Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt

THE TRAGEDIE OF CLEOPATRA Queen of Aegypt .

By T. M.

Acted 1626 .

Luc. — quantùm impulit Argos , Iliacasque domos facie Spartana nocenti , Hesperios auxit tantùm Cleopatra furores .

LONDON , Printed by Thomas Harper for Thomas Walkly , and are to be sold at his shop at the flying Horse neer York House 1639 .

TO THE MOST ACCOMPLISH'D Sr. Kenelme Digby . Sr.

THat it pleased you to cast an eye of favour upon these poor Plays has given me the boldnesse , not only to publish them ( which I thought not to have done ) but to shelter them , though most unworthy , under that name , to which for authority and approbation the richest pieces that this nation can boast , might be proud to flie . You are to learning what learning is to others a gracefull ornament ; and known not only able to receive , but fit to make that which we call literature ; it being nothing else but rules and observations drawne at the first from such able natures as yours is ; and by your daily conversation is better expressed , then wee by writing can define it . Your composition was made to justifie those old Philosophers who resembled a man to the whole world . For as in the world all varieties do meet to make a perfect harmony so in the largnesse of your soule the severall abilities of most different Nations are conjoyned to an honourable advantage of one entire temper , where the predominancies are magnanimity , prudence , and gentlenesse . But I dare not offer to crowd into a narrow Epistle your noble Character , which will require a longer Treatise and a better pen . For the defects in these two Plays , I that have already been so much obliged to your goodnesse in other matters , cannot here despaire of your forgivenesse , which is the only thing that puts confidence into

Your most obliged and devoted servant Tho. May .

THE TRAGEDIE OF CLEOPATRA .

Actus Primus . TITIUS , PLANCUS , CANIDIUS . TITIUS . SHame and dishonour to the Roman name A triumph held at Alexandria Only to honour Cleopatraes pride ? PL. Ah Marcus , this Aegyptian Queen was made to be the ruine of Antonius . CA.

To be the pleasure of Antonius .

PL. How can you jest Canidius , on a theame So sad ? CA. How Plancus can you prophecie So sadly on so merry an occasion , As is the love of Ladies ? TI. Let Canidius Have his own way , Munatius , t is in vain To talk to him . CA. Would you could let me have Antonius his way , upon condition I suffer'd you to censure gravely of it , And prophecie my ruine . But my Lords , You were as good be merry too , and take Your share of pleasure in th' Aegyptian Court . You 'l do no good with these perswasions . He loves the Queen , and will do so in spite . Of our morality . PL. T is too too true , That face of hers , that beauty in the bud Not fully blown , in yeers of innocence ( If any yeers of hers were innocent ) Set off with no adulterisme of art , Nor cloath'd with state and pompous Majestie , But in a fortune clouded and distrest A wretched prisoner in her brother's Court , Yet then I say that charming face could move The manly temper of wise Julius Caesar , That Mars in heat of all his active warre , When he pursu'd the flying Pompey hither , His sword yet reeking in Pharsailaes slaughter At sight of her became a doting Lover : And could we think that our Antonius A man not master of that temperance That Caesar had , could finde a strength to guard His soul against that beauty now set off With so much wealth and majesty ? CA. No surely . I did not think Antonius was an Eunuch . Nor could I have believ'd he had been worthy To be a successour in Caesars power , Unlesse he had succeeded him in her . Great Julius noble acts in warre and state Assur'd the world that he was wise and valiant : But if he had not falne in love with her I should have much suspected his good nature . PL.

Nay then , Canidius , it shall be yours .

CA. Or what indeed were greatnesse in the world If he that did possesse it , might not play The wanton with it ? this Aegyptian Queen Is a state beauty , and ordain'd by fate To be possest by them that rule the world . Great Pompey's sonne enjoy'd her first , and pluck'd Her Virgin blossome . When that Family , Plutarch . Whose ruine fill'd the World , was overthrown , Great Iulius next came in as conquerour To have his share , and as he did in power , Succeeded him in Cleopatrae , love . Now our Antonius takes his turn , and thinks That all the legions , all the swords , that came To make his greatnesse up when Julius dy'd , Could give no greater priviledge to him Then power to be the servant to this Queen . Thus whosoere in Rome be conquerour His laurell wreath is Cleopatraes love . And to speak justly of her , Nature teem'd To build this woman for no meaner height . Her soule is full of greatnesse , and her wit Has charms as many as her beauty has . With Majestie beyond her sex she rules Her spatious Kingdomes , and all neighbour Princes Admire her parts . How many languages Speaks she with elegance ? Embassadors From th' Aethiopians , Arabs , Troglodites , Plut. From th' Hebrews , Syrians , Medes , and Parthians Have in amazement heard this learned Queen Without the aid of an interpreter In all their severall tongues returne their answers ; When most of her dull predecessor Kings Since Ptolemaeus Philadelphus time Scarce understood th' Aegyptian tongue , and some Had quite forgot the Macedonian . TI.

How well Canidius descants on this theame !

PLA. I 'll lay my life it pleases him ; the man Is deep in love , and pity t is he has So great a rivall as Antonius . CA. Well use your wit upon me ; but I doubt If any man could search your secret thoughts , T is envy , not morality that makes You taxe his love , how gravely ere you talke . TI. But can Canidius think it should be just In our Antonius to forsake for her His lawfull wife the good Octavia ? CA. Then like a Roman let me answer , Marcus . Is it become a care worthy of us What woman Antony enjoys ? have we Time to dispute his matrimoniall faults , That have already seen the breach of all Romes sacred laws , by which the world was bound ? Have we endur'd our Consuls state and power To be subjected by the lawlesse arms Of private men , or Senators proscrib'd , And can we now consider whether they That did all this , may keep a wench or no ? It was the crime of us , and Fate it self That Antony and Caesar could usurpe A power so great ; beyond which we can suffer No more worth thinking of . Nor were 't to us Any great fortune if Antonius Were honest of his body . PLA. Have we then , Who have been greatest Magistrates , quite lost All shew of liberty , and now not dare To counsell him ? CA. A shew of liberty When we have lost the substance , is best kept By seeming not to understand those faults Which we want power to mend . For mine own part I love the person of Antonius ; And through his greatest loosenesse can discern A nature here , honester then Caesars . And if a warre do grow twixt them ( as surely Ambition would ere long finde out a cause Although Octavia had not been neglected ) Rather then Rome should still obey two Lords , Could wish that all were Anthony's alone . Who would , I think , be brought more easily Then Caesar , to resigne the government . TI. Would I could think that either would do so . Here comes her servant Mardio . Enter Mardio . MAR. Noble Lords , The Queen by mee entreats your company At supper with the Lord Antonius . CA. Mardio return our humble services , Wee 'll instantly attend her . Now my friends , Can you a while put off austerity , And rigid censures , to be freely merry ? TI.

It may be so . Wee 'll try what wine can do . Exeunt .

A Feast preparing . EUPHRONIUS , GLAUCUS , CHARMIO . EU.

Glaucus , let more of this perfume be got .

GLA. I have enough in readinesse ; or else 'T would be too late to think on 't now , the Queen Is upon entrance . EU. Charmio , art thou sure Those tapers stand just as the Queen commanded ? CLA. T is the same order that Antonius When last he feasted here , so much admir'd ; And said 'mongst all the curiosities Plutarch . That he had seen , the placing of those lights . Did not the least affect him . EU. Though the Romans In power and warlike state exceed us farre , Yet in our Court of Aegypt they may learn Pleasure and bravery , but art thou sure That all things here are well ? CHA. As exquisite As the Queens wish would have it . Hark they come . ACHOREUS the Priest , ANTONIUS , CLEOPATRA , CANIDIUS , TITIUS , PLANCUS . CLE. To say , my Lord , that you are welcome hither Were to disparage you , who have the power To make your self so , what ere you see In Aegypt is your own . AN. What Aegypt holds If I be judge , not all the world besides Can equalize . CLE. Will 't please you take Your place , and these your noble Roman friends ? AN. Father Achoreus , sit you neer to mee . Your holy Orders , and great age , which shews The Gods have lov'd you well , may justly challenge A reverence from us . CLE. Great Julius Caesar Did love my father well ; he oft was pleas'd At houres of leisure to conferre with him About the nature of our Nile , of all The mysteries of Religion , and the wonders That Aegypt breeds . ACH. He had a knowing soule , And was a master of Philosophy As well as Warre . AN. How like the spangled sky These tapers make the high-arch'd roofe to show ? While Cleopatra like bright Cynthia In her full orbe more guilds the cheerfull night . Shee 's still at full ; yet still me thinks she vexes , And grows more fair and more majesticall . CLE. My Lords , you Romans , whose victorious arms Have made you Masters of the world , possesse Such full and high delights in Italy , That our poor Aegypt can present no pleasure Worth your acceptance : but let me entreat You would be freely merry , and forgive Your entertainment . ANT. 'T is an entertainment That might invite and please the Gods . Me thinks , Jove should descend , while Cleopatra's here , Disguis'd for love , as once for fear he was , When bold Typhoeus scal'd the starry sky , And all the Gods disguis'd in Aegypt lurk'd . Love were a nobler cause then fear to bring him , And such a love as thine . CLE. If I could think That ere great Jove did play such feats as those , I 'de now beleeve that he were here disguis'd , And took the noble shape of Anthony ANT. This complement so farre transcends , it leaves No answer for a wit so dull as mine . A Song . NOt hee , that knows how to acquire But to enjoy , is blest . Nor does our happinesse consist In motion , but in rest . The Gods passe man in blisse , because They toile not for more height ; But can enjoy , and in their own Eternall rest delight . Then , Princes , do not toile , nor care ; Enjoy what you possesse . Which whilest you do , you equallize The Gods in happinesse . TI. Minutius Plancus , I was thinking now How Hannibal was charm'd at Capua , When that delicious place had mollifi'd His rough and cruell soul , and made him learn The lessons of soft love , and luxury . PLA. There was no cause , Marcus , for such a thought . For our Antonius in the heat of all His active life knew how to revell well . ANT. Let this soft Musique cease , and louder sound . This second course is mine . Call in Lucilius . Enter LUCILIUS with three Crowns . Fair Cleopatra , for addition Plutarch . To what thou hold'st , the world-commanding Rome Presents these Crowns , and by my hand invests Thee , Cleopatra Queen of wealthy Cyprus , Of Coelosyria , and Phoenicia . Blush not , my Love , nor let Romes bounty force Thy modesty ▪ these Crowns from thy fair brow Receive more lustre then they can bestow . TI.

I think he need not greatly fear her blushing .

PLA. No Marcus no ; alas these petty Kingdomes ( Though too too great to be so ill bestow'd ) Are not the scope of her ambitious aymes ! CLE. My Lord , I dare not make excuse , or plead Unworthinesse , where once Antonius wisdome Has made election to conferre his favours . ANT. Admire not , friends ; the God-like power of Rome Is more declar'd by what it gives away Plutarch . Then what it holds . But these are still our owne And Cleopatra Romes deserving friend . CA. I cannot choose but think how fit a state For Cleopatra Cyprus Kingdome is ; And shall believe that it was ominous That noble Julius Caesar after all Those foure rich triumphs which he held at Rome When he resolv'd with like magnificence To build a Temple to the Goddesse Venus , From whom his house derive their pedigree Within his stately Temple , to expresse The Image of that Goddesse , he set up Fair Cleopatraes figure in the place Supposing her to be the Queen of Love . You know my Lord Antonius , this is true , And Cyprus ever was fair Venus I le . AN.

'T was well observ'd noble Canidius .

CA.

Fill me some wine . Health to the Cyprian Queen .

AN. Drink it to me Canidius ; and I thank thee . Let it go round , my friends . CLE. I ever thought My self much bound to brave Canidius Since I was happy in his company . AN. How fit it is , no other Cyprian Queen , But Cleopatra shall the Poëts know , Whose fancies now shall raise that Kingdome higher . More amorous now will Paphos mountains show , And all those flowery Meads , the Fields of love , Ore which no windes but Western ever blow . The aire it self will yield a sweeter breath While Cleopatra reignes the Cyprian Queen . PLA.

How amorous in his language he is grown .

TI. The times , I fear Minutius , will require A rougher language shortly . We shall heare Assoon as any news can come from Rome . AN. But long ago was I enforc'd to know That Cleopatra was the Queen of love , When first I met thee in Cilicia , Plut , And down the silver stream of Cydnus , thou In Venus shape cam'st sayling , while the aire Was ravish'd with thy Musick , and the windes In amorous gales did kisse thy silken sayls . Thy maids in Graces habits did attend , And boys , like Cupids , painted quivers bore , While thousand Cupids in those starry eyes Stood ready drawn to wound the stoutest hearts . CLE. You came like Mars himself in threatning arms To ruine me , and my poor Country then . I took that shape , because I knew no strength No power on earth was able to resist The conquering fury of Antonius . AN. That face of thine resisted me , and did So sweetly conquer , I was proud to yield ; And more rejoyc'd in that captivity , Then any Roman in a triumph did . Enter Hipparchus . How now , what news with thee ? HIP.

Letters from Rome , my Lord .

AN.

From whom ?

HIP.

Geminius .

AN. To morrow wee 'll peruse them . No affairs Of what import or height so ere , shall have Power to disturbe the pleasures of this night . Our theam to night is love , which oft has made The Thunderer himself a while lay by The weary burden of his government . Come lead away . 'T were fit to read them now . None knows what gain a little time may be AN. You may peruse them Titius ; lead away . Exeunt . Manent TITIUS , PLANCUS . Can no affairs of what import so ere Break one nights pleasure ? well Antonius , The tottering state thou holdst , must be supported By nobler vertues , or it cannot stand . PLA. Cyprus , Phoenice , Coelosyria , Three wealthy Kingdoms got with Roman bloud , And our forefathers valour , given away As the base hire of an adulterous bed . Was Cyprus conquer'd by the sober vertue Of Marcus Cato , to be thus bestow'd ? TI.

