Sardou's Cleopatra — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

SARDOU’S CLEOPATRA. 63 “Al the world,” he returned, passionatery. Ventidius realized that he was beaten. How could he have hoped to prevail against this Circe who held the ereatest warrior of the world thus fast in the silken meshes of her web of enchantment? ‘Theold soldier’s heart was sad and bitter. Like all of Antony’s captains and soldiers, Ventidius adored the emperor, as he was fondly called in the army; for Mark Antony pos- sessed in a wonderful measure those qualities which inspire loyalty and devotion: bravery, frankness, generosity. Without Antony there was no hope for Rome, for that Rome, which was Ventidius’ country, and for whose honor and glory he had fought all his life long. In spite of all, he would make one more effort. ‘The spell of Cleopatra’s magic was complete. She and she alone could induce this recreant leader to return to his duty. There was something pathetic in the way the old warrior now spoke, addressing this time not the master whom he loved, but the being who held that master in her power,and whom he hated and feared. : “Great queen,” he said, “you have called me the conqueror of the Parthians. No, not I! I Eomichoo ‘S (E(@)