CLEOPATRA.
Being an Account of the Fall and
Vengeance of Harmaehis, the
Royal Egyptian,
AQ SET FORTH BY HIS OWiT HA1ID.
By H. Rider Haggard,
Author or King Solomon' Mlnoa,"
She," "Allan Qvintermain,"
Etc., Etc., Etc.
Xlluetratod br XIOHOLI,. artr CATOIT 'WOOD
VllAJt aad ORXIFTSNIIAaEN.
"atas I stood anil gazed at he dead body
of him who had taunted me, and attho car
caswt tho lion, n woman, even tho same
old wife, Atoua, who, though I knew it not
as yet, had offered up her flosh and blood
'that I might oo saved alive, came running
toward mo. For nho had beon gathering
simples, whorein sho had grenfsklli, by the
"water's edge, not knowing that thero wa
a lion nigh (and, indeed, tb.9 lions for the
'most part aro not founl in tho tilled land,
but rather in tho desert and tho Libyai
Mountains), and from a distance had seen
.that which I have set down. Now, when
sho came near sho knew mo for Harmaehis,
and, bending herself she made obeisunco tc
me, and saluted me, calling mo Hoyal, nnd
'worthy of nil honor, and beloved and choser
of tho Holy Three, ay, and even by th
name of tho Pharaoh I tbo Deliverer 1
. But I, thinking that terror had made ho:
jsick of mind, asked of tier what she would
speak.
i "Is it a great thing. I asked, "that 1
'should siay a lionl Is it a matter worth.
of such talk as thino! There llvo, and have
lived, men who have slnin many lions. Did
.not tho Divine Tahutimes the Oslrian slaj
, with his own hand more than two hundred
lions! la it not written oa tho tablet thai
is Detween tho paws of tho living Koremku
(tho Sphinx) that is set beyond Itetufi,
nigh to tho seven pyramids, that ho slew
lions aforetimo ! And have not others done
likowlsel Why, then, speakest thou thus,
O foolish woman?"
All of which I said because, having now
slain tho lion, I was minded, after the man
lier of youth, to hold it as a thing of no ac
count. But sho ceased not to mako obei
sance and to call mo by names that aro too
high even to bo written.
"O Royal One!" sho cried, "wisely did
thy mother prophecy. Surely tho Holy
Spirit, tho Knopth, was in her. O thou
conceived by a god I Sco the omen. Tho
lion there he growls within tho Capitol at
Rome; and the dead man, ho is tho Ptolomy
tho Macedonian spawn that, liko a for
eign wood, hath overgrown the land of
Kilo; with tho Macedonian Lagidaj shalt
thou go to smito tho Lion of Homo. And
tho Macedonian cur shall lly, and tho lion
shall strike him down, and thou shalt stnko
down tho lion, and tho land of Khcm shall
onco more bo free I freel free I Keep thy
self but pure, according to tho command
ment of tho gods, O son of tho Koynl
House 1 O hopo of Kheml bo but
waro of Woman tho Destroyer, and
as I have said, so shall it be.
Poor am I and wretched; yea. stricken
with sorrow. I have sinned in speaking of
that which should bo hid, and for my sin
have I paid in tiio coin of that which was
born of my womb; willingly have I paid
for thee. But I havo still of tho wisdom of
our people, nor do tho gods, in whose eyes
all aro equal, turn their countenances from
tho poor. The Divino Mother ilsis) hath
spoken to me but last night sho spako
bidding mo como hither to gather herbs,
and read to theo the signs that I should see.
And as I havo said, so shall it como' to pass,
if thou canst but enduro tho weight of tho
great temptation. Come hither, Royal Ono I"
and sho led me to tho edge of the canal
whero tho water was deep and still and
blue. "Now gazo upon that face as tho
water throws it back. Is not that brow
fitted to bear tho double crown! Do not
those gentle eyes i..rror tho perfect
majesty of kings! Hatanottho Ptah, tho
Creator, fashioned that form to lit tho im
perial garb, and uwo tho glanco of multi
tudes look ng through theo to God?
"Nay, nay," she wont on in another voice
a shrill old wife's voice "I will bo not r.o
loolish, boy tho scratch of a lion is n ven
omous thing, a terrible thing; yea, as bad as
tho bito of un asp it must bo treated, or clso
it will fester, and all thy days shalt thou
dream of lions: ay, and snakes; and,
also, it will break out in sores. But I know
of itI know. I am not crazed for nothing.
For mark, every thing has its balanco m
madness is much wisdom, and in wisdom
much madness. Lai la I la I Pharaoh him
seir can't nay where that one begins and
tho other ends. Now, don't stand gazing
thero, looking as silly as a cat in n crocus
colored robe; but just let mo stick theso
green things on tho place, and in six days
you'll heal up as whlto as- a three-year
child. Never mind the smart of it, lad.
By Him who sleeps nt Philie, or at Abou
this, or at Abydos as our Divino masters
havo it now or wherever ho does sleep,
which is ti thing wo shall find out before
wo want to by Osiris, I say you'll live to
be as clean from scars as a sacrifice to Isis
at tho now moon, if you'll but let mo put it
on
"Is it not so, my good folk!" and sho
turned to address somo peoplo who had, un
seen by me, assembled whilo stio propho
sied. "I'vo been speaking a spell over him,
just to make a way for tho virtue of my
tncdicino lul lit i there's nothing liko a
spell. If you don't believo it, ju9t como to
mo tho next titno your wives aro barren;
it's better than scraping every pillar in the
Temple of Osiris, I Warrant. I'll make em
bear like a twenty-year-old palm. But thorv,
you see, you must know what to say thut's
tho point-evc-y thing comes to n point at
last. Lai la!"
