THE tragedy OF CLEOPATRA Queen of Egypt.  
By T. M.  
Acted 1626.  Luc. 
— quantùm impulit Argos,  
Iliacasque domos facie Spartana nocenti,  
Hesperios auxit tantum Cleopatra furores.  
LONDON, Printed by Thomas Harper for Thomas Walkly, and are to be sold at his shop at the flying Horse near York House 1639.   

TO THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED Sr. Kenelm Digby.  
Sr.  
THat it pleased you to cast an eye of favour upon these poor Plays has given me the boldness, 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 fly. You are to learning what learning is to others a graceful 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 drawn at the first from such able natures as yours is; and by your daily conversation is better expressed, than we by writing can define it. Your composition was made to justify 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 largeness of your soul the several abilities of most different Nations are conjoined to an honourable advantage of one entire temper, where the predominancies are magnanimity, prudence, and gentleness. 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 goodness in other matters, cannot here despair of your forgiveness, which is the only thing that puts confidence into  
Your most obliged and devoted servant Tho. May.   
THE tragedy OF CLEOPATRA.  

Actus Primus.  TITIUS, PLANCUS, CANIDIUS. TITIUS. 
SHame and dishonour to the Roman name  
A triumph held at Alexandria  
Only to honour Cleopatra's pride?  PL. 
Ah Marcus, this Egyptian Queen was made  
to be the ruin of Antonius.  CA. 
To be the pleasure of Antonius.  PL. 
How can you jest Canidius, on a theme  
So sad?  CA. 
How Plancus can you prophecy  
So sadly on so merry an occasion,  
As is the love of Ladies?  TI. 
Let Canidius  
Have his own way, Munatius, 'tis in vain  
To talk to him.  CA. 
Would you could let me have  
Antonius his way, upon condition  
I suffered you to censure gravely of it,  
And prophesy my ruin. But my Lords,  
You were as good be merry too, and take  
Your share of pleasure in th'Aegyptian Court.  
You'll do no good with these persuasions.  
He loves the Queen, and will do so in spite.  
Of our morality.  PL. 
'tis too too true,  
That face of hers, that beauty in the bud  
Not fully blown, in years of innocence  
(If any years of hers were innocent)  
Set off with no adulterism of art,  
Nor clothed with state and pompous Majesty,  
But in a fortune clouded and distressed  
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 war,  
When he pursued the flying Pompey hither,  
His sword yet reeking in Pharsalus' 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 find 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 believed he had been worthy  
To be a successor in Caesar's power,  
Unless he had succeeded him in her.  
Great Julius noble acts in war and state  
Assured the world that he was wise and valiant:  
But if he had not fall'n 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 greatness in the world  
If he that did possess it, might not play  
The wanton with it? this Egyptian Queen  
Is a state beauty, and ordained by fate  
To be possessed by them that rule the world.  
Great Pompey's son enjoyed her first, and plucked  
Her Virgin blossom. When that Family, Plutarch.  
Whose ruin filled the World, was overthrown,  
Great Julius next came in as conqueror  
To have his share, and as he did in power,  
Succeeded him in Cleopatra, love.  
Now our Antonius takes his turn, and thinks  
That all the legions, all the swords, that came  
To make his greatness up when Julius died,  
Could give no greater privilege to him  
Then power to be the servant to this Queen.  
Thus whosoe'er in Rome be conqueror  
His laurel wreath is Cleopatra's love.  
And to speak justly of her, Nature teemed  
To build this woman for no meaner height.  
Her soul is full of greatness, and her wit  
Has charms as many as her beauty has.  
With Majesty beyond her sex she rules  
Her spacious Kingdoms, and all neighbour Princes  
Admire her parts. How many languages  
Speaks she with elegance? ambassadors  
From th' Aethiopians, Arabs, troglodytes, Plut.  
From th' Hebrews, Syrians, Medes, and Parthians  
Have in amazement heard this learned Queen  
Without the aid of an interpreter  
In all their several tongues return their answers;  
When most of her dull predecessor Kings  
Since Ptolemaeus Philadelphus' time  
Scarce understood th' Egyptian tongue, and some  
Had quite forgot the Macedonian.  TI. 
How well Canidius descants on this theme!  PLA. 
I'll lay my life it pleases him; the man  
Is deep in love, and pity 'tis he has  
So great a rival as Antonius.  CA. 
Well use your wit upon me; but I doubt  
If any man could search your secret thoughts,  
'tis envy, not morality that makes  
You tax his love, how gravely ere you talk.  TI. 
But can Canidius think it should be just  
In our Antonius to forsake for her  
His lawful 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 matrimonial faults,  
That have already seen the breach of all  
Rome's sacred laws, by which the world was bound?  
Have we endured our consul's state and power  
To be subjected by the lawless arms  
Of private men, or Senators proscribed,  
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 itself  
That Antony and Caesar could usurp  
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 show of liberty, and now not dare  
To counsel him?  CA. 
A show 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 looseness can discern  
A nature here, honester than Caesar's.  
And if a war do grow 'twixt them (as surely  
Ambition would ere long find out a cause  
Although Octavia had not been neglected)  
Rather than Rome should still obey two Lords,  
Could wish that all were Anthony's alone.  
