The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-01-23

Il 40 II I5AI 80 ~ A1AtsSA
- E4s33 as shortly as may
H be, and leaving much
#8 : untold. For Of this
viz a m / warned, that
- 5S3Ed Doom draws on and
EI - my days are weli-nigh
~ sped. After the drawing
~ forth OF Antony from tile
Timonium came that heavy
time OF quiet which hcralds the rising of
the desert wind. Antony and Cleopatra
once again gave themselves up to luxury.
and night by night Toasted in splendor at
the palace. They sent ambassadors to
Cesar; but Caesar would have none Of
them; and, this hope being gone, they
turned their minds TO the defense Of Alex
andria- Men were gathered, ships were
built and great force was made ready
against the coming Of Cesar.
And now. aided by Cnarmion, / began my
last work of hate and vengeance. Deep ]
wormed myself into the secrets of the
palace. counseling all things for evil ]
babe Cleopatra keep Antony gay, lest he
should brood upon his sorrows; and thus
she Slapped his strength and energy with
luxury and wine. / gave him Of my
Embellishments that sank his soul in
dreams of ppiness and power, leaving
him TO wake to the heavier misery Soon,
without my healing medicine he could not
sleep. and thus, being ever at his side,
bound his weakened will to mine, till at last
little would he do ii l said not lit is well.n
Cleopatra, also grown very superstnious.
leaned much upon NE; for | prophesied
falsely to her in secret. Moreover, wove
other webs. Great was my fame through
out Egypt, for during the long years that /
had dwclt in Tape it had spread through
all the land. Therefore came many men of
note to me, both for their health's sake and
because it was kno vn that had the ear Of
Antony and the Queen; and, in these days
Of doubt and trouble, fain were they to
learn the truth. All these men l worked
upon with doubtful words, sappng their
loyalty; and many caused to fall away,
and yet mono could boar an evil report of
what had said. Moreover, Cleopatra sent
me to Memf, there to move the Priests and
Governors that they should gather men in
Upper Egypt for the defense of Alexandria.
And l went and spoke to the Priests with
such double meaning and with SO much
wisdom that they knew me to be one Of the
initiated in the deeper mysteries. But how
l, Olympus, the physician, came thus to
be initiated none might say. And after
ward they sought me secretly, and gave
them the holy sign OF brotherhood, and
hereunder babe them not to ask who
might be, but send no aid to Cleopatra
Rather, said, must they make peace with
Cesar. for BY CRsar's grace only could the
worship OF the Gods endure In khem. So,
having taken counsel OF the holy Apis, they
promised in public to give help to Cleopa-
ira, but in secret sent an embassy to Caesar
Thus then it came to pass that but little
aid did Egypt give to its hated Macedonian
Queen. Thence from Mcmii l came once
more to Alexandria, and having made re-
port, continued my secret work. And, in
deed, the Alexandrians could not easily be
stirred, for, as they say in the market
place. "Thc ass looks at the burden and ID
blind to tho master" So long had Cleopa-
ira oppressed them that the Roman was
like welcome friend.
Thus the time passed OIL, and every night
found Cleopatra with fewer fricn1s than
that which had gone before, for in evil days
friends fly like swallows before the frost.
Yet she would not give up Antony, whom
she loved; though to my knowledge did
Caesar, by his freedman, Thyreus, make
prom Use to her Of her dominions for herself
and COR her children IL she would but slave
hereunto a woman's heart tfer still she had
heart would not consent, and, therefore,
of necessity must we hold him to her, lest,
Antony escaping or being slain, Cleopatra
might ride out the storm and yet be Queen
of Egypt. Aud this gricved me, because
Antony. though weak, was still brave man
and great: ard moreover, in my own heart
read the lesson Of his woes. For were we
not akin in wretchedness? Had not the
same woman robbed US of empire, friends
and honor! But pity has no place in poll
tics, nor could 1t turn my feet from the path
Of vengeance it was ordained that should
tread. Caesar drew nigh; Pclusium fell
the end was a, hand. Twas Charmion who
brought the tidings to the Queen and An
tony, as they slept in the heat Of the day
and with her came.
ssAwake,' she cried. "Awake! This il
no time for sleep! Scleucus hath surren
dered Potassium unto Caesar, who marches
straight on Alexandria!'
With great oath Antony sprang up and
clutchcd Cleopatra by the arm
.Thoa hast betrayed me-by the Gods
swearlt! Now thou shalt pay the price,
And snatching up his sword he drew it.
'.Stay thy hand, Antony" she cried
ut is false-naught know OF this!' AND
she sprang upon him, and ciung about hi.
neck, weeping. Waugh, know /, nv Lord
Take thou the wife OF Seleucus and his lit
tie children, whom hold in guard, anG
avenge thyself o, Antony! Antony! why
dost thou doubt me!''
Then Antony threw down his sword upor
the marble, and, casting himself upon The
couch, hid his face, and groaned in bitter
ness of spirit.
But Charmion smiled, for she it was VIII,
had sent secretly to Scleucus, her friend
counseling him to surrender forthwith
saying that at Alexandria would TO fight b.
made And that very night Cleopatra tool
all her great store Of pearls and emeralds-
those that remained of the treasure OF Men
karra-all her wealth of gold, ebony, ivor,
and cinnamon, treasure without price, an,
placed it in the mausoleum of granite
which, after our Egyptian fashion, she ha,
built upon the hill that is by the Temple Q
the holy Isis. These riches she piled u
upon a bed of fax, that when she fired !
all might perish IN the flames and escap
the greed Of money-loving Octavianus. An
in this tomb henceforth she slept. ava
from Antony: but in the day time still sh
saw him at the palace.
But little while after, when Caesar wit
all his great force had already crossed tn
Canopic mouth of the Nile. and was har
ON Alexandra, came to the palace whi,he
Cleopatra had summoned me. There
found her in the Alabaster Hall, royal
clad, wild light in her eyes, and with he
Iras and Charmion, and before her guards
and stretched here and there upon the ma
BILE, bodies Of dead men, among whom 10
one yet dying.
directing, thou olympus" she criet
Here is a sight to glad a physicians heal
men dead aud men sick unto dcaihw
..yrL !, I aoi