按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
spake to thee in parables； as something of little worthas a thing
too small to claim a moment's weighty thought。 And； knowing that this
was becausethough thou knewest it notthou didst love Cleopatra；
whom now thou must straightway slay； I grew mad； and a wicked Spirit
entered into me； possessing me utterly； so that I was myself no
longer； nor could control myself。 And because thou hadst scorned me； I
did this； to my everlasting shame and sorrow！I passed into
Cleopatra's presence and betrayed thee and those with thee； and our
holy cause； saying that I had found a writing which thou hadst let
fall and read all this therein。〃
I gasped and sat silent； and gazing sadly at me she went on：
〃When she understood how great was the plot； and how deep its roots；
Cleopatra was much troubled； and； at first； she would have fled to
Sais or taken ship and run for Cyprus； but I showed her that the ways
were barred。 Then she said she would cause thee to be slain； there； in
the chamber； and I left her so believing； for； at that hour； I was
glad that thou shouldst be slainay； even if I wept out my heart upon
thy grave； Harmachis。 But what said I just now？Vengeance is an arrow
that oft falls on him who looses it。 So it was with me； for between my
going and thy coming Cleopatra hatched a deeper plan。 She feared that
to slay thee would only be to light a fiercer fire of revolt； but she
saw that to bind thee to her； and； having left men awhile in doubt； to
show thee faithless； would strike the imminent danger at its roots and
wither it。 This plot once formed； being great； she dared its doubtful
issue； andneed I go on？ Thou knowest； Harmachis； how she won； and
thus the shaft of vengeance that I loosed fell upon my own head。 For
on the morrow I knew that I had sinned for naught； that the burden of
my betrayal had been laid on the wretched Paulus； and that I had but
ruined the cause to which I was sworn and given the man I loved to the
arms of wanton Egypt。〃
She bowed her head awhile； and then； as I spoke not； once more went
on：
〃Let all my sin be told； Harmachis； and then let justice come。 See
now； this thing happened。 Half did Cleopatra learn to love thee； and
deep in her heart she bethought her of taking thee to wedded husband。
For the sake of this half love of hers she spared the lives of those
in the plot whom she had meshed； bethinking her that if she wedded
thee she might use them and thee to draw the heart of Egypt； which
loves not her nor any Ptolemy。 And then； once again she entrapped
thee； and in thy folly thou didst betray to her the secret of the
hidden wealth of Egypt； which to…day she squanders to delight the
luxurious Antony； and； of a truth； at that time she purposed to make
good her oath and marry thee。 But on the very morn when Dellius came
for answer she sent for me； and telling me allfor my wit； above any；
she holds at pricedemanded of me my judgment whether she should defy
Antony and wed thee； or whether she should put the thought away and
come to Antony。 And Inow mark thou all my sinI； in my bitter
jealousy； rather than I would see her thy wedded wife and thou her
loving lord； counselled her most strictly that she should come to
Antony； well knowingfor I had had speech with Delliusthat if she
came； this weak Antony would fall like a ripe fruit at her feet； as；
indeed； he has fallen。 And but now I have shown thee the issue of the
scheme。 Antony loves Cleopatra and Cleopatra loves Antony； and thou
art robbed； and matters have gone well for me； who of all women on the
earth to…night am the wretchedest by far。 For when I saw how thy heart
broke but now； my heart seemed to break with thine； and I could no
longer bear the burden of my evil deeds； but knew that I must tell
them and take my punishment。
〃And now； Harmachis； I have no more to say； save that I thank thee for
thy courtesy in hearkening； and this one thing I add。 Driven by my
great love I have sinned against thee unto death！ I have ruined thee；
I have ruined Khem； and myself also I have ruined！ Let death reward
me！ Slay thou me； HarmachisI will gladly die upon thy sword； ay； and
kiss its blade！ Slay thou me and go； for if thou slayest me not；
myself I will surely slay！〃 And she threw herself upon her knees；
lifting her fair breast toward me； that I might smite her with my
dagger。 And； in my bitter fury； I was minded to strike； for； above
