按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 art？ Oh； fie； fie！
have I caught thee； then？ Art thou indeed a fox？〃
〃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 keeps the chamber may have let it fall。〃
〃Ah！ soso！〃 she said dryly； and still laughing like a rippling
brook。 〃Yes； surely； the slave…women 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； take it；
and hide it in thy bosomnigh thy heart indeed！〃
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。
At this the lovely Queen laughed once more。
〃Nay； think now；〃 she cried； 〃what would the lady say could she see
her love…gauge thus cast to all the world？ Mayhap； Harmachis； thou
wouldst deal thus with my wreath also？ See； the roses fade； cast it
forth；〃 and； stooping； she took up the wreath and gave it to me。
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。 But I thought better of it。
〃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。 Often since that night I
have sorrowed over those simple words。
〃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 sweet…eyed 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 mother…earth。 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
never…ceasing 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 upon her
knee； and watched my face。
〃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
no longer act。 Tell me how old art thou； Harmachis？〃
〃I have six…and…twenty years； O Queen；〃 I answered； 〃for I was born in
the first month of Shomou； in the summer season； and on the third day
of the month。〃
〃Why； then； we are of an age even to a day；〃 she cried； 〃for I too
have six…and…twenty 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
thus to work each other's weal。〃
〃Or maybe each other's woe；〃 I answered； looking up； for her sweet
speeches stung my ears and brought more colour to my face than I loved
that she should see there。
〃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 to…night 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 stiff…necked
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