My very heart' at root.

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.
Cleo. Nay, pray you, Sir.

Dol. Though he be honourable-
Cleo. He'll lead me in triumph?
Dol. Madam, he will, I know't.
All. Make way there,-Cafar.

SCENE

IV.

Enter Cæfar, Gallus, Mecænas, Proculeius, and

Attendants.

Caf.HICH is the Queen of Egypt?
W
Dol. It is the Emperor, Madam.

Caf. Arife, you fhall not kneel :

I pray you, rife, rife, Egypt.

Cleo. Sir, the Gods

[Cleo. kneels.

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

Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts:
The record of what injuries you did us.
Though written in our flefh, we fhall remember
As things but done by chance.

Cleo. Sole Sir o'th world,

* I cannot procter mine own caufe fo well
To make it clear, but do confels, I have
Been laden with like frailties, which before
Have often fham'd our Sex.

Caf. Cleopatra, know,

We will extenuate rather than enforce:
If you apply yourfelf to our intents,

I cannot proje& mine own caufe fo well] Project fignifies to invent a Caule, not to plead it: which is the Senfe here required. It is plain then we fhould read,

I cannot procter my own caufe fo well. The technical Term, to plead by an Advocate.

Warb.

(Which tow'rds you are moft gentle) you fhall 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 deftruation 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 fcutcheons, and your figns of Conqueft, fhall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. -Caf. You fhall advise me in all for Cleopatra.

Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels I am poffeft of-'tis exactly valued,

Not petty things omitted-where's Seleucus?
Sel. Here, Madm

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 feal my lips,

Than to my peril speak that which is not.
Cleo. What have I kept back?

[known.

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made Caf. Nay, blufh not, Cleopatra ; I approve

Your wifdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cafar! Oh, behold,

:

How Pomp is follow'd mine will now be yours, And, fhould we fhift eflates, yours would be mine. Th' ingratitude of this Seleucus do's

Ev'n 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 bafe!

Cef. Good Queen, let us intreat you.

Cleo. O Cafar, what a wounding fhame is this, That thou, vouchfafing here to vifit me,

Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one fo weak, that mine own fervant should
Parcel the fum of my difgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæfar,
That I fome lady-trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys, things of fuch Dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and fay,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce

Their mediation, muft I be unfolded

By one that I have bread? the Gods!-it fmites me Beneath the Fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;— Or I fhall fhew the cinders of my fpirits

Through th' afhes of my chance: wert thou a man, Thou would't have mercy on me.

Caf. Forbear, Seleucus.

[thought Cleo. Be't known, that we, the Greateft, are mif

For things that others do.

We answer.

And when we fall

Others' merits, in our names

Are therefore to be pitied..

Caf. Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put We i'th' roll of Conqueft, ftill be't yours; Beflow 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 prifons; no, dear For we intend fo to dispose you, as

[Queen,

Yourself shall give us counfel: feed, and fleep.

Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu.
Cleo. My mafter, and my lord!

Caf. Not fo :-adieu. [Exeunt Cæfar and his train.

E words me, Girls, he words me,

That I fhould not be noble to myself.

Cleo. H

But hark thee, Charmian.

[Whispers Charmian.

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

Cleo. Hie thee again.

I've spoke already, and it is provided;

Go

put

it to the hafte.

Char. Madam, I will.

[Exit Charm.

Enter Dolabella.

Dol. Where is the Queen?

Char. Behold, Sir,

Cleo. Dolabella.

Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn, by your Command, Which my love makes religion to obey,

I tell you this: Cæfar through Syria

Intends his journey, and, within three days,
You with your children will he fend before;
Make your beft ufe of this. I have perform'd
Your pleasure and my promife.

Cleo. Dolabella,

I shall remain your debtor.

1

Dol. I your fervant.

Adieu, good Queen; I must attend on Cæfar. [Exit.

Cleo. Farewel, and thanks.

think'ft thou ?

Now, Iras, what

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shewn
In Rome as well as I: mechanic flaves

With greafy aprons, rules, and hammers, fhall
Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,
Rank of grofs diet, fhall we be enclouded,
And forced to drink their vapour.

Iras. The Gods forbid !

Cleo. Nay, 'tis moft certain, Iras: faucy lictors
Will catch at us like ftrumpets, and scall'd rhimers
Ballad us out-o'-tune. The quick Comedians
Extemp'rally will ftage us, and present
Our Alexandrian revels: Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall fee
Some fqueaking Cleopatra boy my Greatness.

I' th' pofture of a whore.

Iras. O the good Gods!
Cleo. Nay, that's certain.

Iras. I'll never fee it; for, I'm fure, my nails
Are ftronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that's the way

To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their moft abfurd intents. Now, Charmian.
Enter Charmian.

go

Shew me, my women, like a Queen:
My beft attires. I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go-

fetch

Now, noble Charmian, we'll difpatch indeed;
And when thou'ft done this chare, I'll give thee

leave

To play till dooms-day-bring our Crown, and all. [A noife within.

Wherefore this noife?

Enter a Guardfman.

Guardf. Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be deny'd your Highness' prefence; He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an inftrument [Exit Guardfman. May do a noble deed!--he brings me liberty. My refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of woman in me; now from head to foot I'm marble conftant: now the fleeting moon No planet is of mine.

Enter Guardfman and Clown with a basket. Guards. This is the man.

Cleo. Avoid and leave him.

[Exit Guardfman.

Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,

That kills and pains not?

Clown. Truly, I have him: but I would not be the party fhould defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal: thofe, that do die of it, do feldom or never recover.

Cleo.