phantasies　of　dreams　are　wonderful；　seeing　that　they　have　no
  stability；　but　vary　like　the　vaporous　edge　of　sunset　clouds；　building
  now　this　thing；　and　now　that；　being　now　dark　and　heavy；　and　now　alight
  with　splendour。　Therefore；　before　we　wake　to…morrow　tell　me　one　word。
  Is　that　vision　of　last　night；　wherein　I　/seemed/　to　be　quite　shamed；
  and　thou　didst　/seem/　to　laugh　upon　my　shame；　a　fixed　phantasy；　or　can
  it；　perchance；　yet　change　its　countenance？　For　remember；　when　that
  waking　comes；　the　vagaries　of　our　sleep　will　be　more　unalterable　and
  more　enduring　than　are　the　pyramids。　Then　they　will　be　gathered　into
  that　changeless　region　of　the　past　where　all　things；　great　and　small
  ay；　even　dreams；　Harmachis；　are；　each　in　its　own　semblance；　frozen　to
  stone　and　built　into　the　Tomb　of　Time　immortal。〃
  〃Nay；　Charmion；〃　I　replied；　〃I　grieve　if　I　did　pain　thee；　but　over
  that　vision　comes　no　change。　I　said　what　was　in　my　heart　and　there's
  an　end。　Thou　art　my　cousin　and　my　friend；　I　can　never　be　more　to
  thee。〃
  〃It　is　well'tis　very　well；〃　she　said；　〃let　it　be　forgotten。　And　now
  on　from　dreamto　dream；〃　and　she　smiled　with　such　a　smile　as　I　had
  never　seen　her　wear　before；　it　was　sadder　and　more　fateful　than　any
  stamp　that　grief　can　set　upon　the　brow。
  For；　though　being　blinded　by　my　own　folly　and　the　trouble　at　my　heart
  I　knew　it　not；　with　that　smile；　the　happiness　of　youth　died　for
  Charmion　the　Egyptian；　the　hope　of　love　fled；　and　the　holy　links　of
  duty　burst　asunder。　With　that　smile　she　consecrated　herself　to　Evil；
  she　renounced　her　Country　and　her　Gods；　and　trampled　on　her　oath。　Ay；
  that　smile　marks　the　moment　when　the　stream　of　history　changed　its
  course。　For　had　I　never　seen　it　on　her　face　Octavianus　had　not
  bestridden　the　world；　and　Egypt　had　once　more　been　free　and　great。
  And　yet　it　was　but　a　woman's　smile！
  〃Why　lookest　thou　thus　strangely；　girl？〃　I　asked。
  〃In　dreams　we　smile；〃　she　answered。　〃And　now　it　is　time；　follow　thou
  me。　Be　firm　and　prosper；　royal　Harmachis！〃　and　bending　forward　she
  took　my　hand　and　kissed　it。　Then；　with　one　strange　last　look；　she
  turned　and　led　the　way　down　the　stair　and　through　the　empty　halls。
  In　the　chamber　that　is　called　the　Alabaster　Hall；　the　roof　of　which　is
  upborne　by　columns　of　black　marble；　we　stayed。　For　beyond　was　the
  private　chamber　of　Cleopatra；　the　same　in　which　I　had　seen　her
  sleeping。
  〃Abide　thou　here；〃　she　said；　〃while　I　tell　Cleopatra　of　thy　coming；〃
  and　she　glided　from　my　side。
  I　stood　for　long；　mayhap　in　all　the　half　of　an　hour；　counting　my　own
  heart…beats；　and；　as　in　a　dream；　striving　to　gather　up　my　strength　to
  that　which　lay　before　me。
  At　length　Charmion　came　back；　her　head　held　low　and　walking　heavily。
  〃Cleopatra　waits　thee；〃　she　said：　〃pass　on；　there　is　no　guard。〃
  〃Where　do　I　meet　thee　when　what　must　be　done　is　done？〃　I　asked
  hoarsely。
