Cleopatra, being an account of the fall and vengeance of Harmachis, the royal Egyptian, as set forth by his own hand . said in a low voicewhich none but I and Charmion could hear, lest perchancethou dost tempt me to match my magic against thine. Whatwoman can forgive that a man should push us by as things ofno account ? It is an insult to our sex which Natures selfabhors, and she leaned back again and laughed most music-ally. But, glancing up, I saw Charmion, her teeth on herlip and an angry frown upon her brow. 1 Pardon, royal Egypt, I answered coldly, but with suchwit as I could summon, befo
Cleopatra, being an account of the fall and vengeance of Harmachis, the royal Egyptian, as set forth by his own hand . said in a low voicewhich none but I and Charmion could hear, lest perchancethou dost tempt me to match my magic against thine. Whatwoman can forgive that a man should push us by as things ofno account ? It is an insult to our sex which Natures selfabhors, and she leaned back again and laughed most music-ally. But, glancing up, I saw Charmion, her teeth on herlip and an angry frown upon her brow. 1 Pardon, royal Egypt, I answered coldly, but with suchwit as I could summon, before the Queen of Heaven evenstars grow pale! This I said of the moon, which is the signof the Holy Mother whom Cleopatra dared to rival, namingherself Isis come to earth. 1 Happily said, she answered, clapping her white hands. Why, heres an astronomer who has wit and can shape acompliment! Nay, such a wonder must not pass unnoted, lestthe Gods resent it. Charmion, take this rose-chaplet frommy hair and set it upon the Learned brow of our HarmachisHe shall be crowned Kmg of Love, whether he an ill it or willn. Aii 11 iirmachis CLEOPATRA 119 Charmion lifted the chaplet from Cleopatras brows and,bearing it to where I was, with a smile set it upon my headji 1 warm and fragrant from the Queens hair, but so roughlythat she pained me somewhat. She did this because she waswroth, although she smiled with her lips and whispered, Anomen, royal Harmachis. For though she was so very mucha woman, yet, when she was angered or suffered jealousy,Charmion had a childish way. Having thus fixed the chaplet, she curtsied low beforeme, and with the softest tone of mockery named me, in theGreek tongue, Harmachis, King of Love. Then Cleopatralaughed and pledged me as King of Love, and so did all thecompany, finding the jest a merry one. For in Alexandriathey love not those who live straitly and turn aside fromwomen. But I sat there, a smile upon my lips and black wrath inmy heart. For, knowing wh
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1894
