attendants, however, reconciled them, and every thing went on as before. 23.  Still he had the consolation to suppose his army continued faithful to him, and accordingly despatched orders to conduct it into Asia.  But he was soon undeceived when he arrived in Africa, where he was informed of their submission to his rival.[18] 24.  This so transported him with rage, that with difficulty he was prevented from killing him self.  At length, at the entreaty of his friends, he returned to Alexandria. 25.  Cleopa’tra seemed to retain that fortitude in her misfortunes, which had utterly abandoned her admirer.  Having amassed considerable riches, by means of confiscations and other acts of violence, she formed a very singular and unheard of project.

[Illustration:  Sea-fight, near Actium.]

26.  This was to convey her whole fleet over the Isthmus of Su’ez into the Red Sea, and thereby save herself, with all her treasures, in another region beyond the power of Rome. 27.  Some of her vessels were actually transported thither, pursuant to her orders; but the Arabians having burnt them, and Antony dissuading her from the design, she abandoned it for the more improbable scheme of defending Egypt against the conqueror. 28.  She omitted nothing in her power to put this in practice, and made all kinds of preparations for war, hoping, at least, by these means to obtain better terms from Augustus.  In fact, she had been more in love with Antony’s fortune than his person; and if she could have fallen upon any method of saving herself, though even at his expense, there is little doubt but she would have embraced it with gladness. 29.  She had still hopes from the power of her charms, though she was almost arrived at the age of forty:  and was desirous of trying upon Augustus those arts which had already been so successful.  Thus, in three embassies which were sent from Antony to Augustus in Asia, the queen had always her secret agents, charged with proposals in her name.  Antony desired no more than that his life might be spared, and to have the liberty of passing the remainder of his days in obscurity.  To these requests Augustus made no reply. 30.  Cleopa’tra also sent him public proposals in favour of her children; but at the same time privately resigned to him her crown, with all the ensigns of royalty.  To the queen’s public proposal no answer was given; to her private offer he replied by giving her assurances of his favour, in case she would send away Antony, or put him to death. 31.  These private negociations were not so concealed but they came to the knowledge of Antony, whose jealousy and rage every occurrence now contributed to heighten.  He built a small solitary house upon a mole in the sea, and shut himself up, a prey to those passions that are the tormentors of unsuccessful tyranny.  There he passed his time; shunning all commerce with man kind, and professing to imitate Timon,[19] the man-hater. 32.  However, his furious jealousy drove