This act will please yong Caesar .

PLA. 'T will displease The Senate , Marcus , and Antonius friends . TI. Alas , he knows not what true friendship means , But makes his friends his slaves , and which is worse Slaves to his lusts and vices ; could he else Slight our advise so ? men , whom Rome has seen Wearing her highest honours , and of birth As great as his . Unlesse he change his minde I shall believe my friendship was ill plac'd , And strive to place it better . PLA. This last act Will quickly be at Rome . TI. They have enough Already , noble Plancus ; think you not It will be censur'd that the Roman name Was much dishonour'd by that base surprize Dio. Cass . Plutarch . Of Artavasdes the Armenian King ? Whom through the streets of Alexandria He led in triumph bound with golden chains Forcing the captive King , ( if all his threats Could have enforc'd so much ) prostrate t' adore Proud Cleopatra , as if all his acts , And all the honour of his armes were due To her and not to Rome . Calvisius too Plutarch . In Senate late accus'd him for bestowing On Cleopatra that so farre renown'd And famous Library of Pergamus , In which there were two hundred thousand Books . How many such wilde actions have her charms Enforc'd his weaknesse to ? PLA. His Testament , Which now at Rome the Vestall Virgins keep , Of which we two are privy to the sealing , Should it be known , would stirre all Romans hate , Willing his bodie , though he dy'd at Rome , Dio. Plutarch . To be interr'd at Alexandria . But if a warre 'twixt him and Caesar grow ( As needs it must , although not yet declar'd ) For Caesar now is levying men and money Through Italy , Spain , France and Germany , Against what foe can his designe be bent But our Antonius ? if a warre I say Twixt them should happen , tell me , noble Titius , What should we do ? TI.

Fight for Antonius .

PLA. True friend , were he himself , or were there hope , Or possibility he could be so . But shall our valour toile in sweat and bloud Only to gain a Roman Monarchy For Cleopatra , and th' effeminate rout Of base Canope ? shall her timbrels fright Romes Capitoll , and her advanced pride Tread on the necks of captive Senators ? Or , which is more , shall th' earths Imperiall seat Dio. Remove from Rome to Aegypts swarthy sands ? For who can tell if mad Antonius Have promis'd her , as Caius Marius once Promis'de the Samnites , to transferre the state ? TI. It may be so , his dotage is enough To grant it her , her pride enough to aske it . Manutius Plancus , in this whole discourse Thou speak'st my very thoughts no more , here comes Lucilius , whither so fast ? Enter Lucilius . LU. My Lords , Down to the Fort to wait upon the Consuls , The Roman Consuls both , Titus Domitius , Dio. Sueton. And Caius Sassius are from Rome arriv'd Here at Pelusium , what the matter is Is not yet known . PLA. Wee 'll go along with thee ; This now begins to look like businesse , Marcus . Exeunt .

Actus Secundus . ANTONIUS , SOSSIUS , DOMITIUS , CANIDIUS , TITIUS , PLANCUS , VENTIDIUS . AN. T Is not the place , nor marble wals that make A Senate lawfull , or decrees of power , But convocation of the men themselves The sacred order by true Magistrates . Then Rome is here ; here both her Consuls are , Here are her axes , and her falces born , And no small number of that sacred order Are here assisting , when the barbarous Gaules Had taken Rome , when all the Senate fled , And with Camillus their Dictator then At Veii liv'd , Rome then at Veii was , As now in Aegypt . Fathers , know the face , Of your assembly , know your lawfull power . Consult , decree , and act what ere may be Happy , and prosperous tor the Common-wealth . SOS. Whilst power of laws , whilst reverence of the Senate , And due respect t' a Consuls dignity Could give protection to the Consuls persons We did maintain thy cause Antonius Against proud Caesars faction . Now since laws Are put to silence , and the Senate forc'd , The Consuls sacred priviledge infring'd By rage and lawlesse armes , we are expell'd , And suffer banishment to be restor'd , And re-indeniz'd by thy conquering sword . Now justly draw it . Fate approves thy cause , And on thy conquest sets a glorious prize , Greater then all thy former wars could give . Sextus Pompeius , Marcus Lepidus Are ruin'd both , and all competitors Are tane away ; Fortune has left but one To share the world with thee ; nor canst thou share The world with him , his pride would barre thy right , And Caesar's glory dim Antonius light . Thou canst not shine unlesse alone thou shine . Or all the world , or nothing must be thine . DOM. The Consulship , that was design'd to thee , The Senate have revoked , and decree 'Gainst Cleopatra warre , but meant 'gainst thee . What would their malice dare Antonius , Had Fortune frown'd , thy Kings and Provinces Revolted from thee , that dare now provoke Thy growing fortunes and assisting Gods ? Their injury has made thy quarrell just . Be speedy then , and lose no time of action : SOS. Caesar is needy ; his Italian souldiers Dio. Plutarch . Are apt to mutiny for want of pay , And might with ease be tempted to revolt . CAN. We need them not ; our strengths are greater farre Then Caesar's are ; our praeparations readier . Nought but delay can question our successe . Shall we decree the warre ? AN. Stay noble Romans ; Before we publish a Decree , or shew The reason our arms so justly tane ; Weigh but with me the means and strength we have . Know worthy friends it is no desperate warre Your valours are engag'd in ; briefly thus : Our Roman strength is nineteen Legions . Ten Kings in person will attend our Camp , The Kings of Africk , Comagena , Thrace , Plutarch . Upper Cilicia , Paphlagonia , Of Cappadocia , Pontus , Palaestine , Of rich Arabia , and Galatia . Our strength at Sea five hundred fighting ships Well rigg'd and mann'd : our treasuries are full ; And twenty thousand talents to the warre Does Cleopatra freely contribute . Why speak I more ? the Crown of all my strength , our loves and spirits are . The injuries On which we ground our just and lawfull warre , Are briefly these . Caesar unjustly holds Those Provinces , and armies all , that late Dio. Plutarch . Belong'd to Pompey and to Lepidus Refusing to divide them , or deliver The moity which appertains to me Though oft demanded by my friends at Rome , And letters from my self : besides he levies Both men and money ore all Italy , Which country , as you know , by our agreement Belongs to both , and should be held in common . TI.

Most true .

CA. These wrongs are past all sufferance . Thy warre is but defensive , to regain Thine own unjustly taken . DOM.

The warre 's just .

SOSS. And Caesar the beginner of these broyls From whom the wrong first sprung , most justly may Be judg'd an enemy to the peace of Rome . AN. If Fortune aid us in a cause so just , And we return victorious , noble Romans , I make a vow , and let it be recorded , Within two moneths after the warre is ended , Dio I will lay down the government I hold , And freely then resigne my power again Unto the Senate and the people of Rome . SOSS. Let it be six moneths rather ; for two moneths Dio. Will be too short a time to settle it . DOM.

Sossius speaks well , my Lord .

ANT. Let it be so , And all the Gods assist me as I mean A just and true performance . CA. All the Gods Preserve Antonius father of his Country . OMN.

Author and Champion of our liberty .

Exeunt . manent TITIUS , PLANCUS . TI. Let them believe that list ; for me , I think The resignation of a power so great Will be a temperance too great for him Ere to expresse . PLA. Or if he would , he must Take leave of Cleopatra , and her pride Will hardly grant him that . TI. Nor will I fight To make her Mistris of the world and him . Have you consider'd , noble friend of what We lately spake ? PLA. And am resolved Marcus . The friends and followers we shall bring with us Will make us welcome guests to Caesars side . It seems the City favours Caesar much That both the Consuls fled from Rome for fear . Nor is our action base ; the scorns and wrongs We have endur'd at Cleopatraes hands Plutarch . Would tempt a moyle to fury , and both sides Stand equall yet . TI.

Come let 's away ; t is time . Dio.

PLA.

Egypt farewell .

TI.

Farewell Antonius . Exeunt .

SELEUCUS , GLAUCUS . SE. How suddenly the Scene is changed here From love and banquets to the rough alarms And threatning noise of warre ! GLA. The change , Seleucus Is not so suddain as you speak ; this storm Has been expected long ; the two great Lords Of all the Roman world , Antonius And Caesar have in heart been enemies These many yeers ; and every man has wonder'd 'T has been withheld so long , considering How much complaining has been daily made By them , their friends , and factions 'gainst each other Whose cause is justest let the Gods determine . SE. No other justice then ambition Makes them to draw their swords ; no other cause Then that the world cannot endure two Suns . GLA. The thing that troubles me , Seleucus , is I hear it spoken in the Court , the Queen Her self in person will associate Antonius to the warre . SE. I hear that rumour ; But hope it is not true , how nakedly And in what great confusion would this land Be left ! and what addition can her person Among so many Roman Legions Bring to Antonius ? GLA. Let us enquire The certainty ; I fain would be resolv'd . SE. I necessity must know , before The Queen can go , that order may be taken About the Fort I keep , what strength she means To leave within it in her absence . GLA. True , That reason will excuse thee for enquiring . Exeunt . CLEOPATRA , CANIDIUS . CLE. Noble Canidius , I 'll entrust no more , Nor use more circumstances ; for I know To whom I have referr'd my businesse , And trust your wisdome . CA. Royall Cleopatra . I am so fortify'd with reasons now Plutarch . That maugre Sossius and Domitius With all their best perswasions , I 'll prevaile You shall not stay behinde ; fear it not Madam . CLE, Brave Roman , wear this jewell for my sake ; And be possest of Cleopatraes love . Second my suit , there lies not in my power A thing to grant I should deny Canidius . CA. The favours , Madam , you can give , have power T' oblige the greatest Monarchs of the World . CLE. Be ready , worthy friend ; he 'll straight be here . Exit Can . None but Canidius has the power to work Antonius in this action , which the rest Will all oppose , I know ; a thing on which My state , my hopes , and fortunes all depend . He must perswade Antonius to take Me with him to the warre ; for if I stay Behinde him here , I run a desperate hazard ; For should Octavia enterpose her self In this great warre ( as once before she did ) And make her brother , and her husband friends Wher 's Cleopatra then ? but here he comes . ANTONIUS , CLEOPATRA . AN. Sweet Cleopatra , I should plead excuse For leaving thee awhile , but that the cause Is of a nature so immense and high , And brings effects of such advantage home , That thou I know art pleas'd it should be so ; And with a patience canst resolve to bear So small an absence , that my wish'd return May call thee mistris of the subject world . CLE. Cannot Antonius then be fortunate If Cleopatra go ? Is there in me So bad an Omen ? did I think there were , Not for the world would I desire to bear You company but rather die at home . AN. Farre are my thoughts from giving entertainment To such fond dreams . I would not venture thee . CLE. My life and fortunes both depend on yours . As much in Aegypt will my danger be , As in your army , and my torment more , To die each houre for feare : and to remain In sad suspence till messengers can bring The news so farre : but if my company Distast my Lord , I cannot wish his grief . AN. Can Cleopatra think her heavenly presence , Can be distastfull , or not valued more Then all joys else ; parted from thee I think , All places sad , all lands disconsolate , Before this life I prize thy company , But must not have it now , do not entreat ; I have deny'd it to my self already . And in the Camp should be asham'd to rise From Cleopatraes arms , when wars rough noise Shakes all the world , when Kings and Senators Are venturing lives and fortunes in my service . Oh stay behinde ! and let thy presence make Egypt a place , to which I would desire Of Caesar's fortune conquer , to retire . CLE. If that should happen ( which the Gods avert ) What land , alas ! could comfort me , or lend A safe retreat to vanquish'd Antony ? Thou would'st disdain to draw a wretched breath , And I as much should scorn captivity . But I had thought the Roman Antony Had lov'd so great a Queen with nobler love ; Not as the pleasure of his wanton bed Or mistris only of some looser houres , But as a partner in his highest cares , And one whose soul he thought were fit to share In all his dangers , all his deeds of honour . Without that love I should disdain the other . AN. Do not mistake me , noble Queen , I know Thy brest is full of high heroike worth . CLE. How can you think it so , that could so long In times of peace and pleasure recreate Your self with me in Aegypt Court ; yet now When honour calls , reject my company ? AN. I should desire it rather then my life ; But that my Roman friends are all against it . Enter SOSSIUS , DOMITIUS , CANIDIUS . See here they come , if they agree t is done . Now noble friends on whose oraculous counsels And matchlesse valour my whole fate depends , Speak what you think , should Cleopatra go In person to the warre , or stay behinde ? SO. I have delivered my opinion , And so has my Colleague . AN.

What thinks Canidius ?

CA. I think t is fit , my Lord , the Queen , whose bounty Has brought so great assistance to the warre , Should not be left behinde , besides her presence Will much encourage her Aegyptian souldiers , Of which a great part of the fleet consists . Plutarch . AN.

T is true Canidius .

CLE. Let not my sex Disparage me , for which of all those Kings That now in person serve Antonius Have more experience in affairs of weight Then I , my Lord , which have so long been privy To your high counsels , and in love to you And your designes who should compare with me ? AN.

What think you friends ? you heare Canidius .

DOM.

If you be pleas'd , I will subscribe .

SOS. And I , since things go so . CLE.

My wishes are effected .

AN.

Titius , and Plancus are both fled to Caesar .

CAN.

You shall not need their help my Lord , at all .

AN.

Come , let 's away .

