antony-第17章

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their　names；　for　the　present　passing　their　time　in　all　manner　of　pleasures　and　a　regular　succession　of　banquets。　But　Cleopatra　was　busied　in　making　a　collection　of　all　varieties　of　poisonous　drugs；　and；　in　order　to　see　which　of　them　were　the　least　painful　in　the　operation；　she　had　them　tried　upon　prisoners　condemned　to　die。　But；　finding　that　the　quick　poisons　always　worked　with　sharp　pains；　and　that　the　less　painful　were　slow。　She　next　tried　venomous　animals；　and　watching　with　her　own　eyes　whilst　they　were　applied；　one　creature　to　the　body　of　another。　This　was　her　daily　practice；　and　she　pretty　well　satisfied　herself　that　nothing　was　comparable　to　the　bite　of　the　asp；　which；　without　convulsion　or　groaning；　brought　on　a　heavy　drowsiness　and　lethargy；　with　a　gentle　sweat　on　the　face；　the　senses　being　stupefied　by　degrees；　the　patient；　in　appearance；　being　sensible　of　no　pain　but　rather　troubled　to　be　disturbed　or　awakened　like　those　that　are　in　a　profound　natural　sleep。　　　At　the　same　time；　they　sent　ambassadors　to　Caesar　into　Asia；　Cleopatra　asking　for　the　kingdom　of　Egypt　for　her　children；　and　Antony；　that　he　might　have　leave　to　live　as　a　private　man　in　Egypt；　or；　if　that　were　thought　too　much；　that　be　might　retire　to　Athens。　In　lack　of　friends；　so　many　having　deserted；　and　others　not　being　trusted；　Euphronius；　his　son's　tutor；　was　sent　on　this　embassy。　For　Alexas　of　Laodicea；　who；　by　the　recommendation　of　Timagenes；　became　acquainted　with　Antony　at　Rome；　and　had　been　more　powerful　with　him　than　any　Greek；　and　was；　of　all　the　instruments　which　Cleopatra　made　use　of　to　persuade　Antony；　the　most　violent；　and　the　chief　subverter　of　any　good　thoughts　that　from　time　to　time　might　rise　in　his　mind　in　Octavia's　favour；　had　been　sent　before　to　dissuade　Herod　from　desertion；　but　betraying　his　master；　stayed　with　him　and；　confiding　in　Herod's　interest；　had　the　boldness　to　come　into　Caesar's　presence。　Herod；　however；　was　not　able　to　help　him；　for　he　was　immediately　put　in　chains　and　sent　into　his　own　country；　where；　by　Caesar's　orders；　he　was　put　to　death。　This　reward　of　his　treason　Alexas　received　while　Antony　was　yet　alive。　　　Caesar　would　not　listen　to　any　proposals　for　Antony；　but　he　made　answer　to　Cleopatra；　that　there　was　no　reasonable　favour　which　she　might　not　expect；　if　she　put　Antony　to　death；　or　expelled　him　from　Egypt。　He　sent　back　with　the　ambassadors　his　own　freedman；　Thyrsus；　a　man　of　understanding；　and　not　at　all　ill…qualified　for　conveying　the　messages　of　a　youthful　general　to　a　woman　so　proud　of　her　charms　and　possessed　with　the　opinion　of　the　power　of　her　beauty。　But　by　the　long　audiences　he　received　from　her；　and　the　special　honours　which　she　paid　him；　Antony's　jealousy　began　to　be　awakened；　he　had　him　seized；　whipped；　and　sent　back；　writing　Caesar　word　that　the　man's　busy；　impertinent　ways　had　provoked　him；　in　his　circumstances　he　could　not　be　expected　to　be　very　patient：　〃But　if　it　offends　you；〃　he　added；　〃you　have　got　my　freedman；　Hipparchus；　with　you；　hang　him　up　and　scourge　him　to　make　us　even。〃　But　Cleopatra；　after　this；　to　clear　herself；　and　to　allay　his　jealousies；　paid　him　all　the　attentions　imaginable。　When　her　own　birthday　came；　she　kept　it　as　was　suitable　to　their　fallen　fortunes；　but　his　was　observed　with　the　utmost　prodigality　of　splendour　and　magnificence；　so　that　many　of　the　guests　sat　down　in　want；　and　went　home　wealthy　men。　Meantime；　continual　letters　came　to　Caesar　from　Agrippa；　telling　him　his　presence　was　extremely　required　at　Rome。　　　And　so　the　war　was　deferred　for　a　season。　But；　the　winter　being　over；　he　began　his　march；　he　himself　by　Syria；　and　his　captains　through　Africa。　Pelusium　being　taken；　there　went　a　report　as　if　it　had　been　delivered　up　to　Caesar　by　Seleucus；　not　without　the　consent　of　Cleopatra；　but　she；　to　justify　herself；　gave　up　into　Antony's　hands　the　wife　and　children　of　Seleucus　to　be　put　to　death。　She　had　caused　to　be　built；　joining　to　the　temple　of　Isis；　several　tombs　and　monuments　of　wonderful　height；　and　very　remarkable　for　the　workmanship；　thither　she　removed　her　treasure；　her　gold；　silver；　emeralds；　pearls；　ebony；　ivory；　cinnamon；　and；　after　all；　a　great　quantity　of　torchwood　and　tow。　