by Georg Ebers
CHAPTER XII.
Barine had been an hour in the palace. The magnificently furnished roomto which she was conducted was directly above the council chamber, andsometimes, in the silence of the night, the voice of the Queen or theloud cheers of men were distinctly heard.
Barine listened without making the slightest effort to catch the meaningof the words which reached her ears. She longed only for something todivert her thoughts from the deep and bitter emotion which filled hersoul. Ay, she was roused to fury, and yet she felt how completely thispassionate resentment contradicted her whole nature.
True, the shameless conduct of Philostratus during their married lifehad often stirred the inmost depths of her placid, kindly spirit, andafter wards his brother Alexas had come to drive her, by his disgracefulproposals, to the verge of despair; rage was added to the passionateagitation of her soul, and for this she had cause to rejoice--but forthis mighty resentment during the time of struggle she might have,perhaps, succumbed from sheer weariness and the yearning desire to rest.
At last, at last, she and her friends, by means of great sacrifices, hadsucceeded in releasing her from these tortures. Philostratus's consentto liberate her was purchased. Alexas's persecution had ceased longbefore; he had first been sent away as envoy by his patron Antony, andafterwards been compelled to accompany him to the war.
How she had enjoyed the peaceful days in her mother's house! How quicklythe bright cheerfulness which she had supposed lost had returned to hersoul!--and to-day Fate had blessed her with the greatest happiness lifehad ever offered. True, she had had only a few brief hours in which toenjoy it, for the attack of the unbridled boys and the wound inflictedupon her lover had cast a heavy shadow on her bliss.
Her mother had again proved to be in the right when she so confidentlypredicted a second misfortune which would follow the first only toosoon.
Barine had been torn at midnight from her peaceful home and her woundedlover's bedside. This was done by the Queen's command, and, full ofangry excitement, she said to herself that the men were right who cursedtyranny because it transformed free human beings into characterlesschattels.
There could be nothing good awaiting her; that was proved by themessengers whom Cleopatra had sent to summon her at this unprecedentedhour. They were her worst enemies: Iras, who desired to wed herlover--Dion had told her so after the assault--and Alexas, whose suitshe had rejected in a way which a man never forgives.
She had already learned Iras's feelings. The slender figure with thenarrow head, long, delicate nose, small chin, and pointed fingers,seemed to her like a long, sharp thorn. This strange comparison hadentered her head as Iras stood rigidly erect, reading aloud in a shrill,high voice the Queen's command. Everything about this hard, cold faceappeared as sharp as a sting, and ready to destroy her.
Her removal from her mother's house to the royal palace had been swiftand simple.
After the attack--of which she saw little, because, overpowered by fearand horror, she closed her eyes--she had driven home with her lover,where the leech had bandaged his injuries, and Berenike had quickly andcarefully transformed her own sleeping chamber into a sick-room.
Barine, after changing her dress, did not leave Dion's side. Shehad attired herself carefully, for she knew his delight in outwardadornment. When she returned from her grandparents, before sunset, shewas alone with him, and he, kissing her arm, had murmured that whereverthe Greek tongue was spoken there was not one more beautiful. The gemwas worthy of its loveliness. So she had opened her baggage to take outthe circlet which Antony had given, and it again enclasped her arm whenshe entered the sick-room.
Because Dion had told her that he deemed her fairest in the simple whiterobe she had worn a few days before, when there were no guests savehimself and Gorgias, and she had sung until after midnight his favouritesongs as though all were intended for him alone, her choice had fallenupon this garment. And she rejoiced that she had worn it--the woundedman's eyes rested upon her so joyously when she sat down opposite tohim.
The physician had forbidden him to talk, and urged him to sleep ifpossible. So Barine only held his hand in silence, whispering, wheneverhe opened his eyes, a tender word of love and encouragement.
She had remained with him for hours, leaving her place at his sidemerely to give him his medicine, or, with her mother's aid, placepoultices on his wounds.
When his manly face was distorted by suffering, she shared his pain; butduring most of the time a calm, pleasant sense of happiness pervaded hermind. She felt safe and sheltered in the possession of the man whomshe loved, though fully aware of the perils which threatened him, and,perhaps, her also. But the assurance of his love completely filled herheart and cast every care entirely into the shade. Many men had seemedestimable and agreeable, a few even desirable husbands, but Dion was thefirst to awaken love in her ardent but by no means passionate soul. Sheregarded the experiences of the past few days as a beautiful miracle.How she had yearned and pined until the most fervent desire of her heartwas fulfilled! Now Dion had offered her his love, and nothing could robher of it.
Gorgias and the sons of her uncle Arius had disturbed her a short time.After they had gone with a good report, Berenike had entreated herdaughter to lie down and let her take her place. But Barine would notleave her lover's couch, and had just loosed her hair to brush it againand fasten the thick, fair braids around her head, when, two hours aftermidnight, some one knocked loudly on the window shutters. Berenike wasin the act of removing the poultice, so Barine herself went into theatrium to wake the doorkeeper.
But the old man was not asleep, and had anticipated her. She recognized,with a low cry of terror, the first person who entered the lightedvestibule--Alexas. Iras followed, her head closely muffled, forthe storm was still howling through the streets. Last of all alantern-bearer crossed the threshold.
The Syrian saluted the startled young beauty with a formal bow, butIras, without a greeting or even a single word of preparation, deliveredthe Queen's command, and then read aloud, by the light of the lantern,what Cleopatra had scrawled upon the wax tablet.
When Barine, pallid and scarcely able to control her emotion, requestedthe messengers who had arrived at so late an hour to enter, in orderto give her time to prepare for the night drive and take leave of hermother, Iras vouchsafed no reply, but, as if she had the right to rulethe house, merely ordered the doorkeeper to bring his mistress's cloakwithout delay.
