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Cleopatra
by H。 Rider Haggard
DEDICATION
My dear Mother；
I have for a long while hoped to be allowed to dedicate some book
of mine to you； and now I bring you this work； because whatever
its shortcomings； and whatever judgment may be passed upon it by
yourself and others； it is yet the one I should wish you to
accept。
I trust that you will receive from my romance of 〃Cleopatra〃 some
such pleasure as lightened the labour of its building up； and that
it may convey to your mind a picture； however imperfect； of the
old and mysterious Egypt in whose lost glories you are so deeply
interested。
Your affectionate and dutiful Son；
H。 Rider Haggard。
January 21； 1889。
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The history of the ruin of Antony and Cleopatra must have struck many
students of the records of their age as one of the most inexplicable
of tragic tales。 What malign influence and secret hates were at work；
continually sapping their prosperity and blinding their judgment？ Why
did Cleopatra fly at Actium； and why did Antony follow her； leaving
his fleet and army to destruction？ An attempt is made in this romance
to suggest a possible answer to these and some other questions。
The reader is asked to bear in mind； however； that the story is told；
not from the modern point of view； but as from the broken heart and
with the lips of an Egyptian patriot of royal blood； no mere beast…
worshipper； but a priest instructed in the inmost mysteries； who
believed firmly in the personal existence of the gods of Khem； in the
possibility of communion with them； and in the certainty of immortal
life with its rewards and punishments； to whom also the bewildering
and often gross symbolism of the Osirian Faith was nothing but a veil
woven to obscure secrets of the Sanctuary。 Whatever proportion of
truth there may have been in their spiritual claims and imaginings； if
indeed there was any； such men as the Prince Harmachis have been told
of in the annals of every great religion； and； as is shown by the
testimony of monumental and sacred inscriptions； they were not unknown
among the worshippers of the Egyptian Gods； and more especially of
Isis。
Unfortunately it is scarcely possible to write a book of this nature
and period without introducing a certain amount of illustrative
matter； for by no other means can the long dead past be made to live
again before the reader's eyes with all its accessories of faded pomp
and forgotten mystery。 To such students as seek a story only； and are
not interested in the faith； ceremonies； or customs of the Mother of
Religion and Civilisation； ancient Egypt； it is； however； respectfully
suggested that they should exercise the art of skipping； and open this
tale at its Second Book。
That version of the death of Cleopatra has been preferred which
attributes her end to poison。 According to Plutarch its actual manner
is very uncertain； though popular rumour ascribed it to the bite of an
asp。 She seems； however； to have carried out her design under the
advice of that shadowy personage； her physician； Olympus； and it is
more than doubtful if he would have resorted to such a fantastic and
uncertain method of destroying life。
It may be mentioned that so late as the reign of Ptolemy Epiphanes；
pretenders of native blood； one of whom was named Harmachis； are known
to have advanced their claims to the throne of Egypt。 Moreover； there
was a book of prophecy current among the priesthood which declared
that after the nations of the Greeks the God Harsefi would create the
〃chief who is to come。〃 It will therefore be seen that； although it
lacks historical confirmation； the story of the great plot formed to
stamp out the dynasty of the Macedonian Lagidae and place Harmachis on
the throne is not in itself improbable。 Indeed； it is possible that
many such plots were entered into by Egyptian patriots during the long
ages of their country's bondage。 But ancient history tells us little
of the abortive struggles of a fallen race。
The Chant of Isis and the Song of Cleopatra； which appear in these
pages； are done into verse from the writer's prose by Mr。 Andrew Lang；
and the dirge sung by Charmion is translated by the same hand from the
Greek of the Syrian Meleager。
CLEOPATRA
INTRODUCTION
In the recesses of the desolate Libyan mountains that lie behind the
temple and city of Abydus； the supposed burying place of the holy
Osiris； a tomb was recently discovered； among the contents of which
were the papyrus rolls whereupon this history is written。 The tomb
itself is spacious； but otherwise remarkable only for the depth of the
shaft which descends vertically from the rock…hewn cave； that once
served as the mortuary chapel for the friends and relatives of the
departed； to the coffin…chamber beneath。 This shaft is no less than
eighty…nine feet in depth。 The chamber at its foot was found to
contain three coffins only； though it is large enough for many more。
Two of these； which in all probability inclosed the bodies of the High
Priest； Amenemhat； and of his wife； father and mother of Harmachis；
the hero of this history； the shameless Arabs who discovered them
there and then broke up。
The Arabs broke the bodies up。 With unhallowed hands they tore the
holy Amenemhat and the frame of her who had； as it is written； been
filled with the spirit of the Hathorstore them limb from limb；
searching for treasure amidst their bonesperhaps； as is their
custom； selling the very bones for a few piastres to the last ignorant
tourist who came their way； seeking what he might destroy。 For in
Egypt the unhappy； the living find their bread in the tombs of the
great men who were before them。
But as it chanced； some little while afterwards； one who is known to
this writer； and a doctor by profession； passed up the Nile to Abydus；
and became acquainted with the men who had done this thing。 They
revealed to him the secret of the place； telling him that one coffin
yet remained entombed。 It seemed to be the coffin of a poor person；
they said； and therefore； being pressed for time； they had left it
unviolated。 Moved by curiosity to explore the recesses of a tomb as
yet unprofaned by tourists； my friend bribed the Arabs to show it to
him。 What ensued I will give in his own words； exactly as he wrote it
to me：
〃I slept that night near the Temple of Seti； and started before
daybreak on the following morning。 With me were a cross…eyed rascal
named AliAli Baba I named himthe man from whom I got the ring
which I am sending you； and a small but choice assortment of his
fellow thieves。 Within an hour after sunrise we reached the valley
where the tomb is。 It is a desolate place； into which the sun pours
his scorching heat all the long day through； till the huge brown rocks
which are strewn about become so hot that one can scarcely bear to
touch them； and the sand scorches the feet。 It was already too hot to
walk； so we rode on donkeys； some way up the valleywhere a vulture
floating far in the blue overhead was the only other visitortill we
came to an enormous boulder polished by centuries of action of sun and
sand。 Here Ali halted； saying that the tomb was under the stone。
Accordingly； we dismounted； and； leaving the donkeys in charge of a
fellah boy； went up to the rock。 Beneath it was a small hole； barely
large enough for a man to creep through。 Indeed it had been dug by
jackals； for the doorway and some part of the cave were entirely
silted up； and it was by means of this jackal hole that the tomb had
been discovered。 Ali crept in on his hands and knees； and I followed；
to find myself in a place cold after the hot outside air； and； in
contrast with the light； filled with a dazzling darkness。 We lit our
candles； and； the select body of thieves having arrived； I made an
examination。 We were in a cave the size of a large room； and hollowed
by hand； the further part of the cave being almost free from drift…
dust。 On the walls are religious paintings of the usual Ptolemaic
character； and among them one of a majestic old man with a long white
beard； who is seated in a carved chair holding a wand in his hand。＇*＇
Before him passes a procession of priests bearing sacred images。 In
the right hand corner of the tomb is the shaft of the mummy…pit； a
square…mouthed well cut in the black rock。 We had brought a beam of
thorn…wood； and this was now laid across the pit and a rope made fast
to it。 Then Aliwho； to do him justice； is a courageous thieftook
hold of the rope； and； putting some candles into the breast of his
robe； placed his bare feet against the smooth sides of the well and
began to descent with great rapidity。 Very soon he had vanished into
blackness； and the agitation of the cord alone told us that anything
was going on below。 At last the rope ceased shaking