Sardou's Cleopatra — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. 197 an adversary the gods had permitted to vanquish the greatest general of Rome! In his anguish, he cried aloud, in the silence and the night: “How my enemies will rejoice in my fall! And you, phantom—-you, the most cruel of them all— Cicero, Cicero! How happy you must be, if you can hear my groans from the depths of the abyss into which I have been plunged! I have made truths of your blackest lies. Upon your writings I have placed the divine seal. You were only an orator; I have made of you an inspired prophet. But what dol say? Never did your severest thoughts go so far as to foresee this shameful flight. Youaccused me of pride, ambitious plans, infamous cruelties, audacious thefts, crimes which sullied the majesty of Rome. Flatterer! I have surpassed the dreams of your hatred. Come, then, and thank Antony, you who were his accuser; he has saved you from being branded by posterity as’ an impostor !”’ He ceased his muttering and continued his restless pacing back and forth upon the sands. Soon his thoughts took another turn. What mattered the hatred and rejoicings of his enemies ? What should alone occupy his mind and weigh Eomichbooks: