A conqueror, that will pray in aid for kindness *, Cleo. [within.] Pray you, tell him I am his fortune's vaffal, and I fend him Pro. This I'll report, dear lady. Have comfort; for, I know, your plight is pity'd Gal. You fee how eafily fhe may be furpriz'd; [Here PROCULEIUS, and two of the guard, afcend the monument by a ladder placed against a window, and having defcended, came behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the guard unbar and open the gates. Guard her till Cæfar come. [to Proculeius and the guard. Exit Gallus. Iras. Royal queen! Char. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen ! Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands. [drawing a dagger. Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold: [feizes and difarms her. Do not yourself fuch wrong, who are in this Reliev'd, but not betray'd. Cleo. What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish? Pro. Cleopatra, Do not abuse my mafter's bounty, by The undoing of yourfelf: let the world fee His nobleness well acted, which your death Will never let come forth. Cleo. Where art thou, death? Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen Pro. O, temperance, lady! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, fir; If idle talk will once be neceffary, I'll 4 Praying in aid is a term used for a petition made in a court of justice for the calling in of help from another that hath an interest in the cause in question. 5 Why, death, wilt thou not rather seize a queen, than employ thy force upon babes and beggars. I'll not fleep neither: This mortal house I'll ruin, My country's high pyramides my gibbet, Pro. You do extend The thoughts of horror further than Find caufe in Cæfar. Dol. Proculeius, Enter DOLABELLA. What thou hast done thy master Cæfar knows, I'll take her to my guard. Pro. So, Dolabella, It fhall content me beft: be gentle to her. To Cæfar I will speak what you fhall pleafe, [to CLEO. If you'll employ me to him. Cleo. Say, I would die. [Exeunt PROCULEIUS, and Soldiers. Dol. Moft noble emprefs, you have heard of me? Dol. Affuredly, you know me. Cleo. No matter, fir, what I have heard, or known. You laugh, when boys, or women, tell their dreams; 1s't not your trick? Dol. I understand not, madam. Cleo. I dream'd, there was an emperor Antony ;O, fuch another fleep, that I might fee But fuch another man ! Dol. 6 I will not eat, and if it will be necessary now for once to waste a moment in idle talk of my purpose, I will not fleep neither. In common conversation we often ufe will be, with as little relation to futurity. As, 、 Now I am going, it will be fit for me to dine first. Dol. If it might please you, Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck A fun, and moon; which kept their course, and lighted The little O, the earth. Dol. Most fovereign creature, Cleo, His legs beftrid the ocean: his rear'd arm Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands were 7 Dol. Cleopatra, Cled. Think you, there was, or might be, fuch a man As this I dream'd of? Dol. Gentle madam, no. Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. It's paft the fize of dreaming: Nature wants stuff Dol. Hear me, good madam: Your lofs is as yourself, great; and you bear it By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots My very heart at root. Cleo. I thank you, fir Know you, what Cæfar means to do with me? Cleo. Nay, pray you, fir, Dol. Though he be honourable, Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? 7 As Plates Dol. Plates mean, in this place, filver money. 8 To vie was a term at cards. Dol. Madam, he will; I know it. Within. Make way there,-Cæsar. Enter CESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECENAS, Caf. Which is the queen of Egypt? I pray you, rife; rife, Egypt. Will have it thus; my mafter and my lord [CLEO, kneels. Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts: Cleo. Sole fir o' the world, I cannot project mine own cause so well 9 Caf. Cleopatra, know, We will extenuate rather than enforce: If you apply yourself to our intents, (Which towards you are moft gentle) you shall find A benefit in this change; but if you feek To lay on me a cruelty, by taking Antony's courfe, you shall bereave yourself Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we I am poffefs'd of: 'tis exactly valued; Not 9 To project a caufe is to reprefent a caufe; to project it well, is to plan or contrive a scheme of defence. You fhall yourself be my counsellor, and suggest whatever you wish to be done for your relief. Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus? Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord, To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. I had rather feel my lips 3, than, to my peril,. Cleo. What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Caf. Nay, blufh not, Cleopatra ; I approve Your wifdom in the deed. Cleo. See, Cæfar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; Even make me wild:-O flave, of no more truft Than love that's hir'd!-What, goeft thou back? thou fhalt Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings: Slave, foul-less villain, dog! O rarely bafe 4! Caf. Good queen, let us entreat you. Cleo. O Cæfar, what a wounding fhame is this; That thou, vouchfafing here to visit me, Doing the honour of thy lordliness To one fo meek 5, that mine own fervant should Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæfar, Their 2 i. e. petty things not being included. She is angry afterwards that fhe is accufed of having referved more than petty things. 3-feel my lips-] Sew up my mouth; clofe up my lips as effect. ually as the eyes of a hawk are clofed. To feel hawks was the technical term. 4 i. e. bafe in an uncommon degree. 5 To one fo meek,-] Meek, means here, tame, fubdued by adverfity. |