"Cleopatra, being an Account of the Fall and Vengeance of Harmachis, the Royal Egyptian, as Set Forth by His Own Hand"
This novel begins with an unnamed European doctor visiting a tomb at Aydos, with an band of Arabs led by Ali. Ali had told the doctor about the tomb (which he had robbed), and that there was a coffin yet untouched. They discover the coffin, and observe that the body looks as though it has moved after being placed in the coffin. The doctor partially unwrapped it, and this reinforces his impression. The body is hideous and contorted, and frightens even the hardened Arabs. He discovers the papyrus of which rest of the story is the translation – completed subsequently in London by a qualified archaeologist.
Harmachis, son of Amenemhat, hereditary high priest of Temple of Sethi was born at Abouthis, later Abydos (where Osiris was buried), on the same day as Cleopatra, in reign of Pharaoh Ptolemy Auletes (the Piper). His (unnamed) mother, who died the same day, prophesised that Harmachis would become pharaoh, and sweep the Macdeonian line from the throne. Amenemhat closed the doors of the hall and made all those present swear by the oath that cannot be broken that they will not reveal what has been prophesised. However, Atoua, who had been nurse to his mother and now assumed that role for her son, has difficulty keeping quiet. She tells her daughter, whose husband tells a friend – who is a spy of pharaoh’s.
Greek guards are sent to kill Harmachis, lest the prophecy be fulfilled. Their boat runs aground, and before they come ashore a local farmer and overseer of canals runs to the Temple of Sethi to warn them. Amenemhat is away, visiting the Valley of the Kings. The overseer sees a child, of approximately the same age as Harmachis, asking whose it is. It is Atoua’s grandson. The overseer simply says to her, "woman, thou knowest thy duty, do it!", and Atoua swaps children. The guards kill her grandson. The parents return and are not very please, but Amenemhat, who now also returns, arranges for them to be seized in the night and convey to the secret chambers of the temple, and they are never heard from again.
It is now put about that Harmachis is the grandson of Atoua, adopted by Amenemhat in place of his own son. He is taught the usual priestly knowledge – though he does also go out and kill a lion at 17, against the wishes of his father. His father who now tells him that he is indeed his own son, and that it is foreseen that he will be pharaoh – but not yet will the plan be put into effect, since he cannot be trusted yet (though Ptolemy is just recently deceased). Amenemhat and Harmachis are the only descendants of the pre-Ptolemy pharaohs (specifically from Pharaoh Nekt-nebf, driven out by Ochus the Persian), and throughout Egypt (or Khem as it is generally called) people were already swearing allegiance to him who would be revealed.
Harmachis prays to Isis, for he is to be dedicated to the service if her in particular, and a lotus blossom floats into his hand. He takes this as an omen.
Harmachis is sent to his uncle Sepa, high priest of the Temple of Ra at On (Heliopolis, or Annu el Ra), for further education. On the way, he stopped at Memfi, where he say Apis, the Ptah in the form of a bull, who bowed down to him in front of a select group of high priests and nobles.
He spends 5 years at On, studying religion, astronomy, magic, dreams, Greek and Latin languages, history, politics, etc. Cleopatra is now queen. Harmachis now travels from Annu to Abouthis. After a three month initiation into the mysteries of the gods he is ordained (if such is the term) as a priest of Isis. Because he is to be high priest of Isis – and is pretender to the throne (Amenemhat has always given his place up), he is permitted to commune with Isis, being left in the holy of holies overnight (the priest of Isis who initiates him says that he himself has not undergone this test, and that during his lifetime only three have dared it – only one survived the night).
Harmachis sees Isis in Amenti (the underworld). She tells him that if he succeeds he will sit upon the throne of Egypt and restore her ancient worship in its purity (for the Macedonians were somewhat lax), but that if he fails then Isis would become but a memory in Egypt. She won’t be drawn on whether he will fail, but that it depends upon his strength and the measure of his heart’s purity. She does say that if he should fail heavy indeed shall be his punishment, both in the flesh and in Amenti – though not eternally.