Who would, I think, be brought more easily  
Than Caesar, to resign 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 me entreats your company  
At supper with the Lord Antonius.  CA. 
Mardio return our humble services,  
we'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. we'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 readiness; or else  
'Twould 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. 
'tis the same order that Antonius  
When last he feasted here, so much admired;  
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 far,  
Yet in our Court of Egypt they may learn  
Pleasure and bravery, but art thou sure  
That all things here are well?  CHA. 
As exquisite  
As the Queen's 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 yourself so, whate'er you see  
In Egypt is your own.  AN. 
What Egypt holds  
If I be judge, not all the world beside  
Can equalise.  CLE. 
Will't please you take  
Your place, and these your noble Roman friends?  AN. 
Father Achoreus, sit you near to me.  
Your holy Orders, and great age, which shows  
The Gods have loved you well, may justly challenge  
A reverence from us.  CLE. 
Great Julius Caesar  
Did love my father well; he oft was pleased  
At hours of leisure to confer with him  
About the nature of our Nile, of all  
The mysteries of Religion, and the wonders  
That Egypt breeds.  ACH. 
He had a knowing soul,  
And was a master of Philosophy  
As well as War.  AN. 
How like the spangled sky  
These tapers make the high-arched roof to show?  
While Cleopatra like bright Cynthia  
In her full orb more guilds the cheerful night.  
she's still at full; yet still methinks she vexes,  
And grows more fair and more majestical.  CLE. 
My Lords, you Romans, whose victorious arms  
Have made you Masters of the world, possess  
Such full and high delights in Italy,  
That our poor Egypt can present no pleasure  
Worth your acceptance: but let me entreat  
You would be freely merry, and forgive  
Your entertainment.  ANT. 
'Tis an entertainment  
That might invite and please the Gods. methinks,  
Jove should descend, while Cleopatra's here,  
Disguised for love, as once for fear he was,  
When bold Typhoeus scaled the starry sky,  
And all the Gods disguised in Egypt lurked.  
Love were a nobler cause than 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'd now believe that he were here disguised,  
And took the noble shape of Anthony  ANT. 
This compliment so far transcends, it leaves  
No answer for a wit so dull as mine.  

A Song.  

NOt he, that knows how to acquire  
But to enjoy, is blessed.  
Nor does our happiness consist  
In motion, but in rest.   

The Gods pass man in bliss, because  
They toil not for more height;  
But can enjoy, and in their own  
Eternal rest delight.   

Then, Princes, do not toil, nor care;  
Enjoy what you possess.  
Which whilst you do, you equalise  
The Gods in happiness.    TI. 
Minutius Plancus, I was thinking now  
How Hannibal was charmed at Capua,  
When that delicious place had mollified  
His rough and cruel 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 revel well.  ANT. 
Let this soft Music 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 Rome's bounty force  
Thy modesty▪ these Crowns from thy fair brow  
Receive more lustre than they can bestow.  TI. 
I think he need not greatly fear her blushing.  PLA. 
No Marcus no; alas these petty Kingdoms  
(Though too too great to be so ill bestowed)  
Are not the scope of her ambitious aims!  CLE. 
My Lord, I dare not make excuse, or plead  
Unworthiness, where once Antonius' wisdom  
Has made election to confer his favours.  ANT. 
Admire not, friends; the Godlike power of Rome  
Is more declared by what it gives away Plutarch.  
Then what it holds. But these are still our own  
And Cleopatra Rome's deserving friend.  CA. 
I cannot choose but think how fit a state  
For Cleopatra Cyprus Kingdom is;  
And shall believe that it was ominous  
That noble Julius Caesar after all  
Those four rich triumphs which he held at Rome  
When he resolved with like magnificence  
To build a Temple to the Goddess Venus,  
From whom his house derive their pedigree  
Within his stately Temple, to express  
The Image of that Goddess, he set up  
Fair Cleopatra's 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'll.  AN. 
'Twas well observed 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  
myself 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 Poets know,  
Whose fancies now shall raise that Kingdom higher.  
More amorous now will Paphos mountains show,  
And all those flowery Meads, the Fields of love,  
o'er which no winds but Western ever blow.  
The air itself will yield a sweeter breath  
While Cleopatra reigns 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 hear  
as soon as any news can come from Rome.  AN. 
But long ago was I enforced 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 sailing, while the air  
Was ravished with thy Music, and the winds  
In amorous gales did kiss thy silken sails.  
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 ruin 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 rejoiced in that captivity,  
Than 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. 
Tomorrow we'll peruse them. No affairs  
Of what import or height soe'er, shall have  
Power to disturb the pleasures of this night.  
Our theme tonight is love, which oft has made  
The Thunderer himself a while lie by  
The weary burden of his government.  
Come lead away.  
'Twere 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 soe'er  
Break one nights pleasure? well Antonius,  
The tottering state thou hold'st, must be supported  
By nobler virtues, or it cannot stand.  PLA. 
Cyprus, Phoenice, Coelosyria,  
Three wealthy Kingdoms got with Roman blood,  
And our forefather's valour, given away  
As the base hire of an adulterous bed.  
