river　Cydnus。
  The　signal　being　made；　the　fleet　set　sail；　and；　the　wind　being　fair；
  we　came　to　Joppa　on　the　evening　of　the　second　day。　Thence　we　sailed
  slowly　with　contrary　winds　up　the　coast　of　Syria；　making　C？sarea；　and
  Ptolemais；　and　Tyrus；　and　Berytus；　and　past　Lebanon's　white　brow
  crowned　with　his　crest　of　cedars；　on　to　Heraclea　and　across　the　gulf
  of　Issus　to　the　mouth　of　Cydnus。　And　ever　as　we　journeyed；　the　strong
  breath　of　the　sea　brought　back　my　health；　till　at　length；　save　for　a
  line　of　white　upon　my　head　where　the　sword　had　fallen；　I　was　almost　as
  I　had　been。　And　one　night；　as　we　drew　near　Cydnus；　while　Brennus　and　I
  sat　alone　together　on　the　deck；　his　eye　fell　upon　the　white　mark　his
  sword　had　made；　and　he　swore　a　great　oath　by　his　heathen　Gods。　〃An
  thou　hadst　died；　lad；〃　he　said；　〃methinks　I　could　never　again　have
  held　up　my　head！　Ah！　that　was　a　coward　stroke；　and　I　am　shamed　to
  think　that　it　was　I　who　struck　it；　and　thou　on　the　ground　with　thy
  back　to　me！　Knowest　thou　that　when　thou　didst　lie　between　life　and
  death；　I　came　every　day　to　ask　tidings　of　thee？　and　I　swore　by　Taranis
  that　if　thou　didst　die　I'd　turn　my　back　upon　that　soft　palace　life　and
  then　away　for　the　bonny　North。〃
  〃Nay；　trouble　not；　Brennus；〃　I　answered；　〃it　was　thy　duty。〃
  〃Mayhap！　but　there　are　duties　that　a　brave　man　should　not　donay；　not
  at　the　bidding　of　any　Queen　who　ever　ruled　in　Egypt！　Thy　blow　had
  dazed　me　or　I　had　not　struck。　What　is　it；　lad？art　in　trouble　with
  this　Queen　of　ours？　Why　art　thou　dragged　a　prisoner　upon　this　pleasure
  party？　Knowest　thou　that　we　are　strictly　charged　that　if　thou　dost
  escape　our　lives　shall　pay　the　price？〃
  〃Ay；　in　sore　trouble；　friend；〃　I　answered；　〃ask　me　no　more。〃
  〃Then；　being　of　the　age　thou　art；　there's　a　woman　in　itthat　I　swear
  and；　perchance；　though　I　am　rough　and　foolish；　I　might　make　a　guess。
  Look　thou；　lad；　what　sayest　thou？　I　am　weary　of　this　service　of
  Cleopatra　and　this　hot　land　of　deserts　and　of　luxury；　that　sap　a　man's
  strength　and　drain　his　pocket；　and　so　are　others　whom　I　know　of。　What
  sayest　thou：　let's　take　one　of　these　unwieldy　vessels　and　away　to　the
  North？　I'll　lead　thee　to　a　better　land　than　Egypta　land　of　lake　and
  mountain；　and　great　forests　of　sweet…scented　pine；　ay；　and　find　thee　a
  girl　fit　to　mate　withmy　own　niecea　girl　strong　and　tall；　with　wide
  blue　eyes　and　long　fair　hair；　and　arms　that　could　crack　thy　ribs　were
  she　of　a　mind　to　hug　thee！　Come；　what　sayest　thou？　Put　away　the　past；
  and　away　for　the　bonny　North；　and　be　a　son　to　me。〃
  For　a　moment　I　thought；　and　then　sadly　shook　my　head；　for　though　I　was
  sorely　tempted　to　be　gone；　I　knew　that　my　fate　lay　in　Egypt；　and　I
  might　not　fly　my　fate。
  〃It　may　not　be；　Brennus；〃　I　answered。　〃Fain　would　I　that　it　might　be；
  but　I　am　bound　by　a　chain　of　destiny　which　I　cannot　break；　and　in　the
  land　of　Egypt　I　must　live　and　die。〃
  〃As　thou　wilt；　lad；〃　said　the　old　warrior。　〃I　should　have　dearly　loved
