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

1 E e,,,,..,. All with this, my TASK,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ASl setting down that
FL lI|RlHH IlA1I which IS permitted
Al 5e4H1g Nv as shortly as may
/ - be, and leaving much
III 3f II, untold. For Of this
E&z aE8 am I warned, that.
Doom draws on and
FL E2 ~ my days are well-nigh
(& ss sped. After the drawing
| \ forth of Antony from the
Timonium came that heavy
time of quiet which heralds the rising Of
the desert wind. Antony and Cleopatra
once again gave themselves up to luxury,
and night by night Toasted in splendor at
the palace. They sent ambassadors to
Caesar; but Caesar would have none of
them; and, this hope being gone, they
/ turned their minds to the defense Of Alex
andria. Men were gathered, ships were
built and q great force was made ready
| against the coming of Caesar.
And now, aided by Charmion, began my
last work Of hate and vengeance. Deep
wormed myself into the secrets OF the
palace, counseling all things for evil
babe Cleopatra keep Antony gay, lest he
should brood upon his SORROWS; and thus
she Slapped his strength and energy with
| draug hts-draughts that sank his soul in
dreams of happiness and power, leaving
him to wake to the heavier misery Soon,
without my healing medicine he could not
sleep, and thus, being ever at his side,
bound his weakened will to mine, till at last
| little would he do if said not cit is we'll"
! Cleopatra, also grown very superst,Jious,
| leaned much upon me; for prophesied
falsely to her in secret. Moreover, ] wove
| other webs. Great was my fame through
out Egypt, for during the long years that /
had dwelt in Tape it had spread through
| all the land. Therefore came many men OF
note to me, both for their health's sake and
| because it was known that had the ear of
Antony and the Queen; and, in these days
| Of doubt and trouble, fain were they to
! learn the truth. All these men worked
upon with doubtful words, sapping their
| loyalty; and many caused to fall away,
and vet none could hear an evil report OF
what had said. Moreover, Cleopatra sent
me to Memf, there to move the Priests and
| Governors that they should gather men in
Upper Egypt for the defense OF Alexandria.
| And went and spoke to the Priests with
| such double meaning and with so much
wisdom that they knew me to be one Of the
| initiated in the deeper mysteries. But how
| I, Olympus, the physician, came thus to
| be initiated none might say. And after-
ward they sought me secretly, and gave
them the holy sign of brotherhood, and
| Hereunder bade them not to ask who i
| might be, but send no aid to Cleopatra.
Rather, said, must they make peace with
| Caesar, for by Caesars grace only could the
| worship of the Gods endure in Khem. So,
| having taken counsel of the holy Apis, they
promised in public to give help to Cleopa-
ira, but in secret sent an embassyto Caesar.
Thus then it came to pass that but little
| aid did Egypt give to its hated Macedonian
| Queen. Thence from Memfi l came once
! more to Alexandria, and having made re-
port, continued my secret work. And, in
deed, the Alexandrians could not easily be
stirred, for, as they say in the market
| place, stThe ass looks at the burden and is
! blind to the MASTER" So long had Cleopa-
| ira oppressed them that the Roman was
| like a welcome friend.
! Thus the time passed on, and every night
| found Cleopatra with fewer friends than
! that which had gone before, for in evil days
| friends fly like swallows before the frost.
| Yet she would not give up Antony, whom
she loved; though to my knowledge did
Caesar, by his freedman, Thyreus, make
promise to her IT her dominions for herself
and for her children if she would but slave
Antony, or even betray him bound But
| hereunto woman's heart (for still she had
! a hearth would not consent, and, therefore,
| of necessity must we hold him to her, lest,
Antony escaping or being slain, Cleopatra
might ride out the storm and yet be Queen
| of Egypt And this grieved me, because
Antony, though weak, was still brave man
and great; and moreover, in my own heart
Tread the lesson Of his woes. For were we
not akin in wretchedness? Had not the
same woman robbed US of empire, friends
and honors But pity has 10 place in poll
tics, nor could it turn my feet from the path
of vengeance it was ordained that should
tread. Caesar drew nigh; Peluslum fell :
the end was at hand. twas Charmion who
brought the tidings to the Queen ead An
tony, as they slept in the heat of the day,
and with her came.
nAwake!" she cried. "Awakel This Is
no time for sleep! Seleucus hath surren-
dered Potassium unto Caesar, who marches
straight on Alexandrial''
With great oath Antony sprang up and
clutched Cleopatra by the arm.
"sThou hast betrayed me-by the Gods
swear it'll Now thou shalt pay the pricel"
And snatching up his sword he drew it.
| "Stay Jny mana, AntoHyF sue crleu.
cit is false-naught know Of thisP' And
she sprang upon him, and chung about his
neck, weeping. s'Naught know I, my Lord.
Take thou the wife Of Seleucus and his lit
| tie children, whom hold in guard, and
avenge myself. O, Antonyl Antonyl why
dost thou doubt me?''
Then Antony threw down his sword upon
the marble, and, casting himself upon the
couch, hid his face, and groaned in bitter
ness Of spirit:
But Charmion smiled, for she it was who
had sent secretly to Seleucus, her friend,
counseling him to surrender forthwith,
saying that at Alexandria would no fight be
made And that very night Cleopatra took
all her great store Of pearls and emeralds-
those that remained Of the treasure Of Men
karra-all her wealth Of gold, ebony, ivory
and cinnamon, treasure without price, and
placed it in the mausoleum Of granite,
which, after our Egyptian fashion, she had
| built upon the hill that is by the Temple OF
| the holy Isis. These riches she piled up
| upon bed Of fax, that when she fred IL
| ali might perish IN the flames and escape
the greed Of money loving Octavianus. And
in this tomb henceforth she slept, away
| from Antony; but in the day time still she
A. E