The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1889-11-30
Noa1.E ANTHONY. THou EAST uALLEp MR: =

NOBLE ANTHONY, THOU HAST CALLED NH"
her were little rosy boys, choseA Tor
their beauty, and clad in naught save
downy wings strapped upon their shoulders,
and on their backs Cupid's bow and CULVER,
who famed her with fans Of plnmes. And
upon the vessels decks, handling the cord
age that was Of silken web, and softly sing
ing to the sound Of harps and the beat OF
oars, stood no rough sailors, but women
lovely to behold, some clad as Graces and
some as Nereids that is, scarce clad at all
save in their scented hair. And behind
the couch, with drawn sword, stood Bren-
nus, in splendid armor and winged
helm Of gold; and by him others-1
among them-in robes richly worked, and
knew that ] was indeed slavel On the
high poop also burned golden censers filed
with the costiest incense, whereof the fra
grant steam hung in little clouds about our
wake.
Thus, as in dream Of luxury, followed
by many ships, we glided on toward the
wooded slopes Of Taurus, at whose foot lay
that ancient city Tarshish. And as we came
the people gathered on the banks and ran
before US shouting: ''Venus is risen from
the sea! Venus hath come to visit BAG
chus!" We drew near to the city, and all
its people-every one who could walk or be
carried--crowded down in thousands to the
docks, and with them came the whole army
Of Antony, so at length the Triumvir was
left alone upon the Judgment seat:
With them came Dellius, the false
tongued, fawning and bowling, and in the
name of Antony gave the s'Queen Of Beau
ty' greeting, bidding her to feast that
Antony had made ready. But she made high
answer, and said: "Forsooth, tits Antony
who should wait on us; not we on Antony.
Bid the noble Antony to our poor table this
night, else we dine alone"
Dellius went, bowling to the ground; the
feast was made ready; and then at last
set eyes on Antony. Glad in purple robes
he came, great man and beautiful to see,
set in the stout prime of life, with bright
eyes of blue, and curling hair, and features
cut sharply as Grecian gem. For great
he was of form and royal of mien, and with
an open countenance, Whereon his thoughts
were writ SO clear thatall might read them
only the weakness of the mouth bel1ed the
power of the brow. He came companioned
by his generals, and when he reached the
couch wherein Cleopatra lay he stood as
tonished, gazing on her with wide-opened
eyes. She, too, gazed on him earnestly; I
saw the red blood run up beneath her skin,
and a great pang Of jealousy seized upon
my heart And Cnarluion, who saw all be-
meath her downcast eyes, saw this also and
smiled. But Cleopatra spoke nc word, only
she stretched out her white hand for him
to kiss; and he, saying no word, took her
hand and kissed it.
ssBehold, noble Antonyi' she said at last
in her voice Of music, ''thou hast called me,
and I am come"
s'Venus has come" he answered in his
deep notes, and still holding his eyes fast
fixed upon her face. II called woman; a
Goddess hath risen from the deepl'
Ito find a God to greet her on the land u
she laughed with ready wit. "Well, q truce
to compliments, for being On the earth cen
a Venus is a-hungered. Noble Antony, thy
hand"
The trumpets blared, and through the
bowling crowd, Cleopatra, followed by her
train, passed hand in hand with Antony to
the feast.
There there Is anothe,. break IN the pu12urua.I