The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1889-12-25


ace gardens; another week and / could
read and think, though went no more TO
Court And at length one afternoon Char
mion came and bado me make ready, for in
two days would tho fleet sail, first for tho
coast Of Syria, and thence to the gulf OF
Issus and Cilicia.
Thereon, with all fornality, and in writ
ing, crayed leave of Cleopatra thatI might
be left, urging that my health was even
now SO feeble that could not travel But
in answer message was sent to me that I
must come. And so ON the appointed day
was carried on litter down TO the boat,
and together with that very soldier who had
cut me down, the Captain Brennus, and
others Of his troop (who, indeed. were sent
to guard me), we rowed aboard the vessel
where she lay at anchor with the rest OF the
great feet. For Cleopatra was voyaging as
though 10 war in much pomp, and escorted
by mighty feet OF ships, whereof her
galley, built like house and lined through
out with cedar and silken hangings, was the
most beautiful and costly that the world
has ever seen. But on this vessel vent
not, and, therefore, it chanced that saw
not Cleopatra nor Charmlon till we landed
Hb IUb luOulu VI 'tu0 IblNOf Oy0nuos lno
signal being made, the feet set sail; and
the wind being fair, on the evening Of the
second day we came 10 Joppa Thence we
sailed slowly with contrary winds up the
coast Of Syria, making Cesarea and Ptol-
emais and Tyrus and Berytus and past
Lebanon's white brow crowned with
his crest Of cedars, on to Heraclea
and across the Gulf Of Issus to the mouth
Of Cydnus. And ever as we journeyed
the strong breath Of the sea brought back
my health, till at length, save for line Of
white upon my head, where the sword had
fallen, was almost as had been. And
one night, as we drew near Cydnns, while
Brennus and sat alone together on the
deck, his eye fell upon the white mark his
sword had made, and he swore great
oath by his heather gods. "An' thou hadst
died, lad" he said, 'methlnks i could
never again have held up my headi Ahl
that was coward stroke, and shamed am
to think that should have struck 1t, and
thou on the ground and with thy back to
mel Knowest thou that when thou didst
lie 'twixt life and death, every day came
to ask tidings OF theel and / swore by
Taranis that II thou didst die I'd turn my
back upon that soft palace life and then
away for the North"
.Nay, trouble not, Brennus," l answered;
ut was thy duty.n
"Mayhapl but there are duties that
brave man should not do--nay, not at the
bidding Of any Queen who ever ruled In
Egypt Thy blow had dazed me or had
not struck. What is 1t, ladl-art in trouble
with this Queen Of oursl Why art thou
dragged prisoner upon this pleasure
partyl Knowest thou that we are strictly
charged that II thou dost escape our lives
shall pay the pricep sf
"Ay, in sore trouble, friend" an
swered; task me no more"
Then, being Of the age thou artr-there's
q woman In II, that swear Land, per-
chance, though am rough and foolish, ]
might make u guess Look thou, lad, what
sayest thoul am a-weary OF the service
Of Cleopatra and this hot land Of deserts
and Of luxury, that sap.a mans strength
and drain his pocket; and SO are others
whom wot of. What sayest thou; let's
take one OF these unwieldy vessels and
away to the Northl I'll lead thee 10 bet
ter land than Egypt-a land Of lake and
mountain and great forests of sweet
scented pine; ny, and find thee girl ht
to mate with, mine own Mecca strong
girl, and tall, with wide blue eyes, and
long, fair hair, and arms that would crack
thy RIBS were she 70 hug theel Come,
what sayest thoul Put away the past, and
away for the bonny North, and be son TO
men N nf
For a moment thought, and then sadly
shook my head; for though sorely was
tempted TO be gone, knew that in Egypt
lay my fate, and my fate might not fly.
Brennus,n answered. at may not be,
"Fain would / that II might be, but am
bound by chain Of destiny which can not
break, and in the land Of Egypt / must live
and die"
Gas thou wilt, lad,n said the old warrior.
'Dearly should have loved TO marry thee
among my people and make q son OF thee.
At the least, remember that while ! am
here thou hast Brennus for a friend. And
one thing more: beware Of that beauteous
Queen OF thine, for, by Taranis, perchance
an hour may come when she will hold that
thou lmowest too much, and then" and
| he drew his hand across his throat. "And
now good night; q clp Of wine, then 10
sleep, for tomorrow the foolery-n
lHre several knOih Of tAe second rou q
pdpvrlp are 90 broken a. 10 BE- fndectpherdble.
They seem 20 haze been descriptive Of CIeopdtrd'
UOva0s up tte Cvdnus 70 the city Of Tdrsin.
And [the writing continuesl 70 those who
could take Joy In such things the sight must
indeed, have been n gallant one. For the
stern Of our galley was covered with sheets
Of beaten gold, the sails were Of the scar
let ofTyre, and the oars Of silver dipped IN
the water 10 the measure Of music. And
there in the center OF the vessel, beneath
an awning ablaze with gold embroidery, lay
Cleopatra, attired as the Roman Venus
land surely Venus was not more fair y, II
thin robe Of whltest silk, bound In beneath
her breast with q golden girdle delicatel,