CLEOPATRA.
Being an Account of the Fall and
Venceance of Harmachis, the
Royal Egyptian,
AS SET FORTH BY HIS OWN HAND.
By II. Rider Haggard,
Author of "-King Solomon's Mines,"
"Sho," "Allan Quntermnln,"
Etc., Etc., Etc.
""This is a heavy matter, O Queen," I
said. "I had wished to show ttpou what
circumstance I huso my forecast."
"Nay, not so, Harmachis; I liavo wearied
of the ways of stars. Ihou hast prophesied;
AND NOW HEU LII'S MET MINE.
that is enough for mo; fop, doubtless, being
honest, tliou liast written honestly. There
fore, savo thou thy reasons and we'll bo
merry. What shall wo do? I could danco
to thee none there aro who can dance so
well but it would scarce bo queenly. Kay,
I have It: I will sing." And, leaning for
ward, she raised herself, ami, bonding tho
harp toward her, struck some wandering
chords. Then htr low voico broke out in
perfect and most sweet song.
And thus she sang:
NiKht on tho sea, ami nlijit upon tho slty,
And muslo In our hearts, wo floated there,
Lulled by tho low sea voices, thou and I,
And tho wind's kisses In my clouJy hair;
And thou didst kuzo on mo and call mo fair
Enfolded I tho starry robo of night
And then thy sing mi thrilled upon tho air,
Volco of tho heart's deslro and Lovo's do
liKht. Adrift, with starlit bkles above,
With starlit sous below,
Wo move with nil tho suns that move.
With all tho seas that How;
For, bond or tree, Karth, Sky and Soa
Wheel w th ono circling will,
JVnd thy hen: t driftoth on to mo,
And only Timo stands still.
Botwoen two shores of Death wo drift,
Uchiud aro things forgot:
Beforo tho tlilo is driving swift
To lands beholden not.
Above, tho sky is fair aul cold;
Below, tho moaning sea
Sweeps o'er tho loves that woro of old,
But, O Lovcl k.ss thou mo.
Ah, lonely nro tho ocean wnys,
And dangerous tho doop,
And frail tho fa.ry bark that strays
Abovo tho seas asleep 1
Ah, tod no moro at sail nor oar;
Wo drift, or bond or freo;
On yon far shoro tho breakers roar.
But, O Lovo 1 kiss thou me.
And ever as thou sangest I drow near,
Thon suaden s.lenco hoard our hearts that
beat.
For now thnro was nn end of doubt and foar,
Now passions filled my soul and lod my foot;
Then silent didst thou rise, thy lovo to moot.
Who, sinking on thy broast, know naught
but thru.
And in tho happy night I kissed thee, Swoot,
Ah Sweotl betweon tho starlight and tho
sea.
Tho lust echoes of her rich notes floated
flown tho chamber and slowly died uway;
but in my heart thoy rolled on and on. I
havo beard among tho woman singers at
Abouthls voices moro perfect than tho
roico of Cleopatra, but novor havo I heard
ono so thrilling or so sweet with passion's
honey-notes. And indeed 'twas not tho
roico ulone; 'twas tho perfumed chamber
wherein was set all that could move tho
sonso; 'twas tho passion of tho thought
and words, and tho surpassing graeo and
loveliness of that most royal woman who
sane them. For, ns she sang, almost did
I scorn to think that wo twain wero indeed
floating tilouo with tho night, upon tho
wide, dark, summer sea. And when sho
ceased to touch tho harp, nnd, rising, sud
denly stretched out her arms toward mo,
and,with tho last low notes of song yet
quivering upon her lips, let fall tho wonder
of her eyes upon my 03-es, almost did she
draw mo to her. Hut I remembered, nnd
would not.
"Hast thou. then, no word of thanks for
my poor sing'ng, Hurmuchis?" sho said at J
length.
"Yea, O Queen," I answered, speaking
very low, for my voice was evoked; "but
thy songs nro not good for tho sons of men
to hear of a truth thoy ovorwholm mo I"
"Nay, Harmachis; for thee there Ib no
fear," tiho said, laughing softly "seeing
that I know how L.r thy thoughts aro sot
from woman's beauty nnd tho common
weakness of thy sex. With cold iron va
may safely toy."
I thought within myself that coldest iron
can bo brought to whitest heat if but tho
tiro bo fierce enough. Hut I said naught,
und, though my hand trembled, onco moro I
grasped tho dagger's hilt, nnd, wild with
fear at my own weakness, set myself to find
h means to slay her while- yet my sonso re
mained. "Oomo hither, Harmachis," sho went on,
hi her softest voice. "Come, sit by me, und
wo will talk togothcr; fori havo much to
tell theo." And sho mndo place for mo at
her Bido upon tho silken seat.
And I, thinking that I might tho moro
swiftly strike, rosoiind seated mysoii some
llttlo way from her, whllo, flinging back
Uor head, sho gazed on mo with her slum
berous eyos.
Now was my occasion, for her white
throat and breast wero bare, uuu, with a
mighty effort, onco ngalu 1 lifted my hand
to clutch the nagger hilt. Hut, moro quick
than thought, fcho caught my lingers with
hor own und gently hold thorn.
