Lamekis

by Charles de Fieux

  My constant worry, which had kept me from sleeping for so long, had finally given way to a deep sleep that made me very happy after such a long deprivation. But it was interrupted by the filthiest adventure you can imagine. I felt someone kissing my hand and I awoke with a start. This unexpected audacity was followed by the most spirited declarations of love…It was Zelimon…

  (I interrupted the freedman here. “I know about this. I saw it with my own eyes. What happened after? After my fury, what did Clemelis make of the inhuman, savage treatment I was given?”

  “She had no part in the cruel events,” the freedman replied. Her almost fatal wounds kept her in bed and you were banished without her knowing.”)

  How many tears did I shed (she continued) when I learned how savagely they treated my husband, even though he was unworthy of my pity because of his fury against me! I surrendered to despair. I asked to retire from the Court. In spite of all the advice given to me, I did not want to live in a place where everything that was dearest to me in the world was treated so inhumanely. The Queen tried in vain to make me understand that as long as he was alive, my life was in danger, but nothing could dissuade me. I withdrew into this house where I plan to spend the rest of my life without seeing anyone so that I can lament all my misfortunes in peace.

  I was not here long before I was exposed to the persecutions of that traitorous Zelimon. He still loved me and was so hopelessly, uncontrollably in love that he did not even fear my living husband. He used all his influence to get me to marry him. His father Boldeon came to see me, to propose him to me, using all his persuasive skill to get me to make him happy. Fancy that! How foolish! I stood up against all his assaults. Zelimon became desperate when he could not win me over, so he decided to kidnap me. He had bribed one of my people to sneak him into my house during the night, but your brother’s bravery saved me from this horrid business. I complained bitterly to the King. Zelimon was exiled and before leaving he got such a strong reprimand and such precise instructions not to badger me anymore that I have not heard from him since.

  Lamekis in Egypt

  “Well, Sir,” the freedman continued, “that’s what poor Clemelis told me. Then she asked me to do all I could to try to find out where in the world you might be, assuring me that after a year of searching she herself would go look for you. I was so touched by how sorry she was and by her fervent desire to see you again that I left the next day to carry out her impatient wishes. Since that time I have crossed the seas, wandered from one kingdom to the next, everywhere mentioning you in the hope that your great, famous name would sooner or later root you out. As you see, my hope was not in vain. I heard about you living in distant lands, so what did I have to lose? The whole Earth is full of your heroic deeds in the amazing revolution affected by your divine genius in Egypt. I hastened here and saw you, Lamekis, and flattered myself that my good intentions would affect you as I expected.”

  If it were possible for me to cry a torrent of tears, my devastated heart, pricked by such true and sincere details, would have done so. I clearly saw my injustice and my crimes. I was repeatedly on the verge of agreeing with him and admitting them all and going to ask for forgiveness. But the power that pride has over a man who is jealous of his reputation held me back. What will posterity say, I asked myself, of such a confession? These real, true crimes with unknown motives will seem mysterious in the future, evidence of determination and grandeur…as long as the cause stays unknown. But how I will be buried in hatred and scorn if they are found out!

  However the desire to see Clemelis, who had become infinitely more precious to me since I knew she was innocent, (for, I had seen that the passionate letter that had bothered me so much was an answer to me), got the better of my proud thoughts. I assured the freedman that my plan was to go very soon to join her and sincerely ask forgiveness at her feet for all my offenses. In anticipation, I in turn gave him the details of what had happened to me, looking for some sympathy for my weaknesses, or better said my furies. Before leaving Egypt, I had to resign the High Priesthood to the King. According to the laws I myself had set up, it was not allowed to a married man, so I had to renounce it forever for Clemelis. Besides this important duty, my gratitude for so many good things in Egypt required all kinds of considerations from me. I was so venerated and always treated so kindly that I would have been the most ungrateful of all men if I left without the unanimous consent of the people. It was not easy to get. I was loved and thought of as the spiritual father of the country. Didn’t that deserve consideration?

