eignty of the world!' Besides, the stars had assured
me that good fortune would attend us on the sea. They had given the same
message to Anubis here and to Alexas upon Antony's galley. I also trusted
the spell of the goblet, which had already compelled Antony to do many
things he opposed. So I succeeded in having the decision of the conflict
left to the fleet, but the prediction was false, false, false!--how
utterly, was to be proved only too soon.

"If I had only been told in time what I learned later! After the defeat
people were more loquacious. That one remark of a veteran commander of
the foot-soldiers would probably have sufficed to open my eyes. He had
asked Mark Antony why he fixed his hopes on miserable wood, exclaiming,
'Let the Phoenician's and Egyptians war on the water, but leave us the
land where we are accustomed, with our feet firmly set upon the earth, to
fight, conquer, or die!' This alone, I am sure, would have changed my
resolve in a happy hour. But it was kept from me.

"The conflict began. Our troops had lost patience. The left wing of the
fleet advanced. At first I watched the battle eagerly, with a throbbing
heart. How proudly the huge galleys moved forward! Everything was going
admirably. Antony had made an address, assuring the warriors that, even
without soldiers, our ships would destroy the foe by their mere height
and size. What orator can so carry his hearers with him! I, too, was
still fearless. Who cherishes anxiety when confidently expecting victory?
When he went on board his own ship, after bidding me farewell far less
cordially than usual, I became more troubled. I thought it was evident
that his love was waning. What had I become since we left Alexandria, and
Olympus no longer attended me! Matters could not continue in this way. I
would leave the direction of the war to him, and vanish from his eyes.
After he had looked into the beaker of Nektanebus, he yielded to my will,
but often with indignation. The unconcealed, ineffaceable lines, and the
years, the cruel years!"

"What thoughts are these?" cried Iras. "Let me take oath, my sovereign
mistress, that as you stand before me--"

"Thanks to this toilet-table and the new compounds of Olympus in these
boxes! At that time, I tell you, I was fairly startled at the sight of my
own face. Trouble does not enhance beauty, and what condemnation the
Romans had heaped on the woman who meddled with war, the craft of man! I
had answers for the