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

might say. And atterward they Sought
me secretly, and I gave them the holy sign
of brotherhood, and Hereunder babe them
not TO ask me who might be, but send no
aid to Cleopatra, Rather, l said, must
they make peace with Gear, Tor
by C;esar's grace only could the
worship ofthe Gods endure in Khem. SO
having taken counsel of the holy
Apis, they promised in public to give
help to Cleopatra, but IN secret sent an
embassy to Gear.
Thus then it came to pass that but little
aid did Egypt give to its hated Mscedo'
man Queen. Thence from Memf l came
once more to Alexandria, and having
made report, continued my secret work.
| Aud indeed, the Alexandrians could not
easily be stirred, for as they say IN the
market place, "The ass looks at the bur-
den and is blind TO the master" SO leng
had Cleopatra oppressed them that the 10
man 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 An
tony, whom she loved; though to my
knowledge did Cesar, by bis freedman,
Thyreus, make promise to her of her do
minions for herself and for her children ifshe
would but slave Antony, or even betray him
bound. But hereunto q wOman's heart
for still she had a heart would not con-
sent, and, therefore, Of necessity must we
hold him to her, lest. Antony escap-
ing or being slain, Cleopatra might
ride out the storm and yet be Queen
of Egypt. And this grieye1 me, because
Antony, though weak, was still brave
man and great man; and moreover, nmy
own heart read the lesson of his woes.
For were we not akin in wretchedness?
Had not the same woman robbed us OF en-
pire. friends and honor? But pity has no
place in politics. nor could it turn my feet
from the path Of vengeance it was or
dsined that I shout tread. Ce3ar drew
nigh; Potassium fell; tbs end was at hand.
Twas Cnarmion who brought the tidiugs
to the Queen and Antony, as they slept IN
the heat of the day, and with her l came.
Awake" she cried. awake! This
is no time for sleep Seleucus hath surren-
dered Potassium unto Cesar, who marches
straight on Alexandria"
With great oath Antony sprsng up and
clutched Cleopatra by the arm.
Thou hast betrayed me-by the Gods l
swear it, Now thou shalt pay the price"
Aud snatching up MS sword he drew it.
"Stsy thy hand, AntonyW che cried.
TT is false-naught know OF this" And
she sprang upon him, and chung about his
neck, weaping. "Naught know l, my
Lord. Take thou the wife of Seleucus and
his little children, whom l hold in guard
and avenge thyself. o, Antony Antony
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
bitterness Of spirit.
But Charmion smiled, forsh it was who
had sent secretly to Seleucus, her
friend, counselling him to surrender forth
with, saying that at Alexandria would be
no fight made. And that very night
Cleopatra took all her great store Of pearls
and emeralds-thOse that remained of the
treasure of Men-ka-ra-all her wealth Of
gold, ebony, ivory and cinnamon, treasure
without price, and placed in the mausoleum
of granite, which, after our Egyptian
fashion, she had built upon the mill that
is by the Temple OF the holy Isis. These
riches she piled mp upon bed Of flax, that
when she fred it all might perish in the
flames and escape the greed OfmOney-lOving
| Cctsvianus. And in this tomb henceforth
she slept, away from Antony; but in the
dsy time still she saw him at the palace.
But little while after, when Cesar with
all his great force had already crossed the
Cauopic mouth of the Nile, and was hard
On Alexandria, I came to the palace
whittier Cleopatra had summoned me.
There found her in the Alabaster Hall,
royalty clad, a wild light in her eyes, and
with her Irss and CharmiOn, and before
her guards and stretched here and there
upon the marble, bodies Of dead men,
among whom lay one yet dying.
Greeting, thou Olympus ~ she cried.
Here is a sight TO glad physicians heart
men dead and men sick unto death ~
"What doest thou, o Queen?" l said
affrighted.
''What do I? 1 do justice on these
criminals and traitors; and, Olympus,
learn the ways of death. Six different
poisons have I caused TO be given to these
slaves, aud with an attentive eye have
watched their working. That man" and
she pointed to Nubian, che went mad
and rayed of his native deserts and his
mother. He thought himself a child
again, poor fool and babe her hold him
close to her breast and save him from
the darkness which drew near. And
that Greek, he shrieked, and shrek
ing died. And this, be wept and prayed
for pity, and in the end, like a COW
ard, breathed his last Now, note the
Egyptian yonder, he who still lives and
proens; the first he took the draught-the
deadliest drsught Of all, they swore-and
vet the slave so dearly loves his life he
will not leave it, See, he yet strives to
throw the poison from him; twice have
given him the cup, and yet he is athirst.
! What a drunkard have we here! Man,
man, knowest thou not that in death only
can peace belfound! Struggle no more,
but enter into rest" And even as she
spoke, the man, with great cry, gave up
the spirit.
"Therew she cried, cat length the farce
isplayed-away with those slaves whom l
forced through the difficult gates Of JOyW
and she clappsd her hands. But when
they had drawn the bodies thence she
drew me to her and thus she spoke:
Olympus, for all thy prOphesies, the
end is at hand. Gear must conquer, and
I end my Lord Antony be lost. Now,
therefore the play being well nigh done,
must make ready to leave this stage of
earth in such fashion as becomes a Queen.
For this cause, then, do make trial of
these pOisons, seeing that in my person
must l soon endure those sgonies of death
that to-day give to others. These drugs
please me not; some wrench out the soul
with cruel pains and some too slowly work
their end. But thou art skilled in the
medicines of death. Now, do thou pre-
pare me such a drsught as shall, pangless,
steal my life away" And as l listened
the sense Of triumph filed my bitter heart,
/ r Z NLrk -