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The Memoirs of Cleopatra Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the The Memoirs of Cleopatra novel. A total of 134 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : The Memoirs Of Cleopatra.Margaret George.Chapter 1.THE FIRST SCROLL.Warmth. Wind. Dancin
The Memoirs Of Cleopatra.Margaret George.Chapter 1.THE FIRST SCROLL.Warmth. Wind. Dancing blue waters, and the sound of waves. I see, hear, feel them all still. I even taste the sting of the salt against my lips, where the fine, misty spray coats them. An
- 1 The Memoirs Of Cleopatra.Margaret George.Chapter 1.THE FIRST SCROLL.Warmth. Wind. Dancing blue waters, and the sound of waves. I see, hear, feel them all still. I even taste the sting of the salt against my lips, where the fine, misty spray coats them. An
- 2 On to the Museion--so called for the Nine Muses of creative thought-- where the Romans were given a detailed tour, being introduced to the leading scholars and shown the reading rooms. Then the Library, the biggest in the world, with its huge inventory of
- 3 But once in the safety of my own rooms, I shook with shock and fear. They had turned on-their own father, seized the throne. They had committed a most grave sin; it was the curse of the Ptolemies. Their blood was compelling them to it.For we came from a v
- 4 "Just jump in!" called Mardian. "It isn't cold!" He was paddling near me, enjoying himself.I looked at the blue liquid surrounding me, and felt the purest form of aversion I have ever experienced. It was waiting--no, lurking, lying in wait, ready for
- 5 We stopped that evening by the banks of the river, near a waterwheel and a well-trodden pathway leading down to the water. It looked as though it would be safe from crocodiles, for there was too much human activity. The hippo Nebamun had been on the looko
- 6 "Your smile is the same," said Father gently. "I carried it with me in my heart the whole time."Yet this same sentimental man forced us to witness the execution of his other daughter, Berenice. How can we be so many different people, all contained wit
- 7 We all screamed with laughter."Love as a weapon," said Arsinoe. I knew what she was thinking: With my boks, it is a weapon open to me. With my boks, it is a weapon open to me."That is one we Ptolemies have never employed," Father said. "Strange, when
- 8 The cloth lay wide and heavy across my forehead, like no other cloth I had ever felt.The ceremony was repeated for Ptolemy."Now turn to Serapis and say, 'We accept the state to which you have called us; we pray to be worthy of your favor.' "Did the G.
- 9 I sat in the shelter at the stem of the barge, protected by awnings, and watched my countryside slide by. I saw how low the Nile was as we plied our way upriver, past the pyramids, past Memphis, its white wall gleaming in the noonday sun, past green field
- 10 Night; hot, windy night. I lay in my tent unable to sleep. I had my army, and we were camped just outside the borders of Egypt, near where we had pa.s.sed months ago. I now had almost ten thousand men, some Egyptian and some Nabataean Arabs. They were goo
- 11 It was then, Isis, that I knew I trusted you. It is only when our fate hangs in the balance, when our very life depends on something, that we see whether or not we trust that the rope to which we are clinging will support us. If we do not, then we will no
- 12 "What about the son, Gnaeus Pompey?""What about him?""Is he your ally? What did you owe him?""Nothing.""Good. I mean to kill him. And I would not have you be my enemy thereby." He said "I mean to kill him" as casually as a boy says, "I am goi
- 13 His tears dried up in surprise. "Wh-what?" he sniffled."It is my judgment, as executor of the late King's will, that we must abide by the terms of it. You will marry your sister Cleopatra and reign as joint monarchs in time-honored fas.h.i.+on."He co
- 14 We were back in my--our--royal apartments. Caesar ordered a double guard around all entrances, using only his most trusted soldiers. Once in the innermost room, he sank down on a bench. Suddenly he looked much older, and the lines on his face were deeply
- 15 "How did they manage to do it?" Caesar marveled. "How did they taint all our water without hurting their own?"I called in our engineers, and the answer was soon clear. Alexandria's water supply comes from underground tunnels that channel Nile water t
- 16 As large as a wars.h.i.+p, dedicated to pleasure and power, the barge rode on the bosom of the Nile. It stretched over three hundred feet from its lotus-flower bow to its curved stern, propelled by many banks of oars, and the decks contained banqueting ro
- 17 He thought for a moment. "I will marry you according to Egyptian rites," he finally said. "You will be my wife--everyplace but Rome. Because--""Yes, I know. Roman law does not recognize foreign marriages."But laws are made by men; and the only thing
