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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
ivy…leaves 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 olive…wood 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 leaves of ivy。
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 milk…white 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 passion…laden music of her speech
chimed upon her lips； ah！ then； who can tell how Cleopatra seemed？ For
in her met all the splendours that have been given to woman for her
glory； and all the genius which man has won from heaven。 And with them
dwelt every evil of that greater sort； which fearing nothing； and
making a mock of laws； has taken empires for its place of play； and；
smiling； watered the growth of its desires with the rich blood of men。
In her breast they gathered； together fashioning that Cleopatra whom
no man may draw； and yet whom no man； having seen； ever can forget。
They fashioned her grand as the Spirit of Storm； lovely as Lightning；
cruel as Pestilence； yet with a heart； and what she did is known。 Woe
to the world when such another comes to curse it！
For a moment I met Cleopatra's eyes as she idly bent herself to find
the tumult's cause。 At first they were sombre and dark； as though they
saw indeed； but the brain read nothing。 Then they awoke； and their
very colour seemed to change as the colour of the sea changes when the
water is shaken。 First； there was anger written in them； next an idle
noting； then； when she looked upon the huge bulk of the man whom I had
overcome； and knew him for the gladiator； something； perchance； that
was not far from wonder。 At the least they softened； though； indeed；
her face changed no whit。 But he who would read Cleopatra's mind had
need to watch her eyes； for her countenance varied but a little。
Turning； she said some word to her guar