The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-12-18

AYnV 80 brutlsn II the nature Oh sucu
rc-R1ullf9 slaves as the world treats the
fallen, with scorn. For TO come low after
being great is TO learn all shame. Un-
happy, therefore, are the great, for they
may fall
Iturned upon the slave with 30 fierce o
word that, cur like, he sprang behind me;
then Ipassed on 10 the Alabaster Hall, and
was admitted of the guards. In the cen
ter OF the hall. nigh 10 the fountain, sat
Cleopatra, and with her were Charmion
and the Greek girl Iras, and Merira and
other Of her waiting ladies'. "Go," she
said TO these, ~ would speak with my as
trologer." 30 they went, and left US face
10 face.
''Stand thou there she said, lifting her
face for the first time. "Come not neaI
me, Harmachis; / trust thee not. Per
chance thou hast found another dagger
Now, what hast thou 70 sayi By what right
didst thou dare TO break In upon my talk
with the Romanp
felt the blood rush through me like 0
storm, bitterness and burning anger tool
bold upon my heart. "What hast thou tc
say, Cleopatrai" answered boldly.
"Where is thy oath, sworn on the dead
heart OF Menlfa-ra, the ever-livingi Where
now thy challenge 10 this Roman Antonyl
Where thy oath that thou wouldst call me
husband in the face Of EgyptP And
choled and ceased.
'Well does IL become Harmachis, wiS
never was forsworn, 10 speak 10 me OF
ohthsm she said, in bitter mockery. Sand
yet, o thou most pure Priest Of Isis; and
yet, o thou most faithful friend, who never
didst betray thy friends; and yet, o thou
most steadfast, honorable and upright
man, who never didst barter thy birthright,
thy country and thy cause for the price Of
woman's passing love; by what token
knowest thou that my word is voidi'
"Thy taunts ! VIII not answer, Cleo
patra," l said, holding back my heart as
best might; 'tfor have earned them all,
though not from thee. By this token, then,
I know IT. Thou goest to visit Antony;
thou goest, as said that Roman knaye,
ttriclked In the best ATTIRE TO feast with
him whom thou shouldst give To vultures
for their feast. Perchance, for aught !
know, thou art about 10 squander those
treasures that thou hast hlched from the
body Of Menks-ra, those treasures stored
against the need Of Egypt, upon wanton
revels which shall complete the shame OF
Egypt By these things, then, know that
thou art forsworn, and /, who, loving thee,
believed thee, tricloed; and by this, also,
that thou who didst but yesternight swear
70 wed me, dost to-day cover me with
,taunts, and even before that Roman put me
70 on open shamein
ITO wed theei And did swear to wed
.theei Well, and what Is mafriagei Is II
tho union OF the heart, that bond beautiful
as gossamer and than gossamer more light,
which binds soul 70 soul as through the
dreamy night OF passion they float, q bond
70 be, perchance, melted in the dews Of
aawnl Or Il IL the iron link Of enforced,
unchanging union whereby II sinks the one
the other must be dragged beneath the sea
Of circumstances, there, Ike q punished
slave, 70 perish Of unavoidable corruption.
Marriages. W V marry ! 70 forget free
dom and court tho worst slavery Of our sex,
which, by tho selfish will Of man, tbs
stronger, doth stiil bind us 70 bod grown
hateful, and enforce q service that love
mayhap no longer hallowsi OF what use,
then, 70 DO a Queen, IL thereby may not
escape the evil Of the meanly borni Mark
thou, Harmachis; Woman being grown
hath two Ills 70 fear, death and marriage; (;
and OF these twain 10 marriage the more
vile; for In death we may find rest. but In
marriage, should II fail ne, we must find
hell. Nay, being above the breath Of COM
mon slandef that would blast those who Of
true viftna VIII not consent 70 stretch af-
fection's bonds. J love, Harmachis, but !
marry noti'' ag} s:l e1 ~
sand cstorniRht thou didst swear that