Cleopatra — Complete

  CHAPTER II.

  When Caesarion's companion reached Dion and Gorgias, the former modestlymade a movement to retire. But Archibius was acquainted with both, andbegged him to remain. There was an air of precision and clearness in thevoice and quiet movements of this big, broad-shouldered man, with hisrobust frame and well-developed limbs. Though only a few years beyondforty, not merely his grey hair but the calm, impressive dignity of hiswhole manner indicated a more advanced age.

  "The young King yonder," he began in a deep, musical voice, motioningtowards the equipage, "wished to speak to you here in person, Gorgias,but by my advice he refrained from mingling with the crowd. I havebrought him hither in a closed carriage. If the plan suits you, enterit and talk with him while I keep watch here. Strange things seem to beoccurring, and yonder--or am I mistaken? Has the monster dragged alongthere any connection with the twin statues of the Queen and her friend?Was it you who selected that place for them?"

  "No," replied the architect. "The order was issued over my head andagainst my will."

  "I thought so," replied the other. "This is the very matter of whichCaesarion wishes to speak. If you can prevent the erection of thestatues on Didymus's land, so much the better. I will do everything inmy power to aid you, but in the Queen's absence that is little."

  "Then what can be said of my influence?" asked the architect. "Who, inthese days, knows whether the sky will be blue or grey to-morrow? I canguarantee one thing only: I will do my best to prevent this injury of anestimable citizen, interference with the laws of our city, and violationof good taste."

  "Say so to the young King, but express yourself cautiously," repliedArchibius as the architect turned towards the carriage.

  As soon as Dion and the older man were alone, the latter inquiredthe cause of the increasing uproar, and as, like every well-disposedAlexandrian, he esteemed Archibius, and knew that he was intimatelyacquainted with the owner of the imperilled garden, and thereforewith his granddaughter Barine, he confided his anxiety to him withoutreserve.

  "Iras is your niece, it is true," he said in his open-hearted manner,"but I know that you understand her character. It suits her now to flinga golden apple into the path of a person whom she dislikes and believesincautious, that she may pick it up and thus afford her an opportunityto bring a charge of theft."

  Noting the inquiring glance Archibius fixed upon him as he made thiscomparison, he changed his tone and continued more earnestly: "Zeus isgreat, but destiny is superior even to him. Zeus can accomplish much,but when Iras and your sister Charmian, who unfortunately is now withthe Queen, wish to effect anything, he, like the Regent Mardion, mustgive way. The more lovable Cleopatra is, the more surely every oneprizes a position near her person above aught else, especially suchtrifles as law and justice."

  "These are harsh words," responded Archibius, "and seem the more bitterin proportion to the germ of truth which they contain. Our court sharesthe fate of every other in the East, and those to whom Rome formerly setthe example of holding law and justice sacred--"

  "Can now go there," interrupted Dion, "to learn how rudely both aretrampled under foot. The sovereigns here and there may smile at oneanother like the augurs. They are like brothers--"

  "But with the difference," Archibius broke in, "that the head of ourpublic affairs is the very embodiment of affability and grace; whilein Rome, on the contrary, harsh severity and bloody arrogance, or evenrepulsive servility, guide the reins."

  Here Archibius interrupted himself to point to the shouting throngadvancing towards them. "You are right," Dion answered. "Let us deferthis discussion till we can pursue it in the house of the charmingBarine. But I rarely meet you there, though by blood you are so nearlyallied to her father. I am her friend--at my age that might easily meanher lover. But in our case the comparison would not suit. Yet perhapsyou will believe me, for you have the right to call yourself the friendof the most bewitching of women."

  A sorrowful smile flitted over the grave, set features of the older man,who, raising his hand as if in protest, answered carelessly: "I grew upwith Cleopatra, but a private citizen loves a queen only as a divinity.I believe in your friendship for Barine, though I deem it dangerous."

  "If you mean that it might injure the lovely woman," replied Dion,raising his head more proudly as if to intimate that he required nowarning, even from him, "perhaps you are right. Only I beg you not tomisunderstand me. I am not vain enough to suppose that I could win herheart, but unfortunately there are many who cannot forgive the powerof attraction which she exerts over me as well as upon all. So many mengladly visit Barine's house that there are an equal number of women whowould rejoice to close it. Among them, of course, is Iras. She dislikesmy friend; nay, I fear that what you witness yonder is the apple sheflung in order, if not to ruin, at least to drive her from the city, erethe Queen--may the gods grant her victory!--ere Cleopatra returns. Youknow your niece Iras. Like your sister Charmian, she will shrink fromnothing to remove an annoyance from her mistress's pathway, and itwill hardly please Cleopatra when she learns that the two youths whosewelfare lies nearest her heart--Antyllus and Caesarion--seek Barine'shouse, no matter how stainless the latter's reputation may be."