all； I thought how； when I was fallen； this woman； who herself was my
cause of shame； had scourged me with her whip of scorn。 But it is hard
to slay a fair woman； and； even as I lifted my hand to strike； I
remembered that she had now twice saved my life。
〃Woman！ thou shameless woman！〃 I said； 〃arise！ I slay thee not！ Who am
I； that I should judge thy crime； that； with mine own； doth overtop
all earthly judgment？〃
〃Slay me； Harmachis！〃 she moaned； 〃slay me； or I slay myself！ My
burden is too great for me to bear！ Be not so deadly calm！ Curse me；
and slay！〃
〃What was it that thou didst say to me just now； Charmionthat as I
had sown so I must reap？ It is not lawful that thou shouldst slay
thyself； it is not lawful that I； thine equal in sin； should slay thee
because through thee I sinned。 As /thou/ hast sown； Charmion； so must
/thou/ also reap。 Base woman！ whose cruel jealousy has brought all
these woes on me and Egypt； livelive on； and from year to year pluck
the bitter fruit of crime！ Haunted be thy sleep by visions of thy
outraged Gods； whose vengeance awaits thee and me in their dim Amenti！
Haunted be thy days by memories of that man whom thy fierce love
brought to shame and ruin； and by the sight of Khem a prey to the
insatiate Cleopatra and a slave to Roman Antony。〃
〃Oh； speak not thus； Harmachis！ Thy words are sharper than any sword；
and more surely； if more slowly； shall they slay！ Listen； Harmachis；〃
and she grasped my robe： 〃when thou wast great； and all power lay
within thy grasp； thou didst reject me。 Wilt reject me now that
Cleopatra hast cast thee from hernow that thou art poor and shamed
and with no pillow to thy head？ Still am I fair； and still I worship
thee。 Let me fly with thee； and make atonement for my lifelong love。
Or； if this be too great a thing to ask； let me be but as thy sister
and thy servantthy very slave； so that I may still look upon thy
face； and share thy trouble and minister to thee。 O Harmachis； let me
but come and I will brave all things and endure all things； and
nothing but Death himself shall stay me from thy side。 For I do
believe that the love that sank me to so low a depth； dragging thee
with me； can yet lift me to an equal height； and thee with me！〃
〃Wouldst tempt me to fresh sin； woman？ And dost thou think； Charmion；
that in some hovel where I must hide； I could bear； day by day； to
look upon thy fair face； and seeing； remember that those lips betrayed
me？ Not thus easily shalt thou atone！ This I know even now： many and
heavy shall be thy lonely days of penance！ Perchance that hour of
vengeance yet may come； and perchance thou shalt live to play thy part
in it。 Thou must still abide in the Court of Cleopatra； and； while
thou art there； if I yet live； I will from time to time find means to
give thee tidings。 Perhaps a day may dawn when once more I shall need
thy service。 Now； swear that； in this event； thou wilt not fail me a
second time。〃
〃I swear； Harmachis！I swear！ May everlasting torments； too hideous
to be dreamedmore hideous； even； by far； than those that wring me
nowbe my portion if I fail thee in one jot or tittleay； though I
wait a lifetime for thy word！〃
〃It is well； see that thou keep the oathnot twice may we betray。 I
go to work out my fate； abide thou to work out thine。 Perchance our
divers threads will once more mingle ere the web be spun。 Charmion；
who unasked didst love meand who； prompted by that gentle love of
thine； didst betray and ruin mefare thee well！〃
She gazed wildly upon my faceshe stretched out her arms as though to
clasp me； then； in the agony of her despair； she cast herself at
length and grovelled upon the ground。
I took up the sack of clothing and the staff and gained the door； and；
as I passed it； I threw one last glance upon her。 There she lay； with
arms outstretchedmore white than her white robesher dark hair
streaming about her； and her fair brows hidden in the dust。
And thus I left her； nor did I again set my eyes upon her till nine
long years had come and gone。
＇Here ends the second and largest roll of papyrus。＇
BOOK III
THE VENGEANCE OF HARMACHIS
CHAPTER I
OF THE ESCAPE OF HARMACHIS FROM TARSUS； OF HIS BEING CAST
FORTH AS AN OFFERING TO THE GODS OF THE SEA； OF HIS SOJOURN IN
THE ISLE OF CYPRUS； OF HIS RETURN TO ABOUTHIS； AND OF THE
DEATH OF AMENEMHAT
I made my way down the stair in safety； and presently stood in the
courtyard of that great house。 It was but an ho