Sardou's Cleopatra — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

240 SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA, of hurrying feet. A voicein the square, before the palace, shrieks: “We are betrayed! Ceesar’s army is within our gates!” “Ouick! Quick! cried Pharon. “Warn the queen !” But his companion had already vanished. He turned and rushed blindly into the palace. There was no sign of Iras, but already all was in com- motion. Pharon hurried to a window and looked out upon the square. It was too late. Already the Roman legions were surrounding the palace. Where were the gods who but two days before had promised the annihilation of Cesar and his army? Disgusted at Antony’s weakness, and without Ventidius, who had remained in Alexan- dria with his master in the vain hope of inducing him to return to the camp, Antony’s legions have surrendered, and treachery has opened the gates: of Alexandria to victorious Cesar. All is lost— even honor. And where is Antony, to whose mad infatuation all these disasters are due? Stunned, horrified, he has just heard from Ven- tidius the direful news. All hope is gone! To _ struggle would be folly. | comic 200KsS.EcO