Partly to throw light on a certain period, br partly to kill an hour or two, br last night I picked up and read br a volume of inscriptions about the Ptolemies. br The lavish praise and flattery are much the same br for each of them. All are brilliant, br glorious, mighty, benevolent; br everything they undertake is full of wisdom. br As for the women of their line, the Berenices and Cleopatras, br they too, all of them, are marvelous. br br When I'd verified the facts I wanted br I would have put the book away had not a brief br insignificant mention of King Kaisarion br suddenly caught my eye... br br And there you were with your indefinable charm. br Because we know br so little about you from history, br I could fashion you more freely in my mind. br I made you good-looking and sensitive. br My art gives your face br a dreamy, an appealing beauty. br And so completely did I imagine you br that late last night, br as my lamp went out—I let it go out on purpose— br it seemed you came into my room, br it seemed you stood there in front of me, looking just as you would have br in conquered Alexandria, br pale and weary, ideal in your grief, br still hoping they might take pity on you, br those scum who whispered: "Too many Caesars."br br Constantine P.