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living Lie！ whom I have loved to my doom； and who hast brought upon me
the last curse of doom！ Let me hide myself and see thy face no more！〃
She rose in her wrath； and she was terrible to see。
〃Let thee go to stir up evil against me！ Nay； Harmachis； thou shalt
not go to build new plots against my throne！ I say to thee that thou；
too； shalt come to visit Antony in Cilicia； and there； perchance； I
will let thee go！〃 And ere I could answer； she had struck upon the
silver gong that hung near her。
Before its rich echo had died away； Charmion and the waiting…women
entered from one door； and from the other； a file of soldiersfour of
them of the Queen's bodyguard； mighty men； with winged helmets and
long fair hair。
〃Seize that traitor！〃 cried Cleopatra； pointing to me。 The captain of
the guardit was Brennussaluted and came towards me with drawn
sword。
But I； being mad and desperate； and caring little if they slew me；
flew straight at his throat； and dealt him such a heavy blow that the
great man fell headlong； and his armour clashed upon the marble floor。
As he fell I seized his sword and targe； and； meeting the next； who
rushed on me with a shout； caught his blow upon the shield； and in
answer smote with all my strength。 The sword fell where the neck is
set into the shoulder； and； shearing through the joints of his
harness； slew him； so that his knees were loosened and he sank down
dead。 And the third； as he came； I caught upon the point of my sword
before he could strike； and it pierced him and he died。 Then the last
rushed on me with a cry of 〃Taranis！〃 and I； too； rushed on him； for
my blood was aflame。 Now the women shriekedonly Cleopatra said
nothing； but stood and watched the unequal fray。 We met； and I struck
with all my strength； and it was a mighty blow； for the sword shore
through the iron shell and shattered there； leaving me weaponless。
With a shout of triumph the guard swung up his sword and smote down
upon my head； but I caught the blow with my shield。 Again he smote；
and again I parried； but when he raised his sword a third time I saw
this might not endure； so with a cry I hurled my buckler at his face。
Glancing from his shield it struck him on the breast and staggered
him。 Then； before he could gain his balance； I rushed in beneath his
guard and gripped him round the middle。
For a full minute the tall man and I struggled furiously； and then； so
great was my strength in those days； I lifted him like a toy and
dashed him down upon the marble floor in such fashion that his bones
were shattered so that he spoke no more。 But I could not save myself
and fell upon him； and as I fell the Captain Brennus； whom I had
smitten to earth with my fist； having once more found his sense； came
up behind me and smote me upon the head and shoulders with the sword
of one of those whom I had slain。 But I being on the ground； the blow
did not fall with all its weight； also my thick hair and broidered cap
broke its force； and thus it came to pass that； though sorely wounded；
the life was yet whole in me。 But I could struggle no more。
Then the cowardly eunuchs； who had gathered at the sound of blows and
stood huddled together like a herd of cattle； seeing that I was spent；
threw themselves upon me； and would have butchered me with their
knives。 But Brennus； now that I was down； would strike no more； but
stood waiting。 And the eunuchs had surely slain me； for Cleopatra
watched like one who watches in a dream and made no sign。 Already my
head was dragged back； and their knife…points were at my throat； when
Charmion； rushing forward； threw herself upon me and； calling them
〃Dogs！〃 desperately thrust her body before them in such fashion that
they could not smite。 Now Brennus with an oath seized first one and
then another and cast them from me。
〃Spare his life； Queen！〃 he cried in his barbarous Latin。 〃By Jupiter；
he is a brave man！ Myself felled like an ox in the shambles； and three
of my boys finished by a man without armour and taken unawares！ I
grudge them not to such a man！ A boon； Queen！ spare his life； and give
him to me！〃
〃Ay； spare him！ spare him！〃 cried Charmion； white and trembling。
Cleopatra drew near and looked upon the dead and him who lay dying as
I had dashed him to the ground； and on me； her lover of two days gone；
whose wounded head rested now on Charmion's white robes。
I met the Queen's glance。 〃Spare not！〃 I gasped； 〃/v？ victis！/〃 Then a
flush gathered on her browmethinks it was a flush of shame！
〃Dost after all love this man at heart； Charmion；〃 she said with a
little laugh； 〃that thou didst thrust thy tender body between him and
the knives of these sexless hounds？〃 and she cast a look of scorn upon
the eunuchs。
〃Nay！〃 the girl answered fiercely； 〃but I cannot stand by to see a
brave man murdered by such as these。〃
〃Ay！〃 said Cleopatra； 〃he is a brave man； and he fought gallantly； I
have never seen so fierce a fight even in the games at Rome！ Well； I
spare his life； though he is weak of mewomanish weak。 Take him to
his own chamber and guard him there till he is healed ordead。〃
Then my brain reeled； a great sickness seized upon me； and I sank into
the nothingness of a swoon。
Dreams； dreams； dreams！ without end and ever…changing； as for years
and years I seemed to toss upon a sea of agony。 And through them a
vision of a dark…eyed woman's tender face and the touch of a white
hand soothing me to rest。 Visions； too； of a royal countenance bending
at times over my rocking beda countenance that I could not grasp；
but whose beauty flowed through my fevered veins and was a part of me
visions of childhood and of the Temple towers of Abouthis； and of
the white…haired Amenemhat； my fatheray； and an ever…present vision
of that dread hall in Amenti； and of the small altar and the Spirits
clad in flame！ There I seemed to wander everlastingly； calling on the
Holy Mother； whose memory I could not grasp； calling ever and in vain！
For no cloud descended upon the altar； only from time to time the
great Voice pealed aloud： 〃Strike out the name of Harmachis； child of
Earth； from the living Book of Her who Was and Is and Shall Be！ /Lost！
lost！ lost！/〃
And then another voice would answer：
〃Not yet！ not yet！ Repentance is at hand； strike not out the name of
Harmachis； child of Earth； from the living Book of Her who Was and Is
and Shall Be！ By suffering may sin be wiped away！〃
I woke to find myself in my own chamber in the tower of the palace。 I
was so weak that I scarce could lift my hand； and life seemed but to
flutter in my breast as flutters a dying dove。 I could not turn my
head； I could not stir； yet in my heart there was a sense of rest and
of dark trouble done。 The light from the lamp hurt my eyes： I shut
them； and； as I shut them； heard the sweep of a woman's robes upon the
stair； and a swift； light step that I knew well。 It was that of
Cleopatr