secret of religion, which is Sacrifice.

"Hast thou understood, Harmachis, those things which it has been granted thee to see?"

"Nay, they are but begun. That which follows thou must endure alone! Behold I leave thee, to return at the

morning light. Once more I warn thee. That which thou shalt see, few may look upon and live. In all my days

I have known but three who dared to face this dread hour, and of those three at dawn but one was found alive.

He laid his hand upon my shoulder and blessed me. He went. I heard the door shut to behind him, the echoes

Then I felt that I was alone, alone in the Holy Place with Things which are not of the earth. Silence

fellsilence deep and black as the darkness which was around me. The silence fell, it gathered as the cloud

gathered on the face of the moon that night when, a lad, I prayed upon the pylon towers. It gathered denser

and yet more dense till it seemed to creep into my heart and call aloud therein; for utter silence has a voice

that is more terrible than any cry. I spoke; the echoes of my words came back upon me from the walls and

seemed to beat me down. The stillness was lighter to endure than an echo such as this. What was I about to

see? Should I die, even now, in the fulness of my youth and strength? Terrible were the warnings that had

been given to me. I was fearstricken, and bethought me that I would fly. Fly!fly whither? The temple

door was barred; I could not fly. I was alone with the Godhead, alone with the Power that I had invoked. Nay,

my heart was puremy heart was pure. I would face the terror that was to come, ay, even though I died.

"Isis, Holy Mother," I prayed. "Isis, Spouse of Heaven, come unto me, be with me now; I faint! be with me

And then I knew that things were not as things had been. The air around me began to stir, it rustled as the

wings of eagles rustle, it took life. Bright eyes gazed upon me, strange whispers shook my soul. Upon the

darkness were bars of light. They changed and interchanged, they moved to and fro and wove mystic symbols

which I could not read. Swifter and swifter flew that shuttle of the light: the symbols grouped, gathered,

faded, gathered yet again, faster and still more fast, till my eyes could count them no more. Now I was afloat

upon a sea of glory; it surged and rolled, as the ocean rolls; it tossed me high, it brought me low. Glory was

Soon the lights began to pale in the rolling sea of air. Great shadows shot across it, lines of darkness pierced it

and rushed together on its breast, till, at length, I was only a Shape of Flame set like a star on the bosom of

immeasurable night. Bursts of awful music gathered from far away. Miles and miles away I heard them,

thrilling faintly through the gloom. On they came, nearer and more near, louder and more loud, till they swept

past, above, below, around me, swept on rushing pinions, terrifying and enchanting me. They floated by, ever

growing fainter, till they died in space. Then others came, and no two were akin. Some rattled as ten thousand

sistra shaken all to tune. Some rank from the brazen throats of unnumbered clarions. Some pealed with a

loud, sweet chant of voices that were more than human; and some rolled along in the slow thunder of a

million drums. They passed; their notes were lost in dying echoes; and the silence once more pressed in upon

The strength within me began to fail. I felt my life ebbing at its springs. Death drew near to me and his shape

was Silence. He entered at my heart, entered with a sense of numbing cold, but my brain was still alive, I

could yet think. I knew that I was drawing near the confines of the Dead. Nay, I was dying fast, and oh, the

horror of it! I strove to pray and could not; there was no more time for prayer. One struggle and the stillness

crept into my brain. The terror passed; an unfathomable weight of sleep pressed me down. I was dying, I was

A changelife came back to me, but between the new life and the life that had been was a gulf and

difference. Once again I stood in the darkness of the shrine, but it blinded me no more. It was clear as the

light of day, although it still was black. I stood; and yet it was not I who stood, but rather my spiritual part,

for at my feet lay my dead Self. There it lay, rigid and still, a stamp of awful calm sealed upon its face, while

And as I gazed, filled with wonder, I was caught up on the Wings of Flame and whirled away! away! faster

than the lightnings flash. Down I fell, through depths of empty space set here and there with glittering crowns

of stars. Down for ten million miles and ten times ten million, till at length I hovered over a place of soft,

unchanging light, wherein were Temples, Palaces, and Abodes, such as no man ever saw in the visions of his

sleep. They were built of Flame, and they were built of Blackness. Their spires pierced up and up; their great

courts stretched around. Even as I hovered they changed continually to the eye; what was Flame became

Blackness, what was Blackness became Flame. Here was the flash of crystal, and there the blaze of gems

shone even through the glory that rolls around the city which is in the Place of Death. There were trees, and

their voice as they rustled was the voice of music; there was air, and, as it blew, its breath was the sobbing

Shapes, changing, mysterious, wonderful, rushed up to meet me, and bore me down till I seemed to stand

"Harmachis," answered the Shapes, that changed continually. "Harmachis who hath been summoned from the

earth to look upon the face of Her that Was and Is and Shall Be. Harmachis, Child of Earth!"

"Throw back the Gates and open wide the Doors!" pealed the awful Voice. "Throw back the Gates and open

wide the Doors; seal up his lips in silence, lest his voice jar upon the harmonies of Heaven, take away his

sight lest he see that which may not be seen, and let Harmachis, who hath been summoned, pass down the

path that leads to the place of the Unchanging. Pass on, Child of Earth; but before thou goest, look up that

I looked up. Beyond the glory that shone about the city was black night, and high on its bosom twinkled one

Then my lips and eyes were sealed with silence and with darkness, so that I was dumb and blind. The Gates

rolled back, the Doors swung wide, and I was swept into the city that is in the Place of Death. I was swept

swiftly I know not whither, till at length I stood upon my feet. Again the great Voice pealed:

"Draw the veil of blackness from his eyes, unseal the silence on his lips, that Harmachis, Child of Earth, may

see, hear, and understand, and make adoration at the Shrine of Her that Was and Is and Shall Be."

And my lips and eyes were touched once more, so that my sight and speech came back.

Behold! I stood within a hall of blackest marble, so lofty that even in the rosy light scarce could my vision

reach the great groins of the roof. Music wailed about its spaces, and all adown its length stood winged

Spirits fashioned in living fire, and such was the brightness of their forms that I could not look on them. In its

centre was an altar, small and square, and I stood before the empty altar. Then again the Voice cried:

"O Thou that hast been, art, and shalt be; Thou who, having many names, art yet without a name; Measurer of

Time; Messenger of God; Guardian of the Worlds and the Races that dwell thereon; Universal Mother born

of Nothingness; Creatix uncreated; Living Splendour without Form, Living Form without Substance; Servant

of the Invisible; Child of Law; Holder of the Scales and Sword of Fate; Vessel of Life, through whom all Life

flows, to whom it again is gathered; Recorder of Things Done; Executrix of DecreesHear!

"Harmachis the Egyptian, who by Thy will hath been summoned from the earth, waits before Thine Altar,

with ears unstopped, with eyes unsealed, and with an open heart. Hear and descend! Descend, O Many

shaped! Descend in Flame! Descend in Sound! Descend in Spirit! Hear and descend!"

The Voice ceased and there was silence. Then through the silence came a sound like the booming of the sea.

It passed and presently, moved thereto by I know not what, I raised my eyes from my hands with which I had

covered them, and saw a small dark cloud hanging over the Altar in and out of which a fiery Serpent climbed.

Then all the Spirits clad in light fell upon the marble floor, and with a loud voice adored; but what they said I

could not understand. Behold! the dark cloud came down and rested on the Altar, the Serpent of fire stretched

itself towards me, touched me on the forehead with its forky tongue and was gone. From within the cloud a

Then like arrows rushing from a bow the flameclad Spirits leapt from the ground and sped away.

"O Harmachis," said the Voice, "be not afraid, I am She whom thou dost know as Isis of the Egyptians; but

what else I am strive not thou to learn, it is beyond thy strength. For I am all things, Life is my spirit, and

Nature is my raiment. I am the laughter of the babe, I am the maiden's love, I am the mother's kiss. I am the

Child and Servant of the Invisible that is God, that is Law, that is Fatethough myself I be not God and Fate

and Law. When winds blow and oceans roar upon the face of the Earth thou hearest my voice; when thou

gazest on the starry firmament thou seest my countenance; when the spring blooms out in flowers, that is my

smile, Harmachis. For I am Nature's self, and all her shapes are shapes of Me. I breathe in all that breathes. I

wax and wane in the changeful moon: I grow and gather in the tides: I rise with the suns: I flash with the

lightning and thunder in the storms. Nothing is too great for the measure of my majesty, nothing is so small

that I cannot find a home therein. I am in thee and thou art in Me, O Harmachis. That which bade thee be

bade Me also be. Therefore, though I am great and thou art little, have no fear. For we are bound together by

the common bond of lifethat life which flows through suns and stars and spaces, through Spirits and the

souls of men, welding all Nature to a whole that, changing ever, is yet eternally the same."

"Faithfully hast thou served Me, O my son," went on the low sweet Voice; "greatly thou hast longed to be

brought face to face with Me here in Amenti; and greatly hast thou dared to accomplish thy desire. For it is

no small thing to cast off the tabernacle of the Flesh and before the appointed time, if only for an hour, put on

the raiment of the Spirit. And greatly, O my servant and my son, have I, too, desired to look on thee there

where I am. For the Gods love those who love them, but with a wider and deeper love, and under One who is

as far from Me as I am from thee, mortal, I am a God of Gods. Therefore I have caused thee to be brought

hither, Harmachis; and therefore I speak to thee, my son, and bid thee commune with Me now face to face, as

thou didst commune that night upon the temple towers of Abouthis. For I was there with thee, Harmachis, as

I was in ten thousand other worlds. It was I, O Harmachis, who laid the lotus in thy hand, giving thee the sign

which thou didst seek. For thou art of the kingly blood of my children who served Me from age to age. And if

thou dost not fail thou shalt sit upon that kingly throne and restore my ancient worship in its purity, and

sweep my temples from their defilements. But if thou dost fail, then shall the eternal Spirit Isis become but a

"Ask Me not," answered the Voice, "that which it is not lawful that I should answer thee. Perchance I can

read that which shall befall thee, perchance it doth not please Me so to read. What can it profit the Divine,

that hath all time wherein to await the issues, to be eager to look upon the blossom that is not blown, but

which, lying a seed in the bosom of the earth, shall blow in its season? Know, Harmachis, that I do not shape

the Future; the Future is to thee and not to Me; for it is born of Law and of the rule ordained of the Invisible.

Yet thou art free to act therein, and thou shalt win or thou shalt fail according to thy strength and the measure

of thy heart's purity. Thine be the burden, Harmachis, as thine in the event shall be the glory or the shame.

Little do I reck of the issue, I who am but the Minister of what is written. Now hear me: I will always be with

thee, my son, for my love once given can never be taken away, though by sin it may seem lost to thee.

Remember then this: if thou dost triumph, thy guerdon shall be great; if thou dost fail, heavy indeed shall be

thy punishment both in the flesh and in the land that thou callest Amenti. Yet this for thy comfort: shame and

agony shall not be eternal. For however deep the fall from righteousness, if but repentance holds the heart,

there is a patha stony and a cruel pathwhereby the height may be climbed again. Let it not be thy lot to

"And now, because thou hast loved Me, my son, and, wandering through the maze of fable, wherein men lose

themselves upon the earth, mistaking the substance for the Spirit, and the Altar for the God, hast yet grasped

a clue of Truth the Manyfaced; and because I love thee and look on to the day that, perchance, shall come

when thou shalt dwell blessed in my light and in the doing of my tasks: because of this, I say, it shall be given

to thee, O Harmachis, to hear the Word whereby I may be summoned from the Uttermost, by one who hath

communed with Me, and to look upon the face of Isiseven into the eyes of the Messenger, and not die the

The sweet Voice ceased; the dark cloud upon the altar changed and changedit grew white, it shone, and

seemed at length to take the shrouded shape of a woman. Then the golden Snake crept from its heart once

Now suddenly a Voice called aloud the awful Word, then the vapours burst and melted, and with my eyes I

saw that Glory, at the very thought of which my spirit faints. But what I saw it is not lawful to utter. For,

though I have been bidden to write what I have written of this matter, perchance that a record may remain,

thereon I have been warneday, even now, after these many years. I saw, and what I saw cannot be

imagined; for there are Glories and there are Shapes which are beyond the reach of man's imagination. I

sawthen, with the echo of that Word, and the memory of that sight stamped for ever on my heart, my spirit

And, as I fell, it seemed that the great hall burst open and crumbled into flakes of fire round me. Then a great

wind blew: there was a sound as the sound of Worlds rushing down the flood of Timeand I knew no more!

Once again I woketo find myself stretched at length upon the stone flooring of the Holy Place of Isis that is

at Abouthis. By me stood the old Priest of the Mysteries, and in his hand was a lamp. He bent over me, and

"It is daythe day of thy new birth, and thou hast lived to see it, Harmachis!" he said at length. "I give

thanks. Arise, royal Harmachis nay, tell me naught of that which has befallen thee. Arise, beloved of the

Holy Mother. Come forth, thou who hast passed the fire and learned what lies behind the darknesscome

I rose and, walking faintly, went with him, and, passing out of the darkness of the Shrines filled with thought

and wonder, came once more into the pure light of the morning. And then I went to my own chamber and

slept; nor did any dreams come to trouble me. But no mannot even my fatherasked me aught of what I

saw upon that dread night, or after what fashion I had communed with the Goddess.

After these things which have been written, I applied myself for a space to the worship of the Mother Isis,

and to the further study of the outward forms of those mysteries to which I now held the key. Moreover, I was

instructed in matters politic, for many great men of our following came secretly to see me from all quarters of

Egypt, and told me much of the hatred of the people towards Cleopatra, the Queen, and of other things. At

last the hour drew nigh; it was three months and ten days from the night when, for a while, I left the flesh,

and yet living with our life, was gathered to the breast of Isis, on which it was agreed that with due and

customary rites, although in utter secrecy, I should be called to the throne of the Upper and the Lower Land.

So it came about that, as the solemn time drew nigh, great men of the party of Egypt gathered to the number

of thirtyseven from every nome, and each great city of their nome, meeting together at Abouthis. They came

in every guisesome as priests, some as pilgrims to the Shrine, and some as beggars. Among them was my

uncle, Sepa, who, though he clad himself as a travelling doctor, had much ado to keep his loud voice from

betraying him. Indeed, I myself knew him by it, meeting him as I walked in thought upon the banks of the

canal, although it was then dusk and the great cape, which, after the fashion of such doctors, he had thrown

"A pest on thee!" he cried, when I greeted him by his name. "Cannot a man cease to be himself for a single

hour? Didst thou but know the pains that it has cost me to learn to play this partand now thou readest who I

And then, still talking in his loud voice, he told me how he had travelled hither on foot, the better to escape

the spies who ply to and fro upon the river. But he said he should return by the water, or take another guise;

for since he had come as a doctor he had been forced to play a doctor's part, knowing but little of the arts of

medicine; and, as he greatly feared, there were many between Annu and Abouthis who had suffered from

it.[*] And he laughed loudly and embraced me, forgetting his part. For he was too whole at heart to be an

actor and other than himself, and would have entered Abouthis with me holding my hand, had I not chid him

[*] In Ancient Egypt an unskilful or negligent physician was liable to very heavy penalties.Editor.

It was night, and the gates of the temple were shut. None were left within them, except the thirtyseven; my

father, the High Priest Amenemhat; that aged priest who had led me to the Shrine of Isis; the old wife, Atoua,

who, according to ancient custom, was to prepare me for the anointing; and some five other priests, sworn to

secrecy by that oath which none may break. They gathered in the second hall of the great temple; but I

remained alone, clad in my white robe, in the passage where are the names of sixandseventy ancient

Kings, who were before the day of the divine Sethi. There I rested in darkness, till at length my father,

Amenemhat, came, bearing a lamp, and, bowing low before me, led me by the hand forth into the great hall.

Here and there, between its mighty pillars, lights were burning that dimly showed the sculptured images upon

the walls, and dimly fell upon the long line of the sevenandthirty Lords, Priests, and Princes, who, seated

upon carven chairs, awaited my coming in silence. Before them, facing away from the seven Sanctuaries, a

throne was set, around which stood the priests holding the sacred images and banners. As I came into the dim

and holy place, the Dignitaries rose, and bowed before me, speaking no word; while my father led me to the

"Lords, Priests, and Princes of the ancient orders of the land of Khem Nobles from the Upper and the

Lower Country, have gathered in answer to my summons, hear me: I present to you, with such scant

formality as the occasion can afford, the Prince Harmachis, by right and true descent of blood the descendant

and heir of the ancient Pharaohs of our most unhappy land. He is priest of the inmost circle of the Mysteries

of the Divine Isis, Master of the MysteriesHereditary Priest of the Pyramids, which are by Memphis,

Instructed in the Solemn Rites of the Holy Osiris. Is there any among you who has aught to urge against the

He paused, and my uncle Sepa, rising from his chair, spoke: "We have made examination of the records and

"Is there any among you," went on my father, "who can deny that this royal Harmachis, by sanction of the

very Gods, has been gathered to Isis, been shown the way of the Osiris, been admitted to be the Hereditary

High Priest of the Pyramids which are by Memphis, and of the Temples of the Pyramids?"

Then that old priest rose who had been my guide in the Sanctuary of the Mother and made answer: "There is

Once more my father spoke: "Is there any among you who has aught to urge against this royal Harmachis, in

that by wickedness of heart or life, by uncleanliness or falsity, it is not fit or meet that we should crown him

"It is well," said my father; "then naught is wanting in the Prince Harmachis, seed of Nektnebf, the Osirian.

Let the woman Atoua stand forth and tell this company those things that came to pass when, at the hour of

her death, she who was my wife prophesied over this Prince, being filled with the Spirit of the Hathors."

Thereon old Atoua crept forward from the shadow of the columns, and earnestly told those things that have

"Ye have heard," said my father: "do you believe that the woman who was my wife spake with the Divine

"Royal Harmachis, thou hast heard. Know now that we are gathered here to crown thee King of the Upper

and the Lower Landsthy holy father, Amenemhat, renouncing all his right on thy behalf. We are met, not,

indeed, in that pomp and ceremony which is due to the occasionfor what we do must be done in secret, lest

our lives, and the cause that is more dear to us than life, should pay the forfeitbut yet with such dignity and

observance of the ancient rites as our circumstance may command. Learn, now, how this matter hangs, and if,

after learning, thy mind consents thereto, then mount thy throne, O Pharaoh and swear the oath!

"Long has Khemi groaned beneath the mailed heel of the Greek, and trembled at the shadow of the Roman's

spear; long has the ancient worship of its Gods been desecrated, and its people crushed with oppression. But

we believe that the hour of deliverance is at hand, and with the solemn voice of Egypt and by the ancient

Gods of Egypt, to whose cause thou art of all men bound, we call upon thee, Prince, to be the sword of our

deliverance. Hearken! Twenty thousand good and leal men are sworn to wait upon thy word, and at thy signal

to rise as one, to put the Grecian to the sword, and with their blood and substance to build thee a throne set

more surely on the soil of Khem than are its ancient pyramidssuch a throne as shall even roll the Roman

legions back. And for the signal, it shall be the death of that bold harlot, Cleopatra. Thou must compass her

death, Harmachis, in such fashion as shall be shown to thee, and with her blood anoint the Royal throne of

"Canst thou refuse, O our Hope? Doth not the holy love of country swell within thy heart? Canst thou dash

the cup of Freedom from thy lips and bear to drink the bitter draught of slaves? The emprise is great; maybe it

shall fail, and thou with thy life, as we with ours, shalt pay the price of our endeavour. But what of it,

Harmachis? Is life, then, so sweet? Are we so softly cushioned on the stony bed of earth? Is bitterness and

sorrow in its sum so small and scant a thing? Do we here breathe so divine an air that we should fear to face

the passage of our breath? What have we here but hope and memory? What see we here but shadows? Shall

we then fear to pass purehanded where Fulfilment is and memory is lost in its own source, and shadows die

in the light which cast them? O Harmachis, that man alone is truly blest who crowns his life with Fame's

most splendid wreath. For, since to all the Brood of Earth Death hands his poppyflowers, he indeed is happy

to whom there is occasion given to weave them in a crown of glory. And how can a man die better than in a

great endeavour to strike the gyves from his Country's limbs so that she again may stand in the face of

Heaven and raise the shrill shout of Freedom, and, clad once more in a panoply of strength, trample under

foot the fetters of her servitude, defying the tyrant nations of the earth to set their seal upon her brow?

"Khem calls thee, Harmachis. Come then, thou Deliverer; leap like Horus from the firmament, break her

"Enough, enough!" I cried, while the long murmur of applause swept about the columns and up the massy

walls. "Enough; is there any need to adjure me thus? Had I a hundred lives, would I not most gladly lay them

"Well said, well said!" answered Sepa. "Now go forth with the woman yonder, that she may make thy hands

clean before they touch the sacred emblems, and anoint thy brow before it is encircled of the diadem."

And so I went into a chamber apart with the old wife, Atoua. There, muttering prayers, she poured pure water

over my hands into a ewer of gold, and having dipped a fine cloth into oil wiped my brow with it.

"O happy Egypt!" she said; "O happy Prince, that art come to rule in Egypt! O Royal youth!too Royal to

be a priestso shall many a fair woman think; but, perchance, for thee they will relax the priestly rule, else

how shall the race of Pharaoh be carried on? O happy I, who dandled thee and gave my flesh and blood to

save thee! O royal and beautiful Harmachis, born for splendour, happiness, and love!"

"Cease, cease," I said, for her talk jarred upon me; "call me not happy till thou knowest my end, and speak

not to me of love, for with love comes sorrow, and mine is another and a higher way."

"Ay, ay, so thou sayestand joy, too, that comes with love! Never talk lightly of love, my King, for it

brought thee here! La! la! but it is always the way'The goose on the wing laughs at crocodiles,' so goes

their saying down at Alexandria; 'but when the goose is asleep on the water, it is the crocodiles that laugh.'

Not but what women are pretty crocodiles. Men worship the crocodiles at Anthribis Crocodilopolis they

call it now, don't they?but they worship women all the world over! La! how my tongue runs on, and thou

about to be crowned Pharaoh! Did I not prophesy it to thee? Well, thou art clean, Lord of the Double Crown.

So I went from the chamber with the old wife's foolish talk ringing in my ears, though of a truth her folly had

As I came, the Dignitaries rose once more and bowed before me. Then my father, without delay, drew near

me, and placed in my hands a golden image of the divine Ma, the Goddess of Truth, and golden images of the

arks of the God AmenRa, of the divine Mout, and the divine Khons, and spoke solemnly:

"Thou swearest by the living majesty of Ma, by the majesty of AmenRa, of Mout, and of Khons?"

"Thou swearest by the holy land of Khem, by Sihor's flood, by the Temples of the Gods and the eternal

"Remembering thy hideous doom if thou shouldst fail therein, thou swearest that thou wilt in all things

govern Egypt according to its ancient laws, that thou wilt preserve the worship of its Gods, that thou wilt do

equal justice, that thou wilt not oppress, that thou wilt not betray, that thou wilt make no alliance with the

Roman or the Greek, that thou wilt cast out the foreign Idols, that thou wilt devote thy life to the liberty of the

"It is well. Mount, then, the throne, that in the presence of these thy subjects, I may name thee Pharaoh."

I mounted upon the throne, of which the footstool is a Sphinx, and the canopy the overshadowing wings of

Ma. Then Amenemhat drew nigh once again and placed the Pshent upon my brow, and on my head the

Double Crown, and the Royal Robe about my shoulders, and in my hands the Sceptre and the Scourge.

"Royal Harmachis," he cried, "by these outward signs and tokens, I, the High Priest of the Temple of

RaMenMa at Abouthis, crown thee Pharaoh of the Upper and Lower Land. Reign and prosper, O Hope of

Then, one by one, they swore allegiance, till all had sworn. And, having sworn, my father took me by the

hand; he led me in solemn procession into each of the seven Sanctuaries that are in this Temple of

RaMenMa, and in each I made offerings, swung incense, and officiated as priest. Clad in the Royal robes I

made offerings in the Shrine of Horus, in the Shrine of Isis, in the Shrine of Osiris, in the Shrine of

AmenRa, in the Shrine of Horemku, in the Shrine of Ptah, till at length I reached the Shrine of the King's

Here they made their offering to me, as the Divine Pharaoh, and left me very wearybut a King.

Now the long days of preparation had passed, and the time was at hand. I was initiated, and I was crowned;

so that although the common folk knew me not, or knew me only as Priest of Isis, there were in Egypt

thousands who at heart bowed down to me as Pharaoh. The hour was at hand, and my soul went forth to meet

it. For I longed to overthrow the foreigner, to set Egypt free, to mount the throne that was my heritage, and

cleanse the temples of my Gods. I was fain for the struggle, and I never doubted of its end. I looked into the

mirror, and saw triumph written on my brows. The future stretched a path of glory from my feetay,

glittering with glory like Sihor in the sun. I communed with my Mother Isis; I sat within my chamber and

took counsel with my heart; I planned new temples; I revolved great laws that I would put forth for my

people's weal; and in my ears rang the shouts of exultation which should greet victorious Pharaoh on his

But still I tarried a little while at Abouthis, and, having been commanded to do so, let my hair, that had been

shorn, grow again long and black as the raven's wing, instructing myself meanwhile in all manly exercises

and feats of arms. Also, for a purpose which shall be seen, I perfected myself in the magic art of the

Egyptians, and in the reading of the stars, in which things, indeed, I already have great skill.

Now, this was the plan that had been built up. My uncle Sepa had, for a while, left the Temple of Annu,

giving out that his health had failed him. Thence he had moved down to a house in Alexandria, to gather

strength, as he said, from the breath of the sea, and also to learn for himself the wonders of the great Museum

and the glory of Cleopatra's Court. There it was planned that I should join him, for there, at Alexandria, the

egg of the plot was hatching. Accordingly, when at last the summons came, all things being prepared, I made

ready for the journey, and passed into my father's chamber to receive his blessing before I went. There sat the

old man, as once before he sat when he had rebuked me because I went out to slay the lion, his long white

beard resting on the table of stone and sacred writings in his hand. When I came in he rose from his seat and

would have knelt before me, crying "Hail, Pharaoh!" but I caught him by the hand.

"It is meet," he answered, "it is meet that I should bow before my King; but be it as thou wilt. And so thou

goest, Harmachis; my blessings go with thee, O my son! And may Those whom I serve grant to me that my

old eyes may, indeed, behold thee on the throne! I have searched long, striving, Harmachis, to read the future

that shall be; but I can learn naught by all my wisdom. It is hid from me, and at times my heart fails. But hear

this, there is danger in thy path, and it comes in the form of Woman. I have known it long, and therefore thou

hast been called to the worship of the heavenly Isis, who bids her votaries put away the thought of woman till

such time as she shall think well to slacken the rule. Oh, my son, I would that thou wert not so strong and

fairstronger and fairer, indeed, than any man in Egypt, as a King should befor in that strength and

beauty may lie a cause of stumbling. Beware, then, of those witches of Alexandria, lest, like a worm, some

"Have no fear, my father," I answered, frowning, "my thought is set on other things than red lips and smiling

"It is good," he answered; "so may it befall. And now farewell. When next we meet, may it be in that happy

hour when, with all the priests of the Upper Land, I move down from Abouthis to do my homage to Pharaoh

Thus it came about that once more I passed down the Nile travelling as a man of no estate. And to such as

were curious about me it was given out that I was the adopted son of the High Priest of Abouthis, having

been brought up to the priesthood, and that I had at the last refused the service of the Gods, and chosen to go

to Alexandria, to seek my fortune. For, be it remembered, I was still held to be the grandson of the old wife,

On the tenth night, sailing with the wind, we reached the mighty city of Alexandria, the city of a thousand

lights. Above them all towered the white Pharos, that wonder of the world, from the crown of which a light

like the light of the sun blazed out across the waters of the harbour to guide mariners on their way across the

sea. The vessel having been cautiously made fast to the quay, for it was night, I disembarked and stood

wondering at the vast mass of houses, and confused by the clamour of many tongues. For here all peoples

seemed to be gathered together, each speaking after the fashion of his own land. And as I stood a young man

came and touched me on the shoulder, asking me if I was from Abouthis and named Harmachis. I said "Yea."

Then, bending over me, he whispered the secret password into my ear, and, beckoning to two slaves, bade

them bring my baggage from the ship. This they did, fighting their way through the crowd of porters who

were clamouring for hire. Then I followed him down the quay, which was bordered with drinkingplaces,

where all sorts of men were gathered, tippling wine and watching the dancing of women, some of whom were

And so we went through the lamplit houses till at last we reached the shore of the great harbour, and turned

to the right along a wide way paved with granite and bordered by strong houses, having cloisters in front of

them, the like of which I had never seen. Turning once more to the right we came to a quieter portion of the

city, where, except for parties of strolling revellers, the streets were still. Presently my guide halted at a house

built of white stone. We passed in, and, crossing a small courtyard, entered a chamber where there was a

When I had washed and eaten, he told me that all things went well, and that as yet there was no thought of

evil at the Court. Further, he said, it having come to the ears of the Queen that the Priest of Annu was

sojourning at Alexandria, she sent for him and closely questioned himnot as to any plot, for of that she

never thought, but as to the rumour which had reached her, that there was treasure hid in the Great Pyramid

which is by Annu. For, being ever wasteful, she was ever in want of money, and had bethought her of

opening the Pyramid. But he laughed at her, telling her the Pyramid was the buryingplace of the divine

Khufu, and that he knew nothing of its secrets. Then she was angered, and swore that so surely as she ruled in

Egypt she would tear it down, stone by stone, and discover the secret at its heart. Again he laughed, and, in

the words of the proverb which they have at Alexandria, told her that "Mountains live longer than Kings."

Thereon she smiled at his ready answer, and let him go. Also my uncle Sepa told me that on the morrow I

should see this Cleopatra. For it was her birthday (as, indeed, it was also mine), and, dressed in the robes of

the Holy Isis, she would pass in state from her palace on the Lochias to the Serapeum to offer a sacrifice at

the Shrine of the false God who sits in the Temple. And he said that thereafter the fashion by which I should

Then, being very weary, I went to rest, but could sleep little for the strangeness of the place, the noises in the

streets, and the thought of the morrow. While it was yet dark, I rose, climbed the stair to the roof of the house,

and waited. Presently, the sun's rays shot out like arrows, and lit upon the white wonder of the marble Pharos,

whose light instantly sank and died, as though, indeed, the sun had killed it. Now the rays fell upon the

palaces of the Lochias where Cleopatra lay, and lit them up till they flamed like a jewel set on the dark, cool

bosom of the sea. Away the light flew, kissing the Soma's sacred dome, beneath which Alexander sleeps,

touching the high tops of a thousand palaces and temples; past the porticoes of the great museum that loomed

near at hand, striking the lofty Shrine, where, carved of ivory, is the image of the false God Serapis, and at

last seeming to lose itself in the vast and gloomy Necropolis. Then, as the dawn gathered into day, the flood

of brightness, overbrimming the bowl of night, flowed into the lower lands and streets, and showed

Alexandria red in the sunrise as the mantle of a king, and shaped as a mantle. The Etesian wind came up from

the north, and swept away the vapour from the harbours, so that I saw their blue waters rocking a thousand

ships. I saw, too, that mighty mole the Heptastadium; I saw the hundreds of streets, the countless houses, the

innumerable wealth and splendour of Alexandria set like a queen between lake Mareotis and the ocean, and

dominating both, and I was filled with wonder. This, then, was one city in my heritage of lands and cities!

Well, it was worth the grasping. And having looked my full and fed my heart, as it were, with the sight of

In the chamber beneath was my uncle Sepa. I told him that I had been watching the sun rise over the city of

"So!" he said, looking at me from beneath his shaggy eyebrows; "and what thinkest thou of Alexandria?"

"Ay!" he replied fiercely, "a city of the infernal Godsa sink of corruption, a bubbling well of iniquity, a

home of false faith springing from false hearts. I would that not one stone of it was left upon another stone,

and that its wealth lay deep beneath yonder waters! I would that the gulls were screaming across its site, and

that the wind, untainted by a Grecian breath, swept through its ruins from the ocean to Mareotis! O royal

Harmachis, let not the luxury and beauty of Alexandria poison thy sense; for in their deadly air, Faith

perishes, and Religion cannot spread her heavenly wings. When the hour comes for thee to rule, Harmachis,

cast down this accursed city and, as thy fathers did, set up thy throne in the white walls of Memphis. For I tell

thee that, for Egypt, Alexandria is but a splendid gate of ruin, and, while it endures, all nations of the earth

shall march through it, to the plunder of the land, and all false Faiths shall nestle in it and breed the overthrow

I made no answer, for there was truth in his words. And yet to me the city seemed very fair to look on. After

we had eaten, my uncle told me it was now time to set out to view the march of Cleopatra, as she went in

triumph to the Shrine of Serapis. For although she would not pass till within two hours of the midday, yet

these people of Alexandria have so great a love of shows and idling that had we not presently set forth, by no

means could we have come through the press of the multitudes who were already gathering along the

highways where the Queen must ride. So we went out to take our places upon a stand, built of timber, that

had been set up at the side of the great road which pierces through the city, to the Canopic Gate. For my uncle

We won our way with much struggle through the great crowds that were already gathered in the streets till we

reached the scaffolding of timber, which was roofed in with an awning and gaily hung with scarlet cloths.

Here we seated ourselves upon a bench and waited for some hours, watching the multitude press past

shouting, singing, and talking loudly in many tongues. At length soldiers came to clear the road, clad, after

the Roman fashion, in breastplates of chainarmour. After them marched heralds enjoining silence (at

which the population sung and shouted all the more loudly), and crying that Cleopatra, the Queen, was

coming. Then followed a thousand Cilician skirmishers, a thousand Thracians, a thousand Macedonians, and

a thousand Gauls, each armed after the fashion of their country. Then passed five hundred men of those who

are called the Fenced Horsemen, for both men and horses were altogether covered with mail. Next came

youths and maidens sumptuously draped and wearing golden crowns, and with them images symbolising Day

and Night, Morning and Noon, the Heavens and the Earth. After these walked many fair women, pouring

perfumes on the road, and others scattering blooming flowers. Now there rose a great shout of "Cleopatra!

Cleopatra!" and I held my breath and bent forward to see her who dared to put on the robes of Isis.

But at that moment the multitude so gathered and thickened in front of where I was that I could no longer

clearly see. So in my eagerness I leapt over the barrier of the scaffolding, and, being very strong, pushed my

way through the crowd till I reached the foremost rank. And as I did so, Nubian slaves armed with thick

staves and crowned with ivyleaves ran up, striking the people. One man I noted more especially, for he was

a giant, and, being strong, was insolent beyond measure, smiting the people without cause, as, indeed, is the

wont of low persons set in authority. For a woman stood near to me, an Egyptian by her face, bearing a child

in her arms, whom the man, seeing that she was weak, struck on the head with his rod so that she fell prone,

and the people murmured. But at the sight my blood rushed of a sudden through my veins and drowned my

reason. I held in my hand a staff of olivewood from Cyprus, and as the black brute laughed at the sight of

the stricken woman and her babe rolling on the ground, I swung the staff aloft and smote. So shrewdly did I

strike, that the tough rod split upon the giant's shoulders and the blood spurted forth, staining his trailing

Then, with a shriek of pain and furyfor those who smite love not that they be smittenhe turned and

sprang at me! And all the people round gave back, save only the woman who could not rise, leaving us two in

a ring as it were. On he came with a rush, and, as he came, being now mad, I smote him with my clenched fist

between the eyes, having nothing else with which to smite, and he staggered like an ox beneath the first blow

of the priest's axe. Then the people shouted, for they love to see a fight, and the man was known to them as a

gladiator victorious in the games. Gathering up his strength, the knave came on with an oath, and, whirling

his heavy staff on high, struck me in such a fashion that, had I not avoided the blow by nimbleness, I had

surely been slain. But, as it chanced, the staff hit upon the ground, and so heavily that it flew in fragments.

Thereon the multitude shouted again, and the great man, blind with fury, rushed at me to smite me down. But

with a cry I sprang straight at his throat for he was so heavy a man that I knew I could not hope to throw

him by strengthay, and gripped it. There I clung, though his fists battered me like bludgeons, driving my

thumbs into his throat. Round and round we turned, till at length he flung himself to the earth, trusting thus to

shake me off. But I held on fast as we rolled over and over on the ground, till at last he grew faint for want of

breath. Then I, being uppermost, drove my knee down upon his chest, and, as I believe, should thus have

slain him in my rage had not my uncle, and others there gathered, fallen upon me and dragged me from him.

And meanwhile, though I know it not, the chariot in which the Queen sat, with elephants going before and

lions led after it, had reached the spot, and had been halted because of the tumult. I looked up, and thus torn,

panting, my white garments stained with the blood that had rushed from the mouth and nostrils of the mighty

Nubian, I for the first time saw Cleopatra face to face. Her chariot was all of gold, and drawn by milkwhite

steeds. She sat in it with two fair girls, clad in Greek attire, standing one on either side, fanning her with

glittering fans. On her head was the covering of Isis, the golden horns between which rested the moon's round

disk and the emblem of Osiris' throne, with the ur�us twined around. Beneath this covering was the vulture

cap of gold, the blue enamelled wings and the vulture head with gemmy eyes, under which her long dark

tresses flowed towards her feet. About her rounded neck was a broad collar of gold studded with emeralds

and coral. Round her arms and wrists were bracelets of gold studded with emeralds and coral, and in one

hand she held the holy cross of Life fashioned of crystal, and in the other the golden rod of royalty. Her breast

was bare, but under it was a garment that glistened like the scaly covering of a snake, everywhere sewn with

gems. Beneath this robe was a skirt of golden cloth, half hidden by a scarf of the broidered silk of Cos, falling

in folds to the sandals that, fastened with great pearls, adorned her white and tiny feet.

All this I discerned at a glance, as it were. Then I looked upon the facethat face which seduced C�sar,

ruined Egypt, and was doomed to give Octavian the sceptre of the world. I looked upon the flawless Grecian

features, the rounded chin, the full, rich lips, the chiselled nostrils, and the ears fashioned like delicate shells.

I saw the forehead, low, broad, and lovely, the crisped, dark hair falling in heavy waves that sparkled in the

sun, the arched eyebrows, and the long, bent lashes. There before me was the grandeur of her Imperial shape.

There burnt the wonderful eyes, hued like the Cyprian violet eyes that seemed to sleep and brood on secret

things as night broods upon the desert, and yet as the night to shift, change, and be 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 passionladen 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

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

"And who and what art thou, Egyptianfor Egyptian I see thou artwho darest to smite my slave when I

"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

"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

"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

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

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

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

"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

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,

"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

"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 lightminded, 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

"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

heaven, and from it fell a rain of blood; then the sky sank down on the land of Khem and covered it. Whence

came the dream, girl, and what is its meaning? I have naught against thee as yet; but hearken! On the moment

that I have, though thou art of my kin, and I have loved theeon that moment, I say, I will doom those

delicate limbs, which thou lovest so much to show, to the kite and the jackal, and the soul within thee to all

the tortures of the Gods! Unburied shalt thou lie, and bodiless and accursed shalt thou wander in Amenti!

He paused, for his sudden burst of passion had spent itself. But by it, more clearly than before, I saw how

deep a heart this man had beneath the cloak of his merriness and simplicity of mien, and how fiercely the

mind within him was set upon his aim. As for the girl, she shrank from him terrified, and, placing her hands

"Nay, speak not so, my father," she said, between her sobs; "for what have I done? I know nothing of the evil

wandering of thy dreams. I am no soothsayer that I should read dreams. Have I not carried out all things

according to thy desire? Have I not been ever mindful of that dread oath?"and she trembled. "Have I not

played the spy and told thee all? Have I not won the heart of the Queen, so that she loves me as a sister,

refusing me nothingay, and the hearts of those about her? Why dost thou affright me thus with thy words

and threats?" and she wept afresh, looking even more beautiful in her sorrow than she was before.

"Enough, enough," he answered; "what I have said, I have said. Be warned, and affront our sight no more

with this wanton dress. Thinkest thou that we would feed our eyes upon those rounded armswe whose

stake is Egypt and who are dedicated to the Gods of Egypt? Girl, behold thy cousin and thy King!"

She ceased weeping, wiping her eyes with her chiton, and I saw that they seemed but the softer for her tears.

"Methinks, most royal Harmachis, and beloved Cousin," she said, as she bent before me, "that we are already

"Yea, Cousin," I answered, not without shamefacedness, for I had never before spoken to so fair a maid;

"thou wert in the chariot with Cleopatra this day when I struggled with the Nubian?"

"Assuredly," she said, with a smile and a sudden lighting of the eyes, "it was a gallant fight and gallantly

didst thou overthrow that black brute. I saw the fray and, though I knew thee not, I greatly feared for one so

brave. But I paid him for my fright, for it was I who put it into the mind of Cleopatra to bid the guards strike

off his hand now, knowing who thou art, I would I had said his head." And she looked up shooting a

"Enough," put in my uncle Sepa, "the time draws on. Tell thou thy mission, Charmion, and be gone."

"Let Pharaoh hearken to his handmaiden. I am the daughter of Pharaoh's uncle, the brother of his father, who

is now long dead, and therefore in my veins also flows the Royal blood of Egypt. Also I am of the ancient

Faith, and hate these Greeks, and to see thee set upon the throne has been my dearest hope now for many

years. To this end I, Charmion, have put aside my rank and become servingwoman to Cleopatra, that I

might cut a notch in which thou couldst set thy foot when the hour came for thee to climb the throne. And,

"This then is our plot, royal Cousin. Thou must gain an entrance to the Household and learn its ways and

secrets, and, so far as may be, suborn the eunuchs and captains, some of whom I have already tempted. This

done, and all things being prepared without, thou must slay Cleopatra, and, aided by me with those whom I

control, in the confusion that shall ensue, throw wide the gates, and, admitting those of our party who are in

waiting, put such of the troops as remain faithful to the sword and seize the Bruchium. Which being finished,

within two days thou shalt hold this fickle Alexandria. At the same time those who are sworn to thee in every

city of Egypt shall rise in arms, and in ten days from the death of Cleopatra thou shalt indeed be Pharaoh.

