Cæs.
Where is the man whom Antony, when flying,
Sent from his fleet to shore.

Atten.
Cæsar, he's here. Ambassador from Antony advances.

Cæs.
Approach, and speak.

Amb.
Such as I am, I come from Antony:
I was, of late, as petty to his ends,
As is the morn dew on the myrtle leaf
To the vast ocean.

Cæs.
Well;—declare thine office.

Amb.
Lord of his fortunes, he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Ægypt: which not granted,
He sues to breathe between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens: This from him.
Next Cleopatra craves of thee her diadem;
For now she feels, if thou pursu'st the fall'n,
'Tis hazarded to thy grace.

Cæs.
For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
From Ægypt drive her all disgraced friend.

Amb.
Fortune attend thee!

Cæs.
In thy course to Ægypt,
A messenger of mine, to Cleopatra,
Must be thy fellow.—Bring him through the bands. [Exit Ambassador.
Thyreus,—

Thyr. (advancing.)
My Lord—

Cæs.
Thou must sail with him, Thyreus.
From Antony win Cleopatra; promise,
And in our name, what she requires; add more,
(From thine invention) offers. Try thy cunning;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
Will answer as a law.

Thyr.
Cæsar, I go.

Cæs.
Go quickly, then; and should thy vessel prove
A sluggard to the wind, I may set foot
On Afric's ground before thee. [Exit Thyreus.
Now, my friends,
We must, once more, embark to seek these runaways:
'Tis fit we take the lion we have driven
Into his last retreat. Therefore, for Ægypt.
Strike,—and march on! [Exeunt.

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