Part 59 (2/2)
”Tell him that I do not wish to come ashore at Tarsus, and that thecitizens of the city, should be ht instead, aboard the shi+p”
More exchanges ensued The steward ca court today at the tribunal in the city square, and that he expected hed ”Heon the platform alone,” I said ”The entire city is down at the docks” I paused ”Repeat e was conveyed, and the boat roay, heading for the quay
”Now, my dear friend,” I said, ”ready the banquet!”
While the food was cooking, and the banquet cha prepared, the shi+p slowly made its way across the lake By the tiht had fallen and a deep, blue-purple haze enveloped us, deepened by theincense Torches were lit, and the unreality of the day gave way to the further unreality of the night
It was full dark before a couests were on their way A procession wound toward us, with soers A long trail of companions strea in excitee
They plank; I heard the heavy tread of their boots, detected the wood groaning froht Then the first of theate, followed by another staff officer, then an aide They filed on, staring every which way at the lights in the rigging and the costu to them in welcome More officers stepped on deck behind them
Where was he? Had Antony elected to stay ashore, to make a point? Caesar would have--or would he?
Just then he strode on deck and stood stock-still, staring athis cloak over one shoulder and approaching
He stopped in front ofon the couch
For a moment neither of us said a word He stared, expressionless, and I looked back
I wore a necklace of enormous pearls, and hidden under their strands lay the pendant, which I never took off Two of the largest pearls ever brought up by divers were dangling from my ears, and my hair curled in tendrils over my shoulders My feet, in eown, as I lay aslant, leaning on one elbow His eyes went fro back to ht throne,' ” he finally said
So he knew Sappho! Very well, then, I would quote Euripides ” 'I am Dionysus I am Bacchus I came to Greece, to Thebes, the first Greek city I have caused to shriek in ecstasy for me, the first whose women I've clothed in fawnskin and in whose hands I've placed my ivy spear, the thyrsus' Welco out his hands ”I seeh ”Gaius, go back to headquarters and get it for ht,” I said I held out my hand, and he reached down and took it and pulled me up to my feet ”Welco you” He shook his head and looked up at the rigging The constellations of lights, lowered on silk lines, floated like ic above him ”You have all the zodiac at once,” he said, in wonder He seemed a bit dazed
”You know our Alexandrian astronomers,” I said ”We feel at home with the stars”
”Yes, doubtless,” he said ”You know estured toward his ypt,” he said
”That is for estured to reet you, and welcoold goblets of wine around Antony took one and tasted its contents appreciatively His square fingers caressed the jeweled surface of the cup
”I a time”
”Three years, five months, and some ten days,” he said
I was taken aback He ry at my refusal to co; I was barely aware of the exact date of my departure from Rome
”Or h his hair ”I also seeht naked without it!” His smile faded ”I am pleased that you are here You look well The years have been kind to you”
If he only knew! I gave a wistful laugh
”No, I mean it,” he said
And how did he look? The deed hiood looks rehtened ”For that I thank you” I was finding it surprisingly difficult to talk to him The old banter had died between us ”I did not help Cassius,” I said, as we seemed mired in seriousness ”Youto Dolabella”
”Yes, I am aware of that”
”And you also know I did all withinshi+ps to you It cost ht add!”
”Yes, I know”
Why did he keep saying that? ”Then why did you charge , the reports conflicting I wanted you to explain what had actually happened After all, you ree point, and you have a better idea of ent on than we do”
”That is not what your letter said”
He threw up his hands, and just then an obliging server removed his e s before answering ”Forgiveof me”
This was too siht ere friends”
”Friends, yes, friends,” he repeated He took another drink, draining the cup It got replaced immediately
”Come, friend,” I said ”Let us seat ourselves at the banquet”
We descended to the banqueting cha, tables before them, ready for the feasters Antony would facecouch, in the place of honor
A server crowned hiht,” I said It made him look very unsoldierly
”Ah,” he said ”Noear a crown as well”
”Would you like to?”
He smiled ”I will not fall into that trap,” he said ”Words have a way of returning at inopportune times”
So he would, then Well, there was no one alive ould spurn a crown, if offered Except a few Republicans--but with the death of Brutus, they had lost their leader
”The battle of Philippi--I have offered innumerable thanks for it to the Gods Now I ht it about My eternal gratitude, Antony I can never repay you”
At once his ed, and I realized it was the first kind, personal thing I had said to hiht