"Why look st thou so wildly, Ear
xnaohisl" sboBald. "Art sick?"
'Ay, sick Indeed," I gasped.
"Then lean thou upon Uio cushion and
rest thee," sho answered, still holding my
haud, wherofrom tho strength had fled.
"Tho lit will surely pass. Too long hast
thou labored with thy stars. How soft Is
tho night utr that flows from yonder c.se
nunit. tui.-ivvivitli th breath of lilies! Hark
to tho whisper of tho sea lapping aguinst
tho rooks, that, though faint It is, yet, being ,
so strong, doth almost drown tho quick, cool ,
fall of yonder inoutitain. List to Philomel;
how swoot from a full heart of love ho
sings hor message to her dearl Surely 'tis
a lovely night, and most beautiful is
.nature's music sung with a. hundred voices
'II II! A
from wind and trees niiCl birds nnd ocean's
wrinkled Hps, nnd yet sung nil to tunc
Listen, Harmachis; something havo I
guessed concerning thee. Thou, too, art of
a royal raoe; no humblo blood jwurs in
thoso veins of thine. Surely such n shoot
could spring but from tho stock of Princes I
What I gazest thou at tho leaf mark on my
breast? 'Tuns pricked thero lit honor of
Osiris, whom wi. It theo I worship. Soo I"
"Let mo hence," 1 groaned, striving to
rise; but nil tr.y strength had gone.
"Nay, not yet nwhilc. Thou wouldst not
lcavo mo yet I Thou ovist not leave me yet.
Harmachis, hast thou never loved I"
I "Nay, nay, O Queen 1 What havo 1 to do
with lovo I Let mo hence I 1 am faint for
done I"
"Never to havo loved 'tis strange 1
Never to havo known souio woman-heart
beat all in tuuo to thine novor to have
seen tho eyes of thy adored n-swlm with,
passion's tears as sho sighed her vows
upon thy breast 1 Never to havo loved!
never to havo lost thyself in the mystery
of another's soul; nor to havo learned how
Nature can overcome our naked loneli
ness, and with tho golden web of lovo of
twain weave ono identity? Why, 'tis
never to havo lived, Hununchis!"
And ever ns sho murmured sho drow
nearer to me, till at last, with n long, sweet
sigh, she. flung ono white arm about my
neck, und gazing upon mo with blue, un
fathomable eyes, smiled her dark, slow
smile, that, liko an opening flower, re
vealed beauty within beauty hidden.
Nearer sho bent her queenly form and still
more near now hor perfumed breath
played upon my hair, and now her lips met
mine!
Ami, woo is mo! in that kiss, moro dead
ly nnd moro strong than tho embraco ol
death, wero forgotten lsis, my Heavenly
Hoj.c, Oaths, Honor, Country, Friends, uli
things savo that Cleopatra clasped mo m
her arms and called mo Lovo and Lord.
"Now pledge me," sho murmured
"pledgo me ono cup of wino in token of thy
love."
I took tho draught, nnd deep I drank
and then too lato 1 know that it win
drugged.
Buck I fell upon tho couch, nnd, thougl
my senses still were with me, I could
neither speak nor rise.
Hut Cleopatra, bending over mo, drott
tho dagger from my robo.
"J'reii'ju" sho cried, shaking back hoi
Jong haii, "I've won, und for tho stako oi
Egypt why, 'twas a game worth playing'
With this dagger, then, thou wouldst huv
Blaiu me, O my Royal rival, whoso myn
nildons e'en now aro gathered ut,my palac
gate? Art still awake J Now, what hin
ders mo that I should not plunge it to th
heartl"
I heard nnd feebly pointed to my breast,
for fain was I todio. Sho drew herself to the
.,., ,'jr'.i iAMmm
"I've won!" sue cim:i.
full of her imperial height, and tho great
knife glittered in her hand. Down it caina
till its edges pricked my flesh.
"Na3'," sho cried again, nnd cast it from
her, "too well I liko theo. Pity 'twero to
lny such a .man ! .1 give, theo thy. life.
Livo on, lost Pharaoh ! Llvo on, poor fallen
Thing, blasted by n women's wit! Livo on,
Hnrmuchis to adorn my triumph!"
Then sight left mo; and in my ears 1 only
heard tho song of tho nightingato, tho mur
mur ot the sea, and tho music of Cleo
patra's laugh. And ns 1 sank nway tlia
sound of that low lnugh still followed mo
into the land of steep, and still it follows
mo through lifo to death.
CHAPTER, XV.
OF THE AWAltINQ OF HAHMACTIIS; Ot ITHB
SIGHT OF DEATIf, OF THE COMINU OF CtEO
PATHA. AND OF UEIt MANY COMFOKTAOI.H
WOUDS.
MORE I a wo (to;
'twas to And myself
in my own chamber.
I started up. Surely
I, too, hud dreamed a
dream. It could bo
nothing but u dream.
It could not bo that I
wolto to know myself
a traitor 1 That tho
iL over I That 1 had bo-
trayed tho cause, and that
light thoso bravo men,
aded by my undo, had
altcd in vain at tho outer
gatol That Egypt from Abu unto Athu
was oven now waiting waiting In vain!
