temptation, she
will be faithless to the love which has coursed through her whole life
as the Nile flows through the land of her ancestors. Then, Charmian,
stay, stay under any circumstances, cling to her more firmly than ever,
for then, then, my sister, she will be more wretched--ten, a hundred
fold more wretched than if Octavianus deprives her of everything,
perhaps even life itself."

"Nor will I leave her, come what may. I will remain at her side until
the end," cried Charmian eagerly. But Archibius, without noticing the
enthusiastic ardor, so unusual to his sister's quiet nature, calmly
continued: "She won your heart also, and it seems impossible for you to
desert her. Many have shared our feelings; and it is no disgrace to any
one. Misfortune is a weapon which cleaves base natures like a sword, yet
like a hammer welds noble ones more closely. To you, therefore, it now
seems doubly difficult to leave her, but you need love. The right to
live and guard yourself from the most pitiable retrogression is your
due, as much as that of the rare woman on the throne. So long as you
are sure of her love, remain with her, and show your devotion in every
situation until the end. But the motives which were drawing you away to
books, flowers, and children, weigh heavily in the balance, and if
you lack the anchor of her favour and love, I shall see you perish
miserably. The frost emanating from Cleopatra, if her heart grew cold
to you, the pin-pricks with which Iras would assail you, were you
defenceless, would kill you. This must not be, sister; we will guard
against it Do not interrupt me. The counsel I advise you to follow
has been duly weighed. If you see that the Queen still loves you as in
former days, cling to her; but should you learn the contrary, bid her
farewell to-morrow. My Irenia is yours--"

"But she does love me, and even should she no longer--"

"The test is at hand. We will leave the decision to her. You shall
confess that you were the culprit who aided Barine to escape her power
to punish."

"Archibius!"

"If you did not, a series of falsehoods must ensue. Try whether the
petty qualities in her nature, which urged her to commit the fate of
Leonax's daughter to unworthy hands, are more powerful than the nobler
ones. Try whether she is worthy of the self-sacrificing fidelity which
you have given her all your life. If she remains the same as before,
spite of this admission--"

Here he was interrupted by An