The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-12-21

+ that Caesar who. never errs except from
policy robbed Of their victor bays, and
crowned with shameful dusta'' s
"Ay," cried Charmion, s.there is yethcpe,
Il thou wilt but play the mani o my Lord!
come back with US !; come back to the loving
arms Of Cleopatral All night she lies npon
her golden bed, and fills the hollow dark
/, ness with her groans for sAntony = who, en-
amored now Of Grief, forgets his duty and
! his love'' y
81 come! comet Shame upon me, thatI
dared to doubt herl Slave, bring water,
and purple robe; not thus can be seen
Of Cleopatra. Even now / come"
In this fashion, then, did we draw Antony
back to Cleopatra, that the ruin OF the
twain might be made sure.
We led him up the Alabaster Hall and
| into Cleopatra's chamber, where she lay, her
cloudy hair about her face and breast, and
tears flowing from her deep eyes.
SO Egyptl'' he cried, "behold me at thy
teetp' IN
She sprang from the couch. ssAnd art
thou here, my love?" she murmured; "then
once again are all things well. Come near,
and in these arms forget thy sorrows and
turn my grief to Joy. Oh, Antony, while
love is left to us, still have we allv'
And she fell upon his breast and wildly
kissed him.
That same day Charmion came to me and
babe me prepare poison Of the most dead
~ power. And this at frstI would not do,
fearing that Cleopatra would Herewith
make an end Of Antony before the time.
But Charmion showed me that this was not
so, and showed to me also for what pur-
pose was the poison. Therefore sum-
moned Atoua, the skilled in simples, and
all that afternoon we labored at the deadly
work And when it was done, Charmion
came once more, bearing with her chaplet
of fresh roses that she babe me steep in the
poison.
This then did.
That night at the great feast Of Cleo
patra I sat nigh to Antony, who was at her
side, and wore the poisoned wreath. Now,
as the feast went on, fast flowed the wine,
till Antony and the Queen grew merry.
And she told him of her plans, and of how
even now her galleys were being drawn by
the canal that leads from Rubastis on the
Pelusiac branch of the Nile. to Clysma at
the head of the Bay of Hieraopolis. For it
was her design, should Caesar prove stub
born, to fly with Antony and her treasure
down the Arabian Gulf, where Cesar had
no fleet, and seek some new home in India,
whittier her foes might not follow. But,
indeed, this plan came to nothing, for the
Arabs of Petra burnt the galleys, melted
thereto by message sent by the Jews OF
Alexandria, who hated Cleopatra and were
hated Of her.
Now, when she had made an end of telling
him. the Queen called on him to drink q CUP
with her to the success of this new scheme,
bidding him, as she did SO, steep his wreath
- sr,f hn nd liza oh
more sweet. This, then, he did, and it be.
ing done, she pledged him. But when he
was about to pledge her back, she caught
his hand, crying ssHozd!' whereat he paused,
wondering.
Now, among the servants OF Cleopatra was
one Eudosius, steward; and this E1dosius,
seeing that the fortunes OF Cleopatra were
at an end, had laid a plan to fly that very
night to Caesar, as had done many Of his bet
tiers, taking with him all the treasures in
the palace that he could steal. But this de-
sign being discovered to Cleopatra, she de-
termined to be avenged upon Eudosius.
ssEudosius," she cried, for the man stood
near, srcome hither, thou faithful servant!
Seest thou this man, most noble Antony;
through all our troubles he hath chung tous
and been of comfort to us. Now, therefore.
he shall be- rewarded according to his de.
serts and the measure Of his faithfulness,
and that from thine own hand. Give him
thv golden cup Of wine, and let him drink a
pledge to our success: the cup shall be his
guerdon."
And still wondering, Antony gave it te
the man, who, stricken in his guilty mind:
took it. and stood trembling. But he drank
not.
ssDrink, thou slave, drinl5l' cried Cleo
patra, half rising from her seatand flashing
q fierce look on his white face. "BySerapis!
so surely as yet shall sit in the Capitol al
Rome, and thou dost thus fout the Lord
Antony, I'll have thee scourged to the
bones, and the red wine poured upon thy
open wounds to heal them! All at length
though drinkestl Why, what is it, good
Eudosius2 art sick2 Surely, then, must
this VINE be as the water of jealousy OF
those Jews, that hath power to slay the
false and strengthen the honest only. Co.:
some Of you, search this mans room; me
thinks he is a traitor!'
Meanwhile the man stood, his hands tx
his head. Presently he began to tremble:
and then fell, shrieking, to the ground
Anon he was on his feet again, clutching al
his bosom, as though to tear out the fire If
his heart. He staggered with ivid, twist
ed lace anu lOdluluS IpSs W WA010 SACC
patra lay watching him with slow ane
cruel smile.
ssAh, traitor! thou hast it now" she said
ssPrithee, is death sweeta''
ssThou wantonl" yelled the dying man
ssthou hast poisoned mel Thus mayst thot
also per1shP' and with one shrek he flung
himself upon her. She saw his purpose
and swift and supple as tiger sprang K
one side, so that he did but grasp her Roya
cloak, tearing it from its emerald clasp
Down he fell upon the ground, rolling ovel
and over insthe purple chiffon till presently
he lay still and dead, his tormented face
and frozen eyes peerine CHASTITY from it,
folds.
ssAh!'' said the Queen, with a hard laugh
ssthe slave died wondrous hard, and fair
would have drawn me with him. See, hi
hath borrowed my garment for pail ! TAXI
him away and bury him in his livery"
.What means Cleopatras' said Antony
IS the guards dragged the corpse away
s.the man drank Of my cup. What ts tht
purpose of this most sorry 1est2"
ssIt serves double end, noble Antony
This very night would that man have flet
to Octavianus, bearing Of our treasure will
him. Well, have lent him wings, for tn.
dead fly fasti Also this: thou didst feal
- .