CLEOPATRA.
Being an Account of the Fall and
Vengeance of Harmachis, the
Royal Egyptian,
A.S SET FORTH BY HIS OWN HAND.
1 By H. Rider Haggard,
Author of " King Solomon'i Minos,"
Sho," Allan Quatermaln,"
Etc., Etc., Etc.
"Thy taunts I" will "not answer, Cleo
patra," I said, holding back my heart as
best I might; "for I have- earned them nil,
though not from theo. By this token, then,
I know It. Thou goest to visit Antony,
thou goest, a3 said that Roman knave,
'tricked in the best attire, to feast with
him whom thou shouldst givo to vultures
for their feast. Perchance, for aught I
know, thou art about to squander those
treasures that thou hast lllched from tho
body of Menkt-ra, those trensurcs stored
against tan need of Egypt, upon wanton
revels which shall complete tho shame of
Kgypt. By these things then, I know that
thou art forsworn, mid I, who, loving thee,
believed thee, tricked; and by this, also,
that thou who didst but yesternight swear
o wed me, dost to-day cover me with
taunts, mid even before that Roman put mo
to an open shame 1"
'To wed thee! And I did swear to wod
thee Well, i.ud what is marriage Is it
tho union of tho heart, hat bond beautiful
us gossamer and than gossamer moro light,
which binds soul to noul as through tho
dreamy night of passion they iioat, a bond
to be. tiorehanee. melted in the dews of
oanui"jr is ii, roe iron unit ot enforced,
unchanging union whoreby if sinks tho ono
the other must hi dragged beneath tho sea
of circumstances, there, like a punished
slave, to perish of unavoidable corruption.
Marriage 1 I to marry! I to forget free
dom and court tho worst slavery of our sex,
which, by tho selllsh will of man, tho
stronger, doth still bind us to a bed grown
hateful, anil enforce a service that lovo
mayhap no longer IiuIIowjI Of nat use,
then, to bo a Queen, if thereby 1 may not
escape tho evil of tho meanly born! Mark
thou, Harmachis: Woman being grown
bath two ills to fear, death and marriago;
und of these twain is marriago tho more
vne; for in death wo may tind rest, but in
marriage, should It fail us, we must tind
hell. Nay, being above tho breath of com
mon slander that would blast thoso who of
truo virtue will not consent to stretch af
fection's bonds, 1 love, Harmachis, but I
marry not!"
"And yesternignt thou didst swear that
thou wouldst wed me and call me to thy
side before tho faco of Egyptl"
"And yesternight tho red ring round tho
moon did mark tho coming of the storm,
und yet tho day is fair! But who knows
that the tempest may not break to-morrow I
Who knows that 1 have not chosen tho eas
ier path to savo Egypt from tho Roman?
Who knows, Harmachis, that thou snalt not
still call mo' wife i"'
Then no longer could I bear her falsehood,
fori saw thatshe but played with me. And
so 1 spoko that which was in my heart.
"Cleopatra," I cried, "thou didst swear to 1
protect Egypt, und thou art about to betray
Egypt to tlie Roman 1 Thou didst swear to
use tho treasures that I revealed to theo
for tho servico of Egypt, and thou art
ubout to uso them to bo her meaus of shame
to fashion them as fetters for her wrists!
Thou didst swear to wed me, who loved
thee, and for theo gave ill, and thou dost
mock mo and reject 1 Thereforo 1 say
with tho voice of tho dread Gods I say it
that on thee shall fall tho curso of Menlca
ra, whom thou hast robbed, indeed! Let
mo go hence und work out my doom 1 Lot
me go, O, thou fair shame 1 thou living Liol
whom I have loved to my doom, and who
hast brought upon mo tho last curso of
doom 1 Let mo hide myself and see thy face
no .-.mre !"
Sho roso m her vra'h, and terrible she
was to see.
"Let theo go to stir up evil ugainst inei
Nay, Harmachis, thou shalt not go to build
new plots against my throne 1 1 say to thee
that thou, too, shaltcomo to visit Antony
in Cilicia, and there, perchance, I will let
thee go " And ere I could answer, sho bad
struck upon tho silver gong that hung nigh
to where sho was.
Ere ics rich echo had died away there
entered from ono door Charmion and tho
waiting women, and from tho other alllo of
puards four of them ot tho Queen's body
Ruard, mighty men, Tilth winged holtnets
and long, fair hair.
"Seize that traitor!" cried Cleopatra,
pointing to me. Tho Captain of tho guard
-it was Urennus -saluted audcauio toward
mo with drawn sword.
Hut I, being mad and desperate, and little
caring if they slew mo, Sow straight at his
throat, and dealt him such a heavy blow
that tho great man fell headlong and his
armor clashed upon the marble floor. And
as he fell I seized his sword and target and,
meeting tho next, who rushed on me witli a
fdiout, caught his blow upon tho shield, und
in answer smote with all my streugth.
