“Then began a period of sore suffering.  Her life was a perpetual battle against notorious intrigues, the worst of which owed their origin to her sister.  Arsinoe had surrounded herself with a court of her own, managed by the eunuch Ganymedes, an experienced commander, and at the same time a shrewd adviser, wholly devoted to her interest.  He understood how to bring her into close relations with Pothinus and other rulers of the state, and thus at last united all who possessed any power in the royal palace in an endeavour to thrust Cleopatra from the throne.  Pothinus, Theodotus, and Achillas hated her because she saw their failings and made them feel the superiority of her intellect.  Their combined efforts might have succeeded in overthrowing her before, had not the Alexandrians, headed by the Ephebi, over whom I still had some influence, stood by her so steadfastly.  Whoever could still be classed as a youth glowed with enthusiasm for her, and most of the Macedonian nobles in the body-guard would have gone to death for her sake, though she had forced them to gaze hopelessly up to her as if she were some unapproachable goddess.

“When her father died she was seventeen, but she knew how to resist oppressors and foes as if she were a man.  My sister, Charmian, whom she had appointed to a place in her service, loyally aided her.  At that time she was a beautiful and lovable girl, but the spell exerted by the Queen fettered her like chains and bonds.  She voluntarily resigned the love of a noble man—­he afterwards became your husband, Berenike—­in order not to leave her royal friend at a time when she so urgently needed her.  Since then my sister has shut her heart against love.  It belonged to Cleopatra.  She lives, thinks, cares for her alone.  She is fond of you, Barine, because your father was so dear to her.  Iras, whose name is so often associated with hers, is the daughter of my oldest sister, who was already married when the King entrusted the princesses to our father’s care.  She is thirteen years younger than Cleopatra, but her mistress holds the first place in her heart also.  Her father, the wealthy Krates, made every effort to keep her from entering the service of the Queen, but in vain.  A single conversation with this marvellous woman had bound her forever.

“But I must be brief.  You have doubtless heard how completely Cleopatra bewitched Pompey’s son during his visit to Alexandria.  She had not been so gracious to any man since her meeting with Antony, and it was not from affection, but to maintain the independence of her beloved native land.  At that time the father of Gnejus was the man who possessed the most power, and statecraft commanded her to win him through his son.  The young Roman also took his leave ‘full of her,’ as the Egyptians say.  This pleased her, but the visit greatly aided her foes.  There was no slander which was not disseminated against her.  The commanders of the body-guard, whom she had always treated as a haughty