The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1894-08-01
CHAPTER XXI

CHAPTER XXI
OF THE FEAST OF CLEOPATRA: OF THE MELT
ING OF THE PEARL; OF THE SAYING OF HAIR
MAcHIs; AND OF CLEoPArRA's VOWS or
LOVE
It @N TIE third night
cU ~ 80 once more was the
MESaSfAiSSN feast prepared in the
E@4HV$eSYAMfs hall Of tho great
w. house that had been
II l56TSS - Sti1J set aside to the use
II 5s N stss ErNC Of Cleopatra, and on
II E&(SMt$SisSs4ss this night its splendor
II f3NYES1<d,: was greater even than
| ll&S''I k\Ess-E on the nights before.
)IsifsSvz4 sSsS5sS For the twelve triclinia
Ez=1ESlIA(Wa (couches) that were set
~ : KIN about the table were en-
- -zsrS/ bossed with gold, and
- those of Cleopatra and An
tony were of gold set with jewels. The
dishes also were all Of gold set with jewels,
the walls were hung with purple cloths
sewn with gold, and on the floor were
strewn fresh roses ankle deep, covered
with net of gold, that as the slaves trod
them sent up their perfume. Once again
WIS bid to stand with Charmion and Iras
and Meri:a 5ehind the couch Of Cleopatra,
and, hike a slave, from time TO time call out
the hours as they few. And there being
no help wild at heart / went; but this
swore i; should be Tor the last time, for
could not bear that SHAME. For though
would no. yet believe what Charnion told
me-that Cleopatra was about to become
the love OF Antony-yet could no more enc
dure this iGnomny and torture. For FROM
Cleopatra now 1 had no words save such
words as Queen speaks to her slave, and
methinks it gave her dark heart pleasure to
torment ne
Thus it came to pass that ], the
Pharaoh, crowned of Khem, stood among
eunuchs and waiting women behind the
couch OF Egypts Queen while the feast
went mcrrily and the wine.cup passed.
And ever Antony sat, his Dyes fixed upon
the face of Cleopatra, who from time to
tune let her deep glance lose itself IN his,
and then for little while their talk died
away For he told her tales of war and
deeds that he had done-Gy, and love-jests
such as are not meet for the ears OF
women. But at naugnt took she oflense;
rather, falling into his humor, would she
cap his stories with others Of finer wis,
but not less shameless.
At length, the rich meal being finished,
Antony sazed at the splendor round him.
"Tell me, then, most lovely Egyptln he
said, ''are the sands OF Nile compact Of gold,
that thou canst, night by night, thus squan-
der the ransom of King upon single
feastl Whence comes this untold wealthsn
/ Ibethought me of the tomb Of the divine
Menka-ra, whose holy treasure was thus
wickedly wasted, and looked up, so that
Cleopatra eyes caught mine; but, reading
my thoughts, she frowned heavily.
"Why, noble Antony" she said, "surely
ii is naa Shti In Egypt we have our secrets,
and know whence to conjure riches at our
need Say, what is the value of this golden
service, and OF the meats and drinks that
have been set before usw
"Maybe, thousand sestertia "
"Thou hast understated it by half, noble
Antonyl But, such as it is, give it thee
and those with thee as o free token of my
friendship And more will l show thee
now. /, myself, win eat and drink ten thou-
sand sestertia at a draught.n
''Ihat can not be, fair Egyptm
She laughed and bado d slave bring her
vinegar IN glass. When il was brought
she set it before her and laughed again,
while Antony, rising from his couch, drew
near and sat himself AZ her side, aud all the
company lecnt forward TO see what sha