While the old man, with trembling knees, moved away, Iras asked if thewounded Dion was in the dwelling; and Barine, her self-control restoredby the question, answered, with repellent pride, that the Queen's ordersdid not command her to submit to an examination in her own house.
Iras shrugged her shoulders and said, sneeringly, to Alexas:
"In truth, I asked too much. One who attracts so many men of all agescan scarcely be expected to know the abode of each individual."
"The heart has a faithful memory," replied the Syrian in a tone ofcorrection, but Iras echoed, contemptuously, "The heart!"
Then all were silent until, instead of the doorkeeper, Berenike herselfcame hurrying in, bringing the cloak. With pallid face and bloodlesslips she wrapped it around her daughter's shoulders, whispering, amidfloods of tears, almost inaudible words of love and encouragement, whichIras interrupted by requesting Barine to follow her to the carriage.
The mother and daughter embraced and kissed each other, then the closedequipage bore the persecuted woman through the storm and darkness toLochias.
Not a word was exchanged between Barine and the Queen's messengers untilthey reached the room where the former was to await Cleopatra; but hereIras again endeavoured to induce her to speak. At the first question,however, Barine answered that she had no information to give.
The room was as bright as if it were noonday, though the lightsflickered constantly, for the wind found its way through the thinshutters closing the windows on both sides of the corner room, and astrong, cold draught swept in. Barine wra
pped her cloak more closelyaround her; the storm which howled about the sea-washed palaceharmonized with the vehement agitation of her soul. Whether she hadlooked within or without, there was nothing which could have soothed hersave the assurance of being loved--an assurance that held fear atbay. Now, indignation prevented dread from overpowering her, yet calmconsideration could not fail to show her that danger threatened onevery hand. The very manner in which Iras and Alexas whispered together,without heeding her presence, boded peril, for courtiers showsuch contempt only to those whom they know are threatened with theindifference or resentment of the sovereign. Barine, during hermarried life with a man devoid of all delicacy of feeling, and with adisposition as evil as his tongue was ready, had learned to enduremany things which were hard to bear; yet when, after a remark from Irasevidently concerning her, she heard Alexas laugh, she was compelled toexert the utmost self-restraint to avoid telling her enemy how utterlyshe despised the cowardly cruelty of her conduct. But she succeeded inkeeping silent. Still, the painful constraint she imposed on herselfmust find vent in some way, and, as the tortured anguish of her soulreached its height, large tears rolled down her cheeks.
These, too, were noticed by her enemy and made the target of her wit;but this time the sarcasm failed to produce its effect upon the Syrian,for, instead of laughing, he grew grave, and whispered something whichseemed to Barine a reproof or a warning. Iras's reply was merely acontemptuous shrug of the shoulders.
Barine had noticed long before that her mother, in her fear andbewilderment, had brought her own cloak instead of her daughter's, andthis circumstance also did not seem to her foe too trivial for a sneer.
But the childish insolence that seemed to have taken possession of onewho usually by no means lacked dignity, was merely the mask beneathwhich she concealed her own suffering. A grave motive was the source ofthe mirth by which she affected to be moved at the sight of her enemy'scloak. The grey, ill-fitting garment disfigured Barine, and she desiredthat the Queen should feel confident of surpassing her rival evenin outward charms. No one, not even Cleopatra, could dispense with aprotecting wrap in this cold draught, and nothing suited her betterthan the purple mantle in whose delicate woollen fabric black and golddragons and griffins were embroidered. Iras had taken care that it layready. Barine could not fail to appear like a beggar in comparison,though Alexas said that her blue kerchief was marvellously becoming.
He was a base-minded voluptuary, who, aided by rich gifts of mindand wide knowledge, had shunned no means of ingratiating himselfwith Antony, the most lavish of patrons. The repulse which this man,accustomed to success, had received from Barine had been hard to forget,yet he did not resign the hope of winning her. Never had she seemed moredesirable than in her touching weakness. Even base natures are averseto witnessing the torture of the defenceless, and when Iras had aimedanother poisoned shaft at her, he ventured, at the risk of vexing hisally, to say, under his breath:
"Condemned criminals are usually granted, before their end, a favouritedish. I have no cause to wish Barine anything good; but I would notgrudge that. You, on the contrary, seem to delight in pouring wormwoodon her last mouthful."
"Certainly," she answered, her eyes sparkling brightly. "Malice is thepurest of pleasures; at least to me, when exercised on this woman."
The Syrian, with a strange smile, held out his hand, saying: "Keep yourgood-will towards me, Iras."
"Because," she retorted with a sneer, "evil may follow my enmity. Ithink so, too. I am not especially sensitive concerning myself, butwhoever dares"--here she raised her voice--"to harm one whom I--Justlisten to the cheers! How she carries all hearts with her! Though Fatehad made her a beggar, she would still be peerless among women. She islike the sun. The clouds which intrude upon her pathway of radiance areconsumed and disappear."
While uttering the last sentence she had turned towards Barine, whoseear the sharp voice again pierced like a thorn, as she commanded her toprepare for the examination.
Almost at the same moment the door, caught by the wind, closed with aloud bang. The "introducer"--[Marshal of the court.]--had opened it,and, after a hasty glance, exclaimed:
"The audience will not be given in this meeting place for all the windsof heaven! Her Majesty desires to receive her late visitor in the Hallof Shells."
With these words he bowed courteously to Barine, and ushered her andher two companions through several corridors and apartments into awell-heated anteroom.
Here even the windows were thoroughly protected from the storm. Severalbody-guards and pages belonging to the corps of the "royal boys" stoodwaiting to receive them.
"This is comfortable." said Alexas, turning to Iras. "Was the winter wehave just experienced intended to fill us with twofold gratitude for thedelights of the mild spring in this blessed room?"