CLE. My strengths are ready all , And wait but your command . AN. Looke like Bellona . Canidius , return you to your charge And bring those sixteen Cohorts down to sea ; Plutarch . Meet me at Samos with them , both the Consuls Shall go along with me . Great Father Mars , And all you Gods , that from the skies behold The Roman labours , whose propitious aid Advanc'd my fortunes to so great an height , Make perfect that , which you your selves begun . This is the swords last work , the judging houre Of Nations fates , of mine and Caesar's power . On which the stars and destinies attend , And all the fortunes of Mankinde depend . Exeunt ACHOREUS . That dire portents sent from the wrathfull Gods ? Threaten th' astonish'd world ? What plagues are those Which in the skies prodigious face I read ? Tumultuous Nature teems with monstrous births , As if the throws would break her labouring wombe . What ruine lesse then Chaos shall involve The mourning face of Nature ? what great fate , What kinde of mischief is it ? oh ye Gods , Why did you adde to wretched men a care So past their strength to bear , to let them know By sad presages their ensuing woe ? Unknown and secret let your vengeance be , And none foresee their following misery ; But hope as well as fear . Jove hide thy dooms ; Keep shut , oh fates , your adamantine books ! Let not the painfull curiosity Of humane knowledge search your secret counsels , And read your purposes , to nourish so A killing fear before the danger grow . Enter SELEUCUS , GLAUCUS . SE.

That Comet 's gone .

GLA. It mov'd directly upward , And did not vanish till it seem'd to reach The firmament . ACH.

What talk you of my sonnes ?

GLA.

That Comet , father , ore the Graecian Sea .

ACH. It was a strange one both for form and greatnesse , And bodes some mischief whersoere it light . The Gods avert it from our Aegypts coast . SE. Pinnarius Scarpus had received news That Italy and Rome it self are fill'd With prodigies : an ugly Owle of late Did fly into the house of Concord first , Thence being driven away it pearch'd again Within the Temple of the peoples Genius . There , though all striv'd , it neither could be caught , Nor driven away , but flew at leisure out . A sacred Trophey on Mount Aventine , Dio. Victoriaes Image on the Theater Dio. By suddain tempests were thrown down and broken . GLA. In Rome and other parts of Italy Sudden and strangely kindled fires have done Exceeding waste ; and we are certifi'd That now Sicilian Aetna nourishes Dio. More horrid flames then usually it does , And farther casts his scorching entrails forth , Blasting the fields and burning up the corn . SE. A two-legg'd Dragon in Etruria Dio. Full fourscore foot in length was lately seen , Which after much annoyance of the Country It self with lightning was consum'd at last . But these portents do threaten Italy . ACH. Alas , my sonne , there need no prodigies To shew the certain losse of Italy . For on both sides do Roman Eagles stand , And Rome must bleed who ere be conquerour , Besides her liberty for ever lost When this sad field is fought : but that 's not all , What clime so farre , what region so remote , But that the Roman fortune reaches thither ? All nations share in this . GLA. What hast thou got By all thy conquest Rome , by all the bloud Which thy ambition through the world has shed , But rais'd a power , which now thou canst not rule , Nourish'd a Lion to devoure thy self ? SE. Would none but Roman bloud might quench the fire Of Romes dissentions , and no land beside Be forc'd to pay the forfeit of their pride . With evill Omen did Aeneas first Transport the reliques of Troyes fatall fire To Italy , that kindled greater there It might at last like lightning through the world Rend every Nation . Was it not enough , That first your conquests strew'd the earth with slaughter And dy'd all Regions with their natives blouds , But your dissentions still must tear the world ? ACHO. I 'll go within , and make an offering To great Osiris . Exit Achoreus GLA. Well may it succeed . Aegypt will flourish if Antonius conquer . SE. If he should fall , the fury of the warre Would light on Aegypt most , and we should rue That ere Antonius lov'd this haplesse land . Enter MARDIO . Oh Gentlemen , the strongest news , that ere Was seen in Aegypt . GLA.

What 's that Mardio ?

MAR. Thousands of people with astonishment And fear beheld it : on those fruitfull plains That Southward ly from Alexandria , Where never rain was known to fall before , 〈◊〉 It whole showers of bloud , whose colour set A purple die upon those verdant fields ; And in the clouds that horrid noise was heard That meeting armies make , beating of drums . Shrill trumpets sound , armor against armor clashing , As if the bloud that fell , dropp'd from the wounds Dio. Those aëry battails made . GLA. This is more strange Then all the rest : this is our own Seleucus . SE. Well Gentlemen , I 'll to Pelusium , And fortifie the town to keep our foes , If foes be conquerours , from entring there . GLA. Yes , and our friends , if they be vanquished , Keep out our friends , Seleucus , if their presence May pluck a warre , and ruine on our heads . SE. As there 's occasion wee 'll determine that . Enter ACHOREUS . Avert your anger , Gods , if all too late Our prayers came not now . GLA. What is it father ? Your looks , I see , are full of ruth and wo . ACHO. Ah wretched Aegypt , ah unhappy land In what hast thou so stor'd the wrath of heaven ? The grieved God refus'd his offering Bellowing aloud that all the Temple rung , And from his sacred eys the tears run down . Would I could contradict , or not beleeve The skill which surest observations teach . This signifies a change of government . GLA.

What heaven is pleas'd to send , we much endure .

ACO. True sonne ; and let a wise man place his strengths Within himself , nor trust to outward aids . That whatsoever from the Gods can come May finde him ready to receive their doom . Exeunt

Actus Tertius . Enter PINNARIUS SCARPUS with Souldiers . PIN. T Is not Antonius , worthy souldiers , But Rome herself to whom you owe your valours What he could claim , you have perform'd already ; And serv'd him truly , whilst he was to you A Generall , to Rome a Magistrate . You are discharg'd from all obedience You ow'd to him , by fate it self , and may Nay , ought to follow him , whom Roman fates Appoint your Generall , the noble Caesar Great Julius heir , not to his name alone But spirit and fortunes , which have both appear'd In this so great and finall a defeat Given to Antonius . Before we knew not To whom the Gods and Fortune had assign'd Our service souldiers ; now they have declar'd . And let us follow where they please to lead . For faith is impious striving to sustain That side , whose fall the Gods themselves ordain . SOL.

Caesar , Caesar , Caesar .

PIN. Your judgments guide you right ; for could you think So small a strength as ours could raise again The desperate state of faln Antonius , Under whose ruine all those legions sunk ? What madnesse were it , souldiers to preferre A hopelesse civill warre before the weal And peace of Rome ? and desperatly provoke The prosperous fortunes of victorious Caesar ? I have already to Cornelius Gallus Dio. By letter signify'd our purposes . Who sent from Caesar now is marching hither , To joyn his strength with ours : but hark his Drum Give notice of his comming . Enter GALLUS . Hail Pinnarius . PIN. Ah hail Cornelius Gallus , Most wish'd for , an most happily arriv'd At Paraetonium . GAL. Victorious Caesar With love and favour greets Pinnarius Scarpus , Caesar , then whom the world acknowledges No other power ; whom Fortune now has made Sole Lord of all . PI. I , and my souldiers With Paraetonium are at Caesar's service . Whither 's Antonius fled ? GAL. Hither to Aegypt With Cleopatra ? 'T was a victory So strangely given away , as not the like In former times I think has ere been heard ; On which especially so great a price As the sole sway of all the world depended . The Fleets encountred both , while with the Camps On either shore stood to behold the fight , Dio. Heer the Caesarian , there the Antonian Fleet With equall hopes came on , with fury equall . And long maintain'd a sharpe and cruell fight , With mutuall slaughter , while the Oceans face Was forc'd to lose his colour , and receive A crimson die . The ships Antonius had Were tall , and slowly did like Castles move . But Caesar's small , yet quick and active , stirr'd Dio. Florus . Plutarch . On every side with all advantages . Long fortune doubted , and bright victory Knew not which way to lean , but kept them both In equall ballance ; till Antonius Himself at last betray'd his glorious hopes . For when his Mistris Cleopatra fled , Plutarch . Dio. Florus . Although a while within his manly breast The Roman honour strove 'gainst wanton love , Love got the conquest , and Antonius Fled after her , leaving his souldiers there To sell their lives in vain ; who many houres Though he were fled , made good the navall fight . And had Antonius stay'd , it may be fear'd Caesar had not prevail'd : at last the Fleet Wanting their Admirall , though not without Much slaughter , fled , or yielded all to Caesar . PIN.

But what became of all his strength on land ?

GAL. Nay , there 's the wonder , there 's Antonius madnesse , And such a madnesse as will strike amazement To all that heare it told : after his flight He nere return'd , though in the campe he had Under the conduct of Canidius And other Captains nineteen legions Fresh and unfought , which might with reason hope Had he been there , to have recover'd all . They still remayn'd encamped , and though oft Sollicited by Caesar to revolt Were kept from yielding , by Canidius In hope of Antony's return . Untill Canidius fearing his own souldiers minds Plutarch . And Caesar's anger fled away by night , They then despairing yielded all to Caesar . Who by this time I think 's arriv'd in Aegypt . About Pelusium . PI.

Will you view the town ?

GAL.

With all my heart , noble Pinnarius . Exeunt .

Enter CaeSAR , AGRIPPA , TITIUS , PLANCUS , THYREUS , EPAPHRODITUS , PROCULEIUS . Cae. Antonius then with Cleopatra's fled To Alexandria . AGR.

T is certain , Caesar .

PHA. They say the vanquish'd Queen most cunningly : Dio. ( Fearing it seems , to be excluded else From her own Kingdome ) fain'd her self victorious , Landing in Aegypt with triumphant songs Her ships all crown'd with laurell , to deceive The credulous people : where being enter'd once She leaves unpractis'd no strange tyranny ; And , as we hear , to win the Parthan King Unto her side , beheaded Artavasdes Dio. King of Armenia , and the Parthians so , Who was her prisoner , that Artavasdes , Whom Anthony so basely had surpris'd . TI. Caesar , 't were fit to take Pelusium Before we march to Alexandria . Cae. 'T was our intent , good Titius , not to leaue A town of that import behinde our backs . Go Proculeius , summon it , and know Whether the Governour will yield or no . Exit . Proc. Enter . Servant . What news with thee ? SER. Caesar , a messenger From Cleopatra craves admittance . Cae. Bring him . Enter EUPHRONIUS . Queen Cleopatra to great Caesar wishes All health and victory ; and humbly proffers Her self and all her fortunes to his service : Dio. In token of which she here presents by mee This Crown and Scepter . TI.

Brave and ominous .

EUP. Humbly entreating Caesar's noble favour To her and hers ; the rest of her desires So please it Caesar to peruse the same , This letter holds . PLA.

I warrant a love-letter .

Cae.

But tell me first , where is Antonius ?

EUP. I 'll truly tell ( though it may seem to some Incredible ) that great Antonius A man of late in conversation So free , and full of jollity , in a strange Deep melancholly has retir'd himself Plut. Strabo lib. 17. To Pharos I le ; where like Athenian Timon , Who did professe a hatred to mankinde , And fled all company , he lives alone ; And on the solitary shore has built A little house to feed his frantike humour , And imitate that Timon's life , whose name He takes unto himself : no friends at all Nor servants are admitted to his presence , But only two , Roman Lucilius And Aristocrates the Graecian . Cae. Not Cleopatra ? then I doubt the man Grows weary of these worldly vanities . AGR. I never heard of such a change as this . Give me the letter . I 'll peruse it now He reads . AGRIPPA , AGR. CaeSAR . they retire . Caes. Here the woman writes That for her liberty , and to confirme The Crown of Aegypt to her self and children To gratifie my favour she has hid Dio. Plutarch . Within her pallace a great masse of gold . Unknown t' Antonius . AGRI. 'T is like ennough , For Cleoptraea's rich , and long has been , Besides the sacriledge she lately did In robbing all the Temples of the Gods About these parts . Cae. I would not lose this gold , Nor willingly let Cleopatra die Before her person have adorn'd my triumph . AGR. That will be hard to bring to passe , and must Be wrought with subtilty : you must not send A threatning message back ; for if you do , All 's lost , her life , her gold and all are vanish'd . For Cleopatra , as in all her acts It has appear'd , is of a wondrous spirit , Of an ambition greater then her fortunes Have ever been , though she so long have sway'd A soveraignty ore half the Roman world , Trod on the necks of humbled Kings , and rul'd Antonius as her slave : her haughty spirit Will never stoop so much as to a thought Of such captivity . Cae. I do not mean To let her know my minde , or once suspect If I can help it , but I have it now . Thyreus come hither ; I must now rely Upon thy wisdome , care , and diligence In an employment that concerns me neerly . But I am confident : go with this fellow Dio. Plutarch . To Alexandria ; use to the Queen Thy best and most perswasive Oratory . Tell her I love her , and extremly dote On her admired beauty , thou art wise And need'st no great instructions ; the successe I do not doubt , the woman's credulous , And thinks all men are bound to be in love With that insnaring face ; if thou perceive She will be wrought on , winne her to betray Antonius to my hand : the way to woo her I leave good Thyreus to thy eloquence And cunning working of it : spare thy reply to Euph. Bid him come hither . Commend my hearty love To Cleopatra ; bid her fear no ill From me at all . What I desire from her My freed man Thyreus has commission To utter to her self . Epaphroditus , So see him well rewarded . EPA. Health to Caesar . Exeunt . Epa. & Euph. Enter PROCULEIUS . The Governour is stout , and does resolve To stand th' extremest hazard of the warre Before he yield Pelusium . Cae. Let him rue His stubborn loyalty , souldiers make ready For the assault ; 't is shame so small a town Should stay our fortune in the full carreer . Exeunt . ANTONIUS disguis'd like TIMON , reading . Here bury'd do I lie ; thou gentle wave Calli-mahi Epigr. de Timone . Keep hatefull man from treading Timons grave . Reader be gone ; enquire no more of me , A curse upon thee whatsoere thou be . ANT. Good , good ; oh Timon , Athens nere could boast A wise philosopher but thee . Thou knew'st The nature of all men , that all were false ; True Timon , true , they are all Knaves indeed . Thou wisely hat'st that wicked thing call'd man , Whom other forced Philosophers admire , And call a noble creature , and partaker Of divine nature : they were fools , fools Timon , All other Sects were fools , and I will follow No sect but thine ; I am a Timonist . That 's not enough , Timon himself I am . Enter LUCILIUS , ARISTOCRATES . Yonder he sits , see Aristocrates How much unlike that great Antonius , Whose person late so many legions guarded , So many Kings attended as their Lord . ARI. Antonius , where ? thou art deceiv'd Lucilius , That 's Timon man . LU. How canst thou jest at this This wofull passion , which alone 's enough To melt his foes and Caesar into tears . ARI. We feed this foolish passion , to give way , And keep aloof thus . I 'll go to him . Timon . AN. Ha ! what art thou ? be gone I say from me . Get you to Caesar man : I hate you all . ARI. I hate thee , Timon ; dost thou think 't is love Has brought me hither ? I am come to vex thee . AN.

