Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy Caes. What is't thou say'st? Der, I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead. Caes, The breaking of so great a thing should A greater crack: The round world should have Lions into civil streets, And citizens to their dens: make shook The death of Antony Is not a single doom; in the name lay A moiety of the world. Der. He is dead, Caesar; Not by a publick minister of justice, Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand, Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, Splitted the heart. This is his sword, I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd With his most noble blood. Caes. Look you sad, friends? The Gods rebuke me, but it is a tidings To wash the eyes of Kings. Agr. And strange it is, That nature must compel us to lament Our most persisted deeds. Mec. His taints and honours Waged equal with him. Agr. A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity: but you, Gods, will give us Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch'd. Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce stars, Unreconciliable, should divide Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends, But I will tell you at some meeter season; mistress, Confin'd in all she has, her monument, Of thy intents desires instruction ; That she preparedly may frame herself Caes. Bid, her have good heart; She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, Determine for her for Caesar cannot live To be ungentle. Ms. So the Gods preserve thee! [Exit. Caes. Come hither Proculeius; Go, and say, We purpose her not shame: give her what comforts The quality of her passion shall require; Lest', in her greatness, by some mortal stroke She do. defeat us: for her life in Rome Would be eternal in our triumph: Go, And, with your speediest, bring us what she says, And how you find of her. Pro. Caesar, I shall. Caes, Gallus, go you along. To second Proculeius? Agr. Mec. Dolabella! [Exit PROCULEIUS. Where's Dola bella, [Exit GALLUS. Caes. Let him alone, for I remember now and see [Exeunt: SCENE IIS Alexandria. A Room in the Monument. 197 Enter CLEOPATRA) CHARMIAN, and IRAS. Cleo. My desolation does begin to make witness A better life: 'Tis paltry to be Caesari Not being fortune, he's but fortune's knave, A minister of her will; And it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds; Which shackles accidents and bolts up change; Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung, The beggar's nurse and Caesar's. 95 Enter, to the gates of the Monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS, and Soldiers. Pro Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt; And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. Cleo. [Within.] What's thy name? Pro. My name is Proouleius. Cleo. [Within.] Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but That have no use for trusting. If your master › Would have a Queen his beggar, you must tell him, That majesty, to keep decorum, must Pro. Be of good cheer; You have fallen into a princely hand, fear no thing; Make your full reference freely to my lord, Cleo. [Within.] Pray you, tell him I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him Pro. This I'll report, dear Lady. Have comfort; for, I know, your plight is pity'd Of him that caus'd it. Gal. You see how easily she may be surpriz'd; [Here PROCULEIUS, and two of the guard, ascend the monument by a ladder placed against a window, and having descend 'ed, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the guard unbar and open the gates. Guard her till Caesar come. [TO PROCULETUS and the guard. Exit CALLUS. Iras, Royal Queen! Char. O Cleopatra ! thou art taken, Queen! [drawing a dagger. Pro. Hold, worthy Lady, hold: [Seizes and disarms her. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Cleo. What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish ? Pro. Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master's bounty, by Cleo, Where art thou, death? come, and take a Queen Worth many babes and beggars! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, 'Sir; If idle talk will once be necessary, I'll not sleep neither: This mortal house I'll ruin, Do Caesar what he can. Know, Sir, that I Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court; Nor once be chástis'd with the sober eye |