"Perhaps so," she answered sullenly, and then added in a low tone: "Hereat Lochias the seasons do not follow their usual course. They changeaccording to the pleasure of the supreme will. Instead of four, theEgyptians, as you know, have but three; in the palaces on the Nilethey are countless. What is the meaning of this sudden entry of summer?Winter would have pleased me better."
The Queen--Iras knew not why--had changed her arrangements forBarine's reception. This vexed her, and her features assumed a gloomy,threatening expression as the young beauty, casting aside her cloak andkerchief, stood awaiting Cleopatra in a white robe of fine material andperfect fit. The thick, fair braids, wound simply around her shapelyhead, gave her an appearance of almost childish youth, and the sightmade Iras feel as if she, and Cleopatra also, were outwitted.
In the dimly lighted atrium of the house near the Paneum garden, shehad noticed only that Barine wore something white. Had it been merelya night robe, so much the better. But she might have appeared in herpresent garb at the festival of Isis. The most careful deliberationcould have selected nothing more suitable or becoming. And did this vainwoman go to rest with costly gold ornaments? Else how did the circletchance to be on her arm? Each of Cleopatra's charms seemed to Iras, whoknew them all, like a valuable possession of her own. To see even theleast of them surpassed by another vexed her; and to behold in yonderwoman a form which she could not deny was no less beautiful, enraged,nay, pierced her to the heart.
Since she had known that because of Barine she could hope for nothingmore from the man to whose love she believed she possessed a claimdating from their childhood, she had hated the young beauty. And nowto the many things which contributed to increase her hostile mood, wasadded the disagreeable consciousness that during the last few hours shehad treated her contemptibly. Had she only seen earlier what her foe'scloak concealed, she would have found means to give her a differentappearance. But she must remain as she was; for Chairman had alreadyentered. Other hours, however, would follow, and if the next did notdecide the fate of the woman whom she hated, future ones should.
For this purpose she did not need the aid of Charmian, her uncleArchibius's sister, who had hitherto been a beloved associate andmaternal friend. But what had happened? Iras fancied that her pleasantfeatures wore a repellent expression which she had never seen before.Was this also the singer's fault? And what was the cause?
The older woman's manner decided the question whether she should stillbestow upon her returned relative the love of a grateful niece. No, shewould no longer put any restraint upon herself. Charmian should feelthat she (Iras) considered any favour shown to her foe an insult. Towork against her secretly was not in her nature. She had courage to showan enemy her aversion, and she did not fear Charmian enough to pursue adifferent course. She knew that the artist Leonax, Barine's father, hadbeen Charmian's lover; but this did not justify her favouring the womanwho had robbed her niece of the heart of the man whom she--as Charmianknew--had loved from childhood.
Charmian had just had a long conversation with her brother, and hadalso learned in the palace that Barine had been summoned to the Queen'spresence in the middle of the night; so, firmly persuaded that evilwas in
tended to the young woman who had already passed through so manyagitating scenes of joy and sorrow, she entered the waiting-room, andher pleasant though no longer youthful face, framed in smooth, greyhair, was greeted by Barine as the shipwrecked mariner hails the sightof land.
All the emotions which had darkened and embittered her soul weresoothed. She hastened towards her friend's sister, as a frightened childseeks its mother, and Charmian perceived what was stirring in her heart.
It would not do, under existing circumstances, to kiss her in thepalace, but she drew Leonax's daughter towards her to show Iras thatshe was ready to extend a protecting hand over the persecuted woman. ButBarine gazed at her with pleading glances, beseeching aid, whisperingamid her tears: "Help me, Charmian. She has tortured, insulted,humiliated me with looks and words--so cruelly, so spitefully! Help me;I can bear no more."
Charmian shook her kind head and urged her in a whisper to calm herself.She had robbed Iras of her lover; she should remember that. Cost whatit might, she must not shed another tear. The Queen was gracious. She,Charmian, would aid her. Everything would depend on showing herself toCleopatra as she was, not as slander represented her. She must answerher as she would Archibius or herself.
The kindly woman, as she spoke, stroked her brow and eyes with maternaltenderness, and Barine felt as if goodness itself had quelled thetempest in her soul. She gazed around her as though roused from atroubled dream, and now for the first time perceived the richly adornedroom in which she stood, the admiring glances of the boys in theMacedonian corps of pages, and the bright fire blazing cheerily on thehearth. The howling of the storm increased the pleasant sense of beingunder a firm roof, and Iras, who had whispered to the "introducer" atthe door, no longer seemed like a sharp thorn or a spiteful demon, but awoman by no means destitute of charm, who repulsed her, but on whomshe had inflicted the keenest pang a woman's heart can suffer. Thenshe again thought of her wounded lover at home, and remembered that,whatever might happen, his heart did not belong to Iras, but to heralone. Lastly, she recalled Archibius's description of Cleopatra'schildhood, and this remembrance was followed by the conviction thatthe omnipotent sovereign would be neither cruel nor unjust, and thatit would depend upon herself to win her favour. Charmian, too, was theQueen's confidante; and if the manner of Iras and Alexas had alarmedher, Charmian's might well inspire confidence.
All these thoughts darted through her brain with the speed of lightning.Only a brief time for consideration remained; for, even as she bowedher head on the bosom of her friend, the "introducer" entered the room,crying, "Her illustrious Majesty will expect those whom she summoned ina few minutes!"
Soon after a chamberlain appeared, waving a fan of ostrich feathers and,preceded by the court official, they passed through several brilliantlylighted, richly furnished rooms.
Barine again breathed freely and moved with head erect; and when thewide, lofty folding doors of ebony, against whose deep black surface theinlaid figures of Tritons, mermaids, shells, fish, and sea monsters weresharply relieved, she beheld a glittering, magnificent scene, for thehall which Cleopatra had chosen for her reception was completely coveredwith various marine forms, from the shells to coral and starfish.
