Cæs.
Which is the Queen of Ægypt?

Dol.
It is the Emperor, Madam. [Cleo. kneels.

Cæs.
Arise, you shall not kneel.
I pray you, rise. Rise, Ægypt.

Cleo.
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
As things but done by chance.

Cleo.
Sole Sir o' th' world,

^{5 note}

Cæs.
Cleopatra, know,
We will extenuate rather than inforce.
If you apply yourself to our intents,
Which tow'rds 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
Of my good purposes, and put your children
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: 'tis 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
I am possest of; ^{6 note}

Sel.
Here, Madam.

Cleo.
This is my treasurer, let him speak, my Lord,
Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd
To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

Sel.
Madam, I had rather ^{7 note}seel 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.

Cæs.
Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo.
See, Cæsar! Oh, behold,
How Pomp is follow'd; mine will now be yours,
And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
Th' ingratitude of this Seleucus do's
Ev'n make me wild. Oh slave, of no more trust
Than love that's hir'd—What, goest thou back? thou shalt
Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,
Though they had wings. Slave, soul-less villain, dog, [Striking him.
O rarely base!

Cæs.
Good Queen, let us intreat you.

Cleo.
O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this,
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy Lordliness
To one so meek, that mine own servant should
^{8 note}Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good, Cæsar,

That I some lady-trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys, things of such Dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation, must I be unfolded
By one that I have bred? The Gods! it smites me
Beneath the Fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence; [To Seleucus.
Or I shall shew the cinders of my spirits
^{9 note}Through th' ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

Cæs.
Forbear, Seleucus.

Cleo.
^{1 note}

Cæs.
Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
Put we i' th' roll of Conquest, still be 't yours;
Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe,
Cæsar's no merchant to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore, be cheer'd:
^{2 note}

Cleo.
My master, and my Lord!

Cæs.
Not so.—adieu. [Exeunt Cæsar and his train.

Previous section

Next section