The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1867-05-02
TIE Death Of Cleopatra.
FROM ABBOTT's ITALY.

one OF the mOSJ conspicuous oIllsluleutS
of the triumph. Conscious OF the deg
radiation which awaited her, she watch
ed for an opportunity to commit sui
eide. Octavlus with almost equal lnte-
rest 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 all her ac-
customed luXuries and all her wants
We're abundantly supplied.
Octavius INDUCED himself with a tri-
umphal entrance into Alexandria,, en-
deavoring by humanity and condescen-
sion TO secure the favor OF the people.
Yet cruelty it would seem, he caused
the eldest son of Antony, and also Ces-
ario, Cleopatra's son by julius Caesar,
to be put to death. Fearing nothing
from amy OF the other children OF Cleo
patra, he treated then all as princes,
provided them with teachers, that they
might receive an education suitable to
their rank.
At length Octavius visited Cleopa-
ira in person. She received him artlS-
tically languishing upon a couch, Graped
in gauZe-iike robes which scarcely con-
cea. ed her voluptuous beauty; for though
the freshness OF youth had departed,
she was still woman OF rare loneliness.
No one knew better than Cleopatra how
to magnify her charms, by tones OF soft
ness and that artlessness OF manner
which is the highest achievement ofart.
Her beautiful eyes We're filled with
tears, her cheeks flushed with emotion,
and rising from her couch, she fell hall
tainting, PROSTATE at the feet OF Octavi-
us.
The young conqueror lifted the exquis-
itely moulded, dropping form and
porting her against his own bosom. A
queen whose renown filled the world,
beautiful, graceful, plant, had thrown
herself into 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 facile divorce, the way might have
been made easy for Cleopatra to share
the throne of universal empire with De-
tavius. But as the circumstances We're,
ambition proved more powerful than
love.
Cleopatra exhausted all her magazines
of art-tears, smiles reproaches, blan-
dishments, f1attery, suppilcatlons, to
win Octavius, but in vain. He treated
her with pelIteness, but his heart remain
edobdurate. The queen took from her
bosom some letters, full Of tenderness,
from Julius Caesar, and with y tremh-
ling voice and falling Tears read them
to Oetavius.
But of what avail to me now, she
said, is all this kindness: Why did I
not die with him? And yet in Octay-
Jus / see another julius. You are his
perfect image. He seems to have re-
turned from the spirit land in you.
Al was in vain. After a long inter
view Octavius left and Cleopatra retlec-
ted in despair that for the first time her
charms had failed. She had surrender
ed herself to Octavius and he has cold
she do? Nothing. There now remain
ed for her but to die, or to be carried to
Rome to grace the triumph OF her con-
qGeror. There was q young Roman in
the camp by the name Of Diollabella.
He was much affected with the queens
grief and she with Il woman's tact, had
thrown around him all the meshes OF
her wiles. Diollabella kept her Inform
| ed OF all chat was TRANSPORTING. 0ne day
he 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
singular calmness and fortitude, Cleopa-
ira prepared to die. After taking bath
she attired herself in her most sumptu-
Gus robes and sat down with her friends
to truly legal feast. Apparently ban
ishing all the care the festive hours
passed rapidly away. ~ lie close Of
The feast she dismissed all her attend
ants but TWO. she tllen wrote a note 20
Octavius informing him OF her inten-
ton to die, and requesting that her
body might be barred in the tomb with
| That Of Antony.
She had oonlrived 10 have brought 80
her in a basket oi tlowes, an asp, a rep-
tile the concentrated venom OF whose
bite causes inevitable death, yet with
little or no pain. She dispatched the
letter to Octavius, and Immediately
placed the reptile upon her arm. The
poisonous fangs pierced her iiesh, stu
por and insensibility soon ensued, and
She sank back upon ercouch and died.
Octavius Immediately upon receiving
the letter from Cleopatra, dispatched
messengers 10 prevent the fatal deed.
But they arrived too late. Upon enter
ing the chamber they found Cleopatra
already dead, still arrayed in her royal
robes. Her two waiting women were
at her side. One Of the messengers ut