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leaf； bowed shoulders and lessened limbs。 Time and grief had done
their work indeed； scarce could I think myself the same as when； the
royal Harmachisin all the splendour of my strength and youthful
beautyI first had looked upon the woman's loveliness that did
destroy me。 And yet within me burned the same fire as of yore； yet I
was not changed； for time and grief have no power to alter the
immortal spirit of man。 Seasons may come and go； Hope； like a bird；
may fly away； Passion may break its wings against the iron bars of
Fate； Illusions may crumble as the cloudy towers of sunset flame；
Faith； as running water； may slip from beneath our feet； Solitude may
stretch itself around us like the measureless desert sand； Old Age may
creep as the gathering night over our bowed heads grown hoary in their
shameyea； bound to Fortune's wheel； we may taste of every turn of
chancenow rule as Kings； now serve as Slaves； now love； now hate；
now prosper； and now perish。 But still； through all； we are the same；
for this is the marvel of Identity。
And as I sat and thought these things in bitterness of heart； there
came a knocking at the door。
〃Open； Atoua！〃 I said。
She rose and did my bidding； and a woman entered； clad in Grecian
robes。 It was Charmion； still beautiful as of old； but sad faced now
and very sweet to see； with a patient fire slumbering in her downcast
eyes。
She entered unattended； and； speaking no word； the old wife pointed to
where I sat； and went。
〃Old man；〃 she said； addressing me； 〃lead me to the learned Olympus。 I
come upon the Queen's business。〃
I rose； and； lifting my head； looked upon her。
She gazed； and gave a little cry。
〃Surely；〃 she whispered； glancing round； 〃surely thou art not
that〃 And she paused。
〃That Harmachis whom once thy foolish heart did love； O Charmion？ Yes；
I am he and what thou seest； most fair lady。 Yet is Harmachis dead
whom thou didst love； but Olympus； the skilled Egyptian； waits upon
thy words！〃
〃Cease！〃 she said； 〃and of the past but one word； and thenwhy； let
it lie。 Not well； with all thy wisdom； canst thou know a true woman's
heart； if thou dost believe； Harmachis； that it can change with the
changes of the outer form； for then assuredly could no love follow its
beloved to that last place of changethe Grave。 Know thou； learned
Physician； I am of that sort who； loving once； love always； and being
not beloved again； go virgin to the death。〃
She ceased； and having naught to say； I bowed my head in answer。 Yet
though I said nothing and though this woman's passionate folly had
been the cause of all our ruin； to speak truth； in secret I was
thankful to her who； wooed of all and living in this shameless Court；
had still through the long years poured out her unreturned love upon
an outcast； and who； when that poor broken slave of Fortune came back
in such unlovely guise； held him yet dear at heart。 For what man is
there who does not prize that gift most rare and beautiful； that one
perfect thing which no gold can buya woman's unfeigned love？
〃I thank thee that thou dost not answer；〃 she said； 〃for the bitter
words which thou didst pour upon me in those days that long are dead；
and far away in Tarsus； have not lost their poisonous sting； and in my
heart is no more place for the arrows of thy scorn； new venomed
through thy solitary years。 So let it be。 Behold！ I put it from me；
that wild passion of my soul；〃 and she looked up and stretched out her
hands as though to press some unseen presence back； 〃I put it from me
though forget it I may not！ There； 'tis done； Harmachis； no more
shall my love trouble thee。 Enough for me that once more my eyes
behold thee； before sleep seals thee from their sight。 Dost remember
how； when I would have died by thy dear hand； thou wouldst not slay；
but didst bid me live to pluck the bitter fruit of crime； and be
accursed by visions of the evil I had wrought and memories of thee
whom I have ruined？〃
〃Ay； Charmion； I remember well。〃
〃Surely the cup of punishment has been filled。 Oh！ couldst thou see
into the record of my heart； and read in it the suffering that I have
borneborne with a smiling facethy justice would be satisfied
indeed！〃
〃And yet； if report be true； Charmion； thou art the first of all the
Court； and therein the most powerful and beloved。 Does not Octavianus
give it out that he makes war； not on Antony； nor even on his
mistress； Cleopatra； but on Charmion and Iras？〃
〃Yes； Harmachis； and think that it has been to me thus； because of my
oath to thee； to be forced to eat the bread and do the tasks of one
whom so bitterly I hate！one who robbed me of thee； and who； through
the workings of my jealousy； brought me to be that which I am； brought
thee to shame； and all Egypt to its ruin！ Can jewels and riches and
the flattery of princes and nobles bring happiness to such a one as I；
who am more wretched than the meanest scullion wench？ Oh； I have often
wept till I was blind； and then； when the hour came； I must arise and
tire me； and； with a smile； go do the bidding of the Queen and that
heavy Antony。 May the Gods grant me to see them deaday； the twain of
them！then myself I shall be content to die！ Thy lot has been hard；
Harmachis； but at least thou have been free； and many is the time that
I have envied thee the quiet of thy haunted cave。〃
〃I do perceive； O Charmion； that thou art mindful of thy oaths； and
it is well； for the hour of vengeance is at hand。〃
〃I am mindful； and in all things I have worked for thee in secretfor
thee； and for the utter ruin of Cleopatra and the Roman。 I have fanned
his passion and her jealousy； I have egged her on to wickedness and
him to folly； and of all have I caused report to be brought to C？sar。
Listen！ thus stands the matter。 Thou knowest how went the fight at
Actium。 Thither went Cleopatra with her fleet； sorely against the will
of Antony。 But； as thou sentest me word； I entreated him for the
Queen； vowing to him； with tears； that； did he leave her； she would
die of grief； and he； poor slave； believed me。 And so she went； and in
the thick of the fight； for what cause I know not； though perchance
thou knowest； Harmachis； she made signal to her squadron； and； putting
about fled from the battle； sailing for Peloponnesus。 And now； mark
the end！ When Antony saw that she was gone； he； in his madness； took a
galley； and deserting all； followed hard after her； leaving his fleet
to be shattered and sunk； and his great army in Greece； of twenty
legions and twelve thousand horse； without a leader。 And all this no
man would believe； that Antony； the smitten of the Gods； had fallen so
deep in shame。 Therefore for a while the army tarried； and but now
to…night comes news brought by Canidius； the General； that； worn with
doubt and being at length sure that Antony had deserted them； the
whole of his great force has yielded to C？sar。〃
〃And where； t