A wide, lofty structure, composed of masses of stalactites and unhewnblocks of stone, formed a deep grotto at the end of the hall, whencepeered the gigantic head of a monster whose open jaws formed thefireplace of the chimney. Logs of fragrant Arabian wood were blazingbrightly on the hearth, and the dragon's ruby glass eyes diffused a redlight through the apartment which, blended with the rays of the whiteand pink lamps in the shape of lotus flowers fastened among gold andsilver tendrils and groups of sedges on the walls and ceiling, fillingthe spacious apartment with the soft light whose roseate hue wasspecially becoming to Cleopatra's waxen complexion.
Several stewards and cup-bearers, the master of the hunt, chamberlains,female attendants, eunuchs, and other court officials were awaiting theQueen, and pages who belonged to the Macedonian cadet corps of royalboys stood sleepily, with drooping heads, around the small throne ofgold, coral, and amber which, placed opposite to the chimney, awaitedthe sovereign.
Barine had already seen this magnificent hall, and others still morebeautiful in the Sebasteum, and the splendour therefore neither excitednor abashed her; only she would fain have avoided the numerous train ofcourtiers. Could it be Cleopatra's intention to question her before theeyes of all these men, women, and boys?
She no longer felt afraid, but her heart still throbbed quickly. It hadbeat in the same way in her girlhood, when she was asked to sing in thepresence of strangers.
At last she heard doors open, and an invisible hand parted the heavycurtains at her right. She expected to see the Regent, the Keeper of theSeal, and the whole brilliantly adorned train of attendants who alwayssurrounded the Queen on formal occasions, enter the magnificent hall.Else why had it been selected as the scene of this nocturnal trial?
But what was this?
While she was still recalling the display at the Adonis festival,the curtains began to close again. The courtiers around the thronestraightened their bowed figures, the pages forgot their fatigue, andall joined in the Greek salutation of welcome, and the "Life! happiness!health!" with which the Egyptians greeted their sovereign.
The woman of middle height who now appeared before the curtain, and who,as she crossed the wide hall alone and unattended, seemed to Barine evensmaller than when surrounded by the gay throng at the Adonis festival,must be the Queen. Ay, it was she!
Iras was already standing by her side, and Charmian was approaching withthe "introducer." The women rendered her various little services thusIras took from her shoulders the purple mantle, with its embroidery ofblack and gold dragons. What an exquisite masterpiece of the loom itmust be!
All the dangers against which she must defend herself flashed swiftlythrough Barine's mind; yet, for an instant, she felt the foolishfeminine desire to see and handle the costly mantle.
But Iras had already laid it on the arm of one of the waiting maids,and Cleopatra now glanced around her, and with a youthful, elastic stepapproached the throne.
Once more the feeling of timidity which she had had in her girlhoodoverpowered Barine, but with it came the memory of the garden ofEpicurus, and Archibius's assurance that she, too, would have leftthe Queen with her heart overflowing with warm enthusiasm had not adisturbing influence interposed between them.
Yet, had this disturbing influence really existed? No. It was createdsolely by Cleopatra's jealous imagination. If she would only permit herto speak freely now, she should hear that Antony cared as little forher as she, Barine, for the boy Caesarion. What prevented her fromconfessing that her heart was another's? Iras had no one to blame saveherself if she spoke the truth pitilessly in her presence.
Cleopatra now turned to the "introducer," waving her hand towards thethrone and those who surrounded it.
Ay, she was indeed beautiful. How bright and clear was the light of herlarge eyes, in spite of the harassing days through which she had passedand the present night of watching!
Cleopatra's heart was still elated by the reception of her bold idea ofescape, and she approached Barine with gentler feelings and intentions.She had chosen a pleasanter room for the interview than the one Iras hadselected. She desired a special environment to suit each mood, and assoon as she saw the group of courtiers who surrounded the throne sheordered their dismissal.
The "introducer," to carry out the usual ceremonial, had commanded theirpresence in the audience chamber, but their attendance had given themeeting a form which was now distasteful to the Queen. She wished toquestion, not to condemn.
At so happy an hour it was a necessity of her nature to be gracious.Perhaps she had been unduly anxious concerning this singer. It evenseemed probable; for a man who loved her like Antony could scarcelyyearn for the favour of another woman. This view had been freshlyconfirmed by a brief conversation with the chief Inspector ofSacrifices, an estimable old
man, who, after hearing how Antony hadhurried in pursuit of her at Actium, raised his eyes and hands as iftransported with rapture, exclaiming: "Unhappy Queen! Yet happiest ofwomen! No one was ever so ardently beloved; and when the tale is toldof the noble Trojan who endured such sore sufferings for a woman'ssake, future generations will laud the woman whose resistless spellconstrained the greatest man of his day, the hero of heroes, to castaside victory, fame, and the hope of the world's sovereignty, as mereworthless rubbish."
Posterity, whose verdict she dreaded--this wise old reader of thefuture was right--must extol her as the most fervently beloved, the mostdesirable of women.
And Mark Antony? Even had the magic power of Nektanebus's goblet forcedhim to follow her and to leave the battle, there still remained hiswill, a copy of which--received from Rome--Zeno, the Keeper of the Seal,had showed to her at the close of the council. "Wherever he might die,"so ran the words, "he desired to be buried by the side of Cleopatra."Octavianus had wrested it from the Vestal Virgins, to whose care ithad been entrusted, in order to fill the hearts of Roman citizens andmatrons with indignation against his foe. The plot had succeeded, butthe document had reminded Cleopatra that her heart had given this manthe first of its flowers, that love for him had been the sunshine of herlife. So, with head erect, she had crossed the threshold where shewas to meet the woman who had ventured to sow tares in her garden.She intended to devote only a short time to the interview, which sheanticipated with the satisfaction of the strong who are confident ofvictory.
