The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-05-16

5flIlllS slaves-as the world treats the
fallen, with scorn. For to come low after
being great is 10 learn all shame. Un-
happy, therefore, are the great, for they
may fair q"
turned upon the slave with so fierce a
word that, cur like, he sprang behind me /;
then passed on to the Alabaster Hall, and
was admitted of the guards. In the cen
ter of the hall nigh to the fountain, sat
Cleopatra, and with her were Charmion
and the Greek girl Iras, ed Merira and
other of her waiting ladies'. &C.," she
said to these, II would speak with my as
1troIoger."- So they went, and left US face
to face
"Stand thou there" she said, lifting her
face for the first time. "Come not near
me, Harmachis; trust thee not. Per-
chance thou hast found another dagger.
Now, what hast thou 10 say? 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 to
say. CleopatraG" / answered boldly.
.''Where is thy oath, sworn on the dead
heart of Menka-ra, the ever-lvingl Where
now thy challenge to this Roman Antony!
" tdtA AA4Slb bAOu "OdAASb Nuil mt
husband in the face of EgyptP And l
choked and ceased.
"Wen does it become Harmachis, who
never was fofsworn, to speak to me of
oaths - she said, in bitter mockery. And
yet, o thou most pure Priest of Isis; and
vet, o thou most faithful friend, who never
didst bstray thy friends; and yet, o thou
most steadfast, honorable and upright
man, VINO never dIdst barter thy birthright,
thy country and thy cause for the price of
-yvoman's passing love; by what token
kuowest thou that my word is voidl''
THY taunts / will not answer, Cleo
patra," / said, holding back my heart as
best might; for l have earned them all,
though not from thee. BY this token, then,
| 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 vultures
for their feast. -Perchance, for aught /
know, thou art about TO squander those
treasures that thou hast filched from the
body of MenkS-ra, those treasures stored
against the need Of Egypt. upon wanton
revels which shall complete the shame of
Egypt. BY these things, then, know that
thou art forsworn, and /, who, loving thee,
believed thee, tricked; and by this, also,
shat thou who didst but yesternight swear
20 wed me, dost to-day cover me with
tauuts, and even before that Roman put me
20 an open shame!'
ITO wed thee? And did swear to wed
Fthee! Well, and what is marriage! Is it
the union Of the heart, that bond beautiful
IS gossamer and than gossamer more hight,
which binds soul to soul as through the
dreamy night of passion they float, a bond
- 10 -, H. oe
dawns Or is it the iron link of enforced,
unchanging union whereby If sinks the one
the other must be dragged beneath the sea
of circumstances, there, like a punished
slave, to perish of unavoidable corruption.
MarrIagel 1 to marry! / 10 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 a bed grown
hateful, and enforce a service that love
mayhap no longer hallowsl OF what use,
then, 10 be Queen, if thereby i may not
escape the evil Of the meanly born. Mark
thou, Harmachis: Woman being grown
hath two ills to fear, death and marriage;
and of these twain IS marriage the more
vie: for in death we may find rest, but in
marriage, should 1t fail US, we must find
hell Nay, being above the breath of COM
mon SANDER that would blast those who of
true virtue VIII not consent to stretch af
fection's bonds, / love, Harmachis, but
marry not!''
And yesteruight thou didst swear that
thou wouldst wed me and call me to thy
side before the face Of Egyptr'
''And yesiernight the red ring round the
moon did mark tho coming of the storm,
and yen the day is fairI But who knows
that the tempest may not break tomorrow
Who knows that have not chosen the cas-
+: Ter path to save Egypt from the Roman?
Who knows, Hsrmachis, that thou SHALT not
still call me 'wifel'''
Then no longer could bear her falsehood,
-for1 saw thatshe but played with me- And
-: SO spoke that which was in my heart
Cleopatra, cried, thou dl6st swear to
protect Egypt, and thou art about to betray
Egypt TO the Romani Thou didst swear to
use the treasures that revealed to thee |
for the service Of Egypt, and thou are
about 70 use them to be her means Of shame |
to fashion them as letters for her wrists |
Thou didst swear TO wed me, who loved |
thee, and for thee gave all, and thou dost |
mock me and reiectl Therefore / say
with the voice of the dread Gods say it |
that on thee shall fall the curse of Menka- 4
Cd, whom thou hast robbed, indeed! Let