at he had, which was his life, in the same
way as he had dared to serve mine, which is my love? I have a right to
rejoice at his death. Aye! the heavy lids now close those bright eyes
which could be falser than the stern lips that were so apt to praise
truth. The faithless heart is forever still which could scorn the love
of a queen--and for what? For whom? Oh, ye pitiful gods!"

With these words the queen sobbed aloud, hastily lifting her hands
to cover her eyes, and ran to the door by which she had entered her
brother's rooms.

But Euergetes stood in her way, and said sternly and positively:

"You are to stay here till I return. Collect yourself, for at the next
event which this momentous day will bring forth it will be my turn to
laugh while your blood shall run cold." And with a few swift steps he
left the hall.

Cleopatra buried her face in the soft cushions of the couch, and wept
without ceasing, till she was presently startled by loud cries and the
clatter of arms. Her quick wit told her what was happening. In frantic
haste she flew to the door but it was locked; no shaking, no screaming,
no thumping seemed to reach the ears of the guard whom she heard
monotonously walking up and down outside her prison.

And now the tumult and clang of arms grew louder and louder, and the
rattle of drums and blare of trumpets began to mingle with the sound.
She rushed to the window in mortal fear, and looked down into the
palace-yard; at that same instant the door of the great banqueting-hall
was flung open, and a flying crowd streamed out in distracted
confusion--then another, and a third--all troops in King Philometor's
uniform. She ran to the door of the room into which she had thrust her
children; that too was locked. In her desperation she once more sprang
to the window, shouted to the flying Macedonians to halt and make a
stand--threatening and entreating; but no one heard her, and their
number constantly increased, till at length she saw her husband standing
on the threshold of the great hall with a gaping wound on his forehead,
and defending himself bravely and stoutly with buckler and sword against
the body-guard of his own brother, who were pressing him sorely. In
agonized excitement she shouted encouraging words to him, and he seemed
to hear her, for with a strong sweep of his shield he struck his nearest
antagonist to the earth, sprang with a mighty leap into the midst of his
flying adherents, and vanished with