# VII: Of the Veiled Words of Charmion; Of the Passing of Harmachis Into the Presence of Cleopatra; and of the Overthrow of Harmachis explained — Cleopatra

> Chapter companion for Cleopatra by H. Rider Haggard.

## What happens

Harmachis prepares to assassinate Cleopatra, but Charmion, who loves him, warns him with veiled words. When Harmachis enters Cleopatra's chamber, she seduces him with a kiss and a drugged wine, then disarms him and reveals she knows of the plot. She spares his life, leaving him utterly defeated.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Betrayal

Charmion's unrequited love for Harmachis leads her to despair, while Cleopatra's seduction betrays Harmachis's plot and his loyalty to Egypt.

### Fate and Destiny

Charmion speaks of Fate in labour of a great event; Harmachis feels the night is heavy with doom, and the narrative marks the moment as changing history's course.

### Power and Corruption

Cleopatra's power corrupts Harmachis's resolve; she uses her beauty and wit to turn the tables, corrupting his mission and his honour.

## Character check-ins

### Harmachis

Sits alone with the dagger, resolves to kill Cleopatra, but is overcome by her seduction and drugged wine; his plot fails.

### Charmion

Pale and hollow-eyed, she speaks in riddles about dreams and fate, kisses Harmachis's hand, and later stands in anguish as he goes to Cleopatra.

### Cleopatra

Lies on a silken couch, seduces Harmachis with a kiss and drugged wine, then draws the dagger from his robe and spares him, laughing in triumph.

### Paulus

Mentioned as guarding the gates, well primed with wine.

### Sepa

Mentioned as lying hid without with his force.

## Key lines

> For the fantasies of dreams are wonderful, seeing that they have no stability, but vary like the vaporous edge of sunset clouds, building now this thing, and now that; being now dark and heavy, and now alight with splendour.

Dreams are unstable and changeable, like the shifting colors of sunset clouds, sometimes dark and sometimes bright.

_Charmion uses this metaphor to suggest that the events of the previous night might still be altered._

> Ay, that smile marks the moment when the stream of history changed its course. For had I never seen it on her face Octavianus had not bestridden the world, and Egypt had once more been free and great. And yet it was but a woman's smile!

That smile was the turning point of history; without it, Octavian would not have conquered the world, and Egypt would have been free again—yet it was only a woman's smile.

_The narrator reflects on the immense consequences of Charmion's despairing smile._

> I've won! she cried, shaking back her long hair. I've won, and for the stake of Egypt, why, 'twas a game worth playing!

She exclaimed that she had triumphed, and that the gamble for Egypt was worthwhile.

_Cleopatra's victory cry after disarming Harmachis._

## Links

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