This is the counsel which has been taken, and thou seest, royal Cousin, that, though our uncle yonder thinks

"I hear thee, Cousin," I answered, marvelling that so young a woman she had but twenty yearscould

weave so bold a plot, for in its origin the scheme was hers. But in those days I little knew Charmion. "Go on;

"Nay, Cousin, as things are it is easy. Thus: Cleopatra loves to look upon a man, andgive me pardonthy

face and form are fair. Today she noted them, and twice she said she would she had asked where that

astrologer might be found, for she held that an astrologer who could wellnigh slay a Nubian gladiator with his

bare hands, must indeed be a master of the fortunate stars. I answered her that I would cause inquiry to be

made. So hearken, royal Harmachis. At midday Cleopatra sleeps in her inner hall which looks over the

gardens to the harbour. At that hour tomorrow, then, I will meet thee at the gates of the palace, whither thou

shalt come boldly asking for the Lady Charmion. I will make appointment for thee with Cleopatra, so that she

shall see thee alone when she wakes, and the rest shall be for thee, Harmachis. For much she loves to play

with the mysteries of magic, and I have known her stand whole nights watching the stars and making a

pretence to read them. And but lately she has sent away Dioscorides the physician, because, poor fool! he

ventured on a prophecy from the conjunction of the stars, that Cassius would defeat Mark Antony. Thereon

Cleopatra sent orders to the General Allienus, bidding him add the legions she had sent to Syria to help

Antony to the army of Cassius, whose victory, forsooth, wasaccording to Dioscorides written on the

stars. But, as it chanced, Antony beat Cassius first and Brutus afterwards, and so Dioscorides has departed,

and now he lectures on herbs in the museum for his bread, and hates the name of stars. But his place is empty,

and thou shalt fill it, and then we will work in secret and in the shadow of the sceptre. Ay, we will work like

the worm at the heart of a fruit, till the time of plucking comes, and at thy dagger's touch, royal Cousin, the

fabric of this Grecian throne crumbles to nothingness, and the worm that rotted it bursts his servile covering,

I gazed at this strange girl once more astonished, and saw that her face was lit up with such a light as I had

"Ah," broke in my uncle, who was watching her, "ah, I love to see thee so, girl; there is the Charmion that I

knew and I bred upnot the Court girl whom I like not, draped in silks of Cos and fragrant with essences.

Let thy heart harden in this moulday, stamp it with the fervid zeal of patriot faith, and thy reward shall find

thee. And now cover up that shameless dress of thine and leave us, for it grows late. Tomorrow Harmachis

Charmion bowed her head, and, turning, wrapped her darkhued peplos round her. Then, taking my hand, she

"A strange woman!" said Sepa, when she had gone; "a most strange woman, and an uncertain!"

"Ay," he answered, "but not without a cause. Look thou, Harmachis; beware of this Charmion. She is too

wayward, and, I fear me, may be led away. In truth, she is a very woman; and, like a restive horse, will take

the path that pleases her. She has brain and fire, and she loves our cause; but I pray that the cause come not

face to face with her desires, for what her heart is set on that will she do, at any cost she will do it. Therefore I

frightened her now while I may: for who can know but that she will pass beyond my power? I tell thee, that in

this one girl's hand lie all our lives: and if she play us false, what then? Alas! and alas! that we must use such

tools as these! But it was needful: there was no other way; and yet I misdoubted me. I pray that it may be

well; still, at times, I fear my niece Charmion she is too fair, and the blood of youth runs too warm in those

"Ah, woe to the cause that builds its strength upon a woman's faith; for women are faithful only where they

love, and when they love their faithlessness becomes their faith. They are not fixed as men are fixed: they rise

more high and sink more lowthey are strong and changeful as the sea. Harmachis, beware of this

Charmion: for, like the ocean, she may float thee home; or, like the ocean, she may wreck thee, and, with

Thus it came to pass that on the next day I arrayed myself in a long and flowing robe, after the fashion of a

magician or astrologer. I placed a cap on my head, about which were broidered images of the stars, and in my

belt a scribe's palette and a roll of papyrus written over with magic spells and signs. In my hand I held a wand

of ebony, tipped with ivory, such as is used by priests and masters of magic. Among these, indeed, I took

high rank, filling my knowledge of their secrets which I had learned at Annu what I lacked in that skill which

comes from use. And so with no small shame, for I love not such play and hold this common magic in

contempt, I set forth through the Bruchium to the palace on the Lochias, being guided on my way by my

uncle Sepa. At length, passing up the avenue of sphinxes, we came to the great marble gateway and the gates

of bronze, within which is the guardhouse. Here my uncle left me, breathing many prayers for my safety

and success. But I advanced with an easy air to the gate, where I was roughly challenged by the Gallic

sentries, and asked of my name, following, and business. I gave my name, Harmachis, the astrologer, saying

that my business was with the Lady Charmion, the Queen's lady. Thereon the man made as though to let me

pass in, when a captain of the guard, a Roman named Paulus, came forward and forbade it. Now, this Paulus

was a large limbed man, with a woman's face, and a hand that shook from winebibbing. Still he knew me

"Why," he cried, in the Latin tongue, to one who came with him, "this is the fellow who wrestled yesterday

with the Nubian gladiator, that same who now howls for his lost hand underneath my window. Curses on the

black brute! I had a bet upon him for the games! I have backed him against Caius, and now he'll never fight

again, and I must lose my money, all through this astrologer. What is it thou sayest?thou hast business

with the Lady Charmion? Nay, then, that settles it. I will not let thee through. Fellow, I worship the Lady

Charmionay, we all worship her, though she gives us more slaps than sighs. And dost thou think that we

will suffer an astrologer with such eyes and such a chest as thine to cut in the game?by Bacchus, no! She

"Sir," I said humbly and yet with dignity, "I pray that a message may be sent to the Lady Charmion, for my

"Ye Gods!" answered the fool, "whom have we here that he cannot wait? A C�sar in disguise? Nay, be

"Nay," put in the other officer, "he is an astrologer; make him prophesymake him play tricks."

"Ay," cried the others who had sauntered up, "let the fellow show his art. If he is a magician he can pass the

"Right willingly, good Sirs," I answered; for I saw no other means of entering. "Wilt thou, my young and

noble Lord"and I addressed him who was with Paulus"suffer that I look thee in the eyes; perhaps I may

"Right," answered the youth; "but I wish that the Lady Charmion was the sorceress. I would stare her out of

I took him by the hand and gazed deep into his eyes. "I see," I said, "a field of battle at night, and about it

bodies stretchedamong them is thy body, and a hyena tears its throat. Most noble Sir, thou shalt die by

"By Bacchus!" said the youth, turning white to the gills, "thou art an illomened sorcerer!" And he slunk

offshortly afterwards, as it chanced, to meet this very fate. For he was sent on service and slain in Cyprus.

"Now for thee, great Captain!" I said, speaking to Paulus. "I will show thee how I will pass those gates

without thy leaveay, and draw thee through them after me. Be pleased to fix thy princely gaze upon the

Being urged by his comrades he did this, unwillingly; and I let him gaze till I saw his eyes grow empty as an

owl's eyes in the sun. Then I suddenly withdrew the wand, and, shifting my countenance into the place of it, I

seized him with my will and stare, and, beginning to turn round and round, drew him after me, his fierce face

drawn fixed, as it were, almost to my own. Then I moved slowly backwards till I had passed the gates, still

drawing him after me, and suddenly jerked my head away. He fell to the ground, to rise wiping his brow and

"Art thou content, most noble Captain?" I said. "Thou seest we have passed the gates. Would any other noble

"By Taranis, Lord of Thunder, and all the Gods of Olympus thrown in, no!" growled an old Centurion, a Gaul

named Brennus, "I like thee not, I say. The man who could drag our Paulus through those gates by the eye, as

it were, is not a man to play with. Paulus, too, who always goes the way you don't want himbackwards,

like an assPaulus! Why, sirrah, thou needst must have a woman in one eye and a winecup in the other to

At this moment the talk was broken, for Charmion herself came down the marble path, followed by an armed

slave. She walked calm and carelessly, her hands folded behind her, and her eyes gazing at nothingness, as it

were. But it was when Charmion thus looked upon nothing that she saw most. And as she came the officers

and men of the guard made way for her bowing, for, as I learned afterwards, this girl, next to Cleopatra's self,

"What is this tumult, Brennus?" she said, speaking to the Centurion, and making as if she saw me not;

"knowest thou not that the Queen sleeps at this hour, and if she be awakened it is thou who must answer for

"Nay, Lady," said the Centurion, humbly; "but it is thus. We have here"and he jerked his thumb towards

me"a magician of the most pestilentum, I crave his pardonof the very best sort, for he hath but just

now, only by placing his eyes close to the nose of the worthy Captain Paulus, dragged him, the said Paulus,

through the gates that Paulus swore the magician should not pass. By the same token, lady, the magician says

Charmion turned and looked at me carelessly. "Ay, I remember," she said; "and so he hasat least, the

Queen would see his tricks; but if he can do none better than cause a sot"here she cast a glance of scorn at

the wondering Paulus"to follow his nose through the gates he guards, he had better go whence he came.

Follow me, Sir Magician; and for thee, Brennus, I say, keep thy riotous crew more quiet. For thee, most

honourable Paulus, get thee sober, and next time I am asked for at the gates give him who asks a hearing."

And, with a queenly nod of her small head, she turned and led the way, followed at a distance by myself and

We passed up the marble walk which runs through the garden grounds, and is set on either side with marble

statues, for the most part of heathen Gods and Goddesses, with which these Lagid� were not ashamed to

defile their royal dwellings. At length we came to a beautiful portico with fluted columns of the Grecian style

of art, where we found more guards, who made way for the Lady Charmion. Crossing the portico we reached

a marble vestibule where a fountain splashed softly, and thence by a low doorway a second chamber, known

as the Alabaster Hall, most beautiful to see. Its roof was upheld by light columns of black marble, but all its

walls were panelled with alabaster, on which Grecian legends were engraved. Its floor was of rich and

manyhued mosaic that told the tale of the passion of Psyche for the Grecian God of Love, and about it were

set chairs of ivory and gold. Charmion bade the armed slave stay at the doorway of this chamber, so that we

passed in alone, for the place was empty except for two eunuchs who stood with drawn swords before the

"I am vexed, my Lord," she said, speaking very low and shyly, "that thou shouldst have met with such

affronts at the gate; but the guard there served a double watch, and I had given my commands to the officer of

the company that should have relieved it. Those Roman officers are ever insolent, who, though they seem to

serve, know well that Egypt is their plaything. But it is not amiss, for these rough soldiers are superstitious,

and will fear thee. Now bide thou here while I go into Cleopatra's chamber, where she sleeps. I have but just

sung her to sleep, and if she be awake I will call thee, for she waits thy coming." And without more words

"Wouldst see the fairest woman in all the world, asleep?" she whispered; "if so, follow me. Nay, fear not;

when she awakes she will but laugh, for she bade me be sure to bring thee instantly, whether she slept or

So we passed up the beautiful chamber till we came to where the eunuchs stood with drawn swords, and these

would have barred my entry. But Charmion frowned, and drawing the signet from her bosom held it before

their eyes. Having examined the writing that was on the ring, they bowed, dropping their sword points and we

passed through the heavy curtains broidered with gold into the restingplace of Cleopatra. It was beautiful

beyond imaginingbeautiful with many coloured marbles, with gold and ivory, gems and flowersall art

can furnish and all luxury can dream of were here. Here were pictures so real that birds might have pecked

the painted fruits; here were statues of woman's loveliness frozen into stone; here were draperies fine as

softest silk, but woven of a web of gold; here were couches and carpets such as I never saw. The air, too, was

sweet with perfume, while through the open window places came the far murmur of the sea. And at the

further end of the chamber, on a couch of gleaming silk and sheltered by a net of finest gauze, Cleopatra lay

asleep. There she laythe fairest thing that man ever sawfairer than a dream, and the web of her dark hair

flowed all about her. One white, rounded arm made a pillow for her head, and one hung down towards the

ground. Her rich lips were parted in a smile, showing the ivory lines of teeth; and her rosy limbs were draped

in so thin a robe of the silk of Cos, held about her by a jewelled girdle, that the white gleam of flesh shone

through it. I stood astonished, and though my thoughts had little bent that way, the sight of her beauty struck

me like a blow, so that for a moment I lost myself as it were in the vision of its power, and was grieved at

Turning suddenly from the sight, I found Charmion watching me with her quick eyeswatching as though

she would search my heart. And, indeed, something of my thought must have been written on my face in a

"Ay, it is pity, is it not? Harmachis, being but a man, methinks that thou wilt need all thy ghostly strength to

I frowned, but before I could frame an answer she touched me lightly on the arm and pointed to the Queen. A

change had come upon her: her hands were clenched, and about her face, all rosy with the hue of sleep,

gathered a cloud of fear. Her breath came quick, she raised her arms as though to ward away a blow, then

with a stifled moan sat up and opened the windows of her eyes. They were dark, dark as night; but when the

light found them they grew blue as the sky grows blue before the blushing of the dawn.

"C�sarion?" she said; "where is my son C�sarion?Was it then a dream? I dreamed that JuliusJulius

who is deadcame to me, a bloody toga wrapped about his face, and having thrown his arms about his child

led him away. Then I dreamed I dieddied in blood and agony; and one I might not see mocked me as I

"Peace, Madam! peace!" said Charmion. "It is but the magician Harmachis, whom thou didst bid me bring to

"Ah! the magicianthat Harmachis who overthrew the giant? I remember now. He is welcome. Tell me, Sir

Magician, can thy magic mirror call forth an answer to this dream? Nay, how strange a thing is Sleep, that

wrapping the mind in a web of darkness, straightly compels it to its will! Whence, then, come those images of

fear rising on the horizon of the soul like some untimely moon upon a midday sky? Who grants them power

to stalk so lifelike from Memory's halls, and, pointing to their wounds, thus confront the Present with the

Past? Are they, then, messengers? Does the halfdeath of sleep give them foothold in our brains, and thus

upknit the cut thread of human kinship? That was C�sar's self, I tell thee, who but now stood at my side and

murmured through his muffled robe warning words of which the memory is lost to me. Read me this riddle,

thou Egyptian Sphinx,[*] and I'll show thee a rosier path to fortune than all thy stars can point. Thou hast

[*] Alluding to his name. Harmachis was the Grecian title of the divinity of the Sphinx, as Horemkhu was the

"I come in a good hour, most mighty Queen," I answered, "for I have some skill in the mysteries of Sleep,

that is, as thou hast rightly guessed, a stair by which those who are gathered to Osiris may from time to time

enter at the gateways of our living sense, and, by signs and words that can be read of instructed mortals,

repeat the echoes of that Hall of Truth which is their habitation. Yes, Sleep is a stair by which the messengers

of the guardian Gods may descend in many shapes upon the spirit of their choice. For, O Queen, to those who

hold the key, the madness of our dreams can show a clearer purpose and speak more certainly than all the

acted wisdom of our waking life, which is a dream indeed. Thou didst see great C�sar in his bloody robe, and

he threw his arms about the Prince C�sarion and led him hence. Hearken now to the secret of thy vision. It

was C�sar's self thou sawest coming to thy side from Amenti in such a guise as might not be mistaken. When

he embraced the child C�sarion he did it for a sign that to him, and him alone, had passed his greatness and

his love. When he seemed to lead him hence he led him forth from Egypt to be crowned in the Capitol,

crowned the Emperor of Rome and Lord of all the Lands. For the rest, I know not. It is hid from me."

Thus, then, I read the vision, though to my sense it had a darker meaning. But it is not well to prophesy evil

Meanwhile Cleopatra had risen, and, having thrown back the gnat gauze, was seated upon the edge of her

couch, her eyes fixed upon my face, while her fingers played with her girdle's jewelled ends.

"Of a truth," she cried, "thou art the best of all magicians, for thou readest my heart, and drawest a hidden

"Ay, O Queen," said Charmion, who stood by with downcast eyes, and I thought that there was bitter

meaning in her soft tones; "may no rougher words ever affront thy ears, and no evil presage tread less closely

Cleopatra placed her hands behind her head and, leaning back, looked at me with halfshut eyes.

"Come, show us of thy magic, Egyptian," she said. "It is yet hot abroad, and I am weary of those Hebrew

Ambassadors and their talk of Herod and Jerusalem. I hate that Herod, as he shall findand will have none

of the Ambassadors today, though I yearn a little to try my Hebrew on them. What canst thou do? Hast thou

no new trick? By Serapis! if thou canst conjure as well as thou canst prophesy, thou shalt have a place at

Court, with pay and perquisites to boot, if thy lofty soul does not scorn perquisites."

"Nay," I answered, "all tricks are old; but there are some forms of magic to be rarely used, and with

discretion, that may be new to thee, O Queen! Art thou afraid to venture on the charm?"

"I fear nothing; go on and do thy worst. Come, Charmion, and sit by me. But, stay, where are all the

"Not so," I said; "the charms work ill before so many. Now behold!" and, gazing at the twain, I cast my wand

upon the marble and murmured a spell. For a moment it was still, and then, as I muttered, the rod slowly

began to writhe. It bent itself, it stood on end, and moved of its own motion. Next it put on scales, and behold

"Fie on thee!" cried Cleopatra, clapping her hands; "callest thou that magic? Why, it is an old trick that any

"Wait, O Queen," I answered, "thou hast not seen all." And, as I spoke, the serpent seemed to break in

fragments, and from each fragment grew a new serpent. And these, too, broke in fragments and bred others,

till in a little while the place, to their glamoured sight, was a seething sea of snakes, that crawled, hissed, and

knotted themselves in knots. Then I made a sign, and the serpents gathered themselves round me, and seemed

slowly to twine themselves about my body and my limbs, till, save my face, I was wreathed thick with

"Oh, horrible! horrible!" cried Charmion, hiding her countenance in the skirt of the Queen's garment.

I waved my snakewrapped arms, and all was gone. There at my feet lay the black wand tipped with ivory,

The two women looked upon each other and gasped with wonder. But I took up the wand and stood with

"Ay, that I am, Egyptian; never did I see its like! Thou art Court astronomer from this day forward, with right

"Yea, royal Egypt; suffer that the chamber be a little darkened, and I will show thee one more thing."

"Half am I afraid," she answered; "nevertheless do thou as this Harmachis says, Charmion."

So the curtains were drawn and the chamber made as though the twilight were at hand. I came forward, and

stood beside Cleopatra. "Gaze thou there!" I said sternly, pointing with my wand to the empty space where I

Then for a little space was silence, while the two women gazed fixedly and half fearful at the spot.

And as they gazed a cloud gathered before them. Very slowly it took shape and form, and the form it took

was the form of a man, though as yet he was but vaguely mapped upon the twilight, and seemed now to grow

And as I cried the Thing, perfect in every part, leapt into form before us, suddenly as the flash of day. His

shape was the shape of royal C�sar, the toga thrown about his face, and on his form a vestment bloody from

I turned to the two women on the couch, and saw Cleopatra's lovely face all clothed in terror. Her lips were

"Man!" she gasped; "man! who and what art thou who canst bring the dead before our eyes?"

"I am the Queen's astronomer, magician, servantwhat the Queen wills," I answered, laughing. "Was this

Then Charmion rose also and took her hands from her face, for she, too, had been stricken with dread.

"How dost thou these things, royal Harmachis?" she said. "Tell me; for of a truth I fear thee."

"Be not afraid," I answered. "Perchance thou didst see nothing but what was in my mind. All things are

shadows. How canst thou, then, know their nature, or what is and what only seems to be? But how goes it?

"It goes well," she said. "By tomorrow morning's dawn these tales will have gone round, and thou wilt be

On the following day I received the writing of my appointment as Astrologer and MagicianinChief to the

Queen, with the pay and perquisites of that office, which were not small. Rooms were given me in the palace,

also, through which I passed at night to the high watchtower, whence I looked on the stars and drew their

auguries. For at this time Cleopatra was much troubled about matters political, and not knowing how the

great struggle among the Roman factions would end, but being very desirous to side with the strongest, she

took constant counsel with me as to the warnings of the stars. These I read to her in such manner as best

seemed to fit the high interest of my ends. For Antony, the Roman Triumvir, was now in Asia Minor, and,

rumour ran, very wroth because it had been told him that Cleopatra was hostile to the Triumvirate, in that her

General, Serapion, had aided Cassius. But Cleopatra protested loudly to me and others that Serapion had

acted against her will. Yet Charmion told me that, as with Allienus, it was because of a prophecy of

Dioscorides the unlucky that the Queen herself had secretly ordered Serapion so to do. Still, this did not save

Serapion, for to prove to Antony that she was innocent she dragged the General from the sanctuary and slew

him. Woe be to those who carry out the will of tyrants if the scale should rise against them! And so Serapion

Meanwhile all things went well with us, for the minds of Cleopatra and those about her were so set upon

affairs abroad that neither she nor they thought of revolt at home. But day by day our party gathered strength

in the cities of Egypt, and even in Alexandria, which is to Egypt as another land, all things being foreign

there. Day by day, those who doubted were won over and sworn to the cause by that oath which cannot be

broken, and our plans of action more firmly laid. And every other day I went forth from the palace to take

counsel with my uncle Sepa, and there at his house met the Nobles and the great priests who were for the

I saw much of Cleopatra, the Queen, and I was ever more astonished at the wealth and splendour of her mind,

that for richness and variety was as a woven cloth of gold throwing back all lights from its changing face. She

feared me somewhat, and therefore wished to make a friend of me, asking me of many matters that seemed to

be beyond the province of my office. I saw much of the Lady Charmion alsoindeed, she was ever at my

side, so that I scarce knew when she came and when she went. For she would draw nigh with that soft step of

hers, and I would turn to find her at hand and watching me beneath the long lashes of her downcast eyes.

There was no service that was too hard for her, and no task too long; for day and night she laboured for me

But when I thanked her for her loyalty, and said it should be had in mind in that time which was at hand, she

stamped her foot, and pouted with her lips, like an angry child, saying that, among all the things which I had

learned, this had I not learnedthat Love's service asked no payment, and was its own guerdon. And I, being

innocent in such matters, and, foolish that I was, holding the ways of women as of small account, read her

sayings in the sense that her services to the cause of Khem, which she loved, brought with them their own

reward. But when I praised so fine a spirit, she burst into angry tears and left me wondering. For I knew

nothing of the trouble at her heart. I knew not then that, unsought, this woman had given me her love, and

that she was rent and torn by pangs of passion fixed like arrows in her breast. I did not knowhow should I

know it, who never looked upon her otherwise than as an instrument of our joint and holy cause? Her beauty

never stirred meno, not even when she leaned over me and breathed upon my hair, I never thought of it

otherwise than as a man thinks of the beauty of a statue. What had I to do with such delights, I who was

sworn to Isis and dedicate to the cause of Egypt? O ye Gods, bear me witness that I am innocent of this thing

How strange a thing is this love of woman, that is so small in its beginning and in its ends so great! See, at the

first it is as the little spring of water welling from a mountain's heart. And at the last what is it? It is a mighty

river that floats argosies of joy and makes wide lands to smile. Or, perchance, it is a torrent to wash in a flood

of ruin across the fields of Hope, bursting in the barriers of design, and bringing to tumbled nothingness the

tenement of man's purity and the temples of his faith. For when the Invisible conceived the order of the

universe He set this seed of woman's love within its plan, that by its most unequal growth is doomed to bring

about equality of law. For now it lifts the low to heights untold, and now it brings the noble to the level of the

dust. And thus, while Woman, that great surprise of nature, is, Good and Evil can never grow apart. For still

She stands, and, blind with love, shoots the shuttle of our fate, and pours sweet water into the cup of

bitterness, and poisons the wholesome breath of life with the doom of her desire. Turn this way and turn that,

She is at hand to meet thee. Her weakness is thy strength, her might is thy undoing. Of her thou art, to her

thou goest. She is thy slave, yet holds thee captive; at her touch honour withers, locks open, and barriers fall.

She is infinite as ocean, she is variable as heaven, and her name is the Unforeseen. Man, strive not to escape

from Woman and the love of woman; for, fly where thou wilt, She is yet thy fate, and whate'er thou buildest

And thus it came to pass that I, Harmachis, who had put such matters far from me, was yet doomed to fall by

the thing I held of no account. For, see, this Charmion: she loved mewhy, I know not. Of her own thought

she learned to love me, and of her love came what shall be told. But I, knowing naught, treated her like a

It was the night before the night when the blow should fall, and there were revellings in the palace. That very

day I had seen Sepa, and with him the captains of a band of five hundred men, who should burst into the

palace at midnight on the morrow, when I had slain Cleopatra the Queen, and put the Roman and the Gallic

legionaries to the sword. That very day I had suborned the Captain Paulus who, since I drew him through the

gates, was my will's slave. Half by fear and half by promises of great reward I had prevailed upon him, for

the watch was his, to unbar that small gate which faces to the East at the signal on the morrow night.

All was made readythe flower of Freedom that had been fiveand twenty years in growth was on the

point of bloom. Armed companies were gathering in every city from Abu to Athu, and spies looked out from

their walls, awaiting the coming of the messenger who should bring tidings that Cleopatra was no more and

All was prepared, triumph hung in my hand as a ripe fruit to the hand of the plucker. Yet as I sat at the royal

feast my heart was heavy, and a shadow of coming woe lay cold within my mind. I sat there in a place of

honour, near the majesty of Cleopatra, and looked down the lines of guests, bright with gems and garlanded

with flowers, marking those whom I had doomed to die. There before me lay Cleopatra in all her beauty,

which thrilled the beholder as he is thrilled by the rushing of the midnight gale, or by the sight of stormy

waters. I gazed on her as she touched her lips with wine and toyed with the chaplet of roses on her brow,

thinking of the dagger beneath my robe that I had sworn to bury in her breast. Again, and yet again, I gazed

and strove to hate her, strove to rejoice that she must dieand could not. There, too, behind herwatching

me now, as ever, with her deep fringed eyeswas the lovely Lady Charmion. Who, to look at her innocent

face, would believe that she was the setter of that snare in which the Queen who loved her should miserably

perish? Who would dream that the secret of so much death was locked in her girlish breast? I gazed, and grew

sick at heart because I must anoint my throne with blood, and by evil sweep away the evil of the land. At that

hour I wished, indeed, that I was nothing but some humble husbandman, who in its season grows and in its

season garners the golden grain! Alas! the seed that I had been doomed to sow was the seed of Death, and

"Why, Harmachis, what ails thee?" said Cleopatra, smiling her slow smile. "Has the golden skein of stars got

tangled, my astronomer? or dost thou plan some new feat of magic? Say what is it that thou dost so poorly

grace our feast? Nay, now, did I not know, having made inquiry, that things so low as we poor women are far

"Nay, that I am spared, O Queen," I answered. "The servant of the stars marks not the smaller light of

Cleopatra leaned herself towards me, looking on me long and steadily in such fashion that, despite my will,

"Boast not, thou proud Egyptian," she said in a low voice which none but I and Charmion could hear, "lest

perchance thou dost tempt me to match my magic against thine. What woman can forgive that a man should

push us by as things of no account? It is an insult to our sex which Nature's self abhors," and she leaned back

again and laughed most musically. But, glancing up, I saw Charmion, her teeth on her lip and an angry frown

"Pardon, royal Egypt," I answered coldly, but with such wit as I could summon, "before the Queen of Heaven

even stars grow pale!" This I said of the moon, which is the sign of the Holy Mother whom Cleopatra dared

"Happily said," she answered, clapping her white hands. "Why, here's an astronomer who has wit and can

shape a compliment! Nay, such a wonder must not pass unnoted, lest the Gods resent it. Charmion, take this

rosechaplet from my hair and set it upon the learned brow of our Harmachis. He shall be crowned King of

Charmion lifted the chaplet from Cleopatra's brows and, bearing it to where I was, with a smile set it upon my

head yet warm and fragrant from the Queen's hair, but so roughly that she pained me somewhat. She did this

because she was wroth, although she smiled with her lips and whispered, "An omen, royal Harmachis." For

though she was so very much a woman, yet, when she was angered or suffered jealousy, Charmion had a

Having thus fixed the chaplet, she curtsied low before me, and with the softest tone of mockery named me, in

the Greek tongue, "Harmachis, King of Love." Then Cleopatra laughed and pledged me as "King of Love,"

and so did all the company, finding the jest a merry one. For in Alexandria they love not those who live

But I sat there, a smile upon my lips, and black wrath in my heart. For, knowing who and what I was, it irked

me to think myself a jest for the frivolous nobles and light beauties of Cleopatra's Court. But I was chiefly

angered against Charmion, because she laughed the loudest, and I did not then know that laughter and

bitterness are often the veils with which a sore heart wraps its weakness from the world. "An omen" she said

it wasthat crown of flowersand so it proved indeed. For I was fated to barter the Double Diadem of the

Upper and the Lower Land for a wreath of passion's roses that fade before they fully bloom, and Pharaoh's

"King of Love!" they crowned me in their mockery; ay, and King of Shame! And I, with the perfumed roses

on my browI, by descent and ordination the Pharaoh of Egyptthought of the imperishable halls of

But still smiling, I pledged them back, and answered with a jest. For rising, I bowed before Cleopatra and

craved leave to go. "Venus," I said, speaking of the planet that we know as Donaou in the morning and

Bonou in the evening, "was in the ascendant. Therefore, as newcrowned King of Love, I must now pass to

And so amidst their laughter I withdraw to my watchtower, and, dashing that shameful chaplet down amidst

the instruments of my craft, made pretence to note the rolling of the stars. There I waited, thinking on many

things that were to be, until Charmion should come with the last lists of the doomed and the messages of my

At length the door opened softly, and she came jewelled and clad in her white robes, as she had left the feast.

"Yea, my Lord; but by no means could I escape Cleopatra. Her mood is strangely crossed tonight. I know

not what it may portend. Strange whims and fancies blow across it like light and contrary airs upon a summer

"Yes; here they are," and she drew them from her bosom. "Here is the list of those who, after the Queen, must

certainly be put to the sword. Among them thou wilt note is the name of that old Gaul Brennus. I grieve for

"It is so," I answered conning it; "when men write out their count they forget no item, and our count is long.

"Here is the list of those to be spared, as friendly or uncertain; and here that of the towns which will certainly

rise as soon as the messenger reaches their gates with tidings of the death of Cleopatra."

"Good. And now"and I paused"and now as to the manner of Cleopatra's death. How hast thou settled it?

"Yea, my Lord," she answered, and again I caught that note of bitterness in her voice. "Doubtless Pharaoh

will rejoice that his should be the hand to rid the land of this false Queen and wanton woman, and at one blow

"Talk not thus, girl," I said; "thou knowest well that I do not rejoice, being but driven to the act by deep

necessity and the pressure of my vows. Can she not, then, be poisoned? Or can no one of the eunuchs be

suborned to slay her? My soul turns from this bloody work! Indeed, I marvel, however heavy be her crimes,

that thou canst speak so lightly of the death by treachery of one who loves thee!"

"Surely Pharaoh is overtender, forgetting the greatness of the moment and all that hangs upon this

daggerstroke that shall cut the thread of Cleopatra's life. Listen, Harmachis. Thou must do the deed, and

thou alone! Myself I would do it, had my arm the strength; but it has not. It cannot be done by poison, for

every drop she drinks and every morsel that shall touch her lips is strictly tasted by three separate tasters, who

cannot be suborned. Nor may the eunuchs of the guard be trusted. Two, indeed, are sworn to us; but the third

cannot be come at. He must be cut down afterwards; and, indeed, when so many men must fall, what matters

a eunuch more or less? Thus it shall be, then. Tomorrow night, at three hours before midnight thou dost cast

the final augury of the issue of the war. And then thou wilt, as is agreed, descend alone with me, having the

signet, to the outer chamber of the Queen's apartment. For the vessel bearing orders to the Legions sails from

Alexandria at the following dawn; and alone with Cleopatra, since she wills that the thing be kept secret as

the sea, thou wilt read the message of the stars. And as she pores over the papyrus, then must thou stab her in

the back, so that she dies; and see thou that thy will and arm fail thee not! The deed being doneand indeed

it will be easythou wilt take the signet and pass out to where the eunuch isfor the others will be wanting.

If by any chance there is trouble with himbut there will be no trouble, for he dare not enter the private

rooms, and the sounds of death cannot reach so farthou must cut him down. Then I will meet thee; and,

passing on, we will come to Paulus, and it shall be my care to see that he is neither drunk nor backward, for I

know how to hold him to the task. And he and those with him shall throw open the side gate, when Sepa and

the five hundred chosen men who are in waiting shall pour in and cast themselves upon the sleeping

legionaries, putting them to the sword. Why, the thing is easy so thou rest true to thyself, and let no

womanish fears creep into thy heart. What is this dagger's thrust? It is nothing, and yet upon it hang the

Charmion ran to the door, and, gazing down the long, dark passage, listened. In a moment she came back, her

finger on her lips. "It is the Queen," she whispered hurriedly; "the Queen who mounts the stair alone. I heard

her bid Iras to leave her. I may not be found alone with thee at this hour; it has a strange look, and she may

I glanced round. At the further end of the chamber was a heavy curtain that hid a little place built in the

"Haste theethere!" I said, and she glided behind the curtain, which swung back and covered her. Then I

thrust the fatal scroll of death into the bosom of my robe and bent over the mystic chart. Presently I heard the

The latch lifted, and Cleopatra swept in, royally arrayed, her dark hair hanging about her and the sacred snake

"Of a truth, Harmachis," she said with a sigh, as she sank into a seat, "the path to heaven is hard to climb!

Ah! I am weary, for those stairs are many. But I was minded, my astronomer, to see thee in thy haunts."

"Art thou now? And yet that dark face of thine has a somewhat angry lookthou art too young and

handsome for this dry trade, Harmachis. Why, I vow thou hast cast my wreath of roses down amidst thy rusty

tools! Kings would have cherished that wreath along with their choicest diadems, Harmachis! and thou dost

throw it away as a thing of no account! Why, what a man art thou! But stay; what is this? A lady's kerchief,

by Isis! Nay, now, my Harmachis, how came this here? Are our poor kerchiefs also instruments of thy high

"Nay, most royal Cleopatra, nay!" I said, turning; for the kerchief which had fallen from Charmion's neck had

an awkward look. "I know not, indeed, how the frippery came here. Perhaps, some one of the women who

"Ah! soso!" she said dryly, and still laughing like a rippling brook. "Yes, surely, the slavewomen who

keep chambers own such toys as this, of the very finest silk, worth twice its weight in gold, and broidered,

too, in many colours. Why, myself I should not shame to wear it! Of a truth it seems familiar to my sight."

And she threw it round her neck and smoothed the ends with her white hand. "But there; doubtless, it is a

thing unholy in thine eyes that the scarf of thy beloved should rest upon my poor breast. Take it, Harmachis;

I took the accursed thing, and, muttering what I may not write, stepped on to the giddy platform whence I

watched the stars. Then, crushing it into a ball, I threw it to the winds of heaven.

"Nay, think now," she cried; "what would the lady say could she see her lovegauge thus cast to all the

world? Mayhap, Harmachis, thou wouldst deal thus with my wreath also? See, the roses fade; cast it forth,"

For a moment, so vexed was I, I had a mind to take her at her word and send the wreath to join the kerchief.

"Nay," I said more softly, "it is a Queen's gift, and I will keep it," and, as I spoke, I saw the curtain shake.

"Gracious thanks be to the King of Love for this small mercy," she answered, looking at me strangely. "Now,

enough of wit; come forth upon this balconytell me of the mystery of those stars of thine. For I always

loved the stars, that are so pure and bright and cold, and so far away from our fevered troubling. There I

would wish to dwell, rocked on the dark bosom of the night, and losing the little sense of self as I gazed for

ever on the countenance of yon sweeteyed space. Naywho can tell, Harmachis?perhaps those stars

partake of our very substance, and, linked to us by Nature's invisible chain, do, indeed, draw our destiny with

them as they roll. What says the Greek fable of him who became a star? Perchance it has truth, for yonder

tiny sparks may be the souls of men, but grown more purely bright and placed in happy rest to illume the

turmoil of their motherearth. Or are they lamps hung high in the heavenly vault that night by night some

Godhead, whose wings are Darkness, touches with his immortal fire so that they leap out in answering flame?

Give me of thy wisdom and open these wonders to me, my servant, for I have little knowledge. Yet my heart

is large, and I would fill it, for I have the wit, could I but find the teacher."

Thereon, being glad to find footing on a safer shore, and marvelling somewhat to learn that Cleopatra had a

place for lofty thoughts, I spoke and willingly told her such things as are lawful. I told her how the sky is a

liquid mass pressing round the earth and resting on the elastic pillars of the air, and how above is the

heavenly ocean Nout, in which the planets float like ships as they rush upon their radiant way. I told her

many things, and amongst them how, through the certain neverceasing movement of the orbs of light, the

planet Venus, that was called Donaou when she showed as the Morning Star, became the planet Bonou when

she came as the sweet Star of Eve. And while I stood and spoke watching the stars, she sat, her hands clasped

"Ah!" she broke in at length, "and so Venus is to be seen both in the morning and the evening sky. Well, of a

truth, she is everywhere, though she best loves the night. But thou lovest not that I should use these Latin

names to thee. Come, we will talk in the ancient tongue of Khem, which I know well; I am the first, mark

thou, of all the Lagid� who know it. And now," she went on, speaking in my own tongue, but with a little

foreign accent that did but make her talk more sweet, "enough of stars, for, when all is said, they are but

fickle things, and perhaps may even now be storing up an evil hour for thee or me, or for both of us together.

Not but what I love to hear thee speak of them, for then thy face loses that gloomy cloud of thought which

mars it and grows quick and human. Harmachis, thou art too young for such a solemn trade; methinks that I

must find thee a better. Youth comes but once; why waste it in these musings? It is time to think when we can

"I have sixandtwenty years, O Queen," I answered, "for I was born in the first month of Shomou, in the

"Why, then, we are of an age even to a day," she cried, "for I too have sixandtwenty years, and I too was

born on the third day of the first month of Shomou. Well, this may we say: those who begot us need have no

shame. For if I be the fairest woman in Egypt, methinks, Harmachis, that there is in Egypt no man more fair

and strong than thou, ay, or more learned. Born of the same day, why, 'tis manifest that we were destined to

stand together, I, as the Queen, and thou, perchance, Harmachis, as one of the chief pillars of my throne, and

"Or maybe each other's woe," I answered, looking up; for her sweet speeches stung my ears and brought

"Nay, never talk of woe. Be seated here by me, Harmachis, and let us talk, not as Queen and subject, but as

friend to friend. Thou wast angered with me at the feast tonight because I mocked thee with yonder

wreathwas it not so? Nay, it was but a jest. Didst thou know how heavy is the task of monarchs and how

wearisome are their hours, thou wouldst not be wroth because I lit my dulness with a jest. Oh, they weary me,

those princes and those nobles, and those stiffnecked pompous Romans. To my face they vow themselves

my slaves, and behind my back they mock me and proclaim me the servant of their Triumvirate, or their

Empire, or their Republic, as the wheel of Fortune turns, and each rises on its round! There is never a man

among themnothing but fools, parasites, and puppetsnever a man since with their coward daggers they

slew that C�sar whom all the world in arms was not strong enough to tame. And I must play off one against

the other, if maybe, by so doing, I can keep Egypt from their grip. And for reward, what? Why, this is my

rewardthat all men speak ill of meand, I know it, my subjects hate me! Yes, I believe that, woman

She paused, covering her eyes with her hand, and it was well, for her words pierced me so that I shrank upon

"They think ill of me, I know it; and call me wanton, who have never stepped aside save once, when I loved

the greatest man of all the world, and at the touch of love my passion flamed indeed, but burnt a hallowed

flame. These ribald Alexandrians swear that I poisoned Ptolemy, my brotherwhom the Roman Senate

would, most unnaturally, have forced on me, his sister, as a husband! But it is false: he sickened and died of

fever. And even so they say that I would slay Arsino�, my sisterwho, indeed, would slay me!but that,

too, is false! Though she will have none of me, I love my sister. Yes, they all think ill of me without a cause;

"O Harmachis, before thou judgest, remember what a thing is envy! that foul sickness of the mind which

makes the jaundiced eye of pettiness to see all things distraughtto read Evil written on the open face of

Good, and find impurity in the whitest virgin's soul! Think what a thing it is, Harmachis, to be set on high

above the gaping crowd of knaves who hate thee for thy fortune and thy wit; who gnash their teeth and shoot

the arrows of their lies from the cover of their own obscureness, whence they have no wings to soar; and

whose hearts' quest it is to drag down thy nobility to the level of the groundling and the fool!

"Be not, then, swift to think evil of the Great, whose every word and act is searched for error by a million

angry eyes, and whose most tiny fault is trumpeted by a thousand throats, till the world shakes with echoes of

their sin! Say not: 'It is thus, 'tis certainly thus'say, rather: 'May it not be otherwise? Have we heard aright?

Did she this thing of her own will?' Judge gently, Harmachis, as wert thou I thou wouldst be judged.

