Sardou's Cleopatra — page 239: what you’re looking at

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

224 SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. your enemies to me appeared as criminals. [I cursed your glory and your mad bravery. War seemed to me now stupid and cowardly. I per- ceived in a sacred duty only frightful dangers for a being I adored. I forgot your exploits and your renown, and Cesar, and empire, and my Egypt, and Rome! I saw nothing save the spilling of your blood, the sword suspended above your head! And all means seemed to me good, in that horrible dream, to stop that bloodshed and to turn aside that sword. ‘Trembling, mad with fear, 1 gave the signal to hoist the sails. You would see my flight and follow me—I knew it. It was so sudden that I calculated nothing, neither your sorrow nor your shame. I did not think that I was bringing dishonor upon you, I thought only that I was saving you. ‘To-day I understand, and my remorse overwhelms me. Oh! if death could justify me in youreyes! See, Antony, I offer my breast to your dagger! Strike! You will love me, perhaps, after you have struck me! $trike, my lord, my love, my king!” She ceased. The tears were streaming down her cheeks, and her voice died away as if choked ~ in its utterance. And Antony? Could this be comicbooks.co