s
worthy of her confidence.

"In fact," Gorgias continued, "he seemed in form and features one of the
noblest of his haughty race. He came commissioned by Octavianus, and is
said to be warmly devoted to the Caesar, and a well-disposed man. We have
also heard him mentioned as a poet and a brother-in-law of Maecenas. A
wealthy aristocrat, he is a generous patron of literature, and also holds
art and science in high esteem. Timagenes lauds his culture and noble
nature. Perhaps the historian was right; but where the object in question
is the state and its advantage, what we here regard as worthy of a free
man appears to be considered of little moment at the court of Octavianus.
The lord to whom he gives his services intrusted him with a difficult
task, and Proculejus doubtless considered it his duty to make every
effort to perform it--and yet----If I see aright, a day will come when he
will curse this, and the obedience with which he, a free man, aided
Caesar But listen.

"Erect and haughty in his splendid suit of armour, he knocked at the door
of the tomb. Cleopatra had regained consciousness and asked--she must
have known him in Rome--what he desired.

"He had come, he answered courteously, by the command of Octavianus, to
negotiate with her, and the Queen expressed her willingness to listen,
but refused to admit him into the mausoleum.

"So they talked with each other through the door. With dignified
composure, she asked to have the sons whom she had given to Antony--not
Caasarion--acknowledged as Kings of Egypt.

"Proculejus instantly promised to convey her wishes to Caesar, and gave
hopes of their fulfilment.

"While she was speaking of the children and their claims--she did not
mention her own future--the Roman questioned her about Mark Antony's
death, and then described the destruction of the dead man's army and
other matters of trivial importance. Proculejus did not look like a
babbler, but I felt a suspicion that he was intentionally trying to hold
the attention of the Queen. This proved to be his design; he had been
merely waiting for Cornelius Gallus, the commander of the fleet, of whom
you have heard. He, too, ranks among the chief men in Rome, and yet he
made himself the accomplice of Proculejus.

"The latter retired as soon as he had presented the new-comer to the
hapless woman.

"I remained at my post and now heard Gallus assure Cleopatra of his
master's sympathy. With the most bombastic exaggeratio