Oh welcome , what 's thy name ? i' st Alcibindes ?

ARI.

Hast thou forgot me ?

ANT.

Dost thou hate all men ?

ARI. Why dost thou think me so unnaturall To love a man ? but may we not love women ? AN. Yes , they may be belov'd ; provided always That they be false . ARI. True Timon , wicked women May be belov'd , because they ruine men . ANT. Right , right ; and now I better think upon 't I 'll set no gallowses or gibbets up As I entended once , for men to come And hang themselves , I 'll keep a bawdy house . ARI. A better way by farre , 't will ruine moe , I wonder , Timon , at that foolish plot That I have heard , that in thy gardens once In Athens thou did'st set up gallowses For men in discontent to hang themselves . How few think'st thou would be so mad to do it ? But to a wench they 'll come , and then the office That thou shalt have will be of more account . For where have you a man of any fashion That now adays turnes hangman ; but a Pandar Is on employment that befits a Statesman , A thing requires good parts and gravity . ANT. I 'de try that course ; but t is too slow a plot . Oh for a speedy way to kill the world I have done somewhat in my days ; my wars And bloudy battels were not made in vain . For I was once Antonius , and a Roman , As in the wars of Troy Pythagoras Before that transmigration of his soul , Had been Euphorbus . AN.

Thou art like him still .

ANT. And when I was Triumvir first at Rome , AN. That was a time indeed , then I could heare Of those good deeds , which must be still a comfort To your good consciences , though they be past . When Rome was fill'd with slaughter , flow'd with bloud . But they perchance were Knaves that were proscrib'd , And might have done more mischief had they liv'd . AN.

No , they were honest men ; I look'd to that .

ARI.

'T was well , and carefully .

AN. Behold the list . But one among the rest most comforts me , That talking fellow Cicero , that us'd To taxe the vicious times , and was forsoeth A lover of his Country . ARI. Out upon him , Then he was rightly serv'd : for is it fit In a well govern'd state such men should live As love their Country ? had 't not been for him Catiline's plot had thriv'd . AN. T is true , I 'm sure Caesar was on that side , he favour'd it . ARI. Yes , Caesar understood himself ; ther 's hope That this young Caesar too will prove as good A Patriot as ere his father was . ANT. He will do reason man : he is of nature Cruell enough ; in that proscription It did appear ; but now he 'll reigne alone . ARI. Oh for such factions as were then a foot To rend the state , and fill the world with slaughter . ANT.

Oh , let me hug thee Alcibiades .

Enter CANIDIUS , LUCILIUS . CA.

Is that he yonder ? what strange shape is that ?

LU. None talks with him but Aristocrates , Who following his own way , and suiting just With his conceit thinks to reclaim him so . CA. The news , that I shall bring , will make him worse , And fright that little reason that is left Quite from his brest . LU. It cannot so Canidius ; Perchance to hear th' extremity of all Will cure his fit ; it cannot make him worse . For death it self were better and more noble . CA. How weak a thing is man that seats his hopes In fortunes slippery , and unconstant favours , And seeks no surer strengths to guard his soul ? Wanting a strong foundation , he is shaken With every winde , orethrown by every storm . And what so frequent as those storms in fortune ? Whose fairest weather never brings assurance Of perpetuity but come what will I 'll tell him all . LU.

Do , good Canidius .

ANT. Well Alcibiades , I am resolv'd I 'll to the wars again , and either conquer Mine enemies , or take a course to starve And kill up my own souldiers , and so be Reveng'd on some body : One of these two May easily be brought to passe . How think'st thou ? ARI. Yes , yes : but le ts to Court , and there consult . Enter MARDIO . See who comes here , now for our bawdy project . Here is a servant I must needs preferre Well vers'd in bawdry , Master of the art . Come neer brave Mardio , come . MAR. My businesse Is not to you ; ARI. Mark him but well , and tell me How he would execute the place . MAR. My Lord , The Queen entreats your presence at the Palace , The grieved Queen , who in your absence pines , Who suffers in your grief . ARI.

Well urg'd old Eunuch .

ANT.

Ha! what of her ? will she revolt to Caesar ?

MAR.

She 's farre from that , my Lord .

ANT.

What i' st he says ?

ARI. He says the constitution of her body Cannot hold out unlesse you visit her . MAR.

The Queen shall know it , Aristocrates .

ARI. Did you not say she pin'd and languish'd Sir , And what 's the difference ? tell your tale yourself . ANT.

What does she say ? does she not hate me man ?

MAR. Oh no my Lord , she loves you as her life . No spite of fortune that she has endur'd , Or can hereafter fear , grieves her so much As does your absence and strange melancholy . ARI.

Well Mardio , thou art fittest for the place .

CAN.

My Lord Antonius ?

AN.

Ha! mo men upon us ?

CA. I come to bring thee heavy news Antonius . The forces all , which thou didst leave encamp'd At Actium , horse and foot are gone to Caesar . And all th' auxiliary Kings ; no strength At all is left thee , but what here thou hast At Alexandria . AN.

Ha!

LU.

This sinks into him .

CA.

It makes a deep impression in his passion .

ARI.

And may perchance expell his other fit .

AN. All you here yet ! then I have friends I see . But tell me , can you be so mercifull As to forgive that most unmanly fit I have been in ? oh , I am all in blushes . CA.

My Lord , take better comfort .

AN. Dearest friends . I will be proof 'gainst any fortune now . Plutarch . Come let 's together to the Court , and there Drown sadnesse in rich cups of Meroë wine , And laugh at Fortunes malice , for your sight More cheers my spirits , then her frowns can dull them . Exeunt .

Actus Quartus . CLEOPATRA , GLAUCUS . GLA. MAdam , all drugs with pain and torment kill That kill with speed . No easie way to death Is wrought but by a slow and lingring course , Where Natures strength is by degrees subdu'd , And yielding so decayes insensibly . No art at all can make a drug that 's quick And gentle too . No poyson but the Aspe Of all the mortall brood of Libyaes Snakes Kils with a suddain , and yet easie death As if brought forth to contradict our skill By envious Nature , who disdains frail man Should hope to finde her secrets wholly out . None but that Serpent , Madam , can effect Plutarch . What you desire ; of which I here have brought . CLE. Leave it good Glaucus ; leave the potion too . T is quick , thou sayst . GLA. Yes Madam ; but too painfull And violent . CLE. Well leave them both with me . Exit Glaucus . Let none adventure on prosperity But with a spirit still prepar'd to die . Let them keep certain death still in their power That dare be great and happy , nought but that Frees states when they are fall'n . Well did wise And liberall Nature on mankinde bestow A gift so soveraigne as power to die , An Antidote 'gainst Fortunes cruelty , That is the deere preservative , that must Controll the spite of Fortune , and redeem A wofull life from lothed servitude . One venome 's gentle ; tother rough and cruell . But t is not safe to trust mine honour so , On doubtfull props : the poysons both may fail , Or differ farre from what vain fame reports Their operation . T is experience That must confirme me . Mardio is return'd . Enter Mardio with two prisoners . MAR. Here are two men , Madam , condemn'd for murder To cruell death , and are to die to morrow . CLE.

Come neerer both , and tell me , dare you die ? Dio.

1 PRI. Great Queen , necessities strict law imposes Plutarch . That doom upon us ; in forc'd actions Courage can have no triall . CLE. Dare you die A lesse dishonorable way , to scape The common hangman's hand , and from a Queen Receive your death , and that an easier death ? BOTH .

Most willingly , great Queen ; we are prepar'd .

CLE. Give them their lots , Mardio ; the shortest lot Is to die first . 2 PRI.

That lot is mine .

CLE. The Aspe shall be thy fate : now Aspe confirme What fame reports of thee ; stay thou thy draught Till he be dead : feel'st thou no pain ? 2 PRI.

A faintnesse seizes me , and I would sleep .

MAR. How gently he lies down ? and scarcely strives Against his death at all . CLE. I think he 's dead Already . Sure he feels but little pain . I am confirm'd . MAR.

He 's dead and stiffe already .

CLE. Wee 'll try no more , as for thy draught of poyson Thus we discharge thee of it , and from death Doom'd by the law our royall pardon frees thee . Publish it Mardio . PRI. The Gods preserve Royall and gracious Cleoptrae's life . Exeunt . CLE. I am resolvd' ; nought but the Libyan Aspe Shall be renown'd for Cleopatraes death . Thou precious worme , that canst redeem alone The losse of honour at a rate so easie , That kill'st as gently as the hand of age , And art miscall'd a plague of Africa , Since thou alone mak'st barren Afrike envy'd , By other lands , though fruitfull , wanting thee . Who crosse the Seas , and hence at highest price Transport the Aspe as choisest Merchandise . On thee I trust , one gentle touch of thine Can free this life from lothed servitude , From Caesar's triumph , the base peoples mocks , Proud Liviaes scorn , and mad Octaviaes spight . But why are all my thoughts turn'd to despair ? Why think I now of death ? me thinks my Genius Checks this cold fear , and Fortune chiding tels me I am ungratefull to distrust , her now . My race of life and glory is not run , Nor Cleopatraes fortunes yet arriv'd At that great height that must eternize her , And fix her glorious name aboue the stars . I long to hear what answer Caesar sends . I do not know his temper , but he 's young ; And why should I despair ? are Cupid's fires Extinguish'd quite ? are all his arrows spent ? Or is this beauty , that can boast the conquest Of Julius Caesar ; and great Antony , So waned now , it cannot move the temper Of one , whom youth makes fit for Cupid's conquest ? Enter EUPHRONLUS , THYREUS . EUP. Madam , your gifts were more graciously receiv'd , And Caesar with a smiling brow return'd All seeming love and friendship ; he has sent His free'dman Thyreus to attend your highnesse , And to impart his counsels to your eare . CLE.

He 's welcome to us . What 's great Caesar's will .

Exit Euphro . THY. Caesar's best wishes , royall Cleopatra , None but your fairest self can ratifie . No power on earth can give what Caesar wants But you , great Queen . For let your Majesty Give credit to poor Thyreus though the meanest Of all the servants that attend on Caesar , Ther 's none about him is more neer in trust To whom he 's pleased to impart his thoughts , And secret wishes : nothing but your love Can crown his happinesse . CLE. We are no subject For Caesar's mocks though in our worst of fortune THY. You are the Queen of Fortune , and still hold A lasting Scepter ore that fickle Goddesse ( Fickle to others , to you true and constant ) Your radiant light lends that blinde Goddesse eyes , And guides her to your service , making all Actions , nay losses steps to greater honour . The late defeat at Actium , which your errour Perchance miscals a losse , was Fortunes labour To make you greater , and remove your brightnesse Which was ill plac'd ( as Diamonds coursly set ) From old Antonius to yong Caesar's love , A fitter sphere for those fair eys to shine in . CLE. Without these courtings , Thyreus , if great Caesar Please to embrace our friendship , we and Aegypt Shall do him faithfull service . THY. Mighty Queen , If my rude speech have err'd , I humbly beg That you would please to think it zeal in me To do my master service , and such service As he esteems the best , to gain your love , I oft have heard him ( let your Majesty Not be offended with that truth I utter ) Ravish'd with fame of your perfections , And noble spirit ; call Antonius happy , Whom fortune brought to Aegypt , to behold That Queen , whom he so much desir'd to see . But when his eys beheld your portraiture Drawn by a skilfull , and a faithfull hand ; He oft would say it was a likely seat To hold those Graces . Such perfections Were fit for none but Caesar's to admire . CLE. There was a Caesar , lov'd me once ; but I Am not so proud to think it was my merit , Though he would say I did deserve farre more Then he could utter , that great Julius , Whose name and actions fill'd the triple world . THY. Though all in him were great , yet nothing greater Then his adopting so divine an heire . This Caesar , Madam , for your dearest love , Besides that power and greatnesse , which the world Both knows and fears , brings such a youth and beautie To plead for him , as in a mean estate Might move a Princesse love : which that your eys may better read , I here from him present His true , and most unflatter'd portraiture . CLE. The fairest form that ere these eys beheld . Where all the best of each best modell meets , Cupid's sweet smiles , lodg'd in the eye of Mars , Ganymed's cheek th' Imperiall brow of Jove Where love and majesty are proud to dwell . THY.

His age , great Queen , is yet not thirty yeers .