Was Cyprus conquered by the sober virtue  
Of Marcus Cato, to be thus bestowed?  TI. 
This act will please young Caesar.  PLA. 
'Twill 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 advice so? men, whom Rome has seen  
Wearing her highest honours, and of birth  
As great as his. Unless he change his mind  
I shall believe my friendship was ill placed,  
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 censured that the Roman name  
Was much dishonoured by that base surprise 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 enforced so much) prostrate t' adore  
Proud Cleopatra, as if all his acts,  
And all the honour of his arms were due  
To her and not to Rome. Calvisius too Plutarch.  
In Senate late accused him for bestowing  
On Cleopatra that so far renowned  
And famous Library of Pergamus,  
In which there were two hundred thousand Books.  
How many such wild actions have her charms  
enforced his weakness to?  PLA. 
His Testament,  
Which now at Rome the Vestal Virgins keep,  
Of which we two are privy to the sealing,  
Should it be known, would stir all Romans hate,  
Willing his body, though he died at Rome, Dio. Plutarch.  
To be interred at Alexandria.  
But if a war twixt him and Caesar grow  
(As needs it must, although not yet declared)  
For Caesar now is levying men and money  
Through Italy, Spain, France and Germany,  
Against what foe can his design be bent  
But our Antonius? if a war 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 toil in sweat and blood  
Only to gain a Roman Monarchy  
For Cleopatra, and th'effeminate rout  
Of base Canope? shall her timbrels fright  
Rome's Capitol, and her advanced pride  
Tread on the necks of captive Senators?  
Or, which is more, shall th' earth's Imperial seat Dio.  
Remove from Rome to Egypt's swarthy sands?  
For who can tell if mad Antonius  
Have promised her, as Caius Marius once  
Promised the Samnites, to transfer the state?  TI. 
It may be so, his dotage is enough  
To grant it her, her pride enough to ask 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 arrived  
Here at Pelusium, what the matter is  
Is not yet known.  PLA. 
we'll go along with thee;  
This now begins to look like business, Marcus. Exeunt.   

Actus Secundus.  ANTONIUS, SOSSIUS, DOMITIUS, CANIDIUS, TITIUS, PLANCUS, VENTIDIUS. AN. 
'tIs not the place, nor marble walls that make  
A Senate lawful, 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 lived, Rome then at Veii was,  
As now in Egypt. Fathers, know the face,  
Of your assembly, know your lawful power.  
Consult, decree, and act whate'er may be  
Happy, and prosperous tor the Commonwealth.  SOS. 
Whilst power of laws, whilst reverence of the Senate,  
And due respect t' a consul's dignity  
Could give protection to the consul's persons  
We did maintain thy cause Antonius  
Against proud Caesar's faction. Now since laws  
Are put to silence, and the Senate forced,  
The Consuls sacred privilege infringed  
By rage and lawless arms, we are expelled,  
And suffer banishment to be restored,  
And re-endenized by thy conquering sword.  
Now justly draw it. Fate approves thy cause,  
And on thy conquest sets a glorious prize,  
Greater than all thy former wars could give.  
Sextus Pompeius, Marcus Lepidus  
Are ruined both, and all competitors  
Are ta'en away; Fortune has left but one  
To share the world with thee; nor canst thou share  
The world with him, his pride would bar thy right,  
And Caesar's glory dim Antonius' light.  
Thou canst not shine unless alone thou shine.  
Or all the world, or nothing must be thine.  DOM. 
The Consulship, that was designed to thee,  
The Senate have revoked, and decree  
'Gainst Cleopatra war, but meant 'gainst thee.  
What would their malice dare Antonius,  
Had Fortune frowned, thy Kings and Provinces  
Revolted from thee, that dare now provoke  
Thy growing fortunes and assisting Gods?  
Their injury has made thy quarrel just.  
Be speedy then, and lose no time of action:  SOS. 
Caesar is needy; his Italian soldiers 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 far  
Than Caesar's are; our preparations readier.  
Nought but delay can question our success.  
Shall we decree the war?  AN. 
Stay noble Romans;  
Before we publish a Decree, or show  
The reason our arms so justly ta'en;  
Weigh but with me the means and strength we have.  
Know worthy friends it is no desperate war  
Your valours are engaged in; briefly thus:  
Our Roman strength is nineteen Legions.  
Ten Kings in person will attend our Camp,  
The Kings of Afrique, Comagena, Thrace, Plutarch.  
Upper Cilicia, Paphlagonia,  
Of Cappadocia, Pontus, Palaestine,  
Of rich Arabia, and Galatia.  
Our strength at Sea five hundred fighting ships  
Well rigged and manned: our treasuries are full;  
And twenty thousand talents to the war  
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 lawful war,  
Are briefly these. Caesar unjustly holds  
Those Provinces, and armies all, that late Dio. Plutarch.  
Belonged to Pompey and to Lepidus  
Refusing to divide them, or deliver  
The moiety which appertains to me  
Though oft demanded by my friends at Rome,  
And letters from myself: beside he levies  
Both men and money over 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 war is but defensive, to regain  
Thine own unjustly taken.  DOM. 
