“ Ah! Charmion! Charmion! thou hast much to answer, for thou hast changed the story of the world; and yet, even now—I would not have it otherwise!” She paused awhile, covering her eyes with her hand; and, looking, I saw great tears upon the cheek of Charmion. “And of this Harmachis,” I asked; “where is he now, O Queen?” “Where is he? In Amenti, forsooth—making his peace with Isis, perchance. At Tarsus I saw Antony, and loved him; and from that moment I loathed the sight of the Egyptian, and swore to make an end of him; for a lover done with should be a lover dead. ”
Charmion
Definition and stakes
The theme of “Charmion” has been addressed by authors such as H. Rider Haggard and Mrs. George de Horne Vaizey. It is often associated with terms like Charmian, queen, Harmachis, palace and woman.
Quotes about “Charmion”
“ Dear to thy heart are these heavy nights of watching; sweet to thy weary eyes is that sad sight of strength brought so low that it hangs upon thy weakness like a babe to its mother’s breast! For, Charmion, thou dost love this man who loves thee not, and now that he is helpless thou canst pour thy passion forth over the unanswering darkness of his soul, and cheat thyself with dreams of what yet might be.” “I love him not, as thou hast proof, O Queen! How can I love one who would have slain thee, who art as my heart’s sister? ”
H. Rider Haggard,
Cleopatra
(1889)
“ The man who could drag our Paulus through those gates by the eye, as it were, is not a man to play with. Paulus, too, who always goes the way you don't want him—backwards, like an ass—Paulus! Why, sirrah, thou needst must have a woman in one eye and a wine-cup in the other to draw our Paulus thus." At this moment the talk was broken, for Charmion herself came down the marble path, followed by an armed slave. She walked calm and carelessly, her hands folded behind her, and her eyes gazing at nothingness, as it were. But it was when Charmion thus looked upon nothing that she saw most. ”