CLE. I nere till now saw beautie : but Thyreus May we repose a confidence in thee As our true friend ? we will deserve thy love . THY. To do divinest Cleopatra service Is all poor Thyreus pride : in serving you I best discharge my dutie to my master . CLE. Then briefly thus ; because I would not have Any take notice of long privacie Twixt thee and me , and instantly w' expect Antonius here , I will devise some means How to deserve great Caesar's love , and act What he shall thank us for : mean while stay here With us , good Thyreus , for we cannot yet Dispatch thee with that message we entend . THY.

I will attend your highnesse .

CLE. Till anone Farewell , good Thyreus : but be neer about us . Exit Thyreus . What more then this could all the fates contrive ? What more then Caesars love could I have wish'd On which all power , all state , and Glories wait . But oh the weak and fluctuating state Of humane frailty still too much deprest Or rais'd too much 'twixt fears and flattring hopes ! But hence base fear ; a Princely confidence Fits Cleopatraes minde and beautie better . Enter ANTONIUS , CANIDIUS , LUCILIUS , ARISTOCRATES . My dearest Lord . AN. Ah sweetest Cleopatra , In this embrace , and this Ambrosiake kisse I am again possest of all my wealth , Of all my fortunes . Had the angry Gods Purpos'd to wreak their fury fully on me They had not left my life so sweet a comfort . CLE. Possest of you I stand above the reach Of Fortunes threatning , or proud Caesar's power . Nought but your grief , and melancholly had Power to deject my spirits . AN. Thy true worth Deserves a happier friend , that could bestow Not take alone his happinesse from thee . In thy sweet love , and these my faithfull friends I still am happy , I have lost no friends . All that are gone from me to Caesar's side , Ingratefull Titius and Domitius . Plancus , Silanus , Dellius and Hipparchus , Were Fortunes friends not mine . CLE. Let 's in and feast , This day we 'll dedicate to mirth and freedome : To crown your welcome hither . AN. Sweetly spoken . Let not a woman teach us souldiers To be magnanimous . CLE. Thi ? feast we 'll stile The feast of fellow-dyers : for no band Plutarch . No tie of friendship is so firme as that They live in love that mean to die together . Exeunt . CaeSAR , AGRIPPA , TITIUS , PLANCUS , ARIUS . Cae. Grave Arius , in thy troubled looks I read Fear for thy native Alexandria ; But banish fear , and know thy power with Caesar , If they obey our summons , none shall die . But though to th' utmost they resist , thy will Shall rule our Justice . AR. Humble Arius . Is too much honour'd in great Caesar's favour . Cae. We give but what we owe , a debt so great As mine to thee can nere be overpay'd . Great Alexander , whose victorious hand Founded that City , whose eterniz'd name For ever honours it , though in great deeds He past our glory farre , shall not exceed Caesar in piety : he oft would say He ought a better being to his Master Then to father ; one meer naturall , The other mentall , and diviner farre . Who 's that ? Enter EPAPHRODITUS with FERGUS . EPA. Fergusius the Philosopher Condemn'd to death by you . Cae.

Dispatch him then .

EPA.

He craves a word with Arius ere he die .

ARI.

What is it brother ?

FER. Ah good Arius , Plutarch . Wisemen , if truly wise , save wise men still . ARI.

Most mighty Caesar .

Cae. Arius , no more , I know what thou desir'st ; Fergusius live ; That thou know'st him has sav'd thee . FER. Victorie , And fame still wait on Caesar . Cae. Let 's away And march with speed to Alexandria . AGR. Caesar , your horse are weary : 't is not fit Too much to toil them , for I fear a sally From Alexandria . Cae.

They dare not man .

AGR. Antonius is strong in well-provided And skilfull horsemen ; and despair of favor ( Since twice you have refus'd his propositions ) Will put another valour into him . Cae.

What conquest can Antonius hope for here ?

AGR. His hopes ( as nere as I conjecture them ) Are to break through your troops , and get to Sea . For yet he has a Fleet , that may transport him To other lands , to gather new supplyes . But any fortune would prove higher farre To him , then staying here , without all hope To be shut up in a besieged town . In my opinion let your march be slow And gentle ; that the horse may be refresh'd . And we prevent the worst . Cae.

Let it be so . Exeunt .

Enter LUCILIUS , ARISTOCRATES . LU. How formlesse is the forme of man the soul , How various still how different from it self ? How falsly call'd Queen of this little world ? When she 's a slave , and subject not alone Unto the bodies temperature , but all The storms of Fortune . ARI. What occasion Make thee thus offer at Philosophy ? LU. Where hast thou liv'd thou shouldst not know th' occasion ? The fits and changes of Antonius Are theam enough : how strange a loving soule Is the late hater of mankinde become ! ARI. That is not strange , he 's out of breath with cursing And now 't is time to stop his mouth with kissing . But what can he conceive of this same Thyreus That holds such secret conference with her ? LU.

He cannot choose but see it .

ARI. Unlesse love Have blinded him , she carries it so plainly . Well , I shall think if there be knavery in 't , ( As knavery there must be ) that Cleopatra Is not so subtle as we took her for . LU. He must be told it , if he will not see Upon my life there is some plot of treason Which yet may be discover'd . ARI. Heer they come Let us go fetch Antonius if we can . CLEOPATRA , THYREUS . CLE. Pelusium shall be rendred up to Caesar Dio. Plutarch . By our command to our Lievtenant there Seleucus , whose obedience we not doubt . THY. Noblest of Queens , you make Imperiall Caesar As much a debtor to your courtesie As he 's already captive to your beauty . CLE. Nor do we wrong Antonius at all In giving up a town which is our own . It may be thought t is done to weaken him ; Alas , Antonius is already fall'n So low , that nothing can redeem him now Nor make him able to contest with Caesar . He has not only lost his armies strength But lost the strength of his own soul , and is not That Antony he was when first I knew him . I can do Caesar now no greater service . Though I shall never want a heart to do it . But we shall quickly see th' event of things ; Antonius now is desperate , and puts His hopes upon the fortune of one sally , Which will be suddenly perform'd , before That thou canst bear a message back to Caesar . ANTONIUS , LUCILIUS , ARISTOCRATES . AN.

Hands on that Thyreus there , to prison with him .

THY.

To prison !

ANT.

Yes ; away with him I say . Plutarch .

THY. Caesar would not have us'd your messenger So ill . AN.

Thou wert no Messenger to me .

CLE.

For my sake dearest Lord .

AN. Oh for your sake ? I cry you mercy Lady , bear him hence . Exit Thyreus . I had forgot that Thyreus was your servant . But what strange act should he perform for you ? Is it to help you to a happier friend ? CLE. Can you suspect it ? was my truest love So ill bestow'd ? Can he , for whose dear sake A Queen so highly born as I preferr'd Love before fame , and fondly did neglect All names of honour when false Fulvia , And proud Octavia had the name of wives , Plutarch . Requite me thus ? ungratefull Anthony ; For now the fury of a wronged love Justly provokes my speech . ANT. Oh Cleopatra , It is not Thyreus but this heart of mine That suffers now , deep wounded with the thought Of thy unconstancie : did Fortune leave One only comfort to my wretched state And that a false one ? for what conference Couldst thou so oft , and in such privacie With Caesar's servant hold , if true to me ? Which with the rack I could enforce from him . But that I scorn to do . CLE. You do not scorn To wrong with base unworthy jealousies A faithfull heart : but if you think me false Heer sheath your sword : make me the subject rather Of manly rage then childish jealousie . It is a nobler crime , and fitter farre For you to act , easier for me to suffer . For live suspected I nor can nor will . The lovely Aspe , which I with care have kept And was intended a preservative 'Gainst Caesar's crueltie , I now must use Against Antonius basenesse a worse fo Then Caesur is : farewell , till death approve That I was true , and you unjust in love . ANT. Stay Cleopatra , dearest Love , forgive me Let not so small a winde have power to shake A love so grown as ours : I did not think That thou wert false : my heart gave no consent To what my tongue so rashly uttered . Nor could I have out-liv'd so sad a thought . Let Thyreus be releast , and sent to Caesar . Enter CANIDIUS . Now is the time to sally forth , my Lord , The fo is tir'd with marching , and your horse Are readie all , and wait the signall only . The least delay loses the action . ANT. I come Canidius ; dearest Love farewell . Few houres will tell thee what Antonius is . Exeunt . CLE. How timorous is guilt ? how are my thoughts Distracted sadly now ? on every side My dangers grow : for should Antonius Return in safety home , and know what past 'Twixt me and Thyreus , I have lost his heart , And cannot choose but fear him : if he die I am not confident of Caesar's love . 'T was but a servants tongue I built upon . 'T is best to make all sure : within there , Eira . EIRA.

Madam !

CLE.

Are all things readie in the tombe ?

EI.

Yes , Madam ; Carmio 's there and Mardio .

CLE. Then thither will I go , if fate contrive A future state of happinesse for me , It is my castle : if my death they doom , I am possest already of a tombe . Exit .

Actus Quintus . ANTONIUS , LUCILIUS , ARISTOCRATES . AN. DEfeated are my troops , my fleet revolted , The Seas and Lands are lost ; and nothing now Is left Antonius but a Roman hand , A sword and heart to die . You truest servants , Whose faith and manly constancie upbraids This wicked age , and shall instruct the next , Take from a wretched hand this legacie . Fortune has made my will , and nought but this Can I bequeath you . Carry it to Caesar ; If he be noble , it contains enough To make you happier then Antonius can . My glasse of life and Empire now is run , And from this hand expects a period . LU.

My Lord , take fairer hopes .

AN. Fie , fie , Lucilius ; Lose not thy former merits in perswading A man , whom once thou lov'dst to such a shame As to preferre a loath'd captivity Before a noble death . Thy looks speak grief Dio. Enter EROS . Speak Eros , wher 's the Queen ? ERO. She 's dead my Lord . Plutarch . When those unhappy tydings came to her Of your defeat , she straight shut up her self Within her tombe , and dy'd . AN. Oh Cleopatra , Why have I lingred thus , that thou a woman Should'st teach so old a souldier how to die ? Fortune , I blame not thee ; I have enjoy'd What thou could'st give , and on the envy'd top Of thy proud wheel have long unshaken stood . Whom Kings have serv'd , and Rome her self obey'd ; Whom all the Zones of earths diffused Globe , That know inhabitants , have known , and fear'd . Nor is my fall so much degenerate . My strength no arms but Roman arms subdue , Plutarch . And none , but Monarch of the world succeeds . Glutted with life and Empire now I go Free and undaunted to the shades below . Here Eros , take this sword , perform the promise Which thou hast made , to kill me whensoere I should command : make no reply in words . ER. I will be true or die . Stand fair ; your Eros Will be your Usher to th' Elizian fields . Kils himself . AN. What hast thou done unfaithfull faithfull Eros Dio. Plutarch . Too kindly cruell , falsly vertuous ? I 'll trust no more , to be no more directed By such examples : but we must be speedie . The gates ere this time are set ope to Caesar . Fair Cleopatra , I am comming now To dwell with thee , and ever to behold Thy heavenly figure , where nor time nor death Shall make divorce of our eternall loves . Thus , thus I come to thee : unfaithfull sword , I never knew thee slow in giving death Till this sad houre , some friendly hand lend aid , And with another wound release my soule . Enter MARDIO . Where is my Lord Antonius ? Oh sad sight The Queen enclosed in her tombe desir'd To take her last leave of you . AN. Is she living ? T is welcome news , convey me quickly , friends , Plutarc . Dio. Exeunt . Oh quickly thither , that I may expire That breath that 's left in Cleopatrae's arms . AGRIPPA , GALLUS , EPAPHRODITUS , PROCULEIUS , Citizens . AGR. Go you , Epaphroditus , and besiege The Palace , to surprize Antonius ; You Proculeius , and Cornelius Gallus , Go presently to Cleopatraes tombe , Wo her with all your art and eloquence With all assurances of Caesar's love To leave that place , and yield her person to him . Spare no attempts of force or policy To draw her thence : for you the Citizens Of Alexandria , cheer your fainting hearts , I 'll mediate in your behalf to Caesar , To spare the City . CI. Thanks to the most noble And good Agrippa . AGR.

Heer he comes himself .

Enter CAESAR , ARIUS , TITIUS , PLANCUS . Cae. The palenesse of your fear declares your guilt . But that , though nere so great , shall not exceed Our clemencie , to let you know it was Your happinesse to be subdu'd by us . Mercy shall rule our just severitie . First for your founder Alexanders sake , Plutarch . Dio. Next for the love of reverent Arius Our Master heere whose goodnesse far out-weighs All your offences and rebellions . CIT. Caesar in goodnesse , as in greatnesse , bears Equalitie with Jove . Enter ACHOREUS . ACHO.

Hail mighty Caesar .

Cae.

What 's he ?

ARI. Achoreus , Osiris Priest , A good and holy man . Cae. We dare believe thee , And therfore welcom him . ACHO. Please it great Caesar , To give Achoreus leave to wait on him Into the ancient Temples of our Gods To shew th' Aegyptian rites and mysteries , And all the Deities that we adore . Cae. Most willingly Achoreus , I would see Dio. Gods , but not Oxen . TI.

He has blank'd the Priest .

Cae. I fain would see great Alexander's herse Sueton· The mansion once of so divine a soul A spirit greater then the world it self , Whom the world fear'd but could not satisfie . ACH. Within the vault of our Pyramides His bodie yet all whole may Caesar see . And all the bodies of our Ptolomeys . Cae. I 'd see Kings only , not dead carcasses . Sueton. Dio. But see , Epaphroditus is return'd . Enter EPAPHRODITUS , LVCILIUS , ARISTOCRATES . Cae.

