m, but I would not endure it longer. I had previously
determined to hold aloof from the battle on land; but even at the
commencement of the conflict, spite of its favourable promise, I longed
to leave Antony and return to the children. They do not heed the colour
of their mother's hair, nor her wrinkles; and he, when he had looked for
and called me in vain, would feel for the first time what he possessed in
me, would miss me, and with the longing the old love would awaken with
fresh ardour. As soon as the fleet had gained the victory I would have
the prow of my galley turned southward and, without a farewell,
exclaiming only, 'We will meet in Alexandria!' set sail for Egypt.

"I summoned Alexas, who had remained with me, and ordered him to give me
a signal as soon as the battle was decided in our favour. I remained on
deck. Then I saw the ships of the foe describing a wide circle. The
nauarch told me that Agrippa was trying to surround us. This roused a
feeling of discomfort. I began to repent having meddled with men's work.

"Antony looked across at me from his galley. I waved my hand to point out
the peril, but instead of eagerly and lovingly answering the greeting, as
of yore, he turned his back, and in a short time after the wildest uproar
arose around me. One ship became entangled with another, planks and poles
shattered with a loud crash. Shouts, the cries and moans of the
combatants and the wounded, mingled with the thunder of the stones hurled
by the catapults, and the sharp notes of the signals which sounded like
calls for help. Two soldiers, stricken by arrows, fell beside me. It was
horrible! Yet my courage remained steadfast, even when a squadron--it was
commanded by Aruntius--pressed upon the fleet. I saw another line of
galleys steering directly towards us, and a Roman vessel assailed by one
of mine--I had named her the Selene--turn on her side and sink. This
pleased me and seemed like the first presage of victory. I again ordered
Alexas to have the ship's prow turned as soon as the result of the battle
was decided. Ere I had ceased speaking, Jason, the steward--you know
him--appeared with refreshments. I took the beaker, but, ere I could
raise it to my lips, he fell to the deck with a cloven skull, mingling
his blood with the spilled juice of the grape. My blood seemed fairly to
freeze in my veins, and Alexas, trembling and deadly pale, asked, 'Do you
command us to quit the battle?'

"Every fibre of my b