Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-07-03

GeNIly 10 rest! Z
The music of her voice died away, and n
sweet and sad it was that Iras began Il
| weep, and in Cleopatra's stormy eyes the
bright tears stood. Only wept>not; my
tears were dry. - 3 Tsv- S., IS
'''Tis a heavy song of thine, Charmion,'
said the Queen. s'Well. as thou saidst, its
sad hour for song, and thy dirge is fitted
to the hour. Sing it DER me once again
when lie dead, Charmion. And now fare
well to music and on to the end. Olympus
take yonder parchment and write what
shall say"
1 took the parchment and the reed, and
thus 1 wrote in the Roman tongue:s-
cleopatra to Octavianus. Greeting: This
is the state of life At length there comes
an hour when, rather than endure those
burdens that o'erwhelm US, putting off the
body we would take wing into forgetful-
ness Caesar, thou hast conquered; take
thou the spoils of victory. But in thy tri-
umph Cleopatra can not walk. When all is
lost, then must we go to seek the lost. Thus
in the desert of despair the brave do h3r-
vest resolution. Cleopatra hath been great
as Antony was great, nor, in the manner of
her end, shall her fame be minished.
Slaves live to endure their wrong; but
Princes, treading with firmer step, pass
through the gates of Wrong into the Royal
dwellings of the dead. This only, doth
Egypt ask of Caesar, that he suffer her to
lie in the tomb of Antony. Farewell
This, therefore, l wrote, and having
sealed it, Cleopatra babe me go find mes
senger, dispatch it unto Caesar, and then
return. So I we1si, and at the door of the
tomb called a soldier, who was not on duty,
and, giving him money, babe him take the
letter unto Caesar. Then l went back, and
there in the chamber stood the three wom-
en- in silence, Cleopatra clinging to the arm
of Iras, and Charmion a little apart watch
ing the twain. --------
eff indeed thou art minded to make an
end, o Queen" said, ''short is the time,
for presently will Caesar send his servants
in answer to thy letter. and i drew forth
the phial of white and deadly bane and set
it upon the board.
She took it in her hand and gazed there
on. chow innocent it seems ~ she said |;
''and yet therein lies my death. IT'S
strange" =
"Aye, Queen, and the death of ten other
folk. No need to take so long a draught :"
II fear,' she gasped. sHow know
that it will STAY outright! I have seen so
many die by poison and scarce one hath
died outright. And sonnet an, can not
think on themI'' -' -
Fear noA" I said, 81 am master of my
craft. Or, if thou dost fear, cast this poison
forth and live. In Rome maycst thou still
find happiness; aye, in Rome, where thou
shalt walk in Caesars triumph, while the
laughter of the hard-eyed Latin women
shall chime down the music of thy golden
chains"
''Nay, will die. Oh, if one would but
show the PATH - 49,
Then did Iras loose her hand and step for
ward. "Give me the draueht, Physician
she said. 81 go to make ready for my
Queen" -
"'Ts well,' 1 answered; ION thy own
head be itI'' and 1 poured from the phial
into little golden goblet.
She raised it, and low she curtsied to
Cleopatra. then, coming forward, kissed
her on the brow, and Charmion she also
kissed. This done, tarrying not and max
ing no prayer flor Iras was Creek, she
drank, and, putting her hand to her head,
instantly fell down and died.
Thou seest," 1 said, breaking in upon
the silence, sit is swift
AYE, Olympus; thine is master drugi
Come now, thirst; fill me the bowl, lest
1ras weary in waiting at the gatesr'
30 poured afresh into the goblet; but
this time, making pretense to rinse the cup,
mixed little water, for / was not minded
that she should die before she knew me.
Then did the royal Cleopatra, taking the
goblet in her hand, turn her lovely eyes to
heaven and cry aloud:
20 ye Gods Of Egypt who have deserted
me, to you NO longer will I pray, for deaf
are your ears unto my crying, and blind
your eyes unto my griefsi Therefore I
make entreaty to that one friend whom the
Gods, departing, leave to helpless man. 0
Royal Death! sweep hither on thy cloudy
pinions, whose shadow circles all the earth,
and give me earl Thou King of Kings )
who, with an equal hand, bringest the fort
innate head to one pillow with the slave, and
by thy icy breath dost watt the bubble of
our life far from these fields of Earth,
draw near and savei Hide me where
winds blow not and waters cease to rolli
Hide me where Caesar's legions can not
marchi Take me to q new dominion and
crown me Queen of Sleep! I am In labor
Of SOUL See, it stands newborn upon the
edge Of timei Now. now. go. BREATH Come.