The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-10-10

elephants going before and lions led after
it, had come even to the spot, and because
Of the tumult had been halted. looked up,
and thus torn, painting, my white garments
stained with the blood that had rushed
from the mouth and nostrils Of the mighty
Nubian, / for the frst time saw Cleopatra
face 70 face. Her chariot was oil Of gold,
and drawn BY milk-white stecds. Therein
she sat with two fair girls, clad in Greek
attire, standing one on either side tanning
her with glitterfng fans. There she sat 10
the splendid car. On her head was the COW
ering Of Isis, the golden horns between
which rested the moons round disk and the
emblem OF Osiris throne, with the ureus
twined around. Beneath the covering was
the vulture cap of gold, the blue cnameled
wings, and the vulture head with gemmy
eyes, under which her long, dark tresscs
flowed toward her feet. About her round
ed neck was broad collar OF gold studded
with emeralds and coral. Round her arms
and wrists were bracelets Of gold studded
with cmeralds and coral, and in one hand
she held the holy symbol Of life (crux ansa
tai fashioned Of crystal, and in the other
the golden rod Of ROYALTY. Her breast was
bare, but under was q garment that glis-
tened like the scaly covering of snake.
everywhere sewn with gems. Beneath this
robe was Skin. Of golden cloth. half hid by
a scarf Of the broidered silk OF Cos, falling
in folds even to the sandals that, fastened
with great pearls, adorned her white and
tiny feet.
All this discerncd at glance, as il
were. Then / looked upon the face-that
face which seducca Caesar, ruined Egypt
and was doomed to give Augustus the
scepter of the world. looked upon the
fawiess Grecian features, the rounded chin,
the full, rich lips. the chiseled nostrils and
the ears fashioned like delicate shells.
saw the forehead, low, broad and lovely, the
crispcd, dark hair falling in heavy waves
that sparkled in the sun, the arched eye
brows and the long bent lashes. There be-
fore me was the grandeur of her imperial
shape. There burnt the wonderful eyes,
hued like the Cyprian vlolct-eyes that
seemed to sleep and brood on secret things
the night to shift, change and be illumincd
BY CLEANS Of sudden splendor born within
their starry depths All those wonders
saw though / have small skill In telling
them. But even then knew that it was
not in these charms alone that the
might Of Cleopatra's beauty lay. Ratn-
er was 1t in glory and q radi-
ance cast through the feshy covering
from the fierce soul within. For she was
Thing Of flame like unto which no woman
hath ever been nor ever will be. Even when
she brooded, the fire Of her quick heart
shone through her. Bot when she woke,
and the lightning leapt suddenly from her
eyes, and the passion-laden music or her
speech chimed upon her lips, ali then who
can tell how Cleopatra seemed? For in her
met all the spl endors that have been gwen
to woman for her glory. and all the genius
with them dwelt every evil OF that greater
sort which fearing nothing and making
mock of laws, hath taken empires for its
place Of play, and, smiling. wstered the
growth OF its desires with the Sich blood
Of men. In her breast they gathered, to
gcther fashioning that Cleopatra whom nc
man may draw, and yet whom no man, hav.
ing seen. ever can forget. They fashioned
her grand as the Spirit OF Storm. lovely a.
Lightning, cruel as Pestilence, yet with
heart; and what she did is known. Woe tt
the world when such another comes TO curse
1t!
For moment met Ciecpatra's eyes as
she idly bent herself to find the tumult's
cause. At first they were somber and dark. as
though they saw. indeed, but the brain read
nAught Then they awoke, and their very
Of the sea changes when the water is
shaken. First, there was anger written in
them; next, an IDLE noting; then when she