Remember that a Queen is never free. She is, indeed, but the point and instrument of those forces politic with

which the iron books of history are graved. O Harmachis! be thou my friendmy friend and

counsellor!my friend whom I can trust indeed! for here, in this crowded Court, I am more utterly alone

than any soul that breathes about its corridors. But thee I trust; there is faith written in those quiet eyes, and I

am minded to lift thee high, Harmachis. I can no longer bear my solitude of mindI must find one with

whom I may commune and speak that which lies within my heart. I have faults, I know it; but I am not all

unworthy of thy faith, for there is good grain among the evil seed. Say, Harmachis, wilt thou take pity on my

loneliness and befriend me, who have lovers, courtiers, slaves, dependents, more thick than I can count, but

never one single friend?" and she leant towards me, touching me lightly, and gazed on me with her wonderful

I was overcome; thinking of the morrow night, shame and sorrow smote me. I, her friend!I, whose assassin

dagger lay against my breast! I bent my head, and a sob or a groan, I know not which, burst from the agony

But Cleopatra, thinking only that I was moved beyond myself by the surprise of her graciousness, smiled

"It grows late; tomorrow night when thou bringest the auguries we will speak again, O my friend

Harmachis, and thou shalt answer me." And she gave me her hand to kiss. Scarce knowing what I did, I

I stood still, plunged in thought. Then by hazard as it were I took up the wreath of roses and looked on it.

How long I stood so I know not, but when next I lifted up my eyes they fell upon the form of Charmion,

whom, indeed, I had altogether forgotten. And though at the moment I thought but little of it, I noted vaguely

"Oh, it is thou, Charmion!" I said. "What ails thee? Art thou cramped with standing so long in thy

hidingplace? Why didst not thou slip hence when Cleopatra led me to the balcony?"

"Where is my kerchief?" she asked, shooting an angry glance at me. "I let fall my broidered kerchief."

"Thy kerchief!why, didst thou not see? Cleopatra twitted me about it, and I flung it from the balcony."

"Yes, I saw," answered the girl, "I saw but too well. Thou didst fling away my kerchief, but the wreath of

rosesthat thou wouldst not fling away. It was 'a Queen's gift,' forsooth, and therefore the royal Harmachis,

the Priest of Isis, the chosen of the Gods, the crowned Pharaoh wed to the weal of Khem, cherished it and

saved it. But my kerchief, stung by the laughter of that light Queen, he cast away!"

"What meanest thou?" I asked, astonished at her bitter tone. "I cannot read thy riddles."

"What mean I?" she answered, tossing up her head and showing the white curves of her throat. "Nay, I mean

naught, or all; take it as thou wilt. Wouldst know what I mean, Harmachis, my cousin and my Lord?" she

went on in a hard, low voice. "Then I will tell theethou art in danger of the great offence. This Cleopatra

has cast her fatal wiles about thee, and thou goest near to loving her, Harmachisto loving her whom

tomorrow thou must slay! Ay, stand and stare at that wreath in thy handthe wreath thou couldst not send

to join my kerchief sure Cleopatra wore it but tonight! The perfume of the hair of C�sar's

mistressC�sar's and others'yet mingles with the odour of its roses! Now, prithee, Harmachis, how far

didst thou carry the matter on yonder balcony? for in that hole where I lay hid I could not hear or see. 'Tis a

sweet spot for lovers, is it not?ay, and a sweet hour, too? Venus surely rules the stars tonight?"

All of this she said so quietly and in so soft and modest a way, though her words were not modest, and yet so

bitterly, that every syllable cut me to the heart, and angered me till I could find no speech.

"Of a truth thou hast a wise economy," she went on, seeing her advantage: "tonight thou dost kiss the lips

that tomorrow thou shalt still for ever! It is frugal dealing with the occasion of the moment; ay, worthy and

Then at last I broke forth. "Girl," I cried, "how darest thou speak thus to me? Mindest thou who and what I

"I mind what it behoves thee to be," she answered quick. "What thou art, that I mind not now. Surely thou

After that I know not what I said; for, troubled as I was, the girl's bitter tongue and quiet way drove me

wellnigh to madness. But this I know: I spoke so fiercely that she cowered before me as she had cowered

before my uncle Sepa when he rated her because of her Grecian garb. And as she wept then, so she wept now,

At length I ceased, halfshamed but still angry and smarting sorely. For even while she wept she could find a

"Thou shouldst not speak to me thus!" she sobbed; "it is cruelit is unmanly! But I forget thou art but a

"What right have I?" she asked, looking up, her dark eyes all aflood with tears that ran down her sweet face

like the dew of morning down a lily's heart. "What right have I? O Harmachis! art thou blind? Didst thou not

know by what right I speak thus to thee? Then I must tell thee. Well, it is the fashion in Alexandria! By that

first and holy right of womanby the right of the great love I bear thee, and which, it seems, thou hast no

eyes to seeby the right of my glory and my shame. Oh, be not wroth with me, Harmachis, nor set me down

as light, because the truth at last has burst from me; for I am not so. I am what thou wilt make me. I am the

wax within the moulder's hands, and as thou dost fashion me so I shall be. There breathes within me now a

breath of glory, blowing across the waters of my soul, that can waft me to ends more noble than ever I have

dreamed afore, if thou wilt be my pilot and my guide. But if I lose thee, then I lose all that holds me from my

worse selfand let shipwreck come! Thou knowest me not, Harmachis! thou canst not see how big a spirit

struggles in this frail form of mine! To thee I am a girl, clever, wayward, shallow. But I am more! Show me

thy loftiest thought and I will match it, the deepest puzzle of thy mind and I will make it clear. Of one blood

we are, and love can ravel up our little difference and make us grow one indeed. One end we have, one land

we love, one vow binds us both. Take me to thy heart, Harmachis, set me by thee on the Double Throne, and

I swear that I will lift thee higher than ever man has climbed. Reject me, and beware lest I pull thee down!

And now, putting aside the cold delicacy of custom, stung to it by what I saw of the arts of that lovely living

falsehood, Cleopatra, which for pastime she practises on thy folly, I have spoken out my heart, and answer

thou!" And she clasped her hands and, drawing one pace nearer, gazed, all white and trembling, on my face.

For a moment I stood struck dumb, for the magic of her voice and the power of her speech, despite myself,

stirred me like the rush of music. Had I loved the woman, doubtless she might have fired me with her flame;

but I loved her not, and I could not play at passion. And so thought came, and with thought that laughing

mood, which is ever apt to fashion upon nerves strained to the point of breaking. In a flash, as it were, I

bethought me of the way in which she had that very night forced the wreath of roses on my head, I thought of

the kerchief and how I had flung it forth. I thought of Charmion in the little chamber watching what she held

to be the arts of Cleopatra, and of her bitter speeches. Lastly, I thought of what my uncle Sepa would say of

her could he see her now, and of the strange and tangled skein in which I was inmeshed. And I laughed

She turned whiter yetwhite as the deadand a look grew upon her face that checked my foolish mirth.

"Thou findest, then, Harmachis," she said in a low, choked voice, and dropping the level of her eyes, "thou

"Nay," I answered; "nay, Charmion; forgive me if I laughed. It was rather a laugh of despair; for what am I to

say to thee? Thou hast spoken high words of all thou mightest be: is it left for me to tell thee what thou art?"

"Thou knowestnone so well!who I am and what my mission is: thou knowestnone so well!that I

"Ay," she broke in, in her low voice, and with her eyes still fixed upon the ground"ay, and I know that thy

vows are broken in spirit, if not in formbroken like wreaths of cloud; for, Harmachisthou lovest

"It is a lie!" I cried. "Thou wanton girl, who wouldst seduce me from my duty and put me to an open

shame!who, led by passion or ambition, or the love of evil, hast not shamed to break the barriers of thy sex

and speak as thou hast spokenbeware lest thou go too far! And if thou wilt have an answer, here it is, put

straightly, as thy question. Charmion, outside the matter of my duty and my vows, thou art naught to

me!nor for all thy tender glances will my heart beat one pulse more fast! Hardly art thou now my

friendfor, of a truth, I scarce can trust thee. But, once more: beware! To me thou mayest do thy worst; but

if thou dost dare to lift a finger against our cause, that day thou diest! And now, is this play done?"

And as, wild with anger, I spoke thus, she shrank back, and yet further back, till at length she rested against

the wall, her eyes covered with her hand. But when I ceased she dropped her hand, glancing up, and her face

was as the face of a statue, in which the great eyes glowed like embers, and round them was a ring of purple

"Not altogether done," she answered gently; "the arena must yet be sanded!" This she said having reference to

the covering up of the bloodstains at the gladiatorial shows with fine sand. "Well," she went on, "waste not

thine anger on a thing so vile. I have thrown my throw and I have lost. V� victis!ah! V� victis! Wilt thou

not lend me the dagger in thy robe, that here and now I may end my shame? No? Then one word more, most

royal Harmachis: if thou canst, forget my folly; but, at the least, have no fear from me. I am now, as ever, thy

And she went, leaning her hand against the wall. But I, passing to my chamber, flung myself upon my couch,

and groaned in bitterness of spirit. Alas! we shape our plans, and by slow degrees build up our house of

Hope, never counting on the guests that time shall bring to lodge therein. For who can guard againstthe

At length I slept, and my dreams were evil. When I woke the light of the day which should see the red

fulfilment of the plot was streaming through the casement, and the birds sang merrily among the garden

palms. I woke, and as I woke the sense of trouble pressed in upon me, for I remembered that before this day

was gathered to the past I must dip my hands in bloodyes, in the blood of Cleopatra, who trusted me! Why

could I not hate her as I should? There had been a time when I looked on to this act of vengeance with

somewhat of a righteous glow of zeal. And nowand nowwhy, I would frankly give my royal birthright

to be free from its necessity! But, alas! I knew that there was no escape. I must drain this cup or be for ever

cast away. I felt the eyes of Egypt watching me, and the eyes of Egypt's Gods. I prayed to my Mother Isis to

give me strength to do this deed, and prayed as I had never prayed before; and oh, wonder! no answer came.

Nay, how was this? What, then, had loosed the link between us that, for the first time, the Goddess deigned

no reply to her son and chosen servant? Could it be that I had sinned in heart against her? What had

Charmion saidthat I loved Cleopatra? Was this sickness love? Nay! a thousand times nay!it was but the

revolt of Nature against an act of treachery and blood. The Goddess did but try my strength, or perchance she

I rose filled with terror and despair, and went about my task like a man without a soul. I conned the fatal lists

and noted all the plans ay, in my brain I gathered up the very words of that proclamation of my Royalty

"Citizens of Alexandria and dwellers in the land of Egypt," it began, "Cleopatra the Macedonian hath, by the

All these and other things I did, but I did them as a man without a soulas a man moved by a force from

without and not from within. And so the minutes wore away. In the third hour of the afternoon I went as by

appointment fixed to the house where my uncle Sepa lodged, that same house to which I had been brought

some three months gone when I entered Alexandria for the first time. And here I found the leaders of the

revolt in the city assembled in secret conclave to the number of seven. When I had entered, and the doors

were barred, they prostrated themselves, and cried, "Hail, Pharaoh!" but I bade them rise, saying that I was

"Yea, Prince," said my uncle, "but his beak shows through. Not in vain hath Egypt brooded all these years, if

thou fail not with that dagger stroke of thine tonight; and how canst thou fail? Nothing can now stop our

"Nay," he said, "the Gods have placed the issue in the hands of a mortalin thy hands, Harmachis!and

there it is safe. See: here are the last lists. Thirtyone thousand men who bear arms are sworn to rise when the

tidings come to them. Within five days every citadel in Egypt will be in our hands, and then what have we to

fear? From Rome but little, for her hands are full; and, besides, we will make alliance with the Triumvirate,

and, if need be, buy them off. For of money there is plenty in the land, and if more be wanted thou,

Harmachis, knowest where it is stored against the need of Khem, and outside the Roman's reach of arm. Who

is there to harm us? There is none. Perchance, in this turbulent city, there may be struggle, and a counterplot

to bring Arsino� to Egypt and set her on the throne. Therefore Alexandria must be severely dealt withay,

even to destruction, if need be. As for Arsino�, those go forth tomorrow on the news of the Queen's death

"There remains the lad C�sarion," I said. "Rome might claim through C�sar's son, and the child of Cleopatra

"Fear not," said my uncle; "tomorrow C�sarion joins those who begat him in Amenti. I have made

provision. The Ptolemies must be stamped out, so that no shoot shall ever spring from that root blasted by

"Is there no other means?" I asked sadly. "My heart is sick at the promise of this red rain of blood. I know the

child well; he has Cleopatra's fire and beauty and great C�sar's wit. It were shame to murder him."

"Nay, be not so chickenhearted, Harmachis," said my uncle, sternly. "What ails thee, then? If the lad is thus,

the more reason that he should die. Wouldst thou nurse up a young lion to tear thee from the throne?"

"Be it so," I answered, sighing. "At least he is spared much, and will go hence innocent of evil. Now for the

We sat long taking counsel, till at length, in face of the great emergency and our high emprise, I felt

something of the spirit of former days flow back into my heart. At the last all was ordered, and so ordered

that it could scarce miscarry, for it was fixed that if by any chance I could not come to slay Cleopatra on this

night, then the plot should hang in the scale till the morrow, when the deed must be done upon occasion. For

the death of Cleopatra was the signal. These matters being finished, once more we stood and, our hands upon

the sacred symbol, swore the oath that may not be written. And then my uncle kissed me with tears of hope

and joy standing in his keen black eyes. He blessed me, saying that he would gladly give his life, ay, and a

hundred lives, if they were his, if he might but live to see Egypt once more a nation, and me, Harmachis, the

descendant of its royal and ancient blood, seated on the throne. For he was a patriot indeed, asking nothing

for himself, and giving all things to his cause. And I kissed him in turn, and thus we parted. Nor did I ever see

So I went, and, there being yet time, walked swiftly from place to place in the great city, taking note of the

positions of the gates and of the places where our forces must be gathered. At length I came to that quay

where I had landed, and saw a vessel sailing for the open sea. I looked, and in my heaviness of heart longed

that I were aboard of her, to be borne by her white wings to some far shore where I might live obscure and

die forgotten. Also I saw another vessel that had dropped down the Nile, from whose deck the passengers

were streaming. For a moment I stood watching them, idly wondering if they were from Abouthis, when

"La! la!" said the voice. "Why, what a city is this for an old woman to seek her fortune in! And how shall I

find those to whom I am known? As well look for the rush in the papyrusroll.[*] Begone! thou knave! and

[*] Papyrus was manufactured from the pith of rushes. Hence Atoua's saying.Editor.

I turned, wondering, and found myself face to face with my foster nurse, Atoua. She knew me instantly, for

"Good Sir," she whined, lifting her withered countenance towards me, and at the same time making the secret

sign. "By thy dress thou shouldst be an astronomer, and I was specially told to avoid astronomers as a pack of

lying tricksters who worship their own star only; and, therefore, I speak to thee, acting on the principle of

contraries, which is law to us women. For surely in this Alexandria, where all things are upside down, the

astronomers may be the honest men, since the rest are clearly knaves." And then, being by now out of earshot

of the press, "royal Harmachis, I am come charged with a message to thee from thy father Amenemhat."

"It is this. He sends greeting to thee and with it warning that a great danger threatens thee, though he cannot

"To the house of the honourable Sepa, Priest of Annu. Canst thou guide me thither?"

"Nay, I may not stay; nor is it wise that I should be seen with thee. Hold!" and I called a porter who was

idling on the quay, and, giving him a piece of money, bade him guide the old wife to the house.

Then I turned and went my way through the crowded streets, where the people made place for me, the

And even as I went my footsteps seemed to beat Be steadfast, Be steadfast, Be steadfast, till at last it was as

It was night, and I sat alone in my chamber, waiting the moment when, as it was agreed, Charmion should

summon me to pass down to Cleopatra. I sat alone, and there before me lay the dagger that was to pierce her.

It was long and keen, and the handle was formed of a sphinx of solid gold. I sat alone, questioning the future,

but no answer came. At length I looked up, and Charmion stood before meCharmion, no longer gay and

"Royal Harmachis," she said, "Cleopatra summons thee, presently to declare to her the voices of the stars."

"Yea, my Lord; all things are in order: well primed with wine, Paulus guards the gates, the eunuchs are

withdrawn save one, the legionaries sleep, and already Sepa and his force lie hid without. Nothing has been

neglected, and no lamb skipping at the shamble doors can be more innocent of its doom than is Queen

"It is well," I said again; "let us be going," and rising, I placed the dagger in the bosom of my robe. Taking a

cup of wine that stood near, I drank deep of it, for I had scarce tasted food all that day.

"One word," Charmion said hurriedly, "for it is not yet time: last nightah, last night" and her bosom

heaved, "I dreamed a dream that haunts me strangely, and perchance thou also didst dream a dream. It was all

"Nay, I know not; but tonight, Harmachis, Fate is in labour of a great event, and in her painful throes

mayhap she'll crush me in her gripme or thee, or the twain of us, Harmachis. And if that be so well, I

would hear from thee, before it is done, that 'twas naught but a dream, and that dream forgot"

"Yes, it is all a dream," I said idly; "thou and I, and the solid earth, and this heavy night of terror, ay, and this

"So now, thou fallest in my humour, royal Harmachis. As thou sayest, we dream; and while we dream yet can

the vision change. For the phantasies of dreams are wonderful, seeing that they have no stability, but vary like

the vaporous edge of sunset clouds, building now this thing, and now that; being now dark and heavy, and

now alight with splendour. Therefore, before we wake tomorrow tell me one word. Is that vision of last

night, wherein I seemed to be quite shamed, and thou didst seem to laugh upon my shame, a fixed phantasy,

or can it, perchance, yet change its countenance? For remember, when that waking comes, the vagaries of our

sleep will be more unalterable and more enduring than are the pyramids. Then they will be gathered into that

changeless region of the past where all things, great and small ay, even dreams, Harmachis, are, each in its

"Nay, Charmion," I replied, "I grieve if I did pain thee; but over that vision comes no change. I said what was

in my heart and there's an end. Thou art my cousin and my friend, I can never be more to thee."

"It is well'tis very well," she said; "let it be forgotten. And now on from dreamto dream," and she smiled

with such a smile as I had never seen her wear before; it was sadder and more fateful than any stamp that

For, though being blinded by my own folly and the trouble at my heart I knew it not, with that smile, the

happiness of youth died for Charmion the Egyptian; the hope of love fled; and the holy links of duty burst

asunder. With that smile she consecrated herself to Evil, she renounced her Country and her Gods, and

trampled on her oath. Ay, that smile marks the moment when the stream of history changed its course. For

had I never seen it on her face Octavianus had not bestridden the world, and Egypt had once more been free

"In dreams we smile," she answered. "And now it is time; follow thou me. Be firm and prosper, royal

Harmachis!" and bending forward she took my hand and kissed it. Then, with one strange last look, she

In the chamber that is called the Alabaster Hall, the roof of which is upborne by columns of black marble, we

stayed. For beyond was the private chamber of Cleopatra, the same in which I had seen her sleeping.

"Abide thou here," she said, "while I tell Cleopatra of thy coming," and she glided from my side.

I stood for long, mayhap in all the half of an hour, counting my own heartbeats, and, as in a dream, striving

"Thou meetest me here, and then to Paulus. Be firm and prosper. Harmachis, fare thee well!"

And so I went; but at the curtain I turned suddenly, and there in the midst of that lonely lamplit hall I saw a

strange sight. Far away, in such a fashion that the light struck full upon her, stood Charmion, her head thrown

back, her white arms outstretched as though to clasp, and on her girlish face a stamp of anguished passion so

terrible to see that, indeed, I cannot tell it! For she believed that I, whom she loved, was passing to my death,

But I knew naught of this matter; so with another passing pang of wonder I drew aside the curtains, gained

the doorway, and stood in Cleopatra's chamber. And there, upon a silken couch at the far end of the perfumed

chamber, clad in wonderful white attire, rested Cleopatra. In her hand was a jewelled fan of ostrich plumes,

with which she gently fanned herself, and by her side was her harp of ivory, and a little table whereon were

figs and goblets and a flask of rubycoloured wine. I drew near slowly through the soft dim light to where the

Wonder of the World lay in all her glowing beauty. And, indeed, I have never seen her look so fair as she did

upon that fatal night. Couched in her amber cushions, she seemed to shine as a star on the twilight's glow.

Perfume came from her hair and robes, music fell from her lips, and in her heavenly eyes all lights changed

Slowly I drew near, bowing as I came; but she took no heed. She lay there, and the jewelled fan floated to and

At length I stood before her, and she glanced up, the ostrichplumes pressed against her breast as though to

"What! friend; art thou come?" she said. "It is well; for I grew lonely here. Nay; 'tis a weary world! We know

so many faces, and there are so few whom we love to see again. Well, stand not there so mute, but be seated."

"I have obeyed the Queen's desire," I said, "and with much care and skill worked out the lessons of the stars;

and here is the record of my labour. If the Queen permits, I will expound it to her." And I rose, in order that I

"Nay, Harmachis," she said quietly, and with a slow and lovely smile. "Bide thou where thou art, and give me

the writing. By Serapis! thy face is too comely for me to wish to lose the sight of it!"

Checked in this design, I could do nothing but hand her the papyrus, thinking to myself that while she read I

would arise suddenly and plunge the dagger to her heart. She took it, and as she did so touched my hand.

Then she made pretence to read. But she read no word, for I saw that her eyes were fixed upon me over the

"Why placest thou thy hand within thy robe?" she asked presently; for, indeed, I clutched the dagger's hilt. "Is

She gave no answer, but once more made pretence to read, and the while she watched me.

I took counsel with myself. How should I do the hateful deed? If I flung myself upon her now she would see

"The auguries are favourable, then, Harmachis?" she said at length, though this she must have guessed.

"It is well," and she cast the writing on the marble. "The ships shall sail. For, good or bad, I am weary of

"This is a heavy matter, O Queen," I said. "I had wished to show upon what circumstance I base my forecast."

"Nay, not so, Harmachis; I have wearied of the ways of stars. Thou hast prophesied; that is enough for me;

for, doubtless, being honest, thou hast written honestly. Therefore, save thou thy reasons and we'll be merry.

What shall we do? I could dance to theethere are none who can dance so well!but it would scarce be

queenly. Nay, I have it. I will sing." And, leaning forward, she raised herself, and, bending the harp towards

her, struck some wandering chords. Then her low voice broke out in perfect and most sweet song.

The last echoes of her rich notes floated down the chamber, and slowly died away; but in my heart they rolled

on and on. I have heard among the womensingers at Abouthis voices more perfect than the voice of

Cleopatra, but never have I heard one so thrilling or so sweet with passion's honeynotes. And indeed it was

not the voice alone, it was the perfumed chamber in which was set all that could move the sense; it was the

passion of the thought and words, and the surpassing grace and loveliness of that most royal woman who

sang them. For, as she sang, I seemed to think that we twain were indeed floating alone with the night, upon

the starlit summer sea. And when she ceased to touch the harp, and, rising, suddenly stretched out her arms

towards me, and with the last low notes of song yet quivering upon her lips, let fall the wonder of her eyes

"Hast thou, then, no word of thanks for my poor singing, Harmachis?" she said at length.

"Yea, O Queen," I answered, speaking very low, for my voice was choked; "but thy songs are not good for

"Nay, Harmachis; there is no fear for thee," she said laughing softly, "seeing that I know how far thy thoughts

are set from woman's beauty and the common weakness of thy sex. With cold iron we may safely toy."

I thought within myself that coldest iron can be brought to whitest heat if the fire be fierce enough. But I said

nothing, and, though my hand trembled, I once more grasped the dagger's hilt, and, wild with fear at my own

"Come hither, Harmachis," she went on, in her softest voice. "Come, sit by me, and we will talk together; for

I have much to tell thee," and she made place for me at her side upon the silken seat.

And I, thinking that I might so more swiftly strike, rose and seated myself some little way from her on the

Now was my occasion, for her throat and breast were bare, and, with a mighty effort, once again I lifted my

hand to clutch the daggerhilt. But, more quick than thought, she caught my fingers with her own and gently

"Then lean thou on the cushions and rest thee," she answered, still holding my hand, from which the strength

had fled. "The fit will surely pass. Too long hast thou laboured with thy stars. How soft is the night air that

flows from yonder casement heavy with the breath of lilies! Hark to the whisper of the sea lapping against the

rocks, that, though it is faint, yet, being so strong, doth almost drown the quick cool fall of yonder fountain.

List to Philomel; how sweet from a full heart of love she sings her message to her dear! Indeed it is a lovely

night, and most beautiful is Nature's music, sung with a hundred voices from wind and trees and birds and

ocean's wrinkled lips, and yet sung all to tune. Listen, Harmachis: I have guessed something concerning thee.

Thou, too, art of a royal race; no humble blood pours in those veins of thine. Surely such a shoot could spring

but from the stock of Princes? What! gazest thou at the leafmark on my breast? It was pricked there in honour

"Nay, not yet awhile. Thou wouldst not leave me yet? thou canst not leave me yet. Harmachis, hast thou

"Nay, nay, O Queen! What have I to do with love? Let me hence!I am faintI am fordone!"

"Never to have loved'tis strange! Never to have known some woman heart beat all in tune to

thinenever to have seen the eyes of thy adored aswim with passion's tears, as she sighed her vows upon thy

breast!Never to have loved!never to have lost thyself in the mystery of another's soul; nor to have

learned how Nature can overcome our naked loneliness, and with the golden web of love of twain weave one

And ever as she murmured she drew nearer to me, till at last, with a long, sweet sigh, she flung one arm about

my neck, and gazed upon me with blue, unfathomable eyes, and smiled her dark, slow smile, that, like an

opening flower, revealed beauty within beauty hidden. Nearer she bent her queenly form, and still more

And woe is me! In that kiss, more deadly and more strong than the embrace of Death, were forgotten Isis, my

heavenly Hope, Oaths, Honour, Country, Friends, all thingsall things save that Cleopatra clasped me in her

I fell upon the couch, and, though my senses still were with me, I could neither speak nor rise.

"I've won!" she cried, shaking back her long hair. "I've won, and for the stake of Egypt, why, 'twas a game

worth playing! With this dagger, then, thou wouldst have slain me, O my royal Rival, whose myrmidons even

now are gathered at my palace gate? Art still awake? Now what hinders me that I should not plunge it to thy

I heard and feebly pointed to my breast, for I was fain to die. She drew herself to the full of her imperial

height, and the great knife glittered in her hand. Down it came till its edge pricked my flesh.

"Nay," she cried again, and cast it from her, "too well I like thee. It were pity to slay such a man! I give thee

thy life. Live on, lost Pharaoh! Live on, poor fallen Prince, blasted by a woman's wit! Live on,

Then sight left me; and in my ears I only heard the song of the nightingale, the murmur of the sea, and the

music of Cleopatra's laugh of victory. And as I sank away, the sound of that low laugh still followed me into

Once more I woke; it was to find myself in my own chamber. I started up. Surely, I, too, had dreamed a

dream? It could be nothing but a dream? It could not be that I woke to know myself a traitor! That the

opportunity had gone for ever! That I had betrayed the cause, and that last night those brave men, headed by

my uncle, had waited in vain at the outer gate! That Egypt from Abu to Athu was even now waitingwaiting

in vain! Nay, whatever else might be, this could not be! Oh, it was an awful dream which I had dreamed! a

second such would slay a man. It were better to die than face such another vision sent from hell. But, though

the thing was naught but a hateful phantasy of a mind o'erstrained, where was I now? Where was I now? I

Where was I? and O ye Gods! what was that dreadful thing, whose shape was the shape of a man?that

thing draped in bloodstained white and huddled in a hideous heap at the foot of the couch on which I seemed

I sprang at it with a shriek, as a lion springs, and struck with all my strength. The blow fell heavily, and

beneath its weight the thing rolled over upon its side. Half mad with terror, I rent away the white covering;

and there, his knees bound beneath his hanging jaw, was the naked body of a manand that man the Roman

Captain Paulus! There he lay, through his heart a daggermy dagger, handled with the sphinx of

gold!and pinned by its blade to his broad breast a scroll, and on the scroll, writing in the Roman character.

"Greeting, Harmachis! I was that Roman Paulus whom thou didst suborn. Learn now how blessed are

Sick and faint I staggered back from the sight of that white corpse stained with its own blood. Sick and faint I

staggered back, till the wall stayed me, while without the birds sang a merry greeting to the day. So it was no

I thought of my aged father, Amenemhat. Yes, the vision of him flashed into my mind, as he would be, when

they came to tell him his son's shame and the ruin of all his hopes. I thought of that patriot priest, my uncle

Sepa, waiting the long night through for the signal which never came. Ah, and another thought followed

swift! How would it go with them? I was not the only traitor. I, too, had been betrayed. By whom? By yonder

Paulus, perchance. If it were Paulus, he knew but little of those who conspired with me. But the secret lists

had been in my robe. O Osiris! they were gone! and the fate of Paulus would be the fate of all the patriots in

Egypt. And at this thought my mind gave way. I sank and swooned even where I stood.

My sense came back to me, and the lengthening shadows told me that it was afternoon. I staggered to my

feet; the corpse of Paulus was still there, keeping its awful watch above me. I ran desperately to the door. It

was barred, and without I heard the tramp of sentinels. As I stood they challenged and grounded their spears.

Then the bolts were shot back, the door opened, and radiant, clad in royal attire, came the conquering

Cleopatra. She came alone, and the door was shut behind her. I stood like one distraught; but she swept on till

"Greeting, Harmachis," she said, smiling sweetly. "So, my messenger has found thee!" and she pointed to the

"Take away this carrion," said Cleopatra, "and fling it to the kites. Stay, draw that dagger from his traitor

breast." The men bowed low, and the knife, rusted red with blood, was dragged from the heart of Paulus and

laid upon the table. Then they seized him by the head and body and staggered thence, and I heard their heavy

"Methinks, Harmachis, thou art in an evil case," she said, when the sound of the footfalls had died away.

"How strangely the wheel of Fortune turns! But for that traitor," and she nodded towards the door through

which the corpse of Paulus had been carried, "I should now be as ill a thing to look on as he is, and the red

"Ay," she went on, "and when thou camest to me last night, I knew that thou camest to slay. When, time upon

time, thou didst place thy hand within thy robe, I knew that it grasped a dagger hilt, and that thou wast

gathering thy courage to the deed which thou didst little love to do. Oh! it was a strange wild hour, well

worth the living, and I wondered greatly, from moment to moment, which of us twain would conquer, as we

"Yea, Harmachis, the guards tramp before thy door, but be not deceived. Did I not know that I hold thee to

me by bonds more strong than prison chainsdid I not know that I am hedged from ill at thy hands by a

fence of honour harder for thee to pass than all the spears of all my legions, thou hadst been dead ere now,

Harmachis. See, here is thy knife," and she handed me the dagger; "now slay me if thou canst," and she drew

"Thou canst not slay me," she went on; "for there are things, as I know well, that no manno man such as

thou artmay do and live: and this is the chief of themto slay the woman who is all his own. Nay, stay

thy hand! Turn not that dagger against thy breast, for if thou mayst not slay me, by how much more mayst

thou not slay thyself, O thou forsworn Priest of Isis! Art thou, then, so eager to face that outraged Majesty in

Amenti? With what eyes, thinkest thou, will the Heavenly Mother look upon Her son, who, shamed in all

things and false to his most sacred vow, comes to greet Her, his lifeblood on his hands? Where, then, will be

Then I could bear no more, for my heart was broken. Alas! it was too trueI dared not die! I was come to

such a pass that I did not even dare to die! I flung myself upon the couch and weptwept tears of blood and

But Cleopatra came to me, and, seating herself beside me, she strove to comfort me, throwing her arms about

"Nay, love, look up," she said; "all is not lost for thee, nor am I angered against thee. We did play a mighty

game; but, as I warned thee, I matched my woman's magic against thine, and I have conquered. But I will be

open with thee. Both as Queen and woman thou hast my pityay, and more; nor do I love to see thee

plunged in sorrow. It was well and right that thou shouldst strive to win back that throne my fathers seized,

and the ancient liberty of Egypt. Myself as lawful Queen had done the same, nor shrunk from the deed of

darkness to which I was sworn. Therein, then, thou hast my sympathy, that ever goes out to what is great and

bold. It is well also that thou shouldst grieve over the greatness of thy fall. Therein, then, as womanas

loving womanthou hast my sympathy. Nor is all lost. Thy plan was foolish for, as I hold, Egypt could

never have stood alonefor though thou hadst won the crown and countryas without a doubt thou must

have doneyet there was the Roman to be reckoned with. And for thy hope learn this: I am little known.

There is no heart in this wide land that beats with a truer love for ancient Khem than does this heart of

minenay, not thine own, Harmachis. Yet I have been heavily shackled heretoforefor wars, rebellions,

envies, plots, have hemmed me in on every side, so that I might not serve my people as I would. But thou,

Harmachis, shalt show me how. Thou shalt be my counsellor and my love. Is it a little thing, Harmachis, to

have won the heart of Cleopatra; that heartfie on thee!that thou wouldst have stilled? Yes, thou shalt

unite me to my people and we will reign together, thus linking in one the new kingdom and the old and the

new thought and the old. So do all things work for gooday, for the very best: and thus, by another and a

"See thou this, Harmachis: thy treachery shall be cloaked about as much as may be. Was it, then, thy fault

that a Roman knave betrayed thy plans? that, thereon, thou wast drugged, thy secret papers stolen and their

key guessed? Will it, then, be a blame to thee, the great plot being broken and those who built it scattered,

that thou, still faithful to thy trust, didst serve thee of such means as Nature gave thee, and win the heart of

Egypt's Queen, that, through her gentle love, thou mightest yet attain thy ends and spread thy wings of power

I lifted my head, and a ray of hope crept into the darkness of my heart; for when men fall they grasp at

"Ay," she answered, "Amenemhat, thy father, the aged Priest of Abouthis; and Sepa, thy uncle, that fiery

"Hear now, Harmachis," she answered, rising and placing her hand upon my arm, "for thy sake I will show

mercy to them. I will do no more than must be done. I swear by my throne and by all the Gods of Egypt that

not one hair of thy aged father's head shall be harmed by me; and, if it be not too late, I will also spare thy

uncle Sepa, ay, and the others. I will not do as did my forefather, Epiphanes, who, when the Egyptians rose

against him, dragged Athinis, Pausiras, Chesuphus, and Irobasthus, bound to his chariotnot as Achilles

dragged Hector, but yet livinground the city walls. I will spare them all, save the Hebrews, if there be any

"It is well," she said, "for no Hebrew will I ever spare. Am I then, indeed, so cruel a woman as they say? In

thy list, Harmachis, were many doomed to die; and I have but taken the life of one Roman knave, a double

traitor, for he betrayed both me and thee. Art thou not overwhelmed, Harmachis, with the weight of mercy

which I give thee, becausesuch are a woman's reasonsthou pleasest me, Harmachis? Nay, by Serapis!"

she added with a little laugh, "I'll change my mind; I will not give thee so much for nothing. Thou shalt buy it

"Nay," I said, turning from that fair temptress, "the price is too heavy; I kiss no more."

"Bethink thee," she answered, with a heavy frown. "Bethink thee and choose. I am but a woman, Harmachis,

and one who is not wont to sue to men. Do as thou wilt; but this I say to theeif thou dost put me away, I

will gather up the mercy I have meted out. Therefore, most virtuous priest, choose thou between the heavy

burden of my love and the swift death of thy aged father and of all those who plotted with him."

I glanced at her and saw that she was angered, for her eyes shone and her bosom heaved. So, I sighed and

kissed her, thereby setting the seal upon my shame and bondage. Then, smiling like the triumphant Aphrodit�

I knew not yet how deeply I was betrayed; or why I was still left to draw the breath of life; or why Cleopatra,

the tigerhearted, had grown merciful. I did not know that she feared to slay me, lest, so strong was the plot

and so feeble her hold upon the Double Crown, the tumult that might tread hard upon the tidings of my

murder should shake her from the throneeven when I was no more. I did not know that because of fear and

the weight of policy only she showed scant mercy to those whom I had betrayed, or that because of cunning

and not for the holy sake of woman's lovethough, in truth, she liked me well enoughshe chose rather to

bind me to her by the fibres of my heart. And yet I will say this in her behalf: even when the dangercloud

had melted from her sky she kept faith, nor, save Paulus and one other, did any suffer the utmost penalty of

death for their part in the great plot against Cleopatra's crown and dynasty. But they suffered many other

And so she went, leaving the vision of her glory to strive with the shame and sorrow in my heart. Oh, bitter

were the hours that could not now be made light with prayer. For the link between me and the Divine was

snapped, and Isis communed with Her Priest no more. Bitter were the hours and dark, but ever through their

darkness shone the starry eyes of Cleopatra, and came the echo of her whispered love. For not yet was the

cup of sorrow full. Hope still lingered in my heart, and I could almost think that I had failed to some higher

end, and that in the depths of ruin I should find another and more flowery path to triumph.

For thus those who sin deceive themselves, striving to lay the burden of their evil deeds upon the back of

Fate, striving to believe their wickedness may compass good, and to murder Conscience with the sharp plea

of Necessity. But it can avail nothing, for hand in hand down the path of sin rush Remorse and Ruin, and woe

For a space of eleven days I was thus kept prisoned in my chamber; nor did I see anyone except the sentries

at my doors, the slaves who in silence brought me food and drink, and Cleopatra's self, who came

continually. But, though her words of love were many, she would tell me nothing of how things went

without. She came in many moodsnow gay and laughing, now full of wise thoughts and speech, and now

passionate only, and to every mood she gave some newfound charm. She was full of talk as to how I should

help her make Egypt great, and lessen the burdens on the people, and fright the Roman eagles back. And,

though at first I listened heavily when she spoke thus, by slow advance as she wrapped me closer and yet

more close in her magic web, from which there was no escape, my mind fell in time with hers. Then I, too,

opened something of my heart, and somewhat also of the plans that I had formed for Egypt. She seemed to

listen gladly, weighing them all, and spoke of means and methods, telling me how she would purify the Faith

and repair the ancient templesay, and build new ones to the Gods. And ever she crept deeper into my heart,

till at length, now that every other thing had gone from me, I learned to love her with all the unspent passion

of my aching soul. I had naught left to me but Cleopatra's love, and I twined my life about it, and brooded on

it as a widow over her only babe. And thus the very author of my shame became my all, my dearest dear, and

I loved her with a strong love that grew and grew, till it seemed to swallow up the past and make the present a

dream. For she had conquered me, she had robbed me of my honour, and steeped me to the lips in shame, and

I, poor fallen, blinded wretch, I kissed the rod that smote me, and was her very slave.

Ay, even now, in those dreams which still come when Sleep unlocks the secret heart, and sets its terrors free

to roam through the opened halls of Thought, I seem to see her royal form, as erst I saw it, come with arms

outstretched and Love's own light shining in her eyes, with lips apart and flowing locks, and stamped upon

her face the look of utter tenderness that she alone could wear. Ay, still, after all the years, I seem to see her

And thus one day she came. She had fled in haste, she said, from some great council summoned concerning

the wars of Antony in Syria, and she came, as she had left the council, in all her robes of state, the sceptre in

her hand, and on her brow the ur�us diadem of gold. There she sat before me, laughing; for, wearying of

them, she had told the envoys to whom she gave audience in the council that she was called from their

presence by a sudden message come from Rome; and the jest seemed merry to her. Suddenly she rose, took

the diadem from her brow, and set it on my hair, and on my shoulders her royal mantle, and in my hand the

sceptre, and bowed the knee before me. Then, laughing again, she kissed me on the lips, and said I was

indeed her King. But, remembering how I had been crowned in the halls of Abouthis, and remembering also

that wreath of roses of which the odour haunts me yet, I rose, pale with wrath, and cast the trinkets from me,

asking how she dared to mock meher caged bird. And I think there was that about me which startled her,

"Nay, Harmachis," she said, "be not wroth! How knowest thou that I mock thee? How knowest thou that thou

"What meanest thou?" I said. "Wilt thou, then, wed me before Egypt? How else can I be Pharaoh now?"

She cast down her eyes. "Perchance, love, it is in my mind to wed thee," she said gently. "Listen," she went

on: "Thou growest pale, here, in this prison, and thou dost eat little. Gainsay me not! I know it from the

slaves. I have kept thee here, Harmachis, for thy own sake, that is so dear to me; and for thy own sake, and

thy honour's sake, thou must still seem to be my prisoner. Else wouldst thou be shamed and slainay,

murdered secretly. But I can meet thee here no more! therefore tomorrow I shall free thee in all, save in the

name, and thou shalt once more be seen at Court as my astronomer. And I will give this reasonthat thou

hast cleared thyself; and, moreover, that thy auguries as regards the war have been auguries of truthas,

indeed, they have, though for this I have no cause to thank thee, seeing that thou didst suit thy prophecies to

fit thy cause. Now, farewell; for I must return to those heavybrowed ambassadors; and grow not so sudden

And, with a little nod, she went, leaving it on my mind that she had it in her heart to wed me openly. And of a

truth, I believe that, at this hour, such was her thought. For, if she loved me not, still she held me dear, and as

On the morrow Cleopatra came not, but Charmion cameCharmion, whom I had not seen since that fatal

night of ruin. She entered and stood before me, with pale face and downcast eyes, and her first words were

"Pardon me," she said, in her gentle voice, "in that I dare to come to thee in Cleopatra's place. Thy joy is not

"I come, Harmachisroyal no more!I come to say that thou art free! Thou art free to face thine own

infamy, and see it thrown back from every eye which trusted thee, as shadows are from water. I come to tell

thee that the great plotthe plot of twenty years and moreis at its utter end. None have been slain, indeed,

unless it is Sepa, who has vanished. But all the leaders have been seized and put in chains, or driven from the

land, and their party is broken and scattered. The storm has melted before it burst. Egypt is lost, and lost for

ever, for her last hope is gone! No longer may she strugglenow for all time she must bow her neck to the

"Thou wast betrayed? Nay, thou thyself wast the betrayer! How came it that thou didst not slay Cleopatra

"O Harmachis!" answered the pitiless girl, "how low art thou fallen from that Prince whom once I

knew!thou who dost not scorn to be a liar! Yea, thou wast druggeddrugged with a lovephiltre! Yea,

thou didst sell Egypt and thy cause for the price of a wanton's kiss! Thou Sorrow and thou Shame!" she went

on, pointing her finger at me and lifting her eyes to my face, "thou Scorn!thou Outcast!and thou

Contempt! Deny if it thou canst. Ay, shrink from meknowing what thou art, well mayst thou shrink! Crawl

to Cleopatra's feet, and kiss her sandals till such time as it pleases her to trample thee in thy kindred dirt; but

My soul quivered beneath the lash of her bitter scorn and hate, but I had no words to answer.

