Daily globe., 1879-02-09
Cleopatra.
NNE CLAYBOURNE.,

| London Society
Cleopatra.
| NNE CLAYBoURNE.,
| Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was one
Of the most brilliant and beautiful won
en- the world has ever known, but bel
husband, Ptolemy Dionvsius, who was
her own brother, deprived her of he1
share OF the kingdom and drove her tt
seek protection of the Romans. Cesa,
was then emperor of Rome, and she useo
her powers of fascination to win his favor
and succeeded.
When Caesar was assassinated, she was
accused of having assented in the crime
and was brought before Marc ANTONY fo1
trial. Although coming to Judgment,
she came in the pride of beauty and an
ticipated triumph. Her galley was bur-
ished with gold, its sillzen sails were
filed with odors, and the silver oars
which were piled by the most beautiful
maidens of Egypt, moved to the sweet
sounds of music. The lovely Cleopatra,
arrayed in slight drapery, reclined under
a canopy on the deck, and appeared more
like the dream Of some soul ptor or paint
er than like human being.
Marc Antony was charmed with her
person and talents and became her lover,
neglecting his wife. But this woman OF
splendid attractions, who could make
great men her slaves, and might have
welded an unlimited power for good,
was ambitious, extravagant and un.
pr1ncipled. After Caesars death, Antony
aspired to the head Of the government
but Octavius Augustus, grand nephew oi
Caesar, opposed him; a battle was fought
for the sovereignty Of the world at Actium
on the Mediterranean, west of Greece, at
which Cleopatra had sixty of her finest
vessels. Just as Antony was about tc
gain the victory, Cleopatra, with her sixty
galleys, deserted him, and he, rashly =
abandoning the conquest, followed her of
from the field Of action.
She caused herself to be reported dead,
upon hearing which Antony besought his
faithful friend and servant, Erous, to kill
him. Erous pretended to consent, but
when Antony's face was turned away, he
killed himself instead. Antony was SO
touched by this proof of his devotion
that he took the sword and wounded him
self mortaliy, but lived long enough tc
be carried into the presence of Cleopatra
Here we find him in magnificent apart
ment, its walls of purest alabaster, pol.
ished like mirrors, and its columns Of
gold, most delicateiy ornamented
Through the open windows are seen the
dark, glossy leaves of the fig, the broad
canopy of palms a hundred feet high
pavements Of milk-white marble, cool
as snow, and beautiful fountains of
sparkling water.
On couch which glows with the pic.
tured fabrics of Eastern looms lies Marc
Antony in almost superhuman majesty,
MS eyes closed, the curls parted from his
noble brow, but his face so natural that
but for the rigidity of limbs, one might
think he slept. Evidences of affection
are all around: perfumes literally sprink-
led upon his auburn locks, and garlands
Of freshest flowers upon his cold limbs.
Cleopatra sits beside him in speechless
woe, with fixed yet vacant gaze. Unlike
her regard for other heroes, she has loved
him for himself, and not for his fame or
power. Near them, on table of the
richest porphyry, negligently strewn with
instruments of music, there stands plain
and common looking basket, filled with
the glossy leaves and purple fruit Of the
tlg; they look very tempting, but there
is slight rustling sound, at times, and a
movement of the leaves, not regular, as
if shaken by the breeze, but heaving up
at intervals, as if some living thing was
lurking underneath, and on close ex-
animation, deadly asps are found crawl
ing among the fruit; these serpants Cleo
patra has applied to her bosom, and a
very tiny spot of blood shows where the
poison has been injected into her veins.
Octavlus, the successor Of Ctesor, has
conquered, and she will not be his pris-
orer; her hero is dead, and she will fol-
low him.
Octavous comes himself, with all the
mobiles of his court, and fattered her with
honeyed words, but she rejects his
clemencV with naughty scorn. He says
"We would have the beautiful Cleopatra
among our friends; she is queen of Egypt
s1ill.'
"By the great gods, am! Nor is it
In the power of all Rome to make me
other! Free was I born and royal; free
will die and royal! Caesar, I scorn your
mercies, as defy your menaces! NV
father left me a crown, and crowned will
I go to my father!''
With this she flung her hand in defiance
toward tie victor, placed the antique
crown of the Ptolemies upon her raven
locks, and stretching herself upon the
couch by the side OF Antony, closed her
eyes, gave one long, convulsive shudder,
and Cleopatra the beautiful was no more.
Egypt never since has known native