Dol.

Enter DOLABELLA.

Proculeius,

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

Pro.

So, Dolabella,

It shall content me beft: be gentle to her.→
To Cæfar I will speak what you shall please,

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.

Dol.

Affuredly, you know me.

Cleo. No matter, fir, 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, fuch another sleep, that I might see

But fuch another man!

Dol.

If it might please you,—

Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck A fun, and moon; which kept their course, and lighted The little O, the earth.

Dol.

Moft fovereign 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 and shake the orb,

He

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, fuch 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 fuch,

- 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 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'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 loath to tell you what I would you knew.

Cleo. Nay, pray you, fir,—

Dol.

Though he be honourable,

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

Will have it thus; my master 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 fhall remember
As things but done by chance.

Sole fir o' the world,

Cleo.
I cannot project mine own cause so well
To make it clear; but do confess, 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 most 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.

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

Your

Your 'fcutcheons, and your figns of conquest, shall
Hang in what place you please.

Here, my good lord.
Caf. You shall advise 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,
Upon his peril, that I have referv'd

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

I had rather feel 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. Caf. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve

Your wifdom in the deed.

Cleo.

See, Cæfar! O, behold,

How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours;
And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
The ingratitude of this Seleucus does

Even make me wild :-O flave, of no more truft

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 base!

Caf.

Good queen, let us entreat you.

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

Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one fo meek, that mine own fervant fhould
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; must I be unfolded

With one that I have bred? The gods! It fmites me
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;

[TO SELEUCUS.

Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
Through the afhes of my chance :-Wert thou a man,
Thou would'ft have mercy on me.

Caf.

Forbear, Seleucus.

[Exit SELEUCUs.

Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and, when we fall,

We answer others' merits in our name,

Are therefore to be pitied.

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

Beftow 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: no, dear queen ; For we intend fo to difpofe you, as

Yourself fhall give us counsel. Feed, and fleep:

Our care and pity is so much upon you,

That we remain your friend; And fo adieu.

Cleo. My mafter, and my lord!

Caf.

Not fo: Adieu.

[Exeunt CESAR, and his train.

Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian.

[Whispers CHARMIAN.

Iras.