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Updated: May 24, 2025
"Physician," said the officer of the Guard as I went through the gates, "what passes yonder in the Monument? Methought I heard the sounds of death." "Naught passes all hath passed," I made reply, and went. And as I went in the darkness I heard the sound of voices and the running of the feet of Cæsar's messengers. Flying swiftly to my house I found Atoua waiting at the gates.
But the Greek guards laughed, and one of them, seizing the child, smote off his head with a sword; and the eunuch drew forth the signet of Pharaoh as warrant for the deed and showed it to the old wife, Atoua, bidding her tell the High Priest that his son should be King without a head.
Then came a pause and the breath rattled in his throat. "Harmachis," he gasped, "art there?" "Yea, father." "Harmachis, atone! atone! Vengeance can still be wreaked forgiveness may still be won. There's gold; I've hidden it Atoua she can tell thee ah, this pain! Farewell!" And he struggled faintly in my arms and was dead.
And to such as were curious about me it was given out that I was the adopted son of the High Priest of Abouthis, having been brought up to the priesthood, and that I had at the last refused the service of the Gods, and chosen to go to Alexandria, to seek my fortune. For, be it remembered, I was still held to be the grandson of the old wife, Atoua, by all those who did not know the truth.
But presently looking up, I saw a grey-haired man among those who were gathered together, who watched us sharply, and afterwards I learned that this man was the spy of Ptolemy, the very man, indeed, who had wellnigh caused me to be slain of Pharaoh when I was in my cradle. Then I understood why Atoua spoke so foolishly. "Thine are strange spells, old wife," the spy said.
Thereon Charmion wept yet more with joy, and kissed the old wife, and made her gifts, bidding her tell me that she had kept her vow, and waited for my coming and the hour of vengeance. So, having learned many secrets, Atoua returned again to Tápé. And in the following year messengers came to me from Cleopatra, bearing a sealed roll and great gifts.
The curtain of dark night was closing in upon the history of my ancient Race; its very Gods were tottering to their fall; I could already, in the spirit, hear the shriek of the Roman eagles as they flapped their wings above the furthest banks of Sihor. Presently I roused myself and bade Atoua go seek a mirror and bring it to me, that I might look therein.
Surely the curse will fall on thee, for though the Gods do seem to have forsaken us now in our hour of trial, yet is their arm long, and certainly they will be avenged on him who hath slain their anointed!" "Look on me, Atoua," I cried. "Look! ay, I look thou wicked wanderer who hast dared this cruel deed!
Therefore I summoned Atoua, the skilled in simples, and all that afternoon we laboured at the deadly work. And when it was done, Charmion came once more, bearing with her a chaplet of fresh roses, that she bade me steep in the poison. This then I did. That night at the great feast of Cleopatra, I sat near Antony, who was at her side, and wore the poisoned wreath.
La! la! it is a sad world, and full of trouble as the Nile mud is full of beetles. Come, Harmachis, come." These things then came to pass. For eighty days I was hidden of the old wife, Atoua, while the body of the Prince, my father, was made ready for burial by those skilled in the arts of embalming.
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