Sardou's Cleopatra — page 165: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

150 SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. for the sake of your old comrades, accept. Are you then insensible to the love of Octavia? She is young, she is beautiful y “She is Ceesar’s sister,” said Antony, slowly, but in a less obstinate tone than he had used heretofore. Ventidius saw this, and hastened tosay: = “Octavius dreams of a crown. The less worthy he is, the more he wishes, the more he dares. His genius is doubtful, and the name of Cesar is a heavy burden tocarry. I tell you, old friend, that you alone can curb his ambition, defend our rights and preserve us from the shameful yoke of aking. You alone can maintain the dignity and freedom of Rome. Roman, sacrifice yourself! Roman, preserve your country! Not I alone, but the whole civilized world demands this of you!” Antony was deeply moved, and at last, as has been said, agreed to accept Octavia as a wife. The marriage took place. Antony felt but lit- tle affection for his bride, beautiful and gentle as she was, but he could not but respect her for her virtues, and for a time she exercised a most salu- tary influence over him. But it was not possible for any woman long to hold a man who remem- ‘comicbooks.co