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〃Bethink thee；〃 she answered； with a heavy frown。 〃Bethink thee and
choose。 I am but a woman； Harmachis； and one who is not wont to sue to
men。 Do as thou wilt； but this I say to theeif thou dost put me
away； I will gather up the mercy I have meted out。 Therefore； most
virtuous priest； choose thou between the heavy burden of my love and
the swift death of thy aged father and of all those who plotted with
him。〃
I glanced at her and saw that she was angered； for her eyes shone and
her bosom heaved。 So； I sighed and kissed her； thereby setting the
seal upon my shame and bondage。 Then； smiling like the triumphant
Aphrodité of the Greeks； she went thence； bearing the dagger with her。
I knew not yet how deeply I was betrayed； or why I was still left to
draw the breath of life； or why Cleopatra； the tiger…hearted； had
grown merciful。 I did not know that she feared to slay me； lest； so
strong was the plot and so feeble her hold upon the Double Crown； the
tumult that might tread hard upon the tidings of my murder should
shake her from the throneeven when I was no more。 I did not know
that because of fear and the weight of policy only she showed scant
mercy to those whom I had betrayed； or that because of cunning and not
for the holy sake of woman's lovethough； in truth； she liked me well
enoughshe chose rather to bind me to her by the fibres of my heart。
And yet I will say this in her behalf： even when the danger…cloud had
melted from her sky she kept faith； nor； save Paulus and one other；
did any suffer the utmost penalty of death for their part in the great
plot against Cleopatra's crown and dynasty。 But they suffered many
other things。
And so she went； leaving the vision of her glory to strive with the
shame and sorrow in my heart。 Oh； bitter were the hours that could not
now be made light with prayer。 For the link between me and the Divine
was snapped； and Isis communed with Her Priest no more。 Bitter were
the hours and dark； but ever through their darkness shone the starry
eyes of Cleopatra； and came the echo of her whispered love。 For not
yet was the cup of sorrow full。 Hope still lingered in my heart； and I
could almost think that I had failed to some higher end； and that in
the depths of ruin I should find another and more flowery path to
triumph。
For thus those who sin deceive themselves； striving to lay the burden
of their evil deeds upon the back of Fate； striving to believe their
wickedness may compass good； and to murder Conscience with the sharp
plea of Necessity。 But it can avail nothing； for hand in hand down the
path of sin rush Remorse and Ruin； and woe to him they follow！ Ay； and
woe to me who of all sinners am the chief！
CHAPTER IX
OF THE IMPRISONMENT OF HARMACHIS； OF THE SCORN OF CHARMION；
OF THE SETTING FREE OF HARMACHIS； AND OF THE COMING OF QUINTUS DELLIUS
For a space of eleven days I was thus kept prisoned in my chamber； nor
did I see anyone except the sentries at my doors； the slaves who in
silence brought me food and drink； and Cleopatra's self； who came
continually。 But； though her words of love were many； she would tell
me nothing of how things went without。 She came in many moodsnow gay
and laughing； now full of wise thoughts and speech； and now passionate
only； and to every mood she gave some new…found charm。 She was full of
talk as to how I should help her make Egypt great； and lessen the
burdens on the people； and fright the Roman eagles back。 And； though
at first I listened heavily when she spoke thus； by slow advance as
she wrapped me closer and yet more close in her magic web； from which
there was no escape； my mind fell in time with hers。 Then I； too；
opened something of my heart； and somewhat also of the plans that I
had formed for Egypt。 She seemed to listen gladly； weighing them all；
and spoke of means and methods； telling me how she would purify the
Faith and repair the ancient templesay； and build new ones to the
Gods。 And ever she crept deeper into my heart； till at length； now
that every other thing had gone from me； I learned to love her with
all the unspent passion of my aching soul。 I had naught left to me but
Cleopatra's love； and I twined my life about it； and brooded on it as
a widow over her only babe。 And thus the very author of my shame
became my all； my dearest dear； and I loved her with a strong love
that grew and grew； till it seemed to swallow up the past and make the