- 18 "No." Rufio looked surprised that he would even ask. Wasn't that enough?"I have been in Egypt eight months now," said Caesar slowly. "I came in pursuit of Pompey and became embroiled in another war. I have lost much valuable time.""You were so out
- 19 The Temple of Isis, farther out on the peninsula, seemed to have suffered little damage, perhaps because it was out of range of the rocks and missiles lobbed by the townspeople over the walls of the palace grounds. But the nearer we got to the walls, the
- 20 "A name to blazen forth both sides of his inheritance," I said. "Ptolemy Caesar."Olympos looked startled. "Do you dare to bestow the familial name of Caesar without permission of that family?""I do not need permission from that family! What have th
- 21 As the waters continued to rise, everyone rejoiced. During the first two years of my reign there had been insufficient water, causing famine. Now, on this first flood since I had been restored to the throne, a restoration in nature seemed promised as well
- 22 "In other words, a mixture of gossip and business," I said.Mereruka smiled. "Is there any business without gossip?" I liked him, this broad-faced man from Upper Egypt. I could not imagine that he would ever be tempted to leave this place of his birth;
- 23 "Then, pray, stop looking at me so anxiously!" I returned to the report.Cato warned the army of Pompey to avoid an immediate battle, since they could only grow stronger in time, having all the food depots and s.h.i.+pping routes under their control. Cae
- 24 I studied her features: the s.h.i.+ning dark skin, the high-bridged nose, the curving lips. Facially she resembled them, but her body was in no way like the two types predominant here.The city was one of wide streets and circular dwellings made of mud and
- 25 Then I saw the cobra. I thought I was dreaming, or that it was a wooden sculpture that I had somehow overlooked earlier. A dark wooden one, against the far wall. It was motionless. Yes, it was a sculpture. I felt my fear drain away.Just then it moved. It
- 26 I spoke with Mardian first, and listened patiently to his recital of the aggravations of working with Epaphroditus: his arrogance, his insistence on his own methods, his unavailability at certain times, owing to his other business. I attempted to soothe h
- 27 "Yes, it is as straight as a Roman road," he said. "The problem is the winds at this time of year. They blow in exactly the wrong direction. And the expanse of water is so great that there is a natural limitation on the speed of the rowers. This galley
- 28 "We are the most trusted agents and secretaries of the glorious Caesar," said Oppius. "It is our honor to serve him day and night." He handed me the scroll. "A message from the Mighty One."I broke the seal and unrolled it carefully. It was still lig
- 29 "Greetings, Most Exalted Majesty," he said in his elegant Greek. "Queen Cleopatra, you do us great honor to journey to Rome with the express purpose of attending my Triumph. You do me great honor to live as my guest in my garden home."He stood there,
- 30 A platform with steps sat in the middle of a somewhat open area, with the bronze rams of s.h.i.+ps, called rostra rostra, mounted on its front wall, bristling out like a row of boars' snouts. This must be the famous place, named for those rams, the Rostr
- 31 "He has honors enough," said Brutus. "A thanksgiving of forty days for his victories has been proclaimed, there will be four successive Triumphs, he has been appointed 'Prefect of Morals' and Dictator for ten years, and his Triumphal chariot will be
- 32 "He can be charming when he wishes," said Caesar."Obviously tonight he did not wish to be," I said. "And what do you mean, people say he is your son?""Long ago Servilia was in love with me," he said. "And I was very fond of her.""So that's why
- 33 "Those who wors.h.i.+p Venus must come to her wholeheartedly," I finally said, pulling back from him a bit. "My mind is clouded with all that has pa.s.sed this night before we entered her temple.""Ask the G.o.ddess to remove it," he said. His voice
- 34 The teams trotted once around the track, forty horses abreast, sweeping around the turn like a giant wing. The drivers must have had extraordinary skill to keep them all in line in this manner. Finally they halted just in line with us, and waited for the
- 35 The s.h.i.+ps were ramming one another; grapnels were hurled and soldiers swarmed onto enemy s.h.i.+ps, swords flas.h.i.+ng. Firebrands flew through the air, setting rigging aflame. Some of these missiles landed among the spectators, causing screams and p
- 36 "Indeed," she said.They pa.s.sed on into the larger room, and I turned to Valeria."At last, a wholehearted supporter of Caesar!" I said."Yes. But he is such a broken reed to lean upon." She shook her head. "Lepidus is .