T'ho sword fell whero tho neck is sot
Into tho shoulder ami shearing through tho
joints of ills harness slew him, so that his
knees wcro loosened and he sank down
dead. And tho third, us he camo,
1 caught upon tho point of my
sword before he could strike, and it
pierced him mid he died. Then tho last
rushed on mo with a cry of "Taranis !" and
I, too, rushed on him, for my blood was
nliame. And tho women shrieked, only
Cleopatra said naught, but stood and
watched tho unequnl fray. Wo met und I
struck with all my -ength, and a mighty
blow it was, for th sword shore through
the iron shield and shattered there, leaving
mo weaponless. With n shout of triumph
tho guard swung up his sword and smote
down upon my head, but with my shield 1
caught the blc-.v. Again ho smote, and again
I parried; but when a third time ho raised
his sword I saw this miqht not endure, so
with a cry I hurled my bueklor at his faco.
Glancing from his shield it struck him on
tho breast and staggered iilui. Then, before
lie could regain his balance, I rushed in be
tween his guard and gripped him round tha
middle. For u full mlnuto tho tall man trad
i struggled furiously, and then, so great
was my strength in thoso days, I lifted him
like a toy und dashed hun down upou tho
marblo floor In such a fashion that his bones
v ero shattered so that ho spako no moro.
Rut I could not save myself and fell upon
him, and as 1 fell tho Captain Urennus,
whom I had smitten to earth with my fist,
having once moro found IiIb senBe, camo up
bohind me and smote mo sore upon tho
head and shoulders with the sword of ono
of thoso whom I had slam. Hut I being on
the ground tho blow fell not witli all its
weight, also my thick hair und broldercd
tip broke its force; and thus it camo to pas
that, though soro wounded, the life was yet
wholo In me. Hut no moro could I struggle
Then tha cowardly eunuobs, who ad gath
ered at tho sound of blows, and stood
huddled together like a herd of cattle, see
ing that I was spout, threw themsolvo
upon me, und would havo slain me with
their knives. UutBrcunus, now that I was
Tiowu, would strike no more, but stood
l J
I IiSMCIi HIM DOWN'.
waiting. And tho eunuchs had surely
slain me, for Cleopatra stood liko ono who
watches in u dream and mado no sign. Al
ready was my head dragged back and their
knife points ut my throat, when Charmion,
rushing forward, throw herself upon me,
and, calling them "Dogs!" desperately
thrust her body before them in such a
fashion that smito they could not. Now
Hrennus, with an oath, seized tirst ono and
then another and cast them from me.
"Sparc his life, Queen!" he cried, in his
barbarous Latin. "By Jupiter, lie is a
bravo man ! Myself felled liko an ox in tho
shambles, and three of my boys linished by
a man without armor, and taken unawares !
I grudge them not to such a man I A boon,
Queen 1 Spare his life, and give him to
mol"
"Ay, sparohiml spare him!" cried Char
mion, white and trembling.
Cleopatra drow near and looked upon the
dead und him who lay dying as I had
dashed him to tho ground, und on me, her
lover of two days gone, whoso head rested
now on Charmion's whlto robes.
I met tho Queen's glauce. "Sparo not!"
gasped; "vtt victls!" Then u Hush gath
ered on her brow, methinks it was a Hush
of shame!
"Dost lovo this man at heart, Char
mion," sho said, with n little laugh, "that
thou thrustcst thy tender body 'twlxt him
and tho knives of these sexless hounds!"
and sho cast a look of scorn upon the
eunuchs.
"Nay," answered the girl, fiercely. "But
can not stand bv to sec a bravo man mur
dered by sueti as tnr.se.-
"Ay!" said Cleopatra, "ho Is a brave
man, and gallantly ho fought; never havo
seen so fierce a tight oven in tho games
at Rome! Well, I sparo his life; though
'tis weak of me, womanish weak. Take
him to his chamber and guard him till ho is
healed or dead."
And then my brain reeled, a great sick
ness seized upon me, and I sank into tho
nothingness of swoon.
Dreams, dreams, dreams! without end
and ever changing, as for years und years
I seemed to toss upon a sea of agony. And
through them n vision of a dark-eyed wom
an's tender faco and tho touch of a
whlto hand soothing me to rest. Visions,
too, of a Royal countenance bonding at
times over my rocking bed n countenance
that I could not grusp, but whoso beauty
(lowed through my fevered veins and was a
part of me visions of childhood and of tho
Templo towers of Abouthls, and of tho
white-haired Amenemhat, my father ay!
