Life and times of Cleopatra
Queen of Egypt; a study in the origin of the Roman empire
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| Life and times of Cleopatra |
In the following pages it will be observed that, in order not to distract the reader, I have refrained from adding large numbers of notes, references, and discussions, such as are customary in works of this kind. I am aware that by telling a straightforward story in this manner I lay open to the suspicions of my fellow workers, for there is always some tendency to take not absolutely seriously a book which neither prints chapter and verse for its every statement, nor often interrupts the text with erudite arguments.
In the case of the subject which is here treated, however, it has seemed to me unnecessary to encumber the pages in this manner, since the sources of my information are all so well known; and I have thus been able to present the book to the reader in a style consonant with a principle of archaeological and historical study to which I have always endeavoured to adhere — namely, the avoidance of as many of those attestations of learning as may be discarded without real loss. A friend of mine, an eminent scholar, in discussing with me the scheme of this volume, earnestly exhorted me on the present occasion not to abide by this principle.
Remarking that the trouble with my interpretation of history was that I attempted to make the characters live, he urged me at least to justify the manner of their resuscitation in the eyes of the doctors of science by cramming my pages with extracts from my working notes, relevant or otherwise, and by smattering my text with Latin and Greek quotations. I trust, however, that he was speaking in behalf of a very small company, for the sooner this kind of jargon of scholarship, is swept into the world's dust -bin, the better will it be for public education.
To my mind a knowledge of the past is so necessary to a happy mental poise that it seems absolutely essential for historical studies to be placed before the general reader in a manner sympathetic to him, " History," said Emerson, " no longer shall be a dull book. It shall walk incarnate in every just and wise man. You shall not tell me by languages and titles a catalogue of the volumes you have read. You shall make me feel what periods you have lived."
Contents:
Introduction ....... Part I.— Cleopatra and caesarI. An introductory study of the character of Cleopatra ...... 3Ii. The city of Alexandria . . . . 18Iii. The birth and early years of Cleopatra . . 41Iv. The death of Pompey and the arrival of caesar In Egypt ...... 65V. Caius Julius caesar . . . . .82Vi. Cleopatra and caesar in the besieged palace at Alexandria ...... 95Vii. The birth of the cesarian and Cesar's departure From Egypt . . . . . .114Viii. Cleopatra and c^sar in rome . . -133Ix. The foundations of the crypto-Roman monarchy. 153X. The death of caesar and the return of Cleopatra To Egypt ...... 178Part ii.— Cleopatra and Antony.Xi. The character of Antony and his rise to power 203Xii. The alliance between Cleopatra and Antony. 224Xiii. Cleopatra and Antony in Alexandria . . 238Xiv. The alliance renewed between Cleopatra and Antony ....... 254Xv. The preparations of Cleopatra and Antony forThe overthrow of Octavian . . . 279Xvi. The decline of Antony's power . . . 303Xvii. The battle of Actium and the flight to Egypt . 324Xviii. Cleopatra's attempt to begin again . . . 349Xix. Octavian's invasion of Egypt and the death of Antony ....... 368Xx. The death of Cleopatra and the triumph of Octavian ...... 386
Introduction .......
Part I.— Cleopatra and caesar
I. An introductory study of the character of Cleopatra ...... 3
Ii. The city of Alexandria . . . . 18
Iii. The birth and early years of Cleopatra . . 41
Iv. The death of Pompey and the arrival of caesar In Egypt ...... 65
V. Caius Julius caesar . . . . .82
Vi. Cleopatra and caesar in the besieged palace at Alexandria ...... 95
Vii. The birth of the cesarian and Cesar's departure From Egypt . . . . . .114
Viii. Cleopatra and c^sar in rome . . -133
Ix. The foundations of the crypto-Roman monarchy. 153
X. The death of caesar and the return of Cleopatra To Egypt ...... 178
Part ii.— Cleopatra and Antony.
Xi. The character of Antony and his rise to power 203
Xii. The alliance between Cleopatra and Antony. 224
Xiii. Cleopatra and Antony in Alexandria . . 238
Xiv. The alliance renewed between Cleopatra and Antony ....... 254
Xv. The preparations of Cleopatra and Antony for
The overthrow of Octavian . . . 279
Xvi. The decline of Antony's power . . . 303
Xvii. The battle of Actium and the flight to Egypt . 324
Xviii. Cleopatra's attempt to begin again . . . 349
Xix. Octavian's invasion of Egypt and the death of Antony ....... 368
Xx. The death of Cleopatra and the triumph of Octavian ...... 386
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