Nay, whatever else might bo, this could not
bo I Oh, 'twas an awful dream that I had
dreamed 1 A second such would slay a
man 1 'Tworo hotter to dio than to faco
such another vision sunt from hell. Hut
though tho thing was naught but a hateful
fantasy of a mind o'orstralued, whero was I
now? Whero was 1 now? 1 should bo in
tho Alabaster Hull, waiting till Charmlon
camo forth.
Whero was I J And, O yo gods 1 what was
that dreadful thing whoso shupo was as tho
shapoofa man? thntthlng draped inblood
stained whito and huddled in a hideous heap
even at tho foot of the couch whereon I
seemed to lie?
With a shriek I sprang at it, as a Hon
springs, and struck with all my strength.
Heavily fell tho blow, and beneath Its
weight tho thing rolled over upon its sido.
Half mad with terror, I rent nway tho
whito covering; and there, his knees bound
boneatb his hanging Jaw, was tho Lulled
body of a man and that man tho Roman
Captain PaulusI Thero ho lay, through his
heart a dagger my dagger, handlid with
tho pbiux of gold I und piuned by it
hUdo to his broad breast a scroll, and, on
the scroll, writing iu it Roman character.
I drow near and read, and this was tbt
writing;
UAJlilACniDt'SA L YEHE-EGO'S UM'QUEM.
sun unit t: xuias j'a vi us ton ax-
US- VISCE- JlXC- Q UW-VJlOOSnE'
VIIOSIT.
"Oruting, llarmaehit! J vat that lioman Pa'
tut tcfiam tliou dldit luborn, ' now Ac if llttttti
art traltortt"
Kick and faint I staggered buck from tho
sight of that whito corpse stainod with its
own blood, filuk and faint I staggered
back, till tho wall stayed me, whllo without
tLz birds sang a merry greeting to tho day.
Bolt was no dream, and I was lostl lostl
lost!
J Uioucht of my asedJatLex AUtf nornhot.
mm
ansaknai i
irfc lastr
' Tea, tho vlolon of ITlm nnsnori:rtti my imou,
us ho would bo when they came to tell Ldnt
, ;ns son's shamo nnd tho run of his hops.
I 1 thought of that patriot priest, my undo
Sepa, waiting tho long night through for
tho signal which never eatno. Ah, r.nd
another thought followed swift ! 11. w
muid it go with them? I was not the oly
traitor. 1, too, hud been betrayed. H.v
whom? Hy yonder Patilus, iorchonoe. If
or oast
"so i:r messekoeu has Fot sn Trotr I"
twero Paulus, ho know but llttlo of thoso
who conspired with mo. Hut in my robo
had been tho svr-t lists. O Amen! thy
wero gone! and tho fate of P.iulus would
bo tho fate of all tho patriots of Egypt. And
tit this thought my mind gave way. I sank
tttid swooned even whero I stood.
My sonso camo back to mo and lengthen
ing shadows told mo that It was afternoon.
1 staggered to my feet; there still was tho
corpse of Paulus, keeping Its awful watch
abovo me. Desperately 1 ran to tho door.
'Twas b.irred, und without I heard tho tramp
of sentinols. As I stood, they challenged and
grounded their spears. Then tho bolts shot
bad?, tho door opened, and radiant, chid In
Royal uttire, camo tho conquering Cleo
patra. Alono sho came, and tho door was
shut behind her. 1 stood liko ono distraught;
but she swept on till sho was faco to faco
with me.
"Greeting. Ilarinaehis," sho said, smiliig
sweetly. "So my messenger has fouud
thee I" nnd slio pointed to tho corpse of
Paulus. "I'ahl ho has an ugly look. Hoi
guards !"
Tho door was opened, and two armed
Gauls stopped across tho threshold.
"Take away this carrion," said Cleopatra,
"and fling it to tho kites. Stay, draw that
dagger from his traitor breast." Tho men
bowed low, and tho knife, rusted red Willi
blood, was dragged from the heart of Paulus
and laid upon tho table. Thon thoy seized
him by tho head and boiy and staggorcd
thence, mid I heard their heavy footfalls as
they boro him down tho stairs.
"Mettiiuks, H.iruiaelna, thou art in nn
evil causo I" she said, wticu.tho sound of tho
footfalls had died away. "How strangely
doth tho wheel of Fortuuoturnl Hut for
that traitor," and sho nodded toward tho
door by which tho corpse of Paulus had
been carried, "I should now bo as ilia thing
to look on as ho is. nnd the red rust on yon
der knifo would havo been gathered from
I my heart."
So it was Paulus who had betrayed mo.
"Ay," sho wont on, "and when thou
earnest to mo last night, well 1 Hncw that
thou earnest to slay. When, tlmo upon
time, thou didst place thy hand within thy
robe, I know that It grasped a daggor-hllt,
and thou wast gathering thy courago to tho
deed which little thou didst love to do. Oh I
it was iv strange, wild hour well worth tho
living, and greatly, from moment to mo
ment, did I wonder which of us twain would
conquer, as wo matched guilo with guile
und forco to force.
