The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1871-05-05
CLEOPATRA.

OLhO1A i nA.
The following remarkable poem originall
appeared IN Biackgood. The vivid brilliancy ,
description aud the sensual richness of col,
which characterizes the frss half Of the poel
are very fascinating. while the power of amin.
passion IN the closing portions presents singr
lar psychological study. It is said to be by v
W. Story. the seulptor:.
Here, Charmion, talks my bracelets;
They bar with purple stain
Ny arms. Turn over my piilows-
They are hot where have tlin,
Open the lattice wider,
A cause on my bosom throw.
And let me inhale the odors
That over the garden dow.
I dreamed was With my Antony,
And in his arms lay;
Al, mel the vision has vanished
It's music has died away.
The flame and the perfume have pcrished-
As this spiced aromatic pastile
That wound the blue smoke Of ia odor
Is new but an ashy ha.
Scatter upon me rose leaves,
They eocl nae after my sleep,
And with sandal odors fan ma
Till into my veins thoy creep.
Reach down the lutte, and play me
a mslanchely tame,
To rhyme with q tune that has vanished,
And the slambeEing afternoon.
There, browsing IN golden sunlight,
Loiters the Low, smooth Nile,
Through slender paPyra, that cover
The sleeping crocodile;
The lotus lolls on the water.
And opens its heart of gold,
And over its broad leaf pavement
Never ripple IS rolled,
The twilight breeze Is too lazy
These festhery palms TO wa=e.
And yon little elaaa is as motioniess
As a stone above the grave.
Ab, mel this hfe,ess nature
oppresses my heart and brain.
Oh! for = storm aud thunder
For lightning and wild. serce reini
Fling down that lnte--I hats it /!
Take rather his b1ekler and swerd.
And slash them and clash them together,
Til this sleeping world Is stirred.
HaTk. to my Indian beauty
Ny eockatoo. creamy and white.
With roses under his ieathers-
That flashes across the light
Leok listen as backward ard forward
Ts his hoop of gold he elings.
How he trsmb.es. with crest upiifted.
And he shrieks as be nadly swings;
Oh, cockatoo, shrek for Antony.
Cry, "Come, my love, came homer
Shrek. '.Autony Antony Ahtoayw
TIL he hears you even in Rolne.
There leave me. .nd take from my chamber
That wretehed little gaelic,
With its bright, black eyes 50 meaningisss,
And its silly tinkiing bell
Take him-my nerves he vexes-
The thing without blood or brain,
Or, BY the body of Isiz,
I'll Erap his thin neck il twain!
Leave nae 10 gaze st the landscape
Mistily stretching away,
When the afternoons opeline tremora
Ger the mountains quiFering play;
Till the fercer splendOr Of sunset
Pours from the West its fire
And melted. as in crncible.
Their earthly forms expire:
And the bald, blear skull Of the desert
With glowing mountains Is crowned,
That burning like molten jewels,
Circle its temple rcurd.
I will lie and dream of the past time,
Eons Of thought away,
And through the jungle Of memory
Loosen ny fancy to play;
When smooth and velvet tiger,
Ribbed with yellow and black,
Supple and eushion-foated,
wandered, where never the track
OF human cTeatur8 had rustled
The silence of mighty woods,
And ferce IN 4 tyrauuOus freedom
knew but the law OF my mooss;
The elephant, irumpeting. started
When be heard my footsteps near,
And the spotted giraFes fed wildly
In yeii5H cloud of fear,
sucked in the noantide spiendor,
Quivering along the glade;
Or yGxning, painting, and dreaming,
Basked in the tamarisk shade,
Till heard my wild mate roaring,
As the shadows Of night came on,
To brood in the trees thick branches,
And the shadow ef sleep was gone.
Then re.sed ne and reared IN answer,
And nnzkeathed from my cushioned feet
Ny curving claws, AID stretched ne,
And wandered my mate 20 greet.
We toyed il the amber moonlight
Upon the warm, fat sand,
And struck at each other our massive erms:
How powerful be was, and grand!
His yellow eyes flashed fercely
AS he cronehcd and gazed at me,
And his auivering tail, like serpent,
THftShed, curYing neEyousiy.
Then like 3 storm, he seized me
With wild. triumphant cry
And we met, ms t8o clouds IN heaven,
When tue thunders b-fore them fly.
We grappled and struggled together,
For his love like his rage, WAS rude:
And his teeth in the swelling folds of my neel
At times. in cur play, drew blood.
Often another suitor-
For was dexile and fair
Fought for me in the moonlight,
While / lay erouehing there.
- - = II. 4