Sardou's Cleopatra — page 28: what you’re looking at

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

. SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. 13 “T think as you,” responded Diomedes. “More- over, when Czesar loved her she was very young, and she had the beauty of an ignorant child, who siniles for the sake of smiling and fascinates at hazard. Now,all is united in her: nature and art, grace and wit, and even science combine to give her supreme beauty. It is vain to seek to resist her marvellous attractions. At sight of her, one torgets in an instant all the evil that is said of her, and an invisible power chains you at her feet.?? Diomedes ceased, but Ventidius made no reply; His thoughts were busy, and a great fear rested upon him. The battle-scarred veteran adored the general who had led his legions so often to vic- tory, and his heart grew cold at the thought of this new peril which threatened his master and Rome. He remembered only too well the strange charm of Egypt’s queen, and he knew thoroughly Antony’s pleasure-loving nature. He was certain that he did not overestimate the danger. But how to save Antony? For Antony’s safety meant the safety of Rome. ‘The destiny of the empire, trembling in the balance, depended upon a single man. Antony was Rome’s only hope. He alone could restrain the soaring ambition of Octavius. EOMIGboo “S (exe) S