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river Cydnus。
The signal being made； the fleet set sail； and； the wind being fair；
we came to Joppa on the evening of the second day。 Thence we sailed
slowly with contrary winds up the coast of Syria； making C？sarea； and
Ptolemais； and Tyrus； and Berytus； and past Lebanon's white brow
crowned with his crest of cedars； on to Heraclea and across the gulf
of Issus to the mouth of Cydnus。 And ever as we journeyed； the strong
breath of the sea brought back my health； till at length； save for a
line of white upon my head where the sword had fallen； I was almost as
I had been。 And one night； as we drew near Cydnus； while Brennus and I
sat alone together on the deck； his eye fell upon the white mark his
sword had made； and he swore a great oath by his heathen Gods。 〃An
thou hadst died； lad；〃 he said； 〃methinks I could never again have
held up my head！ Ah！ that was a coward stroke； and I am shamed to
think that it was I who struck it； and thou on the ground with thy
back to me！ Knowest thou that when thou didst lie between life and
death； I came every day to ask tidings of thee？ and I swore by Taranis
that if thou didst die I'd turn my back upon that soft palace life and
then away for the bonny North。〃
〃Nay； trouble not； Brennus；〃 I answered； 〃it was thy duty。〃
〃Mayhap！ but there are duties that a brave man should not donay； not
at the bidding of any Queen who ever ruled in Egypt！ Thy blow had
dazed me or I had not struck。 What is it； lad？art in trouble with
this Queen of ours？ Why art thou dragged a prisoner upon this pleasure
party？ Knowest thou that we are strictly charged that if thou dost
escape our lives shall pay the price？〃
〃Ay； in sore trouble； friend；〃 I answered； 〃ask me no more。〃
〃Then； being of the age thou art； there's a woman in itthat I swear
and； perchance； though I am rough and foolish； I might make a guess。
Look thou； lad； what sayest thou？ I am weary of this service of
Cleopatra and this hot land of deserts and of luxury； that sap a man's
strength and drain his pocket； and so are others whom I know of。 What
sayest thou： let's take one of these unwieldy vessels and away to the
North？ I'll lead thee to a better land than Egypta land of lake and
mountain； and great forests of sweet…scented pine； ay； and find thee a
girl fit to mate withmy own niecea girl strong and tall； with wide
blue eyes and long fair hair； and arms that could crack thy ribs were
she of a mind to hug thee！ Come； what sayest thou？ Put away the past；
and away for the bonny North； and be a son to me。〃
For a moment I thought； and then sadly shook my head； for though I was
sorely tempted to be gone； I knew that my fate lay in Egypt； and I
might not fly my fate。
〃It may not be； Brennus；〃 I answered。 〃Fain would I that it might be；
but I am bound by a chain of destiny which I cannot break； and in the
land of Egypt I must live and die。〃
〃As thou wilt； lad；〃 said the old warrior。 〃I should have dearly loved
to marry thee among my people； and make a son of thee。 At the least；
remember that while I am here thou hast Brennus for a friend。 And one
thing more； beware of that beauteous Queen of thine； for； by Taranis；
perhaps an hour may come when she will hold that thou knowest too
much； and then〃 and he drew his hand across his throat。 〃And now
good night； a cup of wine； then to sleep； for to…morrow the
foolery〃
＇Here several lengths of the second roll of papyrus are so broken as
to be undecipherable。 They seem to have been descriptive of
Cleopatra's voyage up the Cydnus to the city of Tarsus。＇
〃And＇the writing continues＇to those who could take joy in such
things； the sight must； indeed； have been a gallant one。 For the stern
of our galley was covered with sheets of beaten gold； the sails were
of the scarlet of Tyre； and the oars of silver touched the water to a
measure of music。 And there； in the centre of the vessel； beneath an
awning ablaze with gold embroidery； lay Cleopatra； attired as the
Roman Venus （and surely Venus was not more fair！）； in thin robes of
whitest silk； bound in beneath her breast with a golden girdle
delicately graven over with scenes of love。 All about her were little
rosy boys； chosen for their beauty； and clad in naught save downy
wings strapped upon their shoulders； and on their backs Cupid's bow
and quiver； who fanned her with fans of plumes。 Upon the vessel's
decks； handling the cordage； that was of silken web； and softly