"How comes it," I said at last in a heavy voice, "that thou, too, art not betrayed, but art still here to taunt me,

thou who once didst swear that thou didst love me? Being a woman, hast thou no pity for the frailty of man?"

"My name was not on the lists," she said, dropping her dark eyes. "Here is an opportunity: betray me also,

Harmachis! Ay, it is because I once loved theedost thou, indeed, remember it?that I feel thy fall the

more. The shame of one whom we have loved must in some sort become our shame, and must ever cling to

us, because we blindly held a thing so base close to our inmost heart. Art thou also, then, a fool? Wouldst

thou, fresh from thy royal wanton's arms, come to me for comfortto me of all the world?"

"How know I," I said, "that it was not thou who, in thy jealous anger, didst betray our plans? Charmion, long

"It is like a traitor," she broke in, reddening to her brow, "to think that all are of his family, and hold a

common mind! Nay, I betrayed thee not; it was that poor knave, Paulus, whose heart failed him at the last,

and who is rightly served. Nor will I stay to hear thoughts so base. Harmachisroyal no more!Cleopatra,

Queen of Egypt, bids me say that thou art free, and that she waits thee in the Alabaster Hall."

And shooting one swift glance through her long lashes she curtsied and was gone.

So once more I came and went about the Court, though but sparingly, for my heart was full of shame and

terror, and on every face I feared to see the scorn of those who knew me for what I was. But I saw nothing,

for all those who had knowledge of the plot had fled, and Charmion had spoken no word, for her own sake.

Also, Cleopatra had put it about that I was innocent. But my guilt lay heavy on me, and made me thin and

wore away the beauty of my countenance. And though I was free in name, yet I was ever watched; nor might

And at length came the day which brought with it Quintus Dellius, that false Roman knight who ever served

the rising star. He bore letters to Cleopatra from Marcus Antonius, the Triumvir, who, fresh from the victory

of Philippi, was now in Asia wringing gold from the subject kings with which to satisfy the greed of his

Well I mind me of the day. Cleopatra, clad in her robes of state, attended by the officers of her Court, among

whom I stood, sat in the great hall on her throne of gold, and bade the heralds admit the Ambassador of

Antony, the Triumvir. The great doors were thrown wide, and amidst the blare of trumpets and salutes of the

Gallic guards the Roman came in, clad in glittering golden armour and a scarlet cloak of silk, and followed by

his suite of officers. He was smoothfaced and fair to look upon, and with a supple form; but his mouth was

cold, and false were his shifting eyes. And while the heralds called out his name, titles, and offices, he fixed

his gaze on Cleopatrawho sat idly on her throne all radiant with beautyas a man who is amazed. Then

when the heralds had made an end, and he still stood thus, not stirring, Cleopatra spoke in the Latin tongue:

"Greeting to thee, noble Dellius, envoy of the most mighty Antony, whose shadow lies across the world as

though Mars himself now towered up above us petty Princesgreeting and welcome to our poor city of

"What ails thee, noble Dellius, that thou dost not speak?" asked Cleopatra. "Hast thou, then, wandered so

long in Asia that the doors of Roman speech are shut to thee? What tongue hast thou? Name it, and We will

Then at last he spoke in a soft full voice: "Oh, pardon me, most lovely Egypt, if I have thus been stricken

dumb before thee: but too great beauty, like Death himself, doth paralyse the tongue and steal our sense

away. The eyes of him who looks upon the fires of the mid day sun are blind to all beside, and thus this

sudden vision of thy glory, royal Egypt, overwhelmed my mind, and left me helpless and unwitting of all

"Of a truth, noble Dellius," answered Cleopatra, "they teach a pretty school of flattery yonder in Cilicia."

"How goes the saying here in Alexandria?" replied the courtly Roman: "'The breath of flattery cannot waft a

cloud,'[*] does it not? But to my task. Here, royal Egypt, are letters under the hand and seal of the noble

Antony treating of certain matters of the State. Is it thy pleasure that I should read them openly?"

"The Triumviri Reipublic� Constituend�, by the mouth of Marcus Antonius, the Triumvir, to Cleopatra, by

grace of the Roman People Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt, send greeting. Whereas it has come to our

knowledge that thou, Cleopatra, hast, contrary to thy promise and thy duty, both by thy servant Allienus and

by thy servant Serapion, the Governor of Cyprus, aided the rebel murderer Cassius against the arms of the

most noble Triumvirate. And, whereas it has come to our knowledge that thou thyself wast but lately making

ready a great fleet to this end. We summon thee that thou dost without delay journey to Cilicia, there to meet

the noble Antony, and in person make answer concerning these charges which are laid against thee. And we

warn thee that if thou dost disobey this our summons it is at thy peril. Farewell."

The eyes of Cleopatra flashed as she hearkened to these high words, and I saw her hands tighten on the

"We have had the flattery," she said; "and now, lest we be cloyed with sweets, we have its antidote! Listen

thou, Dellius: the charges in that letter, or, rather, in that writ of summons, are false, as all folk can bear us

witness. But it is not now, and it is not to thee, that We will make defence of our acts of war and policy. Nor

will We leave our kingdom to journey into far Cilicia, and there, like some poor suppliant at law, plead our

cause before the Court of the Noble Antony. If Antony would have speech with us, and inquire concerning

these high matters, the sea is open, and his welcome shall be royal. Let him come thither! That is our answer

But Dellius smiled as one who would put away the weight of wrath, and once more spoke:

"Royal Egypt, thou knowest not the noble Antony. He is stern on paper, and ever he sets down his thoughts

as though his stylus were a spear dipped in the blood of men. But face to face with him, thou, of all the world,

shalt find him the gentlest warrior that ever won a battle. Be advised, O Egypt! and come. Send me not hence

with such angry words, for if thou dost draw Antony to Alexandria, then woe to Alexandria, to the people of

the Nile, and to thee, great Egypt! For then he will come armed and breathing war, and it shall go hard with

thee, who dost defy the gathered might of Rome. I pray thee, then, obey this summons. Come to Cilicia;

come with peaceful gifts and not in arms. Come in thy beauty, and tricked in thy best attire, and thou hast

naught to fear from the noble Antony." He paused and looked at her meaningly; while I, taking his drift, felt

Cleopatra, too, understood, for I saw her rest her chin upon her hand and the cloud of thought gathered in her

eyes. For a time she sat thus, while the crafty Dellius watched her curiously. And Charmion, standing with

the other ladies by the throne, she also read his meaning, for her face lit up, as a summer cloud lights in the

evening when the broad lightning flares behind it. Then once more it grew pale and quiet.

At length Cleopatra spoke. "This is a heavy matter," she said, 'and therefore, noble Dellius, we must have

time to let our judgment ripen. Rest thou here, and make thee as merry as our poor circumstances allow. Thou

The envoy thought awhile, then replied smiling: "It is well, O Egypt; on the tenth day from now I will attend

Once more, at a sign from Cleopatra, the trumpets blared, and he withdrew bowing.

That same night Cleopatra summoned me to her private chamber. I went, and found her much troubled in

mind; never before had I seen her so deeply moved. She was alone, and, like some trapped lioness, walked to

and fro across the marble floor, while thought chased thought across her mind, each, as clouds scudding over

"So thou art come, Harmachis," she said, resting for a while, as she took my hand. "Counsel me, for never did

I need counsel more. Oh, what days have the Gods measured out to medays restless as the ocean! I have

known no peace from childhood up, and it seems none shall I know. Scarce by a very little have I escaped thy

dagger's point, Harmachis, when this new trouble, that, like a storm, has gathered beneath the horizon's rim,

suddenly bursts over me. Didst mark that tigerish fop? Well should I love to trap him! How soft he spoke!

Ay, he purred like a cat, and all the time he stretched his claws. Didst hear the letter, too? it has an ugly

sound. I know this Antony. When I was but a child, budding into womanhood, I saw him; but my eyes were

ever quick, and I took his measure. Half Hercules and half a fool, with a dash of genius veining his folly

through. Easily led by those who enter at the gates of his voluptuous sense; but if crossed, an iron foe. True to

his friends, if, indeed, he loves them; and ofttimes false to his own interest. Generous, hardy, and in adversity

a man of virtue; in prosperity a sot and a slave to woman. That is Antony. How deal with such a man, whom

fate and opportunity, despite himself, have set on the crest of fortune's wave? One day it will overwhelm him;

"Antony is but a man," I answered, "and a man with many foes; and, being but a man, he can be overthrown."

"Ay, he can be overthrown; but he is one of three, Harmachis. Now that Cassius hath gone where all fools go,

Rome has thrown out a hydra head. Crush one, and another hisses in thy face. There's Lepidus, and with him,

that young Octavianus, whose cold eyes may yet with a smile of triumph look on the murdered forms of

empty, worthless Lepidus, of Antony, and of Cleopatra. If I go not to Cilicia, mark thou! Antony will knit up

a peace with these Parthians, and, taking the tales they tell of me for truthand, indeed, there is truth in

"Ah, thou sayest so, and, perchance, Harmachis, had I not won that game we played together some twelve

days gone, thou, being Pharaoh, mightest well have done this thing, for round thy throne old Egypt would

have gathered. But Egypt loves not me nor my Greek blood; and I have but now scattered that great plot of

thine, in which half the land was meshed. Will these men, then, arise to succour me? Were Egypt true to me, I

could, indeed, hold my own against all the force that Rome may bring; but Egypt hates me, and had as lief be

ruled by the Roman as the Greek. Still I might make defence had I the gold, for with money soldiers can be

bought to feed the maw of mercenary battle. But I have none; my treasuries are dry, and though there is

wealth in the land, yet debts perplex me. These wars have brought me ruin, and I know not how to find a

talent. Perchance, Harmachis, thou who art, by hereditary right, Priest of the Pyramids," and she drew near

and looked me in the eyes, "perchance, if long descended rumour does not lie, thou canst tell me where I can

touch the gold to save thy land from ruin, and thy Love from the grasp of Antony? Say, is it so?"

"And if such a tale were true, and if I could show thee treasure stored by the mighty Pharaohs of the most

faroff age against the needs of Khem, how can I know that thou wouldst indeed make use of that wealth to

"Is there, then, a treasure?" she asked curiously. "Nay, fret me not, Harmachis; for of a truth the very name of

"I believe," I said, "that there is such a treasure, though I myself have never seen it. But I know this, that if it

still lie in the place where it was set, it is because so heavy a curse will rest upon him who shall lay hands on

it wickedly and for selfish ends, that none of those Pharaohs to whom it has been shown have dared to touch

"So," she said, "they were cowardly aforetime, or else their need was not great. Wilt thou show me this

"Perhaps," I answered, "I will show it to thee if it still be there, when thou hast sworn that thou wilt use it to

"I swear it!" she said earnestly. "Oh, I swear by every God in Khem that if thou showest me this great

treasure, I will defy Antony and send Dellius back to Cilicia with sharper words than those he brought. Yes,

I'll do more, Harmachis: so soon as may be, I will take thee to husband before all the world, and thou thyself

Thus she spoke, gazing at me with truthful, earnest eyes. I believed her, and for the first time since my fall

was for a moment happy, thinking that all was not lost to me, and that with Cleopatra, whom I loved thus

"I swear, beloved! and thus I seal my oath!" and she kissed me on the forehead. And I, too, kissed her; and

we talked of what we would do when we were wed, and how we should overcome the Roman.

And thus I was again beguiled; though I believe that, had it not been for the jealous anger of

Charmionwhich, as shall be seen, was ever urging her forward to fresh deeds of shameCleopatra would

have wedded me and broken with the Roman. And, indeed, in the issue, it had been better for her and Egypt.

We sat far into the night, and I revealed to her somewhat of that ancient secret of the mighty treasure hid

beneath the mass of Her. Thither, it was agreed, we should go on the morrow, and the second night from now

attempt its search. So, early on the next day, a boat was secretly made ready, and Cleopatra entered it, veiled

as an Egyptian lady about to make a pilgrimage to the Temple of Horemkhu. And I also entered, cloaked as a

pilgrim, and with us ten of her most trusted servants disguised as sailors. But Charmion went not with us. We

sailed with a fair wind from the Canopic mouth of the Nile; and that night, pushing on with the moon, we

reached Sais at midnight, and here rested for a while. At dawn we once more loosed our craft, and all that day

sailed swiftly, till, at last, at the third hour from the sunset, we came in sight of the lights of that fortress

which is called Babylon. Here, on the opposite bank of the river, we moored our ship safely in a bed of reeds.

Then, on foot and secretly, we set out for the pyramids, which were at a distance of two leagues, Cleopatra, I

and one trusted eunuch, for we left the other servants with the boat. Only I caught an ass for Cleopatra to ride

that was wandering in a tilled field, and threw a cloak upon it. She sat on it and I led the ass by paths I knew,

the eunuch following us on foot. And, within little more than an hour, having gained the great causeway, we

saw the mighty pyramids towering up through the moonlit air and aweing us to silence. We passed on in utter

silence, through the haunted city of the dead, for all around us stood the solemn tombs, till at length we

climbed the rocky hill, and stood in the deep shadow of Khufu Khut, the splendid Throne of Khufu.

"Of a truth," whispered Cleopatra, as she gazed up the dazzling marble slope above her, everywhere blazoned

over with a million mystic characters"of a truth, there were Gods ruling in Khem in those days, and not

men. This place is sad as Deathay, and as mighty and far from man. Is it here that we must enter?"

I led the way through a thousand ancient tombs, till we stood in the shadow of Ur the Great, and gazed at his

We passed on through many more tombs, till we stood in the shadow of Her,[*] and Cleopatra gazed

astonished at its polished beauty, which for thousands of years, night by night, had mirrored back the moon,

and at the black girdle of Ethiopian stone that circled its base about. For this is the most beautiful of all

We passed round between the Temple of the Worship of his Divine Majesty, Menkaura, the Osirian, and in

the base of the pyramid till we came to the north side. Here in the centre is graved the name of Pharaoh

Menkaura, who built the pyramid to be his tomb, and stored his treasure in it against the need of Khem.

"If the treasure still remains," I said to Cleopatra, "as it remained in the days of my greatgreatgrandfather,

who was Priest of this Pyramid before me, it is hid deep in the womb of the mass before thee, Cleopatra; nor

can it be come by without toil, danger, and terror of mind. Art thou prepared to enterfor thou thyself must

"Canst thou not go in with the eunuch, Harmachis, and bring the treasure forth?" she said, for a little her

"Nay, Cleopatra," I answered, "not even for thee and for the weal of Egypt can I do this thing, for of all sins it

would be the greatest sin. But it is lawful for me to do this. I, as hereditary holder of the secret, may, upon

demand, show to the ruling monarch of Khem the place where the treasure lies, and show also the warning

that is written. And if on seeing and reading, the Pharaoh deems that the need of Khem is so sore and strait

that it is lawful for him to brave the curse of the Dead and draw forth the treasure, it is well, for on his head

must rest the weight of this dread deed. Three monarchsso say the records that I have readhave thus

dared to enter in the time of need. They were the Divine Queen Hatshepsu, that wonder known to the Gods

alone; her Divine brother Tahutimes MenKheperra; and the Divine Rameses Miamen. But of these three

Majesties, not one when they saw dared to touch; for, though sharp their need, it was not great enough to

consecrate the act. So, fearing lest the curse should fall upon them, they went hence sorrowing."

"It is well," I answered. Then, stones having been piled up by me and the eunuch who was with us on a

certain spot at the base of the pyramid, to somewhat more than the height of a man, I climbed on them and

searched for the secret mark, no larger than a leaf. I found it with some trouble, for the weather and the

rubbing of the windstirred sand had worn even the Ethiopian stone. Having found it, I pressed on it with all

my strength in a certain fashion. even after the lapse of many years the stone swung round, showing a little

opening, through which a man might scarcely creep. As it swung, a mighty bat, white in colour as though

with unreckoned age, and such as I had never seen before for bigness, for his measure was the measure of a

hawk, flew forth and for a moment hovered over Cleopatra, then sailed slowly up and up in circles, till at last

But Cleopatra uttered a cry of terror, and the eunuch, who was watching, fell down in fear, believing it to be

the guardian Spirit of the pyramid. And I, too, feared, though I said nothing. For even now I believe that it

was the Spirit of Menkaura, the Osirian, who, taking the form of a bat, flew forth from his holy House in

I waited a while, till the foul air should clear from the passage. Then I drew out the lamps, kindled them, and

passed them, to the number of three, into the entrance of the passage. This done, I went to the eunuch, and,

taking him aside, I swore him by the living spirit of Him who sleeps at Abouthis that he should not reveal

This he swore, trembling sorely, for he was very much afraid. Nor, indeed, did he reveal them.

This done, I clambered through the opening, taking with me a coil of rope, which I wound around my middle,

and beckoned to Cleopatra to come. Making fast the skirt of her robe, she came, and I drew her through the

opening, so that at length she stood behind me in the passage which is lined with slabs of granite. After her

came the eunuch, and he also stood in the passage. Then, having taken counsel of the plan of the passage that

I had brought with me, and which, in signs that none but the initiated can read, was copied from those ancient

writings that had come down to me through oneandforty generations of my predecessors, the Priests of this

Pyramid of Her, and of the worship of the Temple of the Divine Menkaura, the Osirian, I led the way

through that darksome place towards the utter silence of the tomb. Guided by the feeble light of our lamps,

we passed down the steep incline, gasping in the heat and the thick, stagnated air. Presently we had left the

region of the masonry and were slipping down a gallery hewn in the living rock. For twenty paces or more it

ran steeply. Then its slope lessened and shortly we found ourselves in a chamber painted white, so low that I,

being tall, had scarcely room to stand; but in length four paces, and in breadth three, and cased throughout

with sculptured panels. Here Cleopatra sank upon the floor and rested awhile, overcome by the heat and the

So she rose, and passing hand in hand through that chamber, we found ourselves face to face with a mighty

door of granite, let down from the roof in grooves. Once more I took counsel of the plan, pressed with my

foot upon a certain stone, and waited. Then, suddenly and softly, I know not by what means, the mass heaved

itself from its bed of living rock. We passed beneath, and found ourselves face to face with a second door of

granite. Again I pressed on a certain spot, and this door swung wide of itself, and we went through, to find

ourselves face to face with a third door, yet more mighty than the two through which we had won our way.

Following the secret plan, I struck this door with my foot upon a certain spot, and it sank slowly as though at

a word of magic till its head was level with the floor of rock. We crossed and gained another passage which,

descending gently for a length of fourteen paces, led us into a great chamber, paved with black marble, more

than nine cubits high, by nine cubits broad, and thirty cubits long. In this marble floor was sunk a great

sarcophagus of granite, and on its lid were graved the name and titles of the Queen of Menkaura. In this

chamber, too, the air was purer, though I know not by what means it came thither.

"Nay," I answered; "follow me," and I led the way to a gallery, which we entered through an opening in the

floor of the great chamber. It had been closed by a trapdoor of stone, but the door was open. Creeping along

this shaft, or passage, for some ten paces, we came at length to a well, seven cubits in depth. Making fast one

end of the rope that I had brought about my body and the other to a ring in the rock, I was lowered, holding

the lamp in my hand, till I stood in the last restingplace of the Divine Menkaura. Then the rope was drawn

up, and Cleopatra, being made fast to it, was let down by the eunuch, and I received her in my arms. But I

bade the eunuch, sorely against his will, since he feared to be left alone, await our return at the mouth of the

We stood within a small arched chamber, paved and lined with great blocks of the granite stone of Syene.

There before ushewn from a single mass of basalt shaped like a wooden house and resting on a sphinx

We stood and gazed in awe, for the weight of the silence and the solemnity of that holy place seemed to crush

us. Above us, cubit over cubit in its mighty measure, the pyramid towered up to heaven and was kissed of the

night air. But we were deep in the bowels of the rock beneath its base. We were alone with the dead, whose

rest we were about to break; and no sound of the murmuring air, and no sight of life came to dull the awful

edge of solitude. I gazed on the sarcophagus; its heavy lid had been lifted and rested at its side, and around it

"See," I whispered, pointing to a writing, daubed with pigment upon the wall in the sacred symbols of ancient

"Read it, Harmachis," answered Cleopatra, in the same low voice; "for I cannot."

Then I read: "I, Rameses Miamen, in my day and in my hour of need, visited this sepulchre. But, though

great my need and bold my heart, I dared not face the curse of Menkaura. Judge, O thou who shalt come

after me, and, if thy soul is pure and Khem be utterly distressed, take thou that which I have left."

The cover was off, but the painted coffin of the Pharaoh lay in the depths of the sarcophagus. We climbed the

Sphinx, then I blew the dust from the coffin with my breath and read that which was written on its lid. And

"Where, then, is the treasure?" she asked again. "Here, indeed, is the body of the Divine Menkaura; but the

flesh even of Pharaohs is not gold, and if the face of this Sphinx be gold how may we move it?"

For answer I bade her stand upon the Sphinx and grasp the upper part of the coffin while I grasped its foot.

Then, at my word, we lifted, and the lid of the case, which was not fixed, came away, and we set it upon the

floor. And there in the case was the mummy of Pharaoh, as it had been laid three thousand years before. It

was a large mummy, and somewhat ungainly. Nor was it adorned with a gilded mask, as is the fashion of our

day, for the head was wrapped in clothes yellow with age, which were made fast with pink flaxen bandages,

under which were pushed the stems of lotusblooms. And on the breast, wreathed round with lotusflowers,

lay a large plate of gold closely written over with sacred writing. I lifted up the plate, and, holding it to the

"I, Menkaura, the Osirian, aforetime Pharaoh of the Land of Khem, who in my day did live justly and ever

walked in the path marked for my feet by the decree of the Invisible, who was the beginning and is the end,

speak from my tomb to those who after me shall for an hour sit upon my Throne. Behold, I, Menkaura, the

Osirian, having in the days of my life been warned of a dream that a time will come when Khem shall fear to

fall into the hands of strangers, and her monarch shall have great need of treasure wherewith to furnish armies

to drive the barbarian back, have out of my wisdom done this thing. For it having pleased the protecting Gods

to give me wealth beyond any Pharaoh who has been since the days of Horusthousands of cattle and geese,

thousands of calves and asses, thousands of measures of corn, and hundreds of measures of gold and gems;

this wealth I have used sparingly, and that which remains I have bartered for precious stoneseven for

emeralds, the most beautiful and largest that are in the world. These stones, then, I have stored up against that

day of the need of Khem. But because as there have been, so there shall be, those who do wickedly on the

earth, and who, in the lust of gain, might seize this wealth that I have stored, and put it to their uses; behold,

thou Unborn One, who in the fulness of time shalt stand above me and read this that I have caused to be

written, I have stored the treasure thuseven among my bones. Therefore, O thou Unborn One, sleeping in

the womb of Nout, I say this to thee! If thou indeed hast need of riches to save Khem from the foes of Khem,

fear not and delay not, but tear me, the Osirian, from my tomb, loose my wrappings and rip the treasure from

my breast, and all shall be well with thee; for this only I do command, that thou dost replace my bones within

my hollow coffin. But if the need be passing and not great, or if there be guile in thy heart, then the curse of

Menkaura be on thee! On thee be the curse that shall smite him who breaks in upon the dead! On thee be the

curse that follows the traitor! On thee be the curse that smites him who outrages the Majesty of the Gods!

Unhappy shalt thou live, in blood and misery shalt thou die, and in misery shalt thou be tormented for ever

"And to the end of the keeping of this secret, I, Menkaura, have set up a Temple of my Worship, which I

have built upon the eastern side of this my House of Death. It shall be made known from time to time to the

Hereditary High Priest of this my Temple. And if any High Priest that shall be do reveal this secret to another

than the Pharaoh, or Her who wears the Pharaoh's crown and is seated upon the throne of Khem, accursed be

he also. Thus have I, Menkaura, the Osirian, written. Now to thee, who, sleeping in the womb of Nout, yet

shall upon a time stand over me and read, I say, judge thou! and if thou judgest evilly, on thee shall fall this

"Thou hast heard, O Cleopatra," I said solemnly; "now search thy heart; judge thou, and for thine own sake

"It is well," I said, with a lightening of the heart, and bent down to lift the wooden lid. For I, too, feared.

"And yet, what said the writing of the Divine Menkaura?it was emeralds, was it not? And emeralds are

now so rare and hard to come by. Ever did I love emeralds, and I can never find them without a flaw."

"It is not a matter of what thou dost love, Cleopatra," I said; "it is a matter of the need of Khem and of the

"Ay, surely, Harmachis; surely! And is not the need of Egypt great? There is no gold in the treasury, and how

can I defy the Roman if I have no gold? And have I not sworn to thee that I will wed thee and defy the

Roman; and do I not swear it againyes, even in this solemn hour, with my hand upon dead Pharaoh's heart?

Why, here is that occasion of which the Divine Menkaura dreamed. Thou seest it is so, for else Hatshepsu

or Rameses or some other Pharaoh had drawn forth the gems. But no; they left them to come to this hour

because the time was not yet come. Now it must be come, for if I take not the gems the Roman will surely

seize on Egypt, and then there will be no Pharaoh to whom the secret may be told. Nay, let us away with fears

and to the work. Why dost look so frightened? Having pure hearts, there is naught to fear, Harmachis."

"Even as thou wilt," I said again; "it is for thee to judge, since if thou judgest falsely on thee will surely fall

"So, Harmachis, take Pharaoh's head and I will take his Oh, what an awful place is this!" and suddenly

she clung to me. "Methought I saw a shadow yonder in the darkness! Methought that it moved toward us and

"I saw nothing, Cleopatra; but mayhap it was the Spirit of the Divine Menkaura, for the spirit ever hovers

round its mortal tenement. Let us, then, be going; I shall be right glad to go."

"It was naughtnaught but the mind that, in such a house of Horror, bodies forth those shadowy forms of

fear it dreads to see. Nay, I must look upon these emeralds; indeed, if I die, I must look! Cometo the

work!" and stooping, she with her own hands lifted from the tomb one of the four alabaster jars, each sealed

with the graven likeness of the heads of the protecting Gods, that held the holy heart and entrails of the

Divine Menkaura. But nothing was found in these jars, save only what should be there.

Then together we mounted on the Sphinx, and with toil drew forth the body of the Divine Pharaoh, laying it

on the ground. Now Cleopatra took my dagger, and with it cut loose the bandages which held the wrappings

in their place, and the lotusflowers that had been set in them by loving hands, three thousand years before,

fell down upon the pavement. Then we searched and found the end of the outer bandage, which was fixed in

at the hinder part of the neck. This we cut loose, for it was glued fast. This done, we began to unroll the

wrappings of the holy corpse. Setting my shoulders against the sarcophagus, I sat upon the rocky floor, the

body resting on my knees, and, as I turned it, Cleopatra unwound the cloths; and awesome was the task.

Presently something fell out; it was the sceptre of the Pharaoh, fashioned of gold, and at its end was a

Cleopatra seized the sceptre and gazed on it in silence. Then once more we went on with our dread business.

And ever as we unwound, other ornaments of gold, such as are buried with Pharaohs, fell from the

wrappingscollars and bracelets, models of sistra, an inlaid axe, and an image of the holy Osiris and of the

holy Khem. At length all the bandages were unwound, and beneath we found a covering of coarsest linen; for

in those very ancient days the craftsmen were not so skilled in matters pertaining to the embalming of the

body as they are now. And on the linen was written in an oval, "Menkaura, Royal Son of the Sun." We

could in no wise loosen this linen, it held so firm on to the body. Therefore, faint with the great heat, choked

with mummy dust and the odour of spices, and trembling with fear of our unholy task, wrought in that most

lonesome and holy place, we laid the body down, and ripped away the last covering with the knife. First we

cleared Pharaoh's head, and now the face that no man had gazed on for three thousand years was open to our

view. It was a great face, with a bold brow, yet crowned with the royal ur�us, beneath which the white locks,

stained yellow by the spices, fell in long, straight wisps. Not the cold stamp of death, and not the slow flight

of three thousand years, had found power to mar the dignity of those shrunken features. We gazed on them,

and then, made bold with fear, stripped the covering from the body. There at last it lay before us, stiff,

yellow, and dread to see; and on the left side, above the thigh, was the cut through which the embalmers had

done their work, but it was sewn up so deftly that we could scarcely find the mark.

"The gems are within," I whispered, for I felt that the body was very heavy. "Now, if thy heart fail thee not,

thou must make an entry to this poor house of clay that once was Pharaoh," and I gave her the daggerthe

"It is too late to doubt," she answered, lifting her white beauteous face and fixing her blue eyes all big with

terror upon my own. She took the dagger, and with set teeth the Queen of this day plunged it into the dead

breast of the Pharaoh of three thousand years ago. And even as she did so there came a groaning sound from

the opening to the shaft where we had left the eunuch! We leapt to our feet, but heard no more, and the

Then with much toil we hacked and rent the hard flesh open, and as we did so I heard the knife point grate

Cleopatra plunged her hand into the dead breast and drew forth somewhat. She held it to the light, and gave a

little cry, for from the darkness of Pharaoh's heart there flashed into light and life the most beauteous emerald

that ever man beheld. It was perfect in colour, very large, without a flaw, and fashioned to a scarab�us form,

and on the under side was an oval, inscribed with the divine name of Menkaura, Son of the Sun.

Again, again, and yet again, she plunged in her hand and drew emeralds from Pharaoh's breast bedded there

in spices. Some were fashioned and some were not; but all were perfect in colour without a flaw, and in value

priceless. Again and again she plunged her white hand into that dread breast, till at length all were found, and

there were one hundred and forty and eight of such gems as are not known in the world. The last time that she

searched she brought forth not emeralds, indeed, but two great pearls, wrapped in linen, such as never have

So it was done, and all the mighty treasure lay glittering in a heap before us. There it lay, and there, too, lay

the regalia of gold, the spiced and sicklyscented wrappings, and the torn body of whitehaired Pharaoh

We rose, and a great awe fell upon us, now that the deed was done and our hearts were no more upborne by

the rage of searchso great an awe, indeed, that we could not speak. I made a sign to Cleopatra. She grasped

the head of Pharaoh and I grasped his feet, and together we lifted him, climbed the Sphinx, and placed him

once more within his coffin. I piled the torn mummy cloths over him and on them laid the lid of the coffin.

And now we gathered up the great gems, and such of the ornaments as might be carried with ease, and I hid

them as many as I could, in the folds of my robe. Those that were left Cleopatra hid upon her breast. Heavily

laden with the priceless treasure, we gave one last look at the solemn place, at the sarcophagus and the

Sphinx on which it rested, whose gleaming face of calm seemed to mock us with its everlasting smile of

At the shaft we halted. I called to the eunuch, who stayed above, and methought a faint mocking laugh

answered me. Too smitten with terror to call again, and fearing that, should we delay, Cleopatra would

certainly swoon, I seized the rope, and being strong and quick mounted by it and gained the passage. There

burnt the lamp: but the eunuch I saw not. Thinking, surely, that he was a little way down the passage, and

sleptas, in truth, he didI bade Cleopatra make the rope fast about her middle, and with much labour,

drew her up. Then, having rested awhile, we moved with the lamps to seek for the eunuch.

"He was stricken with terror and has fled, leaving the lamp," said Cleopatra. "O ye Gods! who is that seated

I peered into the darkness, thrusting out the lamps, and this was what their light fell onthis at the very

dream of which my soul sickens! There, facing us, his back resting against the rock, and his hands splayed on

either side upon the floor, sat the eunuchdead! His eyes and mouth were open, his fat cheeks dropped

down, his thin hair yet seemed to bristle, and on his countenance was frozen such a stamp of hideous terror as

well might turn the beholder's brain. And lo! fixed to his chin, by its hinder claws, hung that grey and mighty

bat, which, flying forth when we entered the pyramid, vanished in the sky, but, returning, had followed us to

its depths. There it hung upon the dead man's chin slowly rocking itself to and fro, and we could see the fiery

Aghast, utterly aghast, we stood and stared at the hateful sight; till presently the bat spread his huge wings

and, losing his hold, sailed to us. Now he hovered before Cleopatra's face, fanning her with his white wings.

Then with a scream, like a woman's shriek of fury, the accursed Thing flittered on, seeking his violated tomb,

and vanished down the well into the sepulchre. I fell against the wall. But Cleopatra sank in a heap upon the

floor, and, covering her head with her arms, she shrieked till the hollow passages rang with the echoes of her

cries, that seemed to grow and double and rush along the depths in volumes of shrill sound.

"Rise!" I cried, "rise and let us hence before the Spirit shall return to haunt us! If thou dost suffer thyself to be

She staggered to her feet, and never may I forget the look upon her ashy face or in her glowing eyes. Seizing

lamps with a rush, we passed the dead eunuch's horrid form, I holding her by the hand. We gained the great

chamber, where was the sarcophagus of the Queen of Menkaura, and traversed its length. We fled along the

passage. What if the Thing had closed the three mighty doors? No; they were open, and we sped through

them; the last only did I stay to close. I touched the stone, as I knew how, and the great door crashed down,

shutting us off from the presence of the dead eunuch and the Horror that had hung upon the eunuch's chin.

Now we were in the white chamber with the sculptured panels, and now we faced the last steep ascent. Oh

that last ascent! Twice Cleopatra slipped and fell upon the polished floor. The second timeit was when half

the distance had been doneshe let fall her lamp, and would, indeed, have rolled down the slide had I not

saved her. But in doing thus I, too, let fall my lamp that bounded away into shadow beneath us, and we were

in utter darkness. And perchance about us, in the darkness, hovered that awful Thing!

"Be brave!" I cried; "O love, be brave, and struggle on, or both are lost! The way, though steep, is not far;

and, though it be dark, we can scarce come to harm in this straight shaft. If the gems weight thee, cast them

"Nay," she gasped, "that I will not; this shall not be endured to no end. I die with them!"

Then it was that I saw the greatness of this woman's heart; for in the dark, and notwithstanding the terrors we

had passed and the awfulness of our state, she clung to me and clambered on up that dread passage. On we

clambered, hand in hand, with bursting hearts, till there, by the mercy or the anger of the Gods, at length we

saw the faint light of the moon, creeping through the little opening in the pyramid. One struggle more, now

the hole was gained, and like a breath from heaven, the sweet night air played upon our brows. I climbed

through, and, standing on a pile of stones, lifted and dragged Cleopatra after me. She fell to the ground and

I pressed upon the turning stone with trembling hands. It swung to and caught, leaving no mark of the secret

place of entry. Then I leapt down and, having pushed away the pile of stones, looked on Cleopatra. She had

swooned, and notwithstanding the dust and grime upon her face, it was so pale that at first I believed she

must be dead. But placing my hand upon her heart I felt it stir beneath; and, being spent, I flung myself down

Presently I lifted myself, and, laying the head of Egypt's Queen upon my knee, strove to call her back to life.

How fair she seemed, even in her disarray, her long hair streaming down her breast! how deadly fair she

seemed in the faint lightthis woman the story of whose beauty and whose sin shall outlive the solid mass

of the mighty pyramid that towered over us! The heaviness of her swoon had smoothed away the falseness of

her face, and nothing was left but the divine stamp of Woman's richest loveliness, softened by shadows of the

night and dignified by the cast of deathlike sleep. I gazed upon her and all my heart went out to her; it seemed

that I did but love her more because of the depth of the treasons to which I had sunk to reach her, and because

of the terrors we had outfaced together. Weary and spent with fears and the pangs of guilt, my heart sought

hers for rest, for now she alone was left to me. She had sworn to wed me also, and with the treasure we had

won we would make Egypt strong and free her from her foes, and all should yet be well. Ah! could I have

seen the picture that was to come, how, and in what place and circumstance, once again this very woman's

head should be laid upon my knee, pale with that cast of death! Ah! could I have seen!

I chafed her hand between my hands. I bent down and kissed her on the lips, and at my kiss she woke. She

woke with a little sob of feara shiver ran along her delicate limbs, and she stared upon my face with wide

"Ah! it is thou!" she said. "I mind methou hast saved me from that horrorhaunted place!" And she threw

her arms about my neck, drew me to her and kissed me. "Come, love," she said, "let us be going! I am sore

athirst, andah! so very weary! The gems, too, chafe my breast! Never was wealth so hardly won! Come, let

us be going from the shadow of this ghostly spot! See the faint lights glancing from the wings of Dawn. How

beautiful they are, and how sweet to behold! Never, in those Halls of Eternal Night, did I think to look upon

the blush of dawn again! Ah! I can still see the face of that dead slave, with the Horror hanging to his

beardless chin! Bethink thee!there he'll sit for evertherewith the Horror! Come; where may we find

"At the canal on the borders of the tilled land below the Temple of Horemkhuit is close by," I answered.

"If any see us, we will say that we are pilgrims who have lost our way at night among the tombs. Veil thyself

closely, therefore, Cleopatra; and beware lest thou dost show aught of those gems about thee."

So she veiled herself, and I lifted her on to the ass which was tethered near at hand. We walked slowly

through the plain till we came to the place where the symbol of the God Horemkhu,[*] fashioned as a mighty

Sphinx (whom the Greeks call Harmachis), and crowned with the royal crown of Egypt, looks out in majesty

across the land, his eyes ever fixed upon the East. As we walked the first arrow of the rising sun quivered

through the grey air, striking upon Horemkhu's lips of holy calm, and the Dawn kissed her greeting to the

God of Dawn. Then the light gathered and grew upon the gleaming sides of twenty pyramids, and, like a

promise from Life to Death, rested on the portals of ten thousand tombs. It poured in a flood of gold across

the desert sandit pierced the heavy sky of night, and fell in bright beams upon the green of fields and the

tufted crest of palms. Then from his horizon bed royal Ra rose up in pomp and it was day.

[*] That is, "Horus on the horizon"; and signifies the power of Light and Good overcoming the power of

Passing the temple of granite and of alabaster that was built before the days of Khufu, to the glory of the

Majesty of Horemkhu, we descended the slope, and came to the banks of the canal. There we drank; and that

draught of muddy water was sweeter than all the choicest wine of Alexandria. Also we washed the mummy

dust and grime from our hands and brows and made us clean. As she bathed her neck, stooping over the

water, one of the great emeralds slipped from Cleopatra's breast and fell into the canal, and it was but by

chance that at length I found it in the mire. Then, once more, I lifted Cleopatra onto the beast, and slowly, for

I was very weary, we marched back to the banks of Sihor, where our craft was. And having at length come

thither, seeing no one save some few peasants going out to labour on the lands, I turned the ass loose in that

same field where we had found him, and we boarded the craft while the crew were yet sleeping. Then,

waking them, we bade them make all sail, saying that we had left the eunuch to sojourn a while behind us, as

in truth we had. So we sailed, having first hidden away the gems and such of the ornaments of gold as we

We spent four days and more in coming to Alexandria, for the wind was for the most part against us; and they

were happy days! At first, indeed, Cleopatra was somewhat silent and heavy at heart, for what she had seen

and felt in the womb of the pyramid weighed her down. But soon her Imperial spirit awoke and shook the

burden from her breast, and she became herself againnow gay, now learned; now loving, and now cold;

now queenly, and now altogether simpleever changing as the winds of heaven, and as the heaven, deep,

Night after night for those four perfect nights, the last happy hours I ever was to know, we sat hand in hand

upon the deck and heard the waters lap the vessel's side, and watched the soft footfall of the moon as she trod

the depths of Nile. There we sat and talked of love, talked of our marriage and all that we would do. Also I

drew up plans of war and of defence against the Roman, which now we had the means to carry out; and she

approved them, sweetly saying that what seemed good to me was good to her. And so the time passed all too

Oh those nights upon the Nile! their memory haunts me yet! Yet in my dreams I see the moonbeams break

and quiver, and hear Cleopatra's murmured words of love mingle with the sound of murmuring waters. Dead

are those dear nights, dead is the moon that lit them; the waters which rocked us on their breast are lost in the

wide salt sea, and where we kissed and clung there lips unborn shall kiss and cling! How beautiful was their

promise, doomed, like an unfruitful blossom, to wither, fall, and rot! and their fulfilment, ah, how drear! For

all things end in darkness and in ashes, and those who sow in folly shall reap in sorrow. Ah! those nights

And so at length once more we stood within the hateful walls of that fair palace on the Lochias, and the

"Whither hast thou wandered with Cleopatra, Harmachis?" Charmion asked of me when I met her by chance

on that day of return. "On some new mission of betrayal? Or was it but a lovejourney?"

