The Irish standard., 1889-10-12

Doth thy blood beat fast in youth! she,wil
3utrun it, nor viii her kisses tire. Art
thou set toward ambitionl she will unlock
Thy inner heart, and show thee secret roads
that lead to glory. Art thou worn and
wearyl she hath comfort In her breast.
Art thou fallen2 she can lift thee up,
and to the illusion of thy sense gid
defeat with triumph. Ay, Harrachis.
these things she can do, for Nature
ever fights upon her side; and the while
she does them she can deceive and shape a
secret end IN which thou hast no part. And
thus woman rules the world For her are
wars; for her men spend their strength in
gathering gains; for her they do well and
Ill, and seekfor greatness and find forgetful-
ness. And all the while she sits like yonder
Sphinx, and smiles; and no man hath ever
read all the riddle Of her smiles or known
all the mystery of her heart. Mock not
mock mott Harmachis, for strong indeed
must he be who can defy the power OF
woman, which, pressing round him like the
general air, is ofttimes most present when
the senses least discover it.
| laughed aloud. "Thou speakest earn
estly, Q, my uncle Sepa,n I said; ssalmost
might one think that thou hadst not come
unscathed through this fierce fire of tempta-
ton Well, for myself, fear not woman
and all her wiles; naught know of them,
and naught do | wish to know; and still
hold that this Caesar was fool Had 7
stood where Caesar stood, to cool its wan
tonness that bale of rugs should have been
rolled adown the palace steps, even into the
harhor of mudn
'sNay, cease ceaser' he cried aloud.
"Evil is 1t to speak thus; and may the gods
avert the omen and preserve to thee this
cold strength whereof thou boastesti O
man, thou knowest not thou in thy
strength and beauty that is without COM
pare, IN tho power of thy learning and the
sweetness of thy tongue--thou knowest
not The world where thou must mix is
not sanctuary as that of the divine Isis
But there-iib may be so! Pray that thy
hearts ice may never melt, so shalt thou be
great and happy and Egypt be delivered.
And now let me take up my tale-thou
seest, Harnlachis, even in so grave story
woman CLAIMS her place. The Young
Ptoleny, Cleopatras brother, being loosed
or Cesar, treacherously turned on him.
Thereon Caesar and Mitbridates stormed
the camp of Ptolemy, who took to flight
across the river. But his boat was sunk by
the fugitives who pressed upon it, and such
was the miserable end Of Ptole1ny.
Thereon, the war being ended, Caesar
appointed the younger Pfolemy to rule
with Cleopatra, and be, in name, her
husband. though she had but then
borne him q son, Casarion, and he
himself departed for Rome, bearing with
him the beautiful Princess Arsnoe to-
follow his triumphs in her chains. But the
great Caesar is no more. He died as ne had
lived, in blood, and right royalty. And but
now hath Cleopatra, the Queen, if my It'd
ings may be trusted, slain Ptolemy, her
brother and her husband. by poison, and
taken the child Casanon to be her fellow
on the throne, which she holds by the help
OF the Rome legions, and, as they say, Of
young Sextus Pompeius, who hath sue
ceeded Cesar in her love. But, Harmachis.
the whole land boils and seethes against
her. In every city the children of Khenl
talk of the deliverer who is to come-ani
thou art he, O Harmacnis Almost is the
time ripe. The hour is nigh at hand Go
thou back to Abouthis and learn the last
secrets of the gods, and meet those who
shall direct the bursting of the storm. And
then act, Harmachis-act say, and strike
home for Khem, and rid the land OF the
Roman and the Greek, and take thy place
upon the throne of thy fathers and Dea King
Of men. For unto this end vast thou born.
0 Princei'