cleopatra-第51部分
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And； as she spoke； suddenly from the palace gates came a great
clamour； and the noise of joyful shouting。
〃Why； what is this？〃 she said； springing from her couch。
〃Antony！ Antony！〃 rose the cry； 〃Antony hath conquered！〃
She turned swiftly and ran； her long hair streaming on the wind。 I
followed her； more slowly； down the great hall； across the courtyards；
to the palace gates。 And here she met Antony； riding through them；
radiant with smiles and clad in his Roman armour。 When he saw her he
leapt to the ground； and； all armed as he was； clasped her to his
breast。
〃What is it？〃 she cried； 〃is C？sar fallen？〃
〃Nay； not altogether fallen； Egypt： but we have beat his horsemen back
to their trenches； and； like the beginning； so shall be the end； for；
as they say here； 'Where the head goes； the tail will follow。'
Moreover； C？sar has my challenge； and if he will but meet me hand to
hand； the world shall soon see which is the better man； Antony or
Octavian。〃 And even as he spoke and the people cheered there came the
cry of 〃A messenger from C？sar！〃
The herald entered； and； bowing low； gave a writing to Antony； bowed
again； and went。 Cleopatra snatched it from his hand； broke the silk
and read aloud：
〃C？sar to Antony； greeting。
〃This answer to thy challenge： Can Antony find no better way of
death than beneath the sword of C？sar？ Farewell！〃
And thereafter they cheered no more。
The darkness came； and before it was midnight； having feasted with his
friends who to…night went over his woes and to…morrow should betray
him； Antony went forth to the gathering of the captains of the land…
forces and of the fleet； attended by many； among whom was I。
When all were come together； he spoke to them； standing bareheaded in
their midst； beneath the radiance of the moon。 And thus he most nobly
spoke：
〃Friends and companions in arms！ who yet cling to me； and whom many a
time I have led to victory； hearken to me now； who to…morrow may lie
in the dumb dust； disempired and dishonoured。 This is our design： no
longer will we hang on poised wings above the flood of war； but will
straightway plunge； perchance thence to snatch the victor's diadem；
or； failing； there to drown。 Be now but true to me； and to your
honour's sake； and you may still sit； the most proud of men； at my
right hand in the Capitol of Rome。 Fail me now； and the cause of
Antony is lost and so are ye。 To…morrow's battle must be hazardous
indeed； but we have stood many a time and faced a fiercer peril； and
ere the sun had sunk； once more have driven armies like desert sands
before our gale of valour and counted the spoil of hostile kings。 What
have we to fear？ Though allies be fled； still is our array as strong
as C？sar's！ And show we but as high a heart； why； I swear to you； upon
my princely word； to…morrow night I shall deck yonder Canopic gate
with the heads of Octavian and his captains！
〃Ay； cheer； and cheer again！ I love that martial music which swells；
not as from the indifferent lips of clarions； now 'neath the breath of
Antony and now of C？sar； but rather out of the single hearts of men
who love me。 Yetand now I will speak low； as we do speak o'er the
bier of some beloved deadyet； if Fortune should rise against me and
if； borne down by the weight of arms； Antony； the soldier； dies a
soldier's death； leaving you to mourn him who ever was your friend；
this is my will； that； after our rough fashion of the camp； I here
declare to you。 You know where all my treasure lies。 Take it； most
dear friends； and； in the memory of Antony； make just division。 Then
go to C？sar and speak thus： 'Antony； the dead； to C？sar； the living；
sends greeting； and； in the name of ancient fellowship and of many a
peril dared； craves this boon： the safety of those who clung to him
and that which he hath given them。'
〃Nay； let not my tearsfor I must weepoverflow your eyes！ Why； it
is not manly； 'tis most womanish！ All men must die； and death were
welcome were it not so lone。 Should I fall； I leave my children to
your tender careif； perchance； it may avail to save them from the
fate of helplessness。 Soldiers； enough！ to…morrow at the dawn we
spring on C？sar's throat； both by land and sea。 Swear that ye will
cling to me； even to the last issue！〃
〃We swear！〃 they cried。 〃Noble Antony； we swear！〃
〃It is well！ Once more my star grows bright； to…morrow； set in the
highest heaven； it yet may shine the lamp of C？sar down！ Till then；
farewell！〃
He turned to go。 As he went they caught his hand and kissed it； and so
deeply were they moved that many wept like children； nor could Antony
master his grief； for； in the moonlight； I saw tears roll down his
furrowed cheeks and fall upon that mighty breast。
And； seeing all this； I was much troubled。 For I well knew that if
these men held firm to Antony all might yet go well for Cleopatra； and
