were wrong, judged by the standard of her time, in adopting the only means that could save her country from impending ruin.

Antony had cast a longing eye on Egypt, and he wanted but a pretext, whether reasonable or unreasonable, to occupy it with his troops, abolish its government and laws, and seat a Roman governor on the throne of Cleopatra. He had been informed that the governor of Phoenicia, then an Egyptian province. had aided Cassius, and he now summoned her before him, to answer for the conduct of her subordinate. His lieutenant, Dellius, was charged with his commands. to her, to meet him at Tarsus, the capital of Cilicia.

To disobey this summons was to incur the displeasure of Antony, with Lepidus and Octavius, joint ruler of the world, and to arm the whole power of Rome against her feeble kingdom. She determined, therefore, to comply; but that it might seem like condescension, rather that enforced submission, she did not hasten the preparations for her journey. From Dellius she learned the weak points of Antony: she knew his character, and felt assured he would prove an easy conquest. He was fond of money, not so much for its own sake, as for the pleasures and amusements it could purchase ;—so from her affluence, she provided herself with the richest presents, and an ample store of gold and silver. He was vain, and relished display and pomp-so she caused a barge to be built, whose magnificence had never yet been equalled; and its accompaniments, and her own habits and ornaments, were suited to her dignity and wealth, and in keeping with

the show and splendor with which she intended to dazzle the eyes of all beholders, and to charm and captivate the Roman general.

But, more than all, he was the

"courteous Antony,

Whom ne'er the word of No woman heard speak,"—

and so she brought herself.-And Cleopatra was not now the young and inexperienced girl who gave her love to Cæsar. She was in her twenty-sixth year, and every charm was perfected, every grace was finished. With both mind and person fully developed, winning in her address, fascinating in conversation, possessing a vivacity in whose presence melancholy was changed to mirthfulness, and skilled "in every art of wantonness" and coquetry, she was peerless and irresistible. None knew it better than herself,-none felt it more than Antony.

Though she received many pressing letters from Antony and his friends, urging her to expedite her movements, she affected to treat them with disdain, and lingered long at every place she visited upon the way. No thought of haste appeared to animate her; but she travelled slowly, as if intent on pleasure, or delighting to provoke the impatience of those who waited for her arrival. At last her fleet was moored within the entrance of "the silver Cydnus,"-and then, in the splendid galley brought across the sea, followed by a long line of smaller barges, she ascended the river to Tarsus.

It was a glorious pageant!-The richest carvings

adorned her barge, which fairly blazed with gold and splendor. Its sails of brightest purple, swelled gracefully with the soft south wind that strained its silken cordage. Its oars, both blade and handle tipped and bound with silver, moved in harmony with the volup tuous music of the flute, the pipe, and eithern. Above it floated the mystic ensign of the Egyptian monarchs; and from the burning censers on its prow, clouds of odorous perfume were wafted to the shore. Upon its deck was raised a lofty canopy of cloth of gold, beneath which, on a cushioned couch, with ivory and tortoise-shell inlaid, reclined the dark-eyed queen of Egypt. She was robed like Venus in a purple mantle, glittering with diamonds, and its border ornamented with threads of gold and silver intertwined. Roses and myrtles were wreathed about her brows; her ears were pierced with rings of orichalcum; a necklace of precious stones encircled her swan-like throat; the golden cestus clasped her waist, and golden sandals incased her tiny feet. Beautiful boys, disguised as Cupids, stood beside her, and fanned her with their wings. Damsels, among the fairest at her court, whose houried. beauty could not be surpassed, were habited as Nereïds and Graces, in loose, transparent robes, and waited to do her bidding, or managed the helm and sails with great dexterity and skill.

“The tackling silk, the streamers waved with gold.
The gentle winds were lodged in purple sails.

Her nymphs, like Nereïds, round her couch were placed,
Where she, another sea born Venus, lay.

She lay and lean'd her cheek upon her hand,

And cast a look so languishingly sweet,

As if, secure of all beholders' hearts,

Neglecting she could take them. Boys, like Cupids,
Stood fanning with their painted wings the winds
That played about her face; but if she smiled,

A darting glory seemed to blaze abroad,

That man's desiring eyes were never wearied,

But hung upon the object! To soft flutes

The silver oars kept time; and while they played,

The hearing gave new pleasures to the sight,

And both to thought! 'Twas heaven or somewhat more:
For she so charmed all hearts, that gazing crowds
Stood panting on the shore, and wanted breath
To give their welcome voice."*

The shore was lined with people, who watched the barge laden with so much beauty, with straining eyes. As it moved along, the cry was raised, that Venus had come to feast with Bacchus. From mouth to mouth it passed, until it reached the market-place in Tarsus. All hastened forth to witness her approach,-all save Antony, who, deserted by suitors and attendants, remained alone on the tribunal where he was seated. Immediately upon her landing, he sent an officer to her with his greeting, coupled with the request that she would come and sup with him.

"Go, tell your master," was her reply, "that it is more fitting he should come and sup with me!"

This assumption of social superiority put an end at once to all the dignity which Antony purposed to assume. He accepted the invitation of Cleopatra; and thus, at the very outset, exhibited a deference toward her by which she did not fail to profit.

* Dryden's "All for Love,"-act iii.

For luxurious magnificence, and costly and profuse evtravagance, the entertainment provided by Cleopatra had never yet been equalled. Her tents and pavilions, hung with cloth of gold, or silken tapestry from the looms of Tyre and Sidon, were pitched beside the sparkling waters of the Cydnus, in a noble grove of spreading plane-trees and stately laurels. Lamps of bronze and gold, suspended by gilt chains or supported by lofty candelabra, arranged in squares and circles, and raised or depressed at pleasure, shed their per fumed light around. Blazing censers, filled with choicest spices, loaded the air with fragrance. There were long rows of marble tables and silver tripods, covered with tureens, and urns, and vases, of gold and silver, fashioned with elegance and taste. Large silver lances, or chargers, splendidly embossed, contained the juicy meats, the fish, the hares, and pheasants. The bread and fruited cake were brought in silver baskets. Bronze dishes, with ornaments inlaid, were filled with eggs and roes of fishes, with oysters from the Hellespont, with fresh and pickled olives, with frumenty and radishes, with dried dates and raisins, mulberries new. ly gathered, and almonds and confections. Banqueting cups of most exquisite workmanship, were wreathed with garlands and poured brimming full with the rich juice of Chios, or the produce of the Egyptian soilnot the mild wines of Thebaïs and Coptos, but the light fragrant Mareoticum, and the oily and aromatic Tænioticum.

Upon the ornamented seats and couches reclined the guests, with chaplets of violets and roses, myrtle, ivy,