Sardou's Cleopatra — page 31: what you’re looking at

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

16 SARDOU'S CLEOPATRA. The great triumvir was approaching. There were a stir and movement throughout the surging crowd, and the soldiers were obliged to use force to keep the people back. In another moment Antony, surrounded by his lieutenants, issued from the market-house and appeared upon the platform-of the portico. At the same moment, from a house at the op- posite side of the square, appeared a dozen or so men, chained two and two together, and guarded by Roman soldiers. These were prominent citi- zens of ‘Tarsus, who had been leaders in the re- cent rebellion. As Mark Antony stood gazing down upon the people he had come to punish, he made a very imposing figure and looked every inch the soldier he was. He was in the full dress of a Roman imperator; acuirass of closely fitting white leather, held in place by chains of gold, a toga and mantle of the purple of Tyre, and upon his feet white sandals. His head, with its mass of closely curl- ing chestnut locks, was uncovered. ‘There was a deep frown upon his brow, and his blue eyes _ flashed ominously. The trumpets ceased. The prisoners were now at the foot of the scarlet covered steps. comicbooks:‘co