The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-12-07
RA.
/ Dsing an Account Of the Fall and
Vengeance Of Harmachis, the
Royal Egyptian,
As SET FORTH BY Els OWN HAND.
BY III. RIDER HAGGARD,

2s By III. RIDER HAGGARD,
!. She,'' " Allan Quaternnain,"
Etc, Etc, Etc
frustrated by NIcHoLL. after CATION WOOD
WILLIE and GRERFENHAaEN.
n She blew out the lamp, and by the little
light that crept through the shattered case
ment led me by the hand to the far corner
of the room Here she pressed upon the
wall, and door opened in it's thickness.
We entered, and she closed the spring.
Now we were in little chamber, some five
cubits in length by four in breadth; for
faint light struggled into the closet, and
also the sound Of voices, whence knew
not Loosing my hand, she crept to the
end of the place, and looked steadfastly at
the wall; then crept back, and, whispering
':sRencep' led me forward with her. Then
saw that there were eyeholes in the wall,
which pierced it, and were hidden on the
farther side by carved work in stone. I
looked through the hole that was in front of
me, and this saw. Six cubits below was
the level of the floor Of another chamber,
lit with fragrant lamps, and most richly
furnished. It was the sleeping place OF
Cleopatra, and there, within ten cubits OF
where we stood, sat Cleopatra on gilded
couch, and by her side sat Antony.
.'Tell me,'e Cleopatra murmured-for so
was this place built that every word spoken
in the room below came to the ears of the
listener above-'stell me, noble Antony,
vast pleased with my poor festlval?'
cay" he answered in his deep soldiers
voice; cay, Egypt, have made feasts, and
been hidden to feasts, but never saw l
aught like thine; and this I tell thee, though
am rough of tongue and unsk1lled IN pref
ty sayings such as women love, thou vast
the richest sight Of all that splendid board.
The red wine was not so red as thy beau.
teous cheek, the roses smelt not 80 sweet as
the odor of thy hair, and no sapphire there
with it's changing light was so lovely as thy
eyes of ocean blue.'
ssWhat! praise from Antony? Sweet
words from the lips of him whose writings
are so harsh? Why, tits praise, indeedw
cay" he went on, "'twas a royal feast,
though I grieved that thou didst waste that
great pearl; and what meant that hour
calling astrologer Of thine, with his ILL
omened talk of the curse Of Menkarras''
A shadow fled across her glowing face
III know not; he was lately wounded in a
brawl and methinks the blow has crazed
him.
she seemed not crazed, and there was
that about his voice which doth ring ia my
ears like some oracle Of fate. So wildly,
too, he looked upon thee, Egypt, with those
piercing eyes Of his, like one who loved and
vet hated through the love-"
"'Tis a strange man, tell thee, noble
Antony, and learned. Myself, at times,
almost fear him, for deeply is lie versed in
the ancient arts of Egypt Knowest thou
that the man is Of royal blood, and once he
plotted to Stay me9 But won him over,
aud slew him not, for he had the key to Sc
crets that fain would learn; and, indeed,
love his wisdom, and to listen to his deep
talk of all hidden things"
by Bacchus, but l grow jealous Of the
knave! And now, Egypt?"
:sAnd now hay~ sucked his knowledge
dry and have no more cause to fear him.
Didst thou not see chat these three nights
have made him stand a slave amid my
slaves and call aloud the hours as they fed
in festivaI2 No captive king marching in thy
Roman triumphs can have suffered keener
pangs than that proud Egyptian Prince as
he stood and shamed behind my couch"
Here, Charmion laid her hand on mine
and pressed it, as though in tenderness.
"Well, he shall trouble us no moro with
his words of evil omen," Cleopatra went on
slowly; ssJo-morrow morn he dies-dies
swiftly and in secret, leaving no trace OF
what his fate hath been On this is my mind
fixed; of truth, noble Antony, it is fixed.
Even as speak the fear Of this man grows
and gathers in my breast. Half am minded
to give the word even now, for till he be
dead breathe not freely" and she made
as though to rise.
"Let it be till morning. he said, catching
her by the hand; ''the soldiers drfAk, and
the deed wilt be i'll done. IT'S pity, toe,
love not to think of men slaughtered in
their sleep"
..1n the morning, perehance, may the
hawk have flown,' she answered, ponder
ing. HE hath keen ears, this Harmachis
and can summon things that are not OF the
earth to aid him. Perchance even now he
hears me in the spirit; for, of truth,
seem to feel his presence breathing round
me. could tell thee-but no, let him be
Noble Antony, be my firing woman ane
p loose me this crown of gold; it chafeavmJ
brow Be gentle, hurt me not-so."
He lifted the ureus crown from hel
brows. and she shock loose her heavy
weight of hair that fell about her like
garment
stake thy crown, Royal Egypt" he said
speaking low, stake it from my hand; J
will not rob thee of it, but rather set it mort
firmly on that beauteous brow
~What means my Lord2" she asked
smiling and looking into his eyes.
@ssWhat mean II Why, then, this; hithel
thou earnest at my bidding, to make an
swer to the charges laid against thee as t
matters petite. And knowest thou, Egypt
that hadst thou been other than thou ar
thou hadst not gone back to Queen it OF
the Nile; for Of this I am sure, the charges
against thee are true, in fact. But beini
what thou art-and look, thou! never dt
Nature serve woman betterl--I forg1v.
thee all. Fen for the sake OF thy grace
] and beauty I forgive thee that which haiti
not been forgiven to virtue, or to patriot
ism, or to the dignity Of age! See, now, how
rood a thing is woman s wit and loneliness
fl1at can make Kings forget their duty and
cozen cen blindfolded Justice to peep err
she lifts her swordl Take back thy crown
d Egyptl my care now it is that, though
II be heavy, it shall not chafe thee. as .
. ssRoyal words are those, most noblt
Antny,r a q ma q an syvar sterranO1s ant