"My friend.--Welcome to the Carpathians. I am anxiously expecting you. Sleep well tonight. At three tomorrow the diligence will start for Bukovina; a place on it is kept for you. At the Borgo Pass my carriage will await you and will bring you to me. I trust that your journey from London has been a happy one, and that you will enjoy your stay in my beautiful land.--Your friend, Dracula."
4 May--I found that my landlord had got a letter from the Count, directing him to secure the best place on the coach for me; but on making inquiries as to details he seemed somewhat reticent, and pretended that he could not understand my German.
This could not be true, because up to then he had understood it perfectly; at least, he answered my questions exactly as if he did.
He and his wife, the old lady who had received me, looked at each other in a frightened sort of way. He mumbled out that the money had been sent in a letter, and that was all he knew. When I asked him if he knew Count Dracula, and could tell me anything of his castle, both he and his wife crossed themselves, and, saying that they knew nothing at all, simply refused to speak further. It was so near the time of starting that I had no time to ask anyone else, for it was all very mysterious and not by any means comforting.
Just before I was leaving, the old lady came up to my room and said in a hysterical way: "Must you go? Oh! Young Herr, must you go?" She was in such an excited state that she seemed to have lost her grip of what German she knew, and mixed it all up with some other language which I did not know at all. I was just able to follow her by asking many questions. When I told her that I must go at once, and that I was engaged on important business, she asked again:
"Do you know what day it is?" I answered that it was the fourth of May. She shook her head as she said again:
"Oh, yes! I know that! I know that, but do you know what day it is?"
On my saying that I did not understand, she went on:
"It is the eve of St. George's Day. Do you not know that to-night, when the clock strikes midnight, all the evil things in the world will have full sway? Do you know where you are going, and what you are going to?" She was in such evident distress that I tried to comfort her, but without effect. Finally, she went down on her knees and implored me not to go; at least to wait a day or two before starting.
It was all very ridiculous but I did not feel comfortable. However, there was business to be done, and I could allow nothing to interfere with it.
I tried to raise her up, and said, as gravely as I could, that I thanked her, but my duty was imperative, and that I must go.
She then rose and dried her eyes, and taking a crucifix from her neck offered it to me.
I did not know what to do, for, as an English Churchman, I have been taught to regard such things as in some measure idolatrous, and yet it seemed so ungracious to refuse an old lady meaning so well and in such a state of mind.
She saw, I suppose, the doubt in my face, for she put the rosary round my neck and said, "For your mother's sake," and went out of the room.
I am writing up this part of the diary whilst I am waiting for the coach, which is, of course, late; and the crucifix is still round my neck.
Whether it is the old lady's fear, or the many ghostly traditions of this place, or the crucifix itself, I do not know, but I am not feeling nearly as easy in my mind as usual.
~Dracula, Bram Stoker, Chapter 1
She didnt do it for Marc Anthony no matter how beautiful and handsome he was . She did it for her son and the power . To rule the Roman Empire . Marc Anthony was a tool.
Was it worth it probably yes and no but that was life she knew . And she did become very famous to this days. She did something on the highest history level of her time . We still talk about her . Interesting time was then .
But she could have used ANY of the men in her life, but she chose HIM to achieve her end. Does that make him any less of a tool? No. But I can’t help but wonder just what it was about him for her, that made him special. So special that centuries later what they had is still talked about…So yeah, even his ‘tool’ status can’t detract from whatever it was that they had. I’m just not sure what it was…I can’t help but find that curious. And yes, interesting indeed.
She couldnt use any man in her life. He was Marc Antony . He was connected to Julius Cesar . he was Roman general with influence in the army and Senate .he was connected . he had his own dreams and if they pulled their resources together they could rule the world. He was ‘using” her as she was “using “him. It was marriage of convenience but probably some physical attraction was going on too. But most likely brain/mind attraction more . She was woman who had thing for powerful men and he was .
Two powerful people who compliment each other in ambitions and means to get what they want were naturally pulled to each other . Their problem was they were outdated their best days and chances for the absolute power were gone. they belonged to Caesar’s time and the Octavia was younger ,smarter and the new era belonged to him.
I hope that answer some of your questions.
We are talking the Roman Empire here, he wasn’t the only choice…Far from it. He was her preferred choice. I’m just curious as to why THIS man specifically, all obvious reasons aside. She didn’t have to marry him. She could have ruled without doing that. She didn’t. She could have made a better, more fitting choice for a husband, besides a warrior which was far from an elevated position in those days. She didn’t. On paper, Marc Anthony was NOT a good choice for a woman in her position, but she chose him anyway. I have always found the why in that odd. Always have. Ever since the why was inspired in me by William Shakespeare in his own play inspired by his own ‘whys’ of the two…I have always found their union an oddity. A poor choice made by an extremely powerful women, who if she had chosen differently, she might not have come to the same end. Although I do think you are correct in the point in their ambitions drove them both. Different as they were. Octavius was a true genius and a man well ahead of his time. He ushered in a golden age that Cleopatra and Marc Anthony could never hope to contend with…Ambitions or not.
I meant Octavius Augustus . Anyway this discussion is interesting and I would love to continue but truly I am tired and my brain is fried. Maybe some other time we can talked more .
Great talking to you . Sorry again for my exuberance . Everything was funny to me tonight . Yeah, I meant poem at my village . I posted one with blue colors of water . So when I saw blue is the color of opening our emotions I connected it . I guess you didnt see it . My bad.
No problem…It was indeed fun, as always. Get some sleep. And I will be sure to check out your poem. Promise.
Catch ya later!
You asking why woman chose certain man ? Well that question even that woman can’t answer correctly . Something clicked in her and he was her choice . Women do that . And the one they choice is never perfect for them , there are others better on the paper but for her he was the right choice . In the matter of the heart the rational is not deciding factor
Second it was her destiny , their kismet . Simple as that . their souls and minds came together in that moment and their path crossed for them to finished that way. There are no right reasons when woman decide with her heart . That’s why you have tragedy . if everyone was doing what is perfectly right for them then again you will have robot society. And we dont want that.