Page:Plutarch's Lives (Clough, v.5, 1865).djvu/238

 230 ANTONY. fell dead at his feet, " It is well done, Eros," said Antony; " you show your master how to do what 3'ou had not the heart to do yourself j " 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 j)ain ; but they all fled out of the chamber, and left him crying out and struggling, until Diomede, Cleopatra's secretary, came to him, having orders from her to bring him into the monument. When he understood she was alive, he eagerly gave order to the servants to take him up, and in their arms was carried to the door of the building. Cleopatra would not open the door, but, looking from a sort of window, she let do^vn ropes and cords, to which Antony was fastened ; and she and her two women, the only persons she had allowed to enter the monument, drew him up. Those that were present say that nothing was ever more sad than this spectacle, to see Antony, covered all over with blood and just expiring, thus drawn up, still holding up his hands to her, and lifting up his body with the little force he had left. As, indeed, it was no easy task for the women ; and Cleopatra, with all her force, clinging to the rope, and straining with her head to the ground, with difficulty pulled him up, while those below encouraged her with their cries, and joined in all her effort and anxiety. When she had got him up, she laid him on the bed, tearing all her clothes, which she spread upon him ; and, beating her breasts with her hands, lacerating herself, and disfigm-ing her own face with the blood from his wounds, she called him her lord, her husband, her em- peror, and seemed to have pretty nearly foi'gotten all her own evils, she was so intent upon his misfortunes. An- tony, stopping her lamentations as well as he could, called