SCENE II. Alexandria. A Room in the Monument. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS. Not being fortune, he's but fortune's knave, To do that thing that ends all other deeds, Enter, to the Gates of the Monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS, and Soldiers. Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the queen of Egypt; And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. Cleo. Pro. My name is Proculeius. Cleo. What's thy name? Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd, That have no use for trusting. If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, No less beg than a kingdom: if he please Pro. Be of good cheer; You are fallen into a princely hand, fear nothing. Make your full reference freely to my lord, Have comfort; for, I know your plight is pitied Gal. You see how easily she may be surpris'd. [PROCULEIUS, and two of the Guard, ascend the 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. [Drawing a Dagger. Pro. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Reliev'd, but not betray'd. Cleo. What, of death, too, Cleopatra, That rids our dogs of languish? Pro. Do not abuse my master's bounty, by Will never let come forth. Cleo. Where art thou, death? Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen Pro. O, temperance, lady! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, Sir; I'll not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin, Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court, These thoughts of horror farther, than you shall What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows, And he hath sent for thee: 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, 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. Assuredly, you know me. Cleo. No matter, Sir, what I have heard, or known. Dol. Cleo. I dream'd, O, such another sleep, But such another man! Dol. I understand not, Madam. If it might please you, Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck VI. 417 A sun, and moon, which kept their course, and lighted Dol. Most sovereign creature, Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands were Dol. Think you, there was, or might be, such a man As this I dream'd of? Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods: Dol. By the rebound of your's, a grief that smites Cleo. Know you, I thank you, Sir. 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? Enter CESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECENAS, SELEUcus, and Attendants. Cæs. Which is the queen of Egypt? I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt. Cleo. [CLEOPATRA kneels. 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 Sole Sir o' the world, Cleo. To make it clear; but do confess I have Been laden with like frailties, which before 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 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: 't is 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, |