The war's just.  SOSS. 
And Caesar the beginner of these broils  
From whom the wrong first sprung, most justly may  
Be judged 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 months after the war is ended, Dio  
I will lay down the government I hold,  
And freely then resign my power again  
Unto the Senate and the people of Rome.  SOSS. 
Let it be six months' rather; for two months 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 express.  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 Mistress of the world and him.  
Have you considered, noble friend of what  
We lately spoke?  PLA. 
And am resolved Marcus.  
The friends and followers we shall bring with us  
Will make us welcome guests to Caesar's 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 endured at Cleopatra's hands Plutarch.  
Would tempt a moil to fury, and both sides  
Stand equal yet.  TI. 
Come let's away; 'tis 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 war!  GLA. 
The change, Seleucus  
Is not so sudden 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 years; and every man has wondered  
'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 than 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  
herself in person will associate  
Antonius to the war.  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 inquire  
The certainty; I fain would be resolved.  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 referred my business,  
And trust your wisdom.  CA. 
Royal Cleopatra.  
I am so fortified with reasons now Plutarch.  
That maugre Sossius and Domitius  
With all their best persuasions, I'll prevail  
You shall not stay behind; fear it not Madam.  CLE, 
Brave Roman, wear this jewel for my sake;  
And be possessed of Cleopatra's 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 persuade Antonius to take  
Me with him to the war; for if I stay  
Behind him here, I run a desperate hazard;  
For should Octavia interpose herself  
In this great war (as once before she did)  
And make her brother, and her husband friends  
where'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 pleased it should be so;  
And with a patience canst resolve to bear  
So small an absence, that my wished return  
May call thee mistress 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. 
Far 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 Egypt will my danger be,  
As in your army, and my torment more,  
To die each hour for fear: and to remain  
In sad suspense till messengers can bring  
The news so far: but if my company  
Distaste my Lord, I cannot wish his grief.  AN. 
Can Cleopatra think her heavenly presence,  
Can be distasteful, or not valued more  
Than 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 denied it to myself already.  
And in the Camp should be ashamed to rise  
From Cleopatra's arms, when wars rough noise  
Shakes all the world, when Kings and Senators  
Are venturing lives and fortunes in my service.  
Oh stay behind! 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 vanquished Antony?  
Thou wouldst disdain to draw a wretched breath,  
And I as much should scorn captivity.  
But I had thought the Roman Antony  
Had loved so great a Queen with nobler love;  
Not as the pleasure of his wanton bed  
Or mistress only of some looser hours,  
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 breast is full of high heroic worth.  CLE. 
How can you think it so, that could so long  
In times of peace and pleasure recreate  
yourself with me in Egypt Court; yet now  
When honour calls, reject my company?  AN. 
I should desire it rather than my life;  
But that my Roman friends are all against it.  Enter SOSSIUS, DOMITIUS, CANIDIUS. 
See here they come, if they agree 'tis done.  
Now noble friends on whose oraculous counsels  
And matchless valour my whole fate depends,  
Speak what you think, should Cleopatra go  
In person to the war, or stay behind?  SO. 
I have delivered my opinion,  
And so has my Colleague.  AN. 
What thinks Canidius?  CA. 
I think 'tis fit, my Lord, the Queen, whose bounty  
Has brought so great assistance to the war,  
Should not be left behind, besides her presence  
Will much encourage her Egyptian soldiers,  
Of which a great part of the fleet consists. Plutarch.  AN. 
'tis 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  
Than I, my Lord, which have so long been privy  
To your high counsels, and in love to you  
And your designs who should compare with me?  AN. 
What think you friends? you hear Canidius.  DOM. 
If you be pleased, 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. 
Look 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 consul's  
Shall go along with me. Great Father Mars,  
And all you Gods, that from the skies behold  
The Roman labours, whose propitious aid  
Advanced my fortunes to so great an height,  
Make perfect that, which you yourselves begun.  
This is the swords last work, the judging hour  
Of Nations fates, of mine and Caesar's power.  
On which the stars and destinies attend,  
And all the fortunes of Mankind depend. Exeunt  ACHOREUS. 
That dire portents sent from the wrathful Gods?  
Threaten th'astonished 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 womb.  
What ruin less than Chaos shall involve  
The mourning face of Nature? what great fate,  
What kind of mischief is it? oh ye Gods,  
Why did you add 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 painful 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 moved directly upward,  
And did not vanish till it seemed to reach  
The firmament.  ACH. 
What talk you of my sons?  GLA. 
That Comet, father, o'er the Grecian Sea.  ACH. 
It was a strange one both for form and greatness,  
And bodes some mischief wheresoe'er it light.  
The Gods avert it from our Egypt's coast.  SE. 
Pinnarius Scarpus had received news  
That Italy and Rome itself are filled  
With prodigies: an ugly Owl of late  
Did fly into the house of Concord first,  
Thence being driven away it parched again  
Within the Temple of the people's Genius.  
There, though all strived, it neither could be caught,  
Nor driven away, but flew at leisure out.  
A sacred Trophy on Mount Aventine, Dio.  
Victoria's Image on the Theater Dio.  
By sudden 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 certified  
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-legged Dragon in Etruria Dio.  
