You have fallen into a princely hand, fear nothing:
Make your full reference freely to my lord,
Who is so full of grace, that it flows over
On all that need: Let me report to him
Your sweet dependancy: and you shall find
A conqueror, that will pray in aid for kindness,
Where he for grace is kneel'd to.

Cleo. [Within.]

Pray you, tell him I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him The greatness he has got. I hourly learn A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly Look him i'the face.

Pro.

This I'll report, dear lady. Have comfort; for, I know, your plight is pitied Of him that caus'd it.

Gal. You see how easily she may be surpris'd; [Here PROCULEIUS, and two of the Guard, ascend the Monument by a Ladder placed against a Window, and having descended, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar and open the Gates.

Guard her till Cæsar come.

[To PROCULEIUS and the Guard. Exit GALLUS.

Iras. Royal queen!

Char. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen! Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands.

Pro.

Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this

[Drawing a dagger.

Hold, worthy lady, hold:

[Seizes and disarms her.

What, of death too

Cleopatra,

Reliev'd, but not betray'd."

Cleo.

That rids our dogs of languish?

Pro.

Do not abuse my master's bounty, by
The undoing of yourself: let the world see
His nobleness well acted, which your death
Will never let come forth.

Cleo.

Where art thou, death?

Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen Worth many babes and beggars!

Pro.

O, temperance, lady! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir; If idle talk will once be necessary,

I'll not sleep neither: This mortal house I'll ruin,
Do Cæsar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court:
Nor once be chástis'd with the sober eye
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up,
And show me to the shouting varletry 2
Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
Be gentle grave to me! rather on Nilus' mud
Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
Blow me into abhorring! rather make
My country's high pyramides my gibbet,
And hang me up in chains!

Pro.

You do extend

These thoughts of horror further than
Find cause in Cæsar.

Dol.

Enter DOLABella.

Proculeius,

What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows,
And he hath sent for thee: as for the queen,
I'll take her to my guard.

Pro.

So, Dolabella,

It shall content me best: be gentle to her.-
To Cæsar I will speak what you shall please,

[To CLEOPATRA.

Say, I would die.

[Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers.

Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me? Cleo. I cannot tell.

2 Rabble.

Dol.

Assuredly, you know me.

Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard or

known.

You laugh, when boys, or women, tell their dreams; 'Is't not your trick?

Dol.

I understand not, madam. Cleo. I dream'd, there was an emperor Antony ;O, such another sleep, that I might see

But such another man!

Dol.

If it might please you,

Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein

stuck

A sun, and moon; which kept their course, and

lighted

The little Ö, the earth.

Dol.

Most sovereign creature. Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm Crested the world: his voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; But when he meant to quail 3 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: In his livery Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands

were

As plates 4 dropp'd from his pocket.

Dol.

Cleopatra, Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a

man

As this I dream'd of?

Dol.

Gentle madam, no.

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

It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.

3 Crush.

4 Silver money.

Dol.

Hear me, good madam :

Your loss is as yourself, great: and you bear it
As answering to the weight: Would I might never
O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel,

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

Cleo.

I thank you, sir. Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me? Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,

Dol.

Though he be honourable, – Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph?

Dol.

I know it.

Madam; he will;

[Within.] Make way there, Cæsar.

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

Sir, the gods

Will have it thus; my master and my lord

I must obey.

Cæs.

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 sir o'the world,

I cannot project 5 mine own cause so well

5 Shape or form.

To make it clear; but do confess, I have
Been laden with like frailties, which before
Have often sham'd our sex.

Cæs.

Cleopatra, know,

We will extenuate rather than enforce:

If you apply yourself to our intents,

(Which towards you are most gentle,) you shall

find

A benefit in this change; but if you
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking

seek

Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that destruction 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 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.

Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,

I am possess'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,

Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd

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

I had rather seel 6 my lips, than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.

Cleo.

What have I kept back?

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made

known.

Cas. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

6 Sew up.