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 pleafe, [To Cleo.
If you'll employ me to him.

Cleo. Say, I would die. [Exe. Proculeius and Gallus.
Dol. Moft Noble Emprefs, you have heard of me
Cleo. I cannot tell.

Dol. Affuredly 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 Emp'ror Antony : Oh fuch another sleep, that I might fee

But fuch another man!

Dol. If it might please ye.

Cleo. His face was as the heav'ns; and therein stuck A fun and moon, which kept their courfe, and lighted The little O o' th' earth.

Dol. Moft fovereign creature!.

Cleo. His legs beftrid the ocean; his rear'd arm
Crefted the world; his voice was propertied
As all the tuned fpheres, when that to friends;
But when he meant to quail, 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 fhew'd their back above
The element they liv'd in; in his livery

Walk'd crowns and coronets, realms and islands were
As plates dropp'd from his pocket.

Dol. Cleopatrå

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,

'Tis paft the fize of dreaming: Nature wants stuff
Io vie ftrange forms with Fancy; yet t' imagine
An Antony, were Nature's prize 'gainft Fancy,
Condemning fhadows quite.

Dol. Hear me, good Madam.

Your lofs is as yourself, great; and you bear it,
As anfw'ring to the weight. Would I might never
O'ertake purfu'd Succefs, but I do feel,

By the rebound of your's, a grief that shoots
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,Cæfar.

Enter Cæfar, Gallus, Mecenas, Proculeius, and Attendants.

Caf. Which is the, Queen of Egypt?
Dol. It is the Emperor, Madani.

Caf. Arife, you shall 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.

Gaf. 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' th' world,

I cannot procter mine own caufe fo 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 inforce.

If you apply yourfelf to oar intents,

(Which towards you are most gentle), you fhall 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

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 your's;

and we,

Your fcutcheons and your figns of conqueft, fhall
Hang in what place you pleafe.

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 poffefs'd of--'tis exactly valued,

Not petty things omitted-- Where's Seleucus ?

Sel. Here, Madam.

Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him fpeak, my Lord,. Upon his peril, that I have referv'd

To myfelt 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?

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

Your wifdom in the deed,

Cleo. See, Cæfar! Oh, behold

How pomp is follow'd: mine will now be your's,
And, fhould we shift eftates, your's would be miner
Th' ingratitude of this Seleucus does

Ev'n make me wild. Oh flave! of no more trust
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-less villain, dog, O rarely bafe!

Caf. Good Queen, let us intreat you.

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

Doing the honour of thy lordlinefs

To one fo weak, 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 fay,
Some nobler token I have kept apart

For Livia and Octavia, to induce

Their mediation, mult I be unfolded

By one that I have bred? 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.

Cleo Be't known, that we, the greateft, are mif For things that others do And when we fall, [thought We answer. 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 your's; Bestow 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 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.

S C E N. E V.

Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me,

That I fhould not be noble to myself.

But hark thee, Charmian.

[Whispers Charmian,

Iras. Finith, 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.

Gleo. 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,

Ifhall remain your debtor.

Dól. I your fervant.

Adieu, good Queen; I must attend on Cæfar, [Exit: Cleo. Farewel, and thanks. Now, Iras, what think'st Thou, an Ægyptian puppet, fhalt be fhewn

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 inclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras. The gods forbid !

[thou?

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: faucy lictors Will catch at us like ftrumpets, and stall'd rhimers Ballad us out-o'-tune. The quick comedians

Extemp'rally will ftage us, and prefent.

Our Alexandrian revels: Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth; and I fhall fee-
Some fqueaking Cleopatra boy my greatnels

P' th' polture of a whore.

Iras. O the good gods!

Cleo. Nay, that's certain.

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

Cleo. Why, that's the way

To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their molt affur'd intents. Now, Charmian,‹

Enter Charmian.

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

Now, Noble Charmian, we'll difpatch indeed;

And when thou'st done this chare, I'll give thee leave:

Heretofore the parts of women were acted on the stage by boys.