- 37 "Now that all are silent," said Caesar, holding up his hands, "I wish to give you my thanks for coming to honor Egypt and myself. Yesterday we celebrated a Triumph over rebel forces in Egypt. Today we honor its Queen and King, Cleopatra and
- 38 "I give this new covered marketplace and public building to the citizens of Rome," he said. "Our older ones no longer serve our needs; they are neither large nor modern enough. And so I name this the Basilica Julia, in honor of my family li
- 39 "I can do neither," he said. "It is against my nature. They must be true to their nature, and I to mine."I shook my head. "This is too lofty for me," I said. "I understand and revere one trait above all others: loyalty.
- 40 Very slowly, I turned and looked in a corner of the window. There, on the far side of the room, on a low couch, were a man and a woman making heated love. The woman was twisting and moaning, and the man's back was heaving and straining. I could see a
- 41 I motioned to him and drew him over to us. He had to shove and push his way past a boiling surge of people, looking irritated the whole time."Your Majesty," he said, bowing. "But no, you cannot be Cleopatra during Saturnalia. You must be so
- 42 "Not by you," I said. "Rome is a greater challenge today. Leave Parthia for Caesarion. After all, if you have conquered the entire world, what will be left for him? You have to leave something for the next generation to aspire to."&quo
- 43 Caesar started laughing again. "Hush. Or Fulvia will beat you, and I will cancel the appointment.""Along with all those other new appointments you have made?" Antony turned toward me, as to a confidant. "Caesar has increased the n
- 44 To my amazement, he turned his back on me and walked away.In all my life, no one had ever done that. But this was Rome, and the Saturnalia was a time of license. Masters served their slaves, and hosts turned their backs on guest queens."Come," I
- 45 "No, because you sit down first," I said with a smile."You witnessed what it used to be. Sitting down was not a cure." He carefully sat up. "There. The room is still. My limbs obey. And I never lost consciousness." He sounded
- 46 His perfect forearm, straight and strong, thrust the diadem toward Caesar. It trembled in the clear air, its whiteness making it s.h.i.+mmer a little.Caesar looked at it as if he were eyeing a snake, something dangerous that was about to strike."Nay,
- 47 I opened it slowly and found a silver medallion there, on a small chain. I shook it out into the palm of my hand and turned it over. It had an elephant on one side, and lettering on the other."It was my mother's," he said. "The elephan
- 48 The boy had come back, bringing two companions and a st.u.r.dy canvas litter. They hung back in the doorway and stared. Finally I said, "Come here," and they obeyed, tiptoeing up as if they were afraid Caesar would rise up under the toga.And, oh
- 49 Calpurnia was already there, on the curving steps of the round Temple of Vesta. She looked almost pleased to see me, her sister in this strange way, her companion in loss."They are on their way here," she said. "They took his--they took him
- 50 Standing a little distance behind them was a dark, handsome face. Epaphroditus! I was shocked to see him there, as if his primary business were here now, instead of in a warehouse on the docks."Welcome home, Your Majesty," he said, stepping forw
- 51 His words were hard, but it was a relief to have them spoken so boldly."I am sorry," he said. "I am sorry about what happened to Caesar.""I know you didn't like him. You never did, and you were honest about that.""T
- 52 "That is what makes you a good queen--you have the fort.i.tude to endure it," said Mardian."Mardian, I need to know how my absence was looked on here." I trusted him to be honest with me."ln the palace? Why--""No, not in
- 53 The hateful Decimus, his kinsman, named one of Caesar's heirs--who had lured him from his house to the Senate!"I must acquaint myself with your holy book," I said. "It seems to have much of mankind in it. It can ease sorrow by acknowle
- 54 My father had built part of the temple, and very proud of it he had been. On the temples of Upper Egypt he had been--carved in stone, at least--the warrior king he had not been in the flesh. I remembered my excitement when he had brought me here as a chil
- 55 All Alexandria had to observe mourning along with the palace for seven days. Business was suspended and amba.s.sadors waited, boats rode at anchor with their cargoes, bills went unpaid.It was now October, and the Nile had clearly failed. The water barely
- 56 "I would comply willingly," I said, the words sounding abominable in my own ears, "but my country is devastated by plague. The fleet is not finished yet, and I can get no workmen to continue, let alone sailors to man it. We are in dire stra
- 57 I looked toward sh.o.r.e--or, rather, away from the wind. I could see the faint pinp.r.i.c.k of a light--it must be one of the signal lighthouses. If I could see it, that was bad indeed. It meant we were close to the coastline.The captain made his way bac
- 58 Mardian enjoyed himself thoroughly, searching the world over for suitable candidates for my hand. He came up with Idumaeans, Greeks, Paphlagonians, Nubians--including the Kandake's own son--Galatians, and Armenians. Just to vex him, I had made a list
- 59 I had enjoyed the afternoon, and I found Archelaus appealing. But only as I found many other things, and people, appealing: the priest of Serapis who came to me whenever I wished to celebrate an anniversary or make a special offering; the woman who tended
- 60 "It was in the hands of the G.o.ds," he finally said. "But the outcome was entirely right. Our Caesar is repaid now."The first course of the meal was starting, and the company of Romans and Tarsians was murmuring in wonder at the dishe
- 61 What was I to do next? One time can be a surprise, a mistake, a venture. But after that... it becomes a deliberate decision. I could never pretend to myself to be taken unawares again by Antony.What was the point in continuing? He was married to the fears
- 62 "Come as my guest. You would do it for anyone else! Do not do less for ^ ^ >> me."Because you are are you, I must do less." you, I must do less.""Then you punish me for being Cleopatra, and not Cytheris or Glaphyra."&qu
- 63 Alone in my cabin, I sank down in the bed to sleep at last. There had certainly been none during the night. I pulled the covers over my shoulders and closed my eyes, shutting out the sunlight streaming into the room.I smiled. The banquet, with its costly
- 64 I always enjoyed surprising him. "And of course you will have to compete in everything, so it will be a smaller affair than the regular games," I continued. "After all, you are not a charioteer, nor do you perform acrobatics--do you?"
