Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-02-04
Miscellany.
The Story 0f Cleopatra.


CLEOPATRA. the third daughter Of the
eleventh Ptolemy, Was born when Alex
andlia was at the height cf her magnli.
ceuce aud power, and had but one riva
III the worId-that rival was Rome.
From the time when the Ii st PIoiemy
(Ptolc,ny Suter) fixed his throne in the
city OF Alexandria, down to the birth oil
Cleopatra, Egypt had been increasing IN
wealth and power. and her capital had
become the temple Of learning, and one
Of the greatest commercial ports in the
known world. The Egyptian soverlgns,
especially the earlier Polemics, brought
all the treasures Of Greek literature tc
fill their splendid libraries, and seut mes
sengers over the world to buy, not only
copies, but the originals of every known
work. These monarcns filled the city
with Greek philosophers aud poets, aud
encourage atl the arts aud sciences.
Ptoieny Solor spared no pains to procure
the Scraphs Of Slnope, the protecting dcl-
~ of seamen; and when i famine con-
peIled the King of Siuope to part with
the idol, P'olemy built Il magnificent tenn
pie for it, reception, and AeXandria be-
came the queen OF maritime cities.
To Ptolcmy Phi'adelrhus the second
prince Of that line. Alexdria WAS iudebt
ed ioI her Pharos, one of the seven won
ders of the world, supposed to have heen
four hundred fec, high. He also obtained
for the museum some Of the most beauti-
tul transcripts Of historic works, includ-
ing he celebrated cvpy Of the Hebrew
Scriptures called the SertuaeInt.
But while Egypt and her capital pro-
gressed iu wealth and industry, the Greek
princes who ruled the kingdom ieII, one
by one, from their high estate, and I've.
came lost in degeneracy and deba,eruent
They lived aud r,Igned soi,ly for he
qualification OF their own sersnul desires,
and ended by becoming the most ahomj-
nabIe and detes'able tyran,s ahsnlu,"
monarchy ever protuced. These horrible
qualities cumuIatcd III the crson Of Pto-
lemy Auletes. the eleventh king Of :hat
race ; niau sunk III the lowest depths OF
'.runkeuess end dcbauchcry, who was dc.
Sp,ed by his subjects and detcstcd by bis
family. IAe.e was : doubt even as to
his title to The crown, as his birth on the
mothers side Was ignoble.
Afraid Of IL revolution. he sought to
get himself recognized by Rome as au
ally, feeling sure IN case of an outbreak
she would come TO his ASSISTANCE. He,
therefore, offered to pay Caesar the sum
Of six thousand ralents-equaI tn "a mil.
lien and half sterling; aud Caesar be.
ing pressed for money accepted his terms
Piolemy over reached himself: he un-
dertook to raise the money by taxing the
people. They revolted, and he fed for
his life to Rome. (B. q, 58.) lie left
behind i'm five children, the eldesi OF
whom, the Prlucess Bcr, nice, was eecl ed
sovereign by the A'exandriaps, aud in.
stautiy commenced reign Of great mag
nifcence and sp!endor.
First she married Seeucns, Prince o.
Syria; but not liking him, had hlm'stran
gled then she married Archclaus, Prince
Of Asia Minor, and commenced p,epara
tions TO resist her father should be at
tempt TO regain his crowa.
This Auleles wasnot long in dong. AT;
ter lengthy discussion in Rome, Pumpey
persuaded Gabnlus. the lieutenant who
commanded in Syria to undertake 10,
enterprise and Gabinus gave the com
,nand of the cavalry to the young anc
daring Mark Anthony.
Anthony was then about twenty-eigh
years of age, in the prime of early man
hood. He was Of manly form, extreml,
handsome. and had countencnce full o
noble dignity, He was supposed TO bC
descended from and resemble Hercules
and be favored the impress,en by tryin,
to initiate his atyle and dress.
Posses o. all the qualities that con
sttute the bravcst soldier reckless au,
daring to excess, yet cool and sagociou
when required his free manner and ex
travagani generosity made him genera
tavorite with his men The very difficul
~ and danger Of the enterprise Gabiniu
proposed to him was its greatest charm
He led his troops across The dreary am