  to　marry　thee　among　my　people；　and　make　a　son　of　thee。　At　the　least；
  remember　that　while　I　am　here　thou　hast　Brennus　for　a　friend。　And　one
  thing　more；　beware　of　that　beauteous　Queen　of　thine；　for；　by　Taranis；
  perhaps　an　hour　may　come　when　she　will　hold　that　thou　knowest　too
  much；　and　then〃　and　he　drew　his　hand　across　his　throat。　〃And　now
  good　night；　a　cup　of　wine；　then　to　sleep；　for　to…morrow　the
  foolery〃
  ＇Here　several　lengths　of　the　second　roll　of　papyrus　are　so　broken　as
  to　be　undecipherable。　They　seem　to　have　been　descriptive　of
  Cleopatra's　voyage　up　the　Cydnus　to　the　city　of　Tarsus。＇
  〃And＇the　writing　continues＇to　those　who　could　take　joy　in　such
  things；　the　sight　must；　indeed；　have　been　a　gallant　one。　For　the　stern
  of　our　galley　was　covered　with　sheets　of　beaten　gold；　the　sails　were
  of　the　scarlet　of　Tyre；　and　the　oars　of　silver　touched　the　water　to　a
  measure　of　music。　And　there；　in　the　centre　of　the　vessel；　beneath　an
  awning　ablaze　with　gold　embroidery；　lay　Cleopatra；　attired　as　the
  Roman　Venus　（and　surely　Venus　was　not　more　fair！）；　in　thin　robes　of
  whitest　silk；　bound　in　beneath　her　breast　with　a　golden　girdle
  delicately　graven　over　with　scenes　of　love。　All　about　her　were　little
  rosy　boys；　chosen　for　their　beauty；　and　clad　in　naught　save　downy
  wings　strapped　upon　their　shoulders；　and　on　their　backs　Cupid's　bow
  and　quiver；　who　fanned　her　with　fans　of　plumes。　Upon　the　vessel's
  decks；　handling　the　cordage；　that　was　of　silken　web；　and　softly
  singing　to　the　sound　of　harps　and　the　beat　of　oars；　were　no　rough
  sailors；　but　women　lovely　to　behold；　some　robed　as　Graces　and　some　as
  Nereidsthat　is；　scarce　robed　at　all；　except　in　their　scented　hair。
  And　behind　the　couch；　with　drawn　sword；　stood　Brennus；　in　splendid
  armour　and　winged　helm　of　gold；　and　by　him　othersI　among　themin
  garments　richly　worked；　and　knew　that　I　was　indeed　a　slave！　On　the
  high　poop　also　burned　censers　filled　with　costliest　incense；　of　which
  the　fragrant　steam　hung　in　little　clouds　about　our　wake。
  Thus；　as　in　a　dream　of　luxury；　followed　by　many　ships；　we　glided　on
  towards　the　wooded　slopes　of　Taurus；　at　whose　foot　lay　that　ancient
  city　Tarshish。　And　ever　as　we　came　the　people　gathered　on　the　banks
  and　ran　before　us；　shouting：　〃Venus　is　risen　from　the　sea！　Venus　hath
  come　to　visit　Bacchus！〃　We　drew　near　to　the　city；　and　all　its　people
  everyone　who　could　walk　or　be　carriedcrowded　down　in　thousands　to
  the　docks；　and　with　them　came　the　whole　army　of　Antony；　so　that　at
  length　the　Triumvir　was　left　alone　upon　the　judgment　seat。
  Dellius；　the　false…tongued；　came　also；　fawning　and　bowing；　and　in　the
  name　of　Antony　gave　the　〃Queen　of　Beauty〃　greeting；　bidding　her　to　a
  feast　that　Antony　had　made　ready。　But　she　made　high　answer；　and　said；
  〃Forsooth；　it　is　Antony　who　should　wait　on　us；　not　we　on　Antony。　Bid
  the　noble　Antony　to　our　poor　table　this　nightelse　we　dine　alone。〃
  Dellius　went；　bowing　to　the　ground；　the　feast　was　made　ready；　and　then
