“Thanks to this toilet-table and the new compounds of Olympus in these boxes!  At that time, I tell you, I was fairly startled at the sight of my own face.  Trouble does not enhance beauty, and what condemnation the Romans had heaped on the woman who meddled with war, the craft of man!  I had answers for them, but I would not endure it longer.  I had previously determined to hold aloof from the battle on land; but even at the commencement of the conflict, spite of its favourable promise, I longed to leave Antony and return to the children.  They do not heed the colour of their mother’s hair, nor her wrinkles; and he, when he had looked for and called me in vain, would feel for the first time what he possessed in me, would miss me, and with the longing the old love would awaken with fresh ardour.  As soon as the fleet had gained the victory I would have the prow of my galley turned southward and, without a farewell, exclaiming only, ‘We will meet in Alexandria!’ set sail for Egypt.

“I summoned Alexas, who had remained with me, and ordered him to give me a signal as soon as the battle was decided in our favour.  I remained on deck.  Then I saw the ships of the foe describing a wide circle.  The nauarch told me that Agrippa was trying to surround us.  This roused a feeling of discomfort.  I began to repent having meddled with men’s work.

“Antony looked across at me from his galley.  I waved my hand to point out the peril, but instead of eagerly and lovingly answering the greeting, as of yore, he turned his back, and in a short time after the wildest uproar arose around me.  One ship became entangled with another, planks and poles shattered with a loud crash.  Shouts, the cries and moans of the combatants and the wounded, mingled with the thunder of the stones hurled by the catapults, and the sharp notes of the signals which sounded like calls for help.  Two soldiers, stricken by arrows, fell beside me.  It was horrible!  Yet my courage remained steadfast, even when a squadron—­it was commanded by Aruntius—­pressed upon the fleet.  I saw another line of galleys steering directly towards us, and a Roman vessel assailed by one of mine—­I had named her the Selene—­turn on her side and sink.  This pleased me and seemed like the first presage of victory.  I again ordered Alexas to have the ship’s prow turned as soon as the result of the battle was decided.  Ere I had ceased speaking, Jason, the steward—­you know him—­appeared with refreshments.  I took the beaker, but, ere I could raise it to my lips, he fell to the deck with a cloven skull, mingling his blood with the spilled juice of the grape.  My blood seemed fairly to freeze in my veins, and Alexas, trembling and deadly pale, asked, ‘Do you command us to quit the battle?’