Now, when I heard all this, I, Harmr.ch:s,
put my hand to my head, not knowing if I
dreamed. But presently looking up, I saw
a gray-haired man among those who were
gathered together, who wa ched ua sharply,
and afterward I learnod th this niun was
the spy of Ptolemy, yea, ti. : vory man who
bad well-nigh caused :i j to bo slain of
PharauU when I was in :nycradlo. And
tin n I understood why AU- -a spoko so fool
isL.y. "Thine aro strange spell--, old wife," ho
said. ''Thou didst speak o.' Pharaoh and
the doubio crown and of i) form fashioned
by Ptah to bear if, is it not so!"
"Vea. ve.a -Dart of tho SDeU. tbou fool:
ana what eutf'oue swear by'b6tu.r TT&wa.
days than by tho divino Pharaoh, tho I iper,
whom and whoso music may ho gods pre
serve to charm this happy land! What bet
ter than by the doubio ororrn he wears,
graco to great Alexander of Macedonia! By
tho way, you know about every thing. Havo
they got back his chlamys yet, which Mitb
rldates took to Cos! Pompey wore it last,
didn't he! In his triumph, too. Just fancy
Pompey in the cloak of Alexander-ft puppy
dog in a lion's fkin. And talking of lions,
look what this lad hath done ilaln a lion
with his own spear, and right glad you vil
lage folks should be to see It, for it was a
very flerco Hqa. Jut se the teeth and
.claws. HJ claws U Alci-.e's an-Osirii
itivt, the body. And So thmTf Jf It, bat ulX 1
n hour ago he was an every -day morUl lin 4
yomorrae. v eu, away wit him to U em
bslmsrs. Come, arn't ysu going to tak
away tho bedy of tfcat poor lad, tad the
lion, too! There, my boy, you kep iih
hrbt w, and youll never fl ynr
scratches. 1 know a thlaf r two fr all
I'm oraxy, and you, my own grttdtonl
Dar, dr, I'm g ltd hit Hsltaett th g h
Prlstt tdvpted ysu whn rftrMh mtd an
ad of hlssou; rou look iy. I war
rati ths retl Htrmacals osuM net hare
killed a Ilea like that. Qlr m ths eommon
blood, sty I. It's is lusty."
"Yon knew toemooh," rruaklid the tpy,
now,ulto deoelvsd. "Wsll, he U a bravo
youth. Hsre, you men, bear this body btek
to Abouthis, tod soms ot you ttoa and help
M tkin the Hoa. We'll seud the skin to
you, young mm," he wont on; "not that you
deserve it. To attack a lion liks thtt was
the set ot t fool, and a fool deserves whtt
he gets destruction. Never attack tho
strong until you are stronger."
But, for my part, I went homo won
dering. CHAPTER IIL
Or TnB RSBtTKB OF AMtftltmAT; Or TIIK
PRArnn or itiRKACnis; axd or the stan
OITE DT TJ1B HOLY OODS.
OR swhilo ss I, Ear-
raachls,went, tho juice
of the green herbs
which tho old wlfo,
Atoua, had placed
upon my wounds
caused ine muchsmart,
but presently the pain
ceased. And of a truth,
I believe that thero was
virtue in them, for with
in two days mr flesh
healed up, so thtt after a time
no marks remained. But I be-.
thoUE-ht thtt I had dis.
"v, obeyed the word of tb old
High Priest, Amenemhat, who Tfs called
my father. For till to-day I knew not that
ho was iu truth my father accordiug to the
flesh, having been taught that his own son
wns slain, as I have written, and that hohad
been pleased, with tho sanction of tho Di
vine ones, to tnko mo as an nJop'.eil son and
rear mo up, that I might in duo season fill
an office about tho temple. Thoroforo was 1
soro troubled, for i feared tho old man,
who was very tcrriblo in hi3 nngcr, and
spako over with tho cold voico of Wisdom.
Nevertheless, I determined to go in to him
nnd confess my fault and bear such pun
ishment as ho should bo pletscd to put upon
mo. So, oven with tho rod spear in my
hand and the red wounds on my breast, I
passed through tho outer court of tho great
tcmplo and camo to tho door o tho chamber
where tho High Priest dwelt. It is a great
chamber sculptured round about with tho
imagos of tho solemn gods, and tho light of
Ra (the sun) camo to it in the daytimo by
an opening cut through the stonoof tho
massy roof. But at night it was lit by a
swinging lamp of bronzo. I passed in with
out noise, for tho door was not altogethor
shut, and pushing my way through tho
heavy curtains that woro beyond, I stood
with a beating heart within tho chambor.