  The freedman agreed and was quick to broach the dilemma. We decided that he would go ahead of me to inform Clemelis about everything and that I would wait in Egypt for news from him. I wrote a long letter to my adorable wife in which I assured her, without going into detail, that I had never stopped loving her for an instant and that I was waiting for her to write to me herself to forgive me and let me come and swear my eternal gratitude at her feet.

  After he left with the letter, I went to the King and to make especially sure that I would get his approval to leave, I made an honest and natural confession of the reasons for my request. Not only did he accept it, but he even wanted to help me by designing the plan I should follow so as not to be held back. He was as wise as he was intelligent. I began by naming a High Priest of the kingdom as adjunct to take over for me in case of sickness or death. The nomination was received with great applause by the Egyptians. It was easy then to leave when I wanted to on the pretext of sickness and, supposing that the events of my life forced me to return, I would be restored to honor in Egypt where I could peacefully spend the rest of my life.

  Three months had already passed without any news from Clemelis. I was living in lethargy and cruel impatience. I had calculated the time for the freedman to get there and the time I should have received some mail from him—it had been more than enough. Sometimes I would say aloud, “Oh Heavens, what can be the cause of such a delay? Does Clemelis not want to see me? Have I become so hated by her that she won’t hear me out? But the freedman would tell me. He wouldn’t leave me in this harrowing uncertainty.” Sometimes I thought that the loyal man got into some accident and that my dear wife was ignorant of my repentance, continuing to live in her remorse. At other times jealousy came back into the control that it had tyrannized me with for so long. But my mind, which had banished it, was able to resist all the motives that its powerless voice put forth; they were just feeble impressions and when they came, it took only a moment of reflection to wipe them out entirely.

  One day when I was bothered by this cruel uncertainty and shocked by all the tragedies in my life, I heard a commotion break out in the capital, which made me shudder to the depths of my being. I was leaving to find out the cause of the terrible hubbub when one of the priests from the temple ran in scared, completely out of sorts and said, “Oh Holy Minister, the altars of the great Vilkonhis are smashed, the temple is about to collapse, the priests of Serapis have triumphed and the people are in revolt, sacrificing to a new god.”

  “What’s this I hear? Just Heavens…” I could not say any more. I left and ran to the temple and up into the galleries. Oh Sinouis, what do you think I saw? The eaglet was flying around ridden by one of the priests of idolatry who was haranguing the people, seducing them, leading them astray. I tried to shout out, but it was no use. The fire of rebellion consumed all their hearts. A natural wonder had made them shake off the good yoke—see, a drought had dried up the Nile for several days and it was being called a punishment for their infidelity. The priests of all the gods of Egypt, on the same day, at the same hour, sparked the revolution and the fury in their eyes got stronger when they pronounced their oracles. Everyone bent; everyone obeyed; and I was grieved to see the worship destroyed and all my projects overthrown in an instant.

  The King sought for me everywhere to give me advice to save myself from the public fury. To save his throne he was forced to capitulate to the revolution and consent to my death. The Egypt
ians were crowding around the temple, howling out, trying to break in and would not stop until they had me in their hands to tear me to pieces.

  The one whom the King had sent to me found his way through a secret corridor that connected the palace to the temple. But instead of yielding to his advice I mounted the temple’s guerluche.276 There was one last urgent hope left to me. The eaglet knew me too well not to come when I called. They must have surprised him during the night for him to let the priest now riding him get on. Since I had come back to Egypt I had left the good bird free, putting it in a forest near the temple that the people held sacred. I often went to see him there and never imagined that anyone would be so bold as to take him. And he had never left the place except for a few times when he came to surprise me at the window of my room to give me signs of his affection. In short, I trusted his loyalty and put all my faith in it at the moment.