Speak man , where is Antonius ?

EP.

Slain , my Lord .

Cae.

How ? slain ? what hand durst do it ?

EPA.

His own hand .

Cae. That was our fear : cruell Antonius . Too cruell to thy self , to Rome , and me How white a day have all the people lost ? How great might Caesar's happinesse have been Had but the fates permitted me to lay These conquering arms aside , and once again Embrace thee , dear Antonius , as a friend Thou worthy aider of my infant fortunes , Plutarch . Thou brave revenger of great Julius death , Witnesse these tears , though I were forc'd to warre ( Whilst thou preferring forreigne love before Caesar's alliance , did'st reject my kindred , And scorn my love ) I still could honour thee . But since too cruell fate denies to me So great an happinesse as to expresse This love to thee alive , let thy dear ghost Behold my Pietie , and see the honours Caesar will do to thy sad funerall . LU.

Most royall Caesar-like dissimulation .

ARI. I hope how ere 't will serve our turns Lucilius . Now is the fittest time . Cae.

What men are these ?

EPAP. Two of Antonius truest servants , Caesar , Who bring a letter from their dying Lord . Cae. Let me peruse it well , it shall be granted . Your lives and fortunes both are safe , and since We ever lov'd fidelitie , you shall If so you like , be welcome to our service , LU. 'T is our desire ; our lives and fortunes ever Shall do great Caesar true and faithfull service As they before did to Antonius . Cae.

Where did he die ?

EPA. In Cleopatraes arms By her with ropes let up into the tombe , After his deadly wound . Cae. Is she there still ? Enter GALLUS . Now I shall know ; speak Gallus , what 's the news ? GAL. We came and call'd at Cleopatraes tombe , Dio. Plutarch . Who from above made answer , and deny'd To yield herself , but upon Caesar's word . When I with best persuasions strove to winne her , And held her talk awhile , whilst Proculeius On tother side the tombe espy'd a place That open stood , by which the Queen receiv'd Dying Antonius , which he scaling enter'd Behinde the Queen : but had he not been speedy She there had slain herself : a maid of hers Spy'd Proculeius entring , and aloud Cry'd out oh Queen thou art surpriz'd alive . She drawing a short poniard was restrain'd By Proculeius , who both held her hand And spake her fair ; at last obtain'd so much By strong persuasions of your clemencie He drew her thence , and got her to the Palace . Where now she is , and Proculeius stays . But her desire is still to speak with you . Till when from us she will admit no comfort . Cae. We will in person presently go see her . Protect me Pallas 'gainst false Venus charms . Exeunt . CLEOPATRA in mourning . Known mischiefs have their cure ; but doubts have none , And better is despair then fruitlesse hope Mixt with a killing fear : my thoughts are now More black and balefull then this sad attire . If Caesar come , I do not fear his chiding I have a certain Antidote 'gainst that . 'T is not his anger , but his love afflicts My doubting soul , whether that love will prove Fained or true , yet may straight appear . He 's not so old , nor I so ignorant But that his actions , gestures , words , and looks Will make his heart lie open to my view . Enter CaeSAR , and EPAPHRODITUS . Cae. How sweet a sorrow dwels upon that brow ! How would she look in smiling dalliance ? Oh pardon me thou powerfull God of love , That durst presume to tempt thy Deitie . Forgive my confidence . I now excuse Antonius weaknesse , but stay there my heart , My vertuous Livia is more fair then she , CLE. Hail mighty Prince ; for that high name the Gods . Dio. Plutarch . Who reft me of it , have bestow'd on thee . Cae. Rise Cleopatra , Caesar's victory Takes nought from you . CLE. Oh let me never rise Till Caesar grant my suit . Cae. Good Queen stand up , And freely speak what you desire : CLE. I beg A boon but small , which Caesar nere deni'd His greatest enemies . Cae. And can you think I should deny it you ? Do but expresse it ▪ CLE. That thou would'st kill me Caesar ; I have liv'd These many yeers too long : I should have dy'd Dio. When that great Worthy , that renowmed Caesar Was basely murther'd in Romes Capitoll . Surviving him was my unhappinesse . But I have liv'd to see his sonne inherit Dio. His state and Empire , and controll the world . Cae. Be cheery Cleopatra , fear no wrong At Caesar's hands . CLE. Death is no wrong at all . I have deserv'd it , Sir . Cae. But can you think That we , whose clemencie so many men And stubborn enemies so oft have prov'd , Should now at last be cruell to a Queen ? But we must chide you , that so long together Have sided with Antonius , and with him Conspir'd the wrack of Rome . CLE. That 's soon excus'd . If 't were a crime to love Antonius Dio. Plutarch . ( Which I confesse I did , and his large favours Truly deserv'd it ) think it was not mine But fates own crime , that first allotted me To his protection : had your share of rule In Egypt lyen , I had been Caesars friend . Cae. Besides with men and money you give aid To Caius Cassius in Philippi field Who murther'd Caesar in the Capitoll . CLE. Caesar , as false as truth it self is true . I was accused to Antonius Plutarch . Appian . For that before ; but in Cilicia I quickly cleer'd those causelesse jealousies , Witnesse thou glorious starre , which the great soule Of noble Julius , when he left the earth , Added to heaven , how innocent I am From any fault in that : but Caesar know Dio. Against thy father not the act alone , But even suspition shall be purg'd with death . I can no longer live . Cae. What have I done ? I fear my rashnesse has too far betray'd Dio. My thoughts to Cleopatra : gentle Queen Be comforted ; expect at Caesar's hand Nothing but love and friendship : do not wrong My goodnesse with unjust suspition All former grievances are quite forgot . Your port and state shall be maintain'd at full . Your houshold servants not diminished . Epaphroditus , see the Queen attended As fits her stare and honour ; and till next We visit you , rest with a full assurance Of our best love and friendship . CLE. All the payment That my poor fortunes can return to Caesar Is thanks and service . Cae.

Epaphroditus .

EPAP.

Caesar . they whisper .

CLE. Yes . whisper on ; you cannot over-reach My jealousies : no signes of love at all , Exit Caesar . No smile , nor amorous glance , I was deceiv'd , And meerly coosen'd by base Thyreus . But I must hide my fears , and cleer this brow The better to effect my purposes . EPA.

How fares your Majesty ?

CLE. Never so well As now I am , I did not think great Caesar Had been so full of love and courtesie . EPA. Oh Madam , Caesar's th' unexampled mirrour Of royaltie , and does as far exceed All petie Kings in goodnesse as in power . And if my humblest services in ought May give content to royall Cleopatra I shall be proud to be commanded still . CLE. Thanks good Epaphroditus . That love is true that 's shew'd in misery . But what have I forgot ? I had a note Of some particulars I meant to give To Caesar's hand and quite forgot it here . Nor would I trust the cariage of a thing Of so great consequence to every hand . EPA.

Will you command my service ?

CLE. I shall rest Indebted to your love ; Caesar will thank you . It much concerns both his estate and mine . Dio. Be speedy good Epaphroditus , for I long to heare his answer . EPA. Fear not Madam . A quick performance , it rejoyces me To see her look so cheerily again . Exit Epa. CLE. So now my trouble is remov'd , I come , I come my dearest Lord Antonius , Never till now thy true and faithfull love . My much abused Lord , do not disdain Or blush t' acknowlege Cleopatra's name When tears and bloud have wash'd her spotted soul . Wert thou alive again , not all the world Should shake my constancie , or make divorce Twixt thee and mee : but since too late , alas , My tears of sorrow come , I 'll follow thee , And beg thy pardon in the other world . All crimes are there for evermore forgot . There Ariadne pardons Theseus falshood . Dido forgives the perjur'd Prince of Troy , And Troilus repentant Cressida . Though false to thee alive , I now am come A faithfull lover of thy dust and combe . Exit . Enter AGRIPPA , GALLUS , and two Psyls . GAL. Marcus Agrippa , I have here provided As Caesar gave in charge two Libyan Psyls . All Afrik yields not fitter for his purpose . AGRI.

They look like likely ones .

GAL. They have been prov'd , And have already on my souldiers , When they were bit by Serpents , done strange cures , Past all belief or hope , recall'd fled life Back to his mansion , and beyond the power Of Aesculapius have suck'd and charm'd The mortall venome from their dying limbs . These two , Agrippa in their infancy Their doubting sires to try their lawfull births Plinius . Solinus . Lucanus . ( As Eagles try their Eaglets 'gainst the Sun ) Expos'd to mortall Serpents , and were so Confirm'd in what they sought , the trembling Snakes Durst not assault the Infants . Enter CaeSAR . AG.

Here he comes .

Cae.

Are those the men ?

GAL.

Yes , Caesar .

Cae. Carry them To Cleopatraes Palace ; let them wait Neer to Epaphroditus . What 's the news ? How fares the Queen ? EPA. Never more cheery Sir . Her looks expresse her hopes ; nor in her words Can she conceal her inward cheerfulnesse . But one thing , Sir , she sai'd she had forgot , Which neerly did concern both you and her ; And that in such a cause she durst not trust A common messenger , requesting me To give it to your hands . Cae. She has deceiv'd thee , And all of us ; the worst that I could fear Is come to passe : oh run Epaphroditus , I 'll follow thee with all the speed I can . But all too late , I fear , our speed will come . Exeunt . Enter CLEOPATRA crown'd , attended by GLAUCUS , MARDIO , EIRA , CHARMIO , shee takes her state . ANTHONY's Herse brought in CLE. This is my second Coronation day ; But nobler then the first , and fuller farre Of reall honour , and magnificence . Nor till this pompous houre was Cleopatra A perfect Queen , alas , I did not sway A Scepter over fortune , or command As now I do , the destinies themselves . I wore a painted honour , a meer shadow Of Royall state , and such a feeble Crown As warre could threaten , treason undermine , And every puffe of Fortune blow it off . My state is constant now , my thoughts above The fear of dangers or opposing foes . MAR.

What new addition has she got off state ?

GLA.

I cannot tell , nor can I guesse her meaning .

CLE. Glaucus and Mardio , leave the room a while . Exeunt Glaucus and Mardio . Come hither Girles , I will no longer hide My joys from you ; in such attire as this I go to meet my dear Antonius . CHAR.

Madam , he 's dead .

CLE. Alas , thou art deceiv'd . He lives my Charmio in the other world , And stays for me ; I have been too too slack In comming to him : this that here lies dead Was but the house that lodg'd my dearest Lord , That earthly Mansion , that did once contain The kindest , noblest , and the truest soule That ever liv'd ; and this our second meeting Is farre more sweet , and full of noble love Then when we first met in Cilicia , When our magnificence and pomp did fill The world with wonder and astonishment . Why weep you girles ? is it to see your Mistris Greater then ere in Glory ? if you lov'd me , You 'd weep to see great Cleopatra led A wretched captive through the streets of Rome Before proud Caesar's chariot , mock'd and flowted , And from a Queen become Octaviaes drudge . No , no , my girles , I will be still my self And from this seat of state look down in scorn On Rome , and Caesar's threats as things below me . EI. Nor heer shall my attendance leave you , Madam , I 'll wait upon you to th' Elisian shades . CHAR.

Nor will poor Charmio be left behinde .

CLE. My earthly race is run , and I descend As great a ghost as Theban Semele , When her ambitious love had sought and met The Thunderers embraces , when no Pile Of earthly wood , but Jove's celestiall fire Consum'd her beauties reliques , and sent down Her soul from that Majestick funerall . Farewell thou fading remnant of my Love . When I am gone , I 'll leave these earthly parts To keep thee company : never to part , But dwell together , and dissolve together . Come Aspe , possesse thy mansion ; freely feed On these two hils , upon whose snowy tops The winged Cupid oft has taken stand , And shot from thence the proudest hearts on earth . Corruption now , and rottennesse must seize This once admired fabrick , and dissolve This flesh to common elements again : When skilfull nature , were she strictly bound To search through all her store-house would be pos'd To tell which piece was Cleopatra once . Sweet Aspe , I feel thy touch , and life begins From these cold limbs to take her gentle flight . A slumber seizes me ; farewell my girles . Thus let the Romans finde me dead , and know Maugre the power of Rome , and Caesar's spleen That Cleopatra liv'd , and di'd a Queen . CHAR. She 's dead , and Eira too . I heare a noise . There is no dallying now ; I must be speedy , And use the common and sure way to death . She stabs her self . Enter CaeSAR , AGRIPPA , TITIUS , PLANCUS , GALLUS , EPAPHRODITUS , PROCULEIUS . Cae. We come too late , and all in vain I fear Our care has been . EPA. Here lies her servant bleeding , Not dead : speak Charmio , how dy'd the Queen ? CHAR.

A death that well beseem'd her royall birth . 〈◊〉 .

AGR. See Caesar , see ; the mark upon her brest , And here the fatall authour . Cae. 'T was the Aspe . Be speedie now , and use your utmost power Sueton. Dio. You skilfull Psyls , call back this royall soul To her fair seat , and take from Caesar's bounty Above your wish : suck thou the wounded place , And mutter thou thy strongest charms to fright Pale death from thence , and you infernall Gods , If ere to humane prayers you could lend An exorable eare , 't is Caesar begs , Caesar , whose sword has sent to your black shades A hundred thousand souls , and still has power T' enlarge your Empire , begs in lieu of all But restitution of one soul alone . TI.

How royally she dy'd ?

PLA. No conquer'd Prince . Did ever finde a nobler way to death . Had feeble Perseus known so brave a course , He had redeem'd his captive life from shame . And not depriv'd the Conquerour of fame . Cae.

Is there no hope ?

PSY.

She 's gone past all recoverie .

