Cleopatra would not open the gates to let the party in.  The city was all in uproar and confusion through the terror of the assault which Octavius was making upon it, and she did not know what treachery might be intended.  She therefore went up to a window above, and letting down ropes and chains, she directed those below to fasten the dying body to them, that she and the two women with her might draw it up.  This was done.  Those who witnessed it said that it was a most piteous sight to behold,—­Cleopatra and her women above exhausting their strength in drawing the wounded and bleeding sufferer up the wall, while he, when he approached the window, feebly raised his arms to them, that they might lift him in.  The women had hardly strength sufficient to draw the body up.  At one time it seemed that the attempt would have to be abandoned; but Cleopatra reached down from the window as far as she could to get hold of Antony’s arms, and thus, by dint of great effort, they succeeded at last in taking him in.  They bore him to a couch which was in the upper room from which the window opened, and laid him down, while Cleopatra wrung her hands and tore her hair, and uttered the most piercing lamentations and cries.  She leaned over the dying Antony, crying out incessantly with the most piteous exclamations of grief.  She bathed his face, which was covered with blood, and vainly endeavored to stanch his wound.

Antony urged her to be calm, and not to mourn his fate.  He asked for some wine.  They brought it to him and he drank it.  He then entreated Cleopatra to save her life, if she possibly could do so, and to make some terms or other with Octavius, so as to continue to live.  Very soon after this he expired.

In the mean time, Octavius had heard of the mortal wound which Antony had given himself; for one of the by-standers had seized the sword the moment that the deed was done, and had hastened to carry it to Octavius, and to announce to him the death of his enemy.  Octavius immediately desired to get Cleopatra into his power.  He sent a messenger, therefore, to the tomb, who attempted to open a parley there with her.  Cleopatra talked with the messenger through the keyholes or crevices, but could not be induced to open the door.  The messenger reported these facts to Octavius.  Octavius then sent another man with the messenger, and while one was engaging the attention of Cleopatra and her women at the door below, the other obtained ladders, and succeeded in gaining admission into the window above.  Cleopatra was warned of the success of this stratagem by the shrieks of her women, who saw the officer coming down the stairs.  She looked around, and observing at a glance that she was betrayed, and that the officer was coming to seize her, she drew a little dagger from her robe, and was about to plunge it into her breast, when the officer grasped her arm just in time to prevent the blow.  He took the dagger from her, and then examined her clothes to see that there were no other secret weapons concealed there.