Sardou's Cleopatra — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. 45 With a quick motion, he raised the cup to his lips and drained it tothe dregs. An ashen pale- ness overspread his cheeks, he staggered, and, with a long sigh, fell prostrate upon the ground. 'A low cry broke from the lips of the girl hidden behind the pillar, and she would certainly have rushed forth if Serapion had not thrown his arms about her and prevented her doing so. At this cry the captain of the guard turned quickly, but all was still again; and, thinking doubtless that it was an effect of his imagination, he fixed his eyes again. upon the form that lay prone at his feet. “Poor slave!” he murmured, half regretfully. “And yet you are happierthan I. For you have lived, while the passion that consumes me is hope- less.” With a gesture as if to sweep aside the vision that rose before him he hastily walked away, the sound of his footsteps resounding hollowly through the vast edifice. The hangings had scarcely fallen behind him when Iras, followed more slowly by the old priest, rushed from her place of concealment and sank on her knees beside Pharon’s unconscious body. “Quick, uncle, quick!” she gasped. Ecomichoo ‘S (G{0) m =>