singing to the sound of harps and the beat of oars； were no rough
sailors； but women lovely to behold； some robed as Graces and some as
Nereidsthat is； scarce robed at all； except in their scented hair。
And behind the couch； with drawn sword； stood Brennus； in splendid
armour and winged helm of gold； and by him othersI among themin
garments richly worked； and knew that I was indeed a slave！ On the
high poop also burned censers filled with costliest incense； of which
the fragrant steam hung in little clouds about our wake。
Thus； as in a dream of luxury； followed by many ships； we glided on
towards the wooded slopes of Taurus； at whose foot lay that ancient
city Tarshish。 And ever as we came the people gathered on the banks
and ran before us； shouting： 〃Venus is risen from the sea！ Venus hath
come to visit Bacchus！〃 We drew near to the city； and all its people
everyone who could walk or be carriedcrowded down in thousands to
the docks； and with them came the whole army of Antony； so that at
length the Triumvir was left alone upon the judgment seat。
Dellius； the false…tongued； came also； fawning and bowing； and in the
name of Antony gave the 〃Queen of Beauty〃 greeting； bidding her to a
feast that Antony had made ready。 But she made high answer； and said；
〃Forsooth； it is Antony who should wait on us； not we on Antony。 Bid
the noble Antony to our poor table this nightelse we dine alone。〃
Dellius went； bowing to the ground； the feast was made ready； and then
at last I set eyes on Antony。 He came clad in purple robes； a great
man and beautiful to see； set in the stout prime of life； with bright
eyes of blue； and curling hair； and features cut sharply as a Grecian
gem。 For he was great of form and royal of mien； and with an open
countenance on which his thoughts were so clearly written that all
might read them； only the weakness of the mouth belied the power of
the brow。 He came attended by his generals； and when he reached the
couch where Cleopatra lay he stood astonished； gazing on her with
wide…opened eyes。 She； too； gazed on him earnestly； I saw the red
blood run up beneath her skin； and a great pang of jealousy seized
upon my heart。 And Charmion； who saw all beneath her downcast eyes；
saw this also and smiled。 But Cleopatra spoke no word； only she
stretched out her white hand for him to kiss； and he； saying no word；
took her hand and kissed it。
〃Behold； noble Antony！〃 she said at last in her voice of music； 〃thou
hast called me； and I am come。〃
〃Venus has come；〃 he answered in his deep notes； and still holding his
eyes fixed upon her face。 〃I called a womana Goddess hath risen from
the deep！〃
〃To find a God to greet her on the land；〃 she laughed with ready wit。
〃Well； a truce to compliments； for being on the earth even Venus is
ahungered。 Noble Antony； thy hand。〃
The trumpets blared； and through the bowing crowd Cleopatra； followed
by her train； passed hand in hand with Antony to the feast。
＇Here there is another break in the papyrus。＇
CHAPTER XV
OF THE FEAST OF CLEOPATRA； OF THE MELTING OF THE PEARL；
OF THE SAYING OF HARMACHIS； AND OF CLEOPATRA'S VOW OF LOVE
On the third night the feast was once more prepared in the hall of the
great house that had been set aside to the use of Cleopatra； and on
this night its splendour was greater even than on the nights before。
For the twelve couches that were set about the table were embossed
with gold； and those of Cleopatra and Antony were of gold set with
jewels。 The dishes also were all of gold set with jewels； the walls
were hung with purple cloths sewn with gold； and on the floor； covered
with a net of gold； fresh roses were strewn ankle…deep； that as the
slaves trod them sent up their perfume。 Once again I was bidden to
stand； with Charmion and Iras and Merira； behind the couch of
Cleopatra； and； like a slave； from time to time call out the hours as
they flew。 And there being no help； I went wild at heart； but this I
sworeit should be for the last time； since I could not bear that
shame。 For though I would not yet believe what Charmion told methat
Cleopatra was about to become the Love of Antonyyet I could no more
endure this ignominy and torture。 For from Cleopatra now I had no
words save such as a Queen speaks to her slave； and methinks it gave
her dark heart pleasure to torment me。
Thus it came to pass that I； the Pharaoh； crowned of Khem； stood among
eunuchs and waiting…women behi