Upon　which　Caesar　began　to　fear　lest　she　should；　in　a　desperate　fit；　set　all　these　riches　on　fire；　and；　therefore；　while　he　was　marching　toward　the　city　with　his　army；　he　omitted　no　occasion　of　giving　her　new　assurances　of　his　good　intentions。　He　took　up　his　position　in　the　Hippodrome；　where　Antony　made　a　fierce　sally　upon　him；　routed　the　horse；　and　beat　them　back　into　their　trenches；　and　so　returned　with　great　satisfaction　to　the　palace；　where；　meeting　Cleopatra；　armed　as　he　was；　he　kissed　her；　and　commended　to　her　favour　one　of　his　men；　who　had　most　signalized　himself　in　the　fight；　to　whom　she　made　a　present　of　a　breastplate　and　helmet　of　gold；　which　he　having　received　went　that　very　night　and　deserted　to　Caesar。　　　After　this；　Antony　sent　a　new　challenge　to　Caesar　to　fight　him　hand…to…hand；　who　made　him　answer　that　he　might　find　several　other　ways　to　end　his　life；　and　he；　considering　with　himself　that　he　could　not　die　more　honourably　than　in　battle；　resolved　to　make　an　effort　both　by　land　and　sea。　At　supper；　it　is　said；　he　bade　his　servants　help　him　freely；　and　pour　him　out　wine　plentifully；　since　to…morrow；　perhaps；　they　should　not　do　the　same；　but　be　servants　to　a　new　master；　whilst　he　should　lie　on　the　ground；　a　dead　corpse；　and　nothing。　His　friends　that　were　about　him　wept　to　hear　him　talk　so；　which　he　perceiving；　told　them　he　would　not　lead　them　to　a　battle　in　which　he　expected　rather　an　honourable　death　than　either　safety　or　victory。　That　night；　it　is　related；　about　the　middle　of　it；　when　the　whole　city　was　in　a　deep　silence　and　general　sadness；　expecting　the　event　of　the　next　day；　on　a　sudden　was　heard　the　sound　of　all　sorts　of　instruments；　and　voices　singing　in　tune；　and　the　cry　of　a　crowd　of　people　shouting　and　dancing；　like　a　troop　of　bacchanals　on　its　way。　This　tumultuous　procession　seemed　to　take　its　course　right　through　the　middle　of　the　city　to　the　gate　nearest　the　enemy；　here　it　became　the　loudest；　and　suddenly　passed　out。　People　who　reflected　considered　this　to　signify　that　Bacchus；　the　god　whom　Antony　had　always　made　it　his　study　to　copy　and　imitate；　had　now　forsaken　him。　　　As　soon　as　it　was　light；　he　marched　his　infantry　out　of　the　city；　and　posted　them　upon　a　rising　ground；　from　whence　he　saw　his　fleet　make　up　to　the　enemy。　There　he　stood　in　expectation　of　the　event；　but　as　soon　as　the　fleets　came　near　to　one　another；　his　men　saluted　Caesar's　with　their　oars；　and　on　their　responding；　the　whole　body　of　the　ships；　forming　into　a　single　fleet；　rowed　up　direct　to　the　city。　Antony　had　no　sooner　seen　this；　but　the　horse　deserted　him；　and　went　over　to　Caesar；　and　his　foot　being　defeated；　he　retired　into　the　city；　crying　out　that　Cleopatra　had　betrayed　him　to　the　enemies　he　had　made　for　her　sake。　She；　being　afraid　lest　in　his　fury　and　despair　he　might　do　her　a　mischief；　fled　to　her　monument；　and　letting　down　the　falling　doors；　which　were　strong　with　bars　and　bolts；　she　sent　messengers　who　should　tell　Antony　she　was　dead。　He；　believing　it；　cried　out；　〃Now；　Antony；　why　delay　longer？　Fate　has　snatched　away　the　only　pretext　for　which　you　could　say　you　desired　yet　to　live。〃　Going　into　his　chamber；　and　there　loosening　and　opening　his　coat　of　〃I　am　not；〃　said　he；　〃troubled；　Cleopatra；　to　be　at　present　bereaved　of　you；　for　I　shall　soon　be　with　you；　but　it　distresses　me　that　so　great　a　general　should　be　found　of　a　tardier　courage　than　a　woman。〃　He　had　a　faithful　servant；　whose　name　was　Eros；　he　had　engaged　him　formerly　to　kill　him　when　he　should　think　it　necessary；　and　now　he　put　him　to　his　promise。　Eros　drew　his　sword；　as　designing　to　kill　him；　but；　suddenly　turning　round；　he　slew　himself。　And　as　he　fell　dead　at　his　feet；　〃It　is　well　done；　Eros；〃　said　Antony；　〃you　show　your　master　how　to　do　what　you　had　not　the　heart　to　do　yourself；〃　and　so　he　ran　himself　into　the　belly；　and　laid　himself　upon　the　couch。　The　wound；　however；　was　not　immediately　mortal；　and　the　flow　of　blood　ceasing　when　he　lay　down；　presently　he　came　to　himself；　and　entreated　those　that　were　about　him　to　put　him　out　of　his　pain；　but