Full fourscore foot in length was lately seen,  
Which after much annoyance of the Country  
It self with lightning was consumed at last.  
But these portents do threaten Italy.  ACH. 
Alas, my son, there need no prodigies  
To show the certain loss of Italy.  
For on both sides do Roman Eagles stand,  
And Rome must bleed who ere be conqueror,  
Besides her liberty for ever lost  
When this sad field is fought: but that's not all,  
What clime so far, 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 blood  
Which thy ambition through the world has shed,  
But raised a power, which now thou canst not rule,  
Nourished a Lion to devour thyself?  SE. 
Would none but Roman blood might quench the fire  
Of Rome's dissensions, and no land beside  
Be forced to pay the forfeit of their pride.  
With evil Omen did Aeneas first  
Transport the relics of Troy's fatal 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 strewed the earth with slaughter  
And died all Regions with their natives bloods,  
But your dissensions still must tear the world?  ACHO. 
I'll go within, and make an offering  
To great Osiris. Exit Achoreus  GLA. 
Well may it succeed.  
Egypt will flourish if Antonius conquer.  SE. 
If he should fall, the fury of the war  
Would light on Egypt most, and we should rue  
That ere Antonius loved this hapless land.  Enter MARDIO. 
Oh Gentlemen, the strongest news, that ere  
Was seen in Egypt.  GLA. 
What's that Mardio?  MAR. 
Thousands of people with astonishment  
And fear beheld it: on those fruitful plains  
That Southward lie from Alexandria,  
Where never rain was known to fall before, 〈◊〉  
It whole showers of blood, 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, armour against armour clashing,  
As if the blood that fell, dropped from the wounds Dio.  
Those aery battles made.  GLA. 
This is more strange  
Than all the rest: this is our own Seleucus.  SE. 
Well Gentlemen, I'll to Pelusium,  
And fortify the town to keep our foes,  
If foes be conquerors, from entering there.  GLA. 
Yes, and our friends, if they be vanquished,  
Keep out our friends, Seleucus, if their presence  
May pluck a war, and ruin on our heads.  SE. 
As there's occasion we'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 woe.  ACHO. 
Ah wretched Egypt, ah unhappy land  
In what hast thou so stored the wrath of heaven?  
The grieved God refused his offering  
Bellowing aloud that all the Temple rung,  
And from his sacred eyes the tears run down.  
Would I could contradict, or not believe  
The skill which surest observations teach.  
This signifies a change of government.  GLA. 
What heaven is pleased to send, we much endure.  ACO. 
True son; and let a wise man place his strengths  
Within himself, nor trust to outward aids.  
That whatsoever from the Gods can come  
May find him ready to receive their doom. Exeunt   

Actus Tertius.  Enter PINNARIUS SCARPUS with Soldiers. PIN. 
'tIs not Antonius, worthy soldiers,  
But Rome herself to whom you owe your valours  
What he could claim, you have performed already;  
And served him truly, whilst he was to you  
A General, to Rome a Magistrate.  
You are discharged from all obedience  
You owed to him, by fate itself, and may  
Nay, aught to follow him, whom Roman fates  
Appoint your General, the noble Caesar  
Great Julius' heir, not to his name alone  
But spirit and fortunes, which have both appeared  
In this so great and final a defeat  
Given to Antonius. Before we knew not  
To whom the Gods and Fortune had assigned  
Our service soldiers; now they have declared.  
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 judgements guide you right; for could you think  
So small a strength as ours could raise again  
The desperate state of fallen Antonius,  
Under whose ruin all those legions sunk?  
What madness were it, soldiers to prefer  
A hopeless civil war before the weal  
And peace of Rome? and desperately provoke  
The prosperous fortunes of victorious Caesar?  
I have already to Cornelius Gallus Dio.  
By letter signified our purposes.  
Who sent from Caesar now is marching hither,  
To join his strength with ours: but hark his Drum  
Give notice of his coming.  Enter GALLUS. 
Hail Pinnarius.  PIN. 
Ah hail Cornelius Gallus,  
Most wished for, an most happily arrived  
At Paraetonium.  GAL. 
Victorious Caesar  
With love and favour greets Pinnarius Scarpus,  
Caesar, than whom the world acknowledges  
No other power; whom Fortune now has made  
Sole Lord of all.  PI. 
ay, and my soldiers  
With Paraetonium are at Caesar's service.  
Whither's Antonius fled?  GAL. 
Hither to Egypt  
With Cleopatra? 'Twas 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 encountered both, while with the Camps  
On either shore stood to behold the fight, Dio.  
here the Caesarian, there the Antonian Fleet  
With equal hopes came on, with fury equal.  
And long maintained a sharp and cruel fight,  
With mutual slaughter, while the Ocean's face  
Was forced 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, stirred 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 equal balance; till Antonius  
Himself at last betrayed his glorious hopes.  
For when his Mistress 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 soldiers there  
To sell their lives in vain; who many hours  
Though he were fled, made good the naval fight.  
And had Antonius stayed, it may be feared  
Caesar had not prevailed: at last the Fleet  
Wanting their Admiral, 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' madness,  
And such a madness as will strike amazement  
To all that hear it told: after his flight  
He ne'er returned, though in the camp 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 recovered all.  