  It was not in vain. The bird, with its keen, piercing eyes, barely glimpsed me on the guerluche when it beat its wings, stretched out its neck, stopped a moment as if to make sure and then descended toward me. The priest who was riding him certainly guessed his intention and did all he could to prevent it, but the animal was stronger and came to perch on the guerluche, showing me in his way how happy he was to be with me again. But the priest, desperate at seeing his plans take a turn for the worse, screeched at me to go away or else he would throw me off the guerluche. I answered him sternly that he had better get off my bird or else he would be eaten. And to show him that his threats did not intimidate me, I grabbed the eaglet and jumped on his neck. The priest of Serapis, who was not expecting this bold move, raised his zenghuis to strike me. I grabbed his arm and we struggled—him to stab me and me to disarm him. During the fight the eaglet flew up and sliced through the air with unparalleled speed.

  Nothing bolsters courage as much as fear of danger. The danger that threatened me gave me new strength, but the man I was dealing with had so much already that he got his arm free, raised his sword and brought it down with such force that it would have taken a thousand lives if I had them. Even though I dodged the blow, it was still fatal: it fell straight down on the back of the eaglet. I became so furious then and shook the priest so violently that he was thrown off the eaglet and plummeted down. As soon as the poor bird noticed it, he swooped to the ground on top of my enemy and tore him to shreds.

  But what was the use, what good was my righteous vengeance? My lovable eaglet was wounded. The blow had gone so deep that seeing it put shivers down my spine. He moaned and caressed me in his way, showing me in his eyes the cruel torment he was suffering. I gave him as much care and comfort as I could, but he languished, wasted away before my very eyes. Oh Sinouis, how alarmed I was! Before the end of the day my dear eaglet closed his eyes, laid his head on my knees and opened his beak; he closed it again with hiccups that presaged his near death. I cried buckets then and my laments could have moved rocks. My little friend cracked open his eyes from time to time and seemed to share in my grief. So, what can I tell you? Savage death came to take away my partner in so many misfortunes. My little friend, my dear friend stretched out his legs, flapped his wings and pressed his head against me to say goodbye. Forgive me for crying when I think of this baleful memory; I still cannot think of him without getting choked up. Yes, dear bird, if we can see each other again in another life, if the perfect instinct you were blessed with earned you a different fate and rendered you immortal, I will never forget the tender affection that you had for me and I will enjoy telling you that I never forgot you.

  Heavens, can it be that we are given so few days and they are run through like that? After the death of my dear, little friend I was dejected; I could do nothing. I spent two turns of the Sun with my arms crossed, tears in eyes, not able to make any decision. It seemed that an empty hope kept me in that fatal place, promising to bring my eaglet back to life. I stared at him. The slightest wind that ruffled his feathers convinced me that he was regaining his senses. I kissed him, called him my pet names and begged him to show me some sign of affection like he had always done before. Alas, I was fooling myself! The eaglet was no more. The evidence was all too certain: he started decaying and in spite of my love for him, I had to get away or else make up my mind to perish alongside him.

  Never should a sensible man be attached to anything in life—that way he will avoid some of the grief and desolation in getting through it. Depriving ourselves of goods that we become attached to is much more sensible than the pleasure we feel in acquiring them. I was proof of this: at every step, at every moment I missed my little friend. He was not only a faithful companion, but also a nice and gentle aide. With him I went from one land to another without feeling any danger. Without him I was vulnerable to fatigue and countless other dangers.

  In fact, how many had I been through in Egypt? The Priests of Serapis had given such strict orders to arrest me that if it wasn’t for you, Sinouis, I would be lost. Your generous pity defended me against a mob that was ready to crush me. Since that time you have not left me. Your compassionate friendship, on the pretext of having business in the kingdom of the Abdalles, made you leave your home to follow me and save me from the patent dangers I faced.

