Imatges de pàgina
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Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein ftuck A fun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted The little O, the earth.(4)

Dol. Moft fovereign creature !—

Cleo. His legs beftrid the ocean; his rear'd arm Crefted the world: his voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, when that to friends; But when he meant to quail, and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in't: an autumn 'twas, That grew the more by reaping (5) His delights. Were dolphin-like; they fhew'd his back above The element they liv'd in: In his livery

Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands were As plates dropt from his pocket.(6)

Del. Cleopatra,

Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a man As this I dreamt of?

Dol. Gentle madam, no.

Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the Gods. But, if there be, or ever were, one fuch,.

It's paft the fize of dreaming: Nature wants ftuff To vie ftrange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine An Antony, were Nature's piece 'gainft Fancy, Condemning fhadows quite.

Dol. Hear me, good madam :

Your lofs is as yourself, great; and you bear it
As anfwering to the weight: 'Would I might never-
Q'ertake purfu'd fuccefs, but I do feel,

By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots.

My very heart at root.

Cleo. I thank you, fir.

Know you, what Cæfar means to do with me?
Dol. I am loth to tell you what I would you knew..
Cleo. Nay, pray you, fir.

Dol. Though he be honourable,

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(5) I cannot refift the temptation to quote the following beautiful paffage from B. Jonfon's "New Inn," on the subject of liberality.

"He gave me my firft breeding, I acknowledge;
Then thowr'd his bounties on me, like the hours
That open-handed fit upon the clouds,

And prefs the liberality of heaven
Down to the laps of thankful men."

(6) Plates-mean, I believe, filver money.

STEEV,

STEEV.

Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph?
Dol. Madam, he will I know it.
All. Make way there,-

-Cæfar.

Enter CESAR, GALLUS, MECENAS, PROCULEIUS, and
Attendants.

Caf. Which is the queen of Egypt?
Dol. It is the emperor, madam.
Gæs. Arise, you fhall not kneel :

I pray you, rife: Rife, Egypt.
Cleo. Sir, the Gods

[CLEO. kneels

Will have it thus; my mafter and my lord
I must obey.

Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts:
The record of what injuries you did us,
Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.

Cleo. Sole fir o'the world,

I cannot project mine own cause so well
To make it clear (7) but do confefs, I have
Been laden with like frailties, which before
Have often fham'd our fex.

Caf. Cleopatra, know,

We will extenuate, rather than enforce :
If you apply yourself to our intents,

(Which towards you are moft gentle) you shall find A benefit in this change: but if you feek

To lay on me a cruelty, by taking

Antony's course, you fhall bereave yourself

Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that deftruction, which I'll guard them from,
If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave-

Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we

Your 'fcutcheons, and your figns of conqueft, fhall Hang in what place you pleafe. Here, my good lord. Caf. You fhall advife me in all for Cleopatra.

Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am poffefs'd of: 'tis exactly valued;

Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus ?
Sel. Here, madam.

Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord,

(7) To project a caufe-is to reprefent a caufe; to project it well, is to plan or contrive a scheme of defence,

JOHNS.

Upon his peril, that I have referv'd

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam,

I had rather feel my lips,(8) than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.

Cleo. What have I kept back?

Sel. Enough to purchafe what you have made known. Caf. Nay, blufh not, Cleopatra ; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cæfar! Oh, behold,

How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours ;· And, fhould we fhift eftates, yours would be mine.. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does

Even make me wild :-Oh, slave of no more trust Than love that's hir'd !-What, goeft thou back ? thou

fhalt

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,
Though they had wings. Slave, foul-lefs villain, dog!!
O rarely bafe (9)
[Striking him.

Caf. Good queen, let us intreat you.

Cleo. O Cæfar, what a wounding fhame is this ;, That thou, vouchfafing here to vifit me,

Doing the honour of thy lordlinefs

To one fo meek, that mine own fervant should
Parcel the fum of my difgraces by

Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæfar,

That I fome lady-trifles have referv'd,
Immoment toys, things of fuch dignity

As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart

For Livia, and Octavia, to induce

Their mediation; muft I be unfolded

With one that I have bred? The Gods! It fmites meBeneath the fall I have.-Pr'ythee, go hence; [To SELEU Or I fhall fhew the cinders of my spirits

Through the ashes of my chance :(i)-Wert thou a man, Thou would't have mercy on me.