He is now crowned pharaoh in a secret ceremony in the Temple of Sethi at Abouthis, with 37 nobles – some from every nome, and all the High Priests in attendance. He travels to Alexandria to carry out the plan – of which he knows little as yet.
He meets Sepa, who has gone on before to make preparation, and Charmion, his 20 year old niece, who is serving woman to Cleopatra, and despite her relative youth principal architect of the conspiracy. Harmachis observes Cleopatra in a procession, and he attracts her notice by defeating a Nubian guard in a fight, after the guard hits a woman in the street (while clearing the route for the queen). It is arranged through Charmion that Harmachis, in the guise of an astrologer, will have an audience.
Harmachis does the usual rod into snake trick (which as Cleopatra said, any roadside conjurer could do – though I doubt they could now), but then makes it multiple until the room is seething with snakes. He then reads the meaning of a dream Cleopatra has had (about Julius Caesar ), then calls up Caesar’s spirit. He is hired on the spot as court astrologer and magician-in-chief.
Arrangements are made for risings through Egypt, the signal being the death of Cleopatra, whom Harmachis is to dispatch, using his role as astrologer to get close to her. Unfortunately, he doesn’t particularly like the idea of killing her, but steels himself for the task. Meanwhile, Charmion has fallen in love with her cousin, though Harmachis is oblivious to this. He is jealous of Cleopatra – whom she already hates as the hereditary foe of their family – as she sees that Harmachis is falling pray to her attractions.
Atoua arrives from Abouthis with a message form Amenemhat, warning that he has foreseen a great danger overhanging Harmachis, and that if he holds fast to his duty he will prosper. The night of the assassination arrives. Rebels, led by Sepa, await outside the palace, Paulus, the Roman captain of the gate, has been bribed to leave them open. All is ready, and it just awaits the signal – Harmachis stabbing Cleopatra. He enters the waiting room. Charmion, who is indispensable to Cleopatra, goes to seek permission for Harmachis to enter. She is an unusually long time, but finally returns to bid Harmachis enter the Queen’s chamber.
The ostensible reason for visiting Cleopatra was because she had asked him to prepare some astrological predictions. He showed her the results, and the idea was that he would stab her as she read. But she only pretends to read, and it is obvious that she has something on her mind. She plays with him, as a cat would a mouse, and in the end makes him admit that he loves her, and to drink a toast – which is of course drugged. He awakes next morning in his own chamber in the palace, to see the corpse of Paulus on the floor, with Harmachis’ own dagger – that which he was to stab Cleopatra – in his heart. There is a note attached, saying something like "thus die all traitors". Cleopatra tells Harmachis that Paulus has betrayed the plot.
Harmachis is a prisoner in his own rooms. Cleopatra visits him regularly, deliberately entwining him into her snare. As he is told later by Charmion, she was afraid to have him killed, because of the strength of the party attached to him, so preferred to shame him and win him over.
The conspirators have all be captured – thanks to a list of them which Harmachis had in his robe. But Cleopatra promises to spare them – though again the reason is for fear of the strength of the party. Most end up in the desert mines. Sepa has disappeared.
Harmachis is taunted by Charmion – of whose role in the conspiracy Cleopatra is unaware. He knows that he is ruined, since rather than kill the usurper Cleopatra he has become her plaything and tool. However, Cleopatra suggests to him that she will marry him, and thus strengthen her hold on the throne, while making him king.
Meanwhile, Quintus Dellius, an envoy of Antony, arrives. He delivers a blunt summons to Cleopatra to come to Cilicia to answer charges of conspiring with enemies of Rome. Cleopatra tells Harmachis that she has no choice by to submit, because the treasury is empty and they cannot afford to wage war on Antony. She insinuates that if they had the money they could defy Antony, and the rest of the Romans.
