Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-02-27

~ Timonium came that heavy
time OF quiet which heralds the rising Of
THE desert wind. Antony and Cleopatra
lonce again gave themselves up to luxury,
land night by night Toasted in splendor at
the palace. They sent ambassadors to
Cesar; but Cesar would have none of
Them; and, this hope being gone, they
turned their minds to the defense Of Alex
landria. Men were gathered, ships were
built and a great force was made ready
against the coming Of Caesar.
! And now, aided by Charmion, I began my
last work Of hate and vengeance. Deep /
wormed myself into the secrets of the
palace, counseling all things for evil. I
babe Cleopatra keep Antony gay, lest no
should brood upon his sorrows; and thus
she Slapped his strength and energy with
luxury and wine. ] gave him Of my
draughts-draughts that sank his soul in
dreams Of happiness 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, I
bound his weakened will to mine, till at last
little would he do IL I said not sit f. WELL"
Cleopatra, also grown very superstltious,
leaned much upon me; for I prophesied
falsely to her in secret. Moreover, I wove
other webs. Great was my fame through
out Egypt, for during the long years that T
Aad dwelt in Tape it had spread through
sll the Land. Therefore came many men Of
pote to me, both for their health's sake and
because # was known that I 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 I worked
upon with doubtful words, sapping Sheir
loyalty; and many I caused to fall away,
land yet none could hear an evil report Of
what I had said. Moreover, Cleopatra sent
tme to Nemf, there to move the Priests and
tGovernors that they should gather men In
Upper Egypt for the defense Of Alexandria.
And ! went and spoke to the Priests with
isuch q double meaning and with SO much
wisdom that they knew me to be one Of the
Initiated in the deeper mysteries. But how
II, Olympus, the physician, came thus to
tbe 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 e no aid to Cleopatra.
Rather, I said, must they max peace with
Cesar, for by Cesar's grace only could the
~orshipo Of the Gods endure In Khem. 30,
having taken counsel Of the holy Apis, they
promised in public to give help to Cleopa-
SFa, but In secretsent an embassy to Caesar.
Thus then it came to pass that but little
I'D did Egypt give to its hated Macedonian
Queen, Thence from Nemf I came once
mere to Alexandra, and having made re-
hort, continued my secret work. And, In
8ee1, the A~lexandrians could not easily be
HIRED, for, - they say in the market
place, "The ass looks at the burden and is
blind % tho MASTER" So long had Clespa-
IRA oppressed them that the Roman was
eikea welcome friend.
1Aus the time passed on, and every night
found Cleopatra with fewer friends thar
Shat which had gone before, for In evil days
friends fly like swallows before the frost.
Yes she would not give up Antony, whom
she loved; though to my knowledge did
Cesar, by his freedman, Thyreus, make
promise to her Of her dominions for herself
and for her children If she would but slave
ANTONY, or ever betray him bound. But
Jhereunto q woman's heart (for still she had
Q hearty would not consent, and, therefore,
lot necessity must we hold him to her, Lest,
Antony escaping or being slain, Cleopatra
might ride out the storm and yet be Queen
LOT Egypt. And this grieved me, because
Antony, though weak, was still q brave man
and Q great; and moreover, in my own heart
Tread the lesson Of his woes. For were we
not akin In w~retchednessa Had not the
isame woman robbed Us Of empire, friends
and honora But pity has no place In poll.
tics, nor could it turn my feet from the path
Of vengeance 1t was ordained that I should
tread. Caesar drew nigh; Potassium fell;
the end was at hand. Twas Charmion who
brought the tidings to the Queen and An.
tony, as they sleptin the heat Of the day,
and with her I came.
"Awakeln she cried. "Awnkei This "a
no time for sleepl Eeleucus hath surren.
dcrod pnfY1htnpo fp%o rnsor -hn -.-a.-