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Updated: August 8, 2024
Then I went back, and there in the chamber the three women stood in silence, Cleopatra clinging to the arm of Iras, and Charmion a little apart watching the twain. "If indeed thou art minded to make an end, O Queen," I said, "the time is short, for presently Cæsar will send his servants in answer to thy letter," and I drew forth the phial of white and deadly bane and set it upon the board.
And she drew near to me with arms outstretched and pitiful trembling lips and gazed upon my face. "Charmion," I answered, "we are free to act for good or evil, and yet methinks there is a Fate above our fate, that, blowing from some strange shore, compels our little sails of purpose, set them as we will, and drives us to destruction.
For Cleopatra was voyaging as though to war in much pomp, and escorted by a fleet of ships, among which her galley, built like a house and lined throughout with cedar and silken hangings, was the most beautiful and costly that the world has ever seen. But I went not on this vessel, and therefore it chanced that I did not see Cleopatra or Charmion till we landed at the mouth of the river Cydnus.
Now, too, that the danger is past, I leave thee." "Thou hadst done better to let me die, Charmion," I said after a while, "for life to me can now be only one long shame. Tell me, then, when sails Cleopatra for Cilicia?" "She sails in twenty days, and with such pomp and glory as Egypt has never seen.
"Ay," I said, "when Dellius has had his answer; and knowest thou that but yesterday, Charmion whom about the palace they name the 'Keeper of the Queen's secrets' Charmion swore that the answer would be 'Go in peace, I come to Antony!"
Charmion, outside the matter of my duty and my vows, thou art naught to me! nor for all thy tender glances will my heart beat one pulse more fast! Hardly art thou now my friend for, of a truth, I scarce can trust thee. But, once more: beware! To me thou mayest do thy worst; but if thou dost dare to lift a finger against our cause, that day thou diest! And now, is this play done?"
For though that thing we worship doth bring us ruin, and Love being more pitiless than Death, we in turn do pay all our sorrow back; yet we must worship on, yet stretch out our arms towards our lost Desire, and pour our heart's blood upon the shrine of our discrowned God. For Love is of the Spirit, and knows not Death. Charmion unclasped my arm, to which she had clung in terror.
In another of these nondescript papers, "The Conversation of Eiros and Charmion," Mr Poe has very boldly undertaken to figure forth the destruction of the world, and explain how that great and final catastrophe will be accomplished.
Only Cleopatra, though she was much afraid, doubted her of the tale, and sent an armed vessel to search for the Syrian merchant, but not to find him, as shall be told. When I reached the galley of which Charmion had spoken, I found her about to sail, and gave the writing to the captain, who conned it, looking on me curiously, but said nothing.
But I paid him for my fright, for it was I who put it into the mind of Cleopatra to bid the guards strike off his hand now, knowing who thou art, I would I had said his head." And she looked up shooting a glance at me and then smiled. "Enough," put in my uncle Sepa, "the time draws on. Tell thou thy mission, Charmion, and be gone."
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