Cleopatra knows that Harmachis, as High Priest of Isis, has the secret of the fabled secret treasury of the Pharaohs. He warns her that this can only be touched if the need of Egypt justifies it, for to touch the treasure for improper or insufficient reason would incur the curse of Pharaoh Menka-ra, eh who laid it up.
Cleopatra, Harmachis, and a small following, sail to the pyramids. The others wait at the Nile, while the first two, with a single eunuch, approach the pyramids. They enter the third pyramid through a secret doorway, whose clue is known to Harmachis. They pass three stone doors, which can only be opened by those knowing the location of the hidden locks. Finally they reach a pit, which they must be lowered into. The eunuch stays behind – because it is not lawful that he should enter there. The chamber at the bottom of the pit is the burial chamber of Menka-ra. There is an inscription left by a pharaoh hundreds of years earlier, saying that he had entered the tomb, but decided that his need was not sufficient to risk incurring the curse. Indeed, Harmachis tells Cleopatra that three pharaohs, to his knowledge (according to the secret archives of the High Priests), had sought the treasure, but taken it not.
They open the sarcophagus, and there lies the body of Menka-ra, already buried 3,000 years at this time. There is an inscription which relates how, being rich beyond is needs, he had thought to lay aside treasure against the future need of Egypt. To this end he had purchased from throughout the known world the most valuable emeralds – being the most portable treasure. But he warned that if anyone other than the Pharaoh took the treasure, or even if a pharaoh took it but without sufficient need, then they were accursed.
Cleopatra is somewhat frightened by the curse, but at the mention of emeralds her mind was made up. The jewels are hidden in Menka-ra body. They unwrap it, and Cleopatra plunges her knife into his chest. At this point they thought they heard a scream from the galleries above them, but proceed regardless. The body contains 148 large and flawless emeralds, and two huge pearls. They quickly gather these up and leave the tomb, having put Menka-ra’s body back in his coffin.
The eunuch is missing. They find his body further down the passage. He has evidently died of fright, and there is a huge bat hanging from his chin. Cleopatra and Harmachis flee past him, and out into the outer world. They return to Alexandria.
Harmachis now expects Cleopatra to publicly reject the summons of Antony, and to declare that she was to marry Harmachis. To his horror, she announces that she will travel to Cicilia to meet Antony, and says nothing about marriage. He subsequently learns that Charmion has persuaded her to this course of action, since she had intended doing as she promised Harmachis. But Charmion was too jealous to have welcomed Cleopatra marrying Harmachis, even though he would not marry her, to whom she was merely a friend.
At a private audience after the Court, Harmachis tries to rebuke Cleopatra, who then summons guards to arrest him. Although weaponless, Harmachis kills three of the four guards, and is this overpowered by Brennus, the Captain of the Guard, who hits him on the head. Charmion pleads for him to be spared, a does Brennus, who is impressed by his killing his men.
Harmachis is seriously ill, but is nursed by Charmion. He is now told that he will accompany Cleopatra to Tarsus, to see Antony. They make the journey in a large fleet of vessels. Cleopatra entertains on a lavish scale, in a palace set aside for her use. When Antony made some reference to the cost, Cleopatra dissolved one of the two pearl’s from Menka-ra’s treasure in s goblet of vinegar, and drank it. Harmachis, whose sole function is to attend the banquets and announce the hours – being an astrologer – is moved to embellish his announcement: "The hour falls – the hour of the coming of the curse of Menka-ra". Entertaining enemies of Egypt would hardly qualify as a worthy use of the secret treasure. Harmachis has – unwittingly – been implicit in the theft.
Charmion now warns Harmachis that Cleopatra has decided to have him strangled – indeed he has been taken to Tarsus to be quietly murdered (and because it wasn’t safe to leave him in Egypt). She arranges for him to escape to Egypt in the guise of a Syrian merchant. But before he goes she confesses that she herself had betrayed the conspiracy through jealousy, and so betrayed the cause to which she had been brought up, and broken the oath that cannot be broken. She asks him to kill her, which he declines to do on the grounds that there might still be a chance of vengeance against Cleopatra, and that she would be needed at court for this purpose, and because he too had broken his oath – by not killing Cleopatra, and by revealing to her the secret of the treasure of Menka-ra.
