This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
[NOTE: There is a short list of bookmarks, or pointers, at the end of thefile for those who may wish to sample the author's ideas before making anentire meal of them. D.W.]
By Georg Ebers
During these hours of rest Iras and Charmian had watched in turn besideCleopatra. When she rose, the younger attendant rendered her thenecessary services. She was to devote herself to her mistress until theevening; for her companion, who now stood in her way, was not to returnearlier. Before Charmian left, she had seen that her apartments—inwhich Barine, since the Queen had placed her in her charge, had been awelcome guest—were carefully watched. The commander of the Macedonianguard, who years before had vainly sought her favour, and finally hadbecome the most loyal of her friends, had promised to keep them closely.
Yet Iras knew how to profit by her mistress's sleep and the absence ofher aunt. She had learned that she would be shut out of her apartments,and therefore from Barine also. Ere any step could be taken against theprisoner, she must first arrange the necessary preliminaries with Alexas.The failure of her expectation of seeing her rival trampled in the dusthad transformed her jealous resentment into hatred, and though she washer niece, she even transferred a portion of it to Charmian, who hadplaced herself between her and her victim.
She had sent for the Syrian, but he, too, had gone to rest at a late hourand kept her waiting a long time. The reception which the impatient girlbestowed was therefore by no means cordial, but her manner soon grew morefriendly.
First Alexas boasted of having induced the Queen to commit Barine's fateto him. If he should try her at noon and find her guilty, there wasnothing to prevent him from compelling her to drink the poisoned cup orhaving her strangled before evening. But the matter would be dangerous,because the singer's friends were numerous and by no means powerless.Yet, in the depths of her heart, Cleopatra desired nothing more ardentlythan to rid herself of her dangerous rival. But he knew the great onesof the earth. If he acted energetically and brought matters to a speedyclose, the Queen, to avoid evil gossip, would burden him with her ownact. Antony's mood could not be predicted, and the Syrian's weal or woedepended on his favour. Besides, the execution of the singer at the lastAdonis festival might have a dangerous effect upon the people ofAlexandria. They were already greatly excited, and his brother, who knewthem, said that some were overwhelmed with sorrow, and others ready, intheir fury, to rise in a bloody rebellion. Everything was to be fearedfrom this rabble, but Philostratus understood how to persuade them tomany things, and Alexas had just secured his aid.
Alexas had really succeeded in the work of reconciliation. During theorator's married life with Barine she had forbidden her brother-in-lawthe house, and her husband had quarrelled with the brother who sought hiswife. But after the latter had risen to a high place in Antony's favour,and been loaded with gold by his lavish hand, Philostratus had againapproached him to claim his share of the new wealth. And the source fromwhich Alexas drew flowed so abundantly that his favourite did not find itdifficult to give. Both men were as unprincipled as they were lavish,and experience taught them that base natures always have at theirdisposal a plank with which to bridge chasms. If it is of gold, it willbe crossed t