and an ever-prei-ent vision of that dread
hall iu Amenti, and of tho small altar and
tho Spirits clad in fiame! Thcro I seemed
to wander everlastingly, calling on tho Holy
Mother, whoso memory 1 could not grasp;
sailing over and in vain ! For no cloud de
fended upon tho altar, only fiomtimeto
time tho voice pealed aloud: "Strikoout
tho name of Harmachis, child of Earth,
front tho living Book of Hor, who Was and
Is and Shall Bo ! Lost! lout! Inst! "
And then nnother voice would nnswer:
"Not yet! not yet! Repontanco is nl
hand; strike not out tho name of Har
machis, child of Earth, from tho living
Book of Her, who Was and Is anrt Shall
Bo 1 By suffering may sin bo wiped away 1"
I woke to find myself in my own chanibce
In tho tower of tho palace. So weak was 1
that I scarce could lift my hand, and lift
seemed but to ilutter in my breast as ilut
ters a dying dove. I could not turn my
head; I could not stir; yet in my heart there
was a sense of rest, and of dark trouble
done. Tho light hurt my eyes; I shut
them; and as 1 shut them, heard tho swec-p
of a woman's robes upon the stair, and a
swift, light step that woll I know. It waa
that of Cleopatra 1
Sho entered, and her footltUl drow nigh.
Ifolthercomel Evory pulso in my poor
framo beat an answer to hor footfall, and
nil my mighty lovo and hate rose from tha
darkness of my doath-liko sleep and rent
mo In their struggle I Sho leaned over mo ;
her ambrosial breath played upon my faco.
I could hear tho beating of her heartl
Lower sho leaned, till nt last her Hps
touched mo softly on tho brow. "Poor
man 1" I heard her murmur. "Poor, weak,
dyingmuul Fate hath been hard to theol
Too good wert thou to bo tho sport of such
a ono as I, tho pawn that I must movo In
my play of policy! Ah I Harmachis 1
thou shouldst have ruled the game!
Thoy could give theo learning, thoso plot
ting priests; but knowledge of mankind
they could not glvo thee, nor
fence theo 'gainst tho march
of Naturo's law. And thou didst lovo mo
with all thy heart ah! well I know itl
Man like, thou didst love the eyes that, as a
pirate's lights, beckoned theo to ship
wrecked ruln,nnd didst hangdotingon the
lips that lied thy heart uway and call theo
'slave' I Well, tho garao was fair, for thou
wouldst have Blain mo; and yet I grieve I
Bo thou dost diol and this is my farewell to
thee I Never may wo meet again on earth ;
and perchance, 'tis well; for who knows,
when my hour of tenderness Is past, how I
might deal with thee didst thou llvel Thou
dost die, they say thoso learned, long-faced
fools, who, if they let theo die, shall pay the
price I And where, then, shall we meet
again when my Jast throw is thrown! Wo
shall be equal there, in tho kingdom that
Osiris rules. A littlo time, a few years
perchanco to-morrow, and we shall meet;
then, knowing all I am, how wilt thou greet
me there! Nay, hero, as there, still must
thou love me; for injuries can not touch tho
immortality of such a love as thine 1 Con
tempt alone can, liko acid, eat away the
strong lovo of noble hearts and reveal the
pitiful truth In its poor nakedness. Still
must thou love me, Harmachis; for what
ever my sins, yet am I great nd 80t nbova
thy scorn. Would that I could havo loved
thee as thou lovest me I Almost did I so
when thou slowest thoso guards; and yet,
not quite.
"Oh, what a fenced city Is my heart, that
none can take It, and o'en when I throw
wide open tho doors no man may win Its
citadel I Oh, to put away this loneliness
and loso me In another's soul. Oh, for a
year, a month, an hour to quite forget jxli
' cy, peoples ami my pomp of place, and be
, but a loving woman I Hurmachls, fare theo
Weill Oo Join Oroat Julius whom thine art
' called up from death before me, and tako
Egypt's greetings Jo him. Ah, well I fooled
' thee ; "and I fooled Cnjsar--perchance oc7oro I
'tis done fate will Und monnd myself I shall :
i bo fooled I Harmachis, fare theo well 1"
I Sho turned to go, and ns sho turned I j
' heard tho sweep of nnother dress and tho j
light fall of auothcr woman's foot. ,
"Ah! 'tis thou, Charmion. Well, for all I
thy watching, tho man dies." 1
"Ay," sho answered. In n voico thick with
pVief. "Ay, O Queen, so say tho physicians.
Forty hours hath ho been in stupor so deep
that at times his breath could hardly lift
this tiny feather's weight, and scarco could
my ear, placed against his breast, tako no
tice of tho rising of his heart. For ten long
days I now havo watched him day and
night, till mino eyes stare wide open with
want of sleep, and for falntuess, scarco can
I keep myself from falling. And of all my
labor this is tho end 1 Tho blow of that ac
cursed Hrennus has doue its work, and
Harmachis dies!"
"Lovo counts not its labor, Charmion, nor
can it weigh its tenderness inthoscaloof
purchase. That which it hath It gives, and
craves for moro to givo nnd give, till tho
soul's infinity be drained. Dear to thy
heart nro these nights of watching; sweet
to thy weary even is that sad sight of
strength brought so low that it hangs upon
thy weakness like a babe unto its mother's
breast! For, Charmion, thou dost lovo this
man who loves not thee, and now that ho
is helpless thou canst pour thy passion o'er
tho unanswering darkness of his soul and
cheat thyself with dream of what yet might
bo!"
