On the return to the mausoleum that afternoon she ordered a bath to be prepared. Afterward ehe reclined at table, where she enjoyed a sumptuous meal. Towards day’s end a servant appeared outside her door with a backet of figs, direct from the countryside. The guards examined is contents carefully. The figs of Egypt were especially sweet; the Romans marveled at the succulent fruit. With a smile the traveler offered samples all around, after which he was waved into to monument. Some time later, Cleopatra set her seal to the letter she had prepared in advance. She then called for Epaphroditus. Could he relax his guard long enough to carry a communication of Octavian? It concerned a minor matter; there was no fuss. Epaphroditus headed out, across the sand outside. Cleopatra then dismissed her retinue save for Iras and Charmion. The three women closed the mausoleum doors behind them; the bars and bolts had presumably been removed along with the treasure. If they had not done so already, her maidservant filled Cleopatra in her formal robes, to which they added the ornaments of her office, the pharaonic crook and frail. Around her fore head they tied her diadem, its ribbons dangling down her neck.
Octavian opened the letter — he could not have been far away, and was most likely in the palace – to read Cleopatra’s fervent request that she be buried at Antony’s side. Instantly he guessed what had happened.. . . . . Together they brust through the doors. They were too late. . . . Cleopatra lay on a golden couch, probably an Egyptian style bed with lion paws for legs and lion heads to its corners. Majestically and meticulously arrayed in her most beautiful apparel,: she gripped in her hands the crook and frail. She was perfectly composed and completely dead. Iras very nearly so at her feet. Lurching and heavy-headed, almost unable to stand Charmion was clumsily attempting to right the diadem around Cleopatra’s forehead. . . . page 284/285
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Dinesh said:
Octavian opened the letter — he could not have been far away, and was most likely in the palace – to read Cleopatra’s fervent request that she be buried at Antony’s side. Instantly he guessed what had happened.. . . . . Together they brust through the doors. They were too late. . . . Cleopatra lay on a golden couch, probably an Egyptian style bed with lion paws for legs and lion heads to its corners. Majestically and meticulously arrayed in her most beautiful apparel,: she gripped in her hands the crook and frail. She was perfectly composed and completely dead. Iras very nearly so at her feet. Lurching and heavy-headed, almost unable to stand Charmion was clumsily attempting to right the diadem around Cleopatra’s forehead. . . . page 284/285
Dinesh said:
penelope.uchicago.edu/~grout/encyclopaedia_romana/miscellanea/cleopatra/rixens.html#:~:text=Her%20son%20Caesarion%2C%20together%20with,the%20instigation%20of%20the%20Romans)