Cleopatra, being an account of the fall and vengeance of Harmachis, the royal Egyptian, as set forth by his own hand . as I had never seen her wear before ; it was sad-der and more fateful than any stamp that grief can set uponthe brow. For, though being blinded by my own folly and the troubleat my heart I knew it not, with that smile, the happiness ofyouth died for Charmion the Egyptian ; the hope of love fled ;and the holy links of duty burst asunder. With that smileshe consecrated herself to Evil, she renounced her Country andher Gods, and trampled on her oath. Ay, that smile marksthe momen
Cleopatra, being an account of the fall and vengeance of Harmachis, the royal Egyptian, as set forth by his own hand . as I had never seen her wear before ; it was sad-der and more fateful than any stamp that grief can set uponthe brow. For, though being blinded by my own folly and the troubleat my heart I knew it not, with that smile, the happiness ofyouth died for Charmion the Egyptian ; the hope of love fled ;and the holy links of duty burst asunder. With that smileshe consecrated herself to Evil, she renounced her Country andher Gods, and trampled on her oath. Ay, that smile marksthe moment when the stream of history changed its had I never seen it on her face Octavianus had not be-stridden the world, and Egypt had once more been free andgreat. And yet it was but a womans smile ! Why lookest thou thus strangely, girl ? I asked. 1 In dreams we smile, she answered. And now it is time;follow thou me. Be firm and prosper, royal Harmachis Iand bending forward she took my hand and kissed it. Then,with one strange last look, she turned and led the way downthe stair and through the emptj OutBl i usp CLEOPA TEA 145 In the chamber that is called the Alabaster Hall, the roofof which is upborne by columns of black marble, we beyond was the private chamber of Cleopatra, the same inwhich I had seen her sleeping. ? Abide thou here, she said, while I tell Cleopatra of thycoming,1 and she glided from my side. I stood for long, mayhap in all the half of an hour, count-ing my own heart-beats, and, as in a dream, striving to gatherup my strength to that which lay before me. At length Charmion came back, her head held low andwalking heavily. • Cleopatra waits thee, she said : pass on, there is noguard. Where do I meet thee when what must be done is done ? I asked hoarsely. Thou meetest me here, and then to Paulus. Be firmand prosper. Harmachis, fare thee well! And so I went; but at the curtain I turned suddenly, andthere in the midst of that l
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1894