Cae. We will no longer strive 'gainst destiny . Though thou art dead , yet live renowm'd for ever ; And let this action speak thee to the world A fo not shaming Caesar's victory . No other Crown or Scepter after thine Shall Aegypt honour : thou shalt be the last Of all the raigning race of Ptolomey : And all , and more then what thy letter crav'd Will Caesar grant with dead Antonius In richer state then ere proud Memphis saw Sueton. Dio. Plutarch . Her Kings inter'd shall Cleopatra lye . Thy dying figure carv'd in fairest stone Shall my triumphant chariot wear , for all To gaze and wonder at thy form and worth . Aegypt no more a Kingdome , now a Province Cornelius Gallus , is thy government . And here let Caesar sheath the civill sword , Whose fatall edge these twenty years has ripp'd The bleeding entrails of afflicted Rome . Heer let our labours end : advance brave friends Our prosperous Eagles home to Italy , To reap the fruit of all our wars and toils , And fill great Rome with conquer'd Aegypts spoils . FINIS .

The Speakers .

Antoniani , Aegytii , Caesarei . Marcus Antonius . Marcus Titius . Munatius Plancus . C. Canidius Crassus . Caius Titius Domitius . Lucilius . Aristocrates . Cleopatra , Eira Charmio . Achoreus . Sossius . Seleucus . Glaucus . Mardio . Caesar Augustus . Marcus Agrippa Cornelius Gallus . Pinnarius Scarpus . Euphroneus . Proculeius . Thyreus . Epaphroditus .

The Scene AEGYPT .

Machine-generated castlist A07330-caesar 69 A07330-antonius 68 A07330-cleopatra 64 A07330-aristocrates 27 A07330-timon 22 A07330-plancus 21 A07330-glaucus 18 A07330-epaphroditus 14 A07330-lucilius 13 A07330-agrippa 12 A07330-mardio 11 A07330-seleucus 11 A07330-achoreus 10 A07330-thyreus 10 A07330-gallus 8 A07330-pinnarius 6 A07330-sossius 5 A07330-domitius 4 A07330-charmio 4 A07330-candidus 3 A07330-eira 3 A07330-unassigned 3 A07330-eunuch 3 A07330-euphronius 3 A07330-hipparchus 2 A07330-eros 2 A07330-citizen 2 A07330-fergusius 2 A07330-2_priest 2 A07330-titius 1 A07330-both 1 A07330-1_priest 1 A07330-prisoner 1 A07330-psyl 1 A07330-soothsayer 1 A07330-omnes 1 A07330-servant 1

Textual Notes

The textual notes below aim at making textual corrections readable in their immediate context and facilitating access to the source text. A five-digit number preceded by 'A' or 'B' represents an EEBO-TCP filenumber. A notation like "6-b-2890" means "look for EEBO page image 6 of that text, word 289 on the right side of the double-page image." That reference is followed by the corrupt reading. A black dot stands for an unidentified letter, a black square for an unidentified punctuation mark, a diamond for a missing word, and the ellipsis for a short span of undefined length. The corrected reading is displayed as a keyword in context.