though I bore no ill…will against Antony； yet he must fall； and in
that fall drag down the woman who； like some poisonous plant； had
twined herself about his giant strength till it choked and mouldered
in her embrace。
Therefore； when Antony went I went not； but stood back in the shadow
watching the faces of the lords and captains as they spoke together。
〃Then it is agreed！〃 said he who should lead the fleet。 〃And this we
swear to； one and all； that we will cling to noble Antony to the last
extremity of fortune！〃
〃Ay！ ay！〃 they answered。
〃Ay！ ay！〃 I said； speaking from the shadow； 〃cling； and /die！/〃
They turned fiercely and seized me。
〃Who is he？〃 quoth one。
〃'Tis that dark…faced dog； Olympus！〃 cried another。 〃Olympus； the
magician！〃
〃Olympus； the traitor！〃 growled another； 〃put an end to him and his
magic！〃 and he drew his sword。
〃Ay！ slay him； he would betray the Lord Antony； whom he is paid to
doctor。〃
〃Hold a while！〃 I said in a slow and solemn voice； 〃and beware how ye
try to murder the servant of the Gods。 I am no traitor。 For myself； I
abide the event here in Alexandria； but to you I say； Flee； flee to
C？sar！ I serve Antony and the QueenI serve them truly； but above all
I serve the Holy Gods； and what they make known to me； that； Lords； I
do know。 And I know this： that Antony is doomed； and Cleopatra is
doomed； for C？sar conquers。 Therefore； because I honour you； noble
gentlemen； and think with pity on your wives； left widowed； and your
little fatherless children； that shall； if ye hold to Antony； be sold
as slavestherefore； I say； cling to Antony if ye will and die； or
flee to C？sar and be saved！ And this I say because it is so ordained
of the Gods。〃
〃The Gods！〃 they growled； 〃what Gods？ Slit the traitor's throat； and
stop his ill…omened talk！〃
〃Let him show us a sign from his Gods or let him die： I do mistrust
this man；〃 said another。
〃Stand back； ye fools！〃 I cried。 〃Stand backfree mine armsand I
will show you a sign；〃 and there was that in my face which frightened
them； for they freed me and stood back。 Then I lifted up my hands and
putting out all my strength of soul searched the depths of space till
my Spirit communed with the Spirit of my Mother Isis。 Only the Word of
Power I uttered not； as I had been bidden。 And the holy mystery of the
Goddess answered to my Spirit's cry； falling in awful silence upon the
face of the earth。 Deeper and deeper grew the terrible silence； even
the dogs ceased to howl； and in the city men stood still afeared。
Then； from far away； there came the ghostly music of the sistra。 Faint
it was at first； but ever as it came it grew more loud； till the air
shivered with the unearthly sound of terror。 I said naught； but
pointed with my hand toward the sky。 And behold！ bosomed upon the air；
floated a vast veiled Shape that； heralded by the swelling music of
the sistra； drew slowly near； till its shadow lay upon us。 It came； it
passed； it went toward the camp of C？sar； till at length the music
died away； and the awful Shape was swallowed in the night。
〃It is Bacchus！〃 cried one。 〃Bacchus； who leaves lost Antony！〃 and； as
he spoke； there rose a groan of terror from all the camp。
But I knew that it was not Bacchus； the false God； but the Divine Isis
who deserted Khem； and； passing over the edge of the world； sought her
home in space； to be no more known of men。 For though her worship is
still upheld； though still she is here and in all Earths； Isis
manifests herself no more in Egypt。 I hid my face and prayed； but when
I lifted it from my robe； lo！ all had fled and I was alone。
CHAPTER VII
OF THE SURRENDER OF THE TROOPS AND FLEET OF ANTONY BEFORE
THE CANOPIC GATE； OF THE END OF ANTONY； AND OF THE BREWING OF
THE DRAUGHT OF DEATH
On the morrow； at dawn； Antony came forth and gave command that his
fleet should advance against the fleet of C？sar； and that his cavalry
should open the land…battle with the cavalry of C？sar。 Accordingly；
the fleet advanced in a triple line； and the fleet of C？sar came out
to meet it。 But when they met； the galleys of Antony lifted their oars
in greeting； and passed over to the galleys of C？sar； and they sailed
away together。 And the cavalry of Antony rode forth beyond the
Hippodrome to charge the cavalry of C？sar； but when they met； they
lowered their swords and passed over to the camp of C？sar； deserting
Antony。 Then Antony grew mad with rage and terrible to see。 He shouted
to his legions to stand firm and wait attack； and for a little while
they stood。 One man； howeverthat same officer who would have slain
me on the yesternightstrove to fly； but Antony seized him with his
own hand； threw him to the earth； and； springing from his horse； drew
his sword to slay him。 He held his sword on high； while the man；
covering his face； awaited death。 But Antony dropped his sword and
bade him rise。
〃Go！〃 he said。 〃Go to C？sar； and pr
