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antony-第21章

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e Cleopatra; you are taken prisoner!〃 Upon which she turned quick; and; looking at Proculeius; drew out her dagger which she had with her to stab herself。 But Proculeius ran up quickly; and seizing her with both his hands; 〃For shame;〃 said he; 〃Cleopatra; you wrong yourself and Caesar much; who would rob him of so fair an occasion of showing his clemency; and would make the world believe the most gentle of commanders to be a faithless and implacable enemy。〃 And so; taking the dagger out of her hand; he also shook her dress to see if there were any poison hid in it。 After this; Caesar sent Epaphroditus; one of his freedmen; with orders to treat her with all the gentleness and civility possible; but to take the strictest precautions to keep her alive。   In the meanwhile; Caesar made his entry into Alexandria; with Areius the philosopher at his side; holding him by the hand and talking with him; desiring that all his fellow…citizens should see what honour was paid to him; and should look up to him accordingly from the very first moment。 Then; entering the exercise ground; he mounted a platform erected for the purpose; and from thence commanded the citizens (who; in great fear and consternation; fell prostrate at his feet) to stand up; and told them that he freely acquitted the people of all blame first; for the sake of Alexander; who built their city; then for the city's sake itself; which was so large and beautiful; and; thirdly; to gratify his friend Areius。   Such great honour did Areius receive from Caesar; and by his intercession many lives were saved; amongst the rest that of Philostratus; a man; of all the professors of logic that ever were; the most ready in extempore speaking; but quite destitute of any right to call himself one of the philosophers of the Academy。 Caesar; out of disgust at his character; refused all attention to his entreaties。 So; growing a long white beard; and dressing himself in black; he followed behind Areius; shouting out the verse;

         〃The wise; if they are wise; will save the wise。〃

Which Caesar hearing; gave him his pardon; to prevent rather any odium that might attach to Areius; than any harm that Philostratus might suffer。   Of Antony's children; Antyllus; his son by Fulvia; being betrayed by his tutor; Theodorus; was put to death; and while the soldiers were cutting off his head; his tutor contrived to steal a precious jewel which he wore about his neck; and put it in his pocket; and afterwards denied the fact; but was convicted and crucified。 Cleopatra's children; with their attendants; had a guard set on them; and were treated very honourably。 Caesarion; who was reputed to be the son of Caesar the Dictator; was sent by his mother; with a great sum of money; through Ethiopia; to pass into India; but his tutor; a man named Rhodon; about as honest as Theodorus; persuaded him to turn back; for that Caesar designed to make him king。 Caesar consulting what was best to be done with him; Areius we are told; said;

        〃Too many Caesars are not well。〃

So; afterwards; when Cleopatra was dead he was killed。   Many kings and great commanders made petition to Caesar for the body of Antony; to give him his funeral rites; but he would not take away his corpse from Cleopatra by whose hands he was buried with royal splendour and magnificence; it being granted to her to employ what she pleased on his funeral。 In this extremity of grief and sorrow; and having inflamed and ulcerated her breasts with beating them; she fell into a high fever; and was very glad of the occasion; hoping; under this pretext; to abstain from food; and so to die in quiet without interference。 She had her own physician; Olympus; to whom she told the truth; and asked his advice and help to put an end to herself; as Olympus himself has told us; in a narrative which he wrote of these events。 But Caesar; suspecting her purpose; took to menacing language about her children; and excited her fears for them; before which engines her purpose shook and gave way; so that she suffered those about her to give her what meat or medicine they pleased。   Some few days after; Caesar himself came to make her a visit and comfort her。 She lay then upon her pallet…bed in undress; and; on his entering; sprang up from off her bed; having nothing on but the one garment next her body; and flung herself at his feet; her hair and face looking wild and disfigured; her voice quivering; and her eyes sunk in her head。 The marks of the blows she had given herself were visible about her bosom; and altogether her whole person seemed no less afflicted than her soul。 But; for all this; her old charm; and the boldness of her youthful beauty; had not wholly left her; and; in spite of her present condition; still sparkled from within; and let itself appear in all the movements of her countenance。 Caesar; desiring her to repose herself; sat down by her; and; on this opportunity; she said something to justify her actions; attributing what she had done to the necessity she was under; and to her fear of Antony; and when Caesar; on each point; made his objections; and she found herself confuted; she broke off at once into language of entreaty and deprecation; as if she desired nothing more than to prolong her life。 And at last; having by her a list of her treasure; she gave it into his hands; and when Seleucus; one of her stewards; who was by; pointed out that various articles were omitted; and charged her with secreting them; she flew up and caught him by the hair; and struck him several blows on the face。 Caesar smiling and withholding her; 〃Is it not very hard; Caesar;〃 said she; 〃when you do me the honour to visit me in this condition I am in; that I should be accused by one of my own servants of laying by some women's toys; not meant to adorn; be sure; my unhappy self; but that I might have some little present by me to make your Octavia and your Livia; that by their intercession I might hope to find you in some measure disposed to mercy?〃 Caesar was pleased to hear her talk thus; being now assured that she was desirous to live。 And; therefore; letting her know that the things she had laid by she might dispose of as she pleased; and his usage of her should be honourable above her expectation; he went away; well satisfied that he had overreached her; but; in fact; was himself deceived。   There was a young man of distinction among Caesar's companions named Cornelius Dolabella。 He was not without a certain tenderness for Cleopatra and sent her word privately; as she had besought him to do; that Caesar was about to return through Syria; and that she and her children were to be sent on within three days。 When she understood this; she made her request to Caesar that he would be pleased to permit her to make oblations to the departed Antony; which being granted; she ordered herself to be carried to the place where he was buried; and there; accompanied by her women; she embraced his tomb with tears in her eyes; and spoke in this manner: 〃O; dearest Antony;〃 said she; 〃it is not long since that with these hands I buried you; then they were free; now I am a captive; and pay these last duties to you with a guard upon me; for fear that my just griefs and sorrows should
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