  Lamekis gets revenge

  You know the rest. Through your personal experience and with your own eyes you know that I was predestined for the most extraordinary adventures. Do you remember that before relating my story I told you how bad luck always followed me? Alas! Why are you so devoted? Why haven’t you left me? You have suffered through so much wandering and today you are in this grim situation—you have every right to reproach me.

  I had barely finished speaking when Sinouis screamed and flew over to me saying that he was doomed. I saw what he saw: a hunter with his bow drawn and ready for the fatal shot. I hissed in fear and slithered as fast as I could to escape a certain death. Since the owl could fly, he escaped the deadly peril, but his lethargy brought him to perch on a rock and it did not take long for the enemy to get him in his sights. He fell back on the other side of the rock and I saw him no more.

  I was seized by rage at this new tragedy. What did I have more precious to me than Sinouis? I decided to avenge his death and I snuck up unseen on the barbarian who had killed him. My head was poised and my venomous tongue was ready to lash out. I was calculating, so to speak, the strike that would punish the cruel murderer of my dear friend, when the sound I made slipping beneath his arm made him jump back and scream at the sight of me. But what a surprise and what rage I felt when I recognized the hunter as the traitorous Zelimon. The villain, the false friend, the savage architect of all the tragedies burying me. I struck out and reached him. I grabbed onto his leg and like ivy I wrapped around his body.

  “The Heavens have finally delivered you to my wrath,” I cried out. “I am Lamekis. Prepare to get the punishment you deserve. A quick death is a too easy revenge for all your wickedness. I want to follow you everywhere. My monstrous embrace will bring you to the brink of death a thousand times everyday—a death that you earned a thousand times. Your life now depends on mine. You can get rid of me by taking my miserable life with the sword, but remember that I’m watching you and I have good eyesight. If I see you make the slightest effort to kill me, I will bite you a thousand times in the heart, which will kill you before me.”

  Zelimon shuddered in horror and fright at my words. At least the punishment fit the crime. He started crying like a coward and begged for mercy.

  “No, no,” I went on, “I won’t change my mind. Besides, you can go wherever you want as long as I’m with you…everywhere.”

  While he was thinking bitterly of his hard fate, I silently thanked the great Vilkonhis for his supreme bounty. Indeed, could it be any more supreme? If he had punished me by keeping me away from what was most dearest to me, at least he gave me the opportunity to take vengeance on the wicked architect of all the evils I suffered. Besides, couldn’t I hope that this new guide would get me back my original shape by taking me t
o Clemelis? I had to find a faithful woman. After everything I said about my respectable wife could I doubt that she would perform this miracle? My confidence in Zelimon was well founded. He had never stopped loving her and it was only natural to think that he kept her in sight and knew where she was.

  I asked him. “Tell me, you worst traitor of all traitors, what has happened to Clemelis because of your wicked love for her?” At this question I felt the traitorous Zelimon tremble. He hesitated to answer. “Speak,” I squeezed him hard enough to make him lose color. “Speak or I’ll torture you worse than you ever dreamed of.”

  “Well,” he sighed bitterly, “I will tell you, Lamekis, but my confession will do nothing except trigger more of these horrors you threaten me with.”

  “Do it. Tell me.” I was furious. “You can say nothing to surprise me. I know you too well to be naïve. I know that you are capable of the most dreadful wickedness.”

  Zelimon was trembling as he sat at the base of a tree. He had asked my permission because he could not stand up any longer. After breathing heavily he told me of the beginning of his love for Clemelis. He had loved her long before I married her and had done all he could to stop our union. After this he ran through all the suspicions I talked about and got to his reckless entrance into Clemelis’ room by bribing one of her servants. He confessed that his exile only inflamed his passion and made him more determined to get her at any price. To force an opportunity he had again bribed one of Clemelis’ servants. Oh these despicable acts deserve the worse punishments! The poor lady had informed Zelimon of the freedman’s arrival and the joy that her mistress felt after talking with him. And Zelimon continued.