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

mot endure tiIat one or tnelT CluLebS onou'"
marry foreigner. Some of Antony's let
ters are preserved, in which he speaks
LIGHTLY of his connection with Cleopatra,
hoping to conceal, by feigned Indifference
the power she really possessed over MN
At length the day arrived when that pow
er became manifest. namely, at the battle
of Actium, between Mark Antony and Oc-
tavius Caesar, when, to use the language
of Propertius, the forces Of the universe
contended against each other"
Cleopatra, accustomed to the luxurious
manners of the East, was unable to brave
the perils of war and though she stu
possessed sufficient energy to put perlod
to her existence, yet terror overcame her
in the scene Of conflict. She ordered her
vessel to be put ashore, and the SIXTY r.
gyntian galies of the fleet Immediately
sailed after her. On seeing this Antony
could not refrain from following her; he
went on board her vessel. but he was no
sooner there, than, overwhelmed with
shame and regret, he placed himself near
the helm, covered his face with HIS hands
and was three DAYS without addressing a
single word to her for whom he had sac
rifced all. However, on his arrival at
Alexandria, he again participated in all
the amusements which Cleopatra prepar-
ed for him. They and their friends were
termed the inimitnble band Of life; but
that title was soon changed tor Greek
term, signifving those ucho are resolred to
die altogether.
Cleopatra well knew the situation OF
Antony, and the increasing success OF DC
tavus banished all illusion with respect to
the future. Whilst, therefore, she was
passn. her life amidst festivities. and law
ishing on Mark Antony all the enjoyments
of luxury and the fine arts, she was making
experiments of the effect of various pol
sons on animals, and even on her slaves,
in order to ascertain which would occa-
sion death with the least pain. There
were, among the ancients, many instances
of this union of seriousness and trivolity,
which made them voluptuously enjoy ex-
istence whist they prepared for death.
As they had no hopes beyond the grave,
they exhausted the cup Of life without en-
deayoring to prepare, by meditation, Ter
the immortality of the soul. With Cleo
patra, coquetry was grand art, consist
ing of all the resources of policy, royal
magniicence, and poetic cultivation OF
mind. All the resolution she possessed
was Summoned in the dangers she encoun-
tered through her desire to please; she eX-
posed herself to love. as a man would to
lhe perls of war, and like an intrepid gen
n, 4 4 ult,t, ii
not favor her destiny. Some historians as
scrt, that Cleopatra was IN secret negotia-
tinn with Octavius, and that she betrayed
Antony. 1t is impossible TO imagine that
q woman who could entirely dispose OF IA
character so devoted as that OF Antony,
could wish to see him replaced by the sub
tie Octavius; though it is possible she
sought to bring about reconciliation with
the conqucror. 1t would have been more
noble to nave wished for none; but she
had children, and was anxious to preserve
the throne for them; besides, the charac.
ter of Cleopatra was personal, ard she rem
dered subservient to her ambition all the
gifts with which nature had endowed her.
II is well known from what motives she
first became attached to Julius Caesar. She
next gained to her interest Sextus Pompey,
who was for short time master of the
sea. She exerted every effort to please
Mark Antony, and, from his weakness she
obtained all. Had she found the same dis
positions in Octavus, it is probable she
would not have resolved to die by her own
hand. She conceived the gigantic enter.
prize of conveying her ships by land a
cross the Isthmus of SueZ to the Arabian
Cult, whence she might embark for India
some of her vessels reached the destined
point, but they were Immediately burnt b,
the hrabians.
Meanwhile Octavius advanced to Eeyp
by the way of Syria. Cleopatra built nea
the temple of Lis. at Alexandria,, a monu
ment, in which she concealed her treasure
aad which she intended should bccom
b her tomb. The Egyptian sovereigns wish
: ed to contend against death, by preparing
IN this world, an almost eternal asylum
for their ashes. When Antnny wa de
? feated in his last battle with Octaviu,, Gle
: ,pat,a inmurcd herselfin the ediiice whic
= ontaine'l all her riches. and circulated
Y C ort oil her death, in ordrr that tntony'
qe for her might no longer attach hin t
: fe. On hearing the fatal new, Anton
Z 5 abbed himself; but as he did not iinme
llaely expire, he had time TO learn tina
y ciauuatra atiIl Eyru and he orl,raI IA;