"Yea,- Harmacliis, tho guards tramp be
fore thy door, but bo not deceived. Knew I
not that I do hold theo to mo by bonds moro
strong than prison chains; know 1 not
that I am hedged from ill ut thy hands by
a fenco of honor moro hard for theo to pass
than all tho spears of all my legions, tiiou
hadst been dead oro now, Harmachis. See,
hero is thy knife." And sho handed mo tho
dagger. "Now slay mo if thou canst." And
sho drew neur and toro open tho bosom of
her robe, and stood waiting with calm oyes,
"Thou canst not slay me," sho went on,
"for thero nro things, us I know well, that
no man no such man as thou art may do
und llvo; and this is tho chief of them to
slay tho woman who Is all his own. Nay,
stay thy hand! Turn not that dagger
against thy breast; for if mo thou mayst
not slay, by how much tho moro muyst thou
not slay thyself, O thou forsworn Priest
of lsis! Art thou, then, so eager to faco
that outraged Majesty In Amcnti? With
what oyes, thinkost thou, will tho Heavenly
Mother look up m her sou who, shamed in
all things and fulso to his most sacred vow,
comes to greet Hor, his llfo-blood on his
hands? Whero, then, will bo tho space for
thy atonement if, indeed, thou muyst
atono!"
Thon I could boar no moro, for my hoart
was broken within mo. Alas! it was too
truo I dared not dio. To such a pass was
I como that I did not even daro to die I I
flung myself upon tho couch und wopt
wept tears of blood und anguish.
Hut Cleopatra camo to me, and, seating
herself besldo me, sho strove to comfort
me, throwing her arms about my nock.
"Nay, Lovo, look up," sho said. "All is
not lost for thee, nor am 1 angered against
theo. Wo did play a mighty game; but us
I warned thee, I matched my woman's
magiu ugainst thino, and 1 havo conquered.
Hut I will bo open with theo. Hoth as
Queen and woman thou hast my pitj ay,
und moro; nor do I lovo to seo theo plunged
lu sorrow. Well wan It and rignt that thou
shouldst strivo to win bad: that th -ono my
father seized, und tho undent liberty of
Egypt Myself us a lawful Queen had dona
tho sumo, nor shrunk from tho deed of
darkness whereto I was sworn. Therein,
then, thou hast my sympathy, that goes
ovor out to what is great and bold. Well is
It also that thou shouldst griovo ovor
tho greatness of thy fall. Therein,
then, as woman as loving woman thou
hast my sympathy. Nor is nil lost, Tho
plan was foolish -for, as I hold, Egypt
never might havo stood alono; for though
thou hadst won tho crown und country, at
without a doubt thou must havo done, yet
was tjioro tho Roman to bo reckoned with.
And for thy hopo learn this: Llttlo um I
known. Thero is no heart lu this wide land
that bents with a truer lovo for iinciout
KIkiiu tiiuii does this heart of inin; uuy,
not thino own, Uarrnachla. Hut heavily
bnvy 1 beun shackled hortttiforo, for wars,
rebellions, cnviuti, plots havo hemmed mo
tn ou every side, no that I might not horvo
my people us I would. Hut thou, Hur
machls, shalt show mo how. Thou shall be
my counselor und my lovo. Is It a little
thing, O Hurmudils, to havo won tho heart
of Cleopatra, that heart Ho on thool that
thou wouldst have stilled I Ay, thou shalt
undo mo to my iwoplo, und together will wo
reign, linking thus in ono tho now kingdom
and the old. Thus do all things work for
good ay, for the vory best and thus, by
unotber and u gentler road, shalt thou climb
to Pharaoh's throne.
'Boo thou this, Harmachis : thy treachery
shall be clouked about as much as may be.
Was it, then, thy fault that a Roman
knave betrayed thy plans? that, thereon,
.i U HI r
thou wast uruggcS, Hiy secret papers
stolen and their key guessed I Will it,
then, bo a blamo to theo that, tho great
plot being broken Sail thoso who built it
scattered, thou, still faithful to thy trust,
didst servo theo of such means ns Nature
gavothce, and win tho heart of Egypt's
Queen, that, through her gentlo love, thou
mlghtcst yet nttam thy ends and spread
thy wings of power ncrtw.i tho rolling Nile ?
Am 1 nn ill-counselor, thiukost thou,
Hnrmaehis!"
1 lifted my head, nnd n ray of hopo crept
Into tho darkness of my heart; for when
men fall they grasp at feathers. Then, for
tho first tune, I spoke.
"And thoso with mo thoso who trusted
mo - what of thejrj"
Ay, ' slio answered, -Amcucnmat, tny
father, tho nged Priest of Abydos; nnd
Sepa, thy uncle, that fiery patriot, whoso
great heart Is hid beneath so common u
shell of form; nnd"
Methought sho wo(Jd havo said Char
niion, but sho i.atnod her not.
"And mauv others oh, 1 know them all 1"
"Ay I" I said, "what of tliouil"
"Seo thou, Hnrmaehis," sho answered,
raising and placing her baud upon my arm,
"forthysakol will show mercy to them.
