The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-12-07

me all old Egypt that rule doth homage
unto Antony the Triumvir, who shall be
Antony the Emperor and Khem's Imperial
Lord 81 Ss.
And he, having set the crown upon her
locks, stood gazing on her, grown passion
ate in the warm breath of her living beauty,
till at length he caught her by both hands,
and, drawing her to him, kissed her thrice,
saying:
cleopatra, I love thee, SweetlI love
thee as meier loved betorel''
She drew back from his embrace, smiling
softly; and as she did so the golden circlet
Of the sacred snakes fell, being but loosely
set upon her brow, and rolled away into the
darkness beyond the ring of light
Even in the bitter anguish Of my heart
saw the omen and knew its evil import. But
these twain took no note.
ssThou lowest me?' she said most sweetly,
show know that thou lowest me? Per-
chance tits Fulvia whom thou lovest-Ful-
via, thy welded wife2"
ssNay, tits not Fulvia; tits thee, Cleopatra,
and thee alone. Many women have looked
favorably upon me from my boyhood up,
but to never q one have I known such de-
sire as to thee, 0 thou Wonder OF the
World, like unto whom no woman ever
was! Canst thou love me, Cleopatra, and
to me be true-not for my place and power,
not for that which can give or can with
hold, not for the stern music OF my legions'
tramp, or for the light That flows from my
bright star of fortune; but for myself, for
the sake of Antony, the rough captain,
grown old in camps2 Az, for the sake of
Antony the reveler, the frail, the unfxed
of purpose, but who never yet did desert a
friend, or rob poor man, or take an enemy
unawares9 Say, canst thou love me. Egypt9
for if thou canst, why, I am more happy
than though tonight sat crowned in the
Capitol at Rome absolute Monarch Of the
Worldw
And ever as he spoke she gazed on him
with wonderful eyes, and in them shone q
light of truth and honesty such as was
strange to me.
.'Thou spsakest plainly she said, land
sweet are thy words unto mine ears
sweet would they be even were things
otherwise than they are, for what woman
would not love to see the worlds master at
her feet? But things being as they are,
why, Antony, what can be so sweet as thy
sweet words2 The smooth harbor Of his
rest to the storm tossed mariner-surely
that is sweet! The dream of heavens bliss
GQab' Cuc6CS Ouo pOOI 1oC0oAC pA40oV O1 hAo
path of sacrifices surely that is sweetl The
sight of Dawn, the rosy-fngered. coming in
his promise to glad the watching Earth
surely that is sweetl But ahl not one of
these, nor all dear, delightful things that
are, can match the honey-sweetness of thy
words to me, 0 Antony! For thou knowest
not-never canst thou know-how dfear
hath been my life and empty, since thus it
is ordained that in love only can woman
lose her solitude! and have a,euer loved
never might I love-till this happy night
Ay, take me in thy arms, and let US swear a
great oath of love-an oath that may not be
broken while life is in us u Behold Antony
now and for ever do VOW most strict
fidelity unto theel Now and forever am
thine, and thine alone!'
Then Charmion took me by the hand and
drew me thence.
.,Hast seen enough2'' she asked, when
once more we we're within the chamber and
the lamp was Lit.
"Yea," I answered; "my eyes are
opened"