登陆注册
4702000000057

第57章

"What ails thee, noble Dellius, that thou dost not speak?" asked Cleopatra. "Hast thou, then, wandered so long in Asia that the doors of Roman speech are shut to thee? What tongue hast thou? Name it, and We will speak in it--for all tongues are known to Us."

Then at last he spoke in a soft full voice: "Oh, pardon me, most lovely Egypt, if I have thus been stricken dumb before thee: but too great beauty, like Death himself, doth paralyse the tongue and steal our sense away. The eyes of him who looks upon the fires of the mid-day sun are blind to all beside, and thus this sudden vision of thy glory, royal Egypt, overwhelmed my mind, and left me helpless and unwitting of all things else."

"Of a truth, noble Dellius," answered Cleopatra, "they teach a pretty school of flattery yonder in Cilicia."

"How goes the saying here in Alexandria?" replied the courtly Roman:

"'The breath of flattery cannot waft a cloud,'[*] does it not? But to my task. Here, royal Egypt, are letters under the hand and seal of the noble Antony treating of certain matters of the State. Is it thy pleasure that I should read them openly?"

[*] In other words, what is Divine is beyond the reach of human praise.--Editor.

"Break the seals and read," she answered.

Then bowing, he broke the seals and read:

"The /Triumviri Reipublic? Constituend?/, by the mouth of Marcus Antonius, the Triumvir, to Cleopatra, by grace of the Roman People Queen of Upper and Lower Egypt, send greeting. Whereas it has come to our knowledge that thou, Cleopatra, hast, contrary to thy promise and thy duty, both by thy servant Allienus and by thy servant Serapion, the Governor of Cyprus, aided the rebel murderer Cassius against the arms of the most noble Triumvirate. And, whereas it has come to our knowledge that thou thyself wast but lately making ready a great fleet to this end. We summon thee that thou dost without delay journey to Cilicia, there to meet the noble Antony, and in person make answer concerning these charges which are laid against thee. And we warn thee that if thou dost disobey this our summons it is at thy peril.

Farewell."

The eyes of Cleopatra flashed as she hearkened to these high words, and I saw her hands tighten on the golden lions' heads whereon they rested.

"We have had the flattery," she said; "and now, lest we be cloyed with sweets, we have its antidote! Listen thou, Dellius: the charges in that letter, or, rather, in that writ of summons, are false, as all folk can bear us witness. But it is not now, and it is not to thee, that We will make defence of our acts of war and policy. Nor will We leave our kingdom to journey into far Cilicia, and there, like some poor suppliant at law, plead our cause before the Court of the Noble Antony. If Antony would have speech with us, and inquire concerning these high matters, the sea is open, and his welcome shall be royal.

Let him come thither! That is our answer to thee and to the Triumvirate, O Dellius!"

But Dellius smiled as one who would put away the weight of wrath, and once more spoke:

"Royal Egypt, thou knowest not the noble Antony. He is stern on paper, and ever he sets down his thoughts as though his stylus were a spear dipped in the blood of men. But face to face with him, thou, of all the world, shalt find him the gentlest warrior that ever won a battle.

Be advised, O Egypt! and come. Send me not hence with such angry words, for if thou dost draw Antony to Alexandria, then woe to Alexandria, to the people of the Nile, and to thee, great Egypt! For then he will come armed and breathing war, and it shall go hard with thee, who dost defy the gathered might of Rome. I pray thee, then, obey this summons. Come to Cilicia; come with peaceful gifts and not in arms. Come in thy beauty, and tricked in thy best attire, and thou hast naught to fear from the noble Antony." He paused and looked at her meaningly; while I, taking his drift, felt the angry blood surge into my face.

Cleopatra, too, understood, for I saw her rest her chin upon her hand and the cloud of thought gathered in her eyes. For a time she sat thus, while the crafty Dellius watched her curiously. And Charmion, standing with the other ladies by the throne, she also read his meaning, for her face lit up, as a summer cloud lights in the evening when the broad lightning flares behind it. Then once more it grew pale and quiet.

At length Cleopatra spoke. "This is a heavy matter," she said, 'and therefore, noble Dellius, we must have time to let our judgment ripen.

Rest thou here, and make thee as merry as our poor circumstances allow. Thou shalt have thy answer within ten days."

The envoy thought awhile, then replied smiling: "It is well, O Egypt; on the tenth day from now I will attend for my answer, and on the eleventh I sail hence to join Antony my Lord."

Once more, at a sign from Cleopatra, the trumpets blared, and he withdrew bowing.

同类推荐
  • 幼幼集成

    幼幼集成

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 祛蔽

    祛蔽

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 禅林宝训笔说

    禅林宝训笔说

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The New Machiavelli

    The New Machiavelli

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说月喻经

    佛说月喻经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 三凰求凤:喜欢你没道理

    三凰求凤:喜欢你没道理

    我不要求你离婚,我不要孩子,我让你去找她,我不要你去干任何工作,我只要你能陪着我,你为什么还要打我,浑身是伤的李静哭的肝肠寸断,但那无情的拳头还是落了下来……这是你第一次主动要我,恐怕也是最后一次,她躺在床上,心里的苦涩阵阵泛出,她不明白这倒底是为什么?她只想问老天,为什么她的爱会这么难……
  • 娇宠贵女