Tho lamp was lit, for tho darknens had
fallen, and by its light I saw tho old man
seated in a chair of ivory and ebony at a
tablo of stone, whereon wero spread tho
mystic writings of tho words of Lifo nnd
Death. But ho road no more, for behold I
ho slept, and his long, whito board rested
upon tho tablo liko tho beard of n dead
man. Tho soft light from tho lamp fell on
him and on tho papyri, and on tho gold ring
upon his hand, whero wero graven tho
symbols of tho Invisiblo One, but all
around was shadow. It fell on tho shaven
head, on tho white robo, on the cedar staff
of priesthood at his side, and on tho ivory
of the lion-footed chulr; it showed tho
mighty brow of power, tho features cut in
kingly mold, tho whito eyebrows and tho
dark hollows of the deep-set eyes. I
looked and trembled, for thero was about
him that which was moro than the dignity
of man. So long had he livod with the
gods, and so long kept company with them
and with thoughts divino, so deoply was ho
vorsod in all thoso mysteries which wo do
but faintly discern, hero in this upper air,
that oven now, bofore his tlmo, he partook
of the naturo of the Osiris, and was a
thing to shako humanity with fear.
I stood and gnzoJ, and as I stood he
opened his dark oyes, but looked not on
me, nor turned his head; and yet ha saw
me nnd spoko.
"Why hast thou been disobedient to mo,
Omyeon!" bo said. "How camo it that
thou wontest forth against tho lion whon I
bade theo not!"
"How knowest tbou, my father, that I
went forth!" I asked in fear.
"How know 1 1 Are there, thon, no other
ways of knowledgo than by tho senses!
ignorant child 1 was not my spirit with theo
when tho lion sprang upon thy com
panion! Did I not pray thoso set about
theo to protect theo to mako sure thy
thrust when thou didst drive tho spear into
the lion's throat! How camo it that thou
wentest forth, O my son!"
"The boaster taunted me," I answered,
"and I went."
"Yes, I know it; and because of tho hot
blood of youth, I forgivo theo, Harmaehis.
But now listen unto mo, and let my words
sink into thy heart liko tho waters of Slhor
into thirsty sand at tho rising of Slrlus.
Listen unto mo. Tho boaster was sent un
to thee as a temptation, as a trial of thy
strength was he sent, and seel it has no
been equal to tho burden. Therefore Is thy
hour put back. Hadst thou been strong In
this matter, tho path had been mado plain
to theo even now. But thou hast failed,
and thereforo is thy hour put back."
"I understand thee, not my fathor," I un
s we red.
"What was it, then, my son, thut tho old
wife, Atoua, said to theo down by tlio bank
of tho canal!"
And thereon I told him all that tho old
wife had said.
"And thou beliovest, Harmaehis, my
son!"
"Nay," I answered; "bow should I be
lievo such tales. Surely she Is road. All
the peoplo know her for man."
Then for tho first tlmo ho looked toward
me, who was standing in tho shadow.
"My son I ray son!" ho cried, "thou art
wrong. Sho Is not mad. Tbo woman spako
tbo truth; sho spako not of herself, but of
the voico within hor that can not lie. For
this Atoua Is u prophetess and holy. Now
learn thou tho destiny that tbo gods of
Egypt havo given to theo to fulfill, and woe
bo unto thee If by any weakness thou dost
fail therein! Listen! thou art no stranger
adopted into my house and tho bouso of tho
temple; tbou art my very son, saved unto
me by this samo woman. But, O Harmaehis,
tbou art moro than this, for in thee and mo
alone doth flow tho Imperial blood of Egypt.
Thou and I alono of men allvo are de
scended, without break or flaw, from that
Pharaoh Nekt uebf whom Ochus the Per
sian drove from Egypt. Tho Persian csme
and the Persian went, and then after tho
Persian camo the Macedonian, and now for
nigh upon threo hundred years have the
Lagidsa usurped th" doubio crown, defiling
the land of Khem and corrupting tho wor
ship of his gods. And mark tbou this; but
now, but two weoks sinco, is Ptolemy Neus
Dlonvsi,, Pjoluuiy tho .PJpgn who would.
tariTaa wee, atza ; aflUTrt oTrianuie
eunssb Pothinus, thai very suauefc who
eaji hltb.srTars o, to ooX.thee .off, set
ataaOgnt roe wm sitnt mas tar, v"n asac
Aulvtes, sad placed the boy Ptolemy upc
thetkrone. And therefore bth kit slstor
Cleopatra, that flerco and beautiful girl,
fled tmto Byrlt; and there, If I err not, will
she gather her armies and make war upon
her brother Ptolemy; for by her father's
will was she left joint soverelpn with him.
And meanwhile mark thou this, my son
ths Roman etgle bangs on high, waiting
with ready talons till suoh tints as h may
fall upon the fat wether Egypt tnd road
him. And mark, again, the people of
Egypt trs weary of the forslg yoke, thsy
hate the memory of the Persists, stek at
heart are they of being called 'Men of
Mscedoott' In the lntrkets ot Alexsndria.
Th whole land mutters tnd murmurs
beneath the yoko of tho Greek tnd tho
shtdow of the Roman. Have not they
been oppressed? Htvo not their children
been butchered and their gains wrung fromi
them to till tho bottomless greed tnd lust
of the Lagidmt Have not th temples bsen
forsaken! Ay. have not the divine msjes
ties of tho eternal gods been set tt ntught
by those Qrocitns babblers who hsre dtred
to meddle with tho immortal truths,
and ntme the Most High by tnother
name (Sernpis), confounding the sub
stance of the Invislhlo! Doth not Eypt
cry aloud for freedom! and shall she cry In
vain! Nay, nay, for thou, my son, art the
appointed way of deliverance. To theo,
being sunk In eld,;have I decreed my rights.