"So! Those who go secretly, go evilly; and foul birds love to fly at night. Not but what thou art wise, for it

I heard, and felt my passion rise within me, for I could ill bear this fair girl's scorn.

"Hast thou never a word without a sting?" I asked. "Know, then, that I went whither thou hadst not dared to

"So," she answered, looking up swiftly. "Thou foolish man! Thou hadst done better to save thy labour, for

"That he may do in my despite; but in despite of Cleopatra that he cannot do," I said.

"Nay, but with the aid of Cleopatra he can and will do it," she answered with a bitter smile. "When the Queen

sails in state up Cydnus stream she will surely draw this coarse Antony thence to Alexandria, conquering, and

"It is false! I say that it is false! Cleopatra goes not to Tarsus, and Antony comes not to Alexandria; or, if he

"Now, thinkest thou thus?" she answered with a little laugh. "Well, if it please thee, think as thou wilt. Within

three days thou shalt know. It is pretty to see how easily thou art fooled. Farewell! Go, dream on Love, for

I saw Cleopatra no more that day, but on the day which followed I saw her. She was in a heavy mood, and

had no gentle word for me. I spake to her of the defence of Egypt, but she put the matter away.

"Why dost thou weary me?" she said with anger; "canst thou not see that I am lost in troubles? When Dellius

"Ay," I said, "when Dellius has had his answer; and knowest thou that but yesterday, Charmionwhom

about the palace they name the 'Keeper of the Queen's secrets'Charmion swore that the answer would be

"Charmion knows nothing of my heart," said Cleopatra, stamping her foot in anger, "and if she talk so freely

the girl shall be scourged out of my Court, as is her desert. Though, in truth," she added, "she has more

wisdom in that small head of hers than all my privy councillorsay, and more wit to use it. Knowest thou

that I have sold a portion of those gems to the rich Jews of Alexandria, and at a great price, ay, at five

thousand sestertia for each one?[*] But a few, in truth, for they could not buy more as yet. It was rare to see

their eyes when they fell upon them: they grew large as apples with avarice and wonder. And now leave me,

"Ay, Harmachis, I promised; and tomorrow, when I have rid me of this Dellius, I will keep my promise, and

name thee Cleopatra's Lord before the Court. See that thou art in thy place. Art content?"

And she stretched out her hand for me to kiss, looking on me with strange eyes, as though she struggled with

herself. Then I went; but that night I strove once more to see Cleopatra, and could not. "The Lady Charmion

On the morrow the Court met in the great hall one hour before midday, and I went thither with a trembling

heart to hear Cleopatra's answer to Dellius, and to hear myself also named Kingconsort to the Queen of

Egypt. It was a full and splendid Court; there were councillors, lords, captains, eunuchs, and waitingwomen,

all save Charmion. The house passed, but Cleopatra and Charmion came not. At length Charmion entered

gently by a side entrance, and took her place among the waitingladies about the throne. Even as she did so

she cast a glance at me, and there was triumph in her eyes, though I knew not over what she triumphed. I little

guessed that she had but now brought about my ruin and sealed the fate of Egypt.

Then presently the trumpets blared, and, clad in her robes of state, the ur�us crown upon her head, and on her

breast, flashing like a star, that great emerald scarab�us which she had dragged from dead Pharaoh's heart,

Cleopatra swept in splendour to her throne, followed by a glittering guard of Northmen. Her lovely face was

dark, dark were her slumbrous eyes, and none might read their message, though all that Court searched them

for a sign of what should come. She seated herself slowly as one who may not be moved, and spoke to the

The doors were flung wide, and, followed by his train of knights, Dellius, clad in his golden armour and his

purple mantle, walked with catlike step up the great hall, and made obeisance before the throne.

"Most royal and beauteous Egypt," he said, in his soft voice, "as thou hast graciously been pleased to bid me,

thy servant, I am here to take thy answer to the letter of the noble Antony the Triumvir, whom tomorrow I

sail to meet at Tarsus, in Cilicia. And I will say this, royal Egypt, craving pardon the while for the boldness of

my speech bethink thee well before words that cannot be unspoken fall from those sweet lips. Defy

Antony, and Antony will wreck thee. But, like thy mother Aphrodit�, rise glorious on his sight from the

bosom of the Cyprian wave, and for wreck he will give thee all that can be dear to woman's royaltyEmpire,

and pomp of place, cities and the sway of men, fame and wealth, and the Diadem of rule made sure. For

mark: Antony holds this Eastern World in the hollow of his warlike hand; at his will kings are, and at his

And he bowed his head and, folding his hands meekly on his breast, awaited answer.

For a while Cleopatra answered not, but sat like the Sphinx Horemkhu, dumb and inscrutable, gazing with

Then, like soft music, her answer came; and trembling I listened for Egypt's challenge to the Roman:

"Noble Dellius,We have bethought us much of the matter of thy message from great Antony to our poor

Royalty of Egypt. We have bethought us much, and we have taken counsel from the oracles of the Gods,

from the wisest among our friends, and from the teachings of our heart, that ever, like a nesting bird, broods

over our people's weal. Sharp are the words that thou has brought across the sea; methinks they had been

better fitted to the ears of some petty halftamed prince than to those of Egypt's Queen. Therefore we have

numbered the legions that we can gather, and the triremes and the galleys wherewith we may breast the sea,

and the moneys which shall buy us all things wanting to our war. And we find this, that, though Antony be

She paused, and a murmur of applause of her high words ran down the hall. Only Dellius stretched out his

"Noble Dellius,Half are we minded there to bid our tongue stop, and, strong in our fortresses of stone, and

our other fortresses built of the hearts of men, abide the issue. And yet thou shalt not go thus. We are guiltless

of those charges against us that have come to the ears of noble Antony, and which now he rudely shouts in

Here the murmur arose anew, while my heart beat high in triumph; and in the pause that followed, Dellius

"Nay," she answered; "it shall be one of Peace. Listen; we said that we would not come to make answer to

these charges, nor will we. But" and she smiled for the first time"we will gladly come, and that swiftly,

in royal friendship to make known our fellowship of peace upon the banks of Cydnus."

I heard, and was bewildered. Could I hear aright? Was it thus that Cleopatra kept her oaths? Moved beyond

She turned upon me like a lioness, with a flashing of the eyes and a swift shake of her lovely head.

"Peace, Slave!" she said; "who bade thee break in upon our counsels? Mind thou thy stars, and leave matters

I sank back shamed, and, as I did so, once more I saw the smile of triumph on the face of Charmion, followed

"Now that yon brawling charlatan," said Dellius, pointing at me with his jewelled finger, "has been rebuked,

"We ask no thanks from thee, noble Dellius; nor lies it in thy mouth to chide our servant," broke in Cleopatra,

frowning heavily; "we will take thanks from the lips of Antony alone. Get thee to thy master, and say to him

that before he can make ready a fitting welcome our keels shall follow in the track of thine. And now,

Dellius bowed thrice and withdrew, while the Court stood waiting the Queen's word. And I, too, waited,

wondering if she would yet make good her promise, and name me royal Spouse there in the face of Egypt.

But she said nothing. Only, still frowning heavily, she rose, and, followed by her guards, left the throne, and

passed into the Alabaster Hall. Then the Court broke up, and as the lords and councillors went by they looked

on me with mockery. For though none knew all my secret, nor how it stood between me and Cleopatra, yet

they were jealous of the favour shown me by the Queen, and rejoiced greatly at my fall. But I took no heed of

their mocking as I stood dazed with misery and felt the world of Hope slip from beneath my feet.

And at length, all being gone, I, too, turned to go, when a eunuch struck me on the shoulder and roughly bade

me wait on the presence of the Queen. An hour past this fellow would have crawled to me on his knees; but

he had heard, and now he treated meso brutish is the nature of such slavesas the world treats the fallen,

with scorn. For to come low after being great is to learn all shame. Unhappy, therefore, are the Great, for they

I turned upon the slave with so fierce a word that, curlike, he sprang behind me; then I passed on to the

Alabaster Hall, and was admitted by the guards. In the centre of the hall, near the fountain, sat Cleopatra, and

with her were Charmion and the Greek girl Iras, and Merira and other of her waitingladies. "Go," she said to

these, "I would speak with my astrologer." So they went, and left us face to face.

"Stand thou there," she said, lifting her eyes for the first time. "Come not nigh me, Harmachis: I trust thee

not. Perchance thou hast found another dagger. Now, what hast thou to say? By what right didst thou dare to

I felt the blood rush through me like a storm; bitterness and burning anger took hold of my heart. "What hast

thou to say, Cleopatra?" I answered boldly. "Where is thy vow, sworn on the dead heart of Menkaura, the

everliving? Where now thy challenge to this Roman Antony? Where thy oath that thou wouldest call me

"Well doth it become Harmachis, who never was forsworn, to speak to me of oaths!" she said in bitter

mockery. "And yet, O thou most pure Priest of Isis; and yet, O thou most faithful friend, who never didst

betray thy friends; and yet, O thou most steadfast, honourable, and upright man, who never bartered thy

birthright, thy country, and thy cause for the price of a woman's passing loveby what token knowest thou

"I will not answer thy taunts, Cleopatra," I said, holding back my heart as best I might, "for I have earned

them all, though not from thee. By this token, then, I know it. Thou goest to visit Antony; thou goest, as said

that Roman knave, 'tricked in thy best attire,' to feast with him whom thou shouldst give to vultures for their

feast. Perhaps, for aught I know, thou art about to squander those treasures that thou hast filched from the

body of Menkaura, those treasures stored against the need of Egypt, upon wanton revels which shall

complete the shame of Egypt. By these things, then, I know that thou art forsworn, and I, who, loving thee,

believed thee, tricked; and by this, also, that thou who didst but yesternight swear to wed me, dost today

"To wed thee? and I did swear to wed thee? Well, and what is marriage? Is it the union of the heart, that bond

beautiful as gossamer and than gossamer more light, which binds soul to soul, as they float through the

dreamy night of passion, a bond to be, perchance, melted in the dews of dawn? Or is it the iron link of

enforced, unchanging union whereby if sinks the one the other must be dragged beneath the sea of

circumstance, there, like a punished slave, to perish of unavoidable corruption?[*] Marriage! I to marry! I to

forget freedom and court the worst slavery of our sex, which, by the selfish will of man, the stronger, still

binds us to a bed grown hateful, and enforces a service that love mayhap no longer hallows! Of what use,

then, to be a Queen, if thereby I may not escape the evil of the meanly born? Mark thou, Harmachis: Woman

being grown hath two ills to fearDeath and Marriage; and of these twain is Marriage the more vile; for in

Death we may find rest, but in Marriage, should it fail us, we must find hell. Nay, being above the breath of

common slander that enviously would blast those who of true virtue will not consent to stretch affection's

[*] Referring to the Roman custom of chaining a living felon to the body of one already dead.Editor.

"And yesternight, Cleopatra, thou didst swear that thou wouldst wed me, and call me to thy side before the

"And yesternight, Harmachis, the red ring round the moon marked the coming of the storm, and yet the day is

fair! But who knows that the tempest may not break tomorrow? Who knows that I have not chosen the

easier path to save Egypt from the Roman? Who knows, Harmachis, that thou shalt not still call me wife?"

Then I no longer could bear her falsehood, for I saw that she but played with me. And so I spoke that which

"Cleopatra!" I cried," thou didst swear to protect Egypt, and thou art about to betray Egypt to the Roman!

Thou didst swear to use the treasures that I revealed to thee for the service of Egypt, and thou art about to use

them to be her means of shameto fashion them as fetters for her wrists! Thou didst swear to wed me, who

loved thee, and for thee gave all, and thou dost mock me and reject me! Therefore I saywith the voice of

the dread Gods I say it!that on thee shall fall the curse of Menkaura, whom thou hast robbed indeed! Let

me go hence and work out my fate! Let me go, O thou fair Shame! thou living Lie! whom I have loved to my

doom, and who hast brought upon me the last curse of doom! Let me hide myself and see thy face no more!"

"Let thee go to stir up evil against me! Nay, Harmachis, thou shalt not go to build new plots against my

throne! I say to thee that thou, too, shalt come to visit Antony in Cilicia, and there, perchance, I will let thee

go!" And ere I could answer, she had struck upon the silver gong that hung near her.

Before its rich echo had died away, Charmion and the waitingwomen entered from one door, and from the

other, a file of soldiersfour of them of the Queen's bodyguard, mighty men, with winged helmets and long

"Seize that traitor!" cried Cleopatra, pointing to me. The captain of the guardit was Brennussaluted and

But I, being mad and desperate, and caring little if they slew me, flew straight at his throat, and dealt him

such a heavy blow that the great man fell headlong, and his armour clashed upon the marble floor. As he fell I

seized his sword and targe, and, meeting the next, who rushed on me with a shout, caught his blow upon the

shield, and in answer smote with all my strength. The sword fell where the neck is set into the shoulder, and,

shearing through the joints of his harness, slew him, so that his knees were loosened and he sank down dead.

And the third, as he came, I caught upon the point of my sword before he could strike, and it pierced him and

he died. Then the last rushed on me with a cry of "Taranis!" and I, too, rushed on him, for my blood was

aflame. Now the women shriekedonly Cleopatra said nothing, but stood and watched the unequal fray. We

met, and I struck with all my strength, and it was a mighty blow, for the sword shore through the iron shell

and shattered there, leaving me weaponless. With a shout of triumph the guard swung up his sword and smote

down upon my head, but I caught the blow with my shield. Again he smote, and again I parried; but when he

raised his sword a third time I saw this might not endure, so with a cry I hurled my buckler at his face.

Glancing from his shield it struck him on the breast and staggered him. Then, before he could gain his

For a full minute the tall man and I struggled furiously, and then, so great was my strength in those days, I

lifted him like a toy and dashed him down upon the marble floor in such fashion that his bones were shattered

so that he spoke no more. But I could not save myself and fell upon him, and as I fell the Captain Brennus,

whom I had smitten to earth with my fist, having once more found his sense, came up behind me and smote

me upon the head and shoulders with the sword of one of those whom I had slain. But I being on the ground,

the blow did not fall with all its weight, also my thick hair and broidered cap broke its force; and thus it came

to pass that, though sorely wounded, the life was yet whole in me. But I could struggle no more.

Then the cowardly eunuchs, who had gathered at the sound of blows and stood huddled together like a herd

of cattle, seeing that I was spent, threw themselves upon me, and would have butchered me with their knives.

But Brennus, now that I was down, would strike no more, but stood waiting. And the eunuchs had surely

slain me, for Cleopatra watched like one who watches in a dream and made no sign. Already my head was

dragged back, and their knifepoints were at my throat, when Charmion, rushing forward, threw herself upon

me and, calling them "Dogs!" desperately thrust her body before them in such fashion that they could not

smite. Now Brennus with an oath seized first one and then another and cast them from me.

"Spare his life, Queen!" he cried in his barbarous Latin. "By Jupiter, he is a brave man! Myself felled like an

ox in the shambles, and three of my boys finished by a man without armour and taken unawares! I grudge

Cleopatra drew near and looked upon the dead and him who lay dying as I had dashed him to the ground, and

on me, her lover of two days gone, whose wounded head rested now on Charmion's white robes.

I met the Queen's glance. "Spare not!" I gasped; "v� victis!" Then a flush gathered on her browmethinks it

"Dost after all love this man at heart, Charmion," she said with a little laugh, "that thou didst thrust thy tender

body between him and the knives of these sexless hounds?" and she cast a look of scorn upon the eunuchs.

"Nay!" the girl answered fiercely; "but I cannot stand by to see a brave man murdered by such as these."

"Ay!" said Cleopatra, "he is a brave man, and he fought gallantly; I have never seen so fierce a fight even in

the games at Rome! Well, I spare his life, though he is weak of mewomanish weak. Take him to his own

Then my brain reeled, a great sickness seized upon me, and I sank into the nothingness of a swoon.

Dreams, dreams, dreams! without end and everchanging, as for years and years I seemed to toss upon a sea

of agony. And through them a vision of a darkeyed woman's tender face and the touch of a white hand

soothing me to rest. Visions, too, of a royal countenance bending at times over my rocking beda

countenance that I could not grasp, but whose beauty flowed through my fevered veins and was a part of me

visions of childhood and of the Temple towers of Abouthis, and of the whitehaired Amenemhat, my

fatheray, and an everpresent vision of that dread hall in Amenti, and of the small altar and the Spirits clad

in flame! There I seemed to wander everlastingly, calling on the Holy Mother, whose memory I could not

grasp; calling ever and in vain! For no cloud descended upon the altar, only from time to time the great Voice

pealed aloud: "Strike out the name of Harmachis, child of Earth, from the living Book of Her who Was and Is

"Not yet! not yet! Repentance is at hand; strike not out the name of Harmachis, child of Earth, from the living

I woke to find myself in my own chamber in the tower of the palace. I was so weak that I scarce could lift my

hand, and life seemed but to flutter in my breast as flutters a dying dove. I could not turn my head; I could not

stir; yet in my heart there was a sense of rest and of dark trouble done. The light from the lamp hurt my eyes:

I shut them, and, as I shut them, heard the sweep of a woman's robes upon the stair, and a swift, light step that

She entered and drew near. I felt her come! Every pulse of my poor frame beat an answer to her footfall, and

all my mighty love and hate rose from the darkness of my deathlike sleep, and rent me in their struggle! She

leaned over me; her ambrosial breath played upon my face: I could hear the beating of her heart! Lower she

"Poor man!" I heard her murmur. "Poor, weak, dying Man! Fate hath been hard to thee! Thou wert too good

to be the sport of such a one as I the pawn that I must move in my play of policy! Ah, Harmachis! thou

shouldst have ruled the game! Those plotting priests could give thee learning; but they could not give thee

knowledge of mankind, nor fence thee against the march of Nature's law. And thou didst love me with all thy

heartah! well I know it! Manlike, thou didst love the eyes that, as a pirate's lights, beckoned thee to

shipwrecked ruin, and didst hang doting on the lips which lied thy heart away and called thee 'slave'! Well;

the game was fair, for thou wouldst have slain me; and yet I grieve. So thou dost die? and this is my farewell

to thee! Never may we meet again on earth; and, perchance, it is well, for who knows, when my hour of

tenderness is past, how I might deal with thee, didst thou live? Thou dost die, they saythose learned

longfaced fools, who, if they let thee die, shall pay the price. And where, then, shall we meet again when my

last throw is thrown? We shall be equal there, in the kingdom that Osiris rules. A little time, a few

yearsperhaps tomorrowand we shall meet; then, knowing all I am, how wilt thou greet me? Nay, here,

as there, still must thou worship me! for injuries cannot touch the immortality of such a love as thine.

Contempt alone, like acid, can eat away the love of noble hearts, and reveal the truth in its pitiful nakedness.

Thou must still cling to thee, Harmachis; for, whatever my sins, yet I am great and set above thy scorn.

Would that I could have loved thee as thou lovest me! Almost I did so when thou slewest those guards; and

"What a fenced city is my heart, that none can take it, and, even when I throw the gates wide, no man may

win its citadel! Oh, to put away this loneliness and lose me in another's soul! Oh, for a year, a month, an hour

to quite forget policy, peoples, and my pomp of place, and be but a loving woman! Harmachis, fare thee well!

Go join great Julius whom thy art called up from death before me, and take Egypt's greetings to him. Ah

well! I fooled thee, and I fooled C�sar perchance before all is done Fate will find me, and myself I shall be

She turned to go, and as she turned I heard the sweep of another dress and the light fall of another woman's

"Ay," she answered, in a voice thick with grief. "Ay, O Queen, so the physicians say. Forty hours has he lain

in stupor so deep that at times his breath could barely lift this tiny feather's weight, and hardly could my ear,

placed against his breast, take notice of the rising of his heart. I have watched him now for ten long days,

watched him day and night, till my eyes stare wide with want of sleep, and for faintness I can scarce keep

myself from falling. And this is the end of all my labour! The coward blow of that accursed Brennus has done

"Love counts not its labour, Charmion, nor can it weight its tenderness on the scale of purchase. That which it

has it gives, and craves for more to give and give, till the soul's infinity be drained. Dear to thy heart are these

heavy nights of watching; sweet to thy weary eyes is that sad sight of strength brought so low that it hangs

upon thy weakness like a babe to its mother's breast! For, Charmion, thou dost love this man who loves thee

not, and now that he is helpless thou canst pour thy passion forth over the unanswering darkness of his soul,

"I love him not, as thou hast proof, O Queen! How can I love one who would have slain thee, who art as my

She laughed a little as she answered, "Pity is love's own twin, Charmion. Wondrous wayward are the paths of

woman's love, and thou hast shown thine strangely, that I know. But the more high the love, the deeper the

gulf whereinto it can fallay, and thence soar again to heaven, once more to fall! Poor woman! thou art thy

passion's plaything: now tender as the morning sky, and now, when jealousy grips thy heart, more cruel than

the sea. Well, thus are we made. Soon, after all this troubling, nothing will be left thee but tears, remorse,

Cleopatra went, and for a while I lay silent, gathering up my strength to speak. But Charmion came and stood

over me, and I felt a great tear fall from her dark eyes upon my face, as the first heavy drop of rain falls from

"Thou goest," she whispered; "thou goest fast whither I may not follow! O Harmachis, how gladly would I

"Restrain thy grief, dear friend," I said, "I live yet; and, in truth, I feel as though new life gathered in my

She gave a little cry of joy, and I never saw aught more beautiful than the change that came upon her weeping

face! It was as when the first lights of the day run up the pallor of that sad sky which veils the night from

dawn. All rosy grew her lovely countenance; her dim eyes shone out like stars; and a smile of wonderment,

more sweet than the sudden smile of the sea as its ripples wake to brightness beneath the kiss of the risen

"Thou livest!" she cried, throwing herself on her knees beside my couch. "Thou livestand I thought thee

gone! Thou art come back to me! Oh! what say I? How foolish is a woman's heart! 'Tis this long watching!

Nay; sleep and rest thee, Harmachis!why dost thou talk? Not one more word, I command thee straitly!

Where is the draught left by that longbearded fool? Nay thou shalt have no draught! There, sleep,

Harmachis; sleep!" and she crouched down at my side and laid her cool hand upon my brow, murmuring,

And when I woke there she was still, but the lights of dawn were peeping through the casement. There she

knelt, one hand upon my forehead, and her head, in all its disarray of curls, resting upon her outstretched arm.

Instantly she was wide awake, and, gazing on me with tender eyes, "Yea, thou hast slept, Harmachis."

"Go, rest," I said; "it shames me to think of this thing. Go rest thee, Charmion!"

"Vex not thyself," she answered; "see, I will bid a slave watch thee, and to wake me if thou needest aught; I

sleep there, in the outer chamber. PeaceI go!" and she strove to rise, but, so cramped was she, fell

I can scarcely tell the sense of shame that filled me when I saw her fall. Alas! I could not stir to help her.

"It is naught," she said; "move not, I did but catch my foot. There!" and she rose, again to fall"a pest upon

my awkwardness! WhyI must be sleeping. 'Tis well now. I'll send the slave;" and she staggered thence like

And after that, I slept once more, for I was very weak. When I woke it was afternoon, and I craved for food,

"Nay," she answered, with a toss of her head, "thou wilt live. In truth, I did waste my pity on thee."

"It is nothing," she answered carelessly. "After all, thou art my cousin; also, I love nursingit is a woman's

trade. Like enough I had done as much for any slave. Now, too, that the danger is past, I leave thee."

"Thou hadst done better to let me die, Charmion," I said after a while, "for life to me can now be only one

"She sails in twenty days, and with such pomp and glory as Egypt has never seen. Of a truth, I cannot guess

where she has found the means to gather in this store of splendour, as a husbandman gathers his golden

But I, knowing whence the wealth came, groaned in bitterness of spirit, and made no answer.

"Because thou art Cleopatra's slave, and must march in gilded chains behind her chariot; because she fears to

"Escape, thou poor sick man? Nay, how canst thou escape? Even now thou art most strictly guarded. And if

thou didst escape, whither wouldst thou fly? There's not an honest man in Egypt but would spit on thee in

Once more I groaned in spirit, and, being so very weak, I felt the tears roll adown my cheek.

"Weep not!" she said hastily, and turning her face aside. "Be a man, and brave these troubles out. Thou hast

sown, now must thou reap; but after harvest the waters rise and wash away the rotting roots, and then

seedtime comes again. Perchance, yonder in Cilicia, a way may be found, when once more thou art strong,

by which thou mayst flyif in truth thou canst bear thy life apart from Cleopatra's smile; then in some far

land must thou dwell till these things are forgotten. And now my task is done, so fare thee well! At times I

So she went, and I was nursed thenceforward, and that skilfully, by the physician and two womenslaves;

and as my wound healed so my strength came back to me, slowly at first, then most swiftly. In four days from

that time I left my couch, and in three more I could walk an hour in the palace gardens; another week and I

could read and think, though I went no more to Court. And at length one afternoon Charmion came and bade

me make ready, for the fleet would sail in two days, first for the coast of Syria, and thence to the gulf of Issus

Thereon, with all formality, and in writing, I craved leave of Cleopatra that I might be left, urging that my

health was so feeble that I could not travel. But a message was sent to me in answer that I must come.

And so, on the appointed day, I was carried in a litter down to the boat, and together with that very soldier

who had cut me down, the Captain Brennus, and others of his troop (who, indeed, were sent to guard me), we

rowed aboard a vessel where she lay at anchor with the rest of the great fleet. For Cleopatra was voyaging as

though to war in much pomp, and escorted by a fleet of ships, among which her galley, built like a house and

lined throughout with cedar and silken hangings, was the most beautiful and costly that the world has ever

seen. But I went not on this vessel, and therefore it chanced that I did not see Cleopatra or Charmion till we

The signal being made, the fleet set sail; and, the wind being fair, we came to Joppa on the evening of the

second day. Thence we sailed slowly with contrary winds up the coast of Syria, making C�sarea, and

Ptolemais, and Tyrus, and Berytus, and past Lebanon's white brow crowned with his crest of cedars, on to

Heraclea and across the gulf of Issus to the mouth of Cydnus. And ever as we journeyed, the strong breath of

the sea brought back my health, till at length, save for a line of white upon my head where the sword had

fallen, I was almost as I had been. And one night, as we drew near Cydnus, while Brennus and I sat alone

together on the deck, his eye fell upon the white mark his sword had made, and he swore a great oath by his

heathen Gods. "An thou hadst died, lad," he said, "methinks I could never again have held up my head! Ah!

that was a coward stroke, and I am shamed to think that it was I who struck it, and thou on the ground with

thy back to me! Knowest thou that when thou didst lie between life and death, I came every day to ask tidings

of thee? and I swore by Taranis that if thou didst die I'd turn my back upon that soft palace life and then away

"Mayhap! but there are duties that a brave man should not donay, not at the bidding of any Queen who

ever ruled in Egypt! Thy blow had dazed me or I had not struck. What is it, lad?art in trouble with this

Queen of ours? Why art thou dragged a prisoner upon this pleasure party? Knowest thou that we are strictly

"Then, being of the age thou art, there's a woman in itthat I swear and, perchance, though I am rough

and foolish, I might make a guess. Look thou, lad, what sayest thou? I am weary of this service of Cleopatra

and this hot land of deserts and of luxury, that sap a man's strength and drain his pocket; and so are others

whom I know of. What sayest thou: let's take one of these unwieldy vessels and away to the North? I'll lead

thee to a better land than Egypta land of lake and mountain, and great forests of sweetscented pine; ay,

and find thee a girl fit to mate withmy own niecea girl strong and tall, with wide blue eyes and long fair

hair, and arms that could crack thy ribs were she of a mind to hug thee! Come, what sayest thou? Put away

For a moment I thought, and then sadly shook my head; for though I was sorely tempted to be gone, I knew

"It may not be, Brennus," I answered. "Fain would I that it might be, but I am bound by a chain of destiny

"As thou wilt, lad," said the old warrior. "I should have dearly loved to marry thee among my people, and

make a son of thee. At the least, remember that while I am here thou hast Brennus for a friend. And one thing

more; beware of that beauteous Queen of thine, for, by Taranis, perhaps an hour may come when she will

hold that thou knowest too much, and then" and he drew his hand across his throat. "And now good

[Here several lengths of the second roll of papyrus are so broken as to be undecipherable. They seem to have

"And[the writing continues]to those who could take joy in such things, the sight must, indeed, have

been a gallant one. For the stern of our galley was covered with sheets of beaten gold, the sails were of the

scarlet of Tyre, and the oars of silver touched the water to a measure of music. And there, in the centre of the

vessel, beneath an awning ablaze with gold embroidery, lay Cleopatra, attired as the Roman Venus (and

surely Venus was not more fair!), in thin robes of whitest silk, bound in beneath her breast with a golden

girdle delicately graven over with scenes of love. All about her were little rosy boys, chosen for their beauty,

and clad in naught save downy wings strapped upon their shoulders, and on their backs Cupid's bow and

quiver, who fanned her with fans of plumes. Upon the vessel's decks, handling the cordage, that was of silken

web, and softly singing to the sound of harps and the beat of oars, were no rough sailors, but women lovely to

behold, some robed as Graces and some as Nereidsthat is, scarce robed at all, except in their scented hair.

And behind the couch, with drawn sword, stood Brennus, in splendid armour and winged helm of gold; and

by him othersI among themin garments richly worked, and knew that I was indeed a slave! On the high

poop also burned censers filled with costliest incense, of which the fragrant steam hung in little clouds about

Thus, as in a dream of luxury, followed by many ships, we glided on towards the wooded slopes of Taurus, at

whose foot lay that ancient city Tarshish. And ever as we came the people gathered on the banks and ran

before us, shouting: "Venus is risen from the sea! Venus hath come to visit Bacchus!" We drew near to the

city, and all its people everyone who could walk or be carriedcrowded down in thousands to the docks,

and with them came the whole army of Antony, so that at length the Triumvir was left alone upon the

Dellius, the falsetongued, came also, fawning and bowing, and in the name of Antony gave the "Queen of

Beauty" greeting, bidding her to a feast that Antony had made ready. But she made high answer, and said,

"Forsooth, it is Antony who should wait on us; not we on Antony. Bid the noble Antony to our poor table this

Dellius went, bowing to the ground; the feast was made ready; and then at last I set eyes on Antony. He came

clad in purple robes, a great man and beautiful to see, set in the stout prime of life, with bright eyes of blue,

and curling hair, and features cut sharply as a Grecian gem. For he was great of form and royal of mien, and

with an open countenance on which his thoughts were so clearly written that all might read them; only the

weakness of the mouth belied the power of the brow. He came attended by his generals, and when he reached

the couch where Cleopatra lay he stood astonished, gazing on her with wideopened eyes. She, too, gazed on

him earnestly; I saw the red blood run up beneath her skin, and a great pang of jealousy seized upon my heart.

And Charmion, who saw all beneath her downcast eyes, saw this also and smiled. But Cleopatra spoke no

word, only she stretched out her white hand for him to kiss; and he, saying no word, took her hand and kissed

"Behold, noble Antony!" she said at last in her voice of music, "thou hast called me, and I am come."

"Venus has come," he answered in his deep notes, and still holding his eyes fixed upon her face. "I called a

"To find a God to greet her on the land," she laughed with ready wit. "Well, a truce to compliments, for being

The trumpets blared, and through the bowing crowd Cleopatra, followed by her train, passed hand in hand

On the third night the feast was once more prepared in the hall of the great house that had been set aside to

the use of Cleopatra, and on this night its splendour was greater even than on the nights before. For the

twelve couches that were set about the table were embossed with gold, and those of Cleopatra and Antony

were of gold set with jewels. The dishes also were all of gold set with jewels, the walls were hung with purple

cloths sewn with gold, and on the floor, covered with a net of gold, fresh roses were strewn ankledeep, that

as the slaves trod them sent up their perfume. Once again I was bidden to stand, with Charmion and Iras and

Merira, behind the couch of Cleopatra, and, like a slave, from time to time call out the hours as they flew.

And there being no help, I went wild at heart; but this I sworeit should be for the last time, since I could

not bear that shame. For though I would not yet believe what Charmion told methat Cleopatra was about to

become the Love of Antonyyet I could no more endure this ignominy and torture. For from Cleopatra now

I had no words save such as a Queen speaks to her slave, and methinks it gave her dark heart pleasure to

Thus it came to pass that I, the Pharaoh, crowned of Khem, stood among eunuchs and waitingwomen

behind the couch of Egypt's Queen while the feast went merrily and the winecup passed. And ever Antony

sat, his eyes fixed upon the face of Cleopatra, who from time to time let her deep glance lose itself in his, and

then for a little while their talk died away. For he told her tales of war and of deeds that he had done ay,

and lovejests such as are not meet for the ears of women. But she took offence at nothing; rather, falling into

his humour, she would cap his stories with others of a finer wit, but not less shameless.

At length, the rich meal being finished, Antony gazed at the splendour around him.

"Tell me, then, most lovely Egypt," he said; "are the sands of Nile compact of gold, that thou canst, night by

night, thus squander the ransom of a King upon a single feast? Whence comes this untold wealth?"

I bethought me of the tomb of the Divine Menkaura, whose holy treasure was thus wickedly wasted, and

looked up so that Cleopatra's eye caught mine; but, reading my thoughts, she frowned heavily.

"Why, noble Antony," she said, "surely it is nothing! In Egypt we have our secrets, and know whence to

conjure riches at our need. Say, what is the value of this golden service, and of the meats and drinks that have

"Thou hast understated it by half, noble Antony! But such as it is I will give it thee and those with thee as a

free token of my friendship. And more will I show thee now: I myself will eat and drink ten thousand

She laughed, and bade a slave bring her white vinegar in a glass. When it was brought she set it before her

and laughed again, while Antony, rising from his couch, drew near and set himself at her side, and all the

company leant forward to see what she would do. And this she did. She took from her ear one of those great

pearls which last of all had been drawn from the body of the Divine Pharaoh; and before any could guess her

purpose she let it fall into the vinegar. Then came silence, the silence of wonder, and slowly the priceless

pearl melted in the strong acid. When it was melted she lifted the glass and shook it, then drank the vinegar,

"More vinegar, slave!" she cried; "my meal is but half finished!" and she drew forth the second pearl.

"By Bacchus, no! that shalt thou not!" cried Antony, snatching at her hands; "I have seen enough;" and at that

An ashy whiteness grew upon Cleopatra's face, and she turned upon me furiously, while all the company

"Thou illomened slave!" she cried. "Speak thus once more and thou shalt be scourged with rods!ay,

"What means the knave of an astrologer?" asked Antony. "Speak, sirrah! and make clear thy meaning, for

"I am a servant of the Gods, noble Antony. That which the Gods put in my mind that must I say; nor can I

"Oh, oh! thou servest the Gods, dost thou, thou manycoloured mystery?" This he said having reference to

my splendid robes. "Well, I serve the Goddesses, which is a softer cult. And there's this between us: that

though what they put in my mind I say, neither can I read their meaning," and he glanced at Cleopatra as one

"Let the knave be," she said impatiently; "tomorrow we'll be rid of him. Sirrah, begone!"

I bowed and went; and, as I went, I heard Antony say: "Well, he may be a knavefor that all men arebut

this for thy astrologer: he hath a royal air and the eye of a Kingay, and wit in it."

Without the door I paused, not knowing what to do, for I was bewildered with misery. And, as I stood,

someone touched me on the hand. I glanced upit was Charmion, who in the confusion of the rising of the

"To my chamber," she said. "Fear not; we ladies of Cleopatra's Court have small good fame to lose; if anyone

by chance should see us, they'll think that it is a lovetryst, and such are all the fashion."

I followed, and, presently, skirting the crowd, we came unseen to a little side entrance that led to a stair, up

which we passed. The stair ended in a passage; we turned down it till we found a door on the left hand.

Charmion entered silently, and I followed her into a dark chamber. Being in, she barred the door and,

kindling tinder to a flame, lit a hanging lamp. As the light grew strong I gazed around. The chamber was not

large, and had but one casement, closely shuttered. For the rest, it was simply furnished, having white walls,

some chests for garments, an ancient chair, what I took to be a tiring table, on which were combs, perfumes,

and all the frippery that pertains to woman, and a white bed with a broidered coverlid, over which was hung a

"Be seated, Harmachis," she said, pointing to the chair. I took the chair, and Charmion, throwing back the

"Knowest thou what I heard Cleopatra say as thou didst leave the banquetinghall?" she asked presently.

"She gazed after thee, and, as I went over to her to do some service, she murmured to herself: 'By Serapis, I

"So!" I said, "it may be; though, after all that has been, I can scarce believe that she will murder me."

"Why canst thou not believe it, thou most foolish of men? Dost forget how nigh thou wast to death there in

the Alabaster Hall? Who saved thee then from the knives of the eunuchs? Was it Cleopatra? Or was it I and

Brennus? Stay, I will tell thee. Thou canst not yet believe it, because, in thy folly, thou dost not think it

possible that the woman who has but lately been as a wife to thee can now, in so short a time, doom thee to

be basely done to death. Nay, answer notI know all; and I tell thee this: thou hast not measured the depth

of Cleopatra's perfidy, nor canst thou dream the blackness of her wicked heart. She had surely slain thee in

Alexandria had she not feared that thy slaughter being noised abroad might bring trouble on her. Therefore

has she brought thee here to kill thee secretly. For what more canst thou give her? She has thy heart's love,

and is wearied of thy strength and beauty. She has robbed thee of thy royal birthright and brought thee, a

King, to stand amidst the waitingwomen behind her at her feasts; she has won from thee the great secret of

"Yes, I know all; and tonight thou seest how the wealth stored against the need of Khem is being

squandered to fill up the wanton luxury of Khem's Macedonian Queen! Thou seest how she has kept her oath

"Ay, I see too well; and yet she swore she loved me, and I, poor fool, I believed her!"

"She swore she loved thee!" answered Charmion, lifting her dark eyes: "now I will show thee how she loves

thee. Knowest thou what was this house? It was a priest's college; and, as thou wottest, Harmachis, priests

have their ways. This little room aforetime was the room of the Head Priest, and the chamber that is beyond

and below was the gatheringplace of the other priests. The old slave who keeps the house told me all this,

and also she revealed what I shall show thee. Now, Harmachis, be silent as the dead, and follow me!"

She blew out the lamp, and by the little light that crept through the shuttered casement led me by the hand to

the far corner of the room. Here she pressed upon the wall, and a door opened in its thickness. We entered,

and she closed the spring. Now we were in a little chamber, some five cubits in length by four in breadth; for

a faint light struggled into the closet, and also the sound of voices, I knew not whence. Loosing my hand, she

crept to the end of the place, and looked steadfastly at the wall; then crept back and, whispering "Silence!"

led me forward with her. Then I saw that there were eyeholes in the wall, which pierced it, and were hidden

on the farther side by carved work in stone. I looked through the hole that was in front of me, and I saw this:

six cubits below was the level of the floor of another chamber, lit with fragrant lamps, and most richly

furnished. It was the sleepingplace of Cleopatra, and there, within ten cubits of where we stood, sat

"Tell me," Cleopatra murmuredfor this place was so built that every word spoken in the room below came

to the ears of the listener above "tell me, noble Antony, wast pleased with my poor festival?"

"Ay," he answered in his deep soldier's voice, "ay, Egypt, I have made feasts, and been bidden to feasts, but

never saw I aught like thine; and I tell thee this, though I am rough of tongue and unskilled in pretty sayings

such as women love, thou wast the richest sight of all that splendid board. The red wine was not so red as thy

beauteous cheek, the roses smelt not so sweet as the odour of thy hair, and no sapphire there with its changing

"What! Praise from Antony! Sweet words from the lips of him whose writings are so harsh! Why, it is praise

"Ay," he went on, "it was a royal feast, though I grieve that thou didst waste that great pearl; and what meant

that hourcalling astrologer of thine, with his illomened talk of the curse of Menkaura?"

A shadow fled across her glowing face. "I know not; he was lately wounded in a brawl, and methinks the

"He seemed not crazed, and there was that about his voice which rings in my ears like some oracle of fate. So

wildly, too, he looked upon thee, Egypt, with those piercing eyes of his, like one who loved and yet hated

"He is a strange man, I tell thee, noble Antony, and a learned. Myself, at times, I almost fear him, for he is

deeply versed in the ancient arts of Egypt. Knowest thou that the man is of royal blood, and once he plotted to

slay me? But I won him over, and slew him not, for he had the key to secrets that I fain would learn; and,

indeed, I loved his wisdom, and to listen to his deep talk of all hidden things."

"And now I have sucked his knowledge dry, and have no more cause to fear him. Didst thou not see that I

have made him stand these three nights a slave amid my slaves, and call aloud the hours as they fled in

festival. No captive King marching in thy Roman triumphs can have suffered pangs so keen as that proud

"Well, he shall trouble us no more with his words of evil omen," Cleopatra went on slowly; "tomorrow

morn he diesdies swiftly and in secret, leaving no trace of what his fate has been. On this is my mind

fixed; of a truth, noble Antony, it is fixed. Even as I speak the fear of this man grows and gathers in my

breast. Half am I minded to give the word even now, for I breathe not freely till he be dead," and she made as

"Let it be till morning," he said, catching her by the hand; "the soldiers drink, and the deed will be ill done.

"In the morning, perchance, the hawk may have flown," she answered, pondering. "He hath keen ears, this

Harmachis, and can summon things to aid him that are not of the earth. Perchance, even now he hears me in

the spirit; for, of a truth, I seem to feel his presence breathing round me. I could tell theebut no, let him be!

