Part 94 (2/2)
I had not thought it possible that the silence could deepen, but it did Antony's hand was grasping rew slippery with sweat
”Stand, young Caesar,” commanded Antony ”Stand, and let your people see you and acknowledge you”
Slowly Caesarion stood up He had grown tall; he was over thirteen now, and his head was almost level with Antony's Antony had insisted he wear his best Ro why
Shyly he sesture to them They cheered warmly
”As son of Caesar, he is due honors from Rome But as a Ptolemy and eldest son of Queen Cleopatra, he rules as co-ruler of the land of Egypt and Cyprus and reigns as King of Kings, and overlord of the other territories to be henceforth bestowed”
Again that hush King of Kings was an ancient, honorific eastern title, borne by the Persians So Caesarion was to be both eastern and western ruler; he was to bind the torlds together after Antony and I had left the stage of life
”Next,” he said, ”I declare that Alexander Helios is King of Armenia, overlord of Media and of all territory east of the Euphrates as far as India”
King of Ar of a Roman province? Antony had not explained this Was it only a portion of Ar Alexander,” said Antony
The boy rose, wearing the costu There was a high royal tiara--the Persian croathed in a white turban, decorated with a peacock feather He wore baggy trousers and a jeweled cloak, which glittered in the sun, intensified by the beaten silver of the platforuards, also costumed, stepped up to make a frame around him The crowd cheered
”And Queen Cleopatra Selene,” said Antony, stepping over to where our daughter sat on her little throne, waiting ”You rule Cyrenaica and Crete Rise, please” She stood sole her one with it, a slender silver flower growing out of the silver ground Her bodyguard, dressed in Grecian soldiers' attire, carried silver shi+elds
”And King Ptolemy Philadelphos” Antony made his way to the tiny throne of the two-year-old boy, who sat looking apprehensive He had never seen so”You are to rule the middle Syrian territories, and Cilicia, and be overlord of Pontus, Galatia, and Cappadocia, ard from the Euphrates as far as the hellespont” Antony bent down and took his chubby hand ”Rise” He gently pulled the child up, so that everyone could see--as he stood there on wobbly feet--that he wore a royal Macedonian costuh boots To couard to serve hiypt--let us rejoice in this happy day! I have issued today a new coin end 'Queen of Kings and of Her Sons Who are Kings,' and end Armenia Conquered' May it serve to remind us of those achievements e behold it with our eyes, and may it serve to enrich us when it is in our purses!” With that, he hurled a handful of the shi+ny silver denarii denarii out into the croho roared and scrambled for them out into the croho roared and scrambled for them
When he sa that at last released the crohich had been subdued and confused--he quickly s of money to be opened and thrown to the people Now the shouts and cheering rose
”Always ht ”I think it is the great joy-giver, more than wine”
”Everyone loves money, while not everyone cares for wine,” I said I was as confused as the rest of the crowd It was all I could think of to say
There was, of course, a banquet and celebration in the palace i While the rest of the populace dispersed, those of our party were to be entertained extravagantly--as befitted a fas, queens, andas Antony? Obviously, if he had the power to create and appoint kings of kings, he must be above them, but It was all very ill-defined Did ”Autocrator” adequately describe this overarching authority?
In the huge hall, its red porphyry pillars twined with garlands, a light sprinkling of rose petals underfoot, long swaths of blue silk were strung between colu fro the air I put my arms proudly around the shoulders of Selene and Alexander
”You looked impressive today,” I told them I wondered how it felt to be proclaidom handed to you? I hoped it would not stifle them, make it so easy that in later life they could not face difficulties The cereave them a look Time to melt away; the play was over
”I suppose I'll like Cyrene,” said Selene ”Because it's right next to Egypt And I can stay there, and let the hed Selene sees clearly
”Yes, it's convenient to have a kingdom of your own,” I said
The silver dress becay Persian trousers He slid about aardly
Antony was carrying Philadelphos, letting the child peer over his shoulder The cap and diade over one eye Antony was turning around and around, and Philadelphos was squealing with delight
Antony's cloak flapped and flew out Suddenly he grasped its fastening, unhooked it, and threw it out over the crowd It flew a little way, like a purple bat
Plancus caught it, and cah I would keep this lorious day--yet I must return it I am no thief!” His broad, tanned face radiated sincerity
”No, keep it,” I said ”He who discards soo where it was thrown In this case, how fortunate that it fell into friendly hands!”
He looked as though I had bestowed a kingdom on him him It struck me as odd even then It struck me as odd even then
Marcus titius and Domitius Ahenobarbus, who had traveled here for the cere up the cloak like a trophy, and they purported to feel slighted
”This is a day for prizes for everyone,” I said ”I cannot give you kingdoms, but what of a city? Would you like a city named for you?”
They looked taken aback, Ahenobarbus especially As an old-style Republican, it was far from proper for him But I could see that the flattery of it appealed even to him titius, of course, was always ready to help himself to honors
”I shall rena theave up trying to suppress grins
”Your Majesty,” said titius, ”what can I say--besides offering rew even handsoer there a little overlong
”Madam”--a ticklish matter of names; Republican Ahenobarbus never called enerous” He bowed stiffly
The as flowing; I had ordered dozens of aly As for the banquet itself, it orthy of the iht poets Every delicacy from land, air, and sea was presented There were sea creatures, shellfish, boar, beef, even hippopotao; sweet s, dates; honey cakes, custard, and juices of poranate, mulberries, and cherries cooled with Thracian snoas most proud of the last; it was not easy to have a mound of snow preserved hundreds of ypt
At the presentation of each new course, the h hum, penetrated now and then by the sound of the lyres, lutes, and flutes from the musicians in the back of the hall The cooled juices, carried in on platters and embedded in the snow, elicited an uproar
Caesarion was lounging next to the Ros and Queen--nearby Hoell Caesarion seemed to fit in with them! How poised he was HowRoht theht they were unobserved
”Entertainan dee I had planned for dancers, as well as acrobats and so seldom seen--trainedworace, were too ta to this sophisticated--and drunken--audience The htened the creatures off I had only onein reserve: a troupe of Dionysian actors ere to enact a drama about Pluto and Persephone People always liked that, because it had entertaining elements like Hades (with smoke and fire), Cerberus (with his three heads; it was always impressive if they could each emit a bark), the boatman of the Styx, and of course the violence of Persephone's abduction There could also be decorations like flowers, chariots, falling leaves, and so on
If this failed to amuse or quiet them
For a fewstarted again Suddenly, Plancus lurched to his feet and ran out of the hall He must have eaten so much he was sick Romans did that, much to the disdain of Greeks and more sophisticated peoples
Then he reappeared--naked and painted blue Wearing a crown of reeds, he brandished a trident and wove his way over to the astonished actors ”Glaucus, the ot down on his hands and knees and I saith astonishment, that he had fastened a fishtail on hile it at the audience
Utter silence reigned; then the cohter This was evidently their idea of high huhter, and of course the children found it just to their level of taste But that a Roovernor of a province, should behave so
I would never understand Roht
I looked at Plancus with distaste And this hat thought itself fit to rule the world!