Page:A Biographical Dictionary of the Celebrated Women of Every Age and Country (1804).djvu/288

274 After the battle of Philippi, Cleopatra was summoned by Antony to answer an accusation against her, of favouring the interest of Cassius. She had done so, and was sensible that this was not very agreeable to the triumviri, considering what she owed to the memory of Julius Cæsar. She depended, however, on her wit and beauty; and, full of confidence, went to Antony, who waited for her at Tarsus, in Cilicia. Arriving at the mouth of the river Cydnus, Cleopatra embarked in a vessel whose stern was of gold, sails of purple silk, and oars of silver, while a concert of several instruments kept time with the motion of the vessel. She herself was laid under a canopy of rich cloth of gold, dressed like Venus rising out of the sea. About, were lovely children, like Cupids, fanning her; the handsomest of her women, habited like Nereids and Graces, were leaning negligently on the shrouds of the vessel; the sweets that were burning perfumed the banks of the river, which were covered with a vast number of people, so that Antony, who was mounted on a throne, to make a show of majesty, was left quite alone, while the multitude at the river, with shouts, cried out, that "Venus was come to visit Bacchus for the happiness of Asia."

By these arts, and the charms of her person, she drew Antony into those snares which held him enslaved while he lived, and were the occasion of his death. Accompanying him as far as Tyre, she returned to Egypt, firmly persuaded he could not stay long behind her. Indeed he soon followed, and spent the whole winter in the enjoyment of those varied pleasures, which she every day provided.

Antony's passion for Cleopatra, and the gifts he daily made