No moro will I do than must bo done. 1
swear by my throno and by all tho Gods of
Egypt that not one hair of tiy aged father's
head shall bo harmed by me; und, if it bo
not too late, thy uncle Sepu will I also
spare, ay, and tho others. 1 will not do as
did my forefather Epiphanes, who, when
tho Egyptians roso against him, dragged
Athinis, Pauslras, Chesuphus and lrobash
tus, bound to his chariot not as Achilles
dragged Hector, but yet living round tho
city walls. I will sparo them all, savo tho
Hebrews, if thero bo any Hebrews; for tho
Jews 1 halo."
"Thero aro no Ilobrows," I said.
"It Is well," sho said, "for no Hobrow
will I over sparo. Am I then, Indeed, so
cruel a women as thoy say? In thy list, O
Harmachis, wero many doomed to dio; nnd
I havo but taken tho lifo of ono Roman
knave, a double traitor, for ho betrayed
both mo and theo. Art thou not over
whelmed, Ilarinaehis, with tho weight o(
mercy which I give thee, becauso such nro
a woman's reasons thou pleasost mo, Har
machis? Nay, by Seraplsl" sho added,
with a llttlo laugh, "I'll chango my mind; 1
will not givo theo so much for nothing.
Thou shalt buy It from me, and tho prico
shall bo a heavy ono It shall bo a kiss,
Harmachis."
"Nay," 1 said, turning from that fair
temptress, "tho prico is too heavy; I kisa
no moro."
"Bethink theo," sho unswercd, with n
heavy frown. "Hothlnk theo and choose.
I am but a woman, llai'llinchls, and ono who
Is not wont to suo men. Do ns thou wilt;
but this I say to theo if thou dost put md
away, I will gather up tho mercy 1 havo
meted out. Therefore, most virtuous
priest, chooso thou 'twlxt tho heavy burden
of my lovo and tho swift death of thy aged
fathor and of all those who plotted with
him."
I glnnced at hor nnd saw that she was
angered, for her oyes shono und hor bosom
heaved. So, sighing, I kissed her, thoroby
setting tho seal upon my shame and bond
ngo. Then smiling liko tho triumphant
Aphrodite of tho Greeks, sho wont theuco,
bearing tho duggor with her.
Notyotdld I know how deeply 1 was be
trayed; or why I still was loft to draw tho
breath of life; or why Cleopatra, tho tiger
hearted, had grown merciful. I did not
know that sho feared to slay mo lest, sq
strong was tho plot nnd so f eoblo hor hold
0pon tho Doublo Crown, tho tumult that
might tread hard upon tho tidings of my
murder should--even when I was no more
shako her from tho throno. I did not know
that becaubo of fear and tho weight oj
policy only she showed scant mercy tc
thoso whom I had betrayed, or that because,
of cunning and not for tho holy sake ol
woman's love though, iu truth, sho liked
mo well enough she choso rather to bind
mo to hor by tho fibers of my heart. And
yot this will I say In her behalf: Even
whon tho dangor-oloud had melted from
hor sky sho kept her faith, nor, savo Paulua
and ono other, did any suffer tho utmost
penalty of death for their part in tho groat
plot against Cleopatra's crown and dynasty.
Hut many other things they suffered.
And so sho wont, leaving tho vision of hor
glory to strivo with tho shamo and sorrow
of ray heart. Oh, bitter wero tho hour
that could now no moro bo mudo light with
prayor. For tho link betwoou mo und the
Divlno was snapped, and no moro did lsis
commune with hor Priest. Hitter woro the
hours and dark, but ovor through their
darkness shono thostarry.'oyes of Cleopatra,
and camo tho echo of hor whispered lovo.
For not yot was tho cup of sorrow full. Still
hopo lingered In my heart, and ulmostcould
I think that I had failed to some hlghoroud,
and that oven lu tho depths of ruin I should
find another and moro fiowery path to tri
umph. 1
For thus thoso do who wlokodly decolvo
themselves, striving to lay tho burdon ol
their ovil deeds upon the back of Fato, striv
ing to boliovo their sin may compass good,
and to murder Conscience with tho sharp
plea of necessity. Hut naught can it avail,
for haud in hand down tho path to sin rush
Romorso nnd Ruin, and woo to him thoy
follow I Ay, and woo to me, who of all sin
hers am tiiy ctiof I
CIIAl'TKIt XVL
IMPIHBONMENT OF IIAllMACIIIS; TUB BOOIIM
OF CIIAIIMIO.V; TUB SETTING FJIKB OF HAH
MACIIIS; TII13 COMINU OF QUINTUH UEIXIUS.
,0R u space of eleven
day was I thus kept
prisoned in my cham
bers; nor did I seo
anyone savo the sen
tries ut my door, the
slaves who iu silence
brought mu food and
drink, and 0 1 o o
patru'H self, who
(.-uinccontimially. Hut
though her words of
lovo woro many,
naught would she tell mo of
how things wont without. Bho
came in many moods now guy
und laughing, now full of wiso
thoughts und speech, and now
passionate only und to every
mood sho gave somo now-found charm.
Full of talk she was as to how I should holp
her multo Egypt great and lessen tho bur
dens of tho peoplo und fight tho Roman
eagles bnck. And though at (li st 1 listened
heavily when sho spake thus, by slow ad
vance she wrapped me closer ur.d yet tacro
close In hermnelo Yob, from which l no
escape. .My mind fell lu time with hors.
