If you'll employ me to him.

Cleo.

Say, I would die.

[Exeunt PROCULEIUS, and Soldierś.

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 dream'd, there was an emperor Antony;

O, such another sleep, that I might see

But such another man!

Dol.

If it might please you,

Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein

stuck

A sun, and moon; which kept their course, and

lighted

The little O, the earth,
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, and that to friends;
But when he meant to quail 4 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 show'd his back above
The element they liv'd in: In his livery

Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands As plates 5 dropp'd from his pocket.

Dol.

Cleopatra,

Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such 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 such,

It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuff

To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine
An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,

Condemning shadows quite.

Dol.

Hear me, good madam : Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it As answering to the weight: 'Would I might never

O'ertake 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 am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,

Dol.

Though he be honourable,

Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph?
Dol.

I know it.

Madam, he will;

Within. Make way there,-Cæsar.

Enter CÆSAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECENAS,

SELEUCUS, and Attendants.

Cas.

Which, is the queen

Of Egypt?

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'the world,

I cannot project5 mine own cause so well
To make it clear; but do confess, I have
Been laden with like frailties, which before

Have often sham'd our sex.

Cæs.

Cleopatra, know,

We will extenuate rather than enforce :
If you apply yourself to our intents,

(Which towards 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.

$ Shape or form.

1

Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,

I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus ?
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 seel 6 my lips, than, to my peril,

Speak that which is not.

Cæs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve

Your wisdom in the deed.
Cleo.

See, Cæsar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does

Even make me wild :-O 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! O rarely base!

Cas.

Good queen, let us entreat 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
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

With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;

[TO SELEUCUS.

Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits

Through the ashes of my chance:-Wert thou a man,

Thou would'st have mercy on me.

Cæs.

:

Forbear, Seleucus.

[Exit SELEUCUS.

Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are mis

thought

For things that others do; and, when we fall,

We answer others' merits 4 in our name,

Are therefore to be pitied.

Cæs.

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be it 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 Make not your thoughts your prisons : no, dear