  "I have just heard of it," replied Archibius, "and I, too, am anxious.Antony's son has inherited much of his father's insatiable love ofpleasure. But Caesarion! He has not yet ventured out of the dreamlandwhich surrounds him into actual life. What others scarcely perceivedeals him a serious blow. I fear Eros is sharpening arrows for himwhich will pierce deep into his heart. While talking with me he seemedstrangely changed. His dreamy eyes glittered like a drunkard's when hespoke of Barine. I fear, I fear--"

  "Impossible!" cried Dion, in surprise, nay, almost terror. "If that isthe case, Iras is not wholly wrong, and we must deal with the matterdifferently. But it is of the first importance to conceal the fact thatCaesarion has any interest in the affairs of the old house-owner. Toseek to maintain the old man's right to his own property is a matterof course, and I will undertake to do this and try to get yonder oratorhome Just see how the braggart is swinging his arms in Iras's service!As for Barine, it will be well to induce her to leave of her own freewill a city where it will be made unpleasant for her. Try to persuadeher to pursue this course. If I went to her with such a suggestion,I, who yesterday--No, no! Besides, she might hear that Iras and I--Shewould imagine all sorts of absurdities. You know what jealousy means. Toyou, whom she esteems, she would surely listen, and she need not go farfrom the city. If the heart of this enthusiastic boy--who might some daydesire to be 'King of kings' not only in name--should really be firedwith love for Barine, what serious misfortune might follow! We mustsecure her from him. She could not go to my country house among thepapyrus plantations at Sebennys. It would afford too much license forevil tongues. But you--your villa at Kanopus is too near--but, if I amnot mistaken, you have--"

  "My estate in the lake region is remote enough, and will be at herdisposal," interrupted the other. "The house is always kept ready formy reception. I will do my best to persuade her, for your advice isprudent. She must be withdrawn from the boy's eyes."

  "I shall learn the result of your mission tomorrow," cried Dioneagerly--"nay, this evening. If she consents, I will tell Iras, as ifby accident, that Barine has gone to Upper Egypt to drink new milk, orsomething of that kind. Iras is a shrewd woman, and will be glad if shecan keep aloof from such trifles during the time which will decide thefate of Cleopatra and of the world."

  "My thoughts, too, are always with the army," said Archibius. "Howtrivial everything else seems compared with the result which will bedetermined in the next few days! But life is made up of trifles. Theyare food, drink, maintenance. Should the Queen return triumphant, andfind Caesarion in wrong paths--"

  "We must close them against him," exclaimed Dion.

  "That the boy may not follow Barine?" asked Archibius, shaking hishead. "I think we need feel no anxiety on that score. He will doubtlesseagerly desire to do so, but with
him there is a wide gulf between thewish and its fulfilment. Antyllus is differently constituted. He wouldbe quite capable of ordering a horse to be saddled, or the sails ofa boat to be spread in order to pursue her--beyond the Cataract ifnecessary. So we must maintain the utmost secrecy concerning the placeto which Barine voluntarily exiles herself."

  "But she is not yet on her way," replied Dion with a faint sigh. "She isbound to this city by many ties."

  "I know it," answered Archibius, confirming his companion's fear.The latter, pointing to the equipage, said in a rapid, earnest tone:"Gorgias is beckoning. But, before we part, let me beseech you to doeverything to persuade Barine to leave here. She is in serious danger.Conceal nothing from her, and say that her friends will not leave hertoo long in solitude."

  Archibius, with a significant glance, shook his finger at the young manin playful menace, and then went up to the carriage.

  Caesarion's clear-cut but pallid face, whose every feature resembledthat of his father, the great Caesar, bent towards them from the openingabove the door, as he greeted both with a formal bend of the head and apatronizing glance. His eyes had sparkled with boyish glee when hefirst caught sight of the friend from whom he had been separatedseveral weeks, but to the stranger he wished to assume the bearing whichbeseemed a king. He desired to make him feel his superior position, forhe was ill-disposed towards him. He had seen him favoured by the womanwhom he imagined he loved, and whose possession he had been promised bythe secret science of the Egyptians, whose power to unveil the mysteriesof the future he firmly believed. Antyllus, Antony's son, had taken himto Barine, and she had received him with the consideration due his rank.Spite of her bright graciousness, boyish timidity had hitherto preventedany word of love to the young beauty whom he saw surrounded by so manydistinguished men of mature years. Yet his beaming, expressive eyes musthave revealed his feelings to her. Doubtless his glances had not beenunobserved, for only a few hours before an Egyptian woman had stoppedhim at the temple of his father, Caesar, to which, according to thefixed rules governing the routine of his life, he went daily at acertain hour to pray, to offer sacrifices, to anoint the stone of thealtar, or to crown the statue of the departed emperor.

