"You see that his gay arrogance has not deserted him. Trouble slips away
from him as rain is shaken from the coarse military cloak which he wore
in the Parthian war, and therefore it cannot exert its purifying power.

"When we consider that, a few years ago, this man, as it were, doubled
himself when peril was most threatening, his conduct now, on the eve of
the decisive struggle, is intelligible only to those who know him as we
do. If he fights, he will no longer do so to save himself, or even to
conquer, but to die an honourable death. If he still enjoys the pleasures
offered, he believes that he can thus mitigate for himself the burden of
defeat, and diminish the grandeur of the conqueror's victory. In the eyes
of the world, at least, a man who can still revel like Antony is only
half vanquished. Yet the lofty tone of his mind was lowered. The
surrender of the murderer of Caesar--his name was Turullius--proves it.

"And this, Barine--tell your husband so--this is what fills me with
anxiety and compels me to entreat you not to think of returning home yet.

"Antony is now the jovial companion of his son, and permits Antyllus to
share all his own pleasures. Of course, he heard of Caesarion's passion,
and is disposed to help the poor fellow. He has often said that nothing
would better serve to rouse the dreamer from torpor than your charming
vivacity. As the earth could scarcely have swallowed you up, you would be
found; he, too, should be glad to hear you sing again. I know that search
will be made for you.

"How imperiously this state of affairs requires you to exercise caution
needs no explanation. On the other hand, you may find comfort in the
tidings that Cleopatra intends to send Caesarion with his tutor Rhodon to
Ethiopia, by way of the island of Philae. Archibius heard through
Timagenes that Octavianus considers the son of Caesar, whose face so
wonderfully resembles his father's, a dangerous person, and this opinion
is the boy's death-warrant. Antyllus, too, is going on a journey. His
destination is Asia, where he is to seek to propitiate Octavianus and
make him new offers. As you know, he was betrothed to his daughter Julia.
The Queen ceased long ago to believe in the possibility of victory, yet,
spite of all the demands of the "Comrades of Death" and her own cares,
she toils unweariedly in preparing for the defence of the country. She is
doubtless the only member of that society who thinks seriously of the
a