Cleopatra (V)

V. CLEOPATRA, the last Queen of Egypt, Daughter of Ptolemy Auletes, that is to say, the player on the Flute, sacrificed her two Brothers, and her Sister Arsinoë to her ambition. She had such an ascendant over Mark Antony, that he put away Octavia the Sister of Augustus to marry her. She was no way concerned in the religious Affairs either of the Jews or Christians; and her name is not to be met with in the Bible: But there was an intimate Friendship between her and Alexandra the Mother of Mariamne, and Motherin-law to Herod the Great; who, having received some Mortifications at her Son-in-law’s Court, wrote to Cleopatra concerning them, and was invited by her to come with her Son Aristobulus into Egypt¹. This being known by Herod, extremely provoked him against Alexandra, and contributed not a little to the resolution which he took, of putting her to death, and which he executed some years after, first against Aristobulus, and afterwards In the year of the World 3970, before J. C. 30.against Alexandra.

Cleopatra never ceased solliciting Antony, to revenge this wicked act committed by Herod against Aristobulus. Antony hereupon commanded Herod to attend him, and give an account of his Conduct. But Herod wrought on Antony by his Presents, and engaged him in his Interests. About the end of this year 3970, Cleopatra passed through Judæa in her return from a Journey she had made with Antony, as far as the Euphrates. Herod received her with all imaginable Magnificence; she endeavoured to inspire him with Love, and solicited him to converse criminally with her: But Herod always appeared to be insensible of her allurements, and deliberated with his Friends, whether he should not take this opportunity to dispatch her. But they dissuaded him from any such attempt. He conducted her therefore as far as Pelusium, and loaded her with Presentsh. Soon after the Battel of Actium was fought, wherein Antony was overcome by Augustus: Antony upon this defeat fled to Cleopatra in Egypt, and Augustus followed him. Cleopatra killed herself with the sting of an Asp, in the Year of the World 3974, before J. C. 26. before the vulgar Æra 30.

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