Already is thy name whispered in many a
sanctuary, from Abu even untoAthu; al
ready do priests and peoplo swear alle
giance, oven by tho sacred symbols, unto
him who shall be declared "unto them.
Still, tho tlmo is not yet; thou art too green
a sapling to bear tho weight of such n
storm. But to-day wast thou tried tnd
found wanting. Ho who would serve the
gods, O HarniachU, must put aside the fail
ings of the flesh. Taunts must not move
hira, nor tny lusts of wan. Thine Is a high
mission, but this must thou learn. An thou
lonrn it nor, thou shalt fail therein; and
then, myenrso be on thee! and the curs
of Egypt, tnd the curso of Egypt's broken
godsl For, know thou this, that evon tho
gods, who tre immortal, may, in the inter
woven scheme of things, lean upon tho man
who is their Instrument, oven as a war
rior on his sword. And woo bo to tho
sword that Butps In tho hour of battle, for
it shall be thrown asido to rust! There
foro, mako thou thy heart pure and high
and strong; for thino is no common lot,
and thine no mortal meed. Triumph, and
in glory shalt thou go in glory hero and
hereafterl Fall, and woo woo bo on theo I"
Ho paused and bowed his head, and then
went on:
"Of theso matters shalt thou hear moro
horcaftor. Mcanwhllo thou hast much to
learn. To-morrow will I glvo theo letters,
and thou shalt pass down the Nile, oven past
white-walled Memphis to On (Hcliopolls), and
there shalt thou sojourn certain years and
learn moro of our ancient wisdom beneath
tho shadow of that sacred pyramid of which
thou, too, art tho Hereditary High Priest
that is to be. And mean whilo will Is.t hero
and watch, for my hour is not yet, and, by
tho help of tho gods, spin tho web wherein
thou shalt hold the wasp of Macedonia.
"Como hither, my son; como hlthor nnd
kiss mo on tho brow, for thou art all my
hopo, and all tho hopo of Egypt. Bo but
truo, rise to tho giddy height of thy des
tiny, and thou shalt bo glorious hero and
hereafter; bo falso, fall, and I will spit
upon thee, nnd thou shnlt be accursed, and
thy soul shall romain in bondage till that
hour when, in the slow flight of timo, tho
ovil shall onco moro grow to good and
Egypt shall again bo free."
I drew near trembling, nnd kissed him on
tho brow. "May all theso things como
upon mo, and moro," I said, "if I fall thee,
O my father I"
"Nay," ho cried, "not me; but rather
thoso whoso will I do. And now go, my son,
and ponder in thy heart, and in thy secret
heart digest my words; and mark what
thou shalt sec, and gathor up the dew ef
wisdom, and mako theo ready for tho battlo.
Fear not for thyself; thou art protected
from all ill. No harm may touch theo from
without; thyself alone can be thine own en
emy. I have said."
Then I went forth with e full heart. Tho
night was very still, and there was nono
stirring in tho tomplo courts. I hurried
through them, and reached the ontranco to
tho pylon that is nt the outer gate. And
then, seeking solitude, and, as it were, to
draw nigh to Heaven, I climbed tho pylon's
two hundred steps, until at length I reached
tho massive roof. Here I leaned my breast
against tho parapet and looked forth. And
as I looked the red edge of the full
moon floated up over tho Arabian hills, and
her rays fell upon the pylon where I stood,
and tho templo walls beyond, and lit up the
visages of the carveu gods. Thon the cold
light struck tho wido stretch of well-tilled
land, now whitening to thn harvest, and as
the heavenly lamp of Isls (the moon) passed
up tho sky, slowly did her rays creep down
tho valley, where Slhor, father of the land
of Khem, rolls on toward tho sea.
And now the bright beams kissed the
water, that smilod an answer back, and
now mountain and valley, river, tomple,
town and plain were flooded with whlto
light, for Mother Isls was arisen, and
threw her gleaming robe across tbo dark
bosom of tho earth. Beautiful it was, with
the beauty of a perfect dream, and solemn
as tho hour after death. Mightily, indeed,
the temples towered up against tho face ot
night. Never had they seemed so grand to
me as upon that night, those ancient
shrines, before whose eternal walls Tlmo
himself shall wither. And mino it was to
bo to rulo this moonlit land; mlno to pro
servo thoio sacred shrines and cherish the
honor of their gods; mlno to cast out tho
Ptolemy and free Egypt from tho foreign
yokel In my veins ran tho blood of those
great Kings who, eleoplng in tho tombs of
the valley of Tapl (Thobes), await the day
of resurrection. Jly spirit swelled within
me as I dreamed upon this glorious destiny.
I oloscd ray hands, and there, upon tho
pylon, I prayed as I had never prayed be
fore to tho Godhead, who is called by many
names and in many forms mado manifest.