As she approached the throne, her train left the hall; the only personswho remained were Charmian, Iras, Zeno, the Keeper of the Seal, and the"introducer."
Cleopatra cast a rapid glance at the throne, to which an obsequiousgesture of the courtier's hand invited her; but she remained standing,gazing keenly at Barine.
Was it the coloured rays from the ruby eyes of the dragon in thefireplace which shed the roseate glow on Cleopatra's cheeks? Itcertainly enhanced the beauty of a face now only too frequently pallidand colourless, when rouge did not lend its aid; but Barine understoodArchibius's ardent admiration for this rare woman, when Cleopatra, witha faint smile, requested her to approach.
Nothing more winning could be imagined than the frank kindness, whollyuntinged by condescending pride, of this powerful sovereign.
The less Barine had expected such a reception the more deeply it movedher; nay, her eyes grew dim with grateful emotion, which lent them sobeautiful a lustre, she looked so lovely in her glad surprise, thatCleopatra thought the months which had elapsed since her first meetingwith the singer had enhanced her charms. And how young she was! TheQueen swiftly computed the years which Barine must have lived as thewife of Philostratus, and afterwards as the attractive mistress of ahospitable house, and found it difficult to reconcile the appearance ofthis blooming young creature with the result of the calculation.
She was surprised, too, to note the aristocratic bearing whosepossession no one could deny the artist's daughter. This was apparenteven in her dress, yet Iras had roused her in the middle of the night,and certainly had given her no time for personal adornment.
She had expected lack of refinement and boldness, in the woman who wassaid to have attracted so many men, but even the most bitter prejudicecould have detected no trace of it. On the contrary, the embarrassmentwhich she could not yet wholly subdue lent her an air of girlishtimidity. All in all, Barine was a charming creature, who bewitched menby her vivacity, her grace, and her exquisite voice, not by coquetry andpertness. That she possessed unusual mental endowments Cleopatra did notbelieve. Barine had only one advantage over her--youth.
Time had not yet robbed the former of a single charm, while from theQueen he had wrested many; their number was known only to herself andher confidantes, but at this hour she did not miss them.
Barine, with a low, modest bow, advanced towards the Queen, whocommenced the conversation by graciously apologizing for the late hourat which she had summoned her. "But," she added, "you belong to theranks of the nightingales, who during the night most readily andexquisitely reveal to us what stirs their hearts--"
Barine gazed silently at the floor a moment, and when she raised hereyes her voice was faint and timid. "I sing, it is true, your Majesty,but I have nothing else in common with the birds. The wings which, whena child, bore me wherever I desired, have lost their strength. They donot wholly refuse their service, but they now require favourable hoursto move."
"I should not have expected that in the time of your youth, your mostbeautiful possession," replied the Queen. "Yet it is well. I too--howlong ago it seems!--was a child, and my imagination outstripped even theflight of the eagle. It could dare the risk unpunished. Now----Whoeverhas reached mature life is wise to let these wings remain idle. Themortal who ventures to use them may easily approach too near the sun,and, like Icarus, the wax will melt from his pinions. Let me tell youthis: To the child the gift of imagination is nourishing bread. In lateryears we need it only as salt, as spice, as stimulating wine. Doubtlessit points out many paths, and shows us their end; but, of a hundredrambles to which it summons him, scarcely one pleases the mature man. Notroublesome parasite is more persistently and sharply rebuffed. Whocan blame the ill-treated friend if it is less ready to serve us as theyears go on? The wise man will keep his ears ever open, but rarely lendit his active hand. To banish it from life is to deprive the plant ofblossoms, the rose of its fragrance, the sky of its stars."
"I have often said the same things to myself, though in a less clearand beautiful form, when life has been darkened," replied Barine, witha faint blush; for she felt that these words were doubtless intendedto warn her against cherishing too aspiring wishes. "But, your Majesty,here also the gods place you, the great Queen, far above us. We shouldoften find existence bare indeed but for the fancy which endows us withimaginary possessions. You have the power to secure a thousand thingswhich to us common mortals only the gift of imagination pictures asattainable."
"You believe that happiness is like wealth, and that the happiest personis the one who receives the largest number of the gifts of fortune,"answered the Queen. "The contrary, I think, can be easily proved. Themaxim that the more we have the less we need desire, is also false,though in this world there are only a certain number of desirablethings. He who already possesses one of ten solidi which are to bedivided, ought really to desire only nine, and therefore would be poorerby a wish than another who has none. True, it cannot be denied that thegods have burdened or endowed me with a greater number of perishablegifts than you and many others. You seem to set a high value upon them.Doubtless there may be one or another which you could appropriate onlyby the aid of the imagination. May I ask which seems to you the mostdesirable?"
"Spare me the choice, I beseech you," replied Barine in an embarrassedtone. "I need nothing from your treasures, and, as for the otherpossessions I lack many things; but it is uncertain how the noblest andhighest gifts in the possession of the marvellously endowed favourite ofthe gods would suit the small, commonplace ones I call mine, and I knownot--"
"A sensible doubt!" interrupted the Queen. "The lame man, who desireda horse, obtained one, and on his first ride broke his neck. The onlyblessing--the highest of all--which surely bestows happiness can neitherbe given away nor transferred from one to another. He who has gained itmay be robbed of it the next moment."
The last sentence had fallen from the Queen's lips slowly andthoughtfully, but Barine, remembering Archibius's tale, said modestly,"You are thinking of the chief good mentioned by Epicurus--perfect peaceof mind."
Cleopatra's eyes sparkled with a brighter light as she asked eagerly,"Do you, the granddaughter of a philosopher, know the system of themaster?"
