Sardou's Cleopatra — page 277: what you’re looking at

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

262 SARDOU’'S CLEOPATRA. surprise. He thought that Cleopatra was prepar- ing to accompany Ceesar in a style befitting her rank. ‘Let Octavius now come to seek his prey. He will find her awaiting him. Farewell, my good Charmian. Farewell, sweet Iras! Nay, restrain your tears. My death shall be yours, if you so will it.” As if advancing to some grand ceremonial, she crossed the room, with regal step, to the couch where Antony lay. ‘There was not a tremor, not a fear in her heart. Without a shadow of regret would she say farewell to life, which had been to her one of boundless power and unbridled pleas- ures. What use to prolong an existence of which she had tasted all the honey? What remained for her to do save to fulfill her promise and join her lover. That was the only happiness now per- mitted to her. The serpent of the Nile would deliver the Queen of Egypt from her conquerors. She would die free and great. She sank down upon the couch, and, with a smile, looked upon the calm face before her. Then she plunged her hand into the basket of figs and drew forth one of the asps. Baring her breast, she laid it upon the fair, white flesh. Eomicbooks: co