"O Amen," I pruyed, "Ood of gods, who
bast been from tho beginning; Lord of
Truth, who art, and of whom all are, who
glvcst out thy Godhead and gatherest it up
ajain, in tho circlo of whom tho divino ones
move and are, who was from all time the
Solf-begot, unil who shalt bo till all time
hearken unto me,
"O Amen Osiris, tho sacrifleo by whom
wo aro justified, Lord of tho Region of tho
Winds, tho Ruler of tho Ages, tho Dweller
in tho West, tho Supremo in Amunti,
hcarkon unto ma
"O Isls, Great Mother Goddess, Mother of
tho Horun mysterious Mother, Sister,
Spouse, hearken unto rno. If indeed I b
the chosen of gods to carry out tho purpose
ot tho gods, let a sign bo given unto me.
even now, to seal iny life to the life above.
Stretch out jour arum toward me, O ye
gods, and uncover tlio lory of your coun
tenance. Hearl all, hear ine!" And I caHt
inywelf upon my knees and lifted up my
a ciorn omtw upon tiis fact or the mook.
eyes to iretivcu.
And I knelt a oloud grew upon tho
faco of tho moon and covered it up, so that
tho night became dark, and the sllonce
deopened all around oven the dogs far
below lu the city crasod to howl, nndlho
silonco grew and grow till it wss heavy ns
death. 1 felt my spirita lifted up within
mo, and my hair rose upon my head. Then
of a sudden tho mighty pylon seemed to
rock bencuth mo, a great wind boat about
my brows, and a voico spoke within my
heart:
"Behold a slgnl Possess thyself In
patience, O Harmaehis t"
Aud oven as tho voico spoke a cold hand
touched my hand and loft somewhat within
It, Then tho cloud rolled from the faco of
the moon, and tho wind passed, and the
pylon ceased to tremblo, and tho night was
as the night hnd been.
And as the light camo back 1 gated upon
thut which had been left within my hand
It wus a bud of tho holy lotus new break
Inc into bloom, nnd therofrom came a mos
sweot s ivint.
And ns I pared thereon, behold 1 tho lotus
passed from out my grasp und vauished,
leaving mo astonishoa.
cnAPTKIt IV.
OT TnK nsrAnTCUB oi- iiAnvxcms in ot
niS MKETINO WITn HIS CNCIX fir.TA, mis
man rmssT ok or; or ius urn at on, a.nd
or tub wonDS or ski a.
T THE dawning of
tho next day I was
awnkoned by a priest
of tho Tomple, who
brought word to mo
to make ready for
tho journey wheroof
my father had spoken,
Inasmuch ns thero was
nn occasion for mo to pass
down the river to Annu el
Ra. Now, this is tho Hell
opolis of tho Greeks,
whither I should go in tho
company of some priests of
Ptah nt Momll who had como
""" hither to Abouthis to lay tho
body of ono of their great men in tho tomb
that had been prepared no:.r tho resting
placo of tho blossed Osiris. So I mado
rady, nnd tho sumo evening, having ro
ccivod lottor.i nnd embraced my father nnd
thoso about tho Templo who wero dear to
mo, I passed down to tho bunks of Sihor,
and wo sailed with tho south wind. As the
p'.iot stood upoa tho prow nnd with a rod in
his hand bado tho sailor men loosen the
stakes whorowlth tho vessel wns moored to
tho banks, tho old wife, Atoua, hobbled up,
her basket of simples in her hand, nnd calling
out her fare woll, throw a sandal after me for
good chance, which sandal I kept for many
years. And so wo snlled, and for six days
passed down the wondorful river, malting
fast each night at somo convenient spot.
But whon I lost sight of tho familiar
things that I had seon day by day since I
had eyes to seo, und found myself alone
among strnngo faces, I foil soro ut heart,
and would havo wept had I not been
ashamed. And of nil tho wonderful things
I saw I will not writo here, for, though they
wero new to mo, havo they not boen known
to meu sinco such tlmo as the gods rulo In
Egypt! But tho priests who woro with me
showed mo no llttlo honor, and expounded
to me what woro tho things I saw. And on
tho morning of tho seventh day wo came
to Momfl, tho city of tho Whlto Willi. Horo
for threo days I rested from my journey
and was entertained of tho priests of tho
wonderful Tomplo oj Ptah tho Creator, nnd
shown the beauties of tho great and mar
velous city. Also was I led in socrot by the
High Priest and two othors into tho holy
presence of tho god Apis, tho Ptnh who
dcisns to dwoll umougmon In tho form of
a bull. Tho god was black, and on his fore
head thero was n whlto equuro and on his
back was a whlto mark shaped liko an
eagle, and beneath his tonguo was tho like
ness of a Bcarabumis, und in his tall woro
double hairs, and between his horns was a
plate of puro gold. I entered tho placo of
the god and worshiped whilo tho High
Priest and thoso with him stood asldo nnd
earnestly watched. Ami whou I had wor
shiped, saying tho words which had boon
told unto mo, tho god knelt, and lay
down before mo. Aud then tbo High
Priest and Hiobo with hira, who, as I heard
in aftortlme, wero great men of Upper
Egypt, approached wondering, nnd, saying
no word, mado obeisunco to mo becauso of
tho omen. And many other things I saw
in Meinft thut uro too long to writo ol
here.
