The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-05-27
ON THE LIFE AND CHARACTER OF
CLEOPATRA.

CLEOPATRA.
ar MADAME La BAnoSNE DE srAEL HoLsrEIS.
Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was the
daughter of Ptolemy XII. (Auletes.) "y
her fathers will, she became, at the aye
Of seventeen. heiress to the throne, con-
Jointly with her brother Ptoemy XIII. to
whom, according to the Egyptian custom.
she was TO be married. Being older than
her brother, she thought herself entitled to
WELD the sceptre alone but the young
king. instgated by his courtiels, attempt
cd TO exclude Cleopatra from the throne (;
aud the princess was under the necessity
Of retiring to Syria, where she leged an
army to march against her brother A
bout this period Pompey was assassinated
hv order of ptolemy and Cesar, though
he had little cause to regret being deliver
ed from so powerful an adversary, conceiv.
ed the deepest hatred and contempt to
wards the Egyptian prince. Caesar pos
sessed virtues and passions, which frequent
iy carried him away even from the views
of his own interest and he succeeded III
his enterprises rather through genius than
calculation. ptolemy Auletes had ap-
pointed the Romsn people tutor to his
children. Cesar in his quality of dicta-
TOR, assumed the power of exercising eve
~ authority and declared himself the
arbter of the differences existing between
ptolemy and Cleopatra. The princess
anxously wished to despatch toA!exandrIa
some individual competent to take up her
defence but Caesar advised her to pro-
4 Al IL [ II dbl E..ap
ing lest she might be recognised on enter
ing the city, see requested Appolodorus
the friend in whom she reposed musi con
iidence, to wrap her up in carpet, ant
thus convey her unobseryed into Caesar
chamber. BY this bold stratagem she VOL
the heart of the conqueror.
According to Plutarch. Appin OF Alex
andra, and Dion Cassius, Cleopatra wa
aot strikinglv beau tiful but her talent ant
grace dihused so many charms over he
person, that it was impossible not to ad
mire her. She spoke several languages
possessed extensive general knowleng'
and, above all, exceled in the art OF peas
ing. Her oriental education had lmbue
her with taste for magniiicence, whic
subdued the imagination aud, from he
constant relations with Greece, she had al
quired the more potent charms OF N
language and seductons OF that natlo
Caesar was so enchanted with her, that, q
1he following day, be insisted that her or'
ther should divide the throne, aud becon
geconcilrd to her. The young prince Wa
astnnishel to learn that Cleopatra ha
visited the palace of Caesar, and we'll know
ing the means by which she had seduce
her Judge, he Immediately hastened to IL
city, declaring that he was betrayed. J.
thus excited an lnsurrection, winch Ce
sar was only enabled To quel!, by provln
TO the people that he had merely exec
led the will of Ptolemy. But the eunu'
Pothinus, whose plans were frustrated
.hs reconciliation, in concert with Ach
les, an Egyptian general, secretly advat
ed with a number of troops to surpr
Caesar, who was attended on y ny SIN
force. Though besieged III his palace, I
dictator defended himself until, by rece
ing a reinforcement from Syria, he dele
ed the Egyptians. This occas,oned
death OF Ptolemy, who, from the mortih'
sion of this defeat, drowned himself ID
Nile. Then Caesar was enabled to cro'
Cleopatra without opposition he plac
her on the throne, and having given her
marriage to her younger brother. who v
then only eleven years of age, he depart
though reuctanly, to subdre the rema
of pompey's party. Shortly ailerwa
CIeooatra was delivered of a son, VIII
she named Ceesarion. On her return
Rome tl6 years A. c. Caear received
+ together wlh her youthful husband, in
own palace hc classed them among
rsnd, of the Roman people, and pla
a.dsu statues ., Cleopatra beside .hos