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！
all； that Cleopatra is one with whom it is well to play the traitor？
Be warned by this Roman's fate！〃
Then a great silence of fear fell upon the company； and Antony sat
also silent。
CHAPTER VI
OF THE WORKINGS OF THE LEARNED OLYMPUS AT MEMPHIS； OF THE
POISONINGS OF CLEOPATRA； OF THE SPEECH OF ANTONY TO HIS
CAPTAINS； AND OF THE PASSING OF ISIS FROM THE LAND OF KHEM
Now I； Harmachis； must make speed with my task； setting down that
which is permitted as shortly as may be； and leaving much untold。 For
of this I am warned； that Doom draws on and my days are wellnigh sped。
After the drawing forth of Antony from the Timonium came that time of
heavy quiet which heralds the rising of the desert wind。 Antony and
Cleopatra once again gave themselves up to luxury； and night by night
feasted in splendour at the palace。 They sent ambassadors to C？sar；
but C？sar would have none of them； and； this hope being gone； they
turned their minds to the defence of Alexandria。 Men were gathered；
ships were built； and a great force was made ready against the coming
of C？sar。
And now； aided by Charmion； I began my last work of hate and
vengeance。 I wormed myself deep into the secrets of the palace；
counselling all things for evil。 I bade Cleopatra keep Antony gay；
lest he should brood upon his sorrows： and thus she sapped his
strength and energy with luxury and wine。 I gave him of my draughts
draughts that sank his soul in dreams of happiness and power； leaving
him to wake to a heavier misery。 Soon； without my healing medicine he
could not sleep； and thus； being ever at his side； I bound his
weakened will to mine； till at last he would do little if I said not
〃It is well。〃 Cleopatra； also grown very superstitious； leaned much
upon me； for I prophesied falsely to her in secret。
Moreover； I wove other webs。 My fame was great throughout Egypt； for
during the long years that I had dwelt in Tápé it had spread through
all the land。 Therefore many men of note came to me； both for their
health's sake and because it was known that I had the ear of Antony
and the Queen； and； in these days of doubt and trouble； they were fain
to learn the truth。 All these men I worked upon with doubtful words；
sapping their loyalty； and I caused many to fall away； and yet none
could bear an evil report of what I had said。 Also； Cleopatra sent me
to Memphis； there to move the Priests and Governors that they should
gather men in Upper Egypt for the defence of Alexandria。 And I went
and spoke to the priests with such a double meaning and with so much
wisdom that they knew me to be one of the initiated in the deeper
mysteries。 But how I； Olympus the physician； came thus to be initiated
none might say。 And afterwards they sought me secretly； and I gave
them the holy sign of brotherhood； and thereunder bade them not to ask
who I might be； but send no aid to Cleopatra。 Rather； I said； must
they make peace with C？sar； for by C？sar's grace only could the
worship of the Gods endure in Khem。 So； having taken counsel of the
Holy Apis； they promised in public to give help to Cleopatra； but in
secret sent an embassy to C？sar。
Thus； then； it came to pass that Egypt gave but little aid to its
hated Macedonian Queen。 Thence from Memphis I came once more to
Alexandria； and； having made favourable report； continued my secret
work。 And； indeed； the Alexandrians could not easily be stirred； for；
as they say in the marketplace； 〃The ass looks at its burden and is
blind to its master。〃 Cleopatra had oppressed them so long that the
Roman was like a welcome friend。
Thus the time passed on； and every night found Cleopatra with fewer
friends than that which had gone before； for in evil days friends fly
like swallows before the frost。 Yet she would not give up Antony； whom
she loved； though to my knowledge C？sar； by his freedman； Thyreus；
made promise to her of her dominions for herself and for her children
if she would but slay Antony； or even betray him bound。 But to this
her woman's heartfor still she had a heartwould not consent； and；
moreover； we counselled her against it； for of necessity we must hold
him to her； lest； Antony escaping or being slain； Cleopatra might ride
out the storm and yet be Queen of Egypt。 And this grieved me； because
Antony； though weak； was still a brave man； and a great； and；
moreover； in my own heart I read the lesson of his woes。 For were we
not akin in wretchedness？ Had not the same woman robbed us of Empire；
Friends； and Honour？ But pity has no place in politics； nor could it
turn my feet from the path of vengeance it was ordained that I should
tread。 C？sar drew nigh； Pelusium fell； the end was at hand。 It was
Charmion who brought the tidings to the Queen and Antony； as they
slept in the heat of the day； and I came with her。
〃Awake！〃 she cried。 〃Awake！ This is no time for sleep！ Seleucus hath
surrendered Pelusium to C？sar； who marches straight on Alexandria！〃
With a great oath； Antony sprang up and clutched Cleopatra by the arm。
〃Thou hast betrayed meby the Gods I swear it！ Now thou shalt pay the
price！〃 And snatching up his sword he drew it。
〃Stay thy hand； Antony！〃 she cried。 〃It is falseI know naught of
this！〃 And she sprang upon him； and clung about his neck； weeping。 〃I
know naught； my Lord。 Take thou the wife of Seleucus and his little
children； whom I hold in guard； and avenge thyself。 O Antony； Antony！
why dost thou doubt me？〃
Then Antony threw down his sword upon the marble； and； casting himself
upon the couch； hid his face； and groaned in bitterness of spirit。
But Charmion smiled； for it was she who had sent secretly to Seleucus；
her friend； counselling him to surrender forthwith； saying that no
fight would be made at Alexandria。 And that very night Cleopatra took
all her great store of pearls and emeraldsthose that remained of the
treasure of Menkau…raall her wealth of gold； ebony； ivory； and
cinnamon； treasure without price； and placed it in the mausoleum of
granite which； after our Egyptian fashion； she had built upon the hill
that is by the Temple of the Holy Isis。 These riches she piled up upon
a bed of flax； that； when she fired it； all might perish in the flame
and escape the greed of money…loving Octavianus。 And she slept
henceforth in this tomb； away from Antony； but in the daytime she
still saw him at the palace。
But a little while after； when C？sar with all his great force had
already crossed the Caponic mouth of the Nile and was hard on
Alexandria； I came to the palace； whither Cleopatra had summoned me。
There I found her in the Alabaster Hall； royally clad； a wild light in
her eyes； and； with her； Iras and Charmion； and before her guards； and
stretched here and there upon the marble； bodies of dead men； among
whom lay one yet dying。
〃Greeting； thou Olympus！〃 she cried。 〃Here is a sight to glad a
physician's heartmen dead and men sick unto death！〃
〃Wha