"Very superficially, your Majesty. My intellect is far inferior toyours. It is difficult for me thoroughly to comprehend all the detailsof any system of philosophy."
"Yet you have attempted it?"
"Others endeavoured to introduce me into the doctrines of th
e Stoics.I have forgotten most of what I learned; only one thing lingered in mymemory, and I know why--because it pleased me."
"And that?"
"Was the wise law of living according to the dictates of our ownnatures. The command to shun everything contradictory to the simplefundamental traits of our own characters pleased me, and wherever I sawaffectation, artificiality, and mannerism I was repelled, while frommy grandfather's teaching I drew the principle that I could do nothingbetter than to remain, so far as life would permit, what I had been asa child ere I had heard the first word of philosophy, or felt theconstraint which society and its forms impose."
"So the system of the Stoics leads to this end also!" cried the Queengaily, and, turning to the companion of her own studies, she added: "Didyou hear, Charmian? If we had only succeeded in perceiving the wisdomand calm, purposeful order of existence which the Stoics, amid somuch that is perverse, unhealthy, and provocative of contradiction,nevertheless set above everything else! How can I, in order to livewisely, imitate Nature, when in her being and action I encounter somuch that is contradictory to my human reason, which is a part of thedivine?"
Here she hesitated, and the expression of her face suddenly changed.
She had advanced close to Barine and, while standing directly in frontof her, her eyes had rested on the gem which adorned her arm above theelbow.
Was it this which agitated Cleopatra so violently that her voice lostits bewitching melody, as she went on in a harsh, angry tone?--"So thatis the source of all this misfortune. Even as a child I detestedthat sort of arbitrary judgment which passes under the mask of sternmorality. There is an example! Do you hear the howling of the storm? Inhuman nature, as well as in the material world, there are tempests andvolcanoes which bring destruction, and, if the original character of anyindividual is full of such devastating forces, like the neighbourhoodof Vesuvius or Etna, the goal to which his impulses would lead him isclearly visible. Ay, the Stoic is not allowed to destroy the harmony andorder of things in existence, any more than to disturb those which areestablished by the state. But to follow our natural impulses whereverthey lead us is so perilous a venture, that whoever has the power to fixa limit to it betimes is in duty bound to do so. This power is mine, andI will use it!"
Then, with iron severity, she asked: "As it seems to be one of thedemands of your nature, woman, to allure and kindle the hearts of allwho bear the name of man, even though they have not yet donned the garbof the Ephebi, so, too, you seem to appear to delight in idle ornaments.Or," and as she spoke she touched Barine's shoulder"--or why should youwear, during the hours of slumber, that circlet on your arm?"
Barine had watched with increasing anxiety the marked change in themanner and language of the Queen. She now beheld a repetition of whatshe had experienced at the Adonis festival, but this time she knew whathad roused Cleopatra's jealousy. She, Barine, wore on her arm a giftfrom Antony. With pallid face she strove to find a fitting answer, butere she could do so Iras advanced to the side of the incensed Queen,saying: "That circlet is the counterpart of the one your august husbandbestowed upon you. The singer's must also be a gift from Mark Antony.Like every one else in the world, she deems the noble Imperator thegreatest man of his day. Who can blame her for prizing it so highly thatshe does not remove it even while she sleeps?"
Again Barine felt as if a thorn had pierced her; but though theresentment which she had previously experienced once more surgedhotly within her heart, she forced herself to maintain seemly externalcomposure, and struggled for some word in answer; but she found nonesuitable, and remained silent.
She had told the truth. From early youth she had followed the impulsesof her own nature without heeding the opinion of mortals, as theteachings of the Stoics directed, and she had been allowed to do sobecause this nature was pure, truthful, alive to the beautiful, and,moreover, free from those unbridled, volcanic impulses to which theQueen alluded. The cheerful patience of her soul had found amplesatisfaction in the cultivation of her art, and in social intercoursewith men who permitted her to share their own intellectual life. Todayshe had learned that the first great passion of her heart had met witha response. Now she was bound to her lover, and knew herself to be pureand guiltless, far better entitled to demand respect from sterner judgesof morality than the woman who condemned her, or the spiteful Iras, whohad not ceased to offer her love to Dion.
The sorrowful feeling of being misunderstood and unjustly condemned,mingled with fear of the terrible fate to which she might be sentencedby the omnipotent sovereign, whose clear intellect was clouded byjealousy and the resentment of a mother's wounded heart, paralyzed hertongue. Besides, she was confused by the angry emotion which the sightof Iras awakened. Twice, thrice she strove to utter a few words ofexplanation, defence, but her voice refused to obey her will.
When Charmian at last approached to encourage her, it was too late; theindignant Queen had turned away, exclaiming to Iras: "let her be takenback to Lochias. Her guilt is proved; but it does not become the injuredperson, the accuser, to award the punishment. This must be left to thejudges before whom we will bring her."
Then Barine once more recovered the power of speech. How dared Cleopatraassert that she was convicted of a crime, without hearing her defence?
As surely as she felt her own innocence she must succeed in provingit, and with this consciousness she cried out to the Queen in a tone oftouching entreaty: "O your Majesty, do not leave me without hearing me!As truly as I believe in your justice, I can ask you to listen to meonce more. Do not give me up to the woman who hates me because the manwhom she--"
Here Cleopatra interrupted her. Royal dignity forbade her to hear onewoman's jealous accusation of another, but, with the subtle discernmentwith which women penetrate one another's moods, she heard in Barine'spiteous appeal a sincere conviction that she was too severely condemned.Doubtless she also had reason to believe in Iras's hate, and Cleopatraknew how mercilessly she pursued those who had incurred her displeasure.She had rejected and still shuddered at her advice to remove the singerfrom her path; for an inner voice warned her not to burden her soul nowwith a fresh crime, which would disturb its peace. Besides, she had atfirst been much attracted by this charming, winning creature; but theirritating thought that Antony had bestowed the same gift upon thesovereign and the artist's daughter still so incensed her, that it taxedto the utmost her graciousness and self-control as, without addressingany special person, she exclaimed, glancing back into the hall: "Thisexamination will be followed by another. When the time comes, theaccused must appear before the judges; therefore she must remain atLochias and in custody. It is my will that no harm befalls her. You areher friend, Charmian. I will place her in your charge. Only"--hereshe raised her voice--"on pain of my anger, do not allow her byany possibility to leave the palace, even for a moment, or to holdintercourse with any person save yourself."