On the fourth day camo socno prlosts ol
Annu to lead mo unto Sepa my undo, the
High Priest of Aunu. Bo, having bid faro
well to thoso of Mcmil, we crossed the river
and rode on asses two parts of u day's jour
ney through many villages, which wo found
In great povorty because of tho oppression
of tho tax gutherers. Also, cs wo went, i
for tho first timo saw tbo groat pyramids
that are beyond tho iinugo of the god Ilo
remku (tho Sphinx), and tho temples of the
Divino Mother Isls, Qucou of Memnoniu,
und tho god Osiris, Lord of Rosutou, ot
which Temples, together with the Tomplo
of the worship of the Slvlno Monka-ra, I,
Harmucnis, am by right divino the Hered
itary High Priest. I saw them und mar
veled at tholr greatness and at the white
carven limestone und red granite of Syeno
that flashed in tho sun's ruys back to
Heaven. But at this timo I know untight
of tho troasuro that was hid In 7fr, which
Is thn third among tho Pyramids would I
bad never known of it!
And so at lust we i-amo within sight of
Annu, whli'h utter Memll huth been seen
Is no largo town, but stands on raised
ground, before whu-h uro lakes fod by a
canal. Behind tho town Is tho great
teinenos (tnclosuro) of tho Tomplo of the
God IU.
At tho pylon wo dismounted, and beneath
the portico wero wo met by nraun not groat
of growth, but of noblo aspect, having his
head stuivon, und with dark oyes that
twinkled liko the further stars.
"Hold I" ho cried, In u largo voico that fit
tod his weak body but ill. "Hold I I um
Bepa, who opens tho mouth of tho godsl"
"And J," I said, "am Harmaehis, son of
Amonemh&t, Hereditary High Priest and
ltulor of tho Holy City Abouthis; and I boar
letters to theo, O Sepal"
"Enter," ho said. "Knterl" scannlngmo
all tho whilo with his twlnjdintf eyejv "En-
rM0
4
itt, try?--t- --a-nr-tfor-ao ana lea h
to a chamber in the Inner hall close to
tho door; and then, having glanced at tho
letters I brought, ho of a sudden fell upon
my neck and embraced me.
"Welcome 1" ho oned; "welcome, son of
my own sister and hope of Kb em I Not In
rain ktv 1 prayed the gods that I might
Mr to look upon thy face and Impart to thee
tk wisdom that, perchance, I alone have
mattered of those who are left tllve In
Egypt. Few thero are whom it is ltwfnl
thtt I should teach. But thino Is ths great
destlty, tnd thino shnll bo tho cars to ktr
th lessons of tho gods."
ad tc mr ho embraced me and hade
m g tod bttka and eat, saying thtt on tho
morrow h would speak with me further.
Atd of truth ho did, and at suoh length
thtt 1 will fsrboar to sot down til he ttld
both then tnd tfterward, for if I did so
thsr would b no papyrus left in Egypt
when tho task was ended. Therefore, hav
ing much to tell, and perchance but llttlo
tint to tell It, will I pass over tho events of
th years that followed.
Tor this wtt tho manner of my life. 1
roe early, 1 attended the worship of tho
Temple, tnd I gr.vo my days to study. I
learned ef the rites of rollgion and their sig
nificance, and of tho beginning of the gods
and the beginning of tho Upper World. I
learned of the mystery of tho movements
of ths sttrs, tnd of how tho earth rolls on
among them. I wns instructed In thtt tn
clont knowledge which is called magic, and
in thn way of intoritrotutlon ofdroams, and
of th drawing nigh to God. I was taught
the language of symbols and the outer ami
inner secrets thtreof. I became toqutlnted
with the intorntl laws of prod tnd evil, and
with th mystery of thtt trust which is
hold of mat; tUo I learned the secrets ot
the pyramid! which 1 would that I had
nevr knorrn. .Further, I read the records
of The"pasv,-nd oitsd cors -ana wsrus ot
the tnolent kings who were before mo
since the rule of Horus upon esrta; tnd I
was made to learn all oraft ef state, the
lore of earth, tnd with It the records of
Greoc tad Rome. Also I lvtrned th Gre
cian and the Roman tongues, of which In
deed I already had some knowledge and
all this while, even for fire year, I kept aiy
hands olstn and my heart pur, and did no
ertl In the sight of God or man; but la
bored heavily to ucqulro all things, and to
preptro myself for tbo destiny that await
ed mo.
Twice every year camo grootlngs nnd let
ters from my fathor, Amonombat, and twice
every yoar I sent back my nnswers asking
if tho time had como to ccaso from labor.
And to the days of my probation sped away
till I grew faint nnd weary nt honrt, for be
ing now a man, uy, and learned, I longed to
ciake n beginning ot the life of men. And
efttlmes 1 wonderod if this tnlk and prophe
cy of tho things thero woro to bo was but n
dream born of tho brains of men whoso
wish ran beforo tholr thought. 1 was, in
deed, of tho royal blood, that I knew; for
ray uncle, Sepa, tho Priest, showed mo tho
secret record of tho doscont, tracod without
break from fathor unto son, and graven in
mystic symbols upon a tablet of tho stono of
Syeno. But of what avail was it to be royal
by right whon Egypt, my heritage, was n
slavo a slave to do tho pleasure and minis
ter to tho luxury of tho Macedonian Lagldna
ay, nnd whon sho had boon so long a serf
that, porchanco, sho had forgot how to put
off tho servilo smllo of boudugo and onco
moro to look across the world with free
dom's glorious oyes!
And then I bethought mo of my prayer
upon tho pylon tower of Abouthis nnd of
the answer to my prayor, and wondored If
that, too, wero a dream.
