Cleo. Pray you tell him, I am his fortunes vaffal, and I bend to Pro. This I'll report, dear Lady. Have comfort, for I know your plight is pity'd Gall. You fee how eafily the may be furpriz'd. [They enter the Monument by a ladder Pro. Guard her 'till Cæfar come. Iras. Oh royal Queen, Char. Oh Cleopatra, thou art taken, Queen. Pro. Hold, worthy Lady, hold: [Drawing a dagger? Do not your felf fuch wrong, who are in this Reliev'd, but not betray'd. Cleo. What, of death too, that rids our dogs of languish Th' undoing of your felf: let the world fee Cleo. Where art thou, death? Come hither, come: oh come, and take a Queen Pro. Oh, temperance, Lady! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, Sir: I'll not fleep neither. This mortal houfe I'll ruin, Ee 3 Pro Pro. You do extend These thoughts of horrour further than you shall Dol. Proculeius, Enter Dolabella. What thou hast done my mafter Cæfar knows, Pro. So, Dolabella, It fhall content me beft; be gentle to her : To Cæfar I will speak what you shall please, [To Cleopatra. If you'll employ me to him. Cleo. Say, I would die. [Exeunt Proculeius and Gallus. Dol. Moft noble Empress, you have heard of me. Cleo. I cannot tell. Dol. Affuredly you know me. Cleo. No matter, Sir, what I have heard or known: Dol. I understand not, Madam. Cleo. I dreamt there was an Emp'ror Antony ; Oh fuch another fleep, that I might fee But fuch another man! Dol. If it might please ye Cleo. His face was as the heav'ns, and therein stuck A fun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted The little orb o' th' earth. Dol. Moft fovereign creature Cleo. His legs beftrid the ocean, his rear'd arm Walk'd crowns and coronets, realms and islands were Del Dol. 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 stuff Dol, Hear me, good Madam: and you bear it As anfw'ring 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 shoots Cleo. I thank you, Sir. Know you what Cæfar means to do with me? Dol. I'm loth to tell you what I would you knew. Dol. Though he be honourable Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? Dol. Madam, he will, I know't. Enter Cæfar, Gallus, Mecænas, Proculeius, and Attendants. Caf. Which is the Queen of Egypt ? Dol. It is the Emperor, Madam. Caf. Arife, you shall not kneel: I pray you rife, rife, Egypt. Cleo. Sir, the Gods Will have it thus; my mafter and I must obey, [Cleo, kneels my lord Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts: The record of what injuries you did us, Though written in our flesh, we fhall remember As things but done by chance. Cleo, Sole Sir o' th' world, I cannot parget mine own cause so well We will extenuate rather than inforce: (Which tow'rds you are moft gentle) you fhall find Antony's courfe, you fhall bereave your felf Cleo. And may through all the world: 'tis yours; and we Hang in what place you please. Here, my good Lord, Caf. You fhall advife me in all for Cleopatra. Cleo. This is the brief of mony, plate, and jewels I am poffeft of 'tis exactly valued, Not petty things omitted-where's Saleucus ? Sel. Here, Madam. Cleo. This is my treasurer, let him speak, my Lord, To my felf nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. Cleo. What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known Your wifdom in the deed. Cleo. Cæfar! behold How pomp is follow'd: mine will now be yours, Ev'n make me wild. O flave, of no more truft Than love that's hir'd. What, goeft thou back? thou shalt Caf. Caf. Good Queen, let us intreat you. Cleo. O Cafar, what a wounding shame is this, That thou vouchfafing here to vifit me, Doing the honour of thy lordliness To one fo weak, that mine own fervant fhould By one that I have bred? the Gods! it fmites me Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee go hence, Or I fhall fhew the cinders of my spirits Through th' afhes of mifchance: wert thou a man, Caf. Forbear, Seleucus. Cleo. Be't known, that we the greatest are mis-thought For things that others do; and when we fall, We pander others merits with our names, Are therefore to be pitied. Caf. Cleopatra, Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Beftow 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 poifon; no, dear Queen, For we intend fo to difpofe you, as Your felf fhall give us counfel: feed, and fleep. That we remain your friend, and fo adieu. Cleo. My mafter, and my Lord! Caf. Not fo: adieu. [Exeunt Cæfar, and bis Train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I fhould not Be noble to my felf. But hark thee, Charmian. [Whispers. |