- 65 The wine began to affect me, too. I felt my reserve and standoffishness start to dissolve. Gradually the tavern did not seem tatty and rude, but excitingly wicked. I even felt my arms start to trace out the dancer's movements under my cloak. Suddenly
- 66 "It's all gone to h.e.l.l," he said, shaking his head, when I found him. At his feet were the curled letters from Tyre and Rome, lying forlornly."What is it?" I bent down to pick them up, but waited for him to tell me."War in
- 67 Epaphroditus looked perplexed. "Your Majesty, that would take many days. Has the most n.o.ble lord Antony the time?""I have the time, if it is something I should see," Antony said quickly."Just a short tour of the receiving statio
- 68 "I wish to change places with Octavian," I finally said.He roared with laughter. "And wear his sun hats and chest flannels? The summer sun is too hot for him, and the winter chill too cruel, so he has to protect himself before venturing out
- 69 "We can sit on the steps," I said. "Come, they won't hurt you.""I refuse to enter a tomb! I fear it would be a bad omen.""We needn't go inside." And indeed, I would not have wanted to--it lay in deep darkn
- 70 "I see you didn't go through with it," he said sadly."I couldn't," I whispered. "I didn't want to.""You shouldn't have been afraid. I told you--""I wasn't afraid," I a.s.sured him.
- 71 "But isn't there really an Apollo?" His voice sounded very small."Well, yes . . . but he doesn't actually ride a chariot across the sky with four horses pulling it. He has more to do with creativity--with music and all the bright
- 72 As well he knew, his presence could be very persuasive.Thanks to Epaphroditus, my welcoming banquet was a complete success. The menu omitted all the things hateful to a pract.i.tioner of the Jewish religion, and the table was set with newly acquired brigh
- 73 And thus they became man and wife.A new begetting now descends from heaven s height. new begetting now descends from heaven s height.I woke up drenched in sweat, my heart pounding. I felt sick at my stomach. It was only a dream, only a dream. . . . Over a
- 74 "I knew it!" He shook his head. "And why, pray tell, should I go to Rome? Other than to spy on Antony?"I ignored the last question. "Because I prize your talent for healing. But time has marched on; there are new techniques in the
- 75 I opened my palm and stared at its bright beauty. It was an aureus, a gold coin, with the heads of Antony and Octavia. So he was minting money with his wife's head on it! It made me angry, as Olympos meant it to.As if to cover up his blatant provocat
- 76 "How easily you seem to have forgotten," I said. "We are already in an alliance. We are Friend and Ally of the Roman People."He shrugged, as if it were of no moment."I keep my word," I said. "If it is to be broken, it mu
- 77 "And you?" To come to this point, and so quickly! I had not meant to."I stay here.""Forever?""That depends.""On Parthia?""Partly. And partly on what happens elsewhere," he said."You cannot s
- 78 He came to my chamber early, looking solemn. But whatever his thoughts, he stood there manfully and extended his hand to take mine. Silently we descended to the waiting carriage. Through the gauze of the veil I could see the other man waiting, a man with
- 79 "I cannot think clearly when I am lying down amidst a field of pillows, especially with you beside me. Tell me--where are the papers of Caesar's from which you have planned this campaign? I would like to see them.""Do you not believe m
- 80 "Well, here in Antioch they are too lazy to get up out of their scented baths to form form a mob," I said. a mob," I said."Good," said Mardian. "That makes the streets safer."Alexander and Selene had betrayed great curio
- 81 Early May, and we were in Armenia, being feasted by Antony's new-won ally, King Artavasdes, in his drafty palace overlooking the valley of the Araxes River. It was an elaborate structure, and as I looked around the dim chamber I became aware that the
- 82 He nodded. "Thank you. I hope Antony was pleased. Now, as to my proposal--I would be honored if you would allow me to rent the balsam and palm groves from you, for their true worth. That way you would receive the income, but be spared the bother of h