Harmachis passes the palace guards in disguise, though Brennus recognises him and allows him to pass because he is fond of him – indeed he had earlier suggested to Harmachis that he accompany him back to Rome, where he would like to see him marry his niece, and settle down.
The ship carrying Harmachis to Alexandria is caught in a storm. The sailors think Harmachis is a wizard, since he doesn’t fear the storm, and throw him overboard (but not before he prophesies that if they do they will drown). Sure enough, he climbs onto some driftwood and watches from relative safety while ship sinks.
He is washed ashore on Cyprus, where he assumes the identity of Olympus, an Egyptian traveller (since he saw the mountain shortly before the ship sank). His leg is badly broken, and he lives with the simple fishermen for some six months. But they fear him somewhat – as all do know – because of his aspect of detached calm.
Harmachis feels that he is being drawn back to Egypt, so leaves Cyprus in secret, taking passage as a sailor. He makes his way to Abouthis. The Temple of Sethi is disserted, weeds grow on the pavements. He enters the house of the High Priest, where is father, Amenemhat, is seated. He is blind, but knows that Harmachis has come – as he summoned him using the powers which remained to him as high priest.
Amenemhat tells Harmachis that Cleopatra has scattered the priests of Sethi, and forbidden the holding of services at the temple. He tells him that Sepa had died at the hands of the torturers, and that the vengeance of the gods had fallen upon him (Harmachis) because of his weakness. He dies, but before doing so calls upon Harmachis to revenge himself and the conspirators on Cleopatra, and that he has hidden the majority of his wealth as High Priest to aid him in this – the rest of the money having been seized by Cleopatra when she closed the temple.
Atoua, now 86 years old now arrives, the sole attendant on the High Priest. At first she doesn’t recognise Harmachis, so changed is he, and thinks he has murdered Amenemhat, but she is soon undeceived. Harmachis decides upon desperate measures, so uses the "word of fear" to summon Isis from the underworld. She appears in the Temple, but forebears to condemn him for betraying her trust. He asks her to kill him, but as she said, if he was tired on shame, humiliation and fears of this world, how would he endure the torments of the next. She however tells him that he will no longer see her, though she would be always present. She told him that there was the possibility of atonement, but warned him that the way would be hard. Isis also tells him to await the signal to slay Cleopatra.
After the funeral rites of Amenemhat were concluded – which Harmachis attended in secret, lest he be seized by the priests and condemned to what Atoua called the "death by the waxen cloth", Harmachis and Atoua leave for Thebes (Tape). They take up residence in the Valley of the Kings, in the tomb of Rameses III, where they live for 8 years. Harmachis spends his time meditating, and also acquires some fame as a physician and astrologer – under the name Olympus, for he dared not use his real name.
Cleopatra herself heard of the fame of the hermit, and sought counsel. This Harmachis readily gave, always counselling her, and Antony, to their loss. He then sees a vision of his father Amenemhat, who tells him "Arise, my son! The hour of vengeance is at hand!" The next day a messenger arrives from Cleopatra, asking in no uncertain terms for him to come. Harmachis, and the aged Atoua, travel to Alexandria.
Harmachis, in the guise of the astrologer Olympus, finds himself in a similar position to when he first arrived in Alexandria 9 years ago – though even Charmion doesn’t recognise him until he reveals himself to her. She is still the principle attendant on Cleopatra, and has patiently awaited his coming.
Antony and Cleopatra are besieged by Octavianus. The Egyptians are not overly keen to help Cleopatra, who they disliked as a Greek, and who had allied herself with the Romans. Under pretence of seeking troops from the nomes, Olympus secretly worked to have them fall away from Cleopatra (which he could do easily enough once he had revealed his status as a high priests – though to none did he reveal his name).
