She was in Rome when Brutus and Cassius struck their fatal blows, and had fled, disguised, her baby in her arms--refusing to trust the precious life in the hands of hirelings. And now that she should be accused of giving help to the murderer of her joy! She had execrated and despised Cassius, and now she hated, no less, the man who had wrongfully accused her. But he was dictator--his summons must be obeyed. She would obey it, but she would humiliate him. Antony waited at Cilicia on the day appointed, but Cleopatra did not appear. He waited two days--three--and very leisurely, up the river, the galleys of Cleopatra came. But she did not come as suppliant. Her curiously carved galley was studded with nails of gold; the oars were all tipped with silver; the sails were of purple silk. The rowers kept time to the music of flutes. The Queen in the gauzy dress of Venus reclined under a canopy, fanned by cupids. Her maids were dressed like the Graces, and fragrance of burning incense diffused the shores. The whole city went down the river to meet this most gorgeous pageant, and Antony the proud was left at the tribunal alone. On her arrival Cleopatra sent official word of her presence. Antony sent back word that she should come to him. She responded that if he wished to see her he should call and pay his respects. He went down to the riverside and was astonished at the dazzling, twinkling lights and all the magnificence that his eyes beheld. Very soon he was convinced that in elegance and magnificence he could not cope with this Egyptian queen. The personal beauty of Cleopatra was not great. Many of her maids outshone her. Her power lay in her wit and wondrous mind. She adapted herself to conditions; and on every theme and topic that the conversation might take, she was at home. Her voice was marvelously musical, and was so modulated that it seemed like an instrument of many strings. She spoke all languages, and therefore had no use for interpreters. When she met Antony she quickly took the measure of the man. She fell at once into his coarse soldier ways, and answered him jest for jest. Antony was at first astonished, then subdued, next entranced--a woman who could be the comrade of a man she had never seen before! She had the intellect of a man and all the luscious weaknesses of a woman. Cleopatra had come hating this man Antony, and to her surprise she found him endurable--and more. Besides that, she had cause to be grateful to him--he had destroyed those conspirators who had killed her Caesar--her King of Kings. She ordered her retinue to make ready to return. The prows were turned toward Alexandria; and aboard the galley of the Queen, beneath the silken canopy, at the feet of Cleopatra, reclined the great Mark Antony. * * * * *