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and the beginning of the Upper World。 I learnt of the mystery of the
movements of the stars； and of how the earth rolls on among them。 I
was instructed in that ancient knowledge which is called magic； and in
the way of interpretation of dreams； and of the drawing nigh to God。 I
was taught the language of symbols and their outer and inner secrets。
I became acquainted with the eternal laws of Good and Evil； and with
the mystery of that trust which is held of man； also I learnt the
secrets of the pyramidswhich I would that I had never known。
Further； I read the records of the past； and of the acts and words of
the ancient kings who were before me since the rule of Horus upon
earth； and I was made to know all craft of state； the lore of earth；
and with it the history of Greece and Rome。 Also I learnt the Grecian
and Roman tongues； of which indeed I already had some knowledgeand
all this while； for five long years； I kept my hands clean and my
heart pure； and did no evil in the sight of God or man； but laboured
heavily to acquire all things； and to prepare myself for the destiny
that awaited me。
Twice every year greetings and letters came from my father Amenemhat；
and twice every year I sent back my answers asking if the time had
come to cease from labour。 And so the days of my probation sped away
till I grew faint and weary at heart； for being now a man； ay and
learned； I longed to make a beginning of the life of men。 And often I
wondered if this talk and prophecy of the things that were to be was
but a dream born of the brains of men whose wish ran before their
thought。 I was； indeed； of the Royal blood； that I knew： for my uncle；
Sepa the Priest； showed me a secret record of the descent； traced
without break from father to son； and graven in mystic symbols on a
tablet of the stone of Syene。 But of what avail was it to be Royal by
right when Egypt； my heritage； was a slavea slave to do the pleasure
and minister to the luxury of the Macedonian Lagid？ay； and when she
had been so long a serf that； perchance； she had forgotten how to put
off the servile smile of Bondage and once more to look across the
world with Freedom's happy eyes？
Then I bethought me of my prayer upon the pylon tower of Abouthis and
of the answer given to my prayer； and wondered if that； too； were a
dream。
And one night； as； weary with study； I walked within the sacred grove
that is in the garden of the temple； and mused thus； I met my uncle
Sepa； who also was walking and thinking。
〃Hold！〃 he cried in his great voice； 〃why is thy face so sad；
Harmachis？ Has the last problem that we studied overwhelmed thee？〃
〃Nay； my uncle；〃 I answered； 〃I am overwhelmed indeed； but not of the
problem； it was a light one。 My heart is heavy； for I am weary of life
within these cloisters； and the piled…up weight of knowledge crushes
me。 It is of no avail to store up force which cannot be used。〃
〃Ah； thou art impatient； Harmachis；〃 he answered； 〃it is ever the way
of foolish youth。 Thou wouldst taste of the battle； thou dost tire of
watching the breakers fall upon the beach； thou wouldst plunge into
them and venture the desperate hazard of the war。 And so thou wouldst
be going； Harmachis？ The bird would fly the nest as； when they are
grown； the swallows fly from the eaves of the Temple。 Well； it shall
be as thou desirest； the hour is at hand。 I have taught thee all that
I have learned； and methinks that the pupil has outrun his master；〃
and he paused and wiped his bright black eyes； for he was very sad at
the thought of my departure。
〃And whither shall I go； my uncle？〃 I asked rejoicing； 〃back to
Abouthis to be initiated into the mysteries of the Gods？〃
〃Ay； back to Abouthis； and from Abouthis to Alexandria； and from
Alexandria to the Throne of thy fathers； Harmachis！ Listen； now；
things are thus： Thou knowest how Cleopatra； the Queen； fled into
Syria when that false eunuch Pothinus set the will of her father
Aulêtes at naught and raised her brother Ptolemy to the sole lordship
of Egypt。 Thou knowest also how she came back； like a Queen indeed；
with a great army in her train； and lay at Pelusium； and how at this
juncture the mighty C？sar； that great man； that greatest of all men；
sailed with a weak company hither to Alexandria from Pharsalia's
bloody field in hot pursuit of Pompey。 But he found Pompey already
dead； having been basely murdered by Achillas； the General； and Lucius
Septimius； the chief of the Roman legions in Egypt； and thou knowest
how the Alexandrians were troubled at his coming and would have slain
his lictors。 Then； as thou hast heard； C？sar seized Ptolemy； the young
King； and his sister Arsino？； and bade the army of Cleopatra and the
army of Ptolemy； under Achillas； which lay facing each other at
Pelusium； disband and go their ways。 And for answer Achillas marched
on C？sar； and besieged him straitly in the Bruchium at Alexandria； and
so； for a while； things were； and none knew who should reign in Egypt。
But then Cleopatra took up the dice； and threw them； and this was the
throw she madein truth； it was a bold one。 For； leaving the army at
Pelusium； she came at dusk to the harbour of Alexandria； and alone
with the Sicilian Apollodorus entered and landed。 Then Apollodorus
bound her in a bale of rich rugs； such as are made in Syria； and sent
the rugs as a present to C？sar。 And when the rugs were unbound in the
palace； behold！ within them was the fairest girl on all the earthay；
and the most witty and the most learned。 And she seduced the great
C？sareven his weight of years did not avail to protect him from her
charmsso that； as a fruit of his folly； he wellnigh lost his life；
and all the glory he had gained in a hundred wars。〃
〃The fool！〃 I broke in〃the fool！ Thou callest him great； but how can
the man be truly great who has no strength to stand against a woman's
wiles？ C？sar； with the world hanging on his word！ C？sar； at whose
breath forty legions marched and changed the fate of peoples！ C？sar
the cold！ the far…seeing！ the hero！C？sar to fall like a ripe fruit
into a false girl's lap！ Why； in the issue； of what common clay was
this Roman C？sar； and how poor a thing！〃
But Sepa looked at me and shook his head。 〃Be not so rash； Harmachis；
and talk not with so proud a voice。 Knowest thou not that in every
suit of mail there is a joint； and woe to him who wears the harness if
the sword should search it out！ For Woman； in her weakness； is yet the
strongest force upon the earth。 She is the helm of all things human；
she comes in many shapes and knocks at many doors； she is quick and
patient； and her passion is not ungovernable like that of man； but as
a gentle steed that she can guide e'en where she will； and as occasion
offers can now bit up and now give rein。 She has a captain's eye； and
stout must be that fortress of the heart in which she finds no place
of vantage。 Does thy blood beat fast in youth？ She will outrun it； nor