Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-01-16

throat, and dealt him such u heavy blow
that the great man fell headiong and els
arnlor clashed upon the marble floor. And
as he fell seized his sword and target and,
meeting the next who rushed on me with
shout, caught his blow upon the shield. and
in answer smote with all my strength.
The sword fell where the neck is sss
into the shoulder and shearing through the
Joints of his harness slew him, so that his
knees were loosened and he sank down
dead, And the third, es he came,
l caushe upon the point Of my
sword before he could strike, and it
pierced him and he died. Then the last
rushed on me with a cry Of ''TaranisI' and
!, too, rushed on him, for my blood was
afame. And the women shrieked, only
Cleopatra said naught, but stood and
watched the unequal fray. We met and 1
struck with all my strength, and mighty
blow it was, for the sword shore through
the iron shield and shattered there, leaving
me weaponless. With shout of triumph
the guard swung up hA sword and smote
down upon my head, but with my shield
caught the blow. Again he smote, and again
parried; but when third time he raised
his sword I saw this might not endure, so
with cry hurled my buckler at his face.
Glancing from his shield 1t struck him on
the breast and staggered him. Then, before
he could regain his balance, rushed in be,
tween his guard and gripped him round the
middle. For q full minute the tall man and
l struggled furiously, and then, so great
was my strength in those days, lifted him
like toy and dashed him down upon the
marble floor in such a fashion that his bones
were shattered so that he spake no more.
But could not save myself and fell upon
him, and as I fell the Captain Brennus,
whom had smitten to earth with my fist,
having once more found his sense, came up
behind me and smote me sore upon the
head and shoulders with the sword of one
of those whom had slain. But 1 being on
the ground the blow fell not with all its
weight, also my thick hair and broidered
cap broke its force; and thus it came to pass
that, though sore wounded, the life was yet
whole in me. But no more could struggle.
Then the cowardly euruchs, who had gath
cred at the sound of blows, and stood
huddled together like herd Of cattle, see-
ing that / was spent, threw themselves
upon me, and would have slain me with
their knives But Brennus, now that I was
down, would strike no more, but stood
waiting. And the eunuchs had surely
slain me, for Cleopatra stood like one who
watches in dream and made no sign. Al
ready was MY head dragged back and their
knife points at my throat, when Charmion,
rushing forward. threw herself upon me,
and, calling them "Dogs!" desperately
thrust her body before them in such
fashion that smite they could not. Now
Brennus, with an oath, seized first one and
then another and cast them from me.
''Spare his life, Queenr' he cried, IN his
barbarous Latin. by Jupiter, he is q
brave man! Myself felled like an OK in the
shambles, and three Of my boys finished by
man without armor, and taken unawares!
grudge them not to such maui A boon,
Queenl Spare his life, and give him to
mer
GAY, spare him! spare himr' cried Char
mion, white and trembling.
Cleopatra drew near and looked upon the
dead and him who lay dying as I had
dashed him to the ground, and on me, her
| lover of two days gone, whose head rested
now on Charmion's white robes.
| Imet the Queens glance. sSpare notr'
I gasped; ''ve vietisr' Then a flush gath
| cred on her brow, methinks it was a flush
| of shamel
| "Dost love this man at heart, Char
| mion,n she said, with little laugh, ''that
| thou thrustest thy tender body 'twixt him
| and the knives of these sexless hounds2"
| and she cast a look of scorn upon the
| euEuchs.
s1Nay," answered the girl, tiercely. 'tB~-
can not stand by to see q brave Nan muir
dered by such as these"
"Ayr' said Cleopatra, she is brave
man, and gallant.y he fought; never have