With these words she passed out of the hall and went into her ownapartments. She had turned the night into day, not only to despatchspeedily matters which seemed to her to permit of no delay, but evenmore because, since the battle of Actium, she dreaded the restless hoursupon her lonely couch. They seemed endless; and though before she hadremembered with pleasure the unprecedented display and magnificence withwhich she had surrounded her love-life with Antony, she now in thesehours reproached herself for having foolishly squandered the wealth ofher people. The present appeared unbearable, and from the future a hostof black cares pressed upon her.
The following days were overcrowded with business details.
Half of her nights were spent in the observatory. She had not askedagain for Barine. On the fifth night she permitted Alexas to conducther once more to the little observatory which had been erected for herfather at Lochias, and Antony's favourite knew how to prove that a starwhich had long threatened her planet was that of the woman whom sheseemed to have forgotten as completely as she had ignored his formerwarning against this very foe.
The Queen denied this, but A
lexas eagerly continued: "The night afteryour return home your kindness was again displayed in its inexhaustibleand--to us less noble souls--incomprehensible wealth. Deeply agitated,we watched during the memorable examination the touching spectacle ofthe greatest heart making itself the standard by which to measure whatis petty and ignoble. But ere the second trial takes place the wanderersabove, who know the future, bid me warn you once more; for that woman'severy look was calculated, every word had its fixed purpose, every toneof her voice was intended to produce a certain effect. Whatever she saidor may yet say had no other design than to deceive my royal mistress. Asyet there have been no definite questions and answers. But you will haveher examined, and then----What may she not make of the story of MarkAntony, Barine, and the two armlets? Perhaps it will be a masterpiece."
"Do you know its real history?" asked Cleopatra, clasping her fingersmore closely around the pencil in her hand.
"If I did," replied Alexas, smiling significantly, "the receiver ofstolen goods should not betray the thief."
"Not even if the person who has been robbed--the Queen--commands you togive up the dishonestly acquired possession?"
"Unfortunately, even then I should be forced to withhold obedience; forconsider, my royal mistress, there are but two great luminaries aroundwhich my dark life revolves. Shall I betray the moon, when I am sure ofgaining nothing thereby save to dim the warm light of the sun?"
"That means that your revelations would wound me, the sun?"
"Unless your lofty soul is too great to be reached by shadows whichsurround less noble women with an atmosphere of indescribable torture."
"Do you intend to render your words more attractive by the veil withwhich you shroud them? It is transparent, and dims the vision verylittle. My soul, you think, should be free from jealousy and the otherweaknesses of my sex. There you are mistaken. I am a woman, and wish toremain one. As Terence's Chremes says he is a human being, and nothinghuman is unknown to him, I do not hesitate to confess all femininefrailties. Anubis told me of a queen in ancient times who would notpermit the inscriptions to record 'she,' but 'he came,' or 'he, theruler, conquered.' Fool! Whatever concerns me, my womanhood is notless lofty than the crown. I was a woman ere I became Queen. The peopleprostrate themselves before my empty litters; but when, in my youth, Iwandered in disguise with Antony through the city streets and visitedsome scene of merrymaking, while the men gazed admiringly at me, and weheard voices behind us murmur, 'A handsome couple!' I returned home fullof joy and pride. But there was something greater still for the womanto learn, when the heart in the breast of the Queen forgot throne andsceptre and, in the hours consecrated to Eros, tasted joys knownto womanhood alone. How can you men, who only command and desire,understand the happiness of sacrifice? I am a woman; my birth does notexalt me above any feeling of my sex; and what I now ask is not as Queenbut as woman."
"If that is the case," Alexas answered with his hand upon his heart,"you impose silence upon me; for were I to confess to the womanCleopatra what agitates my soul, I should be guilty of a double crime--Iwould violate a promise and betray the friend who confided his noblewife to my protection."
"Now the darkness is becoming too dense for me," replied Cleopatra,raising her head with repellent pride. "Or, if I choose to raise theveil, I must point out to you the barriers--
"Which surround the Queen," replied the Syrian with an obsequious bow."There you behold the fact. It is an impossibility to separate the womanfrom the princess. So far as I am concerned, I do not wish to anger theformer against the presumptuous adorer, and I desire to yield to thelatter the obedience which is her due. Therefore I entreat you toforget the armlet and its many painful associations, and pass to theconsideration of other matters. Perhaps the fair Barine will voluntarilyconfess everything, and even add how she managed to ensnare the amiableson of the greatest of men, and the most admirable of mothers, the youngKing Caesarion."
Cleopatra's eyes flashed more brightly, and she angrily exclaimed: "Ifound the boy just now as though he were possessed by demons. He wasready to tear the bandage from his wound, if he were refused the womanwhom he loved. A magic potion was the first thought, and his tutor ofcourse attributes everything to magic arts. Charmian, on the contrary,declares that his visits annoyed and even alarmed Barine. Nothing excepta rigid investigation can throw light upon this subject. We will awaitthe Imperator's return. Do you think that he will again seek the singer?You are his most trusted confidant. If you desire his best good, andcare for my favour, drop your hesitation and answer this question."
