DOL. I understand not, madam.

CLE. I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony ;O, fuch another fleep! that I might fee

But fuch another man.

DOL. If it might please you,

CLE. His face was as the heavens: and therein ftuck A fun, and moon; which kept their course, and lighted The little o o'the earth.

DOL.-Moft fovereign creature,—

CLE. His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm
Crested the world: his voice was property'd
As all the tuned spheres, when that to friends;
But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
He was as ratling thunder. For his bounty,
There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas,
That grew the more by reaping: 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.

DoL.-Cleopatra,—

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

DOL.-Gentle madam, no.

CLE. 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 stuff
To vie ftrange forms with fancy; yet to imagine
An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,
Condemning fhadows quite.

DoL. -Hear me, good madam:

Your lofs is as yourself, great; and you bear it

As answering to the weight: 'Would I might never
O'er-take purfu'd fuccefs, but I do feel,

By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
My very heart at root.

CLE. -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.
CLE. Nay, pray you, fir:

DoL.-Though he be honourable,

CLE. He'll lead me in triumph:

DOL. -Madam, he will; I know it.

within Make way there,-Cæfar.

Enter CESAR, and Train of Romans,
and SELEUCUs.

CAS. Which is the Queen of Egypt?
DOL. It is the Emperor, madam.
Cæs. Arife, you shall not kneel:

I pray you, rife; rife, Egypt.
CLE. Sir, the gods.

[to Cle. raifing her.

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

CAS. -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.

CLE. -Sole fir o'the world,

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

CES.-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 courfe, 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. [we, CLE. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and Your 'fcutcheons, and your figns of conqueft, fhall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. CAS. You fhall advise me in all for Cleopatra.

CLE. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am poffeft of: 'tis exactly valu'd ;

Not petty things omitted. Where's Seleucus ?

SEL. Here, madam.

CLE. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have referv'd

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

I had rather feal my lips, than, to my peril,

Speak that which is not.

CLE. What have I kept back?

SEL. Enough to purchase what you have made known. CAS. Nay, blufh not, Cleopatra ; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

CLE. See, Cafar! o, 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

E'en make me wild:_O flave, of no more truft

'Than love that's hir'd! What, go'ft thou back? thou shalt

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,
Though they had wings: Slave! foul-lefs villain! dog!
O rarely base!
[fying at him.
CAS.-Good Queen, let us intreat you. [interpofing.
CLE O Cæfar, what a wounding fhame is this;
That thou vouchfafing here to vifit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one so mean, that mine own fèrvant should
Parcel the fum of my difgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cafar,
That I fome lady trifles have reserv'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

Of one that I have bred?_The gods! it smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Wert thou a man,

Thou would't have mercy on me.

CAS. Forbear, Seleucus.

[Exit SELEUCUS.

CLE. Be it known, that we, the greateft, are misthought

For things that others do; and, when we fall,

We anfwer others' merits: in our name

Are therefore to be pity'd.

CAS.-Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i'the roll of conqueft: ftill be it yours,

Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,

Cafar's no merchant, to make prize with you

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

Yourself shall give us counfel. Feed, and fleep:
Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; And so, adieu.
CLE. My mafter, and my lord,-

CAS.-Not fo: Adieu. [Exeunt Cæs. DoL. and Train. CLE. He words me,girls, he words me,that I should not Be noble to myself: But hark thee, Charmian.

IRA. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, And we are for the dark.

CLE. Hie thee again:

I have spoke already, and it is provided;

Go, put it to the hafte.

CHA.-Madam, I will.

[going.

[Exit.

CLE. Dolabella?

DoL. Madam, as thereto fworn by your command,

Which my love makes religion to obey,

I tell you this: Cafar through Syria

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

CLE. -Dolabella,

I shall remain your debtor.

DoL.-I your fervant.

Adieu, good Queen; I must attend on Cæfar.

CLE. Farewel,and thanks. [Exit DoL.] Now, Iras,what Thou, an Egyptian puppet, fhalt be fhewn [think'ft thou? In Rome, as well as I: mechanick flaves,

With greafy aprons, rules, and hammers, fhall