  〃Thou　meetest　me　here；　and　then　to　Paulus。　Be　firm　and　prosper。
  Harmachis；　fare　thee　well！〃
  And　so　I　went；　but　at　the　curtain　I　turned　suddenly；　and　there　in　the
  midst　of　that　lonely　lamplit　hall　I　saw　a　strange　sight。　Far　away；　in
  such　a　fashion　that　the　light　struck　full　upon　her；　stood　Charmion；
  her　head　thrown　back；　her　white　arms　outstretched　as　though　to　clasp；
  and　on　her　girlish　face　a　stamp　of　anguished　passion　so　terrible　to
  see　that；　indeed；　I　cannot　tell　it！　For　she　believed　that　I；　whom　she
  loved；　was　passing　to　my　death；　and　this　was　her　last　farewell　to　me。
  But　I　knew　naught　of　this　matter；　so　with　another　passing　pang　of
  wonder　I　drew　aside　the　curtains；　gained　the　doorway；　and　stood　in
  Cleopatra's　chamber。　And　there；　upon　a　silken　couch　at　the　far　end　of
  the　perfumed　chamber；　clad　in　wonderful　white　attire；　rested
  Cleopatra。　In　her　hand　was　a　jewelled　fan　of　ostrich　plumes；　with
  which　she　gently　fanned　herself；　and　by　her　side　was　her　harp　of
  ivory；　and　a　little　table　whereon　were　figs　and　goblets　and　a　flask　of
  ruby…coloured　wine。　I　drew　near　slowly　through　the　soft　dim　light　to
  where　the　Wonder　of　the　World　lay　in　all　her　glowing　beauty。　And；
  indeed；　I　have　never　seen　her　look　so　fair　as　she　did　upon　that　fatal
  night。　Couched　in　her　amber　cushions；　she　seemed　to　shine　as　a　star　on
  the　twilight's　glow。　Perfume　came　from　her　hair　and　robes；　music　fell
  from　her　lips；　and　in　her　heavenly　eyes　all　lights　changed　and
  gathered　as　in　the　ominous　opal's　disc。
  And　this　was　the　woman　whom；　presently；　I　must　slay！
  Slowly　I　drew　near；　bowing　as　I　came；　but　she　took　no　heed。　She　lay
  there；　and　the　jewelled　fan　floated　to　and　fro　like　the　bright　wing　of
  some　hovering　bird。
  At　length　I　stood　before　her；　and　she　glanced　up；　the　ostrich…plumes
  pressed　against　her　breast　as　though　to　hide　its　beauty。
  〃What！　friend；　art　thou　come？〃　she　said。　〃It　is　well；　for　I　grew
  lonely　here。　Nay；　'tis　a　weary　world！　We　know　so　many　faces；　and　there
  are　so　few　whom　we　love　to　see　again。　Well；　stand　not　there　so　mute；
  but　be　seated。〃　And　she　pointed　with　her　fan　to　a　carven　chair　that
  was　placed　near　her　feet。
  Once　more　I　bowed　and　took　the　seat。
  〃I　have　obeyed　the　Queen's　desire；〃　I　said；　〃and　with　much　care　and
  skill　worked　out　the　lessons　of　the　stars；　and　here　is　the　record　of
  my　labour。　If　the　Queen　permits；　I　will　expound　it　to　her。〃　And　I
  rose；　in　order　that　I　might　pass　round　the　couch　and；　as　she　read；
  stab　her　in　the　back。
  〃Nay；　Harmachis；〃　she　said　quietly；　and　with　a　slow　and　lovely　smile。
  〃Bide　thou　where　thou　art；　and　give　me　the　writing。　By　Serapis！　thy
  face　is　too　comely　for　me　to　wish　to　lose　the　sight　of　it！〃
  Checked　in　this　design；　I　could　do　nothing　but　hand　her　the　papyrus；
  thinking　to　myself　that　while　she　read　I　would　arise　suddenly　and
  plunge　the　dagger　to　her　heart。　She　took　it；　and　as　she　did　so　touched
