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
- 101 "It gives the lie to your life with me!" I said. "That's what it does!" And now all my caution, all my restraint, dissolved, and for the first time in my life I acted entirely and completely as a woman, no other considerations clo
- 102 "And t.i.tius with him, no doubt," I said. I had not yet had the opportunity to tell Antony about the conversation I was privy to in the garden, and I was saddened to hear it confirmed. I had hoped it was just a pa.s.sing mood with them."Yo
- 103 Golden summer days lasted into October in Athens, but we were far too busy making our military arrangements to notice the swirling leaves or stroll among the b.u.t.terflies, dancing their last. Soon each contingent would depart to take up its watch in dif
- 104 I felt the color draining from my face. So I was to be judged only as a foreigner, while Antony was exempt from blame, being a Roman?He, however, has looked haughtily and disdainfully upon my efforts, and will neither be pardoned though we would fain pard
- 105 "It cannot easily be circled from the north, and it would be difficult to attack it from the south, being uphill. And the flat ground below can serve as a battlefield.""Or a camp for us," said Antony quickly. "We should establish
- 106 "If he did, we could stab him," said Amyntas eagerly. He brandished his dagger, which appeared gleamingly out of nowhere. It was curved and had some sort of engraving on its blade.Antony looked appalled. "No," he said. "I swear th
- 107 "Tighter, Eros." Antony was testing his breastplate, pulling on the straps."Yes, my lord," he said obediently. "It has been a long time since I have performed this duty." He yanked on one shoulder strap."I know. Three ye
- 108 "But it is essential that we at least be able to move them. Otherwise we must burn the empty s.h.i.+ps," said Sosius. "This way they can follow any breakout to safety.""So that is what you are thinking of." Now I realized the
- 109 "Were they higher, I would be well content," he replied tartly. "The conditions day after day wear away at them. And then there are the taunts from the other camp, the arrows and stones carrying messages, fired right into our midst."&q
- 110 "Sir!" Sosius was shocked."Because, henceforth, if I catch any deserters, I am going to execute them as a warning. This is becoming a dangerous hemorrhage, and I will have to take drastic measures to stanch it." He lifted his cup. &quo
- 111 "To have gathered a fleet and an army like this, and not to use them!" I lamented the loss. It seemed--profligate."Neither the army nor the fleet is what it was," he reminded me. "If we could have used them in the beginning . . .&
- 112 "He told me that my fate-spirit, my daimon, was overshadowed when Octavian's was near," Antony remembered. Of course Olympos had reported it to me. "Well, you were right, old friend. Ever since Octavian landed in Greece . . ." His
- 113 It was midmorning, and the sun was just clearing the mountains to the east, making the water glitter and outlining the shapes of the s.h.i.+ps dotting the surface. No one moved. Agrippa held his line steady and advanced no farther. He was not to be drawn
- 114 Once anch.o.r.ed, we awaited the arrival of whatever stragglers might have managed to break away and follow us, as well as the heavier transports and the s.h.i.+ps from the few ports we still held, while we counted the accompanying vessels and refitted th
- 115 "Oh no!" said Mardian."What is it?""The legions deserted to Octavian. Right out from under their commander! Poor Scarpus had to leave; he is probably sheltering at Paraetonium.We had heard that Octavian had appointed Cornelius Gallus to take over the
- 116 "I could tell just by looking at you that you were practically starving,' 'he said, settling down on one of my couches and putting his hands behind his head."Why, because I could wear some gowns that had been too tight.7" I asked. "I was pleased abo
- 117 "I am no longer Antony," he said. "It is better that they do not see me. Let them remember me as I was. Let them cherish the medals--mementos of a great soldier! Not this man--not this man!" He extended his arms, brus.h.i.+ng them down over his chest,
- 118 Of course I had others, but these were among my finest. And they were going to Octavian.Would he be tempted to try them on? Late at night, would he leave the box carelessly in his room, and then, when no one was looking, lift the diadem out and set it on
- 119 Antony nodded. "And to think they are all cousins--and cousins to Octavian.""That is what makes them dangerous to one another," I said.So we had arranged the ceremonies, the day when Caesarion would ride in his chariot through the streets of the city,
- 120 "We are hopelessly outnumbered," he said. "Why slaughter people needlessly?" I could not object; had I not said exactly the same thing about my supporters in Upper Egypt? But Egyptians far up the Nile could escape any partic.i.p.ation, whereas the leg
- 121 "Yes," I said. "From the very beginning until this moment.""Moments," he mused. "I wonder how many of them we have left?""You should stop this now," I said briskly. "It's tiresome with the guests gone."He rolled over, with me in his arms. "Y
- 122 "Well, enough of this." My spirits were low. I straightened my back. "Let us discuss the import taxes. After all, s.h.i.+ps are still docking. We are not blockaded by sea. . . ."It was a day like all the rest--as fine and light as the lines on a paint
- 123 Antony almost leapt across the s.p.a.ce and grabbed Thyrsus. "So! This is what Octavian sends! A fawning, silly boy! And you!" He rounded on me. "How can you stand there, allowing him to s...o...b..r all over your hand, encouraging him, leading him on?
- 124 "I have marked out the pa.s.sages I think will speak to you," he said."Thank you, dear friend." I stood up and took his hands. I wondered if I would ever see him again. This long, slow withdrawal of the tide was painful. More and more of the sh.o.r.e
- 125 "So if it chance that you meet Octavian alone," I told them, "treat him with all courtesy. Be sure to call him . . . Imperator Caesar." It was all I could do not to choke on the words. " 'Octavian' antagonizes him."
- 126 "He's here!" he said. "Just sighted, down the road to Canopus. He's rus.h.i.+ng, pus.h.i.+ng the men at double march. He must mean to get here and pitch camp before sundown."The plumes on his helmet swayed, and its beak preve
- 127 "If you would keep me," I said, "then fight tomorrow as you have never fought before. Think you not that at this very moment Octavian is also making death preparations? It may be he who lies low tomorrow, not even attaining the age of Alexa
- 128 "How did you get this?" I asked, laying my hand over the wound. "How did it get through your armor?""I--I myself," he said. "No enemy but Antony. Antony only conquers Antony.""My brave Imperator," I said,
- 129 "Here." I flung out my arm and pointed to it. Let them look. The pile was high, and from their hushed breathing, I knew it was more than they had imagined. "It is yours."Like children--why does gold unman us so?--they approached it, ga
- 130 There was no doubt that Octavian would carry out his threat. But why did he want me alive? Surely his much-vaunted "clemency" would not be stained because a stubborn woman had starved herself. I did not delude myself it was because he wanted to
- 131 "Shut up, Mardian!" I screamed, and leapt at him. The G.o.ds that had given me the insight had also given me the strength to spring half across the room. I started pelting Mardian on the shoulders, the arms, and trying to smack his face. "Y
- 132 I handed the note to Dolabella, who read it carefully. He nodded. "I shall do all that I can, my lady.""It is important to me. I cannot leave without it. Surely he will not be so hard-hearted as to deny me. The soldiers can guard me all the
- 133 I draw it slowly out of its basket. It is longer than I had guessed; as long as the span of both my arms. And as it flops out, I see more movement in the basket. Nakht has sent two. That was foresighted of him."So here it is," I say, staring at the serp
- 134 At last Octavian himself appeared in his chariot, being saluted as the conqueror of the world, wearing the crown, rather than having it merely held over his head by a slave. And then . . . O shame! Walking behind the chariot, in chains, were Selene and Al