Then I, too, opened something of
my heart, nnd somewhat aUo of
tho plans that I had formed for Egypt. And
she scorned to listen gladly, weighing them
well, und spoke of means und methods, tell
ing me how sho would purify tho fuith nnd
repair tho undent temples ay, and build
now onos to tho Gods. And ever she crept
deeper und more deep into my heart, till at
length, now that all things else hud gouo
from mo, I lourned to lovo her with all the
unspent passion of my aching soul. Iliad
naught left to mu but Cleopatra's lovo, und
I twined my ilfo about it, und brooded o'er
It as u widow o'er hor only babo. And thus
tho very author of my shame becaino my
all, my dearest dear, and 1 loved hor with a
wild, tlccp lovo that grow and grew, till it
seemed to swallow up thopuet and puko
tho present ns a dream. For she had con
quered me, sho had robbed mo of my honor
nnd steeped mo to tho lips in shame, and I,
poor, blinded wrotch 1 1 kissed tho rod that
smote tno and was her vory slave.
Ay, even now, tn thoso dreams which will
como when sleep unlocks tho secret heart,
nnd sets all its terrors freo to roam through
tho open hn'.ls of thought, I seem to seo her
royal form, as o:-st I saw It, como with arms
outstretched and low's own light shining
In her deep eyes, with lips apart nnd flow
ing locks, and stamped upon hor faco tho
look of utter tonderness that sho alono
could wear. Ay, still, after nil tho years, I
soem to seo her como ns erst sho came, and
still 1 wit it o to know her an unutterable lie.
And thus ono day sho camo. She had
fled in haste, slio said, from some great
council summoned concerning tho wars of
Antony lu Syria, and sho ame, us sho had
left thocoun'-il, in nil her robes f stato,
nnd in her hand tho scepter, and on her
brow tho uncus diadem of gold. There sho
sat beforo mo laughing; for, wearying of
them, sho had told tho envoys, to whom sho
gave audience lu tho council, that sho was
called from their presence by a sudden
message oomo from Homo; nnd to her tho
jest seemed merry. Suddenly sho ros,
look tho diadom from her brow, nul set It
on my hair, and on my shoulders her Royal
chlamys, and in my hand the scepter, and
bowed tho kneo beforo mo. Thon, laugh
ing again, sho kissed moon tho lips and
said I was. indeed, her Kiug. Hut. remem
bering how l nad been crowned in tno nans
of Abouthls, and remembering also that
wreath of roses whereof tho odor haunt
mo yet, 1 roso palo with wrath and east tho
trinkets from mo, asking hor how sho
dared to mock mo her caged bird? And
methlnks thero was that about mo that
startled her, for sho fell back.
"Nay, Hnrmaehis,'' sho said, "bo not
wroth I How kuowest thou that I mock
theo? Howknowest thou that thou shult
not bo Pharaoh lu fact and deed?"
"What meanest thou?" 1 said. "Wilt
thou, thon, wed mo beforo Egypt? How
elso can I bo Pharaoh now?"
Sho cast down her eyos. "Porchanco,
lovo, 'tis In my mind to wed thoo," she said
gently.
"Listen I" Bho wont on. "Thou growest
palo hero in this prison, and llttlo dost thou
cat. Gainsay mo not I 1 know it from tho
slnves. 1 havo kept theo hero, Hnrmaehis,
for thino own sako, that is so dear to mo;
nnd for thino own Bako, and thy honoi's
Bako, must thou still seem to bo my prison
er. Elso wouldst thou bo shamed nnd slaiu
ay, murdered secretly. Hut horo can 1
moot theo no moro; thoroforo to-morrow
will I freo theo in all Bnvo in tho namo, and
thou shalt onco moro bo seen at Courtus
my nstrononnr. And this reason will I givo
that thn ;?t cloarod. thyself; atjiJ, lUOVO
ovor, that thy auguries as regards the war
havo been auguries of truth ub, indeed,
they havo, though thoreou havo I no causo
to thank thee, for mothiulcs thou didst suit
thy prophecies (o lit thy causo. Now faro
wU; for I must return to those heavy
browed ambassadors; and grow not so sud
den wroth, for who known what may como
to pass 'twlxt theo and mo?"
And, with a llttlo nod, sho wont, leaving
it on my mind that sho had it in her heart
tp tako mo to husband. And, of a truth, I
do believe that, at this hour, such was hor
thought. For, if sho loved mo not, still sho
hold mo dear, and as yet sho hud not
wearied of mo.
On tho morrow Cleopatrn camo not, but
Charmlon camo Charmlon, whom I had not
seen slneo that fatal night ot ruin. Sho en
tered and stood beforo mo, with pulo faco
and downcast eyes, and hor llrst words
woro words of bittornoss. -
"Pardon mo," sho said, in hor gentlo
volco, "in that I daro to como to theo In
Cleopatra s place. Not for long is thy joy
delayed, for thou shalt seo hor presently.
1 shrank ut hor words, as well I might,
and, seeing her vantage, sho seized It.