Aud ono night, ns, weary with study, I
walked within tho sacred grovo that Is Iu
tho temenos of tho Tomplo, and thought
such thoughts as those, I mot my Undo
Bept, who also was walking and thinking.
"Hold 1" ho crlod, in his great voice;
"why is thy faco so sad, Hnrmaohlsl Hath
the Inst problom that wo studied over
whelmed theo!"
"Nay, my undo," I answered. "I am
verwhehucd, indeed, but not of tho
problem; it was a light ono. My heart Is
heavy within me, for I am nwonry of llfo
within thoso cloisters, aud tho pllod-up
weight of knowledgo crushos me. It Is of
no avail to storo up force which can not bo
used."
"Ah! thou nrt impatlont, narmachls," ho
answered; "it Is ovor tho way of foolish
youth. Thou wouldst tasto of tho battle;
thou dost weary of watching tho breakers
fall upon tho shore, thou wouldst plungo
therein und venturo tho dosperato hazard
STILL SUB HITS LIKW TONDKIl SI'HINX AND
SMILES.
or tho war. And so thou wouldst bo going,
Harmnchls! Tho bird would fly tho ncsl
as, whon they are grown, the swallows fly
from boneath tlio eaves of tho Temple.
Well, It shall bo as thou dcslrest; tho hour
is at hand. I havo taught theo nil that I
havo learned, anil muthinka that the pupil
hath outrun his muster." And ho paused
tnd wiped his blight, black eyes, for hs
was vory Had ut tho thought of ray depart
ure. ' And whlthor shall I go, my uncle!" I
asked, rejoicing; "back to Abouthis to bo
initiated In the mystery of the Gods!"
"Ay, back to Abouthis, nnd from Atouthij
to Aloxiindrlu, and from Alexandria to the
throne of thy fathers, O Harinachls 1 Listen,
now; thing' are thus: Thou knowest how
Cloopatra, tho Queen, lied Into Syria when
that false ounueh Pothlnus sot tho will ol
Auletes ut untight nnd raised her brothoi
Ptolomy to tho solo lordship of Egypt. Thou
knowest ulso how sho camo back, liko I
Queen indeed, with a groat unny in hoi
train, and lay ut Pelusun, und how at thli
juncture the mighty C'lesar, that groat man,
that greatest of all men, sailed with u weak
company hither to Alexandria from Phur
talla's bloody field In hot pursultof l'ompoy,
Rut ho found Pompey already dead, having
been basely murdered by Achillas, tho Gen
eral, and Lucius Septlrnius, tho chief of tin
Roman loglons in Egypt; and thou knowest
how tho Alexandrians wero troublod at hit
coming and would have sluln his llctors,
.Then", as thou bust heard, Cuisar seized
Ptolomy, tho young King, aud his slstei
Arsinoo, and bado tho army of Cleopatra
and .tuo uruiy of Ptolemy, tinker Achillas.
wTnciiTay'ruct.TK outtrotntr-at rerasim, dis
band and go their ways. And fot
answer Achillas marched on Cresar and be
sieged him straltly in tho Bruobium at
Alexandria, and bo, for awhile, things
were, nnd nono know who should rctgn in
Egypt. But then Cloopatra took up the dice
and tnrew them, andithls was tho throw sho
made In truth it was ft bold one. For,
leaving tho army at Peluslm, sho came at
dusk to tho harbor of Alexandria, and alone
with tho Sicilian Apollodorus entered and
landed. Than did Apollodorus bind her in
a bale of rich rugs, such as aro mado in
Syria, and sont tho rugs as a presont to
Cmsnr. And when tho rugs wore unbound
in tho palace, behold I within them was the
fairest girl on all tho oarth ay, nnd the
most witty and the most learned. And sha
seduced the groat Cmsar oven his wolght
of years did not avail to protect him from
her charms so that, as a fruit of his folly,
ho woll-uigh lost his llfo nnd all tho glory
ho had gained in a hundred wars."
"Tho fool!" I broko In, "tho fool! Thou
cnllcst him great, but how can tho man who
hath no strength to standngnlnsta woman's
wiles bo truly great! Cansr, with the
world hanging on bis word I Cesar, at
whoso broath forty legions marchod and
changed tho fato of peoples! Cicsar, the
cold! tho far-soolg! tho horo! Cnnar, to
fall liko n ripe fruit Into a fait girl's lapl
Why, in tho issue, of what common day
wns this Roman Crnsnr, and how poor a
thing!"
But Sepa looked at mo and shook his
head.
"Bo not so rash, Harmaehis, nnd talk not
with so proud a voico. Knowost thou not
that lu overy suit of mall thoro Is a joint,
and woo to him that wears it if tho sword
should search It out. For woman, tn hor
weakness, Is yot tho strongest forco upon
the earth. Sho Is tho holm of til things
human; she comes in many shapes and
knocks ut irntny doors; sho is quiok and
patient, nnd her passion Is not ungovern
able liko that of man, but as a gentle steed
that sho esu roiidb o'on whero she will, and
as occasion offers can now bit up aud now
give ro'n. She hath u captain's eye, and
strong must be tho fortress of the heart
wheroln sho finds no placo of vantage-
Doth thy blood beat fast In youth! sho will
outrun It, nor will hor kisses tire. Art,
thou set toward ambition! sbo will unlock
thy Inner heart, tnd show theo secret roadt
that lead to glory. Art thou worn tnd
weary I she htth comfort In her breast.'
