"By Bacchus, no! that shalt thou not!" cried Antony, snatching at her
hands; "I have seen enough;" and at that moment, moved to it by I know
not what, I called aloud:
"The hour falls, O Queen!--_the hour of the coming of the curse of
Menkau-ra!_"
An ashy whiteness grew upon Cleopatra's face, and she turned upon me
furiously, while all the company gazed wondering, not knowing what the
words might mean.
"Thou ill-omened slave!" she cried. "Speak thus once more and thou shalt
be scourged with rods!--ay, scourged like an evildoer--that I promise
thee, Harmachis!"
"What means the knave of an astrologer?" asked Antony. "Speak, sirrah!
and make clear thy meaning, for those who deal in curses must warrant
their wares."
"I am a servant of the Gods, noble Antony. That which the Gods put in my
mind that must I say; nor can I read their meaning," I answered humbly.
"Oh, oh! thou servest the Gods, dost thou, thou many-coloured mystery?"
This he said having reference to my splendid robes. "Well, I serve the
Goddesses, which is a softer cult. And there's this between us:
that though what they put in my mind I say, neither can I read their
meaning," and he glanced at Cleopatra as one who questions.
"Let the knave be," she said impatiently; "to-morrow we'll be rid of
him. Sirrah, begone!"
I bowed and went; and, as I went, I heard Antony say: "Well, he may be
a knave--for that all men are--but this for thy astrologer: he hath a
royal air and the eye of a King--ay, and wit in it.
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