Caf. Forbear, Seleucus.

[Exit SELEUCUS. Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greateft, are mifthought For things that others do; and, when we fall,

(8) Sew up my mouth. JOHNS.

(9) i. e. Bafe in an uncommon degree. STEEV.

(1) Chance-or fortune. The meaning is, Begone, or I fhall exert that royal fpirit which I had in my profperity, in fpite of the imbecility of my prefent weak condition. WARB.

We anfwer others' merits in our names;
Are therefore to be pitied.(2)

Caf. Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i'the roll of conqueft: ftill be it your's, Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,

Cæfar's no merchant, to make prize with you

Of things that merchants fold. Therefore, be cheer'd;
Make not your thoughts your prisons :(3) no, dear queen
For we intend fo to difpofe you, as

Yourself fhall give us counfel. Feed, and fleep:
Our care and pity are so much upon you,
That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu.
Cleo. My mafter, and my lord!

Caf. Not fo:-Adieu. [Exe. CESAR and his Train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myfelf: But hark thee, Charmian.

[Whispers CHARMIAN Iras. Finifh, good lady: the bright day is done, And we are for the dark.

Cleo. Hie thee again :

I have spoke already, and it is provided;

Go put it to the hafte.

Re-enter DOLABELLA.

Char. Madam, I will.

Dol. Where is the queen?

Char. Behold, fir..

[Exit CHARMIAN.

Cleo. Dolabella?

Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn by your command, Which my love makes religion to obey,

I tell you this: Cæfar through Syria

Intends his journey; and, within three days,
You with your children will he fend before:
Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
Your pleasure, and my promise.

Cleo. Dolabella,

I fhall remain your debtor.

(2) "We fuffer at our higheft ftate of elevation in the thoughts of mankind for that which others do, and when we fall, thofe that contented themselves only to think ill before, call us to answer in our own names for the merits of others. We are therefore to be pitied." Merits-is in this place taken in an ill sense, for actions meriting cenfure. JOHNS.

(3) I once wifhed to read,-'Make not your thoughts your poifon :---Do not deftroy yourself by mufing on your misfortune. Yet I would change nothing, as the old reading prefents a very proper fenfe. "Be not a pri oner in imagination, when in reality you are free." JOHNS.

Dol. I your fervant.

Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæfar.

[Exit

Cleo. Farewel, and thanks.—Now, Iras, what think’st

thou?

Thou, an Ægyptian puppet, fhalt be fhewn
In Rome, as well as I: mechanic flaves
With greafy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of grofs diet, fhall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras. The Gods forbid !

Cleo. Nay, 'tis moft certain, Iras: Saucy lictors, Will catch at us, like ftrumpets; and scald rhimers' Ballad us out o'tune (4) The quick comedians Extemporally will ftage us,(5) and prefent

Our Alexandrian revels: Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall fee
Some fqueaking Cleopatra boy my greatness(6)
I' the pofture of a whore.

Iras. O the good Gods!
Cleo. Nay, that's certain.

Iras. I'll never fee it; for, I am fure, my nails Are ftronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that's the way

To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most abfurd intents.-Now, Charmian?
Enter CHARMIAN.

Shew me, my women, like a queen;-Go fetch.
My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony :-Sirrah, Iras, go.-
Now, noble Charmian, we'll difpatch indeed:

And, when thou haft done this chare, I'll give thee leave
To play till doomfday. Bring our crown and all..
Wherefore's this noife?

[A Noife within.

Enter one of the Guard.

Guard. Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be denied your highness' presence;

He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in.-How poor an inftrument

[Exit Guard.

May do a noble deed !-He brings me liberty..

filth.

(4) Scald-was a word of contempt, implying poverty, difeafe, and JOHNS. (5) The gay inventive players. JOHNS. (6) The parts of women were acted on the ftage by boys,

HANMER.

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