Art thou fallen! she can lift thea up.
and to -Jho illusion of. thv senir.jM
acTeat wiin triumph. Ay,- Btrmacuit,
thoso things she can do, for Natur
ever fights upon her side; and tho whilo
sho does them sho can decelvu and shapa a
Bccret end in which thou hast no part. And
tlnis woman rules the world. For hor ara
wars; for her men spend their strength in
gathering galas; for her they do well anil
111, and soekforgroatnoss and find forgotful
ness. And all tho whilo sho sits liko yonder
Sphinx, and smiles; und no man huth over
read nil tho rlddlo of hor smiles or known
all tho mystery of her heart. Mock nott
mock not I Harmnohis; for strong ludeodi
must ho bo who can defy tho power ot
woman, which, pressing round him liko thn
gonorulnir, Is ofttlmes most present wheu
tho senses least discover it." i
I laughed aloud. "Thou sponkest oarn
estly, O, my undo Sepa," I said; "almost
mlgnt ono think that thou hadst not coma
uiiEcuthod through this llorco llro of tempta
tion. Well, for myself, I fear not woman
and nil her wiles; naught know I of them,
and naught do I wish to know; uad I still
hold that this Cicsnr was a fool. Had I
stood whero Cmsur stood, to cool Its wan
tonness that balo of rugs should havo been
rolled udown tho pulaco steps, oven into the)
harbor of mud."
"Nay, coasol coaso!" ho orlod aloud.
"Evil is it to speak thus; and may tho gods
avert tho omen and prosorvo to theo thla
cold strength wheroof thou boastost! O
man, thou knowest not! thou in thy
strength and beauty that is without com
pare, lu tho power of thy learning nnd tho
Bweotncss of thy tonguo thou knowest
not I Tho world whore thou must mixta
not n sanctuary ns that of tho divino Isls,
But thero It may bo so! Pray that thy
heart's Ico may never melt, so shalt tbou ba
groat und happy and Egypt bo delivered.
And now lot mo tuko up my tolo thou
seest, Harmaehis, even In so grave a story
woman claims hor placo. Tho young
Ptolomy, Cleopatra's brother, being loosed
of Cujsar, treucherously turned on him.
Thereon Cmsur and Mlthrldates stormed
tho camp of Ptolomy, who took to flight
across tho river. But his boat was sunk by
tho fugitlvos who pressed upon it, aud such
was tho miserable end of Ptolomy.
"Theroou, tho war boing ondod, Cxsar
appointed tho younger Ptolemy to rula
with Cloopatra, aud be, iu namo, her
husband, though sho had but thon
borno him a son, Cmsarion, und ha
himself departed for Romo, bearing with
him tho beautiful Princess Arsinoo to
follow bis triumphs in hor chains. But tho
great Cicsur is no moro. Ho died as ho had
lived, in blood, and right royally. And but
now hath Cleopatra, tho Quoon, If my tid
ings may bo trusted, slain Ptolomy, her
brother nnd hor husband, by poison, and
taken the child Caxsarion to bo hor fellow
on tho throne, which sho holds by tho hole
of tho Romo loglons, and, as they say, ol
young Sextus Pompelus, who hath. suc
ceeded Cuisar In her lovo. But, Harmaehis,
tho whole land bolls and soothes against
her. In ovory city tho children of Khora
talk of the deliverer who is to como and
thou urt ho, O Harmaehis. Almost is the
tlmo ripe. Tho hour is nigh at hand. Ga
thou back to Abouthis aud learn tho last
secrots of tho gods, und meet thoso who
shnll direct tho bursting of tho storm. And
then uct, Harmuuhls act, I say, and strike
homo for Khem, and rid tho land of ths
Roman and tho Greek, and take thy place
upon tlio thronuof thy fnthors and boa King
th men. For unto this end wast tbou born.
O Prince I"
In Iiluclc und Whlto.
It is always diflleult to make peoplo appre
ciate tho fact which is certainly n fact
things Mild lu tho black und whlto forceful
nuas nnd ieriiiiiiieiicu of n letter uro fur mors
eireetivo thiui they would havo lieeii If they
had been hiokcii. Tho writer meant them
just us he would have meant them had he
Mild them, mid ho does not hi tho least ro
fleet that, by tho losa of accent, look nnd ges
ture, tho thing ho writes may bo widely dif
ferent from thu thing ho would Imvosaid.
Thero huvo been countless tuiarrols engen
dered by things written in nil Innocence, aud
which would havo hud no such cll'ect had
they been delivered by tho living voice,
Pooplu vent their petulance iu word, aud
easily correct the Impro&Ioii Uy following it
with n fcinilo of uology, u gluuco thut soft
tns, or a word which module. All of tlxuta
things uru, of course, wanting in tlio casoof
u letter. Thu words tell for their worst, aud
In tlioubbcncu of tho writer thero is nothing
to moderate the annoyance to which they
glvo rise. Liverpool Courier
i I,. , , i -
Jars concealed are half reconclloj; whilo
'tis a doubio tusk to stop tho breach nt homo
and men's mouths abroad. To this end a
good husband never publicly reproves his
wife. An ojien reproof puts her to do jien
nnco beforo ull that aro prewmt, after which
many study revenge rather than reforma
tion. Fuller.