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Cleopatra lifted herself upon her hands； gazed wildly on his ashen
face； and then； with a great cry； she sank back swooning。
But Antony yet lived； though the power of speech had left him。 Then I
drew near and； kneeling； made pretence to minister to him。 And as I
ministered I whispered in his ear：
〃Antony；〃 I whispered； 〃Cleopatra was my love before she passed from
me to thee。 I am Harmachis； that astrologer who stood behind thy couch
at Tarsus； and I have been the chief minister of thy ruin。
〃/Die； Antony！the curse of Menkau…ra hath fallen！/〃
He raised himself； and stared upon my face。 He could not speak； but；
gibbering； he pointed at me。 Then with a groan his spirit fled。
Thus did I accomplish my revenge upon Roman Antony； the World…loser。
Thereafter； we recovered Cleopatra from her swoon； for not yet was I
minded that she should die。 And taking the body of Antony； C？sar
permitting； I and Atoua caused it to be most skilfully embalmed after
our Egyptian fashion； covering the face with a mask of gold fashioned
like to the features of Antony。 Also I wrote upon his breast his name
and titles； and painted his name and the name of his father within his
inner coffin； and drew the form of the Holy Nout folding her wings
about him。
Then with great pomp Cleopatra laid him in that sepulchre which had
been made ready； and in a sarcophagus of alabaster。 Now； this
sarcophagus was fashioned so large that place was left in it for a
second coffin； for Cleopatra would lie by Antony at the last。
These things then happened。 And but a little while after I learned
tidings from one Cornelius Dolabella； a noble Roman who waited upon
C？sar； and； moved by the beauty that swayed the souls of all who
looked upon her； had pity for the woes of Cleopatra。 He bade me warn
herfor； as her physician； it was allowed me to pass in and out of
the tomb where she dweltthat in three days she would be sent away to
Rome； together with her children； save C？sarion； whom Octavian had
already slain； that she might walk in the triumph of C？sar。
Accordingly I went in； and found her sitting； as now she always sat；
plunged in a half stupor； and before her that blood…stained robe with
which she had staunched the wounds of Antony。 For on this she would
continually feast her eyes。
〃See how faint they grow； Olympus；〃 she said； lifting her sad face and
pointing to the rusty stains； 〃and he so lately dead！ Why； Gratitude
could not fade more fast。 What is now thy news？ Evil tidings is writ
large in those dark eyes of thine； which ever bring back to me
something that still slips my mind。〃
〃The news is ill； O Queen；〃 I answered。 〃I have this from the lips of
Dolabella； who has it straight from C？sar's secretary。 On the third
day from now C？sar will send thee and the Princes Ptolemy and
Alexander and the Princess Cleopatra to Rome； there to feast the eyes
of the Roman mob； and be led in triumph to that Capitol where thou
didst swear to set thy throne！〃
〃Never； never！〃 she cried； springing to her feet。 〃Never will I walk
in chains in C？sar's triumph！ What must I do？ Charmion； tell me what I
can do！〃
And Charmion； rising； stood before her； looking at her through the
long lashes of her downcast eyes。
〃Lady； thou canst die；〃 she said quietly。
〃Ay； of a truth I had forgotten； I can die。 Olympus； hast thou the
drug？〃
〃Nay； but if the Queen wills it； by to…morrow morn it shall be brewed
a drug so swift and strong that not the Gods themselves can hold him
who drinks it back from sleep。〃
〃Let it be made ready； thou Master of Death！〃
I bowed； and withdrew myself； and all that night I and old Atoua
laboured at the distilling of the deadly draught。 At length it was
done； and Atoua poured it into a crystal phial； and held it to the
light of the fire； for it was white as the purest water。
〃/La！ la！/〃 she sang； in her shrill voice； 〃a drink for a Queen！ When
fifty drops of that water of my brewing have passed those red lips of
hers； thou wilt indeed be avenged of Cleopatra； O Harmachis！ Ah； that
I could be there to see thy Ruin ruined！ /La！ la！/ it would be sweet
to see！〃
〃Vengeance is an arrow that oft…times falls upon the archer's head；〃 I
answered； bethinking me of Charmion's saying。
CHAPTER VIII
OF THE LAST SUPPER OF CLEOPATRA； OF THE SONG OF CHARMION；
OF THE DRINKING OF THE DRAUGHT OF DEATH； OF THE REVEALING OF HARMACHIS；
OF THE SUMMONING OF THE SPIRITS BY HARMACHIS；
AND OF THE DEATH OF CLEOPATRA
On the morrow Cleopatra； having sought leave of C？sar； visited the
tomb of Antony； crying that the Gods of Egypt had deserted her。 And
when she had kissed the coffin and covered it with lotus…flowers she
came back； bathed； anointed herself； put on her most splendid robes；
and； together with Iras； Charmion； and myself； she supped。 Now as she
supped her spirit flared up wildly； even as the sky lights up at
sunset； and once more she laughed and sparkled as in bygone years；
telling us tales of feasts which she and Antony had eaten of。 Never；
indeed； did I see her look more beauteous than on that last fatal
night of vengeance。 And thus her mind drew on to that supper at Tarsus
when she drank the pearl。
〃Strange；〃 she said； 〃strange that at the last the mind of Antony
should have turned back to that night among all the nights and to the
saying of Harmachis。 Charmion； dost thou remember Harmachis the
Egyptian？〃
〃Surely； O Queen；〃 she answered slowly。
〃And who； then； was Harmachis？〃 I asked； for I would learn if she
sorrowed o'er my memory。
〃I will tell thee。 It is a strange tale； and now that all is done it
may well be told。 This Harmachis was of the ancient race of the
Pharaohs； and； having； indeed； been crowned in secret at Abydus； was
sent hither to Alexandria to carry out a great plot that had been
formed against the rule of us royal Lagid？。 He came and gained entry
to the palace as my astrologer； for he was very learned in all magic
much as thou art； Olympusand a man beautiful to see。 Now this was
his plotthat he should slay me and be named Pharaoh。 In truth it was
a strong one； for he had many friends in Egypt； and I had few。 And on
that very night when he should carry out his purpose； yea； at the very
hour； came Charmion yonder； and told the plot to me； saying that she
had chanced upon its clue。 But； in after daysthough I have said
little thereon to thee； CharmionI misdoubted me much of that tale of
thine； for； by the Gods！ to this hour I believe that thou didst love
Harmachis； and because he scorned thee thou didst betray him； and for
that cause also hast all thy days remained a maid； which is a thing
unnatural。 Come； Charmion； tell us； for naught matters now at the
end。〃
Charmion shivered and made answer： 〃It is true； O Queen； I also was of
the plot； and because Harmachis scorned me I betrayed him； and because
of my great love for him I