They still remained encamped, and though oft  
Solicited by Caesar to revolt  
Were kept from yielding, by Canidius  
In hope of Antony's return. Until  
Canidius fearing his own soldiers minds Plutarch.  
And Caesar's anger fled away by night,  
They then despairing yielded all to Caesar.  
Who by this time I think's arrived in Egypt.  
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. 
'tis certain, Caesar.  PHA. 
They say the vanquished Queen most cunningly: Dio.  
(Fearing it seems, to be excluded else  
From her own Kingdom) feigned herself victorious,  
Landing in Egypt with triumphant songs  
Her ships all crowned with laurel, to deceive  
The credulous people: where being entered once  
She leaves unpractised 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 surprised.  TI. 
Caesar, 'twere fit to take Pelusium  
Before we march to Alexandria.  Cae. 
'Twas our intent, good Titius, not to leave  
A town of that import behind our backs.  
Go Proculeius, summon it, and know  
Whether the Governor 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  
herself and all her fortunes to his service: Dio.  
In token of which she here presents by me  
This Crown and Sceptre.  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 melancholy has retired himself Plut. Strabo lib. 17.  
To Pharos I'll; where like Athenian Timon,  
Who did profess a hatred to mankind,  
And fled all company, he lives alone;  
And on the solitary shore has built  
A little house to feed his frantic 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 Grecian.  Cae. 
Not Cleopatra? than 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 confirm  
The Crown of Egypt to herself and children  
To gratify my favour she has hid Dio. Plutarch.  
Within her palace a great mass of gold.  
Unknown t' Antonius.  AGRI. 
'Tis like enough,  
For Cleoptraea's rich, and long has been,  
Besides the sacrilege 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 adorned my triumph.  AGR. 
That will be hard to bring to pass, and must  
Be wrought with subtlety: you must not send  
A threatning message back; for if you do,  
All's lost, her life, her gold and all are vanished.  
For Cleopatra, as in all her acts  
It has appeared, is of a wondrous spirit,  
Of an ambition greater than her fortunes  
Have ever been, though she so long have swayed  
A sovereignty over half the Roman world,  
Trod on the necks of humbled Kings, and ruled  
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 mind, or once suspect  
If I can help it, but I have it now.  
Thyreus come hither; I must now rely  
Upon thy wisdom, care, and diligence  
In an employment that concerns me nearly.  
But I am confident: go with this fellow Dio. Plutarch.  
To Alexandria; use to the Queen  
Thy best and most persuasive Oratory.  
Tell her I love her, and extremely dote  
On her admired beauty, thou art wise  
And needest no great instructions; the success  
I do not doubt, the woman's credulous,  
And thinks all men are bound to be in love  
With that ensnaring face; if thou perceive  
She will be wrought on, win 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 herself. Epaphroditus,  
So see him well rewarded.  EPA. 
Health to Caesar. Exeunt. Epa. & Euph.  Enter PROCULEIUS. 
The Governor is stout, and does resolve  
To stand th' extremest hazard of the war  
Before he yield Pelusium.  Cae. 
Let him rue  
His stubborn loyalty, soldiers make ready  
For the assault; 'tis shame so small a town  
Should stay our fortune in the full career. Exeunt.  ANTONIUS disguised like TIMON, reading. 
Here buried do I lie; thou gentle wave Calli-mahi Epigr. de Timone.  
Keep hateful man from treading Timon's grave.  
Reader be gone; inquire no more of me,  
A curse upon thee whatsoever thou be.  ANT. 
Good, good; oh Timon, Athens ne'er 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 called 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 deceived Lucilius,  
That's Timon man.  LU. 
How canst thou jest at this  
This woeful 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 'tis love  
Has brought me hither? I am come to vex thee.  AN. 
Oh welcome, what's thy name? is't Alcibindes?  ARI. 
Hast thou forgot me?  ANT. 
Dost thou hate all men?  ARI. 
Why dost thou think me so unnatural  
To love a man? but may we not love women?  AN. 
Yes, they may be beloved; provided always  
That they be false.  ARI. 
True Timon, wicked women  
May be beloved, because they ruin men.  ANT. 
Right, right; and now I better think upon't  
I'll set no gallows or gibbets up  
As I intended once, for men to come  
And hang themselves, I'll keep a bawdy house.  ARI. 
A better way by far, 'twill ruin more,  
I wonder, Timon, at that foolish plot  
That I have heard, that in thy gardens once  
In Athens thou didst set up gallows  
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 turns hangman; but a Pandar  
Is on employment that befits a Statesman,  
A thing requires good parts and gravity.  ANT. 
I'd try that course; but 'tis too slow a plot.  
Oh for a speedy way to kill the world  
I have done somewhat in my days; my wars  
And bloody battles 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, than I could hear  
Of those good deeds, which must be still a comfort  
To your good consciences, though they be past.  
When Rome was filled with slaughter, flowed with blood.  
But they perchance were Knaves that were proscribed,  
And might have done more mischief had they lived.  AN. 
No, they were honest men; I looked to that.  ARI. 