The Syrian assumed the manner of a man who had reached a decision,and answered firmly: "Certainly he will, unless you prevent him. Thesimplest way would be--"
"Well?"
"To inform him, as soon as he lands, that she is no longer to be found.I should be especially happy to receive this commission from my royalsun."
"And do you think it would dim the light of your moon a little, were heto seek her here in vain?"
"As surely as that the contrary would be the case if he were always asgratefully aware of the peerless brilliancy of his sun as it deserves.Helios suffers no other orb to appear so long as he adorns the heavens.His lustre quenches all the rest. Let my sun so decree, and Barine'slittle star will vanish."
"Enough! I know your aim now. But a human life is no small thing, andthis woman, too, is the child of a mother. We must consider, earnestlyconsider, whether our purpose cannot be gained without proceedingto extremes. This must be done with zeal and a kindly intention--ButI--Now, when the fate of this country, my own, and the children's ishanging in the balance, when I have not fifteen minutes at my command,and there is no end of writing and consulting, I can waste no time onsuch matters."
"The reflective mind must be permitted to use its mighty wingsunimpeded," cried the Syrian eagerly. "Leave the settlement of minormatters to trustworthy friends."
Here they were interrupted by the "introducer," who announced theeunuch Mardion. He had come on business which, spite of the late hour,permitted no delay.
Alexas accompanied the Queen to the tablinum, where they found theeunuch. A slave attended him, carrying a pouch filled with letters whichhad just been brought by two messengers from Syria. Among them were somewhich must be answered without delay. The Keeper of the Seal and theExegetus were also waiting. Their late visit was due to the necessity ofholding a conference in relation to the measures to be adopted to calmthe excited citizens. All the galleys which had escaped from the battlehad entered the harbour the day before, wreathed with garlands as if agreat victory had been won. Loud acclamations greeted them, yet tidingsof the defeat at Actium spread with the swiftness of the wind. Crowdswere now gathering, threatening demonstrations had been made in frontof the Sebasteum, and on the square of the Serapeum the troops had beencompelled to interfere, and blood had flowed.
There lay the letters. Zeno remarked that more papers conferringauthority were required for the work on the canal, and the Exegetusearnestly besought definite instruction.
"It is much--much," murmured Cleopatra. Then, drawing herself up to herfull height, she exclaimed, "Well, then, to work!"
But Alexas did not permit her to do this at once. Humbly advancing asshe took her seat at the large writing-table, he whispered: "Andwith all this, must my royal mistress devote time and thought to thedestroyer of her peace. To disturb your Majesty with this trifle is acrime; yet it must be committed, for should the affair remain unheededlonger, the trickling rivulet may become a mountain torrent--"
Here Cleopatra, whose glance had just rested upon a fateful letterfrom King Herod, turned her face half towards her husband's favourite,exclaiming curtly, with glowing cheeks, "Presently."
Then she glanced rapidly over the letter, pushed it excitedly aside, anddismissed the waiting Syrian with the impatient words: "Attend to thetrial and the rest. No injustice, but no untimely mildness. I will lookinto this unpleasant matter myself before the Imperator returns."
"And the authori
ty?" asked the Syrian, with another low bow.
"You have it. If you need a written one, apply to Zeno. We will discussthe affair further at some less busy hour."
The Syrian retired; but Cleopatra turned to the eunuch and, flushed withemotion, cried, pointing to the King of Judea's letter: "Did you everwitness baser ingratitude? The rats think the ship is sinking, and it istime to leave it. If we succeed in keeping above water, they will returnin swarms; and this must, must, must be done, for the sake of thisbeloved country and her independence. Then the children, the children!All our powers must now be taxed, every expedient must be remembered andused. We will hammer each feeble hope until it becomes the strong steelof certainty. We will transform night into day. The canal will save thefleet. Mark Antony will find in Africa Pinarius Scarpus with untouchedloyal legions. The gladiators are faithful to us. We can easily makethem ours, and my brain is seething with other plans. But first we willattend to the Alexandrians. No violence!"
This exclamation was followed by order after order, and the promisethat, if necessary, she would show herself to the people.
The Exegetus was filled with admiration as he received the clear,sagacious directions. After he had retired with his companions, theQueen again turned to the Regent, saying: "We did wisely to make thepeople happy at first with tidings of victory. The unexpected news ofterrible disaster might have led them to some unprecedented deed ofmadness. Disappointment is a more common pain, for which less powerfulremedies will suffice. Besides, many things could be arranged ere theyknew that I was here. How much we have accomplished already, Mardion!But I have not even granted myself the joy of seeing my children. I wasforced to defer the pleasure of the companionship of my oldest friends,even Archibius. When he comes again he will be admitted. I have giventhe order. He knows Rome thoroughly. I must hear his opinion of pendingnegotiations."
She shivered as she spoke, and pressing her hand upon her brow,exclaimed: "Octavianus victor, Cleopatra vanquished! I, who waseverything to Caesar, beseeching mercy from his heir. I, a petitionerto Octavia's brother! Yet, no, no! There are still a hundred chances ofavoiding the horrible doom. But whoever wishes to compel the field tobear fruits must dig sturdily, draw the buckets from the well, plough,and sow the seed. To work, then, to work! When Antony returns he mustfind all things ready. The first success will restore his lost energy.I glanced through yonder letter while talking with the Exegetus; now Iwill dictate the answer."
So she sat reading, writing, and dictating, listening, answering, andgiving orders, until the east brightened with the approach of dawn, themorning star grew pale, and the Regent, utterly exhausted, entreated herto consider her own health and his years, and permit him a few hours'rest.
Then she, too, allowed herself to be led into her darkened chamber, andthis time a friendly, dreamless slumber closed her weary eyes and heldher captive until roused by the loud shouts of the multitude, who hadheard of the Queen's return and flocked to Lochias.