The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-01-30

The musi, OF her voice died away. and 10
sweet and Sal, It wss that lras began to
weep. and in Cleopatrxssa stormy eyes tho
bright tears stood. Only Bwept not; my
tears were dry.
.sTis . heavy song o. thins, charmion, !"
said the Queen. "WelL u.s. thou saidst, IT'S
Q sad hour for song, and thy dirge' 70 htted
to the hour. Sing it DER NE orfce pam
when lie dead, Charnion. AMI now fafe-
well to music and on to the end. Olympus.
take yonder parchment and write what
shall say"
l took the parchment and the reed. and
thus wrote In the Roman tongue:
s.Cleora tra TO Octavianus. Greeting: This
il the state Of life. At length there comes
an hour when, rather than endure those
burdens that o'erwhelm 10. putting Oh the
body we would take wing into forgetful-
meas. Caesar, thou hast conquered; take
tsou tho spoils Of victory. But In thy tn
unAnS cleopatra can not walk When oil Is
lost. then n, We 90 70 sesk the lost. Thus
in the desert 81 despair the brave do har-
vest resolution. Cleopatra hath been great
as Antony was great, nor, in the manner OF
her end, shall her fame 20 minisneo.
Slaves live to endure their ksong; out
Princes, treading with . Armef STEP pass
through the gates Of Wrong into the hoyN
dwellings Of the dead. This only doth
Egypt ask Of Cesar, thst ho suffer her =
lie in the tomb Of Antony. Farewell"
This, therefore, wrote. and having
sealed 1t, Cleopatra babe me 20 lind mes
senger, dispatch IL unto Cesar, and then
| return. So went, and ct the door Of the
tomb called . soldier, who was not on duty.
| and, giving him money, bade him take the
i 4 koo ard
there In the chamber stood the three wom-
en- in silence, Cleopatra clinging to the arm
| Of lras, and Charmion little apart watch
| ing the twain.
VT indeed thou art minded to make On
end, o Queen" said, 'sshort is the time,
for presently will Caesar send his servants
in answer to thy letter." and drew forth
the phial of white and deadly bane and sei
it upon the board.
She took it In her hand and gazcd there
on. "How innocent 1t seems!n she said
''and yet therein lies my death. III,
strange"
AYE, Queen, and the death Of ten othel
folk. No need to take 30 long drauRht
81 fear" she gasped- "How know
that 1t will stay outright I have seen .,
many die by poison and scarce one hat
/ died outright. And sonnet ah, can no
think on them!"
.Fear not" I said. II am master Of M
, craft. Or. if thou dost fear, cast this poiso
| forth and live. In Rome moycst thou sti
, find happiness; aye, in Rome, where tho
shalt walk in Cesar's triumph, while th
! laughter Of the hard-eyed Latin wome
: shall chime down the music Of thy golde
8 chains"
9 may, I win die. Oh, if one would b.
q show the path"
e Then did Iras loose her hand and step 70
Q ward. "Give me the draught, Physician,
I she said. ~ 20 to make ready for m
!. Queen"
d ITS WELL" I answered; ION thy ow
It head be it!' and ! poured from the phi
i into little golden goblet.
$ She raised it, and low she curtsied
6 Cleopatra, then, coming forward, kisse
n her on the brow, and Charmion sho al
=, kissed. This done, tarrying not and NAL
p ing no prayer (for Iras WAS Greek). q
Is drank, and, putting her hand TO her hes
q instantly fell down and died.
|; "Thou soest," said, breaking In up
10 the silence, ''it Is swift"
II "Aye, Olympus; thine 10 master dru
I Come now, thirst; All me tie bowl, le
p Iras weary In waiting ct the Ratesr'
SO poured afresh into tho goblet; b
N this time, making pretense to rinse the cur
% mixed little water, for I was not mind
" that she sI0uid die before she know me.
It sThen did tho royal Cleopatra, taking I
10 goblet In fier hand. turn her lovely eyes
d heaven and cry aloud: s..
Il 30 70 Gods Of Egypt! who have desert
g me, to you no longer will ! pray, for q,
u are your ears unto my crying, and Oh
70 your eyes unto my griefs! Therefor.
= make eptreaty TO that One friend whom
= Gods, departing, leave to helpless man.