Sardou's Cleopatra — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

260 SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. respect Ceesar would be the first to furnish you~ an example. He knows that here even the throne is second to religion. | Proculeius hesitated a moment. His suspicions were allayed, for he knew how strict were the Egyptians in their observance of all religious rites. Finally he said: “Enter, then! But hasten to fulfill your duty.” With slow steps, Pharon approached to where the queen stood, supported on either side by Char- mian and Iras. He knelt before her and placed the basket containing the figs at her feet. “Queen,” he said, in a low voice, “Rome awaits you. You are to depart this evening, unless— unless you prefer a prompt and noble death. Are you afraid of death ?” “I?” she replied, in the same tone, not a muscle of her face changing, to betray to the watchful - Proculeius the emotion with which she was de- voured. “I am afraid of shame. Is ita dagger ?” “A dagger? No! ‘Those insolent witnesses would seize you before you could strike.” “Poison ?” ‘The soul long rebels against poison. You would suffer too much, and you would die less beautiful. Serpents are hidden beneath this fruit— — comic 900KsS.-¢coO