"I come, Harmachis Royal no moro I I
como to tell theo that thou art freo I Freo
thou art to faco thino own infamy, and sou
it thrown buck from every oyo that trusted
theo, oven us shadows aro from water. I
como to toll theo that tho great plot tho
plot of twenty years nnd moro is ut its
utter end. Nonu have been slain, indood,
unless 'tis Sepa, who has vanished. Hut
nil tho leaders havo been sulzcd and put in
chains, or drivon from tho land, and thoir
party is no more. Tho storm has melted
oro it burst. Khom is lost, und lost forever,
for her lust hope is gone I No longer may
Bho struggle now for all timo must sho
bow her nook to tho yoko, and hor back to
tho rod of tho oppressor I"
I groaned aloud. "Alas, 1 was be
trayed I" I said; "Paulus betrayed us."
"Thou wast butrayod? Nay, thou thysolf
wast the betrayer! How camo it thut thou
didst not slay Cleopatru when thou wast
alone with her? Auswor, thou for
sworn!" "Sho drugged mo," I said again.
"O Harmachis I" answered tho pitiless
girl, "how low urt thou fullon from that
Princo whom onco I know! thou who dost
not scorn to bo n Hurl Yea, thou wast
drugged - drugged with a lovo philtre I
You, thou didst soli Egypt and thy cause
for tho prico of u wuuton's klssl Thou Sor
row and thou Shamo I" sho went on, point
ing hor linger ut ma and fitting her oyes to
my fuco, "thou Scorn I thou Outcast I
und thou Contempt I Deny It if thou canst.
Ay, shrink from mo knowing what thou
art, well mayst thou shrink? Shrink mid
eruwl to Cleopatra's feet, and kiss hor
tundals till such time us it pleases her
to trample theo iu thy kindred dirt; but
from all honest folic thrinktehriiM"
My soul quivered boneath the lash of
her blttor hate, but I hud no words to an
swer. "Howcornosit,"I said at last in a hoavy
voice, "that thuu, too, urt not betrayed, but
art horo to taunt mo, thou who onco didst
swear that thou didst lovo mo Doing a
woman, hast tnou no pity for tho frailty
of man?"
".My name was not on tho lists," she said,
dropping her dark eyes. "Heroin is an
opportunity! betray me also, O Harmachis I
Ay, 'tis becuuso 1 onco did lovo theo lost
thou, indeed, remember it? thut I feel thy
fall tho more. The shamo of ono whom wo
onco havo loved must lu some sort becomo
our shame, und must ever cling to us lu
that wo blindly held n thing so buso closo to
our Inmost hcurt. Art thuu also, then, u fool?
Wouldst thou, fresh from thy royal wan
ton's urins, como to mo for comfort to vie
of all tho world?"
"How know I," I said, "that it was not
thou who, in thy jonloui angor, didst betray
our plans I Churmlon,longugo Sepa warned'
mo against thee, and of a truth now that I,
recall-"
" 'tis liko a traitor," she broko in, rod
dcnlngtohor brow, "to think that all uro
of his fumlly and hold u common mind!
Nay, I butrayod thee not; 'twas that Kor
knave Paulus, whose heart fulled him nt
the lust, und who is rightly served. Nor
will I stay to hear thoughts ho base, Hur
machls Royal no moro I Cleopatra, Queen
of Egypt, bids mo suy that thou urt free,
and thut sho wults theo in tho Alabaster
Hull.''
And shooting ono swift glunco through
hor long lushes, sho rarlsled and was gono.
Booiico more I came and went about the
Court, though but sparingly, for my heart
wus full of sliumo and terror, und on every
fuco I feared to see tho scorn of thoso who
know mo for what I wus. Hut naught I saw,
for all those, vvhojmd knowledge of the plot
had fled, and for her own saTco no worfl Ht
Charmlon spoken. Also Cleopatra had put
it about that I was innocent. Hut my guilt
lay heavy on mo, nnd mndo mo thin and
woro away tho beauty of my coantennnoc.
And though I was freo in name, yet was I
ever watched; nor might I Bttr beyond tho
pdlaeo grounds.
And ut length camo tho day that brought
with it Quiutus Dellius, thnt fulso Roman
knight who ever served tho rising star. Ho
boro letters to Cleopatrn from Marcus
Antouius the Triumvir, who, fresh from tho
victory of Phihppi, was now In Asia, wring
ing gold from tho subject kings whorowitli
to satisfy tho growl of his logiouarle.
Well do I mind mo of tho day. Cleopatra,
clad in her robes of state, nttended by tho
officers of her Court, among whom I stood,
sal iu tho great hall on her throne of gold,
and b.ulo tho heralds admit tho Ambassa
dor ot Antony theTriumvir. Tho great doors
woro thrown wide, and amidst tho blare of
trumpets and salutes of tho Gallic guards,
clad in glittering golden armor nnd a scar
lot cloak of suk, camo tho Roman iu, fol-
liij 1
ifeMllftlli
nn FIXED HIS OAZB OM CI.EOI'ATIU.
lowcLby his sulto of officers. Smoothfnced
ho was" awl talr to iooic upon, -. tmr
supple form;' but his mouth was cold, and
falso woro Ills shifting oyes. And whllo
tho heralds called out his name, titles and
offices, ns a man who is amazed ho llxod his
gazo on Cleopatra, who sat on her throno
radlaut with beauty. Then, when tho her
alds hnd made an end, and ho still stood
thus, not stirring, Cleopatra Bpoko In th
Roman tongue:
"Orcotiug to thoo, noblo Dellius, envoy
of tho most mighty Antony, whoso shadow
lios across UlO world as though Mars him
Rolf now towered up abovo us potty
Princes greetings and woleomo to our
poor city of Alexandria. Unfold, wo pray
theo, tho purposo ot thy coming." i
Still tho crafty Dellius made no answer
but stood ns a man amnicd.