"I love him not, ns thou hast proof, O
Queen 1 How can 1 lovo one who would
havo slain thee, who art ns my heart's sis
ter I 'Tis for pity that I nurso him."
, Sho laughed a little us slw answereed :
"Pity Is love's own twin. Wondrous way
ward aro tho paths of woman's love, and ,
thou hast shown thino strangely, that I
know. But tho moro high tho lovo tho
moro deep tho gulf wherelnto it can fall
ay, and thenco soar again to heaven, once
more to fall! Poor woman, thou art thy
passions' plaything; now tender ns tho
morning sky, and now, when jealousy grips
thy heart, moro cruel than tho sea. Well,
thus aro wo made. Soon, ufter all this
troubling naught will bo loft theo but toars,
remorse nnd memorv. " J
1 And sho went forth.- '
CHAPTER XXI.
' Or TUB TEJTOEH CAHti OK CHARMION; Or TltK
HEA1.INU OF HAHMACHIS: OF TICK SAILING I
OP THE VC.EET OF CC.EOl'ATltA FOH CII.ICIA; I
AND OF TICK SPEECH
MACI1IS.
OF HHUNNUS TO II All-
LEOPATRA wont,
und for uwhilo I lay
silent, gathering up
my s t r o n g t h to
speak. But Char
mion camo and stood
over me, and I felt a
great tear fall from
hor dark eyes upon
my fnco, as tho llrst
hoavy drop of rain falls
from a stormy cloud.
"Thou goest," sho whis
pered "thou goest fast whith
er 1 mav not follow! O Harmachis,
how gladly would I glvo my lifo
for thino!" I
Then at length I opened my oyca, aud as ,
best I could I spoke
noatruln liv irrief. dear friend." T said,
"Illvoyet; aim, lir truth, l leei ns tnougn
new lifo did gather in my breast 1" j
"Thou 11 vest I" sho cried, throwing hor- I
self upon her knees besido my couch.
"Thou llvest and I thought thee gouo!
Thou art come back to mol Oh! what say
U How foolish is n woman's heart! 'Tis i
this long watching! Nay; sleop and rest f
thee, Harmachis ! why dost thou talk!
Not one moro word, I command thee, '
straiglitly! Oh, whero Is tho draught left j
by that long-bearded fool! Nay, thou shalt
have no draught I There, sleep, Harmachis; j
sloept" and she crouched down at my side ,
and laid her cold hand upon my brow, mur- ,
muring: "Sleep, sleep, Uep!"
And when I woke up thcro still sho was, .
but the lights of dawn wore peeping through i
tho casement. Thero Btill so knelt, one I
hand upon my forehead, nnd her head, in
all Its disarray of curls, restiug upon her
outstretched arm. "Charmion," I whis- ,
pered, "havo I slept!"
Instantly sho was wide awake and gaz
ing on mo with tender oyes. "Yea, thou ,
hast slept, Harmachis." ,
"How long, then, havo I slept!"
"Nino hours."
"Asd thou hast held thy place thero, at
my side, for nine long hours!"
"Yea, It Is naught; I also havo slept I
feared to waken theo If I stirred."
"Go rest thee," I said. "It shames mo to
think of this thing. Go rest thee, Char
mion!" "Vex not thyself," she answered "see,
I will bid a slave watch thee and to wako
me if thou needst augst; I sleep there, in
tho outer chamber. Peace I go!" and bho
strove to rise, but, so cramped was she, foil
straightway on the lloor.
Scarco can I tell the sense of shamo that
filled mo when I saw hor fall. Aiasl I could
not stir to help her.
"It Is naught," she said; "movo not, I did
but catch my foot. There I" und she roso,
ugain to fall "a pest upon my awkward
ness! why I must be sleeping! 'tis woll
now. 1 11 send the slave," and sho stag- ,
gerod thonce liko ono o'ercomo with wino. j
And after that, once more I slept, for I
was vory weak-. When l woko hwusui
tornoou, and I craved for food, which Char
mion brought me.
I ato I "Then I die not!" I said.
"Nay," sho answered, with a toss of her
head, "thou wilt live. In truth, I did waste
my pity on thee."
"And thy pity did savo my life," I said,
wearily, for now I remembered.
"It is naught," sho answered, carelessly.
"After all, thou art my cousin; also, I lovo
nursing; 'tis a woman's trade. Liko
enough I had done as much for any slave.
Now, too, that tho dangor is past, I leave
theo."
"Bettor hudst thou done to let mo die,
Charmion," I said after uwhilo, "for life to
mo can now bo naught but one long shamo.
Tell mo, then, when sails Cleopatra for
Cilicia I"
"In twenty days she satis, and with such
pomp and glory us Egypt hath never soon.
Of a truth, I can not guess where she has
found tho gold to gather In this storo of
splendor, as a husbandman gathers his rich
fruits."
But I, knowing whence came tho wealth,
groaned in bitterness of spirit, und mado
no nnswer.
