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Updated: May 2, 2025
Once I knew such another man, one Harmachis," and she sighed: "but he is long dead as I would I were also! and at times I sorrow for him." She paused, while I sank my head upon my breast and stood silent. "Interpret me this, Olympus.
"Your pardon, Sirs, and I will tell you all, for I am come hither to that end. Perchance among you there may be some methinks I see some who, nigh eleven years ago, were gathered in this hall to secretly crown one Harmachis, Pharaoh of Khem?" "It is true!" they said; "but how knowest thou these things, thou Olympus?"
Kings would have cherished that wreath along with their choicest diadems, Harmachis! and thou dost throw it away as a thing of no account! Why, what a man art thou! But stay; what is this? A lady's kerchief, by Isis! Nay, now, my Harmachis, how came this here? Are our poor kerchiefs also instruments of thy high art? Oh, fie, fie! have I caught thee, then? Art thou indeed a fox?"
And as I ministered I whispered in his ear: "Antony," I whispered, "Cleopatra was my love before she passed from me to thee. I am Harmachis, that astrologer who stood behind thy couch at Tarsus; and I have been the chief minister of thy ruin. "Die, Antony! the curse of Menkau-ra hath fallen!" He raised himself, and stared upon my face. He could not speak, but, gibbering, he pointed at me.
"And if thou canst not bear thy burden here, upon this upper earth," came the soft reply, "how then shalt thou bear the greater burden that shall be laid upon thee there, coming defiled and yet unpurified into my dim realm of Death, that is Life and Change unending? Nay, Harmachis, I smite thee not, for not all am I wroth that thou hast dared to utter the awful Word which calls Me down to thee.
To live the prey of so many memories, the fount of an undying shame that night by night, as I lie sleepless, shall well afresh from my sorrow-stricken heart! to live torn by a love I cannot lose! to stand alone like some storm-twisted tree, and, sighing day by day to the winds of heaven, gaze upon the desert of my life, while I wait the lingering lightning's stroke nay, that will not I, Harmachis!
But Charmion came and stood over me, and I felt a great tear fall from her dark eyes upon my face, as the first heavy drop of rain falls from a thunder cloud. "Thou goest," she whispered; "thou goest fast whither I may not follow! O Harmachis, how gladly would I give my life for thine!"
"It is well," said my father; "then naught is wanting in the Prince Harmachis, seed of Nekt-nebf, the Osirian. Let the woman Atoua stand forth and tell this company those things that came to pass when, at the hour of her death, she who was my wife prophesied over this Prince, being filled with the Spirit of the Hathors."
And as they went one of their number saw me playing in the dirt and called out that there was more breeding in yonder brat than in the Prince Harmachis; and for a moment they wavered, thinking to slay me also, but in the end they passed on, bearing the head of my foster-brother, for they loved not to murder little children.
May the Gods grant me to see them dead ay, the twain of them! then myself I shall be content to die! Thy lot has been hard, Harmachis; but at least thou have been free, and many is the time that I have envied thee the quiet of thy haunted cave." "I do perceive, O Charmion, that thou art mindful of thy oaths; and it is well, for the hour of vengeance is at hand."
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