Cleopatra · Chapter
Of the Imprisonment of Harmachis; Of the Scorn of Charmion; Of the Setting Free of Harmachis; and of the Coming of Quintus Dellius explained
Harmachis is imprisoned for eleven days, visited by Cleopatra who seduces him with love and promises of power, making him her slave.
What happens
Harmachis is imprisoned for eleven days, visited by Cleopatra who seduces him with love and promises of power, making him her slave. He is freed by Cleopatra's command, but remains watched and shamed. Charmion scorns him for his betrayal. Quintus Dellius arrives as Antony's envoy, delivering a summons for Cleopatra to answer charges of aiding Cassius. Cleopatra defers her answer for ten days.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Betrayal
Cleopatra's seduction of Harmachis binds him in love even as she has betrayed his cause; Charmion's scorn highlights the personal betrayal.
Power and Corruption
Cleopatra uses her royal power to imprison, seduce, and manipulate Harmachis, corrupting his honor and will.
Honor and Shame
Harmachis feels deep shame for his fall and betrayal of his cause; Charmion's reproach underscores his loss of honor.
Characters to notice
- Harmachis
Imprisoned for eleven days, seduced by Cleopatra, freed but watched and shamed.
- Cleopatra
Visits Harmachis in prison, uses love and flattery to bind him, later frees him and receives Dellius.
- Charmion
Scorns Harmachis for his betrayal, reveals she did not betray the plot.
- Quintus Dellius
Arrives as Antony's envoy, delivers summons to Cleopatra, flatters her.
- Antony
Mentioned as the Triumvir who sent Dellius with a summons.
- Paulus
Mentioned as the one whose heart failed and betrayed the plot.
Key passages
“For a space of eleven days I was thus kept prisoned in my chamber; nor did I see anyone except the sentries at my doors, the slaves who in silence brought me food and drink, and Cleopatra’s self, who came continually.”
Harmachis was confined to his room for eleven days, seeing only guards, silent slaves, and Cleopatra, who visited him often.
Describes Harmachis's imprisonment and Cleopatra's frequent visits.
“And thus the very author of my shame became my all, my dearest dear, and I loved her with a strong love that grew and grew, till it seemed to swallow up the past and make the present a dream.”
The one who caused his disgrace became everything to him, and his love for her grew until it consumed his past and made the present feel unreal.
Harmachis reflects on his paradoxical love for Cleopatra, his betrayer.
“It is like a traitor to think that all are of his family, and hold a common mind! Nay, I betrayed thee not; it was that poor knave, Paulus, whose heart failed him at the last, and who is rightly served.”
Charmion retorts that only a traitor would suspect everyone of treachery, and reveals that Paulus was the one who confessed.
Charmion defends herself and blames Paulus for the plot's failure.
“The eyes of him who looks upon the fires of the midday sun are blind to all beside, and thus this sudden vision of thy glory, royal Egypt, overwhelmed my mind, and left me helpless and unwitting of all things else.”
Dellius claims that Cleopatra's beauty stunned him like the sun, making him forget everything else.
Dellius flatters Cleopatra with a poetic excuse for his delayed response.
