The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1889-12-12

Sf1Uilr9 slaves as the world treats the
fallen, with scorn. For to come low after
being great is 70 learn all shame. I'm
happy, therefore, are the great, for they
may fall!
turned upon the slave with 30 fierce
word that, cur.like, no sprang behind me;
then passed on TO the Alabaster Hall, and
was admitted OF the guards. In the Gen.
Ter Of the hall. nigh TO the fountain, sat
Cleopatra, and with her were Charmion
and the Greek girl Iras, and Merirs and
other of her waiting ladies. Co. she
said TO these, Il would speak with my as
trologer.' So they went, and left US face
70 face.
"Stand thou there she said, lifting her
face for the hrst time. s.Como not near
me, Harmachis; trust thee not. Per-
chance thou hast found another dagger.
Now, what hast thou 70 says BY what right
didst thou dare to break In upon my talk
with the Roman!'
felt the blood rush through me like .
storm, bitterness and burning anger took
hold upon my heart "What hast thou 10
Say, Cleopatrar' ] answered boldly.
s'Where is thy oath, sworn on the dead
heart Of Menka-ra, the erer-livings Where
now thy challenge to this Roman Antonyi
Where thy oath that thou wouldst call me
husband in the face Of Egypttn And l
choked and ceased.
"WeA does it become Harmachis, who
never was forsworn, to speak to me Of
oaths'' she said, in bitter mockery. "And
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 dldst 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 voidl"
"Thy taunts l viii not answer, Cleo
patra," ! said. holding back my heart as
best might; s'for 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,
'tricked in the best ATTIRE to feast with
him whom thou shouldst give to vnltures
for their feast. Perchance. for aught /
know, thou art about to sqaaDdcr those
treasures that thou hast 6iched from the
body Of Menks-ra, those treasures stored
against the need Of Egypt. upon wanton
revels which shall complete the shame oil
Egypt BY these things, then, know tina,
thou art forsworn, and !, who, loving thee
believed thee, tricked; and by this, also
that thou who didst but yesternight swear
10 wed me, dost to-day cover me with
tsunts, and even before that Roman put me
to an open shamer'
ITO wed thee! And did swear to wed
theel Well, and what il marriages Is i,
the union Of the heart, that bond beautiful
as gossamer and than gossamer more light,
which binds soul to soul az through the
dreamy night Of passion they float, q bond
TO be, perchance, melted in the dews oil
cawna Or II it the iron link Of enforced
unchanging union whereby IL sinks the one
the other must be dragged beneath the sea
cf circumstances, there, like punished
slave, 70 perish Of unavoidable corruption
Marriage! to marry! ! to forget free
dom and court the worst slavery of our sex,
which, by the selfish will OF man, the
stronger, doth still bind US TO . bed grown
hateful, and enforce service that love
mayhap no longer haliowsl OF what use
then, 10 be Queen, IL thereby l may no,
escape tho evil Of the meanly borni Marx
thou, Harnachis: Woman being growr
hath two ills 70 fear, death and marriage
and Of these twain IS marriage the more
vile; for in death we may And rest. but il
marriage, should 1t fail US, we must fine
he'll. Nay, being above the breath OF com
mon SANDER thai would blast those who oil
true virtue will not consent to stretch at
fcction's bonds, love, Harmachis, but
marry not!D
"And yesternight thou ddst swear tha
thou wouldst wed me and call me to lii,
aide before the face of Egypt.'
"And yesternight the red ring round tn.
moon did mark the coming Of the storm
and yet the day is fair! But who know,
that the hraaf. tn
Who knows that have not chosen the cas-
Ter path to save Egypt from the Roman
Who knows, Harmachis, that thou sLal, no
still call me 'wifer"
Then no longer could / bear her falsehood
for1 saw thatsh but played with me. An,
80 spoke that which WAS in my heart.
CLEOPATRA" cried, ''thou dldst swear +
protect Egypt, and thou art about to betra
Egypt to the Romanl Thou didst swear i
use the treasures that revealed to the,
for the service Of Egypt, and thou ar
about TO use them TO be her means Of sham
TO fashion them as letters for her wrists
Thou 3tdst swear to wed me, who love,
thee, and for thee gave all, and thou dos
mock me and reject! Therefore say
with the voice Of the dread Gods say tt
that on thee shall fall the curse of Menka
n, whom thou hast robbed, indeed! LIE
me 20 hence and work out my doom! LIE
me 60, O, thou fair shame thou living Lie
whom have loved to my doom. and VIII
hast brought upon me the last curse o
doom! Let me hide myself and SEQ thy fac
no morev'
She rose IN her wrath, and terrible Oh
was to see.
"let thee go to stir up evil against me
..se, :ya..,aeb;s. fh ou shalt not ~ 70 hull,