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小说: antony 字数: 每页4000字

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eat or medicine they pleased。   Some few days after; Caesar himself came to make her a visit and comfort her。 She lay then upon her pallet…bed in undress; and; on his entering; sprang up from off her bed; having nothing on but the one garment next her body; and flung herself at his feet; her hair and face looking wild and disfigured; her voice quivering; and her eyes sunk in her head。 The marks of the blows she had given herself were visible about her bosom; and altogether her whole person seemed no less afflicted than her soul。 But; for all this; her old charm; and the boldness of her youthful beauty; had not wholly left her; and; in spite of her present condition; still sparkled from within; and let itself appear in all the movements of her countenance。 Caesar; desiring her to repose herself; sat down by her; and; on this opportunity; she said something to justify her actions; attributing what she had done to the necessity she was under; and to her fear of Antony; and when Caesar; on each point; made his objections; and she found herself confuted; she broke off at once into language of entreaty and deprecation; as if she desired nothing more than to prolong her life。 And at last; having by her a list of her treasure; she gave it into his hands; and when Seleucus; one of her stewards; who was by; pointed out that various articles were omitted; and charged her with secreting them; she flew up and caught him by the hair; and struck him several blows on the face。 Caesar smiling and withholding her; 〃Is it not very hard; Caesar;〃 said she; 〃when you do me the honour to visit me in this condition I am in; that I should be accused by one of my own servants of laying by some women's toys; not meant to adorn; be sure; my unhappy self; but that I might have some little present by me to make your Octavia and your Livia; that by their intercession I might hope to find you in some measure disposed to mercy?〃 Caesar was pleased to hear her talk thus; being now assured that she was desirous to live。 And; therefore; letting her know that the things she had laid by she might dispose of as she pleased; and his usage of her should be honourable above her expectation; he went away; well satisfied that he had overreached her; but; in fact; was himself deceived。   There was a young man of distinction among Caesar's companions named Cornelius Dolabella。 He was not without a certain tenderness for Cleopatra and sent her word privately; as she had besought him to do; that Caesar was about to return through Syria; and that she and her children were to be sent on within three days。 When she understood this; she made her request to Caesar that he would be pleased to permit her to make oblations to the departed Antony; which being granted; she ordered herself to be carried to the place where he was buried; and there; accompanied by her women; she embraced his tomb with tears in her eyes; and spoke in this manner: 〃O; dearest Antony;〃 said she; 〃it is not long since that with these hands I buried you; then they were free; now I am a captive; and pay these last duties to you with a guard upon me; for fear that my just griefs and sorrows should impair my servile body; and make it less fit to appear in their triumph over you。 No further offerings or libations expect from me; these are the last honours that Cleopatra can pay your memory; for she is to be hurried away far from you。 Nothing could part us whilst we lived; but death seems to threaten to divide us。 You; a Roman born; have found a grave in Egypt; I; an Egyptian; am to seek that favour; and none but that; in your country。 But if the gods below; with whom you now are; either can or will do anything (since those above have betrayed us); suffer not your living wife to be abandoned; let me not be led in triumph to your shame; but hide me and bury me here with you since; amongst all my bitter misfortunes; nothing has afflicted me like this brief time that I have lived away from you。〃   Having made these lamentations; crowning the tomb with garlands and kissing it; she gave orders to prepare her a bath; and; coming out of the bath; she lay down and made a sumptuous meal。 And a country fellow brought her a little basket; which the guards intercepting and asking what it was the fellow put the leaves which lay uppermost aside; and showed them it was full of figs; and on their admiring the largeness and beauty of the figs; he laughed; and invited them to take some; which they refused; and; suspecting nothing; bade him carry them in。 After her repast; Cleopatra sent to Caesar a letter which she had written and sealed; and; putting everybody out of the monument but her two women; she shut the doors。 Caesar; opening her letter; and finding pathetic prayers and entreaties that she might be buried in the same tomb with Antony; soon guessed what was doing。 At first he was going himself in all haste; but; changing his mind; he sent others to see。 The thing had been quickly done。 The messengers came at full speed; and found the guards apprehensive of nothing; but on opening the doors they saw her stone…dead; lying upon a bed of gold; set out in all her royal ornaments。 Iras; one of her women; lay dying at her feet; and Charmion; just ready to fall; scarce able to hold up her head; was adjusting her mistress's diadem。 And when one that came in said angrily; 〃Was this well done of your lady; Charmion?〃 〃Extremely well;〃 she answered; 〃and as became the descendant of so many kings;〃 and as she said this; she fell down dead by the bedside。   Some relate that an asp was brought in amongst those figs and covered with the leaves; and that Cleopatra had arranged that it might settle on her before she knew; but; when she took away some of the figs and saw it; she said; 〃So here it is;〃 and held out her bare arm to be bitten。 Others say that it was kept in a vase; and that she vexed and pricked it with a golden spindle till it seized her arm。 But what really took place is known to no one; since it was also said that she carried poison in a hollow bodkin; about which she wound her hair; yet there was not so much as a spot found; or any symptom of poison upon her body; nor was the asp seen within the monument; only something like the trail of it was said to have been noticed on the sand by the sea; on the part towards which the building faced and where the windows were。 Some relate that two faint puncture…marks were found on Cleopatra's arm; and to this account Caesar seems to have given credit; for in his triumph there was carried a figure of Cleopatra; with an asp clinging to her。 Such are the various accounts。 But Caesar; though much disappointed by her death; yet could not but admire the greatness of her spirit; and gave order that her body should be buried by Antony with royal splendour and magnificence。 Her women; also; received honourable burial by his directions。 Cleopatra had lived nine…and…thirty years; during twenty…two of been she had reigned as queen; and for fourteen had been Antony's partner in his empire。 Antony; according to some authorities; was fifty…three; according to others; fifty…six years old。 His statues were all thrown down; but those of Cleopatra were left untouched; for Archibius; one of her friends; gave Caesar two thousand talents to save them from the fate of Antony's。   Antony left by his three wives seven children; of whom only Antyllus; the eldest; was put to death by Caesar; Octavia took the rest; and brought them up with her own。 Cleopatra; his daughter by Cleopatra; was given in marriage to Juba; the most accomplished of kings; and Antony; his son by Fulvia; attained such high favour that; whereas Agrippa was considered to hold the first place with Caesar; and the sons of Livia the second; the third; without dispute; was possessed by Antony。 Octavia; also; having had by her first husband; Marcellus; two daughters; and one son named Marcellus; this son Caesar adopted; and gave him his daughter in marriage; as did Octavia one of the daughters to Agrippa。 But Marcellus dying almost immediately after his marriage; she; perceiving that her brother was at a loss to find elsewhere any sure friend to be his son…in…law; was the first to recommend that Agrippa should put away her daughter and marry Julia。 To this Caesar first; and then Agrippa himself; gave assent; so Agrippa married Julia; and Octavia; receiving her daughter; married her to the young Antony。 Of the two daughters whom Octavia had borne to Antony; the one was married to Domitius Ahenobarbus; and the other; Antonia; famous for her beauty and discretion; was married to Drusus; the son of Livia; and stepson to Caesar。 Of these parents were born Germanicus and Claudius。 Claudius reigned later; and of the children of Germanicus; Caius; after a reign of distinction; was killed with his wife and child; Agrippina; after bearing a son Lucius Domitius; to Ahenobarbus; was married to Claudius Caesar; who adopted Domitius; giving him the name of Nero Germanicus。 He was emperor in our time; and put his mother to death; and with his madness and folly came not far from ruining the Roman empire; being Antony's descendant in the fifth generation。


                               THE END 。 

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