  at　last　I　set　eyes　on　Antony。　He　came　clad　in　purple　robes；　a　great
  man　and　beautiful　to　see；　set　in　the　stout　prime　of　life；　with　bright
  eyes　of　blue；　and　curling　hair；　and　features　cut　sharply　as　a　Grecian
  gem。　For　he　was　great　of　form　and　royal　of　mien；　and　with　an　open
  countenance　on　which　his　thoughts　were　so　clearly　written　that　all
  might　read　them；　only　the　weakness　of　the　mouth　belied　the　power　of
  the　brow。　He　came　attended　by　his　generals；　and　when　he　reached　the
  couch　where　Cleopatra　lay　he　stood　astonished；　gazing　on　her　with
  wide…opened　eyes。　She；　too；　gazed　on　him　earnestly；　I　saw　the　red
  blood　run　up　beneath　her　skin；　and　a　great　pang　of　jealousy　seized
  upon　my　heart。　And　Charmion；　who　saw　all　beneath　her　downcast　eyes；
  saw　this　also　and　smiled。　But　Cleopatra　spoke　no　word；　only　she
  stretched　out　her　white　hand　for　him　to　kiss；　and　he；　saying　no　word；
  took　her　hand　and　kissed　it。
  〃Behold；　noble　Antony！〃　she　said　at　last　in　her　voice　of　music；　〃thou
  hast　called　me；　and　I　am　come。〃
  〃Venus　has　come；〃　he　answered　in　his　deep　notes；　and　still　holding　his
  eyes　fixed　upon　her　face。　〃I　called　a　womana　Goddess　hath　risen　from
  the　deep！〃
  〃To　find　a　God　to　greet　her　on　the　land；〃　she　laughed　with　ready　wit。
  〃Well；　a　truce　to　compliments；　for　being　on　the　earth　even　Venus　is
  ahungered。　Noble　Antony；　thy　hand。〃
  The　trumpets　blared；　and　through　the　bowing　crowd　Cleopatra；　followed
  by　her　train；　passed　hand　in　hand　with　Antony　to　the　feast。
  ＇Here　there　is　another　break　in　the　papyrus。＇
  CHAPTER　XV
  OF　THE　FEAST　OF　CLEOPATRA；　OF　THE　MELTING　OF　THE　PEARL；
  OF　THE　SAYING　OF　HARMACHIS；　AND　OF　CLEOPATRA'S　VOW　OF　LOVE
  On　the　third　night　the　feast　was　once　more　prepared　in　the　hall　of　the
  great　house　that　had　been　set　aside　to　the　use　of　Cleopatra；　and　on
  this　night　its　splendour　was　greater　even　than　on　the　nights　before。
  For　the　twelve　couches　that　were　set　about　the　table　were　embossed
  with　gold；　and　those　of　Cleopatra　and　Antony　were　of　gold　set　with
  jewels。　The　dishes　also　were　all　of　gold　set　with　jewels；　the　walls
  were　hung　with　purple　cloths　sewn　with　gold；　and　on　the　floor；　covered
  with　a　net　of　gold；　fresh　roses　were　strewn　ankle…deep；　that　as　the
  slaves　trod　them　sent　up　their　perfume。　Once　again　I　was　bidden　to
  stand；　with　Charmion　and　Iras　and　Merira；　behind　the　couch　of
  Cleopatra；　and；　like　a　slave；　from　time　to　time　call　out　the　hours　as
  they　flew。　And　there　being　no　help；　I　went　wild　at　heart；　but　this　I
  sworeit　should　be　for　the　last　time；　since　I　could　not　bear　that
  shame。　For　though　I　would　not　yet　believe　what　Charmion　told　methat
  Cleopatra　was　about　to　become　the　Love　of　Antonyyet　I　could　no　more
  endure　this　ignominy　and　torture。　For　from　Cleopatra　now　I　had　no
  words　save　such　as　a　Queen　speaks　to　her　slave；　and　methinks　it　gave
  her　dark　heart　pleasure　to　torment　me。
  Thus　it　came　to　pass　that　I；　the　Pharaoh；　crowned　of　Khem；　stood　among
  eunuchs　and　waiting…women　behi