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love I cannot lose！to stand alone like some storm…twisted tree； and；
sighing day by day to the winds of heaven； gaze upon the desert of my
life； while I wait the lingering lightning's strokenay； that will
not I； Harmachis！ I had died long since； but I lived on to serve thee；
now no more thou needest me； and I go。 Oh； fare thee well！for ever
fare thee well！ For not again shall I look again upon thy face； and
there I go thou goest not！ For thou dost not love me who still dost
love that queenly woman thou hast hounded to the death！ Her thou shalt
never win； and I thee shall never win； and this is the bitter end of
Fate！ See； Harmachis： I ask one boon before I go and for all time
become naught to thee but a memory of shame。 Tell me that thou dost
forgive me so far as thine is to forgive； and in token thereof kiss me
with no lover's kiss； but kiss me on the brow； and bid me pass in
peace。〃
And she drew near to me with arms outstretched and pitiful trembling
lips and gazed upon my face。
〃Charmion；〃 I answered； 〃we are free to act for good or evil； and yet
methinks there is a Fate above our fate； that； blowing from some
strange shore； compels our little sails of purpose； set them as we
will； and drives us to destruction。 I forgive thee； Charmion； as I
trust in turn to be forgiven； and by this kiss； the first and the
last； I seal our peace。〃 And with my lips I touched her brow。
She spoke no more； only for a little while she stood gazing on me with
sad eyes。 Then she lifted the goblet； and said：
〃Royal Harmachis； in this deadly cup I pledge thee！ Would that I had
drunk of it ere ever I looked upon thy face！ Pharaoh； who； thy sins
outworn； yet shalt rule in perfect peace o'er worlds I may not tread；
who yet shalt sway a kinglier sceptre than that I robbed thee of； for
ever； fare thee well！〃
She drank； cast down the cup； and for a moment stood with the wide
eyes of one who looks for Death。 Then He came； and Charmion the
Egyptian fell prone upon the floor； dead。 And for a moment more I
stood alone with the dead。
I crept to the side of Cleopatra； and； now that none were left to see；
I sat down on the bed and laid her head upon my knee； as once before
it had been laid in that night of sacrilege beneath the shadow of the
everlasting pyramid。 Then I kissed her chill brow and went from the
House of Deathavenged； but sorely smitten with despair！
〃Physician；〃 said the officer of the Guard as I went through the
gates； 〃what passes yonder in the Monument？ Methought I heard the
sounds of death。〃
〃Naught passesall hath passed；〃 I made reply； and went。
And as I went in the darkness I heard the sound of voices and the
running of the feet of C？sar's messengers。
Flying swiftly to my house I found Atoua waiting at the gates。 She
drew me into a quiet chamber and closed the doors。
〃Is it done？〃 she asked； and turned her wrinkled face to mine； while
the lamplight streamed white upon her snowy hair。 〃Nay； why ask II
know that it is done！〃
〃Ay； it is done； and well done； old wife！ All are dead！ Cleopatra；
Iras； Charmionall save myself！〃
The aged woman drew up her bent form and cried： 〃Now let me go in
peace； for I have seen my desire upon thy foes and the foes of Khem。
/La！ la！/not in vain have I lived on beyond the years of man！ I have
seen my desire upon thy enemies…I have gathered the dews of Death；
and thy foe hath drunk thereof！ Fallen is the brow of Pride！ the Shame
of Khem is level with the dust！ Ah； would that I might have seen that
wanton die！〃
〃Cease； woman！ cease！ The Dead are gathered to the Dead！ Osiris holds
them fast； and everlasting silence seals their lips！ Pursue not the
fallen great with insults！ Up！let us fly to Abouthis； that all may
be accomplished！〃
〃Fly thou； Harmachis！Harmachis； flybut I fly not！ To this end only
I have lingered on the earth。 Now I untie the knot of life and let my
spirit free！ Fare thee well； Prince； the pilgrimage is done！
Harmachis； from a babe have I loved thee； and love thee yet！but no
more in this world may I share thy griefsI am spent。 Osiris； take
thou my Spirit！〃 and her trembling knees gave way and she sank to the
ground。
I ran to her side and looked upon her。 She was already dead； and I was
alone upon the earth without a friend to comfort me！
Then I turned and went； no man hindering me； for all was confusion in
the city； and departed from Alexandria in a vessel I had made ready。
On the eighth day； I landed； and； in the carrying out of my purpose；
travelled on foot across the fields to the Holy Shrine of Abouthis。
And here； as I knew； the worship of the Gods had been lately set up
again in the Temple of the Divine Sethi： for Charmion had caused
Cleopatra to repent of her decree of vengeance and to restore the
lands that she had seized； though the treasure she restored not。 And
the temple having been purified； now； at the season of the Feast of
Isis； all the High Priests of the ancient Temples of Egypt were
gathered together to celebrate the coming home of the Gods into their
holy place。
I gained the city。 It was on the seventh day of the Feast of Isis。
Even as I came the long array wended through the well…remembered
streets。 I joined in the multitude that followed； and with my voice
swelled the chorus of the solemn chant as we passed through the pylons
into the imperishable halls。 How well known were the holy words：
〃Softly we tread； our measured footsteps falling
Within the Sanctuary Sevenfold；
Soft on the Dead that liveth are we calling：
'Return； Osiris； from thy Kingdom cold！
Return to them that worship thee of old！'〃
And then； when the sacred music ceased； as aforetime on the setting of
the majesty of Ra； the High Priest raised the statue of the living God
and held it on high before the multitude。
With a joyful shout of
〃Osiris！ our hope； Osiris！ Osiris！〃
the people tore the black wrappings from their dress； showing the
white robes beneath； and； as one man； bowed before the God。
Then they went to feast each at his home； but I stayed in the court of
the temple。
Presently a priest of the temple drew near； and asked me of my
business。 And I answered him that I came from Alexandria； and would be
led before the council of the High Priests； for I knew that the Holy
Priests were gathered together debating the tidings from Alexandria。
Thereon the man left； and the High Priests； hearing that I was from
Alexandria； ordered that I should be led into their presence in the
Hall of Columnsand so I was led in。 It was already dark； and between
the great pillars lights were set； as on that night when I was crowned
Pharaoh of the Upper and the Lower Land。 There； too； was the long line
of Dignitaries seated in their carven chairs； and taking counsel
together。 All was the same； the same cold images of Kings and Gods
gazed with the same empty eyes from the everlas