Sardou's Cleopatra — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

162 SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. tavia, who stood blushing and trembling before - him, he uttered a suppressed exclamation, and the color forsook his cheeks. He could not avoid a. certain sense of shame at sight of the gentle, un- complaining wife he had so cruelly ill-treated. “What! Octavia here?” he cried. “Yes, Octavia,” said Ventidius, sternly. “Is she poison to you, that you look upon her thus ?” Octavia raised her eyes pleadingly to his face— the face, that, in spite of all, she loved. ‘Have you no welcome for me?” she asked, in alow voice. ‘Not even such courtesy of greeting as a stranger mightexpect? Antony! Husband! Who am I, then, that you should treat me oe re ‘“‘Ceesar’s sister.” “That’s unkind. Had I been no more than Ceesar’s sister, I should have remained in Rome. But I am Octavia, who, though forsaken by you, am still your wife. Abandoning all my pride, I have come to beg your kindness.” As she spoke, she took his hand in hers and raised it submissively to her lips. In spite of himself, Antony was touched by his wife’s unselfishness and magnanimity. _ “What is it you wish ?” he asked. “Be reconciled to Ceesar,” comicbooks ¢€o