- 83 The late summer, one of the clearest and windiest in years, cried out for enjoyment, but I was in the grip of dreadful waiting. As days pa.s.sed with no word from the east, I grew more and more agitated. It seemed as though Antony and his huge army had di
- 84 I took it and slowly opened it. My first words from him since our parting, a lifetime hence.M;y dearest--Eros will tell you all It is too long, and painful dearest--Eros will tell you all It is too long, and painful, to recount here, and a wound I receive
- 85 Antony stopped at the side of one man wearing a ragged bandage on his head that covered one eye. He stooped down to speak to him."Where did you receive this wound?" he asked."With Gallus," he said. "I was beside him when the full
- 86 He grunted. "Very well. I'll look at it. But I told you, I have no magic to cure wounds. They can baffle our best attempts."I had an equally hard time persuading Antony. He voiced the usual disclaimers--it's nothing, doesn't hurt,
- 87 Mardian was stroking the turtle's head, and it seemed to enjoy it; at least it stopped struggling. "A tragedy," he agreed. "And now the . . . situation with Octavia.""Yes. She sits in Athens, surrounded by her bait. Octavian
- 88 Now Caesarion smiled. "Do you think so?" He tried not to look too pleased."Indeed. If you were three or four years older, I would speak to General t.i.tius or Plancus about you. How old are you--fourteen?" He knew very well the boy was
- 89 P. S. The Ludi Apollinares Ludi Apollinares are being celebrated--many days of chariot races and games, in honor of Apollo. Why don't we have anything like that? are being celebrated--many days of chariot races and games, in honor of Apollo. Why don&
- 90 "Cornelia had Julia, and as for the other two--Pompeia was divorced for her suspected affairs, and Calpurnia spent barely any time with him. The case is hardly conclusive." I certainly knew more about this sort of thing than Octavian did! "
- 91 My children were all safe in Alexandria. Caesarion had returned from Romei escaping whatever vague malevolence Octavian had planned for him. And I would not surrender them to the world so soon. But sometimes there is no choice for princes.The Median king
- 92 "Come." He made his way toward the second division between the secular and the sacred, the first roofed hall. We pa.s.sed through the doorway and were surrounded by a forest of ma.s.sive pillars, their tops carved to look like lotus buds, suppor
- 93 "Our holy one has departed," said Nakht. "He must be prepared for the journey to eternity."By that I a.s.sumed he must be sent to the embalmer's. Only after the priests with their burden, followed by the other priests, left the co
- 94 We had put the final touches on it late at night some three days after the Triumph. Workers were still sweeping the streets clean, carts were still trundling out of the city piled high with the debris from the feasting; I did not want dogs and crows scave
- 95 Late that night, the guests gone, the rose petals mangled, the silk banners tattered and torn from the antics of the frightened monkeys, Antony and I stood in the echoing empty hall. The children had long since been sent to bed, even Caesarion, and we sto
- 96 They left as soon as he released them.When they were gone, I turned to Antony. I was shaken. " "Why have you done this?" I asked."What, don't you want me buried beside you?" He put on a mock look of hurt."I mean--why did
- 97 As for his personal morality--it was unspeakable. First, he had sold his favors to Caesar in exchange for being named his heir, and then pa.s.sed himself around to Caesar's friend Aulus Hirtius for another three hundred thousand sesterces. Then he ha
- 98 One must not quail at sending a sister to the executioner, if she has proved to be treacherously aiming for one's throne. Antony was not capable of such ruthlessness--although he had done it at my bidding. It was he who had ordered her taken from the
- 99 "Then we are forever new to one another," I whispered. "May it remain so." And I kissed him in such a way that he knew how greatly I prized and desired him.He did not disappoint me in his response.Chapter 69.We got up the idea of an ex
- 100 "I am intimately involved in all these movements," I said. "Since I bore Caesar's child fifteen years ago, I am part of Roman politics, like it or not.""I don't don't like it!" he returned. like it!" he re