Noble Antony, be my tiringwoman and loose me this crown of gold, it chafes my brow. Be gentle, hurt me

He lifted the ur�us crown from her brows, and she shook loose her heavy weight of hair that fell about her

"Take back thy crown, royal Egypt," he said, speaking low, "take it from my hand; I will not rob thee of it,

"What mean I? Why then, this: thou camest hither at my bidding to make answer of the charges laid against

thee as to matters politic. And knowest thou, Egypt, that hadst thou been other than thou art thou hadst not

gone back to queen it on the Nile; for of this I am sure, the charges against thee are true in fact. But, being

what thou art and look thou! never did Nature serve a woman better!I forgive thee all. For the sake of

thy grace and beauty I forgive thee that which had not been forgiven to virtue, or to patriotism, or to the

dignity of age! See now how good a thing is woman's wit and loveliness, that can make kings forget their

duty and cozen even blindfolded Justice to peep ere she lifts her sword! Take back thy crown, O Egypt! It is

"These are royal words, most notable Antony," she made answer; "gracious and generous words, such as befit

the Conqueror of the world! And touching my misdeeds in the pastif misdeeds there have beenI say

this, and this alonethen I knew not Antony. For, knowing Antony, who could sin against him? What

woman could lift a sword against one who must be to all women as a Godone who, seen and known, draws

after him the whole allegiance of the heart, as the sun draws flowers? And what more can I say and not cross

the bounds of woman's modesty? Why, only thisset that crown upon my brow, great Antony, and I will

take it as a gift from thee, by the giving made doubly dear, and to thy uses I will guard it.

"There, now I am thy vassal Queen, and through me all old Egypt that I rule does homage to Antony the

And, having set the crown upon her locks, he stood gazing on her, grown passionate in the warm breath of

her living beauty, till at length he caught her by both hands and drawing her to him kissed her thrice, saying:

"Cleopatra, I love thee, SweetI love thee as I never loved before." She drew back from his embrace,

smiling softly; and as she did so the golden circlet of the sacred snakes fell, being but loosely set upon her

I saw the omen, and even in the bitter anguish of my heart knew its evil import. But these twain took no note.

"Thou lovest me?" she said, most sweetly; "how know I that thou lovest me? Perchance it is Fulvia whom

"Nay, it is not Fulvia, 'tis thou, Cleopatra, and thou alone. Many women have looked favourably upon me

from my boyhood up, but to never a one have I known such desire as to thee, O thou Wonder of the World,

like unto whom no woman ever was! Canst thou love me, Cleopatra, and to me be true, not for my place or

power, not for that which I can give or can withhold, not for the stern music of my legion's tramp, or for the

light that flows from my bright Star of Fortune; but for myself, for the sake of Antony, the rough captain,

grown old in camps? Ay, for the sake of Antony the reveller, the frail, the unfixed of purpose, but who yet

never did desert a friend, or rob a poor man, or take an enemy unawares? Say, canst thou love me, Egypt?

Oh! if thou wilt, why, I am more happy than though I sat tonight in the Capitol at Rome crowned absolute

And, ever as he spoke, she gazed on him with wonderful eyes, and in them shone a light of truth and honesty

"Thou speakest plainly," she said, "and thy words are sweet to mine earsthey would be sweet, even were

things otherwise than they are, for what woman would not love to see the world's master at her feet? But

things being as they are, why, Antony, what can be so sweet as thy sweet words? The harbour of his rest to

the stormtossed mariner surely that is sweet! The dream of Heaven's bliss which cheers the poor ascetic

priest on his path of sacrificesurely that is sweet! The sight of Dawn, the rosyfingered, coming in his

promise to glad the watching Earthsurely that is sweet! But, ah! not one of these, nor all dear delightful

things that are, can match the honeysweetness of thy words to me, O Antony! For thou knowest notnever

canst thou knowhow drear my life hath been, and empty, since thus it is ordained that in love only can

woman lose her solitude! And I have never lovednever might I lovetill this happy night! Ay, take me in

thy arms, and let us swear a great vow of lovean oath that may not be broken while life is in us! Behold!

Antony! now and for ever I do vow most strict fidelity unto thee! Now and for ever I am thine, and thine

"Hast seen enough?" she asked, when we were once more within the chamber and the lamp was lit.

For some while I sat with bowed head, and the last bitterness of shame sank into my soul. This, then, was the

end. For this I had betrayed my oaths; for this I had told the secret of the pyramid; for this I had lost my

Crown, my Honour, and, perchance, my hope of Heaven! Could there be another man in the wide world so

steeped in sorrow as I was that night? Surely not one! Where should I turn? What could I do? And even

through the tempest of my torn heart the bitter voice of jealousy called aloud. For I loved this woman, to

whom I had given all; and she at this momentshe was Ah! I could not bear to think of it; and in my

"Weep not, Harmachis!" she sobbed, kneeling at my side. "I cannot endure to see thee weep. Oh! why

wouldst thou not be warned? Then hadst thou been great and happy, and not as now. Listen, Harmachis!

Thou didst hear what that false and tigerish woman saidtomorrow she hands thee over to the murderers!"

"Nay: it is not well. Harmachis, give her not this last triumph over thee. Thou hast lost all save life: but while

"Ah!" I said, starting from my seat. "I had not thought of that. Ay the chance of vengeance! It would be

"It would be sweet, Harmachis, and yet thisVengeance is an arrow that in falling oft pierces him who shot

it. MyselfI know it," and she sighed. "But a truce to talk and grief. There will be time for us twain to

grieve, if not to talk, in all the heavy coming years. Thou must flybefore the coming of the light must thou

fly. Here is a plan. Tomorrow, ere the dawn, a galley that but yesterday came from Alexandria, bearing fruit

and stores, sails thither again, and its captain is known to me, but to thee he is not known. Now, I will find

thee the garb of a Syrian merchant, and cloak thee, as I know how, and furnish thee with a letter to the captain

of the galley. He shall give thee passage to Alexandria; for to him thou wilt seem but as a merchant going on

the business of thy trade. Brennus is officer of the guard tonight, and Brennus is a friend to me and thee.

Perhaps he will guess somewhat; or, perhaps, he will not guess; at the least, the Syrian merchant shall safely

"Rest thou, then, here, Harmachis, while I make these matters ready; and, Harmachis, grieve not overmuch;

there are others who should grieve more heavily than thou." And she went, leaving me alone with my agony

which rent me like a torturebed. Had it not been for that fierce desire of vengeance which from time to time

flashed across my tormented mind as the lightning over a midnight sea, methinks my reason had left me in

that dark hour. At length I heard her footstep at the door, and she entered, breathing heavily, for she bore a

"It is well," she said: "here is the garb with spare linen, and writingtablets, and all things needful. I have

seen Brennus also, and told him that a Syrian merchant would pass the guard an hour before the dawn. And

though he made pretence of sleep, I think he understood, for he answered, yawning, that if they but had the

password, 'Antony,' fifty Syrian merchants might go through about their lawful business. And here is the

letter to the captainthou canst not mistake the galley, for she is moored along to the righta small galley,

painted black, as thou dost enter on the great quay, and, moreover, the sailors make ready for sailing. Now I

will wait here without, while thou dost put off the livery of thy service and array thyself."

When she was gone I tore off my gorgeous garments and spat upon them and trod them on the ground. Then I

put on the modest robe of a merchant, and bound the tablets round me, on my feet the sandals of untanned

hide, and at my waist the knife. When it was done Charmion entered once again and looked on me.

"Too much art thou still the royal Harmachis," she said; "see, it must be changed."

Then she took scissors from her tiringtable, and, bidding me be seated, she cut off my locks, clipping the

hair close to the head. Next she found stains of such sort as women use to make dark the eyes, and mixed

them cunningly, rubbing the stuff on my face and hands and on the white mark in my hair where the sword of

"Now thou art changedsomewhat for the worse, Harmachis," she said, with a dreary laugh, "scarce myself

should I know thee. Stay, there is one more thing," and, going to a chest of garments, she drew thence a

"Yes, take it. It was Sepa who gave it to me for the furtherance of our cause, and therefore it is fitting that

thou shouldst spend it. Moreover, if I want money, doubtless Antony, who is henceforth my master, will give

me more; he is much beholden to me, and this he knows well. There, waste not the precious time in haggling

o'er the pelfnot yet art thou all a merchant, Harmachis;" and, without more words, she thrust the pieces into

the leather bag that hung across my shoulders. Then she made fast the sack containing the spare garments,

and, so womanly thoughtful was she, placed in it an alabaster jar of pigment, with which I might stain my

countenance afresh, and, taking the broidered robes of my office that I had cast off, hid them in the secret

"Not yet a while. Be patient, Harmachis, for but one little hour more must thou endure my presence, and then,

"Forgive me my quick tongue," she said; "but from a salt spring bitter waters well. Be seated, Harmachis; I

She stood before me with folded hands, and the lamplight shone upon her beauteous face. I noticed idly how

great was its pallor and how wide and dark were the rings about the deep black eyes. Twice she lifted her

white face and strove to speak, twice her voice failed her; and when at last it came it was in a hoarse whisper.

"Oh, be seated," she said"be seated and hear me; then, when thou hast heart, do to me as thou wilt. Listen.

From that evil moment when, in the presence of thy uncle Sepa, for the second time I set eyes upon thy face, I

loved theehow much, thou canst little guess. Think upon thine own love for Cleopatra, and double it, and

double it again, and perchance thou mayst come near to my love's mighty sum. I loved thee, day by day I

loved thee more, till in thee and for thee alone I seemed to live. But thou wast coldthou wast worse than

cold! thou didst deal with me not as a breathing woman, but rather as the instrument to an endas a tool

with which to grave thy fortunes. And then I saw yes, long before thou knewest it thyselfthy heart's tide

was setting strong towards that ruinous shore whereon today thy life is broken. And at last that night came,

that dreadful night when, hid within the chamber, I saw thee cast my kerchief to the winds, and with sweet

words cherish my royal Rival's gift. Thenoh, thou knowestin my pain I betrayed the secret that thou

wouldst not see, and thou didst make a mock of me, Harmachis! Oh! the shame of itthou in thy foolishness

didst make a mock of me! I went thence, and within me were rising all the torments which can tear a woman's

heart, for now I was sure that thou didst love Cleopatra! Ay, and so mad was I, even that night I was minded

to betray thee: but I thoughtnot yet, not yet; tomorrow he may soften. Then came the morrow, and all was

ready for the bursting of the great plot that should make thee Pharaoh. And I too camethou dost

rememberand again thou didst put me away when I spake to thee in parables, as something of little

worthas a thing too small to claim a moment's weighty thought. And, knowing that this was

becausethough thou knewest it notthou didst love Cleopatra, whom now thou must straightway slay, I

grew mad, and a wicked Spirit entered into me, possessing me utterly, so that I was myself no longer, nor

could control myself. And because thou hadst scorned me, I did this, to my everlasting shame and sorrow!I

passed into Cleopatra's presence and betrayed thee and those with thee, and our holy cause, saying that I had

"When she understood how great was the plot, and how deep its roots, Cleopatra was much troubled; and, at

first, she would have fled to Sais or taken ship and run for Cyprus, but I showed her that the ways were

barred. Then she said she would cause thee to be slain, there, in the chamber, and I left her so believing; for,

at that hour, I was glad that thou shouldst be slainay, even if I wept out my heart upon thy grave,

Harmachis. But what said I just now?Vengeance is an arrow that oft falls on him who looses it. So it was

with me; for between my going and thy coming Cleopatra hatched a deeper plan. She feared that to slay thee

would only be to light a fiercer fire of revolt; but she saw that to bind thee to her, and, having left men awhile

in doubt, to show thee faithless, would strike the imminent danger at its roots and wither it. This plot once

formed, being great, she dared its doubtful issue, andneed I go on? Thou knowest, Harmachis, how she

won; and thus the shaft of vengeance that I loosed fell upon my own head. For on the morrow I knew that I

had sinned for naught, that the burden of my betrayal had been laid on the wretched Paulus, and that I had but

ruined the cause to which I was sworn and given the man I loved to the arms of wanton Egypt."

"Let all my sin be told, Harmachis, and then let justice come. See now, this thing happened. Half did

Cleopatra learn to love thee, and deep in her heart she bethought her of taking thee to wedded husband. For

the sake of this half love of hers she spared the lives of those in the plot whom she had meshed, bethinking

her that if she wedded thee she might use them and thee to draw the heart of Egypt, which loves not her nor

any Ptolemy. And then, once again she entrapped thee, and in thy folly thou didst betray to her the secret of

the hidden wealth of Egypt, which today she squanders to delight the luxurious Antony; and, of a truth, at

that time she purposed to make good her oath and marry thee. But on the very morn when Dellius came for

answer she sent for me, and telling me allfor my wit, above any, she holds at pricedemanded of me my

judgment whether she should defy Antony and wed thee, or whether she should put the thought away and

come to Antony. And Inow mark thou all my sinI, in my bitter jealousy, rather than I would see her thy

wedded wife and thou her loving lord, counselled her most strictly that she should come to Antony, well

knowingfor I had had speech with Delliusthat if she came, this weak Antony would fall like a ripe fruit

at her feet, as, indeed, he has fallen. And but now I have shown thee the issue of the scheme. Antony loves

Cleopatra and Cleopatra loves Antony, and thou art robbed, and matters have gone well for me, who of all

women on the earth tonight am the wretchedest by far. For when I saw how thy heart broke but now, my

heart seemed to break with thine, and I could no longer bear the burden of my evil deeds, but knew that I

"And now, Harmachis, I have no more to say; save that I thank thee for thy courtesy in hearkening, and this

one thing I add. Driven by my great love I have sinned against thee unto death! I have ruined thee, I have

ruined Khem, and myself also I have ruined! Let death reward me! Slay thou me, HarmachisI will gladly

die upon thy sword; ay, and kiss its blade! Slay thou me and go; for if thou slayest me not, myself I will

surely slay!" And she threw herself upon her knees, lifting her fair breast toward me, that I might smite her

with my dagger. And, in my bitter fury, I was minded to strike; for, above all, I thought how, when I was

fallen, this woman, who herself was my cause of shame, had scourged me with her whip of scorn. But it is

hard to slay a fair woman; and, even as I lifted my hand to strike, I remembered that she had now twice saved

"Woman! thou shameless woman!" I said, "arise! I slay thee not! Who am I, that I should judge thy crime,

"Slay me, Harmachis!" she moaned; "slay me, or I slay myself! My burden is too great for me to bear! Be not

"What was it that thou didst say to me just now, Charmionthat as I had sown so I must reap? It is not

lawful that thou shouldst slay thyself; it is not lawful that I, thine equal in sin, should slay thee because

through thee I sinned. As thou hast sown, Charmion, so must thou also reap. Base woman! whose cruel

jealousy has brought all these woes on me and Egypt, livelive on, and from year to year pluck the bitter

fruit of crime! Haunted be thy sleep by visions of thy outraged Gods, whose vengeance awaits thee and me in

their dim Amenti! Haunted be thy days by memories of that man whom thy fierce love brought to shame and

ruin, and by the sight of Khem a prey to the insatiate Cleopatra and a slave to Roman Antony."

"Oh, speak not thus, Harmachis! Thy words are sharper than any sword; and more surely, if more slowly,

shall they slay! Listen, Harmachis," and she grasped my robe: "when thou wast great, and all power lay

within thy grasp, thou didst reject me. Wilt reject me now that Cleopatra hast cast thee from hernow that

thou art poor and shamed and with no pillow to thy head? Still am I fair, and still I worship thee. Let me fly

with thee, and make atonement for my lifelong love. Or, if this be too great a thing to ask, let me be but as thy

sister and thy servantthy very slave, so that I may still look upon thy face, and share thy trouble and

minister to thee. O Harmachis, let me but come and I will brave all things and endure all things, and nothing

but Death himself shall stay me from thy side. For I do believe that the love that sank me to so low a depth,

"Wouldst tempt me to fresh sin, woman? And dost thou think, Charmion, that in some hovel where I must

hide, I could bear, day by day, to look upon thy fair face, and seeing, remember that those lips betrayed me?

Not thus easily shalt thou atone! This I know even now: many and heavy shall be thy lonely days of penance!

Perchance that hour of vengeance yet may come, and perchance thou shalt live to play thy part in it. Thou

must still abide in the Court of Cleopatra; and, while thou art there, if I yet live, I will from time to time find

means to give thee tidings. Perhaps a day may dawn when once more I shall need thy service. Now, swear

"I swear, Harmachis!I swear! May everlasting torments, too hideous to be dreamedmore hideous, even,

by far, than those that wring me nowbe my portion if I fail thee in one jot or tittleay, though I wait a

"It is well; see that thou keep the oathnot twice may we betray. I go to work out my fate; abide thou to

work out thine. Perchance our divers threads will once more mingle ere the web be spun. Charmion, who

unasked didst love meand who, prompted by that gentle love of thine, didst betray and ruin mefare thee

She gazed wildly upon my faceshe stretched out her arms as though to clasp me; then, in the agony of her

I took up the sack of clothing and the staff and gained the door, and, as I passed it, I threw one last glance

upon her. There she lay, with arms outstretchedmore white than her white robesher dark hair streaming

And thus I left her, nor did I again set my eyes upon her till nine long years had come and gone.

I made my way down the stair in safety, and presently stood in the courtyard of that great house. It was but an

hour from dawn, and none were stirring. The last reveller had drunk his fill, the dancinggirls had ceased

their dancing, and silence lay upon the city. I drew near the gate, and was challenged by an officer who stood

"A merchant, may it please you, Sir, who, having brought gifts from Alexandria to a lady of the Queen's

household, and, having been entertained of the lady, now departs to his galley," I answered in a feigned

"Umph!" he growled. "The ladies of the Queen's household keep their guests late. Well; it is a time of

festival. The password, Sir Shopkeeper? Without the password you must needs return and crave the lady's

"'Antony,' Sir; and a right good word, too. Ah! I've wandered far, and never saw I so goodly a man or so great

"Ay; 'Antony''s the word! And Antony is a good general in his way when it is a sober way, and when he

cannot find a skirt to follow. I've served with Antonyand against him, too; and know his points. Well, well;

And all this while that he was holding me in talk, the sentry had been pacing to and fro before the gate. But

"Fare thee well, Harmachis, and begone!" whispered Brennus, leaning forward and speaking quickly. "Linger

not. But at times bethink thee of Brennus who risked his neck to save thine. Farewell, lad, I would that we

were sailing North together," and he turned his back upon me and began to hum a tune.

"Farewell, Brennus, thou honest man," I answered, and was gone. And, as I heard long afterwards, when on

the morrow the hue and cry was raised because the murderers could not find me, though they sought me

everywhere to slay me, Brennus did me a service. For he swore that as he kept his watch alone an hour after

midnight he saw me come and stand upon the parapet of the roof, that then I stretched out my robes and they

became wings on which I floated up to Heaven, leaving him astonished. And all those about the Court lent

ear to this history, believing in it, because of the great fame of my magic; and they wondered much what the

marvel might portend. The tale also travelled into Egypt, and did much to save my good name among those

whom I had betrayed; for the more ignorant among them believed that I acted not of my will, but of the will

of the dread Gods, who of their own purpose wafted me into Heaven. And thus to this day the saying runs

that "When Harmachis comes again Egypt shall be free." But alas, Harmachis comes no more! Only

Cleopatra, though she was much afraid, doubted her of the tale, and sent an armed vessel to search for the

When I reached the galley of which Charmion had spoken, I found her about to sail, and gave the writing to

So I went aboard, and immediately we dropped swiftly down the river with the current. And having come to

the mouth of the river unchallenged, though we passed many vessels, we put out to sea with a strong

favouring wind that before night freshened to a great gale. Then the sailor men, being much afraid, would

have put about and run for the mouth of Cydnus again, but could not because of the wildness of the sea. All

that night it blew furiously, and by dawn our mast was carried away, and we rolled helplessly in the trough of

the great waves. But I sat wrapped in a cloak, little heeding; and because I showed no fear the sailors cried

out that I was a wizard, and sought to cast me into the sea, but the captain would not. At dawn the wind

slackened, but ere noon it once more blew in terrible fury, and at the fourth hour from noon we came in sight

of the rocky coast of that cape in the island of Cyprus which is called Dinaretum, where is a mountain named

Olympus, and thitherwards we drifted swiftly. Then, when the sailors saw the terrible rocks, and how the

great waves that smote on them spouted up in foam, once more they grew much afraid, and cried out in their

fear. For, seeing that I still sat unmoved, they swore that I certainly was a wizard, and came to cast me forth

as a sacrifice to the Gods of the sea. And this time the captain was over ruled, and said nothing. Therefore,

when they came to me I rose and defied them, saying, "Cast me forth, if ye will; but if ye cast me forth ye

For in my heart I cared little, having no more any love of life, but rather a desire to die, though I greatly

feared to pass into the presence of my Holy Mother Isis. But my weariness and sorrow at the bitterness of my

lot overcame even this heavy fear; so that when, being mad as brute beasts, they seized me and, lifting me,

hurled me into the raging waters, I did but utter one prayer to Isis and made ready for death. But it was fated

that I should not die; for, when I rose to the surface of the water, I saw a spar of wood floating near me, to

which I swam and clung. And a great wave came and swept me, riding, as it were, upon the spar, as when a

boy I had learned to do in the waters of the Nile, past the bulwarks of the galley where the fiercefaced

sailors clustered to see me drown. And when they saw me come mounted on the wave, cursing them as I

came, and saw, too, that the colour of my face had changedfor the salt water had washed way the pigment,

they shrieked with fear and threw themselves down upon the deck. And within a very little while, as I rode

toward the rocky coast, a great wave poured into the vessel, that rolled broadside on, and pressed her down

So she sank with all her crew. And in that same storm also sank the galley which Cleopatra had sent to search

for the Syrian merchant. Thus all traces of me were lost, and of a surety she believed that I was dead.

But I rode on toward the shore. The wind shrieked and the salt waves lashed my face as, alone with the

tempest, I rushed upon my way, while the seabirds screamed about my head. I felt no fear, but rather a wild

uplifting of the heart; and in the stress of my imminent peril the love of life seemed to waken again. And so I

plunged and drifted, now tossed high toward the lowering clouds, now cast into the deep valleys of the sea,

till at length the rocky headland loomed before me, and I saw the breakers smite upon the stubborn rocks, and

through the screaming of the wind heard the sullen thunder of their fall and the groan of stones sucked

seaward from the beach. On! highthroned upon the mane of a mighty billowfifty cubits beneath me the

level of the hissing waters; above me the inky sky! It was done! The spar was torn from me, and, dragged

downwards by the weight of the bag of gold and the clinging of my garments, I sank struggling furiously.

Now I was underthe green light for a moment streamed through the waters, and then came darkness, and

on the darkness pictures of the past. Picture after pictureall the long scene of life was written here. Then in

my ears I only heard the song of the nightingale, the murmur of the summer sea, and the music of Cleopatra's

laugh of victory, following me softly and yet more soft as I sank away to sleep.

Once more my life came back, and with it a sense of deadly sickness and of aching pain. I opened my eyes

and saw a kind face bending over me, and knew that I was in the room of a builded house.

"Of a truth, Poseidon brought thee, Stranger," answered a rough voice in barbarous Greek; "we found thee

cast high upon the beach like a dead dolphin and brought thee to our house, for we are fisherfolk. And here,

methinks, thou must lie a while, for thy left leg is broken by the force of the waves."

I strove to move my foot and could not. It was true, the bone was broken above the knee.

"I am an Egyptian traveller whose ship has sunk in the fury of the gale, and I am named Olympus," I

answered, for these people called a mountain that we had sighted Olympus, and therefore I took the name at

Here with these rough fisherfolk I abode for the half of a year, paying them a little out of the sum of gold

that had come safely ashore upon me. For it was long before my bones grew together again, and then I was

left somewhat of a cripple; for I, who had been so tall and straight and strong, now limpedone limb being

shorter than the other. And after I recovered from my hurt, I still lived there, and toiled with them at the trade

of fishing; for I knew not whither I should go or what I should do, and, for a while, I was fain to become a

peasant fisherman, and so wear my weary life away. And these people entreated me kindly, though, as others,

they feared me much, holding me to be a wizard brought hither by the sea. For my sorrows had stamped so

strange an aspect on my face that men gazing at me grew fearful of what lay beneath its calm.

There, then, I abode, till at length, one night as I lay and strove to sleep, great restlessness came upon me, and

a mighty desire once more to see the face of Sihor. But whether this desire was of the Gods or born of my

own heart, not knowing, I cannot tell. So strong was it, at the least, that before it was dawn I rose from my

bed of straw and clothed myself in my fisher garb, and, because I had no wish to answer questions, thus I

took farewell of my humble hosts. First I placed some pieces of gold on the wellcleaned table of wood, and

Then I went, and on the third day I came to the great city of Salamis, that is also on the sea. Here I abode in

the fishermen's quarters till a vessel was about to sail for Alexandria, and to the captain of this vessel, a man

of Paphos, I hired myself as a sailor. We sailed with a favouring wind, and on the fifth day I came to

Here I might not abide. So again I hired myself out as a sailor, giving my labour in return for passage, and we

passed up the Nile. And I learned from the talk of men that Cleopatra had come back to Alexandria, drawing

Antony with her and that they lived together with royal state in the palace on the Lochias. Indeed, the

boatmen already had a song thereon, which they sang as they laboured at the oar. Also I heard how the galley

that was sent to search for the vessel which carried the Syrian merchant had foundered with all her crew, and

the tale that the Queen's astronomer, Harmachis, had flown to Heaven from the roof of the house at Tarsus.

And the sailors wondered because I sat and laboured and would not sing their ribald song of the loves of

Cleopatra. For they, too, began to fear me, and mutter concerning me among themselves. Then I knew that I

On the sixth day we drew nigh to Abouthis, where I left the craft, and the sailors were right glad to see me go.

And, with a breaking heart, I walked through the fertile fields, seeing faces that I knew well. But in my rough

disguise and limping gait none knew me. At length, as the sun sank, I came near to the great outer pylon of

the temple; and here I crouched down in the ruins of a house, not knowing why I had come or what I was

about to do. Like a lost ox I had strayed from far, back to the fields of my birth, and for what? If my father,

Amenemhat, still lived, surely he would turn his face from me. I dared not go into the presence of my father. I

sat hidden there among the broken rafters, and idly watched the pylon gates, to see if, perchance, a face I

knew should issue from them. But none came forth or entered in, though the great gates stood wide; and then

I saw that herbs were growing between the stones, where no herbs had grown for ages. What could this be?

Was the temple deserted? Nay; how could the worship of the eternal Gods have ceased, that for thousands of

years had, day by day, been offered in the holy place? Was, then, my father dead? It well might be. And yet,

I could bear the doubt no more, but as the sun sank red I crept like a hunted jackal through the open gates,

and on till I reached the first great Hall of Pillars. Here I paused and gazed around menot a sight, not a

sound, in the dim and holy place! I went on with a beating heart to the second great hall, the hall of

sixandthirty pillars where I had been crowned Lord of all the Lands: still not a sight or a sound! Thence,

half fearful of my own footfall, so terribly did it echo in the silence of the deserted Holies, I passed down the

passage of the names of the Pharaohs towards my father's chamber. The curtain still swung over the doorway;

but what would there be within?also emptiness? I lifted it, and noiselessly passed in, and there in his

carven chair at the table on which his long white beard flowed, sat my father, Amenemhat, clad in his priestly

robes. At first I thought that he was dead, he sat so still; but at length he turned his head, and I saw that his

eyes were white and sightless. He was blind, and his face was thin as the face of a dead man, and woeful with

I stood still and felt the blind eyes wandering over me. I could not speak to himI dared not speak to him; I

I had already turned and grasped the curtain, when my father spoke in a deep, slow voice:

"Come hither, thou who wast my son and art a traitor. Come hither, thou Harmachis, on whom Khem builded

up her hope. Not in vain, then, have I drawn thee from far away! Not in vain have I held my life in me till I

heard thy footfall creeping down these empty Holies, like the footfall of a thief!"

"How do I know thee?and askest thou that who hast learned of our lore? Enough, I know thee and I

brought thee hither. Would, Harmachis, that I knew thee not! Would that I had been blasted of the Invisible

ere I drew thee down from the womb of Nout, to be my curse and shame, and the last woe of Khem!"

"Oh, speak not thus!" I moaned; "is not my burden already more than I can bear? Am I not myself betrayed

"Be pitiful!be pitiful to thee who hast shown so great pity? It was thy pity which gave up noble Sepa to die

"Ay, traitor, that!to die in agony, with his last poor breath proclaiming thee, his murderer, honest and

innocent! Be pitiful to thee, who gavest all the flower of Khem as the price of a wanton's arms!thinkest

thou that, labouring in the darksome desert mines, those noble ones in thought are pitiful to thee, Harmachis?

Be pitiful to thee, by whom this Holy Temple of Abouthis hath been ravaged, its lands seized, its priests

scattered, and I alone, old and withered, left to count out its ruinto thee, who hast poured the treasures of

Her into thy leman's lap, who hast forsworn Thyself, thy Country, thy Birthright, and thy Gods! Yea, thus am

I pitiful: Accursed be thou, fruit of my loins!Shame be thy portion, Agony thy end, and Hell receive thee at

the last! Where art thou? Yea, I grew blind with weeping when I heard the truthsure, they strove to hide it

from me. Let me find thee that I may spit upon thee, thou Renegade! thou Apostate! thou Outcast!"and he

rose from his seat and staggered like a living Wrath toward me, smiting the air with his wand. And as he

came with outstretched arms, awful to see, suddenly his end found him, and with a cry he sank down upon

the ground, the red blood streaming from his lips. I ran to him and lifted him; and as he died, he babbled:

"He was my son, a brighteyed lovely boy, and full of promise as the Spring; and nowand nowoh,

"Harmachis, atone!atone! Vengeance can still be wreakedforgiveness may still be won. There's gold;

Thus, then, did I and my holy father, the Prince Amenemhat, meet together for the last time in the flesh, and

I crouched upon the floor gazing at the dead body of my father, who had lived to curse me, the utterly

accursed, while the darkness crept and gathered round us, till at length the dead and I were alone in the black

silence. Oh, how tell the misery of that hour! Imagination cannot dream it, nor words paint it forth. Once

more in my wretchedness I bethought me of death. A knife was at my girdle, with which I might cut the

thread of sorrow and set my spirit free. Free? ay, free to fly and face the last vengeance of the Holy Gods!

Alas! and alas! I did not dare to die. Better the earth with all its woes than the quick approach of those

I grovelled on the ground and wept tears of agony for the lost unchanging pastwept till I could weep no

more; but no answer came from the silenceno answer but the echoes of my grief. Not a ray of hope! My

soul wandered in a darkness more utter than that which was about meI was forsaken of the Gods and cast

out of men. Terror took hold upon me crouching in that lonely place hard by the majesty of the awful Dead. I

rose to fly. How could I fly in this gloom?And where should I fly who had no place of refuge? Once more

I crouched down, and the great fear grew on me till the cold sweat ran from my brow and my soul was faint

within me. Then, in my last despair, I prayed aloud to Isis, to whom I had not dared to pray for many days.

"O Isis! Holy Mother!" I cried; "put away Thy wrath, and of Thine infinite pity, O Thou allpitiful, hearken

to the voice of the anguish of him who was Thy son and servant, but who by sin hath fallen from the vision of

Thy love. O throned Glory, who, being in all things, hast of all things understanding and of all griefs

knowledge, cast the weight of Thy mercy against the scale of my evildoing, and make the balance equal.

Look down upon my woe, and measure it; count up the sum of my repentance and take Thou note of the

flood of sorrow that sweeps my soul away. O Thou Holy, whom it was given to me to look upon face to face,

by that dread hour of commune I summon Thee; I summon Thee by the mystic word. Come, then, in mercy,

And, rising from my knees, I stretched out my arms and dared to cry aloud the Word of Fear, to use which

Swiftly the answer came. For in the silence I heard the sound of the shaken sistra heralding the coming of the

Glory. Then, at the far end of the chamber, grew the semblance of the horned moon, gleaming faintly in the

darkness, and betwixt the golden horns rested a small dark cloud, in and out of which the fiery serpent

"Harmachis, who wast my servant and my son, I have heard thy prayer, and the summons that thou hast dared

to utter, which on the lips of one with whom I have communed, hath power to draw Me from the Uttermost.

No more, Harmachis, may we be one in the bond of Love Divine, for thou hast put Me away of thine own act.

Therefore, after this long silence I come, Harmachis, clothed in terrors, and, perchance, ready for vengeance,

"Smite, Goddess!" I answered. "Smite, and give me over to those who wreak Thy vengeance; for I can no

"And if thou canst not bear thy burden here, upon this upper earth," came the soft reply, "how then shalt thou

bear the greater burden that shall be laid upon thee there, coming defiled and yet unpurified into my dim

realm of Death, that is Life and Change unending? Nay, Harmachis, I smite thee not, for not all am I wroth

that thou hast dared to utter the awful Word which calls Me down to thee. Hearken, Harmachis; I praise not,

and I reproach not, for I am the Minister of Reward and Punishment and the Executrix of Decrees; and if I

give, I give in silence; and if I smite, in silence do I smite. Therefore, I will add naught to thy burden by the

weight of heavy words, though through thee it has come to pass that soon shall Isis, the Mother Mystery, be

but a memory in Egypt. Thou hast sinned, and heavy shall be thy punishment, as I did warn thee, both in the

flesh and in my kingdom of Amenti. But I told thee that there is a road of repentance, and surely thy feet are

set thereon, and therein must thou walk with a humble heart, eating of the bread of bitterness, till such time as

"That which is done, Harmachis, is done, nor can its issues be altered. Khem shall no more be free till all its

temples are as the desert dust; strange Peoples shall, from age to age, hold her hostage and in bonds; new

Religions shall arise and wither within the shadow of her pyramids, for to every World, Race, and Age the

countenances of the Gods are changed. This is the tree that shall spring from thy seed of sin, Harmachis, and

"Yea, thou art undone; and yet shall this be given to thee: thy Destroyer thou shalt destroyfor so, in the

purpose of my justice, it is ordained. When the sign comes to thee, arise, go to Cleopatra, and in such manner

as I shall put into thy heart do Heaven's vengeance upon her! And now for thyself one word, for thou hast put

Me from thee, Harmachis, and no more shall I come face to face with thee till, cycles hence, the last fruit of

thy sin hath ceased to be upon this earth! Yet, through the vastness of the unnumbered years, remember thou

this: the Love Divine is Love Eternal, which cannot be extinguished, though it be everlastingly estranged.

Repent, my son; repent and do well while there is yet time, that at the dim end of ages thou mayest once more

be gathered unto Me. Still, Harmachis, though thou seest Me not; still, when the very name by which thou

knowest Me has become a meaningless mystery to those who shall be after thee; still I, whose hours are

eternalI, who have watched Universes wither, wane, and, beneath the breath of Time, melt into

nothingness; again to gather, and, reborn, thread the maze of space still, I say, I shall companion thee.

Wherever thou goest, in whatever form of life thou livest, there I shall be! Art thou wafted to the farthest star,

art thou buried in Amenti's lowest deepin lives, in deaths, in sleeps, in wakings, in remembrances, in

oblivions, in all the fevers of the outer Life, in all the changes of the Spiritstill, if thou wilt but atone and

forget Me no more, I shall be with thee, waiting thine hour of redemption. For this is the nature of Love

Divine, wherewith it loves that which partakes of its divinity and by the holy tie hath once been bound to it.

Judge then, Harmachis: was it well to put this from thee to win the dust of earthly woman? And, now, dare

not again to utter the Word of Power till these things are done! Harmachis, for this season, fare thee well!"

As the last note of the sweet Voice died away, the fiery snake climbed into the heart of the cloud. Now the

cloud rolled from the horns of light, and was gathered into the blackness. The vision of the crescent moon

grew dim and vanished. Then, as the Goddess passed, once more came the faint and dreadful music of the

I hid my face in my robe, and even then, though my outstretched hand could touch the chill corpse of that

father who had died cursing me, I felt hope come back into my heart, knowing that I was not altogether lost

nor utterly rejected of Her whom I had forsaken, but whom I yet loved. And then weariness overpowered me,

I woke, the faint lights of dawn were creeping from the opening in the roof. Ghastly they lay upon the

shadowy sculptured walls and ghastly upon the dead face and white beard of my father, the gathered to

Osiris. I started up, remembering all things, and wondering in my heart what I should do, and as I rose I heard

"La! La! La!" mumbled a voice that I knew for the voice of the old wife, Atoua. "Why, 'tis dark as the House

of the Dead! The Holy Ones who built this Temple loved not the blessed sun, however much they worshipped

Presently it was drawn, and Atoua entered, a stick in one hand and a basket in the other. Her face was

somewhat more wrinkled, and her scanty locks were somewhat whiter than aforetime, but for the rest she was

as she had ever been. She stood and peered around with her sharp black eyes, for as yet she could see nothing

"Now where is he?" she muttered. "Osirisglory to His namesend that he has not wandered in the night,

and he blind! Alack! that I could not return before the dark. Alack! and alack! what times have we fallen on,

when the Holy High Priest and the Governor, by descent, of Abouthis, is left with one aged crone to minister

to his infirmity! O Harmachis, my poor boy, thou hast laid trouble at our doors! Why, what's this? Surely he

sleeps not, there upon the ground?'twill be his death! Prince! Holy Father! Amenemhat! awake, arise!" and

she hobbled towards the corpse. "Why, how is it! By Him who sleeps, he's dead! untended and alonedead!

"Oh, what art thou?" she cried, casting down her basket. "Wicked man, hast thou murdered this Holy One, the

only Holy One in Egypt? Surely the curse will fall on thee, for though the Gods do seem to have forsaken us

now in our hour of trial, yet is their arm long, and certainly they will be avenged on him who hath slain their

"Look! ay, I lookthou wicked wanderer who hast dared this cruel deed! Harmachis is a traitor and lost far

away, and Amenemhat his holy father is murdered, and now I'm all alone without kith or kin. I gave them for

him. I gave them for Harmachis, the traitor! Come, slay me also, thou wicked one!"

I took a step toward her, and she, thinking that I was about to smite her, cried out in fear:

"Nay, good Sir, spare me! Eighty and six, by the Holy Ones, eighty and six, come next flood of Nile, and yet

I would not die, though Osiris is merciful to the old who served him! Come no nearerhelp! help!"

"Know thee? Can I know every wandering boatman to whom Sebek grants to earn a livelihood till Typhon

claims his own? And yetwhy, 'tis strangethat changed countenance!that scar!that stumbling gait! It

is thou, Harmachis!'tis thou, O my boy! Art come back to glad mine old eyes? I hoped thee dead! Let me

kiss thee?nay, I forget. Harmachis is a traitor, ay, and a murderer! Here lies the holy Amenemhat,

murdered by the traitor, Harmachis! Get thee gone! I'll have none of traitors and of parricides! Get thee to thy

"Peace! woman; peace! I slew not my fatherhe died, alas!he died even in my arms."

"Ay, surely, and cursing thee, Harmachis! Thou hast given death to him who gave thee life! La! la! I am old,

and I've seen many a trouble; but this is the heaviest of them all! I never liked the looks of mummies; but I

"Ah! yes, yes!I did forget! Well; and what is thy sin? A woman was thy bane, as women have been to

those before thee, and shall be to those after thee. And what a woman! La! la! I saw her, a beauty such as

never wasan arrow pointed by the evil Gods for destruction! And thou, a young man bred as a priestan

ill traininga very ill training! 'Twas no fair match. Who can wonder that she mastered thee? Come,

Harmachis; let me kiss thee! It is not for a woman to be hard on a man because he loved our sex too much.

Why, that is but nature; and Nature knows her business, else she had made us otherwise. But here is an evil

case. Knowest thou that this Macedonian Queen of thine hath seized the temple lands and revenues, and

driven away the priests all, save the holy Amenemhat, who lies here, and whom she left, I know not why;

ay, and caused the worship of the Gods to cease within these walls. Well, he's gone!he's gone! and indeed

he is better with Osiris, for his life was a sore burden to him. And hark thou, Harmachis: he hath not left thee

emptyhanded; for, so soon as the plot failed, he gathered all his wealth, and it is large, and hid it where, I

"Talk not to me of wealth, Atoua. Where shall I go and how shall I hide my shame?"

"Ah! true, true; here mayst thou not abide, for if they found thee, surely they would put thee to the dreadful

deathay, to the death by the waxen cloth. Nay, I will hide thee, and, when the funeral rites of the holy

Amenemhat have been performed, we will fly hence, and cover us from the eyes of men till these sorrows are

forgotten. La! la! it is a sad world, and full of trouble as the Nile mud is full of beetles. Come, Harmachis,

These things then came to pass. For eighty days I was hidden of the old wife, Atoua, while the body of the

Prince, my father, was made ready for burial by those skilled in the arts of embalming. And when at last all

things were done in order, I crept from my hidingplace and made offerings to the spirit of my father, and

placing lotus flowers on his breast went thence sorrowing. And on the following day, from where I lay hid, I

saw the Priests of the Temple of Osiris and of the holy shrine of Isis come forth, and in slow procession bear

his painted coffin to the sacred lake and lay it beneath the funeral tent in the consecrated boat. I saw them

celebrate the symbol of the trial of the dead, and name him above all men just, and then bear him thence to

lay him by his wife, my mother, in the deep tomb that he had hewn in the rock near to the restingplace of

the Holy Osiris, where, notwithstanding my sins, I, too, hope to sleep ere long. And when all these things

were done and the deep tomb sealed, the wealth of my father having been removed from the hidden treasury

and placed in safety, I fled, disguised, with the old wife, Atoua, up the Nile till we came to T�p�,[*] and here

in this great city I lay a while, till a place could be found where I should hide myself.

