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once again I see my legions' spears asparkle in the sun； and hear the
thunderous shout of welcome as Antonybeloved Antonyrides in pomp
of war along his deep…formed lines！ There's hope！ there's hope！ I may
yet see the cold brows of C？sarthat C？sar who never errs except from
policyrobbed of their victor bays and crowned with shameful dust！〃
〃Ay；〃 cried Charmion； 〃there still is hope； if thou wilt but play the
man！ O my Lord！ come back with us； come back to the loving arms of
Cleopatra！ All night she lies upon her golden bed； and fills the
hollow darkness with her groans for 'Antony！' who； enamoured now of
Grief； forgets his duty and his love！〃
〃I come！ I come！ Shame upon me； that I dared to doubt her！ Slave；
bring water； and a purple robe： not thus can I be seen of Cleopatra。
Even now I come。〃
In this fashion； then； did we draw Antony back to Cleopatra； that the
ruin of the twain might be made sure。
We led him up the Alabaster Hall and into Cleopatra's chamber； where
she lay； her cloudy hair about her face and breast； and tears flowing
from her deep eyes。
〃O Egypt！〃 he cried； 〃behold me at thy feet！〃
She sprang from the couch。 〃And art thou here； my love？〃 she murmured；
〃then once again are all things well。 Come near； and in these arms
forget thy sorrows and turn my grief to joy。 Oh； Antony； while love is
left to us； still have we all！〃
And she fell upon his breast and kissed him wildly。
That same day； Charmion came to me and bade me prepare a poison of the
most deadly power。 And this at first I would not do； fearing that
Cleopatra would therewith make an end of Antony before his time。 But
Charmion showed me that this was not so； and told me also for what
purpose was the poison。 Therefore I summoned Atoua； the skilled in
simples； and all that afternoon we laboured at the deadly work。 And
when it was done； Charmion came once more； bearing with her a chaplet
of fresh roses； that she bade me steep in the poison。
This then I did。
That night at the great feast of Cleopatra； I sat near Antony； who was
at her side； and wore the poisoned wreath。 Now as the feast went on；
the wine flowed fast； till Antony and the Queen grew merry。 And she
told him of her plans； and of how even now her galleys were being
drawn by the canal that leads from Bubastis on the Pelusiac branch of
the Nile； to Clysma at the head of the Bay of Heroopolis。 For it was
her design； should C？sar prove stubborn； to fly with Antony and her
treasure down the Arabian Gulf； where C？sar had no fleet； and seek
some new home in India； whither her foes might not follow。 But；
indeed； this plan came to nothing； for the Arabs of Petra burnt the
galleys； incited thereto by a message sent by the Jews of Alexandria；
who hated Cleopatra and were hated of her。 For I caused the Jews to be
warned of what was being done。
Now； when she had made an end of telling him； the Queen called on him
to drink a cup with her； to the success of this new scheme； bidding
him； as she did so； steep his wreath of roses in the wine； and make
the draught more sweet。 This； then； he did； and it being done； she
pledged him。 But when he was about to pledge her back； she caught his
hand； crying 〃/Hold！/〃 whereat he paused； wondering。
Now； among the servants of Cleopatra was one Eudosius； a steward； and
this Eudosius； seeing that the fortunes of Cleopatra were at an end；
had laid a plan to fly that very night to C？sar； as many of his
betters had done； taking with him all the treasure in the palace that
he could steal。 But this design being discovered to Cleopatra； she
determined to be avenged upon Eudosius。
〃Eudosius；〃 she cried； for the man stood near； 〃come hither； thou
faithful servant！ Seest thou this man； most noble Antony； through all
our troubles he has clung to us and been of comfort to us。 Now；
therefore； he shall be rewarded according to his deserts and the
measure of his faithfulness； and that from thine own hand。 Give him
thy golden cup of wine； and let him drink a pledge to our success； the
cup shall be his guerdon。〃
And still wondering； Antony gave it to the man； who； stricken in his
guilty mind； took it； and stood trembling。 But he drank not。
〃Drink！ thou slave； drink！〃 cried Cleopatra； half rising from her seat
and flashing a fierce look on his white face。 〃By Serapis！ so surely
as I yet shall sit in the Capitol at Rome； if thou dost thus flout the
Lord Antony； I'll have thee scourged to the bones； and the red wine
poured upon thy open wounds to heal them！ /Ah！/ at length thou
drinkest！ Why； what is it； good Eudosius？ art sick？ Surely； then； this
wine must be as the water of jealousy of those Jews； that has power to
slay the false and strengthen the honest only。 Go； some of you； search
this man's room； methinks he is a traitor！〃
Meanwhile the man stood； his hands to his head。 Presently he began to
tremble； and then fell； clutching at his bosom； as though to tear out
the fire in his heart。 He staggered； with livid； twisted face and
foaming lips； to where Cleopatra lay watching him with a slow and
cruel smile。
〃Ah； traitor！ thou hast it now！〃 she said。 〃Prithee； is death sweet？〃
〃Thou wanton！〃 yelled the dying man； 〃thou hast poisoned me！ Thus
mayst thou also perish！〃 and with one shriek he flung himself upon
her。 She saw his purpose； and swift and supple as a tiger sprang to
one side； so that he did but grasp her royal cloak； tearing it from
its emerald clasp。 Down he fell upon the ground； rolling over and over
in the purple chiton； till presently he lay still and dead； his
tormented face and frozen eyes peering ghastly from its folds。
〃Ah！〃 said the Queen； with a hard laugh； 〃the slave died wondrous
hard； and fain would have drawn me with him。 See； he has borrowed my
garment for a pall！ Take him away and bury him in his livery。〃
〃What means Cleopatra？〃 said Antony； as the guards dragged the corpse
away； 〃the man drank of my cup。 What is the purpose of this most sorry
jest？〃
〃It serves a double end； noble Antony！ This very night that man would
have fled to Octavianus； bearing of our treasure with him。 Well； I
have lent him wings； for the dead fly fast！ Also this： thou didst fear
that I should poison thee； my Lord； nay； I know it。 See now； Antony；
how easy it were that I should slay thee if I had the will。 That
wreath of roses which thou didst steep within the cup is dewed with
deadly bane。 Had I； then； a mind to make an end of thee； I had not
stayed thy hand。 O Antony； henceforth trust me！ Sooner would I slay
myself than harm one hair of thy beloved head！ See； here come my
messengers！ Speak； what did ye find？〃
〃Royal Egypt； we found this。 All things in the chamber of Eudosius are
made ready for flight； and in his baggage is much treasure。〃
〃Thou hearest？〃 she said； smiling darkly。 〃Think ye； my loyal servants
all； that Cleopatra is one with whom it is well to play the t