"Goest thou also, Charmion!" I asked,
presently.
"Ay, I und all the Court. Thou, too-tuou
goest."
"I go I Nay, why is thlsT"
"Because thou art hor slave, and must
march in gilded chains behind hor chariot;
becauso sho fears to leavo theo hero In
Khem; because it Is her will, and thero Is
an end."
"Charmion, can 1 not escape!"
"Escape, thou poor sick man I Nay, how
canst thou escape! K'en now most strictly
art thou guarded. And If thou didst es
capo, whither wouldst thou fly! Tliero'snot
an honest man In Egypt but woulcbplt on
thee in scorn t"
Onco moro I groaned in spirit, and bcinif
Vri v 1ST
so weak 1 feil Vuo Tears TuVi "a-Cown luy
cheek.
"Weep not I" sho said, hastily, and turn
ing her fnco aside. "Be a man, nnd bravo
theso troubles out. Thou hast sown, now
must thou reap; but after harvest tho
waters riso nnd wash away tho roots, and
then onco moro comes seed time. Per
chance, yonder in Cilicia, u way may bo
found when once moro thou art strong
whereby thou muyst lly-lf in truth thou
canst bear thy lifo apart from Cleopatra's
smllo; then in some far land must thou
dwell till theso thiugs are forgotten. And
now my task is done, so faro theo well. At
times will 1 como and see that thou ueedest
naught."
So sho went, and thenceforward was I
nursed, and that skillfully, by tho physician
nnd two women slaves; nnd ns my wound
Wealed so my strength came back to me,
slowly at llrst, then most swiftly. In four
days from that tlmo 1 left my couch, and In
three more I could walk an hour iu the pal
nco gardens; another week and 1 could
read and think, though 1 went no more to
Court And at longth ono afternoon Char
mion camo and bado mo mnko ready, for In
two days would tho fleet sail, tirst for tho
coast of Syria, and thenco to the gulf of
lssus and Cilicia.
Thereon, with all formality, und In writ
ing, 1 craved leavo of Cleoputruthat I might
bo left, urging that my health was even
now so fceblo that I could not travel. But
hi answer a messago was sent to uie that I
must come. And soon tho appointed day I
was carried on n litter down to tho boat,
and together with that very soldier who had
cut mo down, tho Captain Brcnuus, and
others of his troop (who, indeed, were sent
to guurd me), we rowed aboard tho vessel
whero sho lay at nuchor with the rest of tho
great fleet. For Cleopatra was voyaging as
though to war in much pomp, und escorted
by a mighty fleet of ships, whereof her
galley, built like ahouso and lined through
out with cedar and silken hangings, was tho
most beautiful uud costly that the world
lias over seen. But ou this vessel 1 wont
not, und, therefore, it chanced that I saw
not Cleopatra nor Churmion till wo landed
at tho mouth of tho Rlvor Cydnus. The
signal being mudc, tho fleet set sail; und
tho wind being fair, ou the evening of the
second dny wo camo to Joppa. Thenco wo
sailed slowly with contrary winds up the
coast of Syria, making Coisaroa uud Ptol
cmais uud Tyrus and Berytus und past
Lebanon's whito brow crowned with
his crest of cedars, on to Heraclea
and ucross tho Gulf of lssus to the mouth
of Cydnus. And over as wo journeyed
tho strong brcathof tho sea brought back
my health, till ut longth, save for u lino of
wiilto upon my head, where tho sword had
fallen, was 1 almost as 1 had been. And
ono night, as wo drew near Cydnus, while
Brennus and 1 sat alone together ou tho
deck, his oyo fell upon the white mark his
tiword had made, und ho swore n great
oath by bis heathen gods. "An' thou hudst
died, lad," ho said, "methinks 1 could
never again havo hold up my head! Ah!
that was a coward stroke, aud shamed am
1 to think that 1 should have struck it, aud
thou ou the ground and with thy buck to
mo! Knowest thou that when thou didst
lie 'twixt lifo und death, every day 1 camo
to ask tid'ags of thee! and I sworo by
Taraiils that if thou didst die I'd turn my
back upou that soft palace lifo and then
uway for tho Nonh."
"Nay, troublo not, Brennus," I nnswored;
"it was thy duty."
"Mayhap I but thero are duties that a
bravo man should not do nay, not at tho
bidding of any Queen who ever ruled lu
Egypt! Thy blow had dazed mo or Iliad
not struct What is it, ladiart in troublo
witli this Queen of ours! Why urt tli-u
dragged u prisoner upon this pleasure
party! Knowest thou that wo aro strictly
charged that if thou dost escapo our lives
shall pay tho price!"
"Ay, in soro trouble, friend," I an
swered ; "ask mo no moro."
