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