19.  Proculei’us now made his appearance by command of Augus’tus, who had been informed of Antony’s desperate conduct.  He was sent to try all means of getting Cleopa’tra into his power. 20.  Augustus had a double motive for his solicitude on this occasion; one was—­to prevent her destroying the treasures she had taken with her into the tomb; the other—­to preserve her person, as an ornament to grace his triumph. 21.  Cleopa’tra, however, was upon her guard, and rejected any conference with Proculei’us, except through the gate, which was well secured.  At length, having procured a ladder, he, with two of Augustus’s soldiers, entered by the same window through which Antony had been drawn up.  Cleopa’tra, perceiving what had happened, drew a poinard, that hung at her girdle, to stab herself; but Proculei’us forced it from her. 22.  Augustus, pleased to find her in his power, sent Epaphrodi’tus to bring her to his palace, and to watch her with the utmost circumspection.  He was ordered to use her, in every respect, with that deference and submission which were due to her rank, and to do every thing in his power to render her captivity tolerable.

23.  Though kings and generals made interest for Antony’s body, in order to pay the last honours to it, this consolation was reserved for Cleopa’tra.  She alone was permitted to have the honour of granting Antony the rites of burial, and was furnished with every thing becoming his dignity to receive, or her love to offer. 24.  Yet still she languished under her new confinement.  Her many losses, her frantic sorrow, the blows which she had given her bosom, produced a fever, which she wished to increase.  She resolved, by abstaining from nourishment, to starve herself to death, under the pretence of a regimen necessary for her disorder. 25.  But Augus’tus, being made acquainted with the real motive by her physicians, began to threaten her, with regard to the safety of her children, in case she should perish.  The fear of being the cause of their death was a motive she could not resist.  Cleopa’tra, therefore, allowed herself to be treated as was thought proper, and she recovered.

26.  In the mean time Augustus made his entry into Alexandria, taking care to mitigate the fears of the inhabitants, by conversing familiarly with Ar’cus, a philosopher, and a native of the place.  The citizens, however, trembled at his approach.  And when he placed himself upon the tribunal, they prostrated themselves, with their faces to the ground, before him, like criminals who waited the sentence for their execution. 27.  Augus’tus presently ordered them to rise, telling them that three motives induced him to pardon them:  his respect for Alexander, who was the founder of their city; his admiration of its beauty; and his friendship for Ar’cus, their fellow citizen. 28.  Two only of particular note were put to death upon this occasion; Antony’s eldest son, Antyl’lus, and Caesa’rio, the son of Julius Caesar, both betrayed into his hands