Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-03-06
me lao Uour. 81 TeyVgs oueer.

Il INV AAaA MnuEN 81 MhNNEN ANNNna
From Abbotts Italy w take this sketch
Of the death Of Cleopatra;
Octayius, now undfsputed master OF th.
world, was dreaming Of the splendid triumph
which awaited him in ROues and the pies
ence of Cleopatra, the renowned Queen Of
Egypt, to lead in the train Of the captives
would be one of the most conspicuous orna.
ments OF the triumph. Conscious Of the
degradation which awaited her, she watcheI
for an opportunity to commit suicide. Oc-
tavtus with almost equal interest guarded
his captive, that she might not thus escape
him. Her letters were truly those Of silk
and gold, for she was treated with the most
profound Difference, surrounded with an her
accustomed Injuries, and all her wants wsre
abundantly supplied.
Octavius INDUCED himself with a tr-
umphal entrance into Alexandria, endeay-
oring by humanity and condescenaion to
secure the favor of the people. Yet cruelty,
1t would seem, he caused the eldest son OF
Anthony, and also C9saria, Cleopatra's SON
by Julius Caesar to be put to death. Fearing
nothing from any of the other children Of
Cleopatra, he treated them all as princes,
provided them with teachers, that they
might receive an education suitable to their
rank.
AT length 0ctaYius visited Cleopatra in
person. She received him artistically Lam
gushing upon a couch, draped in gauge
like robes which scarcely concealed her vol
uptuous beauty for though the freshness of
youth had departed, she Eas still a woman
of rare loveliness. No one knew better than
Cleopatra how to magnify her charms. by
tones of s~oftness, and that artlessness Of
manner which is the highest achievement of
art. Her beautiful eyes were filed with
tears, her cheek flushed with emotion. and
rising from her couch she fell, half f%aintinp.
PROSTATE at the feet of Octavius.
The young conqueror lifted the exdui-
sitely nodded, dropping form and placed
her on the couch by his side, supporting her
against bis own bosom. A Queen whose
renOwn filed the world, beautiful, graceful.
plant, had thrown herself in his arms. How
could he treat her cruelty. Had Cleopatra
been nineteen instead Of thirty-nine, the de-
cision might have been different, and. by
taclle divorce, the way might have been
made easy for Cleopatra to share the throne
with Octavips. But as the circumstances
were, ambition proved more powerful than
love. Cleopatra exhausted all her mag
azines of art-tears, smiles reproaches,
Establishments, fattery, applications, to win
Octavius, but in vain. He treated her with
politeness, but his heart remained obdurate.
The Queen took from her bosom some letters
full Of tenderness, from Julius Cesar. and
with a trembling voice and falling tears
read them TO Octavius.
but of what avail to me now" she said.
sis all this kindness2 Why did | not die
with him2 And yet in 0ctavius | see an
other Julius. You are his perfect image.
be seems to have returned from the spirit
land in you"
All wa in vain. After a long interview
Octavius left, and Cleopatra reflected in de-
spair that for the first time her charms had
rallied her. She had surrendered herself to
OctaVius and he had coldly laid her aside.
What more could she do2 Nothing. There
now remained for her but to die, or to be
carried to Rome to grace the triumph OF her
conqueror.
There was a young Roman in the camp by
the name of Dolabells. He was much af-
fected with the queens grief and she, with
woman's tact had thrown him around all the
mesh es Of her wiles. Dolabella knew and in
formed her of all that was Transporting. One
day be brought to her couch the tidings, that
in three days she and her children were to be
sent to Rome.
The crisis had now come, and, with sin.
gular calmness and fortitude, Cleopatra pre-
pared to die. After taking a bath, she at
tired herself in her most sumptuous robes,
and sat down with her friends TO a truly re-
gal feast. Apparently banishing all care,
The festive bours passed rapidly away, At
the close OF the feast she dismissed ali her
attendants but two.
She then wrote a note to 0ctavius, inform
ing him of her intention to die, and re-
quested that her body might be buried in the
tomb with that of Antony. She had con-
triyed to have brought to her, in a basket
OF flowers, an asp, a reptile the concentrated
venom of whose bite causes inevitable death
and yet with but little pain. She dispatched
the letter to Octavius, and Immediately
placed the reptile upon her arm. The poi
sobous faDgs pierced her flesh, stupor and
insensibility soon epsued, and she sank back
upon her couch and died.
Octavius, Immediately upon receiving the
letter from Cleopatra, dispatched messengers
hoping to prevent the fatal deed. But they
arrived too late. Upon entering the cham
Der they found Cleopatra already dead, still
arrayed in her royal robes. Her two wait
ing women were at her side. One of the
messengers uttered words of reproach, but
the maid of honor replied
1T is we'll done. Such a death becomes a
glorious queen, descended from a race of il
lustlious ancestors"