The
Argument
.
AFter
the
death
of
Antonius
,
Cleopatra
,
(
liuing
still
in
the
Monument
she
had
caused
to
be
built
,
)
could
not
,
by
any
meanes
be
drawne
foorth
,
although
Octauius
Caesar
very
earnestly
laboured
it
:
and
sent
Proculeius
,
to
vse
all
dilligence
to
bring
her
vnto
him
:
for
that
he
thought
it
would
bee
a
great
Ornament
to
his
Triumphes
,
to
get
her
aliue
to
Rome
.
But
neuer
would
she
put
her selfe
into
the
hands
of
Proculeius
,
although
on
a
time
hee
found
the
meanes
,
(
by
a
window
that
was
at
the
toppe
of
the
Monument
)
to
come
downe
vnto
he●●
where
hee
perswaded
her
(
all
hee
might
)
to
yeelde
her selfe
to
Caesars
mercy
.
Which
shee
,
(
to
be
ridde
of
him
,
)
cunningly
seemed
to
grant
vnto
.
After
that
,
Octauius
in
person
went
to
visit
her
,
to
whom
she
excused
her
offence
,
laying
all
the
fault
vpon
the
greatnes
,
and
feare
she
had
of
Antonius
,
and
withall
,
seemed
very
tractable
,
and
willing
to
be
disposed
of
by
him
.
Wherevpon
Octauius
,
(
thinking
himselfe
sure
)
resolued
presently
to
send
her
away
to
Rome
.
Whereof
,
Dolabella
,
a
fauourite
of
Caesars
,
(
and
one
that
was
growne
into
some
good
liking
of
her
)
hauing
certified
her
,
shee
makes
her
humble
petition
to
Caesar
,
that
he
would
suffer
her
to
sacrifice
to
the
ghost
of
Antonius
:
which
being
grāted
her
,
she
was
brought
vnto
his
sepulchre
,
where
,
after
her
rites
performed
,
she
returned
to
the
monument
,
and
there
dined
with
great
magnific●nce
.
And
in
dinner
time
,
came
there
one
in
the
habite
of
a
countr●man
,
with
a
basket
of
Figs
vnto
her
,
who
(
vnsuspected
)
was
suffered
to
carry
them
in
.
And
in
that
Basket
(
among
the
Figges
)
were
conueyed
the
Aspickes
wherewith
she
did
her selfe
to
death
.
Dinner
being
ended
,
she
dispatched
Letters
to
Caesar
,
containing
great
lamentations●
with
an
earnest
supplication
,
that
she
might
be
intombed
with
Antonius
.
Whereupon
Caesar
knowing
what
she
intended
,
sent
presently
with
all
speede
,
Messengers
to
haue
preuented
her
death
,
which
notwithstanding
,
before
they
came
,
was
dispatched
.
Caesario
her
sonne
,
which
she
had
by
Iulius
Caesar
(
con●eyed
before
vnto
India
,
out
of
the
danger
of
the
warres
)
was
about
the
same
time
of
her
death
,
murthered
at
Rhodes
:
trained
thither
by
the
falshoode
of
his
Tutor
,
corrupted
by
Caesar.
And
so
,
hereby
came
the
race
of
the
Prolomies
to
be
wholy
extinct
,
and
the
flourishing
rich
kingdome
of
Egypt
vtterly
ouerthrowne
and
subdued
.