c3dif-003-a-0390 magnanimi●ty entire temper , where the predominancies are magnanimity , prudence , and gentlenesse . But I dare c3dif-003-b-0040 CEOPATRA THE TRAGEDIE OF CLEOPATRA . c3dif-003-b-0450 〈◊〉 Ah Marcus , this Aegyptian Queen was made to be the ruine of Antonius . c3dif-003-b-0540 〈◊〉 To be the pleasure of Antonius . c3dif-003-b-0720 〈◊〉 How can you jest Canidius , on a theame So sad ? c3dif-003-b-0770 〈◊〉 How Plancus can you prophecie 〈◊〉 sadly on so c3dif-003-b-0820 〈◊〉 How Plancus can you prophecie So sadly on so merry an occasion , As is the c3dif-004-b-0290 Caesa● he had been worthy To be a successour in Caesars power , Unlesse he had succeeded him in c3dif-004-b-1120 ●t possesse it , might not play The wanton with it ? this Aegyptian Queen Is a state beauty c3dif-004-b-1650 Iul●us fill'd the World , was overthrown , Great Iulius next came in as conquerour To have his share c3dif-004-b-2030 ▪ his turn , and thinks That all the legions , all the swords , that came To make his greatnesse c3dif-004-b-2270 p●wer Could give no greater priviledge to him Then power to be the servant to this Queen . Thus whosoere c3dif-006-a-0030 Marcio Mardio return our humble services , Wee 'll instantly c3dif-007-a-1110 Typh●●us love , as once for fear he was , When bold Typhoeus scal'd the starry sky , And all the Gods c3dif-008-a-2590 ftiends ; and I thank thee . Let it go round , my friends . c3dif-008-b-0610 ▪ mountains show , And all those flowery Meads , the Fields of love , Ore which no windes c3dif-008-b-2370 arm● You came like Mars himself in threatning arms To ruine me , and my poor Country then . c3dif-009-b-1460 Artuvases Of Artavasdes the Armenian King ? Whom through the streets c3dif-010-a-0470 ▪ Dio . Plutarch ▪ c3dif-010-a-0490 ▪ Dio ▪ Plutarch . c3dif-010-a-1830 C●p toll Canope ? shall her timbrels fright Romes Capitoll , and her advanced pride Tread on the necks c3dif-010-a-2000 〈◊〉 the necks of captive Senators ? Or , which is more , shall th' earths Imperiall seat c3dif-010-a-2080 〈◊〉 Dio. c3dif-010-a-2320 Promis●d● Have promis'd her , as Caius Marius once Promis'de the Samnites , to transferre the state ? c3dif-010-a-2650 Plan●us , her pride enough to aske it . Manutius Plancus , in this whole discourse Thou speak'st c3dif-010-b-0150 ●own My Lords , Down to the Fort to wait upon the Consuls , The c3dif-010-b-0250 ●he Down to the Fort to wait upon the Consuls , The Roman Consuls both , Titus Domitius , c3dif-010-b-0350 ●nd And Caius Sassius are from Rome arriv'd Here c3dif-010-b-0420 ●ere And Caius Sassius are from Rome arriv'd Here at Pelusium , what the matter is Is not c3dif-010-b-0500 ●s arriv'd Here at Pelusium , what the matter is Is not yet known . c3dif-011-a-1550 ▪ Greater then all thy former wars could give . Sextus Pompeius , Marcus Lepidus Are ruin'd c3dif-011-a-1990 ▪ with him , his pride would barre thy right , And Caesar's glory dim Antonius light . c3dif-011-a-2760 p●ovoke Provinces Revolted from thee , that dare now provoke Thy growing fortunes and assisting Gods c3dif-011-b-0780 ●tay Stay noble Romans ; Before we publish a Decree c3dif-011-b-0820 ●efore Stay noble Romans ; Before we publish a Decree , or shew The reason c3dif-011-b-1090 ●now with me the means and strength we have . Know worthy friends it is no desperate warre c3dif-011-b-1330 ●en Our Roman strength is nineteen Legions . Ten Kings in person will attend our Camp , The c3dif-011-b-1530 ●pper Upper Cilicia , Paphlagonia , Of Cappadocia , c3dif-011-b-1580 ●f Upper Cilicia , Paphlagonia , Of Cappadocia , Pontus , Palaestine , Of rich c3dif-011-b-1650 ●f Paphlagonia , Of Cappadocia , Pontus , Palaestine , Of rich Arabia , and Galatia . Our strength c3dif-011-b-1720 ●ur Palaestine , Of rich Arabia , and Galatia . Our strength at Sea five hundred fighting ships c3dif-011-b-1800 ●ell strength at Sea five hundred fighting ships Well rigg'd and mann'd : our treasuries are full c3dif-011-b-1900 ●nd rigg'd and mann'd : our treasuries are full ; And twenty thousand talents to the warre Does c3dif-011-b-2020 ●hy warre Does Cleopatra freely contribute . Why speak I more ? the Crown of all my strength c3dif-011-b-2140 ●ur speak I more ? the Crown of all my strength , our loves and spirits are . The injuries On c3dif-011-b-2220 〈◊〉 our loves and spirits are . The injuries On which we ground our just and lawfull warre c3dif-011-b-2320 〈◊〉 which we ground our just and lawfull warre , Are briefly these . Caesar unjustly holds Those c3dif-011-b-2390 ●hose Are briefly these . Caesar unjustly holds Those Provinces , and armies all , that late c3dif-011-b-2510 ●●long'd Belong'd to Pompey and to Lepidus Refusing to divide c3dif-011-b-2640 ●he Lepidus Refusing to divide them , or deliver The moity which appertains to me Though oft c3dif-011-b-2700 ●●ough deliver The moity which appertains to me Though oft demanded by my friends at Rome , And c3dif-012-a-1400 Di● Dio c3dif-012-a-1780 Di● Dio. c3dif-012-b-0130 TIT●●S Exeunt . manent TITIUS , PLANCUS . c3dif-012-b-0190 ●et Let them believe that list ; for me , I think c3dif-012-b-0510 ●r Or if he would , he must Take leave of Cleopatra c3dif-012-b-0580 ●ke Or if he would , he must Take leave of Cleopatra , and her pride Will c3dif-012-b-0870 ▪ To make her Mistris of the world and him . Have you consider'd , noble friend of what c3dif-012-b-0880 ●ave To make her Mistris of the world and him ▪ Have you consider'd , noble friend of what We c3dif-012-b-0960 ●e Have you consider'd , noble friend of what We lately spake ? c3dif-012-b-1070 ●he And am resolved Marcus . The friends and followers we shall bring with c3dif-012-b-1160 ●ill friends and followers we shall bring with us Will make us welcome guests to Caesars side . c3dif-012-b-1250 〈◊〉 make us welcome guests to Caesars side . It seems the City favours Caesar much That c3dif-012-b-1420 ●or both the Consuls fled from Rome for fear . Nor is our action base ; the scorns and wrongs c3dif-012-b-1520 〈◊〉 is our action base ; the scorns and wrongs We have endur'd at Cleopatraes hands c3dif-012-b-1600 ●ould Would tempt a moyle to fury , and both sides Stand c3dif-012-b-1700 ●tand Would tempt a moyle to fury , and both sides Stand equall yet . c3dif-012-b-1760 ●ome Come let's away ; tis time . c3dif-012-b-1870 ●gypt Egypt farewell . c3dif-012-b-1920 ●arewell Farewell Antonius . c3dif-013-a-1460 ▪ The thing that troubles me , Seleucus , is I hear it spoken in the Court , the Queen c3dif-013-b-0030 〈◊〉 I necessity must know , before The Queen can c3dif-013-b-0090 ●he 〈◊〉 necessity must know , before The Queen can go , that order may be taken About c3dif-013-b-0390 ●rue True , That reason will excuse thee for enquiring c3dif-013-b-0410 ●hat True , That reason will excuse thee for enquiring . c3dif-013-b-0570 ●oble Noble Canidius , I'll entrust no more , Nor use c3dif-013-b-0730 ●o , Nor use more circumstances ; for I know To whom I have referr'd my businesse , And c3dif-013-b-0810 ●nd know To whom I have referr'd my businesse , And trust your wisdome . c3dif-013-b-0910 〈◊〉 Royall Cleopatra . I am so fortify'd with reasons now c3dif-013-b-0990 ●hat That maugre Sossius and Domitius With all their c3dif-013-b-1040 ●ith That maugre Sossius and Domitius With all their best perswasions , I'll prevaile c3dif-013-b-1120 〈◊〉 all their best perswasions , I'll prevaile You shall not stay behinde ; fear it not Madam c3dif-013-b-1350 ●nd Brave Roman , wear this jewell for my sake ; And be possest of Cleopatraes love . Second c3dif-013-b-1420 ●●cond sake ; And be possest of Cleopatraes love . Second my suit , there lies not in my power ●●thing c3dif-013-b-1520 ●●thing Second my suit , there lies not in my power A thing to grant I should deny Canidius . c3dif-013-b-1620 ●he The favours , Madam , you can give , have power c3dif-013-b-1730 〈◊〉 favours , Madam , you can give , have power T' oblige the greatest Monarchs of the World c3dif-013-b-1840 〈◊〉 Be ready , worthy friend ; he'll straight be c3dif-013-b-1980 ●one None but Canidius has the power to work Antonius c3dif-013-b-2060 ●ntonius None but Canidius has the power to work Antonius in this action , which the rest Will all c3dif-013-b-2250 ●y Will all oppose , I know ; a thing on which My state , my hopes , and fortunes all depend c3dif-014-a-1490 ●s Antonius then be fortunate If Cleopatra go ? Is there in me So bad an Omen ? did I think c3dif-014-b-0560 〈◊〉 But must not have it now , do not entreat ; I have deny'd it to my self already . And c3dif-014-b-0640 ●nd entreat ; I have deny'd it to my self already . And in the Camp should be asham'd to rise From c3dif-014-b-0730 ●rom And in the Camp should be asham'd to rise From Cleopatraes arms , when wars rough noise c3dif-014-b-1270 ●f If that should happen ( which the Gods avert c3dif-014-b-2780 ●n can you think it so , that could so long In times of peace and pleasure recreate Your self c3dif-015-b-0030 〈◊〉 And I , 〈◊〉 things go so . c3dif-015-b-0060 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I , since things go so . c3dif-015-b-0130 〈◊〉 My wishes are effected . c3dif-015-b-0200 〈◊〉 Titius , and Plancus are both fled to Caesar . c3dif-015-b-0320 〈◊〉 You shall not need their help my Lord , at all c3dif-015-b-0470 me 〈◊〉 Come , let's away . c3dif-015-b-0540 〈◊〉 My strengths are ready all , And wait but your c3dif-015-b-0600 〈◊〉 My strengths are ready all , And wait but your command . c3dif-015-b-0680 ●●oke Looke like Bellona . Canidius , return you to c3dif-015-b-0720 ●●●idius Looke like Bellona . Canidius , return you to your charge And bring those c3dif-015-b-0790 〈◊〉 Bellona . Canidius , return you to your charge And bring those sixteen Cohorts down to sea c3dif-015-b-0900 〈◊〉 sixteen Cohorts down to sea ; Plutarch . Meet me at Samos with them , both the Consuls c3dif-015-b-1000 〈◊〉 me at Samos with them , both the Consuls Shall go along with me . Great Father Mars , And c3dif-015-b-1100 〈◊〉 Shall go along with me . Great Father Mars , And all you Gods , that from the skies behold c3dif-015-b-1200 〈◊〉 all you Gods , that from the skies behold The Roman labours , whose propitious aid Advanc'd c3dif-015-b-1450 〈◊〉 perfect that , which you your selves begun . This is the swords last work , the judging houre c3dif-015-b-1550 〈◊〉 the swords last work , the judging houre Of Nations fates , of mine and Caesar's power c3dif-015-b-1650 〈◊〉 Nations fates , of mine and Caesar's power . On which the stars and destinies attend , And c3dif-015-b-1730 〈◊〉 On which the stars and destinies attend , And all the fortunes of Mankinde depend . c3dif-015-b-1940 ●hreaten dire portents sent from the wrathfull Gods ? Threaten th'astonish'd world ? What plagues are those c3dif-015-b-2020 ●hich th'astonish'd world ? What plagues are those Which in the skies prodigious face I read ? Tumultuous c3dif-015-b-2110 ●umultuous Which in the skies prodigious face I read ? Tumultuous Nature teems with monstrous births , As c3dif-015-b-2180 〈◊〉 Tumultuous Nature teems with monstrous births , As if the throws would break her labouring c3dif-016-a-0960 bainfull fates , your adamantine books ! Let not the painfull curiosity Of humane knowledge search your c3dif-017-a-1170 Achoreu● Exit Achoreus c3dif-017-a-2180 〈◊〉 It whole showers of bloud , whose colour set c3dif-017-b-0880 ●f And fortifie the town to keep our foes , If foes be conquerours , from entring there c3dif-017-b-1660 ●our What is it father ? Your looks , I see , are full of ruth and wo c3dif-017-b-1810 〈◊〉 Ah wretched Aegypt , ah unhappy land 〈◊〉 what c3dif-017-b-1880 〈◊〉〈◊〉 wretched Aegypt , ah unhappy land In what hast thou so stor'd the wrath of heaven c3dif-017-b-1990 ●he hast thou so stor'd the wrath of heaven ? The grieved God refus'd his offering Bellowing c3dif-017-b-2130 ●nd Bellowing aloud that all the Temple rung , And from his sacred eys the tears run down . c3dif-017-b-2230 ●ould from his sacred eys the tears run down . Would I could contradict , or not beleeve The c3dif-017-b-2380 ●his The skill which surest observations teach . This signifies a change of government . c3dif-018-a-0520 Exeu●● Exeunt c3dif-018-b-0180 ●nd service souldiers ; now they have declar'd . And let us follow where they please to lead c3dif-018-b-0280 ●or let us follow where they please to lead . For faith is impious striving to sustain That c3dif-018-b-0650 ●o judgments guide you right ; for could you think So small a strength as ours could raise again c3dif-018-b-0890 ●hat Under whose ruine all those legions sunk ? What madnesse were it , souldiers to preferre c3dif-018-b-1190 〈◊〉 prosperous fortunes of victorious Caesar ? I have already to Cornelius Gallus c3dif-018-b-1240 Gal●us victorious Caesar ? I have already to Cornelius Gallus c3dif-018-b-1490 ha●k hither , To joyn his strength with ours : but hark his Drum Give notice of his comming . c3dif-018-b-2100 ●ole No other power ; whom Fortune now has made Sole Lord of all . c3dif-019-a-0840 Di● Dio. c3dif-019-a-0850 ▪ Dion . c3dif-019-a-1300 rceive face ▪ Was forc'd to lose his colour , and receive A crimson die . The ships Antonius had Were c3dif-019-a-1600 ▪ Dio . Florus ▪ Plutarch ▪ c3dif-019-a-1620 ▪ Dio ▪ Florus . Plutarch ▪ c3dif-019-a-1640 ▪ Dio ▪ Florus ▪ Plutarch . c3dif-019-a-2120 ▪ Plutarch . Dio ▪ Florus ▪ c3dif-019-a-2140 ▪ Plutarch ▪ Dio . Florus ▪ c3dif-019-a-2160 ▪ Plutarch ▪ Dio ▪ Florus . c3dif-019-b-1130 ●n revolt Were kept from yielding , by Canidius In hope of Antony's return . Untill Canidius c3dif-019-b-1200 ●anidius Canidius In hope of Antony's return . Untill Canidius fearing his own souldiers minds c3dif-019-b-1280 ●nd And Caesar's anger fled away by night , They c3dif-019-b-1860 THYRE●S Enter CaeSAR , AGRIPPA , TITIUS , PLANCUS , THYREUS , EPAPHRODITUS , PROCULEIUS . c3dif-019-b-1940 ●ntonius Antonius then with Cleopatra's fled To Alexandria c3dif-020-a-0120 ▪ Dio . c3dif-020-a-0780 Di● Dio. c3dif-020-a-0790 ▪ Dion . c3dif-020-a-0870 ●o King of Armenia , and the Parthians so , Who was her prisoner , that Artavasdes c3dif-020-a-1480 W●e her backs . Go Proculeius , summon it , and know Whether the Governour will yield or no . c3dif-020-a-1580 Pro▪ Exit . Proc c3dif-020-a-1590 ▪ Exit . Pro . c3dif-020-a-2110 〈◊〉 Dio. c3dif-020-a-2120 ▪ 〈◊〉 . c3dif-020-b-0140 ●umbly Humbly entreating Caesar's noble favour To her c3dif-020-b-0440 ● I warrant a love-letter . c3dif-020-b-0470 love-lettet I warrant a love-letter . c3dif-020-b-0620 ●●ll I'll truly tell ( though it may seem to some c3dif-020-b-0830 ●o great Antonius A man of late in conversation So free , and full of jollity , in a strange c3dif-020-b-2010 ● I never heard of such a change as this . Give c3dif-021-a-0390 ▪ Dio . Plutarch ▪ c3dif-021-a-0410 ▪ Dio ▪ Plutarch . c3dif-021-b-0110 〈◊〉 To let her know my minde , or once suspect If I can help it , but I have it now . Thyreus c3dif-021-b-0230 ●hyreus suspect If I can help it , but I have it now . Thyreus come hither ; I must now rely Upon thy wisdome c3dif-021-b-0390 〈◊〉 rely Upon thy wisdome , care , and diligence In an employment that concerns me neerly . c3dif-021-b-0470 ●ut 〈◊〉 an employment that concerns me neerly . But I am confident : go with this fellow c3dif-021-b-0900 ●nd dote On her admired beauty , thou art wise And need'st no great instructions ; the successe c3dif-021-b-0980 〈◊〉 need'st no great instructions ; the successe I do not doubt , the woman's credulous , And c3dif-021-b-1070 ●nd I do not doubt , the woman's credulous , And thinks all men are bound to be in love With c3dif-021-b-1250 ●he With that insnaring face ; if thou perceive She will be wrought on , winne her to betray c3dif-021-b-1350 ●ntonius will be wrought on , winne her to betray Antonius to my hand : the way to woo her I leave c3dif-021-b-1450 〈◊〉 Antonius to my hand : the way to woo her I leave good Thyreus to thy eloquence And c3dif-021-b-1630 ●id Bid him come hither . Commend my hearty love c3dif-022-a-0110 ▪ Exeunt . c3dif-022-a-0280 Calli●mah● Calli-mahi Epigr●●de Timone ▪ c3dif-022-a-0290 Epigr●●de Calli●mah● Epigr. de Timone ▪ c3dif-022-a-0300 Ti●mone Calli●mah● Epigr●●de Timone ▪ c3dif-022-a-0310 ▪ Calli●mah● Epigr●●de Timone . c3dif-022-a-0730 philosoher oh Timon , Athens nere could boast A wise philosopher but thee . Thou knew'st The nature of all c3dif-022-b-0010 ●nd feed this foolish passion , to give way , And keep aloof thus . I'll go to him . Timon c3dif-022-b-0280 ●et ! what art thou ? be gone I say from me . Get you to Caesar man : I hate you all . c3dif-022-b-0410 〈◊〉 I hate thee , Timon ; dost thou think 'tis c3dif-022-b-0740 Alcibi●des Oh welcome , what's thy name ? i'st Alcibindes ? c3dif-023-a-1760 ▪ perchance were Knaves that were proscrib'd , And might have done more mischief had they c3dif-023-b-1040 ●t nature Cruell enough ; in that proscription It did appear ; but now he'll reigne alone c3dif-024-a-1980 ▪ who comes here , now for our bawdy project . Here is a servant I must needs preferre c3dif-026-a-1280 ▪ doubtfull props : the poysons both may fail , Or differ farre from what vain fame reports c3dif-027-a-0370 Transporr crosse the Seas , and hence at highest price Transport the Aspe as choisest Merchandise . On thee c3dif-027-a-1300 Cle●patraes My race of life and glory is not run , Nor Cleopatraes fortunes yet arriv'd At that great height c3dif-027-a-2750 ea●e highnesse , And to impart his counsels to your eare . c3dif-027-b-0860 ▪ whom he's pleased to impart his thoughts , And secret wishes : nothing but your love c3dif-027-b-1270 ho●● You are the Queen of Fortune , and still hold A lasting Scepter ore that fickle Goddesse c3dif-027-b-1540 ▪ radiant light lends that blinde Goddesse eyes , And guides her to your service , making c3dif-028-a-2710 portrairure him present His true , and most unflatter'd portraiture . c3dif-028-a-3060 che●k smiles , lodg'd in the eye of Mars , Ganymed's cheek th' Imperiall brow of Jove Where love and c3dif-028-b-1730 ▪ Exit Thyreus . c3dif-029-a-0060 LUCIIIUS Enter ANTONIUS , CANIDIUS , LUCILIUS , ARISTOCRATES . c3dif-029-a-1740 feas● Let's in and feast ▪ This day we'll dedicate to mirth and freedome c3dif-029-a-1750 ▪ Let's in and feast , This day we'll dedicate to mirth and freedome c3dif-029-a-2020 souldier● Sweetly spoken . Let not a woman teach us souldiers To be magnanimous . c3dif-030-a-0080 Fergusiu● Fergusius the Philosopher Condemn'd to death by you c3dif-030-b-0560 Fl●et troops , and get to Sea . For yet he has a Fleet , that may transport him To other lands c3dif-030-b-1040 〈◊〉 besieged town . In my opinion let your march be slow ▪ And gentle ; that the horse may be refresh'd c3dif-031-a-2110 ▪ all In giving up a town which is our own . It may be thought tis done to weaken him c3dif-031-a-2210 ▪ It may be thought tis done to weaken him ; Alas , Antonius is already fall'n So low c3dif-031-b-0700 hear● greater service . Though I shall never want a heart to do it . But we shall quickly see th' c3dif-031-b-2010 Thyreu● Exit Thyreus . c3dif-032-b-0910 CANIDI●S Enter CANIDIUS . c3dif-032-b-2340 Ei●a 'Tis best to make all sure : within there , Eira . c3dif-033-a-0070 Carmi●'s Yes , Madam ; Carmio's there and Mardio . c3dif-033-a-0100 Mar●io Yes , Madam ; Carmio's there and Mardio . c3dif-034-a-1290 ▪ , thus I come to thee : unfaithfull sword , I never knew thee slow in giving death Till c3dif-034-a-1480 ▪ this sad houre , some friendly hand lend aid , And with another wound release my soule c3dif-034-b-1220 CaeSAB Enter CAESAR , ARIUS , TITIUS , PLANCUS . c3dif-034-b-1950 heer● for the love of reverent Arius Our Master heere whose goodnesse far out-weighs All your c3dif-035-a-0380 Achor●us Achoreus , Osiris Priest , A good and holy man . c3dif-036-b-2640 apppear will prove Fained or true , yet may straight appear . He's not so old , nor I so ignorant But c3dif-038-a-2220 whisp●r they whisper . c3dif-038-b-1530 mis●ry Epaphroditus . That love is true that's shew'd in misery . But what have I forgot ? I had a note c3dif-039-a-0880 ▪ tears and bloud have wash'd her spotted soul . Wert thou alive again , not all the world c3dif-039-b-1440 wa●● Carry them To Cleopatraes Palace ; let them wait Neer to Epaphroditus . What's the news ? c3dif-040-b-2260 Charmi● Nor will poor Charmio be left behinde . c3dif-041-a-0990 ▪ dissolve This flesh to common elements again : When skilfull nature , were she strictly c3dif-041-a-2060 bespeedy noise . There is no dallying now ; I must be speedy , And use the common and sure way c3dif-041-b-0140 PROC●LEIUS TITIUS , PLANCUS , GALLUS , EPAPHRODITUS , PROCULEIUS . c3dif-041-b-0280 fea● We come too late , and all in vain I fear Our care has been . c3dif-041-b-0530 CHA●. CHAR. c3dif-041-b-1460 in●ernall to fright Pale death from thence , and you infernall Gods , If ere to humane prayers you could c3dif-042-a-1980 ●ntrails these twenty years has ripp'd The bleeding entrails of afflicted Rome . Heer let our labours