    娇宠贵女

    林月娥发现自己穿越到了古代,表示很淡定。生活嘛,在哪里不是过。更何况现在的父母恩爱,兄长友善,家境还富足,最重要的是,作为家中唯一的女孩儿,她现在是万千宠爱在一身啊!没事就出门上上香,拜拜佛,待在家里绣绣花,扑扑蝶,这个小日子,过的不要太滋润了。然而没想到,和她指腹为婚的侯府世子周琰突然拿着信物上门求亲,八抬大轿的把她娶回了家。婚后的日子一点点过去了,林月娥发现她的世子夫君除了宠她宠的有点过分,其他方面都特别厉害,就跟开了挂似的,好多事竟然都能未卜先知。不要紧,不要紧,谁还没点秘密呢,管他穿越、重生,反正她是盛宠不衰的正室,安心过日子就是了。--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 大宋帝国三百年:赵匡胤时间(中)

    大宋帝国三百年:赵匡胤时间(中)

    陈桥驿是赵匡胤生命中最重要的一个驿站,在这个驿站,他以不流血的方式,完成了一次改朝换代。公元951年至公元960年,纷乱复杂的五代十国行将结束,一个空前繁荣的大宋帝国开始浮出历史地平线。大宋立国前十年,周太祖郭威清除往朝弊政,带来了乱世中第一缕曙光;一个有英雄气,又满怀王道理想的大帝柴荣,御驾亲征,击败北汉契丹联军,开始文明政务;绝世高人王朴献《平边策》,“底定中原路线图”;经高平之战,赵匡胤进入后周高级军官行列;不可思议的“韦囊”,神秘的陈桥兵变,使历史出现了惊人的拐点……
  • 失仙岛

    失仙岛

    黑水的尽头,一只孤零零的小船穿过翻滚的积云,船尾的篙橹架着盏绿光的琉璃灯,船头站了个姑娘,一手持剑,一手攥着被划破脖颈的青鸟,鲜血渗进船板的缝隙,四面八方涌来阵阵低吟:还我骨头……
  • 重生女王驾到:男神,别咬

    重生女王驾到:男神,别咬

    新文《驭兽狂妃:鬼医三小姐》求支持,求包养!亲眼看着父母惨死,参军的哥哥任务中身亡,长嫂另嫁他人,家财被夺,心爱之人背叛,遭受迫害惨死的叶酒酒一朝重生回到十四岁,重活一次,那么……父母,哥哥,家财,所有属于她的一切,哪怕一分一毫,也休想有人染指。触者,剁手!这一世,她不相信爱情,只要变强,将那些,曾经伤她,害她的人踩在脚底。只是,这个从地下城挖出来的传说中的暗夜之王……“你能不能不要一直跟着我,堂堂暗夜之王,像个跟屁虫真的像话吗?”“我的心在你身上……”暗夜之王也会调戏人类?
  • 网王之暖雨融冰

    网王之暖雨融冰

    知道自己父母不要妹妹以后,毅然决然地带着小一岁的妹妹离家出走。只要妹妹还在,苦一点没有什么的~不过,之后的那个家伙,趁他不在将他家小白菜给拱了?!!他辛辛苦苦养大的小白菜就这么被拱了?!但是……一切还是以妹妹为主(简介无能,男主前期基本不出场,到后期才潜水完毕~喜欢四个部长的都可以来看看啊~)
  • 无极之神别黑我

    无极之神别黑我

    刘书颜大难不死成植物人,却遇见了一个十维生命。十维生命号称大仙。他俩做了交易,大仙负责将他培养成一个宇宙超级黑客,事成后让他的植物人身体完好如初,他的任务则是帮大仙黑掉宇宙的母体——天算。从此他不断在高维空间、地球和意识之洋战斗,不仅收获了和神女的爱情,还收获了各种高维能力。“众神来吧!我们互相黑吧!”他带着自己独有的幽默情怀不断前进。若干年后,他终于有了慧眼,这时候,他也有机会面对天算。他黑掉天算,就能成为宇宙霸主吗?
  • 高血压健康生活指南

    高血压健康生活指南

    高血压与心肌梗死关系密切。有资料表明高血压病人中约14%可出现心肌梗死,其中男性多于女性。在男性患者中,高血压病人心肌梗死的发病率比血压正常者高2~4倍。其次为临界高血压,而血压正常或偏低者心肌梗死的发生率较低,这说明高血压是引起冠心病心肌梗死的主要原因。
  • 红尘未断浮生乱

    红尘未断浮生乱

    前世,家族没落,她为了生存下去,混入了流民之中,尝尽世间冷暖,酸甜苦辣,最终带着遗憾离开。一朝醒来,竟发现回到了自己十岁那年,一切又将重新拉开序幕……联姻?听说还是个痴傻王爷?婳倾颜轻挑起男人的脸“慕慕,听说,你是个傻子?”慕君年委屈地努努嘴“阿颜……”【简介无能,希望看到这本书的小可爱们可以点击看看,get到你的点的话点击收藏哦!】
  • 中国政治史

    中国政治史

    仅用数十万字就写完了五千年的理乱兴亡,全书无一废字。吕思勉于1930年前后服膺马克思主义,对于社会主义大同社会的理想和经济基础决定上层建筑的思想极为推崇,但对阶级斗争理论持保留态度,这在他的史学作品中有明显体现。这些治史思想和方法深刻体现在吕思勉的教书、著述之中,并产生了广泛影响。因吕思勉的新式思想和见解,其讲学授业充满意趣,门下多出名人。唐长孺自称吕先生的私淑弟子,杨宽在光华大学坐堂听课于吕先生,钱穆、黄永年、张芝联、赵元任等也都是他的学生。