Antony stabs himself, after failing to persuade his servant to kill him. He makes a poor job of it, and Harmachis reveals himself to Antony before he expires.
Cleopatra asks Olympus/Harmachis to prepare a strong poison for her use – after trying out various poisons on half a dozen servants. As they await the arrival of the troops of Octavianus, which will be the signal for Cleopatra to take poison, she tells Olympus/Harmachis about the plot of 9 years ago.
Harmachis uses his powers to summon what appears to be his spirit to frighten Cleopatra. The serving woman Iras, a Greek, takes some of the poison to show Cleopatra that it will work – it finishes her quickly. But Harmachis/Olympus waters down Cleopatra’s dose, so that she is paralysed. He then reveals that he is Harmachis, whom all though long dead. He finishes with "the curse of Menka-ra hath fallen", and summons the spirits of the dead to carry Cleopatra’s spirit away. A huge bat, just like that from the pyramid, also comes – the spirit of Menka-ra. There is not an asp in sight.
Charmion and Harmachis, the only one’s now alive in the chamber, lay out Cleopatra on her couch. Charmion asks Harmachis if they follow by the same road – pointing to the poison – but he replies that he "flies to a heavier death". Charmion takes the (undiluted) poison.
He leaves the tomb where Cleopatra has been living, and finds Atoua. Once she knows that vengeance is complete she dies, having as she said only lived that it might be accomplished – she must have been 95.
Harmachis now travels swiftly to Abouthis, on a boat he had made ready, arriving in time for the annual gathering of all the High Priests from across Egypt. The worship in the Temple of Sethi has been restored – Charmion had persuaded Cleopatra to relent, though she didn’t restore the treasure she had taken.
Harmachis asks to be lead before the Council of High Priests, which they grant since he says he has news from Alexandria. He tells them Cleopatra is dead – at which news they are pleased – and says that it is at his hands. He reveals himself to be Harmachis. Some five of the High Priests present where present 11 years earlier when he was secretly crowned pharaoh. He tells them all that has happened, and asks that they confirm the doom which has fallen upon him. They do so, after having first asked "mindest thou of the doom of him who hath broke oath that may not be broke?" He didn’t mention Charmion’s role, and that he had been tricked by Cleopatra, which might have made a difference. He is lead away.
The story ends with him writing his memoirs as he waits in the prison cell atop a pylon of the temple – of which was hereditary high priest. He has waited some months, presumably so that the secret tomb may be made ready for him (it is in fact that of his father Amenemhat, as we learnt in the prologue). The manuscript ends as though he is interrupted by the entry of the priests come to carry him away to the tomb.
This is typical Haggard – a depiction of a debased court, secret deaths, conspiracy, palace coups, magic and some supernatural manifestations. Interestingly, there are no battles – at least none appear at first hand, so the death toll as described is small. Although there a quiet a few characters, the major players are Harmachis (who is of course the narrator), Cleopatra, and Charmion. Harmachis himself is weak, though not without some courage – he confronts the lion because he was taunted that he does have the courage to do so, although he had been ordered to not hunt. He falls for Cleopatra without realising it at first, and so doesn’t have the nerve to stab her. He is gullible enough to think that she will make good use of the treasure – indeed she was half-minded to do as he wanted.
Unlike "Pearl Maiden: A Tale of the Fall of Jerusalem", "Moon of Israel", etc, the historic events are merely the background – with is unusual given that they could have been fleshed out since they are much more fully documented that those of the earlier periods. Indeed, I’m not sure how historically accurate his account is. But it looks as though this was never intended to be anything more than secondary to the story of the pharaoh-to-be who was ensnared by the more astute and crafty Cleopatra, was betrayed by his jealous cousin and himself betrayed the gods of Egypt by failing in his assigned task. It is also interesting that, as usual, Haggard shows sympathy for Isis, if not for the gods of Egypt as a whole. Better than average.