You are fallen into a princely hand, fear nothing: 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! Pro. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Reliev'd, but not betray'd. Cleo. [Drawing a Dagger. Hold, worthy lady, hold: [Seizes and disarms her. What, of death too Cleopatra, That rids our dogs of languish? Pro. Do not abuse my master's bounty, by 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, 2 Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Pro. You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows, Pro. So, Dolabella, It shall content me best: be gentle to her. If you 'll employ me to him. Cleo. [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 O, 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 quail3 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: His delights Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above The element they liv'd in: In his livery Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands were As plates 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, Dol. Hear me, good madam : By the rebound of yours, a grief that shocts Cleo. I thank you, sir Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me? knew. 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 Cleo. Sole sir o' the world, I cannot project' mine own cause so well 5 Shape or form. To make it clear; but do confess, I have 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 seek To lay on me a cruelty, by taking Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself 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. Sel. Here, madam. Where 's Seleucus? 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. 6 I had rather seel my lips, than, to my peril, Cleo. What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Cæs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed. 6 Sew up. |