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

venus, III tne temple WHICH lie cIcCtCu "
the goddess of love. These honours .ave
offence to the Romans. The Queen Of
Egypt shortly after returned to her own
states, where, in order to become absolute
mistress of the kingdom, she administered
poison to Ptolemy, who had by that time,
attained his fourteenth year.
| When the death of Caesar gave rise to
new civil war in the Roman empire, Cleo
patra was accused of having aided Brutus
and Cassius and Mark Antony, then on
the point of departing for the Parthlan
war, ordered her to proceed to Cilcia to ex-
plain her conduct. 1t would appear that
Cleopatra on this occasion, devoted her at
tcntion more to the means of pleasing than
to her Justification. She embarked on
board sildcd vessel, fitted up with purple
sails. The queen herself, magnficently
dressed. reclined on a sofa near the stern,
surrounded bya group OF children, repre-
senting the Loves: her women, all remark
aoe for their beauty, were attlred as
Nereids, and stationed on different parts
of the deck. A concert of flutes and Tyres
male the air resounI with. enchanting
harmony whilst the most fragrant incense
was burned in vases of silver. Thus, as
Venus rose from the bottom of the ocean,
Cleopatra sailed up the Cydnus, to vstthe
conqueror of Asia.
The banks OF the river were lined by an
immense cOncourse of spectators, whom
the music, the perfumes, and the beauty OF
| the queen, filled with admiration. Cleopa-
ira landed at I'arsus amidst universal en-
thusasm. Antony, who was then sitting
| in Judgment at the tribunal, surrounded by
| his lctors, ordered Cleopatra to be con
Quoted before him but this the queen beg.
ged permission to decline. urging,in excuse {.
the fatigue she had encountered on her
journey at TIE same time requesting that
Antony would himself partake of ban
quet on board of her vessel. She enter
tained him with the utmost magnifience !;
and, when Antony in his turn invited her,
he made useless efforts to excel her IN
point of spendour. He was speedily Sc
duccd by her charms, and his passion tor
her was more violent than Caesars. for It
occasioned his ruin. What must ever be
subject of reproach to Cleopatra is, that
she emasculated the character of Antony.
Though she evinced greatness of mind un.
der some circumstances of her life, yet she
did not place her own glory in the reputa-
ton of the object of her choice she in
variably preferred herself to her lover
which, in woman, is always bad calcu-
Istion, as well as an unworthy sentiment.
Antony renounced. for the meanwhil, the
projected expedition against the Parthlans,
and followed her to Egypt, where they
spent the winter in continued series OF
entertainments. Conforming to the taste
of Mark Antony, the daughter of the
Ptolemise shared with him the most refined
pleasures, as the most ignobe amuse-
ments she accompanied him in his hunt
ing parties played at dice, and rode
through the streets with him to hear the
language of the populace of Alexandria,
who were celebrated for their talent Tor
rail|ery.
At length Antony was obliged to quit
Egypt; his disputes with Octavius called
him back to Italy, where the reconciliation
of the two rivals restored momentary
peace to the world and Antony married
Octavia, without ceasing to love Cleopatra
The events which succeeded prevented
him for several wears from visiting Egypt
=, but after his unfortunate expedition agains
: the Parthians, about so years A. G., II
! which be was on the point of experlencin.
3 the fate Of Crp-us, Cleopatra proceeded
D in quest of him to Phen'cia. where he hat
assembled the wreck Of his army, and tht
: two Lovers once more departed Tor Egypt
S Forgetting all his vows to 0ctavIs, all hi
) duty towards his wife. Antony again fell
T victim to intemperance aud the caprice
Cleonatra. Wishing TO entertain he- wit
), the spectacle Of a triumnh, and having b
:, some stratagem, taken prisoner Artabazu
y king of Armenia, he presented him ]
q chains before Cleopatra. On this occs
h sion he gave banquet to the R"man pe'
II pie in the Gymnasium, where he cause
: several thrones of gold to be erected, t"
e of which were elevated above the rest t'
n. Cleopatra and himself. He proclaime
N Casarion sovereign Of Egypt ard Cyprn
D. onjoirty with his mother: and dlsposil
'e of the kingdoms which he might alIerwart
Is conquer, he named the states which WEI
ID to be shared among the children he had
v The queen. AS Cleopatra took pride
ID protecting learning. he conveyed to Ale
lc andria the rich, library which Eumenes hi
lT llected at Pergamus, consisting # nea
e. Iv tmn huuLroI tbouvapd volumes