"What nils theo, noblo Dellius, that thou
dost not Bpoak?" nsked Cleopatra. "Has!
thou then wandered so long In Asia
thnt doors ot Roman speech uro shut to
thee? Whattonguo hast thou? Namo it
n;id wo'll speak thoroln for to us aro all
tongues known."
Then at last ho spoko, in a soft, full votco r
"Oh, pardon mo, most mighty Egypt, If 1
havo thus been stricken dumb boforo thoo;
but too great boauty, liko Death himsolt,
doth paralyze the tonguo nnd steal our
sonso uway, Tho oyes of him who looks
upon the llros of tho mid-day sun nro blind
to all beside, and thus this sudden vision
of thy glory, Royal Egypt, did o'erwholra
my mind, and leavo mo holplcss nnd un
witting of all things elso."
"Of a truth, noblo Dollius," answered
Cleopatra, "thoy touch a pretty school of
ilattory yonder in Cihcla."
"How goes tho Baylrig horo in Aloxan
dria?" replied tho courtly Roman. "'Tha
breath of flattery can not watt a cloud,'
docs it not? Hut to my task. Here, Royal
Egypt, nro lcttors tindor tho hand und seal
of noble Antony treating of certain matter
ot the State. Is it thy pleasure that I should
road thorn?"
"Hroalc tho souls and read," shonnswored.
And bowing, ho broko tho souls and read.
"The Triumviri Melfiubltcte CoiutUuenda,
by thon outh of Marchs Antonlus, tho Tri
umvir, to Clooputra, by graco of tho Roman
peoplo, Quoon of Upper and Lower Egypt,
Bond greeting. Whereas, it has como to
our knowledgo that thou, Cleopatra, hast,
contrary to thy promlso and thy duty, both
by thy servant Alllonus and by thy servant
Boruplon, tho Govornor of Cyprus, aided
the rebel murderer CussIub ugainst tha
arms of tho most noblo TriumviraU.
And, whereas, It has como to our knowl
edge that thou thyself wast but latoly mak
ing reudy a great Hoot to this ond. W
summon theo that thou dost without delay
journey to CIHcia, thero to moot tho noblo
Antony, and In person make answer con
cerning thoso charges which nro laid
against thoo. And wo warn thoo that if
thou dost disobey this, our summons, it ia
at thy peril. Farowell."
The oyos of Cleopatra flushed as sho
hourkoned to thoso high words, nnd I saw
hor hands tighten on tho golden Hons' heads
whorwn thoy rested
"Wo havo had tho flattery," sho said,
"and now, lost wo bo cloyed with sweota,
wo havo its untidoto I Listen thou, Dellius.
Tho charges in that letter, or, rathor, in
that writ of summons, aro false, as all folk
can boar us witness. Hut it is not now, and
it Is not to thoo, that wo will mako dofonso
of our nets of war and policy. Nor lll wo
Joavo our kingdom to journoy into far
Cillcia, nnd tuoro, liko some poor suppliant
utluw, to plead our causo boforo tho court
of tho noblo Antony. If Antony will havo
spooch with us und inquire concerning
thoso high mutters, tho bou Is open nnd hut
welcome bIiuII bo royal. Lot him como
hither. That la our nnswer to thoo and to
tho Triumvirato. OJ)u!llusl"
(to jik continukdJ.
Tim I'oorest l'uoplo on Kartli.
In both India and Egypt it ia womoa
who collect tho fuel for tho family.
Thoy do thlH by going along tho road,
and gathering up tho dropplnga, which
thoy tako homo and dry for Uro-wood..
TJioir wages aro vory small whoro thoy
work by tho day, and nolthor mun nor
womon got moro than onough to keep an
American laborer In clgarn. Farm
laborers in India got from six to eight
cents a day, ami masons rocolvo about
ton cents a dny. In my tour around tho
world I found no placo whoro tho peoplo
woro 80 poor as In India, and liowhnro
olso In tho world will you llnd food ho
(icarco that tho people look liko living
skolotons, and rogulato tho amount thoy
out according to tho amount uucosaary
to sustain lifo. In Japan and Ilurraa.li
and in Korea tho pooplo aro poor, but
tlioir poverty Is nothing liko this. Iu
Egypt thoy aro ground to death with
taxation, but thoir stomauhs aro not
stinted to such a dogroo that thoy can
barely keep allvo. Tlioro aro no Higan
of sulfering In tho faces ami llmbH ot
tho pooplo of Palestino and Turkoy, and
tho only placo whoro starvation in eon
tlnuully staring tho man lu tho faeo ta
In certain districts of India. F. G. Car
penter, in National Tribuno.
a