present a dream。 For she had conquered me； she had robbed me of my
honour； and steeped me to the lips in shame； and I； poor fallen；
blinded wretch； I kissed the rod that smote me； and was her very
slave。
Ay； even now； in those dreams which still come when Sleep unlocks the
secret heart； and sets its terrors free to roam through the opened
halls of Thought； I seem to see her royal form； as erst I saw it； come
with arms outstretched and Love's own light shining in her eyes； with
lips apart and flowing locks； and stamped upon her face the look of
utter tenderness that she alone could wear。 Ay； still； after all the
years； I seem to see her come as erst she came； and still I wake to
know her an unutterable lie！
And thus one day she came。 She had fled in haste； she said； from some
great council summoned concerning the wars of Antony in Syria； and she
came； as she had left the council； in all her robes of state； the
sceptre in her hand； and on her brow the ur？us diadem of gold。 There
she sat before me； laughing； for； wearying of them； she had told the
envoys to whom she gave audience in the council that she was called
from their presence by a sudden message come from Rome； and the jest
seemed merry to her。 Suddenly she rose； took the diadem from her brow；
and set it on my hair； and on my shoulders her royal mantle； and in my
hand the sceptre； and bowed the knee before me。 Then； laughing again；
she kissed me on the lips； and said I was indeed her King。 But；
remembering how I had been crowned in the halls of Abouthis； and
remembering also that wreath of roses of which the odour haunts me
yet； I rose； pale with wrath； and cast the trinkets from me； asking
how she dared to mock meher caged bird。 And I think there was that
about me which startled her； for she fell back。
〃Nay； Harmachis；〃 she said； 〃be not wroth！ How knowest thou that I
mock thee？ How knowest thou that thou shalt not be Pharaoh in fact and
deed？〃
〃What meanest thou？〃 I said。 〃Wilt thou； then； wed me before Egypt？
How else can I be Pharaoh now？〃
She cast down her eyes。 〃Perchance； love； it is in my mind to wed
thee；〃 she said gently。 〃Listen；〃 she went on： 〃Thou growest pale；
here； in this prison； and thou dost eat little。 Gainsay me not！ I know
it from the slaves。 I have kept thee here； Harmachis； for thy own
sake； that is so dear to me； and for thy own sake； and thy honour's
sake； thou must still seem to be my prisoner。 Else wouldst thou be
shamed and slainay； murdered secretly。 But I can meet thee here no
more！ therefore to…morrow I shall free thee in all； save in the name；
and thou shalt once more be seen at Court as my astronomer。 And I will
give this reasonthat thou hast cleared thyself； and； moreover； that
thy auguries as regards the war have been auguries of truthas；
indeed； they have； though for this I have no cause to thank thee；
seeing that thou didst suit thy prophecies to fit thy cause。 Now；
farewell； for I must return to those heavy…browed ambassadors； and
grow not so sudden wroth； Harmachis； for who knows what may come to
pass betwixt thee and me？〃
And； with a little nod； she went； leaving it on my mind that she had
it in her heart to wed me openly。 And of a truth； I believe that； at
this hour； such was her thought。 For； if she loved me not； still she
held me dear； and as yet she had not wearied of me。
On the morrow Cleopatra came not； but Charmion cameCharmion； whom I
had not seen since that fatal night of ruin。 She entered and stood
before me； with pale face and downcast eyes； and her first words were
words of bitterness。
〃Pardon me；〃 she said； in her gentle voice； 〃in that I dare to come to
thee in Cleopatra's place。 Thy joy is not delayed for long； for thou
shalt see her presently。〃
I shrank at her words； as well I might； and； seeing her vantage； she
seized it。
〃I come； Harmachisroyal no more！I come to say that thou art free！
Thou art free to face thine own infamy； and see it thrown back from
every eye which trusted thee； as shadows are from water。 I come to
tell thee that the great plotthe plot of twenty years and moreis
at its utter end。 None have been slain； indeed； unless it is Sepa； who
has vanished。 But all the leaders have been seized and put in chains；
or driven from the land； and their party is broken and scattered。 The
storm has melted before it burst。 Egypt is lost； and lost for ever；
for her last hope is gone！ No longer may she strugglenow for all
time s