And such a place I found. For to the north of the great city are brown and rugged hills, and desert valley

blasted of the sun, and in this place of desolation the Divine Pharaohs, my forefathers, hollowed out their

tombs in the solid rock, the most part of which are lost to this day, so cunningly have they been hidden. But

some are open, for the accursed Persians and other thieves broke into them in search of treasure. And one

nightfor by night only did I leave my hidingplace just as the dawn was breaking on the mountain tops,

I wandered alone in this sad valley of death, like to which there is no other, and presently came to the mouth

of a tomb hidden amid great rocks, which afterwards I knew for the place of the burying of the Divine

Rameses, the third of that name, now long gathered to Osiris. And by the faint light of the dawn creeping

On the following night, therefore, I returned, bearing lights, with Atoua, my nurse, who ever ministered

faithfully to me as when I was little and without discretion. And we searched the mighty tomb and came to

the great Hall of the Sarcophagus of granite, in which the Divine Rameses sleeps, and saw the mystic

paintings on the walls: the symbol of the Snake unending, the symbol of Ra resting upon the Scarab�us, the

symbol of Ra resting upon Nout, the symbol of the Headless men, and many others, whereof, being initiated,

well I read the mysteries. And opening from the long descending passage I found chambers in which were

paintings beautiful to behold, and of all manner of things. For beneath each chamber is entombed the master

of the craft of which the paintings tell, he who was the chief of the servants of that craft in the house of this

Divine Rameses. And on the walls of the last chamberon the lefthand side, looking toward the Hall of the

Sarcophagusare paintings exceedingly beautiful, and two blind harpers playing upon their bent harps

before the God Mou; and beneath the flooring these harpers, who harp no more, are soft at sleep. Here, then,

in this gloomy place, even in the tomb of the Harpers and the company of the dead, I took up my abode; and

here for eight long years I worked out my penance and made atonement for my sin. But Atoua, because she

loved to be near the light, abode in the chamber of the Boatsthat is, the first chamber on the righthand

And this was the manner of my life. On every second day the old wife, Atoua, went forth and brought water

from the city and such food as is necessary to keep the life from failing, and also tapers made from fat. And

one hour at the time of sunrise and one hour at the time of sunset I did go forth also to wander in the valley

for my health's sake and to save my sight from failing in the great darkness of the tomb. But the other hours

of the day and night, except when I climbed the mountain to watch the course of the stars, I spent in prayer

and meditation and sleep, till the cloud of sin lifted from my heart and once more I drew near to the Gods,

though with Isis, my heavenly Mother, I might speak no more. And I grew exceedingly wise also, pondering

on all those mysteries to which I held the key. For abstinence and prayer and sorrowful solitude wore away

the grossness of my flesh, and with the eyes of the Spirit I learned to look deep into the heart of things till the

Soon the rumour was wafted about the city that a certain holy man named Olympus abode in solitude in the

tombs of the awful Valley of the Dead; and hither came people bearing sick that I might cure them. And I

gave my mind to the study of simples, in which Atoua instructed me; and by lore and the weight of my

thought I gained great skill in medicine, and healed many sick. And thus ever, as time went on, my fame was

noised abroad; for it was said that I was also a magician and that in the tombs I had commune with the Spirits

of the Dead. And this, indeed, I didthough it is not lawful for me to speak of these matters. Thus, then, it

came to pass that no more need Atoua go forth to seek food and water, for the people brought itmore than

was needful, for I would receive no fee. Now at first, fearing lest some in the hermit Olympus might know

the lost Harmachis, I would only meet those who came in the darkness of the tomb. But afterwards, when I

learned how it was held through all the land that Harmachis was certainly no more, I came forth and sat in the

mouth of the tomb, and ministered to the sick, and at times calculated nativities for the great. And thus my

fame grew continually, till at length folk journeyed even from Memphis and Alexandria to visit me; and from

them I learned how Antony had left Cleopatra for a while, and, Fulvia being dead, had married Octavia, the

And in the second year I did this: I despatched the old wife, Atoua, disguised as a seller of simples, to

Alexandria, bidding her seek out Charmion, and, if yet she found her faithful, reveal to her the secret of my

way of life. So she went, and in the fifth month from her sailing returned, bearing Charmion's greetings and a

token. And she told me that she had found means to see Charmion, and, in talk, had let fall the name of

Harmachis, speaking of me as one dead; at which Charmion, unable to control her grief, wept aloud. Then,

reading her heartfor the old wife was very clever, and held the key of knowledge she told her that

Harmachis yet lived, and sent her greetings. Thereon Charmion wept yet more with joy, and kissed the old

wife, and made her gifts, bidding her tell me that she had kept her vow, and waited for my coming and the

hour of vengeance. So, having learned many secrets, Atoua returned again to T�p�.

And in the following year messengers came to me from Cleopatra, bearing a sealed roll and great gifts. I

"Cleopatra to Olympus, the learned Egyptian who dwells in the Valley of Death by T�p�

"The fame of thy renown, O learned Olympus, hath reached our ears. Tell thou, then, this to us, and if thou

tellest aright greater honour and wealth shalt thou have than any in Egypt: How shall we win back the love of

Now, in this I saw the hand of Charmion, who had made my renown known to Cleopatra.

All that night I took counsel with my wisdom, and on the morrow wrote my answer as it was put into my

"Go forth into Syria with one who shall be sent to lead thee; thus shalt thou win Antony to thy arms again,

And with this letter I dismissed the messengers, bidding them share the presents sent by Cleopatra among

But Cleopatra, seizing on the advice to which her passion prompted her, departed straightway with Fonteius

Capito into Syria, and there the thing came about as I had foretold, for Antony was subdued of her and gave

her the greater part of Cilicia, the ocean shore of Arabia Nabath�a, the balmbearing provinces of Jud�a, the

province of Ph�nicia, the province of C�leSyria, the rich isle of Cyprus, and all the library of Pergamus.

And to the twin children that, with the son Ptolemy, Cleopatra had borne to Antony, he impiously gave the

names of "Kings, the Children of Kings"of Alexander Helios, as the Greeks name the sun, and of

Now on her return to Alexandria Cleopatra sent me great gifts, of which I would have none, and prayed me,

the learned Olympus, to come to her at Alexandria; but it was not yet time, and I would not. But thereafter

she and Antony sent many times to me for counsel, and I ever counselled them to their ruin, nor did my

Thus the long years rolled away, and I, the hermit Olympus, the dweller in a tomb, the eater of bread and the

drinker of water, by strength of the wisdom that was given me of the avenging Power, became once more

great in Khem. For I grew ever wiser as I trampled the desires of the flesh beneath my feet and turned my

At length eight full years were accomplished. The war with the Parthians had come and gone, and

Artavasdes, King of Armenia, had been led in triumph through the streets of Alexandria. Cleopatra had

visited Samos and Athens; and, by her counselling, the noble Octavia had been driven, like some discarded

concubine, from the house of Antony at Rome. And now, at the last, the measure of the folly of Antony was

full even to the brim. For this Master of the World had no longer the good gift of reason; he was lost in

Cleopatra as I had been lost. Therefore, in the event, Octavianus declared war against him.

And as I slept upon a certain day in the chamber of the Harpers, in the tomb of Pharaoh that is by T�p�, there

came to me a vision of my father, the aged Amenemhat, and he stood over me, leaning on his staff, and

Then I looked forth, and with the eyes of my spirit saw the sea, and two great fleets grappling in war hard by

a rocky coast. And the emblems were those of Octavian, and of the other those of Cleopatra and Antony. The

ships of Antony and Cleopatra bore down upon the ships of C�sar, and drove them on, for victory inclined to

I looked again. There sat Cleopatra in a golddecked galley watching the fight with eager eyes. Then I cast

my Spirit on her so that she seemed to hear the voice of dead Harmachis crying in her ear.

She looked up wildly, and again she heard my Spirit's cry. Now a mighty fear took hold of her. She called

aloud to the sailors to hoist the sails and make signal to her fleet to put about. This they did wondering but

"Cleopatra is fled! Cleopatra is fled!" And I saw wreck and red ruin fall upon the fleet of Antony and awoke

"Arise, my son!the hour of vengeance is at hand! Thy plots have not failed; thy prayers have been heard.

By the bidding of the Gods, as she sat in her galley at the fight of Actium, the heart of Cleopatra was filled

with fears, so that, deeming she heard thy voice bidding her fly or perish, she fled with all her fleet. Now the

strength of Actium is broken on the sea. Go forth, and as it shall be put into thy mind, so do thou."

In the morning I awoke, wondering, and went to the mouth of the tomb, and there, coming up the valley, I

"This is the message of the Queen and of great Antony," answered the Captain, bowing low before me, for I

was much feared by all men. "The Queen commands thy presence at Alexandria. Many times has she sent,

and thou wouldst not come; now she bids thee to come, and that swiftly, for she has need of thy counsel."

I laughed aloud. "By force, thou fool! Use not such talk to me, lest I smite thee where thou art. Know, then,

"Pardon, I beseech thee!" he answered, shrinking. "I say but those things that I am bid."

So on that very day I departed, together with the aged Atoua. Ay, I went as secretly as I had come; and the

tomb of the Divine Rameses knew me no more. And with me I took all the treasures of my father,

Amenemhat, for I was not minded to go to Alexandria emptyhanded and as a suppliant, but rather as a man

of much wealth and condition. Now, as I went, I learned that Antony, following Cleopatra, had, indeed, fled

from Actium, and knew that the end drew nigh. For this and many other things had I foreseen in the darkness

Thus, then, I came to Alexandria, and entered into a house which had been made ready for me at the palace

And that very night Charmion came to meCharmion whom I had not seen for nine long years.

Clad in my plain black robe, I sat in the guestchamber of the house that had been made ready for me. I sat in

a carven lionfooted chair, and looked upon the swinging lamps of scented oil, the pictured tapestries, the

rich Syrian rugsand, amidst all this luxury, bethought me of that tomb of the Harpers which is at T�p�, and

of the nine long years of dark loneliness and preparation. I sat; and crouched upon a rug near to the door, lay

the aged Atoua. Her hair was white as snow, and shrivelled with age was the wrinkled countenance of the

woman who, when all deserted me, had yet clung to me, in her great love forgetting my great sins. Nine

years! nine long years! and now, once again, I set my foot in Alexandria! Once again in the appointed circle

of things I came forth from the solitude of preparation to be a fate to Cleopatra; and this second time I came

And yet how changed the circumstance! I was out of the story: my part now was but the part of the sword in

the hands of Justice; I might no more hope to make Egypt free and great and sit upon my lawful throne.

Khem was lost, and lost was I, Harmachis. In the rush and turmoil of events, the great plot of which I had

been the pivot was covered up and forgotten; scarce a memory of it remained. The curtain of dark night was

closing in upon the history of my ancient Race; its very Gods were tottering to their fall; I could already, in

the spirit, hear the shriek of the Roman eagles as they flapped their wings above the furthest banks of Sihor.

Presently I roused myself and bade Atoua go seek a mirror and bring it to me, that I might look therein.

And I saw this: a face shrunken and pallid, on which no smile came; great eyes grown wan with gazing into

darkness looking out beneath the shaven head, emptily, as the hollow eyepits of a skull; a wizened halting

form wasted by abstinence, sorrow, and prayer; a long wild beard of iron grey; thin blueveined hands that

ever trembled like a leaf; bowed shoulders and lessened limbs. Time and grief had done their work indeed;

scarce could I think myself the same as when, the royal Harmachisin all the splendour of my strength and

youthful beautyI first had looked upon the woman's loveliness that did destroy me. And yet within me

burned the same fire as of yore; yet I was not changed, for time and grief have no power to alter the immortal

spirit of man. Seasons may come and go; Hope, like a bird, may fly away; Passion may break its wings

against the iron bars of Fate; Illusions may crumble as the cloudy towers of sunset flame; Faith, as running

water, may slip from beneath our feet; Solitude may stretch itself around us like the measureless desert sand;

Old Age may creep as the gathering night over our bowed heads grown hoary in their shameyea, bound to

Fortune's wheel, we may taste of every turn of chancenow rule as Kings, now serve as Slaves; now love,

now hate; now prosper, and now perish. But still, through all, we are the same; for this is the marvel of

And as I sat and thought these things in bitterness of heart, there came a knocking at the door.

She rose and did my bidding; and a woman entered, clad in Grecian robes. It was Charmion, still beautiful as

of old, but sad faced now and very sweet to see, with a patient fire slumbering in her downcast eyes.

She entered unattended; and, speaking no word, the old wife pointed to where I sat, and went.

"Old man," she said, addressing me, "lead me to the learned Olympus. I come upon the Queen's business."

"Surely," she whispered, glancing round, "surely thou art not that" And she paused.

"That Harmachis whom once thy foolish heart did love, O Charmion? Yes, I am he and what thou seest, most

fair lady. Yet is Harmachis dead whom thou didst love; but Olympus, the skilled Egyptian, waits upon thy

"Cease!" she said, "and of the past but one word, and thenwhy, let it lie. Not well, with all thy wisdom,

canst thou know a true woman's heart, if thou dost believe, Harmachis, that it can change with the changes of

the outer form, for then assuredly could no love follow its beloved to that last place of changethe Grave.

Know thou, learned Physician, I am of that sort who, loving once, love always, and being not beloved again,

She ceased, and having naught to say, I bowed my head in answer. Yet though I said nothing and though this

woman's passionate folly had been the cause of all our ruin, to speak truth, in secret I was thankful to her

who, wooed of all and living in this shameless Court, had still through the long years poured out her

unreturned love upon an outcast, and who, when that poor broken slave of Fortune came back in such

unlovely guise, held him yet dear at heart. For what man is there who does not prize that gift most rare and

beautiful, that one perfect thing which no gold can buya woman's unfeigned love?

"I thank thee that thou dost not answer," she said; "for the bitter words which thou didst pour upon me in

those days that long are dead, and far away in Tarsus, have not lost their poisonous sting, and in my heart is

no more place for the arrows of thy scorn, new venomed through thy solitary years. So let it be. Behold! I put

it from me, that wild passion of my soul," and she looked up and stretched out her hands as though to press

some unseen presence back, "I put it from me though forget it I may not! There, 'tis done, Harmachis; no

more shall my love trouble thee. Enough for me that once more my eyes behold thee, before sleep seals thee

from their sight. Dost remember how, when I would have died by thy dear hand, thou wouldst not slay, but

didst bid me live to pluck the bitter fruit of crime, and be accursed by visions of the evil I had wrought and

"Surely the cup of punishment has been filled. Oh! couldst thou see into the record of my heart, and read in it

the suffering that I have borneborne with a smiling facethy justice would be satisfied indeed!"

"And yet, if report be true, Charmion, thou art the first of all the Court, and therein the most powerful and

beloved. Does not Octavianus give it out that he makes war, not on Antony, nor even on his mistress,

"Yes, Harmachis, and think that it has been to me thus, because of my oath to thee, to be forced to eat the

bread and do the tasks of one whom so bitterly I hate!one who robbed me of thee, and who, through the

workings of my jealousy, brought me to be that which I am, brought thee to shame, and all Egypt to its ruin!

Can jewels and riches and the flattery of princes and nobles bring happiness to such a one as I, who am more

wretched than the meanest scullion wench? Oh, I have often wept till I was blind; and then, when the hour

came, I must arise and tire me, and, with a smile, go do the bidding of the Queen and that heavy Antony. May

the Gods grant me to see them deaday, the twain of them!then myself I shall be content to die! Thy lot

has been hard, Harmachis; but at least thou have been free, and many is the time that I have envied thee the

"I do perceive, O Charmion, that thou art mindful of thy oaths; and it is well, for the hour of vengeance is at

"I am mindful, and in all things I have worked for thee in secretfor thee, and for the utter ruin of Cleopatra

and the Roman. I have fanned his passion and her jealousy, I have egged her on to wickedness and him to

folly, and of all have I caused report to be brought to C�sar. Listen! thus stands the matter. Thou knowest

how went the fight at Actium. Thither went Cleopatra with her fleet, sorely against the will of Antony. But,

as thou sentest me word, I entreated him for the Queen, vowing to him, with tears, that, did he leave her, she

would die of grief; and he, poor slave, believed me. And so she went, and in the thick of the fight, for what

cause I know not, though perchance thou knowest, Harmachis, she made signal to her squadron, and, putting

about fled from the battle, sailing for Peloponnesus. And now, mark the end! When Antony saw that she was

gone, he, in his madness, took a galley, and deserting all, followed hard after her, leaving his fleet to be

shattered and sunk, and his great army in Greece, of twenty legions and twelve thousand horse, without a

leader. And all this no man would believe, that Antony, the smitten of the Gods, had fallen so deep in shame.

Therefore for a while the army tarried, and but now tonight comes news brought by Canidius, the General,

that, worn with doubt and being at length sure that Antony had deserted them, the whole of his great force has

"He has built him a habitation on a little isle in the Great Harbour and named it Timonium; because, forsooth,

like Timon, he cries out at the ingratitude of mankind that has forsaken him. And there he lies smitten by a

fever of the mind, and thither thou must go at dawn, so wills the Queen, to cure him of his ills and draw him

to her arms; for he will not see her, nor knows he yet the full measure of his woe. But first my bidding is to

And so we passed the palace gates and along the Alabaster Hall, and presently once again I stood before the

door of Cleopatra's chamber, and once again Charmion left me to warn her of my coming.

Presently she came back and beckoned to me. "Make strong thy heart," she whispered, "and see that thou dost

"Keen, indeed, must they be to find Harmachis in the learned Olympus! Had I not willed it, thyself thou hadst

Then I entered that remembered place and listened once more to the plash of the fountain, the song of the

nightingale, and the murmur of the summer sea. With bowed head and halting gait I came, till at length I

stood before the couch of Cleopatrathat same golden couch on which she had sat the night she overcame

me. Then I gathered my strength, and looked up. There before me was Cleopatra, glorious as of old, but, oh!

how changed since that night when I saw Antony clasp her in his arms at Tarsus! Her beauty still clothed her

like a garment; the eyes were yet deep and unfathomable as the blue sea, the face still splendid in its great

loveliness. And yet all was changed. Time, that could not touch her charms, had stamped upon her presence

such a look of weary grief as may not be written. Passion, beating ever in that fierce heart of hers, had written

I bowed low before this most royal woman, who once had been my love and destruction, and yet knew me

"So thou art come at length, Physician. How callest thou thyself? Olympus? 'Tis a name of promise, for

surely now that the Gods of Egypt have deserted us, we do need aid from Olympus. Well, thou hast a learned

air, for learning does not with beauty. Strange, too, there is that about thee which recalls what I know not.

"Never, O Queen, have my eyes fallen on thee in the body," I answered in a feigned voice. "Never till this

hour, when I come forth from my solitude to do thy bidding and cure thee of thy ills!"

"Strange! and even in the voicePshaw! 'tis some memory that I cannot catch. In the body, thou sayest?

"Thou art a strange man, who talkest thus, but, if what I hear be true, one well learned; and, indeed, I mind

me of thy counsel when thou didst bid me join my Lord Antony in Syria, and how things befell according to

thy word. Skilled must thou be in the casting of nativities and in the law of auguries, of which these

Alexandrian fools have little knowledge. Once I knew such another man, one Harmachis," and she sighed:

"Interpret me this, Olympus. In the battle at that accursed Actium, just as the fight raged thickest and Victory

began to smile upon us, a great terror seized my heart, and thick darkness seemed to fall before my eyes,

while in my ears a voice, ay, the voice of that long dead Harmachis, cried 'Fly! fly, or perish!' and I fled. But

from my heart the terror leapt to the heart of Antony, and he followed after me, and thus was the battle lost.

"Nay, O Queen," I answered, "it was no Godfor wherein hast thou angered the Gods of Egypt? Hast thou

robbed the temples of their Faith? Hast thou betrayed the trust of Egypt? Having done none of these things,

how, then, can the Gods of Egypt be wroth with thee? Fear not, it was nothing but some natural vapour of the

mind that overcame thy gentle soul, made sick with the sight and sound of slaughter; and as for the noble

And as I spoke, Cleopatra turned white and trembled, glancing at me the while to find my meaning. But I

well knew that the thing was of the avenging Gods, working through me, their instrument.

"Learned Olympus," she said, not answering my words; "my Lord Antony is sick and crazed with grief. Like

some poor hunted slave he hides himself in yonder seagirt Tower and shuns mankindyes, he shuns even

me, who, for his sake, endure so many woes. Now, this is my bidding to thee. Tomorrow, at the coming of

the light, do thou, led by Charmion, my waitinglady, take boat and row thee to the Tower and there crave

entry, saying that ye bring tidings from the army. Then he will cause you to be let in, and thou, Charmion,

must break this heavy news that Canidius bears; for Canidius himself I dare not send. And when his grief is

past, do thou, Olympus, soothe his fevered frame with thy draughts of value, and his soul with honeyed

words, and draw him back to me, and all will yet be well. Do thou this, and thou shalt have gifts more than

thou canst count, for I am yet a Queen and yet can pay back those who serve my will."

"Fear not, O Queen," I answered, "this thing shall be done, and I ask no reward, who have come hither to do

Ere it was yet dawn Charmion came again, and we walked to the private harbour of the palace. There, taking

boat, we rowed to the island mount on which stands the Timonium, a vaulted tower, strong, small, and round.

And, having landed, we twain came to the door and knocked, till at length a grating was thrown open in the

"Yet will he see us, for we bring tidings. Go tell him that the Lady Charmion brings tidings from the army."

"The Lord Antony would know if the tidings be good or ill, for, if ill, then will he none of it, for with evil

"Whywhy, it is both good and ill. Open, slave, I will make answer to thy master!" and she slipped a purse

"Well, well," he grumbled, as he took the purse, "the times are hard, and likely to be harder; for when the

lion's down who will feed the jackal? Give thy news thyself, and if it do but draw the noble Antony out of

this hall of Groans, I care not what it be. Now the palace door is open, and there's the road to the

We passed on, to find ourselves in a narrow passage, and, leaving the eunuch to bar the door, advanced till

we came to a curtain. Through this entrance we went, and found ourselves in a vaulted chamber, ill lighted

from the roof. On the further side of this rude chamber was a bed of rugs, and on them crouched the figure of

"Most noble Antony," said Charmion drawing near, "unwrap thy face and hearken to me, for I bring thee

Then he lifted up his head. His face was marred by sorrow; his tangled hair, grizzled with years, hung about

his hollow eyes, and white on his chin was the stubble of an unshaven beard. His robe was squalid, and his

aspect more wretched than that of the poorest beggar at the temple gates. To this, then, had the love of

Cleopatra brought the glorious and renowned Antony, aforetime Master of half the World!

"What will ye with me, Lady," he asked, "who would perish here alone? And who is this man who comes to

"This is Olympus, noble Antony, that wise physician, the skilled in auguries, of whom thou hast heard much,

and whom Cleopatra, ever mindful of thy welfare, though but little thou dost think of hers, has sent to

"And, can thy physician minister to a grief such as my grief? Can his drugs give me back my galleys, my

honour, and my peace? Nay! Away with thy physician! What are thy tidings?quick!out with it! Hath

Canidius, perchance, conquered C�sar? Tell me but that, and thou shalt have a province for thy

guerdonay! and if Octavianus be dead, twenty thousand sestertia to fill its treasury. Speaknayspeak

not! I fear the opening of thy lips as never I feared an earthly thing. Surely the wheel of fortune has gone

"O noble Antony," she said, "steel thy heart to hear that which I needs must tell thee! Canidius is in

Alexandria. He has fled far and fast, and this is his report. For seven whole days did the legions wait the

coming of Antony, to lead them to victory, as aforetime, putting aside the offers of the envoys of C�sar. But

Antony came not. And then it was rumoured that Antony had fled to T�narus, drawn thither by Cleopatra.

The man who first brought that tale to the camp the legionaries cried shame onay, and beat him to the

death! But ever it grew, until at length there was no more room to doubt; and then, O Antony, thy officers

slipped one by one away to C�sar, and where the officers go there the men follow. Nor is this all the story;

for thy alliesBocchus of Africa, Tarcondimotus of Cilicia, Mithridates of Commagene, Adallas of Thrace,

Philadelphus of Paphlagonia, Archelaus of Cappadocia, Herod of Jud�a, Amyntas of Galatia, Polemon of

Pontus, and Malchus of Arabiaall, all have fled or bid their generals fly back to whence they came; and

"Hast done thy croakings, thou raven in a peacock's dress, or is there more to come?" asked the smitten man,

lifting his white and trembling face from the shelter of his hands. "Tell me more; say that Egypt's dead in all

her beauty; say that Octavianus lowers at the Canopic gate; and that, headed by dead Cicero, all the ghosts of

Hell do audibly shriek out the fall of Antony! Yea, gather up every woe that can o'erwhelm those who once

were great, and loose them on the hoary head of him whomin thy gentlenessthou art still pleased to

"Ay, and so have I donedone, quite done! It is altogether finished, and thus I seal the end," and snatching a

sword from the couch, he would, indeed, have slain himself had I not sprung forward and grasped his hand.

For it was not my purpose that he should die as yet; since had he died at that hour Cleopatra had made her

peace with C�sar, who rather wished the death of Antony than the ruin of Egypt.

"Art mad, Antony? Art, indeed, a coward?" cried Charmion, "that thou wouldst thus escape thy woes, and

"Why not, woman? Why not? She would not be long alone. There's C�sar to keep her company. Octavianus

loves a fair woman in his cold way, and still is Cleopatra fair. Come now, thou Olympus! thou hast held my

hand from dealing death upon myself, advise me of thy wisdom. Shall I, then, submit myself to C�sar, and I,

Triumvir, twice Consul, and aforetime absolute Monarch of all the East, endure to follow in his triumph

"Nay, Sire," I answered. "If thou dost yield, then art thou doomed. All last night I questioned of the Fates

concerning thee, and I saw this: when thy star draws near to C�sar's it pales and is swallowed up; but when it

passes from his radiance, then bright and big it shines, equal in glory to his own. All is not lost, and while

some part remains, everything may be regained. Egypt can yet be held, armies can still be raised. C�sar has

withdrawn himself; he is not yet at the gates of Alexandria, and perchance may be appeased. Thy mind in its

fever has fired thy body; thou art sick and canst not judge aright. See, here, I have a potion that shall make

thee whole, for I am well skilled in the art of medicine," and I held out the phial.

"A potion, thou sayest man!" he cried. "More like it is a poison, and thou a murderer, sent by false Egypt,

who would fain be rid of me now that I may no more be of service to her. The head of Antony is the peace

offering she would send to C�sarshe for whom I have lost all! Give me thy draught. By Bacchus! I will

"Nay, noble Antony; it is no poison, and I am no murderer. See, I will taste it, if thou wilt," and I held forth

"Give it me, Physician. Desperate men are brave men. There! Why, what is this? Yours is a magic

draught! My sorrows seem to roll away like thunderclouds before the southern gale, and the spring of Hope

blooms fresh upon the desert of my heart. Once more I am Antony, and once again I see my legions' spears

asparkle in the sun, and hear the thunderous shout of welcome as Antonybeloved Antonyrides in pomp

of war along his deepformed lines! There's hope! there's hope! I may yet see the cold brows of C�sarthat

C�sar who never errs except from policyrobbed of their victor bays and crowned with shameful dust!"

"Ay," cried Charmion, "there still is hope, if thou wilt but play the man! O my Lord! come back with us;

come back to the loving arms of Cleopatra! All night she lies upon her golden bed, and fills the hollow

darkness with her groans for 'Antony!' who, enamoured now of Grief, forgets his duty and his love!"

"I come! I come! Shame upon me, that I dared to doubt her! Slave, bring water, and a purple robe: not thus

In this fashion, then, did we draw Antony back to Cleopatra, that the ruin of the twain might be made sure.

We led him up the Alabaster Hall and into Cleopatra's chamber, where she lay, her cloudy hair about her face

She sprang from the couch. "And art thou here, my love?" she murmured; "then once again are all things

well. Come near, and in these arms forget thy sorrows and turn my grief to joy. Oh, Antony, while love is left

That same day, Charmion came to me and bade me prepare a poison of the most deadly power. And this at

first I would not do, fearing that Cleopatra would therewith make an end of Antony before his time. But

Charmion showed me that this was not so, and told me also for what purpose was the poison. Therefore I

summoned Atoua, the skilled in simples, and all that afternoon we laboured at the deadly work. And when it

was done, Charmion came once more, bearing with her a chaplet of fresh roses, that she bade me steep in the

That night at the great feast of Cleopatra, I sat near Antony, who was at her side, and wore the poisoned

wreath. Now as the feast went on, the wine flowed fast, till Antony and the Queen grew merry. And she told

him of her plans, and of how even now her galleys were being drawn by the canal that leads from Bubastis on

the Pelusiac branch of the Nile, to Clysma at the head of the Bay of Heroopolis. For it was her design, should

C�sar prove stubborn, to fly with Antony and her treasure down the Arabian Gulf, where C�sar had no fleet,

and seek some new home in India, whither her foes might not follow. But, indeed, this plan came to nothing,

for the Arabs of Petra burnt the galleys, incited thereto by a message sent by the Jews of Alexandria, who

hated Cleopatra and were hated of her. For I caused the Jews to be warned of what was being done.

Now, when she had made an end of telling him, the Queen called on him to drink a cup with her, to the

success of this new scheme, bidding him, as she did so, steep his wreath of roses in the wine, and make the

draught more sweet. This, then, he did, and it being done, she pledged him. But when he was about to pledge

Now, among the servants of Cleopatra was one Eudosius, a steward; and this Eudosius, seeing that the

fortunes of Cleopatra were at an end, had laid a plan to fly that very night to C�sar, as many of his betters

had done, taking with him all the treasure in the palace that he could steal. But this design being discovered to

"Eudosius," she cried, for the man stood near; "come hither, thou faithful servant! Seest thou this man, most

noble Antony; through all our troubles he has clung to us and been of comfort to us. Now, therefore, he shall

be rewarded according to his deserts and the measure of his faithfulness, and that from thine own hand. Give

him thy golden cup of wine, and let him drink a pledge to our success; the cup shall be his guerdon."

And still wondering, Antony gave it to the man, who, stricken in his guilty mind, took it, and stood trembling.

"Drink! thou slave; drink!" cried Cleopatra, half rising from her seat and flashing a fierce look on his white

face. "By Serapis! so surely as I yet shall sit in the Capitol at Rome, if thou dost thus flout the Lord Antony,

I'll have thee scourged to the bones, and the red wine poured upon thy open wounds to heal them! Ah! at

length thou drinkest! Why, what is it, good Eudosius? art sick? Surely, then, this wine must be as the water of

jealousy of those Jews, that has power to slay the false and strengthen the honest only. Go, some of you,

Meanwhile the man stood, his hands to his head. Presently he began to tremble, and then fell, clutching at his

bosom, as though to tear out the fire in his heart. He staggered, with livid, twisted face and foaming lips, to

"Thou wanton!" yelled the dying man, "thou hast poisoned me! Thus mayst thou also perish!" and with one

shriek he flung himself upon her. She saw his purpose, and swift and supple as a tiger sprang to one side, so

that he did but grasp her royal cloak, tearing it from its emerald clasp. Down he fell upon the ground, rolling

over and over in the purple chiton, till presently he lay still and dead, his tormented face and frozen eyes

"Ah!" said the Queen, with a hard laugh, "the slave died wondrous hard, and fain would have drawn me with

him. See, he has borrowed my garment for a pall! Take him away and bury him in his livery."

"What means Cleopatra?" said Antony, as the guards dragged the corpse away; "the man drank of my cup.

"It serves a double end, noble Antony! This very night that man would have fled to Octavianus, bearing of

our treasure with him. Well, I have lent him wings, for the dead fly fast! Also this: thou didst fear that I

should poison thee, my Lord; nay, I know it. See now, Antony, how easy it were that I should slay thee if I

had the will. That wreath of roses which thou didst steep within the cup is dewed with deadly bane. Had I,

then, a mind to make an end of thee, I had not stayed thy hand. O Antony, henceforth trust me! Sooner would

I slay myself than harm one hair of thy beloved head! See, here come my messengers! Speak, what did ye

"Royal Egypt, we found this. All things in the chamber of Eudosius are made ready for flight, and in his

"Thou hearest?" she said, smiling darkly. "Think ye, my loyal servants all, that Cleopatra is one with whom it

Now I, Harmachis, must make speed with my task, setting down that which is permitted as shortly as may be,

and leaving much untold. For of this I am warned, that Doom draws on and my days are wellnigh sped. After

the drawing forth of Antony from the Timonium came that time of heavy quiet which heralds the rising of the

desert wind. Antony and Cleopatra once again gave themselves up to luxury, and night by night feasted in

splendour at the palace. They sent ambassadors to C�sar; but C�sar would have none of them; and, this hope

being gone, they turned their minds to the defence of Alexandria. Men were gathered, ships were built, and a

And now, aided by Charmion, I began my last work of hate and vengeance. I wormed myself deep into the

secrets of the palace, counselling all things for evil. I bade Cleopatra keep Antony gay, lest he should brood

upon his sorrows: and thus she sapped his strength and energy with luxury and wine. I gave him of my

draughts draughts that sank his soul in dreams of happiness and power, leaving him to wake to a heavier

misery. Soon, without my healing medicine he could not sleep, and thus, being ever at his side, I bound his

weakened will to mine, till at last he would do little if I said not "It is well." Cleopatra, also grown very

Moreover, I wove other webs. My fame was great throughout Egypt, for during the long years that I had

dwelt in T�p� it had spread through all the land. Therefore many men of note came to me, both for their

health's sake and because it was known that I had the ear of Antony and the Queen; and, in these days of

doubt and trouble, they were fain to learn the truth. All these men I worked upon with doubtful words,

sapping their loyalty; and I caused many to fall away, and yet none could bear an evil report of what I had

said. Also, Cleopatra sent me to Memphis, there to move the Priests and Governors that they should gather

men in Upper Egypt for the defence of Alexandria. And I went and spoke to the priests with such a double

meaning and with so much wisdom that they knew me to be one of the initiated in the deeper mysteries. But

how I, Olympus the physician, came thus to be initiated none might say. And afterwards they sought me

secretly, and I gave them the holy sign of brotherhood; and thereunder bade them not to ask who I might be,

but send no aid to Cleopatra. Rather, I said, must they make peace with C�sar, for by C�sar's grace only

could the worship of the Gods endure in Khem. So, having taken counsel of the Holy Apis, they promised in

Thus, then, it came to pass that Egypt gave but little aid to its hated Macedonian Queen. Thence from

Memphis I came once more to Alexandria, and, having made favourable report, continued my secret work.

And, indeed, the Alexandrians could not easily be stirred, for, as they say in the marketplace, "The ass looks

at its burden and is blind to its master." Cleopatra had oppressed them so long that the Roman was like a

Thus the time passed on, and every night found Cleopatra with fewer friends than that which had gone

before, for in evil days friends fly like swallows before the frost. Yet she would not give up Antony, whom

she loved; though to my knowledge C�sar, by his freedman, Thyreus, made promise to her of her dominions

for herself and for her children if she would but slay Antony, or even betray him bound. But to this her

woman's heartfor still she had a heartwould not consent, and, moreover, we counselled her against it,

for of necessity we must hold him to her, lest, Antony escaping or being slain, Cleopatra might ride out the

storm and yet be Queen of Egypt. And this grieved me, because Antony, though weak, was still a brave man,

and a great; and, moreover, in my own heart I read the lesson of his woes. For were we not akin in

wretchedness? Had not the same woman robbed us of Empire, Friends, and Honour? But pity has no place in

politics, nor could it turn my feet from the path of vengeance it was ordained that I should tread. C�sar drew

nigh; Pelusium fell; the end was at hand. It was Charmion who brought the tidings to the Queen and Antony,

"Awake!" she cried. "Awake! This is no time for sleep! Seleucus hath surrendered Pelusium to C�sar, who

"Thou hast betrayed meby the Gods I swear it! Now thou shalt pay the price!" And snatching up his sword

"Stay thy hand, Antony!" she cried. "It is falseI know naught of this!" And she sprang upon him, and clung

about his neck, weeping. "I know naught, my Lord. Take thou the wife of Seleucus and his little children,

whom I hold in guard, and avenge thyself. O Antony, Antony! why dost thou doubt me?"

Then Antony threw down his sword upon the marble, and, casting himself upon the couch, hid his face, and

But Charmion smiled, for it was she who had sent secretly to Seleucus, her friend, counselling him to

surrender forthwith, saying that no fight would be made at Alexandria. And that very night Cleopatra took all

her great store of pearls and emeraldsthose that remained of the treasure of Menkauraall her wealth of

gold, ebony, ivory, and cinnamon, treasure without price, and placed it in the mausoleum of granite which,

after our Egyptian fashion, she had built upon the hill that is by the Temple of the Holy Isis. These riches she

piled up upon a bed of flax, that, when she fired it, all might perish in the flame and escape the greed of

moneyloving Octavianus. And she slept henceforth in this tomb, away from Antony; but in the daytime she

But a little while after, when C�sar with all his great force had already crossed the Caponic mouth of the Nile

and was hard on Alexandria, I came to the palace, whither Cleopatra had summoned me. There I found her in

the Alabaster Hall, royally clad, a wild light in her eyes, and, with her, Iras and Charmion, and before her

guards; and stretched here and there upon the marble, bodies of dead men, among whom lay one yet dying.

"Greeting, thou Olympus!" she cried. "Here is a sight to glad a physician's heartmen dead and men sick

"What do I? I wreak justice on these criminals and traitors; and, Olympus, I learn the ways of death. I have

caused six different poisons to be given to these slaves, and with an attentive eye have watched their working.

That man," and she pointed to a Nubian, "he went mad, and raved of his native deserts and his mother. He

thought himself a child again, poor fool! and bade her hold him close to her breast and save him from the

darkness which drew near. And that Greek, he shrieked, and, shrieking, died. And this, he wept and prayed

for pity, and in the end, like a coward, breathed his last. Now, note the Egyptian yonder, he who still lives and

groans; first he took the draughtthe deadliest draught of all, they sworeand yet the slave so dearly loves

his life he will not leave it! See, he yet strives to throw the poison from him; twice have I given him the cup

and yet he is athirst. What a drunkard we have here! Man, man, knowest thou not that in death only can peace

be found? Struggle no more, but enter into rest." And even as she spoke, the man, with a great cry, gave up

"There!" she cried, "at length the farce is playedaway with those slaves whom I have forced through the

difficult gates of Joy!" and she clapped her hands. But when they had borne the bodies thence she drew me to

"Olympus, for all thy prophecies, the end is at hand. C�sar must conquer, and I and my Lord Antony be lost.

Now, therefore, the play being wellnigh done, I must make ready to leave this stage of earth in such fashion

as becomes a Queen. For this cause, then, I do make trial of these poisons, seeing that in my person I must

soon endure those agonies of death that today I give to others. These drugs please me not; some wrench out

the soul with cruel pains, and some too slowly work their end. But thou art skilled in the medicines of death.

And as I listened the sense of triumph filled my bitter heart, for I knew now that by my own hand should this

"Spoken like a Queen, O Cleopatra!" I said. "Death shall cure thy ills, and I will brew such a wine as shall

draw him down a sudden friend and sink thee in a sea of slumber whence, upon this earth, thou shalt never

wake again. Oh! fear not Death: Death is thy hope; and, surely, thou shalt pass sinless and pure of heart into

She trembled. "And if the heart be not altogether pure, tell methou dark manwhat then? Nay, I fear not

the Gods! for if the Gods of Hell be men, there I shall Queen it also. At the least, having once been royal,

And, as she spoke, suddenly from the palace gates came a great clamour, and the noise of joyful shouting.

She turned swiftly and ran, her long hair streaming on the wind. I followed her, more slowly, down the great

hall, across the courtyards, to the palace gates. And here she met Antony, riding through them, radiant with

smiles and clad in his Roman armour. When he saw her he leapt to the ground, and, all armed as he was,

"Nay, not altogether fallen, Egypt: but we have beat his horsemen back to their trenches, and, like the

beginning, so shall be the end, for, as they say here, 'Where the head goes, the tail will follow.' Moreover,

C�sar has my challenge, and if he will but meet me hand to hand, the world shall soon see which is the better

man, Antony or Octavian." And even as he spoke and the people cheered there came the cry of "A messenger

The herald entered, and, bowing low, gave a writing to Antony, bowed again, and went. Cleopatra snatched it

"This answer to thy challenge: Can Antony find no better way of death than beneath the sword of C�sar?

