River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1879-02-13
Cleopatra.
NNE CLAYBOURNE.,

Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, was one
of the most brilliant and beautiful WON
en- the world has ever known, but her
husband, Ptolemy Dionysius, who was
her own brother, deprived her of her
share of the kingdom and drove ner to
seek protection of the Romans. Caesar
was then emperor of Rome, and she used
her powers of fascination to win his favor,
and succeeded.
When CAESAR was assassinated, she W as
accused of having aSsented in the crime,
and was brought before Marc Antony for
trial. Although coming to judgment,
she came in the pride of beauty and an
ticipated triumph. Her galley was bur
ished With gold, its silken sails were
filled with odors, and the silver oars,
which were piled by the most beautiful
maidens of Egypt, moved to the sweet
sound ct music. The lovely Cleopatra,
arrayed in slight drapery, reclined under
a canopy on the deck, and appeared more
like the dream of some sculptor 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
yielded an unlimited power for good,
was ambitious, extravagant and un-
prlncipled After Caesars death, Antony
aspned to the head of the government,
but Octav{us Augustus, grand nephew of
Caesar, opposed him; battle was fought
for the sovereignty of the world at Actium
on the Mediterranean, west of Greece, at
II .yt. aF
vessels Just rs Antony was about TO
gain the victory, Cleopatra, with her sixty
ealleys, deserted him, and he, rashly
abandoning the conquest, followed her off
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 Antoays 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 mortality. bur lived long enough to
be carried into the presence of Cleopatra.
Here we find him in a magnificent apart
ment, it, walls OF purest alabaster, pol
ished like mirrors, and its columns of
gold, mos' delicatc!y ornamented
Through the open windows are seen the
dark, glossy leaves of the fig, the broad,
canopy of palms a hundred feet high,
raw 'ments If milk-white marble, cool
as snow, and beautiful fountains of
sparkling water
On a couch which glows with the pic
tured fabrics of Eastern looms lies Marc
Antony in almost superhuman majesty,
his 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 or affection
are all around perfumes literally sprnk-
led upon bis auburn locks, and garlands
Of freshest flowers upon his cold limbs.
Cleopatra sits beside him in speechess
woe, with fixed yet vacant gaze. Unlike
Der regard tor other heroes, she has loved
him for himself, and not for his fame or
power. Near them, on table of the
richest pofphyTy, negligently strewn with
instruments Of music, there stands PLAN
and common looking basket, filled with
The glossy leaves and fple fruit Of the
fig; they look very tempting, but there
is a slight rustlng sound, at times, ana
movement OF the leaves, not regular, as
ii shaken by the breeze, but heaving up
Mt intervals. as il some living thing was
lurking underneath, and on a close ex-
animation deadly asps are found crawl
ing among the fruit; these serpants Cleo
patra has applied TO her 'osom, and
very tiny spot of blood shows where the
poison has been injected into her veins.
Octavius, the successor of Casor, has
conquered, and she will not be his pris-
oner; her hero is dead, and she will fol
low him,
Octavoua comes himself, with all the
mobiles OF bis court, and ilattered her with
boneyed words, but she rejects his
,lemency with naughty scorn. He says;
we would have the beautiful Cleopatra
among our friends; she is queen of Egypt
itill."
''By the great gods, am! Nor Is it
IN the power Of all Rome TO make me
)therl Free was born and royal; free
will die and royal CnsaT, ! scorn your
nercies, as | defy your M .ccsl NV
ather lett me crown, and crowned will
90 to my faiherw
With this she flung her hand in defiance
owsrd tie victor, placed the antique
;r0wn Of the PtoIemies upon her rav9n
ocks, and stretching herself upon the
ouch By the side of Antony, closed her
yes, gave ono long, convulsive shudder,
I'D Cleopatra the beautiful was no more.
Egypt never since has knoNG 4 native
overeigp'