"Then, being of tho ngo thou art there's
a woman in it, that swear I and, per
chanco, though I um rough and foolish, I
might make u guess. Look thou, lad, what
sayestthou! lam u-woary of the sorvlco
of Cleoucrn und this hot latyl of deserts
and of" luxury, that sup" a man s strongtii
and drain 1 Is pocket; aud so are others
whom I wot of. What sayost thou; let's
tako ono of theso unwieldy vessels und
uway to tho North? I'll load theo to a hot
ter land than Egypt a laud of luko and
mouutalu and great forests of sweet
scented pino; ay, und llnd thee u girl lit
to mato with, mluo own niece u strong
girl, und tall, with wido blue oyes, and
long, fair huir, und urma that would crack
thy rib woro sho to hug theol Corns,
what sayest thou! Put away the past, and
away for tho bouny North, and bo a son to
mo."
For a moment I thought, and then sadly
shook my head; for though sorely was 1
tempted to bo gone, I know that in Egypt
lay my fnto, and my fato I might not fly.
"It muy not bo, Brennus," I unswercd.
"Fain would I that it might bo, but I am
bound by a chain of destiny wh:oh I can not
break, und iu tho laud of Egypt I must llva
and die."
"As thou wilt, lud," said tho old warrior.
"Dearly should 1 havo loved to marry theo
among my peoplo and make a son of theo.
At tho leust, remember thut while I am
hero thou hast Brennus for u friend. And
ono tiling more : beware of that beauteous
Queen of thine, for, by Taranis, perchance
an hour mny como when sho will hold that
them knowest too much, und then" nnd
ho drew his hand ucross his throat. "And
now good night, a OJp of wine, then to
sleop, for to-morrow the foolery"
Ilcre teveral leituth of the tetoml roll of
jutpurut are no broken a to he indecipherable,
lliey teem to h ue been lecrl)tUenf Cleopatra'
voytiue up the Cydnut to the cttu of 7'auta.J
And tho writing continues to thoso who
could take joy In such things tho sight must,
indeed, have been a gullant one. For tha
stern of our galley was covered with sheets
of beaten gold, tho sails were of the scar
let of Tyro, and tho oars of silver dipped In
tho wator to tho measure of music. And
thero In tho center of the vessel, bencuth
nn awning ablazo with goal embroidery, lay
Cleopatra, uttired as the Roman Venus
(and surely Venus was not moro fair!), lu
a thin roboof whitest silk, bound In beneath
her breast with a golden girdle delicately
graven o'er with scenes of lovo. All ubout
"xodij: astuont, thou hast called mb."
her woro little rosy boys, chosen for
their beauty, and clnd in naught scve
downy wings strapped upon their sh uildcrs,
aud on their backs Cupid's bow nnd quiver,
who fanned her with funs ot plumes. And
upon tho vessel's decks, handling tho cord
Ago that was of silken web, and softly sing
ing to the sound of harps and tho beat of
oars, stood no rough sailors, but women
lovely to behold, soino clad ns Graces and
ooino as Nereids that is, scarco clad at all,
save in their scented hair. And behind
Mio couch, with drawn sword, stood Bren
jus, in splendid armor and winged
helm of gold; und by him others I
nmong them -In robes richly worked, und
knew that 1 was Indeed a slave 1 On the
high poop also burned golden censers flllod
with the costliest incense, whereof tho fra
grant steam hung In little clouds about out
wake.
Thus, ns In a dream of luxury, followed
by many ship, we glided on toward the
wooded slopes of Taurus, nt whoso foot lay
that ancient cityTarsblsh. And us wo came
the peoplo gathered on the banks und ran
before us shouting: "Venus is risen from
the seal Venus hath come to visit Bac
chus I"' Wo drow near to the city, and all
its people every one who could walk or be
carried-erowded down lu thousands to tho
docks, uud with them camo tho wholo army
of Antony, seat length tho Triumvir was
left aiono upon tho judgment sent
With them camo Dcllius, tho falso
tongued, fawning and bowing, uud In tho
name of Antony gavo the "Queen of Beau
ty" greeting, bidding her to u feast that
Antony had mado ready. But she made high
nnswer, uud said: "Forsooth, 'tis Antouy
who should wait onus; not wo on Antony.
Hid tho noble Antony to our poor tablo this
nicht, else wo dino alone."
Dellius went, bowing to tho ground; the
feast was made ready; and then ut last I
set eyes on Antony. Clnd In purple robes
ho came, a great man nnd bountiful to see,
net in tho stout prime of life, with bright
ejes of blue, und curling hair, and foatures
cut sharply us u Grecian gem. For great
ho was of form and royal of mien, aud with
an open countenance, whorcon his thoughts
were writ so clear that nil might read thoin ;
only the weakness of tho mouth boiled tho
power of tho brow. Ho camo companioned
by his goncrals, and when ho reached tho
couch whereon Cleopatra lay he stood as
tonished, gazing on her with wldo-oponed
oyes. She, too, gazed on him earnestly; I
saw tho red blood run up boncutti her skin,
and a great pang of jealousy seized uxn
my heart. And Churmion, who saw nil be
neath hor downcast oyes, saw this nlso and
smiled. But Cleopatra spoke no word, only
sho stretched out her whlto hand for him
to kiss; aud he, saying no word, took her
hand aud kis-tod it.