'Twas well, and carefully.  AN. 
Behold the list.  
But one among the rest most comforts me,  
That talking fellow Cicero, that used  
To tax the vicious times, and was forsooth  
A lover of his Country.  ARI. 
Out upon him,  
Than he was rightly served: for is it fit  
In a well governed state such men should live  
As love their Country? had 't not been for him  
Catiline's plot had thrived.  AN. 
'tis true, I'm sure  
Caesar was on that side, he favoured it.  ARI. 
Yes, Caesar understood himself; there'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  
Cruel enough; in that proscription  
It did appear; but now he'll reign alone.  ARI. 
Oh for such factions as were then afoot  
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 breast.  LU. 
It cannot so Canidius;  
Perchance to hear th'extremity of all  
Will cure his fit; it cannot make him worse.  
For death itself were better and more noble.  CA. 
How weak a thing is man that seats his hopes  
In fortune's slippery, and unconstant favours,  
And seeks no surer strengths to guard his soul?  
Wanting a strong foundation, he is shaken  
With every wind, o'erthrown 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 resolved  
I'll to the wars again, and either conquer  
Mine enemies, or take a course to starve  
And kill up my own soldiers, and so be  
Revenged on somebody: One of these two  
May easily be brought to pass. How think'st thou?  ARI. 
Yes, yes: but let's to Court, and there consult.  Enter MARDIO. 
See who comes here, now for our bawdy project.  
Here is a servant I must needs prefer  
Well versed in bawdry, Master of the art.  
Come near brave Mardio, come.  MAR. 
My business  
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 urged old Eunuch.  ANT. 
Ha! what of her? will she revolt to Caesar?  MAR. 
She's far from that, my Lord.  ANT. 
What is't he says?  ARI. 
He says the constitution of her body  
Cannot hold out unless you visit her.  MAR. 
The Queen shall know it, Aristocrates.  ARI. 
Did you not say she pined and languished 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 endured,  
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! more men upon us?  CA. 
I come to bring thee heavy news Antonius.  
The forces all, which thou didst leave encamped  
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 expel his other fit.  AN. 
All you here yet! then I have friends I see.  
But tell me, can you be so merciful  
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 sadness in rich cups of Meroë wine,  
And laugh at Fortune's malice, for your sight  
More cheers my spirits, than her frowns can dull them.  Exeunt.  

Actus Quartus.  CLEOPATRA, GLAUCUS. GLA. 
MAdam, all drugs with pain and torment kill  
That kill with speed. No easy way to death  
Is wrought but by a slow and lingering course,  
Where Nature's strength is by degrees subdued,  
And yielding so decays insensibly.  
No art at all can make a drug that's quick  
And gentle too. No poison but the Asp  
Of all the mortal brood of Libya's Snakes  
Kills with a sudden, and yet easy death  
As if brought forth to contradict our skill  
By envious Nature, who disdains frail man  
Should hope to find 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.  
'tis quick, thou sayst.  GLA. 
Yes Madam; but too painful  
And violent.  CLE. 
Well leave them both with me. Exit Glaucus.  
Let none adventure on prosperity  
But with a spirit still prepared 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 fallen. Well did wise  
And liberal Nature on mankind bestow  
A gift so sovereign as power to die,  
An Antidote 'gainst Fortune's cruelty,  
That is the dear preservative, that must  
Control the spite of Fortune, and redeem  
A woeful life from loathed servitude.  
One venom's gentle; other rough and cruel.  
But 'tis not safe to trust mine honour so,  
On doubtful props: the poisons both may fail,  
Or differ far from what vain fame reports  
Their operation. 'tis experience  
That must confirm me. Mardio is returned.  Enter Mardio with two prisoners. MAR. 
Here are two men, Madam, condemned for murder  
To cruel death, and are to die tomorrow.  CLE. 
Come nearer both, and tell me, dare you die? Dio.  1 PRI. 
Great Queen, necessities strict law imposes Plutarch.  
That doom upon us; in forced actions  
Courage can have no trial.  CLE. 
Dare you die  
A less dishonourable 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 prepared.  CLE. 
Give them their lots, Mardio; the shortest lot  
Is to die first.  2 PRI. 
That lot is mine.  CLE. 
The Asp shall be thy fate: now Asp confirm  
What fame reports of thee; stay thou thy draught  
Till he be dead: feel'st thou no pain?  2 PRI. 
A faintness 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 confirmed.  MAR. 
He's dead and stiff already.  CLE. 
we'll try no more, as for thy draught of poison  
Thus we discharge thee of it, and from death  
Doomed by the law our royal pardon frees thee.  
Publish it Mardio.  PRI. 
The Gods preserve  
Royal and gracious Cleoptrae's life. Exeunt.  CLE. 
I am resolved; nought but the Libyan Asp  
Shall be renowned for Cleopatra's death.  
Thou precious worm, that canst redeem alone  
The loss of honour at a rate so easy,  
That killest as gently as the hand of age,  
And art miscalled a plague of Africa,  
Since thou alone mak'st barren Afrique envied,  
By other lands, though fruitful, wanting thee.  
Who cross the Seas, and hence at highest price  
Transport the Asp as choicest Merchandise.  
