Seleucus, above.
Cleo.
My desolation does begin to make
A better life; 'tis paltry to be Cæsar:
Not being fortune, he's but 2 notefortune's knave,
A minister of her Will, 3 note
and it is great
To do that thing, that ends all other deeds;
Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change;
Which sleeps, and never palates more the Dung;
The beggar's nurse, and Cæsar's.—
-- 236 --
Enter Proculeius.
Pro.
Cæsar sends Greeting to the Queen of Ægypt,
And bids thee study on what fair demands
Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.
Cleo.
What's thy name?
Pro.
My name is Proculeius.
Cleo.
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,
That Majesty, to keep decorum, must
No less beg than a Kingdom; if he please.
To give me conquer'd Ægypt for my Son,
He gives me so much of mine own, as I
Will kneel to him with thanks.
Pro.
Be of good cheer.
You're fall'n into a princely hand. Fear nothing;
Make your full ref'rence freely to my Lord,
Who is so full of grace, that it flows over
-- 237 --
On all that need. Let me report to him
Your sweet dependency, and you shall find
A Conqu'ror 4 notethat will pray in aid for kindness,
Where he for grace is kneel'd to.
Cleo.
Pray you, tell him,
I am his fortune's vassal, and I 5 note
send him
The Greatness he has got. I hourly learn
A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly
Look him i' th' face.
Pro.
This I'll report, dear lady.
Have comfort, for, I know, your plight is pity'd
Of him that caus'd it.
[Aside.]
6 note
You see, how easily she may be surpriz'd.
Here Gallus, and Guard, ascend the Monument by
a Ladder, and enter at a Back-Window.
Guard her, 'till Cæsar come.
-- 238 --
Iras.
O Royal Queen!
Char.
Oh Cleopatra! thou art taken, Queen.—
Cleo.
Quick, quick, good hands.
[Drawing a Dagger.
The Monument is open'd; Porculeius rushes in, and disarms the Queen.
Pro.
Hold, worthy lady, hold;
Do not yourself such wrong, 7 note
who are in this
Reliev'd, but not betray'd.
Cleo.
What, of death too, that rids our dogs of 8 notelanguish?
Pro.
Do not abuse my master's bounty, by
Th' undoing of yourself: let the world see
His Nobleness well acted, which your death
Will never let come forth.
Cleo.
Where art thou, Death?
Come hither, come: oh come, and take a Queen
9 noteWorth many babes and beggars.
Pro.
Oh, temperance, lady!
Cleo.
Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, Sir:
1 note
If idle talk will once be necessary,
-- 239 --
I'll not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin,
Do Cæsar what he can. Know, Sir, that I
Will not wait pinion'd at your master's Court,
Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up,
And shew me to the shouting varletry
Of cens'ring Rome? rather a ditch in Ægypt
Be gentle Grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud
Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
Blow me into abhorring! rather make
My Country's high Pyramides my gibbet,
And hang me up in chains!
Pro.
You do extend
These thoughts of horror further than you shall
Find cause in Cæsar.
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