"Behold, noblo Autonyl" sho suid at last
in hor voico of muslo, "thou hast called mo,
and I am como."
"Venus has come," ho unswored in his
deep notes, und still holding his oyos fast
llxou upon her faco. "I called a woman; u
Goddess hath rlson from the dcepl"
"To And a. God to greet hor on the laud,"
she laughed with ready wit. "Woll, u truco
to compliments, for being on tho earth u'en
a Venus is n-hungercd. Noblo Antony, thy
hnnd."
Tho trumpets blared, aud through tho
bowing crowd, Cleopatra, followed by her
train, pnssud hand in hand Willi Antony to
tho fenst.
lleit ther U nnother break in the tmpjru.
to hi: co.NTi.suiniJ.
RELIGIOUS AND EDUCATIONAL.
Tho Cincinnati city church exten
sion society has under its euro three
flourishing missions.
At tho last primary scholarship ox
ninliiatlon in Hongal oiglitout of twenty
scholarships woro awarded to girls.
Eight hundred priests and laymen
havo petitioned tho l'opo to eanonlzo
Columbus October IS, tho anniversary of
.ho discovery of America.
Denmark, Norway and Swednn con
tribute) annually about $!S0O,O()O for for
eign missions, having 100 missionaries
in tho Held, with a membership of !il),000
in tlioir missions.
In ono year no fowor than twenty
six associations havo been formed in
Victoria in commotion with tho Young
Moil's Sabbath Morning Fellowship
Union a purely Scottish idea.
The ollicors of tho Ohio branch of
tlie Woman's Hoard nro trying to estab
lish at Obnrlin a homo for tho children
of missionaries. During tho past year
thirty sons and daughters of missiona
ries havo boon studying ut Oborlin.
The British and Foreign Itiblo So
ciety reports thut tho sacred Scriptures
woro last year translated into six frosli
languages. Tho number of tongues in
which this society now publishes tho
Bible Is thus Increased to !100. Fifty
years ago it was published In.lfiO tongues.
Tho society distributed -l.'JOd.OOO volumes
dring tho year.
Of tho threo Scandinavian lands
Denmark, Norway tuid Sweden tho
Norwegians claim to he tho best givers
to tho mission cause, thoy giving about
f cents per head to Sweden's 'J and Don
viark s 1. On tho wholo, tho threo laiulsi
havo in tho Uullicran mission work ono
hundred missionaries in the Hold, with a
total collection of $100,000.
Tim llrst Massachusetts State Con
vention of Sunday-schools was latolj
hold In Tioinont Tcniplo, liostoii. Hoy,
Drs. A. U. Dunning, E. .1. Ilnyiics, F. N.
JVloiihot, I!. It. Meredith, A. F. Scliauf
llcr mid Wuri on liiiudolph and Mr. It.
V, .lacolis and Miss Luey Wheoloek
wore among tho most noted speakers. It
was proposed to secure a building ut the
World's Fair in 1MJ for Siinday-seliool
exiilbltlon purposes.
-Tho organization lu existence for
i-onio years among Protestants, called
"Tho Daughters of thu King," has boon
imitated by tho organization among tho
ftoiuiiiiists of "Tim Daughters of tho
Queen." It was organized lu St. Louis,
December (1. 1880. It is said "they will
help tho Ignorant mid destitute children
of tho city, gathering them Into Satur
day sowing-schools, teaching them hub
its of personal deportment, cleanliness,
etc. The glVls who aro taught sewing
will bo given the clothing they iiiako,
lis rewards of merit. Mid-Continent.
- Peking University Is un educational
enterprise projected by the Methodist
Episcopal Church In connection with its
iiIhhIoii work In China. It Is only tho
I riu of the enterprise that is new; It
iuh begun us Wlloy Institute. The do
ve lopicicnt of tho Institution Into u nut-
rsity iiAiikoiiH ii great deal of Interest
ft the- Flowery Kingdom. Tim Chlnoso
Jiiiiis. mi Independent secular weekly
of Tientsin, discusses It very fuvorably,
und wishes it all success. An appeal Is
made to Christians lu the United States
for mi endowment fund of hulf a million
dollars for tho iinlvorslty.
HE WAS FORGIVEN.
A Wee iUty' Mother Couldn't Stnnil Hl
Culm lt-li;nittlin.
A Lowlston little boy declared a phil
osophic independence and accepted tho
consequences In so matter-of-fact a way
that It may make a story, even If it is
not so very funny. Ills mother dressed
him up in a new flannel shirt and sent
him to school. Tlie shirt irritated his
cuticle, or, In other words ho, itched.
When he came homo that night ho was
cross, and very cross for so small a boy,
and ho declared he and the shirt had
parted company forever. The next
morning, as the mother prepared to dres-s.
him for school the boy drew the lino at
the shirt. "No," said he, "I don't
wantcr wear that shirt." A brief debato
ensued, in which the boy appeared to
have formed his opinion and to havo dot
clded to stick to it. The question, when
put to the house, was carried by tlmlxty,
who would not don the shirt.