  Caesarion had instantly recognized her as the female slave whom he hadseen in Barine's atrium, and ordered his train to fall back.

  Fortunately his tutor, Rhodon, had not fulfilled his duty ofaccompanying him. So the youth had ventured to follow the slave woman,and in the shadow of the mimosas, in the little grove beside the temple,he found Barine's litter. His heart throbbed violently as, full ofanxious expectation, he obeyed her signal to draw nearer. Still, she hadgranted him nothing save the favour of gratifying one of her wishes.But his heart had swelled almost to bursting when, resting her beautifulwhite arm on the door of her litter, she had told him that unjust menwere striving to rob her grandfather Didymus of his garden, and sheexpected him, who bore the title of the "King of kings" to do his bestto prevent such a crime.

  It had been difficult for him to grasp her meaning while she wasspeaking. There was a roaring sound in his ears as if, instead of beingin the silent temple grove, he was standing on a stormy day upon thesurf-beaten promontory of Lochias. He had not ventured to raise his eyesand look into her face. Not until she closed with the question whethershe might hope for his assistance did her gaze constrain him to glanceup. Ah, what had he not fancied he read in her imploring blue eyes! howunspeakably beautiful she had appeared!

  He had stood before her as if bereft of his senses. His sole knowledgewas that he had promised, with his hand on his heart, to do everythingin his power to prevent what threatened to cause her pain. Then herlittle hand, with its sparkling rings, was again stretched towardshim, and he had resolved to kiss it; but while he glanced around at histrain, she had already waved him a farewell, and the litter was borneaway.

  He stood motionless, like the figure of a man on one of his mother'sancient vases, staring in bewilderment after the flying figure ofHappiness, whom he might easily have caught by her floating locks. Howhe raged over the miserable indecision which had defrauded him of somuch joy! Yet nothing was really lost. If he succeeded in fulfilling herwishes, she could not fail to be grateful; and then--

  He pondered over the person to whom he should apply--Mardion, theRegent, or the Keeper of the Seal? No, they had planned the erectionof the group of sculpture in the philosopher's garden. To Iras, hismother's confidante? Nay, last of all to her. The cunning woman wouldhave perceived his purpose and betrayed it to the Regent. Ah, ifCharmian, his mother's other attendant, had been present! but she waswith the fleet, which perhaps was even now engaged in battle with theenemy.

  At this recollection his eyes again sought the ground--he had not beenpermitted to take the place in the army to which his birth entitledhim, while his mother and Charmian--But he did not pursue this painfulcurrent of thought; for a serious reproach had forced itself upon himand sent the blood to his cheeks. He wished to be considered a man, andyet, in these fateful days, which would determine the destiny of hismother, his native city, Egypt, and that Rome which he, the only son ofCaesar, was taught to consider his heritage, he was visiting a beautifulwoman, thinking of her, and of her alone. His days and half the nightswere passed in forming plans for securing her love, forgetful of whatshould have occupied his whole heart.

  Only yesterday Iras had sharply admonished him that, in times likethese, it was the duty of every friend of Cleopatra, and every foe ofher foes, to be with the army at least in mind.

  He had remembered this, but, instead of heeding the warning, the thoughtof her had merely recalled her uncle, Archibius, who possessed greatinfluence, not merely on account of his wealth but because every onealso knew his high standing in the regard of the Queen. Besides, theclever, kindly man had always been friendly to him from childhood, andlike a revelation came the idea of applying to him, and to the architectGorgias, who had a voice in the matter, and by whom he had been stronglyattracted during the period while he was rebuilding the wing assigned tothe prince in the palace at Lochias.

  So one of the attendants was instantly despatched with the little tabletwhich invited Gorgias to the interview at the Temple of Isis.

  Then, in the afternoon, Caesarion went secretly in a boat to the littlepalace of Archibius, situated on the seashore at Kanopus, and now as thelatter, with his friend, stood beside the carriage door, he explained tothem that he was going with the architect to old Didymus to assure himof his assistance.

  This was unadvisable in every respect, but it required all the weight ofthe older man's reasons to induce the prince to yield. The consequenceswhich might ensue, should the populace discover that he was taking sidesagainst the Regent, would be incalculable. But submission and withdrawalwere especially difficult to the young "King of kings." He longed topose as a man in Dion's presence, and as this could not be, he strove tomaintain the semblance of independence by yielding his resolve onlyon the plea of not desiring to injure the aged scholar and hisgranddaughter. Finally, he again entreated the architect to secureDidymus in the possession of his property. When at last he drove awaywith Archibius, twilight was already gathering, torches were lighted infront of the temple and the little mausoleum adjoining the cella, andpitch-pans were blazing in the square.