Dol.
Proculeius,
What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows,
And he hath sent for thee; as 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, [To Cleopatra.

If you'll employ me to him.

Cleo.
Say, I would die. [Exit Proculeius.

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.
You laugh, when boys or women tell their dreams;
Is 't not your trick?

Dol.
I understand not, Madam.

Cleo.
I dreamt, there was an Emp'ror Antony;
Oh such another sleep, that I might see
But such another man!

Dol.
If it might please ye—

Cleo.
His face was as the heav'ns; and therein stuck
^{2 note}

Dol.
Most sovereign creature;—

Cleo.
His legs bestrid the ocean, his rear'd arm
Crested the world, his voice was propertied
As all the tuned Spheres, when that to friends;
But when he meant to quail, and shake the Orb,
He was as ratling thunder. ^{3 note}

Were dolphin-like, they shew'd his back above
The element they liv'd in; in his livery
Walk'd Crowns and Coronets, realms and islands were
As plates dropt from his pocket.

Dol.
Cleopatra—

Cleo.
Think you, there was, or might be, such a man
As this I dreamt of?

Dol.
Gentle Madam, no.

Cleo.
You lye, up to the hearing of the Gods.
But if there be, or ever were one such,
It 's past the size of dreaming; Nature wants stuff
To vie strange forms with Fancy, ^{4 note}

Dol.
Hear me, good Madam.
Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it,
As answ'ring to the weight: 'would, I might never
O'er-take pursu'd success, but I do feel,
By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots
My very heart at root.

Cleo.
I thank you, Sir.
Know you, what Cæsar 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—Cæsar.

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