  my　hand。　Then　she　made　pretence　to　read。　But　she　read　no　word；　for　I
  saw　that　her　eyes　were　fixed　upon　me　over　the　edge　of　the　scroll。
  〃Why　placest　thou　thy　hand　within　thy　robe？〃　she　asked　presently；　for；
  indeed；　I　clutched　the　dagger's　hilt。　〃Is　thy　heart　stirred？〃
  〃Yea；　O　Queen；〃　I　said；　〃it　beats　high。〃
  She　gave　no　answer；　but　once　more　made　pretence　to　read；　and　the　while
  she　watched　me。
  I　took　counsel　with　myself。　How　should　I　do　the　hateful　deed？　If　I
  flung　myself　upon　her　now　she　would　see　me　and　scream　and　struggle。
  Nay；　I　must　wait　a　chance。
  〃The　auguries　are　favourable；　then；　Harmachis？〃　she　said　at　length；
  though　this　she　must　have　guessed。
  〃Yes；　O　Queen；〃　I　answered。
  〃It　is　well；〃　and　she　cast　the　writing　on　the　marble。　〃The　ships　shall
  sail。　For；　good　or　bad；　I　am　weary　of　weighing　chances。〃
  〃This　is　a　heavy　matter；　O　Queen；〃　I　said。　〃I　had　wished　to　show　upon
  what　circumstance　I　base　my　forecast。〃
  〃Nay；　not　so；　Harmachis；　I　have　wearied　of　the　ways　of　stars。　Thou
  hast　prophesied；　that　is　enough　for　me；　for；　doubtless；　being　honest；
  thou　hast　written　honestly。　Therefore；　save　thou　thy　reasons　and　we'll
  be　merry。　What　shall　we　do？　I　could　dance　to　theethere　are　none　who
  can　dance　so　well！but　it　would　scarce　be　queenly。　Nay；　I　have　it。　I
  will　sing。〃　And；　leaning　forward；　she　raised　herself；　and；　bending　the
  harp　towards　her；　struck　some　wandering　chords。　Then　her　low　voice
  broke　out　in　perfect　and　most　sweet　song。
  And　thus　she　sang：
  〃Night　on　the　sea；　and　night　upon　the　sky；
  And　music　in　our　hearts；　we　floated　there；
  Lulled　by　the　low　sea　voices；　thou　and　I；
  And　the　wind's　kisses　in　my　cloudy　hair：
  And　thou　didst　gaze　on　me　and　call　me　fair
  Enfolded　by　the　starry　robe　of　night
  And　then　thy　singing　thrilled　upon　the　air；
  Voice　of　the　heart's　desire　and　Love's　delight。
  'Adrift；　with　starlit　skies　above；
  With　starlit　seas　below；
  We　move　with　all　the　suns　that　move；
  With　all　the　seas　that　flow；
  For　bond　or　free；　Earth；　Sky；　and　Sea；
  Wheel　with　one　circling　will；
  And　thy　heart　drifteth　on　to　me；
  And　only　time　stands　still。
  Between　two　shores　of　Death　we　drift；
  Behind　are　things　forgot：
  Before　the　tide　is　driving　swift
  To　lands　beholden　not。
  Above；　the　sky　is　far　and　cold；
  Below；　the　moaning　sea
  Sweeps　o'er　the　loves　that　were　of　old；
  But；　oh；　Love！　kiss　thou　me。
  Ah；　lonely　are　the　ocean　ways；
  And　dangerous　the　deep；
  And　frail　the　fairy　barque　that　strays
  Above　the　seas　asleep！
  Ah；　toil　no　more　at　sail　nor　oar；
  We　drift；　or　bond　or　free；
  On　yon　far　shore　the　breakers　roar；
  But；　oh；　Love！　kiss　thou　me。'
  〃And　ever　as　thou　sangest　I　drew　near；
  Then　sudden　silence　heard　our　hearts　that　beat；
  For　now　there　was　an　end　of　doubt　and　fear；
  Now　passion　filled　my　soul　and　led　my　feet；
  Then　silent　didst　thou　rise　thy　love　to　meet；
  Who；　sinking　on　thy　br