Then, with a shriek of pain and fury—­for those who smite love not that they be smitten—­he turned and sprang at me!  And all the people round gave back, save only the woman who could not rise, leaving us two in a ring as it were.  On he came with a rush, and, as he came, being now mad, I smote him with my clenched fist between the eyes, having nothing else with which to smite, and he staggered like an ox beneath the first blow of the priest’s axe.  Then the people shouted, for they love to see a fight, and the man was known to them as a gladiator victorious in the games.  Gathering up his strength, the knave came on with an oath, and, whirling his heavy staff on high, struck me in such a fashion that, had I not avoided the blow by nimbleness, I had surely been slain.  But, as it chanced, the staff hit upon the ground, and so heavily that it flew in fragments.  Thereon the multitude shouted again, and the great man, blind with fury, rushed at me to smite me down.  But with a cry I sprang straight at his throat—­for he was so heavy a man that I knew I could not hope to throw him by strength—­ay, and gripped it.  There I clung, though his fists battered me like bludgeons, driving my thumbs into his throat.  Round and round we turned, till at length he flung himself to the earth, trusting thus to shake me off.  But I held on fast as we rolled over and over on the ground, till at last he grew faint for want of breath.  Then I, being uppermost, drove my knee down upon his chest, and, as I believe, should thus have slain him in my rage had not my uncle, and others there gathered, fallen upon me and dragged me from him.

And meanwhile, though I know it not, the chariot in which the Queen sat, with elephants going before and lions led after it, had reached the spot, and had been halted because of the tumult.  I looked up, and thus torn, panting, my white garments stained with the blood that had rushed from the mouth and nostrils of the mighty Nubian, I for the first time saw Cleopatra face to face.  Her chariot was all of gold, and drawn by milk-white steeds.  She sat in it with two fair girls, clad in Greek attire, standing one on either side, fanning her with glittering fans.  On her head was the covering of Isis, the golden horns between which rested the moon’s round disk and the emblem of Osiris’ throne, with the uraeus twined around.  Beneath this covering was the vulture cap of gold, the blue enamelled wings and the vulture head with gemmy eyes, under which her long dark tresses flowed towards her feet.  About her rounded neck was a broad collar of gold studded with emeralds and coral.  Round her arms and wrists were bracelets of gold studded with emeralds and coral, and in one hand she held the holy cross of Life fashioned of crystal, and in the other the golden rod of royalty.  Her breast was bare, but under it was a garment that glistened like the scaly covering of a snake, everywhere sewn with gems.  Beneath this robe was a skirt of golden cloth, half hidden by a scarf of the broidered silk of Cos, falling in folds to the sandals that, fastened with great pearls, adorned her white and tiny feet.