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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 burying…place 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 gain entrance to the household of the Queen should be
contrived。
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 splendour； I communed with the Holy Isis and came
down from the roof。
In the chamber beneath was my uncle Sepa。 I told him that I had been
watching the sun rise over the city of Alexandria。
〃So！〃 he said； looking at me from beneath his shaggy eyebrows； 〃and
what thinkest thou of Alexandria？〃
〃I think it is like some city of the Gods；〃 I answered。
〃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 of Egypt's Gods。〃
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 had
already purchased a right to enter there； and that dearly。
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 breast…plates of chain…armour。
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