This article is dedicated to my girl friend (LIPI) and my readers !
Apart from Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s star-crossed lovers whose young love was cut short because of tragedy. Another love tandem, whose story in history was the inspiration of William Shakespeare, is the tragic couple Mark Antony and Cleopatra. Two people who were players in the dangerous game of politics.
Cleopatra was known as a very seductive, intelligent woman and proficient in nine languages. She used her feminine wiles to attract Julius Ceasar and keep him wrapped around her slender fingers. Stories of her first meeting with the great Roman general to cement an alliance caught the romantic fancies of people around the world. According to Plutarch, she was hidden in a Persian carpet and was unrolled to reveal herself to Ceasar. The latter was smitten by her charms and they became lovers. It’s also interesting to note that perhaps apart from her charms, Ceasar find her so enchanting because she was also a direct descendant of Alexander the Great. Their affair produced a son whom they named Ceasarion. Their love affair lasted until Ceasar’s assassination.
The relationship of Antony and Cleopatra is a true test of love. They fell in love at first sight. The relationship between these two powerful people put the country of Egypt in a powerful position. But their love affair outraged the Romans who were wary of the growing powers of the Egyptians. Despite all the threats, Anthony and Cleopatra got married. It is said that while fighting a battle against Romans, Antony got false news of Cleopatra's death. Shattered, he fell on his sword. When Cleopatra learned about Antony 's death, she was shocked. And she took her own life. Great love demands great sacrifices.
Antony and Cleopatra got married in the Egyptian tradition in 36 AD. Their relationship earned the disgust of many Romans like same as us baby, apart from the fact that Antony was already married. Their union produced twins and another son. Regardless of the people against their relationship, they were a formidable pair. Perhaps they can be called the Brangelina of the ancient times. In 31 BC, Antony’s powerful rival in Rome Octavian declared war on the power couple.
SO that's all,
i want to say by this that i love you !
Perhaps, it also angered Octavian too that Antony has cast aside his wife Octavia Minor his sister for Cleopatra. Even if Cleopatra funded his war, they were defeated. Fearing for her life, she hid in her tombs to escape being captured and taken prisoner. Antony heard reports that Cleopatra was dead, ended his life. He did not know that she just sort of “faked” her own death. So in Romeo and Juliet style, when Cleopatra found out that her lover was dead, she also committed suicide. There were many versions of how she actually died, but the most famous was when she had an asp smuggled inside the palace in a basket of figs. After dismissing her servants, she lied on a gold gilded couch and placed the asp on her breast. She was found dead later on.
A lot of historians questioned the true nature of the love affair of Antony and Cleopatra. Perhaps, at the beginning it was just for political gain. But later on, it blossomed into something more. If it is fitting to end this article in the way Shakespeare ended Romeo and Juliet: For never was a story of more woe, than this of Cleopatra and her Antony.
i will always love you like you do !
this are the reasons why i am goona type a true words related to love never dies !
Who knows when love begins
Who knows what makes it start
One day it's simply there
Alive inside your heart
It slips into your thoughts
It infiltrates your soul
It takes you by surprise
Then seizes full control
Try to deny it
And try to protest
But love won't let you go
Once you've been possessed
Love never dies
Love never falters
Once it has spoken
Love is yours
Love never fades
Love never alters
Hearts may get broken
Love endures
Hearts may get broken
Love endures
And soon as you submit
Surrender flesh and bone
That love takes on a life
Much bigger than your own
It uses you at whim
And drives you to despair
And forces you to feel
More joy than you can bear
Love gives you pleasure
And love brings you pain
And yet when both are gone
Love will still remain
Once it has spoken
Love is yours
Love never dies
Love never alters
Hearts may get broken
Love endures
Hearts may get broken
Love never dies
Love will continue
Love keeps on beating
When you're gone
Love never dies
Once it is in you
Life may be fleeting
Love lives on