"If you will not wear It," said his
mother. "I will send you back to bed."
Hack to bed he went. He got no din
ner. Afternoon came. A neighbor
went into see him, his mother tolling
her that she had a bad boy up-stairs.
The boy lay thero in bed wide1 awake,
his little chocks flushed with the situa
tion, but showing no sign of a eliango of
heart.
"Don't you want to go to school?"
asked the neighbor.
"School'.'" was tho reply. "I shall
never go to school again."
"Don't you want to'.'"
"Yes, but I can't, l'vo got to stay
here."
"All your life?"
"Yes'm," was the reply, "all my lifo.
1 shan't ever got up again, prob'ly."
What could a mother's heart do
against so philosophic an acceptunco of
the termination of a career as this?
What but kiss him at tea and go ami
buy the littlo bunch of pluck rsome,
downy littlo undershirts that should
never tickle him. Lowlston (Mo.).lour
nal. THE COMING MECHANIC.
lie Will Ho it lllll'eriMit .Mini from tho
ArlUun or To.duy.
Tho coming mechanic, says an ox
change, bred in training schools, will bo
a very dllToront man from tho mechnnlo
of tho present. Even tho young me
chanic who Is now learning In tho shop
will, in some vory Important respects,
bo at a disadvantage when ho comes
Into contact mid competition with tho
young mechanic who is now In tho
school.
Tim shop graduate may bo "prac
tical." and the school graduate will ba
equally "practical," with tho addiHl ad
vantage of wldo thoorotlcal knowledge.
Tho shop graduate may beablo to do all
tho work planned or designed for him,
nnd the school graduate will bo able,
not only to do the work, but also to do
the planning and tho designing. In
every way tho school graduate will havo
all tlie good points of tho shop graduate,
with added good points duo to wider in
formation, while ho will luck most ot
tho bad points of tho shop graduate.
All this means that tho coming me
chanic is to bo a vory dlireront purson
from the present and past mechanic.
There will bo it great change for thu
hotter wrought by the modern training;
school. Tim boy in tho shop may bo
sot to turn a wheel. Ho simply sees it
in position, and ho does what ho Is told
to do, without asking or knowing thu
reason why it is done. Tho boy In
training school goes through the same
practice under full instructions concern
ing tho nature of tho material, thu
proper cutting speed, and ovory thing,
olso connected with tho job. Tho shop
boy finishes, and is simply tired niiw
cularly or nervously. Tho school boy
llnlshes, und feels himself master ot
that particular job. Can any mechanic
fall to appreciate tho wido dliToronoo
between two mechanics trained in waya
sodliterent? Soiontlllo Amoricau.
UNPARALLELED NERVE.
A IJtlcu (.V. V.) Woman Who
Is .MiiiIii of HriiHM.
Apparently
Yesterday morning a lady walked Into
an tip-town doctor's olllco and asked
permission to use his tolophono. Tho
gentloinanly physician acquiesced with
pleasure, but was somewhat astonished
to hoar his visitor call up another doc
tor's olllco. Sho had somo dtllloulty
witli the telephone, and requested thu .
doctor to do the talking for her. First
she wanted him to toll Ills brother prac-
titlonor, Dr. (! , that sho was sick
and that sho would Immediately bo
down to see him. "Groat Scott," ojaou
lated tho latter, "don't send her down
here. She has hung up ovory doctor in
town. Tell hor I havo an urgont call
and won't be In again to-day. Send hoc
to Dr. II ." In terms tho iiiostsuavu
tho doctor told his visitor thut Dr.
(5 would bo unablo to seo hor,
hut that she might do woll to
seo Dr. It . "Hut toll him
thut it is s"rlous and that I must nco
him," she said. The doctor mado an
other elfort, but he heard tho man at
tho other end of the lino hanging- up
his receiver in a most desperate fashion.
The woman llnally conlldud to him thut
sho guessed she would go tip street and
see another Doctor (1 , who sho waa
sure would comfort her ills.
The doctor whoso olllco was thus in
vaded found It necessary to tako a lonjj
rest to recover from tho shock which ha
afterward said was given to him by wit
nessing so severe ami aggravated u cauo
of "nerve." llo subsequently found
that not long bo fore tho same patient
had gone Into ono Dr. ! 's olllco and
secured his services to telephone u drug
storo to site why tho niedlclno pro
scribed for he? by Dr. 11 hud not
been sent up. Utlca (N. Y.) Herald.
Notlilni: I.Ike llttliiK I'repured.
Lawyer (tho ordinary kind) What
tlmo was it when you suw tho defendant
strike this blow?
Witness (tho extraordinary kind)
Seven and one-half minutes past ten.
"Seven und one-half inluutos past ton.
Will you he kind enough to toll mo how
you como to bo so oxaetV"
"I thought somo fool might ask mo,
bo I looked ut my watch." l'liila.lulphla,
Inquirer.