The Irish standard., 1889-10-26
A IRA.
Being an Account Of the Fall and
Vengeance Of Harmachis, the
Royal Fgyptian.

Vengeance Of Harmachis, the
Royal Egyptian.
AS Sci FORTH BY HIS OWN HANu.
BIZ H. RIDER HAGGARD.
Author of King solomons Mines, She
"Allan Quatermain," Etc.
ILLUSTRATED by NICHOLL. after CATION WOOD
VILE and GRElFFENHAGEN.
But at that moment the multitude sc
gathered and thickened in front of where
was that l could no longer clearly see. SC
in my eagerness leapt over the barrier OF
the scaffolding, and, being very strong.
pushed my way through the crowd till ]
reached the foremost rank. And as / die
so, Nubian slaves armed with thick slaves
and crowned with Ivy leaves ran up, strlk
ing the people. One man more especially
Tor he was giant, and, being strong, was
insolent beyond measure, shifting the peo-
pie without cause, as, indeed, is the wont of
low persons set in authority. For nigh to
me stood a woman, an Egyptian by her face,
bearing q child in her arms, whom the man,
seeing thai she was weak, struck on the
head with his rod so that she fell prone, and
the people murmured But my blood
rushed Of a sudden through my veins at the
sight, and drowned my reason. In my
band [ held a staff of olive wood from
Cyprus, and as the black brute laughed at
the sight Of the stricken woman and her
babe rolling on the ground, swung the
staff aloft and smote. So shrewdly did l
strike that the tough rod split upon the
giants shoulders and the blood spurted
forth, staining his trailing leaves Of ivy.
Then, with g. shrek Of paia and fury-for
those who smite love not that they
be smitten-did he turn and spring
at me! And all the people round
gave back, save only ths woman who
could not rise, leaving us twain in ring, as
1T We're. On he came with rush, and as he
game being now mad, smote him with my
clenched fist between the eyes, having
naught else wherewith to smite, and he
staggered like an OK beneath the first blow
Of the priests axe. Thereat the people
shouted. for they love to see fight, and the
man was known to them as a gladiator vic
torous in the games. Gathering up his
streng the lznave came on with an oath,
and, whiring his heavy staff on high, struck
at me in such q fashion that, had not by
nimbleness avoided the blow, I had surely
been slain. But as it CHANGED, the staff hit
upon the ground, and SO heavily that it flew
in fragments. Thereon again the multitude
shouted, and the great man, blind with
fury, rushed at me to smite me down. But
with a cry sprang straight at his throat
for he was so heavy man that knew
could not hope to throw him by strength
ay, and gripped it There chung, though
his fists battered me liks bludgeons, driving
my thumbs into his throat. Round and
round we turned, till at length he flung him
self to the earth, trusting thus to shake me
off But held on fast as we rolled over
and over en- the ground, till at last he grew
faint for want of breath. Then I, being up
permost drave my knee down upon his
Chest and, as I believe, should thus have
slain him in my rage, had not my uncle and
others there gathered fallen upon mo and
dragged me from him.
And meanwhile, though / knew it not,
the chariot wherein sat the Queen, with
elephants going before and lions led after
it, dad come even to the spot, and because
of the tunult had been halted. T looked up.
and thus torn, painting, my white garments
stained with the blood that had rushed
from the mouth and nostrils Of the mighty
Nubian. l for the first time saw Cleopatra
face to face Her chariot was all of gold,
and drawn by milk-white steeds. Therein
she sat with two fair girls, clad in Greek
attire, standing one on either side tanning
her with glittering fans. There she sat in
she splendid car On her head was the GOV:
aering of Isis, she golden horns between
which rested the moons round disk and the
emblem ct Osiris throne with the uraeus
twined ar, lad. Beneath the covering was
the vulture cap of gold, the blue enameleo
wings, and the vulture head with genmy
ewes, under which her long, dark tresses
flowed toward her feet. About her round
ed neck was broad collar Of gold studded
with emera!ds and coral. Round her arms
and wrists were bracelets of gold studded
with emeralds and coral, and in one hanc
she held the holy symbol of life (crux ansa
ta) fashioned Of crystal, and in the Other
she golden rod Of royalty. Her breast was
bare, but under was garment that glis'
tened like the scaly covering Of snake
everywhere sewn with gems. Beneath this
robe was skirt of golden cloth, half hid By
a scarf Of the broidered silk of Cos, falling
in folds even to the sandals that, fas tened
with great pearls, adorned her white and
Einy feet.
All this I discerned at glance, as II
Were Then looked upon the face-that
face which seduceu Caesar, ruined Egypt
and was doomed to give Augustus the
,scepter of the world. looked upon the
nawless Grecian features, therounded chin.
She full, rich lips, the chiseled nostrils and
the ears fashioned like delicate shells.
saw the forehead, low, broad and lovely, the
scrisped dark hair falling in heavy waves
that sparkled in the sun, the arched eye.
hrows and the long bent lashes. There be-
fore me was the grandeur of her imperial
shape There burnt the wonderful eyes.
hued like the Cyprian vlolet-eyes that
seemed to sleep and brood on secret things
as night broods upon the desert, and yet as
the night to shift, change and be illumined
by CLEANS of sudden splendor born within
aheir starry depths. All those wonders ]
saw though have small skill in telling
them. But even then knew that it was
not in these charms alone that the
might of Cleopatra's beauty lay. Rath.
or was it in glory and a radi
ance cast through the feshy covering
from the fierce soul within. For she was q.
Thing of flame like unto which no woman
hath ever been nor ever win be. Even when
she brooded, the fire of her quick heart
shone through her. But when she woke
and the lightning leapt suddenly from her
eyes. and the passion-laden music Of beI