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Now passion filled my soul and led my feet；
Then silent didst thou rise thy love to meet；
Who； sinking on thy breast； knew naught but thee；
And in the happy night I kissed thee； Sweet；
Ah； Sweet！ between the starlight and the sea。〃
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 women…singers at Abouthis voices more perfect than the voice of
Cleopatra； but never have I heard one so thrilling or so sweet with
passion's honey…notes。 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 upon my eyes； she almost drew me to her。 But I
remembered； and would not。
〃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 the sons of men to hearof a
truth they overwhelm me！〃
〃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 weakness； set myself to find a means to slay her while
yet my sense remained。
〃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 couch； while； flinging back her
head； she gazed on me with her slumbrous eyes。
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 dagger…hilt。
But； more quick than thought； she caught my fingers with her own and
gently held them。
〃Why lookest thou so wildly； Harmachis？〃 she said。 〃Art sick？〃
〃Ay； sick indeed！〃 I gasped。
〃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 of great Osiris； whom with thee
I worship。 See！〃
〃Let me hence；〃 I groaned； striving to rise； but all my strength had
gone。
〃Nay； not yet awhile。 Thou wouldst not leave me yet？ thou /canst/ not
leave me yet。 Harmachis； hast thou never loved？〃
〃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 identity！ Why； it is never to have lived； Harmachis！〃
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 nearnow her perfumed
breath played upon my hair； and now her lips met mine。
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 arms； and called me Love and Lord。
〃Now pledge me；〃 she sighed； 〃pledge me one cup of wine in token of
thy love。〃
I took the draught； and I drank deep； then too late I knew that it was
drugged。
I fell upon the couch； and； though my senses still were with me； I
could neither speak nor rise。
But Cleopatra； bending over me； drew the dagger from my robe。
〃/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/ heart？〃
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； Harmachisto adorn my triumph！〃
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 the land of sleep； and still it follows me through
life to death。
CHAPTER VIII
OF THE AWAKING OF HARMACHIS； OF THE SIGHT OF DEATH； OF THE
COMING OF CLEOPATRA； AND OF HER COMFORTABLE WORDS
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 fo