The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1824-05-27

thi. situation she was visited by Octavius;
she was stretched on a couch, the bloom
hnd forsaken her cheeks, and Her lips were
pslit and trembling. On befoldlng the
sovereign Of the world she recollecieu the
great Cesar, who was enslaved by her
charms. whilst her presence revived the
same recollection in the mind Of his sue
cessor.
There are some women in whom the
desire of pleasing outlives every other pas
sion. 1t is probable that Cleopatra wished
to captivate Octavius, Notwithstanding her
regret for the loss of Antony. She was
woman neither entirely sincere nor entire
" artful; mixture of tenderness and
vanity gave her a two-told character, Ike
all who are powerfully agltated by the pas
sions of life. Be this as it may, the charms
Of Cleopatra made no impression on oc-
tavius; there was nothing OF an involun-
tary nature in his mind. and he maintain
ed by prudence what Caesar had acquired
by enterprise. Octavius spent some time
in conversation with Cleopatra; but mel
ther her entreaties nor her grace could a.
vert the cruel designs he had formed "a
gainst her. lie. however, sought to dis
guise them; and she, on her part. careful
" concealed her resolution of dying; 1t Is
therefore impossible that they could be
pleasing to each other, since they were mu-
tually practising deceit.
Cleopatra, being Informed that Octavus
intended to carry her away with him in
c,,,, Il xe roouae fol n,roi ,inn IN ak % a
last farewell of the remains of Antony.
She threw herself on his tomb, and press
ing to her bosom the stone which covered
his ashes, she uttered the following words,
which are preserved by Plutarch--" Alas !!
my dearest Antony, once performed your
funeral honors with free hands, but now |
am a prisoner; satellites watch over me
and prevent me from dying, in order that
this captive form may be exhibited in the
triumpha procession which Octavus has
prepared to celebrate your defeat; hence
forth hope for no funeral honors. these are
the last that Cleopatra can bestow. Whilst
we 10th lived nothing on earth had pow
er to separate US; but after death We are
in danger of making sad exchange OF Sc.
pu.chres. You, who are Roman citizen,
have found grave in Alexandria whilst
|, unhappy queen, must find one 10 yonr
country. But if the gods of your nation
have not forsaken YOU as mine have done,
let me find an asylum in your tomb, that |
may thus escape the disgrace which is pre-
pared for me. Oh receive me, dearest
Antony. for Of all the misior;unes have
endured, the greatest is separation from
you" Her prayer was heard. She OBJ.
tanned permission to have some flowers
conveyed to her. among which an asp was
concealed, and the sting of the reptile at
once freed her from life and the outrage
Which the pride of Octavius had prepared
for her. Her women, Ira and Charmion,
stabbed themselves and died with her. A.
mong the anccnts. an illustrious individ-
ual seldom expired alone the attachment
of servants towards their masters threw a
lustre over slavery. by giving it the char
acter of devotedness. Cleopatra died al
the age Of thirty-nine, having regned o.
years, and IA with Antony. Octavu:
caused an image Of Cleopatra, with an asI
on her arm, to be carried in his triumph
but he allowed her to be inferred with An
tony, and perhaps this act of delicate pie
~ appeased the names OF his unfortunate
enemies.