Love & Death of Cleopatra
(PART 4 OF 5)
Cleopatra was a language genius, wasn't she?
Yes, indeed.
But Greek and Roman historians wrote a lot of bad things about Cleopatra.
Like what?
For example, the Jewish historian Josephus wrote about Cleopatra in the first century AD as follows:
This greedy and ambitious queen killed her relatives in a cruel way, and if one of them survived, she turned her violent rage to other people.
So, do you think that I'm greedy and cruel woman?
No, not really. But I don't think Cleopatra was a 100%-flawless women, either.
You know, Kato, history is written by the winner.
Yeah, that's absolutely right. I know the winner sometimes wrote the history to his advantage.
The Greek and Roman historians described Antony and me as the indecent enemy---worse than necessary---of the fisrt Roman Emperor Augustus (Octavian) so that they could praise the performance of the winner.
Yes, I know.
But even the harsh critique, Dio Cassius (the Roman historian;circa 235 ー 150 AD), wrote about me as follows:
She was brilliant to look upon and to listen to,
with the power to subjugate every one,
even Julius Caesar, a love-sated man already past his prime.
She also possessed a most charming voice
and a knowledge of how to make herself agreeable to every one.
Her seductiveness, the ancients tell us, lay not only in her voice,
but in her vivacity and intelligence.
However, she also knew how to make the most of clothing, perfumes and jewels.
So, Dio Cassius actually praised you.
You're telling me, Kato.
But, Plutarch wrote, "Her actual beauty...was not in itself so remarkable that none could be compared with her, or that no one could see her without being struck by it."
Well, since nobody is perfect, no judgement is perfect. One could praise me, and another would disgrace me. But look at me, Kato. What do you think of me?
Listen, lady! Plutarch also wrote, "Cleopatra had the strange ability to attract people. The contact of her presence was irresistible, and the attraction of her person, joining with the charm of her conversation, and the character that attended all she said or did, was something bewitching. When she spoke, her grace in conversation, the sweetness and kindness of her nature, seasoned everything she said or did."
So, Kato, can you believe Plutarch?
Well, taking into consideration the education she received, I would say that Cleopatra attracted men not by her beauty, but rather by her character and intelligence.
I'm glad to hear that, Kato.
Look, lady! Tell me the most memorable words you said to a man you loved so much in the past?
I don't like to disclose that kind of secret, but you don't seem to believe that I'm the reborn Cleopatra. So, I'll tell you this. First of all, Antony was an obstacle and nuisance in the eyes of Augustus, who had told me that, if I would kill Antony, he would save my life.
Oh, really? But I hear that Cleopatra refused his offer. Is that right?
Yes, I refused it.
Home come...? Everybody thinks his or her life is the most important thing in this world. If I were you, I would have definitely killed Antony to live the rest of my life.
I remember that you wrote, "To live is to love."
How do you know?
I read the following articles:
■"Do you wanna love to live?"
『生きることって愛すること？』
(December 18, 2010)
■"I'm loving to live"
『生きることって愛することだよね』
(December 26, 2010)
Yes, yes..., I wrote the above two articles.
Do you still believe that to live is to love?
Yes, of course, I believe it.
That's why I've disclosed what Augustus told me.
Then, What happened between you and Anthony?
Antony might have known about Augustus's offer through the rumor.
But Cleopatra decisively rejected the offer of Augustus. Right?
Yes, I did. But Antony was an incredulous man---just like you, Kato. Hu, hu, hu...
So...?
I wanted Antony to know the truth in my heart---my real intention.
So what did you do?
A week later after Augustus's offer, I dressed myself to sit at the supper table.
To dine with Antony?
Yes, that's right. Saying "I'm thirsty", Antony took a glass of wine in hand. And to attract his attention, I talked about a well-trained pet lion.
So...?
Antony listened to me with a touch of interest. Then, I picked up a flower from my tiara and put it into Antony's glass.
Why...?
The flower was sprinkled with poison.
That is, Antony's wine got mixed up with poison. Is that it?
Yes, his wine was mixed with poison. When I was finished with the lion story, Antony was about to drink his wine.
So, did you watch Antony drink his wine?
No, of course not. I grabbed his glass from his hand.
How come...?
I told the lady-in-waiting, Charmion, to bring one of the prisoners in death row.
A prisoner in death row? Why...?
I handed his glass over to the prisoner and told the prisoner to drink it.
Then the prisoner must have died. Did he?
Yes, he died. The prisoner was to be killed sooner or later. Drinking wine, he sank into a happy death---better than thirsting himself to death, I suppose.
So...?
I told Antony. "If I could live without you, I wouldn't have grabbed the wine glass from your hand."
I see. So, Antony got to know your true heart, and he began to love you more than ever before? Is that it?
Hu, hu, hu,... Eventually, you seem to understand that I'm the reborn Cleopatra, don't you?
SOURCE:
"Cleopatra's most memorable words"
『クレオパトラの殺し文句』
(January 27, 2011)
(To be continued)