Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-04-03
FOR THE SPIRIT OF THE AGE.
CLEOPATRA.
BY DIR. ARCHIBALD A. MBRYDE.

T c merits Of this celebrated female seem
entirely deserving her highest praises. She
was of the royal race of the Ptolemies, and
the last of a line which had swayed the scep-
ire of Egypt for two hundred and ninety
four wears. In conjunction with her eldest
brother, Ptolemy XII, she came to the .hrone
in her seyenteeth year; but an instruction
soon after breaking out in the Egyptian cap
Mae1r d 4tsfsefeG H0f d Raes f~rofftffs,e sne re-
turned towards Egypt, with the design of re-
sumins her share in the government. But
she found herself opposed by the arms of
Ptolemy, and a civil war would have ensued
had not Julius Caesar happened at that very
moment to be present on the coast of Egypt
in his pursuit Of Pompey. An intrigue
followed. Cleopatra, now at the age Of twen-
ty INC her extraordinary personal attractions
at their height, artfully obtained an interview
nth the Roman general, by having herself
conveyed to his chamber in the form of a
large package of goods. The result was
most favorable to her interests. Caesar pro-
claimed her queen of Egypt; and she appears
to have enjoyed an undisturbed reign for the
SIX following years but this tranquility was,
at the close of that period, destroyed by the
Roman wars and during the mighty con-
test between the second Triumvirate and the
power of Brutus and Cassius, her course was
one of much hesitation, till after the decisive
battle of Philippi: when Mare Antony, in
order to afford her All opportunity to explain
her conduct, summoned her to attend him in
5 Cilicia. The meeting on the river Cydnus
/, was one of the most gorgeous and splendid
character and the effect upon Antony was
not only to %relinquish the aim of making her
kingdom tributary, but to lull to sleep his
ambition, in the end render his great COM
# petitor Octavius triumphant, and lose him
self the candidacy for the empire of the world.
Except the time spent in an expedition
g against the Parthians, Antony remained in
Ggyat, enslaved oy the charms Of Cleopatra,
# till his neglected fortunes attained their crl-
sis in the fatal battle of Actium, which is sup
: posed to have been decided by the treachery
. ofCleapatra, who was present on the occasion
: and in command of her own fleet. This &C
ton accomplished the irretrieyable ruin of
= Antony, who followed in disgrace his royal
y mistress back to her native Kingdom, and
there sough. to forget his misfortunes in the
Z yoluptuo1s Establishments of her society
But when Octavius advanced against his
y rival and the latter had been beaten under the
y walls of Alexandria, Cleopatra resolved upor
u the o~onauestof the invader by the same arts
AZ she had so successfully employed upon C8
NJ sar and Antony. Octayius, however, wa'
q proof against her plans and in order tt
have her grace his approaching triumph
sent Delabella to get possession OF her per
q son. But aware of the purposes OF the con
queror, the unfortunate queen shut herself
y with a few attendants and her treasures, IL
IN a sepulchre, where, after having received tn
IN last regards of Antony who had fallen OF
~ his own sword, she abandoned herself to tn
"A widest transports oil, grief; and essayed
end life by abstinence from food and o'he1
means, but was prevented by Augustus
81, At last, one of her attendants succeeded IL
conveying into her apartment, in a basket
u fruit. an asp, which she caused to infus
en' its poison into her arm, and that procure
III her wishes.
Such was the tragieal death, in her thirt,
u ninth year, of this dusky queen of Egypt
Besides almost fabulous personal beauty, til
~ Anciants unite in assembling to her q variet
u of accomplishments. She was said to be gite
s with,the ability of assuming any characte
and all characters became to her perfection
a. She was a proficient in music; and her i
IL eray attainments equailed the wonderf
qualities .ef her person. She was mistress
the principal languages of her time; cou
converse with Romans, Greeks, ETH
ing plans, Jews, Arabians, Syrians, Modes al
was Persians, without an interpreter. Her {
reer was the source Of a powerful infuen
ing .on the greatest empire of antiquity she h
aa,n menarchs for her lovers and her hand "
-ene, indeed, which " kings had Tipped Al
trezahed kissing"