Sardou's Cleopatra — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. 251 ‘“No mercy can be shown to traitors,” he said, harshly. é : | In vain did Cleopatra plead, in vain did she lavish upon him flatteries and blandishments. Her beauty left him unmoved, her fascinations made no impression upon his cold blood. ‘The only emotion aroused in him was a sort of cold curiosity to see the woman who had enticed his sister’s husband from his lawful place. At last, in desperation, and in spite of the presence of the officers, whom she had been un- able to induce Czesar to send away, Cleopatra was about to give the fatal signal, when, suddenly, the silken curtains, which concealed the bed upon which Antony lay, were thrust furiously aside, and Antony himself appeared, white with fury. He made a rush toward Octavius, but the latter started back, and his officers at once closed about him. “You see,” cried Antony, scornfully, “you see, my queen, that, wounded as I am, he fears me still! Great conqueror, hail! You—you a con- queror? It is not Octavius that has conquered Antony, but Rome. Your very officers know it! Your very officers despise you, tyrant, coward, slave |” = 7 Comicboo cS (elo)