The darkness came, and before it was midnight, having feasted with his friends who tonight went over his

woes and tomorrow should betray him, Antony went forth to the gathering of the captains of the land

When all were come together, he spoke to them, standing bareheaded in their midst, beneath the radiance of

"Friends and companions in arms! who yet cling to me, and whom many a time I have led to victory, hearken

to me now, who tomorrow may lie in the dumb dust, disempired and dishonoured. This is our design: no

longer will we hang on poised wings above the flood of war, but will straightway plunge, perchance thence to

snatch the victor's diadem, or, failing, there to drown. Be now but true to me, and to your honour's sake, and

you may still sit, the most proud of men, at my right hand in the Capitol of Rome. Fail me now, and the cause

of Antony is lost and so are ye. Tomorrow's battle must be hazardous indeed, but we have stood many a

time and faced a fiercer peril, and ere the sun had sunk, once more have driven armies like desert sands

before our gale of valour and counted the spoil of hostile kings. What have we to fear? Though allies be fled,

still is our array as strong as C�sar's! And show we but as high a heart, why, I swear to you, upon my

princely word, tomorrow night I shall deck yonder Canopic gate with the heads of Octavian and his

"Ay, cheer, and cheer again! I love that martial music which swells, not as from the indifferent lips of

clarions, now 'neath the breath of Antony and now of C�sar, but rather out of the single hearts of men who

love me. Yetand now I will speak low, as we do speak o'er the bier of some beloved deadyet, if Fortune

should rise against me and if, borne down by the weight of arms, Antony, the soldier, dies a soldier's death,

leaving you to mourn him who ever was your friend, this is my will, that, after our rough fashion of the camp,

I here declare to you. You know where all my treasure lies. Take it, most dear friends; and, in the memory of

Antony, make just division. Then go to C�sar and speak thus: 'Antony, the dead, to C�sar, the living, sends

greeting; and, in the name of ancient fellowship and of many a peril dared, craves this boon: the safety of

"Nay, let not my tearsfor I must weepoverflow your eyes! Why, it is not manly; 'tis most womanish! All

men must die, and death were welcome were it not so lone. Should I fall, I leave my children to your tender

careif, perchance, it may avail to save them from the fate of helplessness. Soldiers, enough! tomorrow at

the dawn we spring on C�sar's throat, both by land and sea. Swear that ye will cling to me, even to the last

"It is well! Once more my star grows bright; tomorrow, set in the highest heaven, it yet may shine the lamp

He turned to go. As he went they caught his hand and kissed it; and so deeply were they moved that many

wept like children; nor could Antony master his grief, for, in the moonlight, I saw tears roll down his

And, seeing all this, I was much troubled. For I well knew that if these men held firm to Antony all might yet

go well for Cleopatra; and though I bore no illwill against Antony, yet he must fall, and in that fall drag

down the woman who, like some poisonous plant, had twined herself about his giant strength till it choked

Therefore, when Antony went I went not, but stood back in the shadow watching the faces of the lords and

"Then it is agreed!" said he who should lead the fleet. "And this we swear to, one and all, that we will cling to

"Olympus, the traitor!" growled another; "put an end to him and his magic!" and he drew his sword.

"Hold a while!" I said in a slow and solemn voice, "and beware how ye try to murder the servant of the Gods.

I am no traitor. For myself, I abide the event here in Alexandria, but to you I say, Flee, flee to C�sar! I serve

Antony and the QueenI serve them truly; but above all I serve the Holy Gods; and what they make known

to me, that, Lords, I do know. And I know this: that Antony is doomed, and Cleopatra is doomed, for C�sar

conquers. Therefore, because I honour you, noble gentlemen, and think with pity on your wives, left

widowed, and your little fatherless children, that shall, if ye hold to Antony, be sold as slavestherefore, I

say, cling to Antony if ye will and die; or flee to C�sar and be saved! And this I say because it is so ordained

"The Gods!" they growled; "what Gods? Slit the traitor's throat, and stop his illomened talk!"

"Let him show us a sign from his Gods or let him die: I do mistrust this man," said another.

"Stand back, ye fools!" I cried. "Stand backfree mine armsand I will show you a sign;" and there was

that in my face which frightened them, for they freed me and stood back. Then I lifted up my hands and

putting out all my strength of soul searched the depths of space till my Spirit communed with the Spirit of my

Mother Isis. Only the Word of Power I uttered not, as I had been bidden. And the holy mystery of the

Goddess answered to my Spirit's cry, falling in awful silence upon the face of the earth. Deeper and deeper

grew the terrible silence; even the dogs ceased to howl, and in the city men stood still afeared. Then, from far

away, there came the ghostly music of the sistra. Faint it was at first, but ever as it came it grew more loud,

till the air shivered with the unearthly sound of terror. I said naught, but pointed with my hand toward the

sky. And behold! bosomed upon the air, floated a vast veiled Shape that, heralded by the swelling music of

the sistra, drew slowly near, till its shadow lay upon us. It came, it passed, it went toward the camp of C�sar,

till at length the music died away, and the awful Shape was swallowed in the night.

"It is Bacchus!" cried one. "Bacchus, who leaves lost Antony!" and, as he spoke, there rose a groan of terror

But I knew that it was not Bacchus, the false God, but the Divine Isis who deserted Khem, and, passing over

the edge of the world, sought her home in space, to be no more known of men. For though her worship is still

upheld, though still she is here and in all Earths, Isis manifests herself no more in Egypt. I hid my face and

On the morrow, at dawn, Antony came forth and gave command that his fleet should advance against the

fleet of C�sar, and that his cavalry should open the landbattle with the cavalry of C�sar. Accordingly, the

fleet advanced in a triple line, and the fleet of C�sar came out to meet it. But when they met, the galleys of

Antony lifted their oars in greeting, and passed over to the galleys of C�sar; and they sailed away together.

And the cavalry of Antony rode forth beyond the Hippodrome to charge the cavalry of C�sar; but when they

met, they lowered their swords and passed over to the camp of C�sar, deserting Antony. Then Antony grew

mad with rage and terrible to see. He shouted to his legions to stand firm and wait attack; and for a little while

they stood. One man, howeverthat same officer who would have slain me on the yesternightstrove to

fly; but Antony seized him with his own hand, threw him to the earth, and, springing from his horse, drew his

sword to slay him. He held his sword on high, while the man, covering his face, awaited death. But Antony

"Go!" he said. "Go to C�sar, and prosper! I did love thee once. Why, then, among so many traitors, should I

The man rose and looked upon him sorrowfully. Then, shame overwhelming him, with a great cry he tore

open his shirt of mail, plunged his sword into his own heart and fell down dead. Antony stood and gazed at

him, but he said never a word. Meanwhile the ranks of C�sar's legions drew near, and so soon as they

crossed spears the legions of Antony turned and fled. Then the soldiers of C�sar stood still mocking them;

"Fly, Lord Antony! fly!" cried Eros, his servant, who alone with me stayed by him. "Fly ere thou art dragged

So he turned and fled, groaning heavily. I went with him, and as we rode through the Canopic gate, where

"Go, thou, Olympus; go to the Queen and say: 'Antony sends greeting to Cleopatra, who hath betrayed him!

And so I went to the tomb, but Antony fled to the palace. When I came to the tomb I knocked upon the door,

"Antony has fled, his forces are fled, C�sar draws near. To Cleopatra the great Antony sends greeting and

"It is a lie!" she screamed; "I betrayed him not! Thou, Olympus, go swiftly to Antony and answer thus: 'To

Antony, Cleopatra, who hath not betrayed him, sends greeting and farewell. Cleopatra is no more.'"

And so I went, following out my purpose. In the Alabaster Hall I found Antony pacing to and fro, tossing his

hands toward heaven, and with him Eros, for of all his servants Eros alone remained by this fallen man.

"Lord Antony," I said, "Egypt bids thee farewell. Egypt is dead by her own hand."

"Dead! dead!" he whispered, "and is Egypt dead? and is that form of glory now food for worms? Oh, what a

woman was this! E'en now my heart goes out towards her. And shall she outdo me at the last, I who have

been so great; shall I become so small that a woman can overtop my courage and pass where I fear to follow?

Eros, thou hast loved me from a boymindest thou how I found thee starving in the desert, and made thee

rich, giving thee place and wealth? Come, now pay me back. Draw that sword thou wearest and make an end

"Oh, Sire," cried the Greek, "I cannot! How can I take away the life of godlike Antony?"

"Answer me not, Eros; but in the last extreme of fate this I charge thee. Do thou my bidding, or begone and

Then Eros drew his sword and Antony knelt before him and bared his breast, turning his eyes to heaven. But

Eros, crying "I cannot! oh, I cannot!" plunged the sword to his own heart, and fell dead.

Antony rose and gazed upon him. "Why, Eros, that was nobly done," he said. "Thou art greater than I, yet I

Then, rising of a sudden, he drew the sword from the heart of Eros, plunged it into his bowels, and fell,

"O thou, Olympus," he cried, "this pain is more than I can bear! Make an end of me, Olympus!"

Therefore I drew the sword from his vitals, staunched the flow of blood, and, calling to those who came

crowding in to see Antony die, I bade them summon Atoua from my house at the palace gates. Presently she

came, bringing with her simples and lifegiving draughts. These I gave to Antony, and bade Atoua go with

such speed as her old limbs might to Cleopatra, in the tomb, and tell her of the state of Antony.

So she went, and after a while returned, saying that the Queen yet lived and summoned Antony to die in her

arms. And with her came Diomedes. When Antony heard, his ebbing strength came back, for he was fain to

look upon Cleopatra's face again. So I called to the slaves who peeped and peered through curtains and

from behind pillars to see this great man dieand together, with much toil, we bore him thence till we came

But Cleopatra, being afraid of treachery, would no more throw wide the door; so she let down a rope from the

window and we made it fast beneath the arms of Antony. Then did Cleopatra, who the while wept most

bitterly, together with Charmion and Iras the Greek, pull on the rope with all their strength, while we lifted

from below till the dying Antony swung in the air, groaning heavily, and the blood dropped from his gaping

wound. Twice he nearly fell to earth: but Cleopatra, striving with the strength of love and of despair, held him

till at length she drew him through the windowplace, while all who saw the dreadful sight wept bitterly, and

When he was in, once more the rope was let down, and, with some aid from Charmion, I climbed into the

tomb, drawing up the rope after me. There I found Antony, laid upon the golden bed of Cleopatra; and she,

her breast bare, her face stained with tears, and her hair streaming wildly about him, knelt at his side and

kissed him, wiping the blood from his wounds with her robes and hair. And let all my shame be written: as I

stood and watched her the old love awoke once more within me, and mad jealousy raged in my heart

"O Antony! my Sweet, my Husband, and my God!" she moaned. "Cruel Antony, hast thou the heart to die

and leave me to my lonely shame? I will follow thee swiftly to the grave. Antony, awake! awake!"

He lifted up his head and called for wine, which I gave him, mixing therein a draught that might allay his

pain, for it was great. And when he had drunk he bade Cleopatra lie down on the bed beside him, and put her

arms about him; and this she did. Then was Antony once more a man; for, forgetting his own misery and

pain, he counselled her as to her own safety: but to this talk she would not listen.

"The hour is short," she said; "let us speak of this great love of ours that hath been so long and may yet

endure beyond the coasts of Death. Mindest thou that night when first thou didst put thine arms about me and

call me 'Love'? Oh! happy, happy night! Having known that night it is well to have livedeven to this bitter

"Ay, Egypt, I mind it well and dwell upon its memory, though from that hour fortune has fled from melost

in my depth of love for thee, thou Beautiful. I mind it!" he gasped; "then didst thou drink the pearl in wanton

play, and then did that astrologer of thine call out his hour 'The hour of the coming of the curse of

Menkaura.' Through all the afterdays those words have haunted me, and now at the last they ring in my

"He is dead, the accursed man!no more of him! Oh! turn and kiss me, for thy face grows white. The end is

He kissed her on the lips, and for a little while so they stayed, to the moment of death, babbling their passion

in each other's ears, like lovers newly wed. Even to my jealous heart, it was a strange and awful thing to see.

Cleopatra lifted herself upon her hands, gazed wildly on his ashen face, and then, with a great cry, she sank

But Antony yet lived, though the power of speech had left him. Then I drew near and, kneeling, made

"Antony," I whispered, "Cleopatra was my love before she passed from me to thee. I am Harmachis, that

astrologer who stood behind thy couch at Tarsus; and I have been the chief minister of thy ruin.

He raised himself, and stared upon my face. He could not speak, but, gibbering, he pointed at me. Then with

Thereafter, we recovered Cleopatra from her swoon, for not yet was I minded that she should die. And taking

the body of Antony, C�sar permitting, I and Atoua caused it to be most skilfully embalmed after our

Egyptian fashion, covering the face with a mask of gold fashioned like to the features of Antony. Also I wrote

upon his breast his name and titles, and painted his name and the name of his father within his inner coffin,

Then with great pomp Cleopatra laid him in that sepulchre which had been made ready, and in a sarcophagus

of alabaster. Now, this sarcophagus was fashioned so large that place was left in it for a second coffin, for

These things then happened. And but a little while after I learned tidings from one Cornelius Dolabella, a

noble Roman who waited upon C�sar, and, moved by the beauty that swayed the souls of all who looked

upon her, had pity for the woes of Cleopatra. He bade me warn herfor, as her physician, it was allowed me

to pass in and out of the tomb where she dweltthat in three days she would be sent away to Rome, together

with her children, save C�sarion, whom Octavian had already slain, that she might walk in the triumph of

C�sar. Accordingly I went in, and found her sitting, as now she always sat, plunged in a half stupor, and

before her that bloodstained robe with which she had staunched the wounds of Antony. For on this she

"See how faint they grow, Olympus," she said, lifting her sad face and pointing to the rusty stains, "and he so

lately dead! Why, Gratitude could not fade more fast. What is now thy news? Evil tidings is writ large in

those dark eyes of thine, which ever bring back to me something that still slips my mind."

"The news is ill, O Queen," I answered. "I have this from the lips of Dolabella, who has it straight from

C�sar's secretary. On the third day from now C�sar will send thee and the Princes Ptolemy and Alexander

and the Princess Cleopatra to Rome, there to feast the eyes of the Roman mob, and be led in triumph to that

"Never, never!" she cried, springing to her feet. "Never will I walk in chains in C�sar's triumph! What must I

And Charmion, rising, stood before her, looking at her through the long lashes of her downcast eyes.

"Nay; but if the Queen wills it, by tomorrow morn it shall be brewed a drug so swift and strong that not

I bowed, and withdrew myself; and all that night I and old Atoua laboured at the distilling of the deadly

draught. At length it was done, and Atoua poured it into a crystal phial, and held it to the light of the fire; for

"La! la!" she sang, in her shrill voice; "a drink for a Queen! When fifty drops of that water of my brewing

have passed those red lips of hers, thou wilt indeed be avenged of Cleopatra, O Harmachis! Ah, that I could

"Vengeance is an arrow that ofttimes falls upon the archer's head," I answered, bethinking me of Charmion's

On the morrow Cleopatra, having sought leave of C�sar, visited the tomb of Antony, crying that the Gods of

Egypt had deserted her. And when she had kissed the coffin and covered it with lotusflowers she came back,

bathed, anointed herself, put on her most splendid robes, and, together with Iras, Charmion, and myself, she

supped. Now as she supped her spirit flared up wildly, even as the sky lights up at sunset; and once more she

laughed and sparkled as in bygone years, telling us tales of feasts which she and Antony had eaten of. Never,

indeed, did I see her look more beauteous than on that last fatal night of vengeance. And thus her mind drew

"Strange," she said; "strange that at the last the mind of Antony should have turned back to that night among

all the nights and to the saying of Harmachis. Charmion, dost thou remember Harmachis the Egyptian?"

"And who, then, was Harmachis?" I asked; for I would learn if she sorrowed o'er my memory.

"I will tell thee. It is a strange tale, and now that all is done it may well be told. This Harmachis was of the

ancient race of the Pharaohs, and, having, indeed, been crowned in secret at Abydus, was sent hither to

Alexandria to carry out a great plot that had been formed against the rule of us royal Lagid�. He came and

gained entry to the palace as my astrologer, for he was very learned in all magic much as thou art,

Olympusand a man beautiful to see. Now this was his plotthat he should slay me and be named

Pharaoh. In truth it was a strong one, for he had many friends in Egypt, and I had few. And on that very night

when he should carry out his purpose, yea, at the very hour, came Charmion yonder, and told the plot to me;

saying that she had chanced upon its clue. But, in after daysthough I have said little thereon to thee,

CharmionI misdoubted me much of that tale of thine; for, by the Gods! to this hour I believe that thou

didst love Harmachis, and because he scorned thee thou didst betray him; and for that cause also hast all thy

days remained a maid, which is a thing unnatural. Come, Charmion, tell us; for naught matters now at the

Charmion shivered and made answer: "It is true, O Queen; I also was of the plot, and because Harmachis

scorned me I betrayed him; and because of my great love for him I have remained unwed." And she glanced

"So! I thought it. Strange are the ways of women! But little cause, methinks, had that Harmachis to thank thee

for thy love. What sayest thou, Olympus? Ah, and so thou also wast a traitor, Charmion? How dangerous are

the paths which Monarchs tread! Well, I forgive thee, for thou hast served me faithfully since that hour.

"But to my tale. Harmachis I dared not slay, lest his great party should rise in fury and cast me from the

throne. And now mark the issue. Though he must murder me, in secret this Harmachis loved me, and

something thereof I guessed. I had striven a little to draw him to me, for the sake of his beauty and his wit;

and for the love of man Cleopatra never strove in vain. Therefore when, with the dagger in his robe, he came

to slay me, I matched my charms against his will, and need I tell you, being man and woman, how I won? Oh,

never can I forget the look in the eyes of that fallen prince, that forsworn priest, that discrowned Pharaoh,

when, lost in the poppied draught, I saw him sink into a shameful sleep whence he might no more wake with

honour! And, thereaftertill, in the end, I wearied of him, and his sad learned mind, for his guilty soul

forbade him to be gaya little I came to care for him, though not to love. But hehe who loved me

clung to me as a drunkard to the cup which ruins him. Deeming that I should wed him, he betrayed to me the

secret of the hidden wealth of the pyramid of Herfor at the time I much needed treasureand together we

dared the terrors of the tomb and drew it forth, even from dead Pharaoh's breast. See, this emerald was a part

thereof!"and she pointed to the great scarab�us that she had drawn from the holy heart of Menkaura.

"And because of what was written in the tomb, and of that Thing which we saw in the tombah, pest upon

it! why does its memory haunt me now?and also because of policy, for I would fain have won the love of

the Egyptians, I was minded to marry this Harmachis and declare his place and lineage to the worlday, and

by his aid hold Egypt from the Roman. For Dellius had then come to call me to Antony, and after much

thought I determined to send him back with sharp words. But on that very morning, as I tired me for the

Court, came Charmion yonder, and I told her this, for I would see how the matter fell upon her mind. Now

mark, Olympus, the power of jealousy, that little wedge which yet has strength to rend the tree of Empire,

that secret sword which can carve the fate of Kings! This she could in no wise beardeny it, Charmion, if

thou canst, for now it is clear to me!that the man she loved should be given to me as husbandme, whom

he loved! And therefore, with more skill and wit than I can tell, she reasoned with me, showing that I should

by no means do this thing, but journey to Antony; and for that, Charmion, I thank thee, now that all is come

and gone. And by a very little, her words weighed down my scale of judgment against Harmachis, and I went

to Antony. Thus it is through the jealous spleen of yonder fair Charmion and the passion of a man on which I

played as on a lyre, that all these things have come to pass. For this cause Octavian sits a King in Alexandria;

for this cause Antony is discrowned and dead; and for this cause I, too, must die tonight! Ah! Charmion!

Charmion! thou hast much to answer, for thou hast changed the story of the world; and yet, even nowI

She paused awhile, covering her eyes with her hand; and, looking, I saw great tears upon the cheek of

"Where is he? In Amenti, forsoothmaking his peace with Isis, perchance. At Tarsus I saw Antony, and

loved him; and from that moment I loathed the sight of the Egyptian, and swore to make an end of him; for a

lover done with should be a lover dead. And, being jealous, he spoke some words of evil omen, even at that

Feast of the Pearl; and on the same night I would have slain him, but before the deed was done, he was gone."

"Nay; that know not I. Brennushe who led my guard, and last year sailed North to join his own

peopleBrennus swore he saw him float to the skies; but in this matter I misdoubted me of Brennus, for

methinks he loved the man. Nay, he sank off Cyprus, and was drowned; perchance Charmion can tell us

"And well lost, Charmion, for he was an evil man to play withay, although I bettered him I say it! Well he

served my purpose; but I loved him not, and even now I fear him; for it seemed to me that I heard his voice

summoning me to fly, through the din of the fight at Actium. Thanks be to the Gods, as thou sayest, he is lost,

But I, listening, put forth my strength, and, by the arts I have, cast the shadow of my Spirit upon the Spirit of

"Nay, what is it?" she said. "By Serapis! I grow afraid! It seems to me that I feel Harmachis here! His

memory overwhelms me like a flood of waters, and he these ten years dead! Oh! at such a time it is unholy!"

"Nay, O Queen," I answered, "if he be dead then he is everywhere, and well at such a timethe time of thy

"Speak not thus, Olympus. I would see Harmachis no more; the count between us is too heavy, and in another

world than this more evenly, perchance should we be matched. Ah, the terror passes! I was but unnerved.

Well the fool's story hath served to wile away the heaviest of our hours, the hour which ends in death. Sing to

me, Charmion, sing, for thy voice is very sweet, and I would soothe my soul to sleep. The memory of that

Harmachis has wrung me strangely! Sing, then, the last song I shall hear from those tuneful lips of thine, the

"It is a sad hour for song, O Queen!" said Charmion; but, nevertheless, she took her harp and sang. And thus

The music of her voice died away, and it was so sweet and sad that Iras began to weep and the bright tears

"'Tis a heavy song of thine, Charmion," said the Queen. "Well, as thou saidst, it is a sad hour for song, and

thy dirge is fitted to the hour. Sing it over me once again when I lie dead, Charmion. And now farewell to

music, and on to the end. Olympus, take yonder parchment and write what I shall say."

"This is the state of life. At length there comes an hour when, rather than endure those burdens that

overwhelm us, putting off the body we would take wing into forgetfulness. C�sar, thou hast conquered: take

thou the spoils of victory. But in thy triumph Cleopatra cannot walk. When all is lost, then we must go to

seek the lost. Thus in the desert of Despair the brave do harvest Resolution. Cleopatra hath been great as

Antony was great, nor shall her fame be minished in the manner of her end. Slaves live to endure their wrong;

but Princes, treading with a firmer step, pass through the gates of Wrong into the royal Dwellings of the

Dead. This only doth Egypt ask of C�sarthat he suffer her to lie in the tomb of Antony. Farewell!"

This I wrote, and having sealed the writing, Cleopatra bade me go find a messenger, despatch it to C�sar, and

then return. So I went, and at the door of the tomb I called a soldier who was not on duty, and, giving him

money, bade him take the letter to C�sar. Then I went back, and there in the chamber the three women stood

in silence, Cleopatra clinging to the arm of Iras, and Charmion a little apart watching the twain.

"If indeed thou art minded to make an end, O Queen," I said, "the time is short, for presently C�sar will send

his servants in answer to thy letter," and I drew forth the phial of white and deadly bane and set it upon the

She took it in her hand and gazed thereon. "How innocent it seems!" she said; "and yet therein lies my death.

"Ay, Queen, and the death of ten other folk. No need to take so long a draught."

"I fear," she gasped"how know I that it will slay outright? I have seen so many die by poison and scarce

"Fear not," I said, "I am a master of my craft. Or, if thou dost fear, cast this poison forth and live. In Rome

thou mayst still find happiness; ay, in Rome, where thou shalt walk in C�sar's triumph, while the laughter of

Then Iras loosed her hand and stepped forward. "Give me the draught, Physician," she said. "I go to make

"It is well," I answered; "on thy own head be it!" and I poured from the phial into a little golden goblet.

She raised it, curtsied low to Cleopatra, then, coming forward, kissed her on the brow, and Charmion she also

kissed. This done, tarrying not and making no prayer, for Iras was a Greek, she drank, and, putting her hand

"Ay, Olympus; thine is a master drug! Come now, I thirst; fill me the bowl, lest Iras weary in waiting at the

So I poured afresh into the goblet; but this time, making pretence to rinse the cup, I mixed a little water with

Then did the royal Cleopatra, taking the goblet in her hand, turn her lovely eyes to heaven and cry aloud:

"O ye Gods of Egypt! who have deserted me, to you no longer will I pray, for your ears are shut unto my

crying and your eyes blind to my griefs! Therefore, I make entreaty of that last friend whom the Gods,

departing, leave to helpless man. Sweep hither, Death, whose winnowing wings enshadow all the world, and

give me ear! Draw nigh, thou King of Kings! who, with an equal hand, bringest the fortunate head of one

pillow with the slave, and by thy spiritual breath dost waft the bubble of our life far from this hell of earth!

Hide me where winds blow not and waters cease to roll; where wars are done and C�sar's legions cannot

march! Take me to a new dominion, and crown me Queen of Peace! Thou art my Lord, O Death, and in thy

kiss I have conceived. I am in labour of a Soul: seeit stands newborn upon the edge of Time!

Then at last came the moment of my pentup vengeance, and of the vengeance of Egypt's outraged Gods, and

"What's this?" she cried; "I grow cold, but I die not! Thou dark physician, thou hast betrayed me!"

"Peace, Cleopatra! Presently shalt thou die and know the fury of the Gods! The curse of Menkaura hath

fallen! It is finished! Look upon me, woman! Look upon this marred face, this twisted form, this living mass

"Oh! oh!" she shrieked, throwing up her arms; "at last I know thee! By the Gods, thou art

"Ay, Harmachis risen from the dead to drag thee down to death and agony eternal! See, thou Cleopatra; I

have ruined thee as thou didst ruin me! I, working in the dark, and helped of the angry Gods, have been thy

secret spring of woe! I filled thy heart with fear at Actium; I held the Egyptians from thy aid; I sapped the

strength of Antony; I showed the portent of the Gods unto thy captains! By my hand at length thou diest, for I

am the instrument of Vengeance! Ruin I pay thee back for ruin, Treachery for treachery, Death for death!

Come hither, Charmion, partner of my plots, who betrayed me, but, repenting, art the sharer of my triumph,

Cleopatra heard, and sank back upon the golden bed, groaning "And thou, too, Charmion!"

A moment so she sat, then her Imperial spirit burnt up glorious before she died.

"Oh! for one hour of life!" she cried"one short hour, that therein I might make thee die in such fashion as

thou canst not dream, thou and that false paramour of thine, who betrayed both me and thee! And thou didst

love me! Ah, there I have thee still! See, thou subtle, plotting priest"and with both hands she rent back the

royal robes from her bosom"see, on this fair breast once night by night thy head was pillowed, and thou

didst sleep wrapped in these same arms. Now, put away their memory if thou canst! I read it in thine

eyesthat mayst thou not! No torture which I bear can, in its sum, draw nigh to the rage of that deep soul of

thine, rent with longings never, never to be reached! Harmachis, thou slave of slaves, from thy triumph

depths I snatch a deeper triumph, and conquered yet I conquer! I spit upon theeI defy theeand, dying,

doom thee to the torment of thy deathless love! O Antony! I come, my Antony!I come to thy own dear

arms! Soon I shall find thee, and, wrapped in a love undying and divine, together we will float through all the

depths of space, and, lips to lips and eyes to eyes, drink of desires grown more sweet with every draught! Or

if I find thee not, then I shall sink in peace down the poppied ways of Sleep: and for me the breast of Night,

whereon I shall be softly cradled, will yet seem thy bosom, Antony! Oh, I die! come, Antonyand give

Even in my fury I had quailed beneath her scorn, for home flew the arrows of her winged words. Alas! and

alas! it was truethe shaft of my vengeance fell upon my own head; never had I loved her as I loved her

now. My soul was rent with jealous torture, and thus I swore she should not die.

"Peace!" I cried; "what peace is there for thee? Oh! ye Holy Three, hear now my prayer. Osiris, loosen Thou

the bonds of Hell and send forth those whom I shall summon! Come Ptolemy, poisoned of thy sister

Cleopatra; come Arsino�, murdered in the sanctuary by thy sister Cleopatra; come Sepa, tortured to death of

Cleopatra; come Divine Menkaura, whose body Cleopatra tore and whose curse she braved for greed; come

one, come all who have died at the hands of Cleopatra! Rush from the breast of Nout and greet her who

murdered you! By the link of mystic union, by the symbol of the Life, Spirits, I summon you!"

Thus I spoke the spell; while Charmion, affrighted, clung to my robe, and the dying Cleopatra, resting on her

Then the answer came. The casement burst asunder, and on flittering wings that great bat entered which last I

had seen hanging to the eunuch's chin in the womb of the pyramid of Her. Thrice it circled round, once it

hovered o'er dead Iras, then flew to where the dying woman stood. To her it flew, on her breast it settled,

clinging to that emerald which was dragged from the dead heart of Menkaura. Thrice the grey Horror

Then suddenly within that chamber sprang up the Shapes of Death. There was Arsino�, the beautiful, even as

she had shrunk beneath the butcher's knife. There was young Ptolemy, his features twisted by the poisoned

cup. There was the majesty of Menkaura, crowned with the ur�us crown; there was grave Sepa, his flesh all

torn by the torturer's hooks; there were those poisoned slaves; and there were others without number,

shadowy and dreadful to behold! who, thronging that narrow chamber, stood silently fixing their glassy eyes

"Ay!" said Charmion. "Behold and die! thou who didst rob me of my honour, and Egypt of her King!"

She looked, she saw the awful Shapesher Spirit, hurrying from the flesh, mayhap could hear words to

which my ears were deaf. Then her face sank in with terror, her great eyes grew pale, and, shrieking,

Cleopatra fell and died: passing, with that dread company, to her appointed place.

Thus, then, I, Harmachis, fed my soul with vengeance, fulfilling the justice of the Gods, and yet knew myself

empty of all joy therein. For though that thing we worship doth bring us ruin, and Love being more pitiless

than Death, we in turn do pay all our sorrow back; yet we must worship on, yet stretch out our arms towards

our lost Desire, and pour our heart's blood upon the shrine of our discrowned God.

"Thy vengeance, thou dark Harmachis," she said, in a hoarse voice, "is a thing hideous to behold! O lost

"Come, aid me, Prince; let us stretch this poor clay upon the bed and deck it royally, so that it may give its

dumb audience to the messengers of C�sar as becomes the last of Egypt's Queens."

I spoke no word in answer, for my heart was very heavy, and now that all was done I was weary. Together,

then, we lifted up the body and laid it on the golden bed. Charmion placed the ur�us crown upon the ivory

brow, and combed the nightdark hair that showed never a thread of silver, and, for the last time, shut those

eyes wherein had shone all the changing glories of the sea. She folded the chill hands upon the breast whence

Passion's breath had fled, and straightened the bent knees beneath the broidered robe, and by the head set

flowers. And there at length Cleopatra lay, more splendid now in her cold majesty of death than in her richest

"It is done!" quoth Charmion; "we are avenged, and now, Harmachis, dost follow by this same road?" And

"Nay, Charmion. I flyI fly to a heavier death! Not thus easily may I end my space of earthly penance."

"So be it, Harmachis! And I, HarmachisI fly also, but with swifter wings. My game is played. I, too, have

made atonement. Oh! what a bitter fate is mine, to have brought misery on all I love, and, in the end, to die

unloved! To thee I have atoned; to my angered Gods I have atoned; and now I go to find a way whereby I

may atone to Cleopatra in that Hell where she is, and which I must share! For she loved me well, Harmachis;

and, now that she is dead, methinks that, after thee, I loved her best of all. So of her cup and the cup of Iras I

will surely drink!" And she took the phial, and with a steady hand poured what was left of the poison into the

"Bethink thee, Charmion," I said; "yet mayst thou live for many years, hiding these sorrows beneath the

"Yet I may, but I will not! To live the prey of so many memories, the fount of an undying shame that night by

night, as I lie sleepless, shall well afresh from my sorrowstricken heart!to live torn by a love I cannot

lose!to stand alone like some stormtwisted tree, and, sighing day by day to the winds of heaven, gaze

upon the desert of my life, while I wait the lingering lightning's strokenay, that will not I, Harmachis! I had

died long since, but I lived on to serve thee; now no more thou needest me, and I go. Oh, fare thee well!for

ever fare thee well! For not again shall I look again upon thy face, and there I go thou goest not! For thou

dost not love me who still dost love that queenly woman thou hast hounded to the death! Her thou shalt never

win, and I thee shall never win, and this is the bitter end of Fate! See, Harmachis: I ask one boon before I go

and for all time become naught to thee but a memory of shame. Tell me that thou dost forgive me so far as

thine is to forgive, and in token thereof kiss me with no lover's kiss, but kiss me on the brow, and bid me

And she drew near to me with arms outstretched and pitiful trembling lips and gazed upon my face.

"Charmion," I answered, "we are free to act for good or evil, and yet methinks there is a Fate above our fate,

that, blowing from some strange shore, compels our little sails of purpose, set them as we will, and drives us

to destruction. I forgive thee, Charmion, as I trust in turn to be forgiven, and by this kiss, the first and the last,

She spoke no more; only for a little while she stood gazing on me with sad eyes. Then she lifted the goblet,

"Royal Harmachis, in this deadly cup I pledge thee! Would that I had drunk of it ere ever I looked upon thy

face! Pharaoh, who, thy sins outworn, yet shalt rule in perfect peace o'er worlds I may not tread, who yet shalt

She drank, cast down the cup, and for a moment stood with the wide eyes of one who looks for Death. Then

He came, and Charmion the Egyptian fell prone upon the floor, dead. And for a moment more I stood alone

I crept to the side of Cleopatra, and, now that none were left to see, I sat down on the bed and laid her head

upon my knee, as once before it had been laid in that night of sacrilege beneath the shadow of the everlasting

pyramid. Then I kissed her chill brow and went from the House of Deathavenged, but sorely smitten with

"Physician," said the officer of the Guard as I went through the gates, "what passes yonder in the Monument?

And as I went in the darkness I heard the sound of voices and the running of the feet of C�sar's messengers.

Flying swiftly to my house I found Atoua waiting at the gates. She drew me into a quiet chamber and closed

"Is it done?" she asked, and turned her wrinkled face to mine, while the lamplight streamed white upon her

"Ay, it is done, and well done, old wife! All are dead! Cleopatra, Iras, Charmionall save myself!"

The aged woman drew up her bent form and cried: "Now let me go in peace, for I have seen my desire upon

thy foes and the foes of Khem. La! la!not in vain have I lived on beyond the years of man! I have seen my

desire upon thy enemiesI have gathered the dews of Death, and thy foe hath drunk thereof! Fallen is the

brow of Pride! the Shame of Khem is level with the dust! Ah, would that I might have seen that wanton die!"

"Cease, woman! cease! The Dead are gathered to the Dead! Osiris holds them fast, and everlasting silence

seals their lips! Pursue not the fallen great with insults! Up!let us fly to Abouthis, that all may be

"Fly thou, Harmachis!Harmachis, flybut I fly not! To this end only I have lingered on the earth. Now I

untie the knot of life and let my spirit free! Fare thee well, Prince, the pilgrimage is done! Harmachis, from a

babe have I loved thee, and love thee yet!but no more in this world may I share thy griefsI am spent.

Osiris, take thou my Spirit!" and her trembling knees gave way and she sank to the ground.

I ran to her side and looked upon her. She was already dead, and I was alone upon the earth without a friend

Then I turned and went, no man hindering me, for all was confusion in the city, and departed from

Alexandria in a vessel I had made ready. On the eighth day, I landed, and, in the carrying out of my purpose,

travelled on foot across the fields to the Holy Shrine of Abouthis. And here, as I knew, the worship of the

Gods had been lately set up again in the Temple of the Divine Sethi: for Charmion had caused Cleopatra to

repent of her decree of vengeance and to restore the lands that she had seized, though the treasure she

restored not. And the temple having been purified, now, at the season of the Feast of Isis, all the High Priests

of the ancient Temples of Egypt were gathered together to celebrate the coming home of the Gods into their

I gained the city. It was on the seventh day of the Feast of Isis. Even as I came the long array wended through

the wellremembered streets. I joined in the multitude that followed, and with my voice swelled the chorus of

the solemn chant as we passed through the pylons into the imperishable halls. How well known were the holy

"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!'"

And then, when the sacred music ceased, as aforetime on the setting of the majesty of Ra, the High Priest

the people tore the black wrappings from their dress, showing the white robes beneath, and, as one man,

Then they went to feast each at his home; but I stayed in the court of the temple.

Presently a priest of the temple drew near, and asked me of my business. And I answered him that I came

from Alexandria, and would be led before the council of the High Priests, for I knew that the Holy Priests

Thereon the man left, and the High Priests, hearing that I was from Alexandria, ordered that I should be led

into their presence in the Hall of Columnsand so I was led in. It was already dark, and between the great

pillars lights were set, as on that night when I was crowned Pharaoh of the Upper and the Lower Land. There,

too, was the long line of Dignitaries seated in their carven chairs, and taking counsel together. All was the

same; the same cold images of Kings and Gods gazed with the same empty eyes from the everlasting walls.

Ay, more; among those gathered there were five of the very men who, as leaders of the great plot, had sat

here to see me crowned, being the only conspirators who had escaped the vengeance of Cleopatra and the

I took my stand on the spot where once I had been crowned and made me ready for the last act of shame with

"Why, it is the physician Olympus," said one. "He who lived a hermit in the Tombs of T�p�, and who but

lately was of the household of Cleopatra. Is it, then, true that the Queen is dead by her own hand, Physician?"

"By thy hand? Why, how comes this?though well is she dead, forsooth, the wicked wanton!"

"Your pardon, Sirs, and I will tell you all, for I am come hither to that end. Perchance among you there may

be somemethinks I see some who, nigh eleven years ago, were gathered in this hall to secretly crown

"Of the rest of those sevenandthirty nobles," I went on, making no answer, "are twoandthirty missing.

Some are dead, as Amenemhat is dead; some are slain, as Sepa is slain; and some, perchance, yet labour as

"It is so," they said: "alas! it is so. Harmachis the accursed betrayed the plot, and sold himself to the wanton

"It is so," I went on, lifting up my head. "Harmachis betrayed the plot and sold himself to Cleopatra; and,

The Priests and Dignitaries gazed astonished. Some rose and spoke; some said naught.

"I am that Harmachis! I am that traitor, trebly steeped in crime!a traitor to my Gods, a traitor to my

Country, a traitor to my Oath! I come hither to say that I have done this. I have executed the Divine

vengeance on her who ruined me and gave Egypt to the Roman. And now that, after years of toil and patient

waiting, this is accomplished by my wisdom and the help of the angry Gods, behold I come with all my

"Mindest thou of the doom of him who hath broke the oath that may not be broke?" asked he who first had

So, in cold clear words, I laid bare all my shame, keeping back nothing. And ever as I spoke I saw their faces

grow more hard, and knew that for me there was no mercy; nor did I ask it, nor, had I asked, could it have

When, at last, I had done, they put me aside while they took counsel. Then they drew me forth again, and the

eldest among them, a man very old and venerable, the Priest of the Temple of the Divine Hatshepu at T�p�,

"Thou Harmachis, we have considered this matter. Thou hast sinned the threefold deadly sin. On thy head lies

the burden of the woe of Khem, this day enthralled of Rome. To Isis, the Mother Mystery, thou hast offered

the deadly insult, and thou hast broken thy holy oath. For all of these sins there is, as well thou knowest, but

one reward, and that reward is thine. Naught can it weigh in the balance of our justice that thou hast slain her

who was thy cause of stumbling; naught that thou comest to name thyself the vilest thing who ever stood

within these walls. On thee also must fall the curse of Menkaura, thou false priest! thou forsworn patriot!

thou Pharaoh shameful and discrowned! Here, where we set the Double Crown upon thy head, we doom thee

to the doom! Go to thy dungeon and await the falling of its stroke! Go, remembering what thou mightest have

been and what thou art, and may those Gods who through thy evil doing shall perchance ere long cease to be

worshipped within these holy temples, give to thee that mercy which we deny! Lead him forth!"

So they took me and led me forth. With bowed head I went, looking not up, and yet I felt their eyes burn

They led me to the prison chamber that is high in the pylon tower and here I wait my doom. I know not when

the sword of Fate shall fall. Week grows to week, and month to month, and still it is delayed. Still it quivers

unseen above my head. I know that it will fall, but when I know not. Perchance, I shall wake in some dead

hour of midnight to hear the stealthy steps of the slayers and be hurried forth. Perchance, they are now at

hand. Then will come the secret cell! the horror! the nameless coffin! and at last it will be done! Oh, let it

All is written; I have held back nothingmy sin is sinnedmy vengeance is finished. Now all things end in

darkness and in ashes, and I prepare to face the terrors that are to come in other worlds than this. I go, but not

without hope I go: for, though I see Her not, though no more She answers to my prayers, still I am aware of

the Holy Isis, who is with me for evermore, and whom I shall yet again behold face to face. And then at last

in that far day I shall find forgiveness; then the burden of my guilt will roll from me and innocency come

Oh! dear land of Khem, as in a dream I see thee! I see Nation after Nation set its standard on thy shores, and

its yoke upon thy neck! I see new Religions without end calling out their truths upon the banks of Sihor, and

summoning thy people to their worship! I see thy temples thy holy templescrumbling in the dust: a

wonder to the sight of men unborn, who shall peer into thy tombs and desecrate the great ones of thy glory! I

see thy mysteries a mockery to the unlearned, and thy wisdom wasted like waters on the desert sands! I see

the Roman Eagles stoop and perish, their beaks yet red with the blood of men, and the long lights dancing

down the barbarian spears that follow in their wake! And then, at last, I see Thee once more great, once more

free, and having once more a knowledge of thy Godsay, thy Gods with a changed countenance, and called

The sun sinks over Abouthis. The red rays of Ra flame on temple roofs, upon green fields, and the wide

waters of father Sihor. So as a child I watched him sink; just so his last kiss touched the further pylon's

frowning brow; just that same shadow lay upon the tombs. All is unchanged! II only am changedso

Oh, Cleopatra! Cleopatra! thou Destroyer! if I might but tear thy vision from my heart! Of all my griefs, this

is the heaviest grief still must I love thee! Still must I hug this serpent to my heart! Still in my ears must

ring that low laugh of triumphthe murmur of the falling fountainthe song of the nightinga

[Here the writing on the third roll of papyrus abruptly ends. It would almost seem that the writer was at this