Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1889-12-22


spoke to them, staining bareheaded in
their midst, beneath the radiance of the
moon. And thus he most nobly spoke:
Friends and companions in arms who
vet cling to me, and whom many time l
have led to victory, hearken to me now
who, tomorrow, may lie in the dumb
dust, disempired and dishonored. This is
our design; no longer will We hang on
poised wings above the flood of war, but
will straightway plunge, perchance thence
to snatch the victor's diadem, or, failing
there, to drown. Be now Tut true TO me,
and to your honor's sake, and still may
you sit, the most proud Of men, at my right
hand in the Capitol OF Rome Fail me
now, and lost is the cause of Antony and
lost are ye. Hazardous indeed must be to-
mOrroW's battle, but many time have we
stood and faced fisrcer peril and ere the
sun had SUNK once more have driven armies
like desert sands before our gale of vslor
and counted the spOils of hostile Kings.
What have we to fesI? Though allies be
fled, still is our array as strong as Ce lsT's!
And show me but as high heart, why,
swear to you, upon 10y princely word, to-
morrow night shall deck yonder Canopic
Gate with the heads of Octavian and his cap
tains Ay, cheer, and cheer again l love
that martial music which swells not as
from the different lips of clarions, r ow
meath the breath Of Antony and now OF
Cse ar, but rather out the hearts of honest
men who love ne. Yet-snd now I will
speak low, as we do speak Ger the bier
of some beloved dead-yet, if Fortune
should rise against me aud if, borne down
by the weight of arms, Antony, the soldier,
dies soldiers death, leaving you 10
mourn him who ever was your friend, this
is my will, that after our rough fashion of
the camp I here declare TO you. Yon
know where all my treasure lies. Take it,
most dear friends, and in the memory of
Antony, make just division. Then 20 to
Cesar and speak thus: Antony, the dead.
to Caesar, the living sends greeting, and in
the name of ancient fellowship and Of
many a peril, dared crave this boon the
safety OF those who clung to him and that
which be hath given them
NAY, let not my tears-fOr I must
weep-Oveifow your eyes Why, 'tis
not manly; tits most womsnish ALI men
must die. and death were welcome were it
not so lone. Should fall, TO your tender
care leave my children-if, perchence it
may avail to save them from the fate of
helplessness. Soldiers, enough tO-mor-
row at the dawn we spring at Cesar's
throat, both by land and sea. Swear that
ye will cling to me, even to the last is-
sue ~
1--WE swear - they cried. Noble An
tory, we swear :"
"'Tis we'll Once more my star grows
bright; tomorrow, set in the highest
heaven, it yet may shine the lamp Of Ce-
sar down. Till then, farewell ~
He turned to CO. and as he went they
caught his hand and kissed it; and so deep
ly were they moved that many wept like
children; nor could Antony master his
grief, for, in the moonlight, I saw tears
roll down his furrowed cheek, and fall
upon that mighty breast.
And, seeing all this, was much
troubled. For we'll knew that if these
men held firm to Antony all might yet 20
well for Cleopatra; and though against
Antony bore no i'll will, yet must ne fall,
and in that fall drag down the woman
who, like some poisonous plant, had
twined herself about his giant strength
till it choked and mouldered in her en-
brace.
Therefore, when Antony went, I went
mo-, bat stood back in the shadow watch
ing the faces Of the lords and captains as
they spoke together.
"Then it is agreed?" said he who should
lead the fleet. And this We swear to one
and all, that We will cling to noble Antony
to the last extremity of fortunew
Gay ay" they answered.
"Ay! aym l said, speaking from the
shadow; telling and dien'
Fiercely they turned and seized me.
who is he?" quoth one.
otis that dark-fsced dog, olympus
cried another; Olympus, the magician"
Olympus, the traitor" growled an
other; put an end to him and his meg
icl'i and he drew bis sword.
Gay. slay him; he would betray the
Lord Antony, whom he is paid to doctor. "
"Hold swhile~ I said in q slow and
solemn voice, land beware how We try to
murder the servant Of the Gods. I am no
traitor. For myself, I abide the event
here in Alexandria, but 10 you l say: Flee.
flee to Cesar! 1 serve Antony and the
Queen-I serve them truly; but above all
l serve the holy Gods; and Whist they
make known to me, that, lords, 90 know.
And this I know, that Antony is doomed,
and Cleopatra is doomed, for Caesar con-
quers. Therefore because I do honor
you, noble gentlemen, and think with pity
on your wives left widowed, and your lit
tie fatherless children that shall, if ye hold
to Antony, be sold as slaves; therefore I
say; Cling to Antony if We will. and die;
or flee to Cesar and be saved And this
I say because it is so ordained of the
Gods"
The Godsw they cried; what Gods?
Slit the traitors throat and stop his i'll
omened talk
"Let him show us a sign from his Code,