On thee I trust, one gentle touch of thine  
Can free this life from loathed servitude,  
From Caesar's triumph, the base people's mocks,  
Proud Livia's scorn, and mad Octavia's spite.  
But why are all my thoughts turned to despair?  
Why think I now of death? methinks my Genius  
Checks this cold fear, and Fortune chiding tells me  
I am ungrateful to distrust, her now.  
My race of life and glory is not run,  
Nor Cleopatra's fortunes yet arrived  
At that great height that must eternize her,  
And fix her glorious name above 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  
Extinguished 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 received,  
And Caesar with a smiling brow returned  
All seeming love and friendship; he has sent  
His freedman Thyreus to attend your highness,  
And to impart his counsels to your ear.  CLE. 
He's welcome to us. What's great Caesar's will.  Exit Euphro. THY. 
Caesar's best wishes, royal Cleopatra,  
None but your fairest self can ratify.  
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,  
there's none about him is more near in trust  
To whom he's pleased to impart his thoughts,  
And secret wishes: nothing but your love  
Can crown his happiness.  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 Sceptre o'er that fickle Goddess  
(Fickle to others, to you true and constant)  
Your radiant light lends that blind Goddess eyes,  
And guides her to your service, making all  
Actions, nay losses steps to greater honour.  
The late defeat at Actium, which your error  
Perchance miscalls a loss, was Fortune's labour  
To make you greater, and remove your brightness  
Which was ill placed (as Diamonds coarsely set)  
From old Antonius to young Caesar's love,  
A fitter sphere for those fair eyes to shine in.  CLE. 
Without these courtings, Thyreus, if great Caesar  
Please to embrace our friendship, we and Egypt  
Shall do him faithful service.  THY. 
Mighty Queen,  
If my rude speech have erred, 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)  
Ravished with fame of your perfections,  
And noble spirit; call Antonius happy,  
Whom fortune brought to Egypt, to behold  
That Queen, whom he so much desired to see.  
But when his eyes beheld your portraiture  
Drawn by a skilful, and a faithful 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, loved me once; but I  
Am not so proud to think it was my merit,  
Though he would say I did deserve far more  
Than he could utter, that great Julius,  
Whose name and actions filled the triple world.  THY. 
Though all in him were great, yet nothing greater  
Than his adopting so divine an heir.  
This Caesar, Madam, for your dearest love,  
Besides that power and greatness, which the world  
Both knows and fears, brings such a youth and beauty  
To plead for him, as in a mean estate  
Might move a Princess love: which that your eyes  
may better read, I here from him present  
His true, and most unflattered portraiture.  CLE. 
The fairest form that ere these eyes beheld.  
Where all the best of each best model meets,  
Cupid's sweet smiles, lodged in the eye of Mars,  
Ganymed's cheek th' Imperial brow of Jove  
Where love and majesty are proud to dwell.  THY. 
His age, great Queen, is yet not thirty years.  CLE. 
I ne'er till now saw beauty: 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 duty to my master.  CLE. 
Then briefly thus; because I would not have  
Any take notice of long privacy  
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: meanwhile stay here  
With us, good Thyreus, for we cannot yet  
Dispatch thee with that message we intend.  THY. 
I will attend your highness.  CLE. 
Till anon  
Farewell, good Thyreus: but be near about us.  Exit Thyreus. 
What more than this could all the fates contrive?  
What more than Caesar's love could I have wished  
On which all power, all state, and Glories wait.  
But oh the weak and fluctuating state  
Of humane frailty still too much depressed  
Or raised too much twixt fears and flattering hopes!  
But hence base fear; a Princely confidence  
Fits Cleopatra's mind and beauty better.  Enter ANTONIUS, CANIDIUS, LUCILIUS, ARISTOCRATES. 
My dearest Lord.  AN. 
Ah sweetest Cleopatra,  
In this embrace, and this ambrosiac kiss  
I am again possessed of all my wealth,  
Of all my fortunes. Had the angry God's  
Purposed to wreak their fury fully on me  
They had not left my life so sweet a comfort.  CLE. 
Possessed of you I stand above the reach  
Of Fortune's threatening, or proud Caesar's power.  
Nought but your grief, and melancholy had  
Power to deject my spirits.  AN. 
Thy true worth  
Deserves a happier friend, that could bestow  
Not take alone his happiness from thee.  
In thy sweet love, and these my faithful friends  
I still am happy, I have lost no friends.  
All that are gone from me to Caesar's side,  
Ingrateful Titius and Domitius.  
Plancus, Silanus, Dellius and Hipparchus,  
Were Fortune's friends not mine.  CLE. 
Let's in and feast,  
This day we'll dedicate to mirth and freedom:  
To crown your welcome hither.  AN. 
Sweetly spoken.  
Let not a woman teach us soldiers  
To be magnanimous.  CLE. 
Thy? feast we'll style  
The feast of fellow-dyers: for no band Plutarch.  
No tie of friendship is so firm 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 honoured in great Caesar's favour.  Cae. 
We give but what we owe, a debt so great  
As mine to thee can ne'er be overpaid.  
Great Alexander, whose victorious hand  
Founded that City, whose eternised name  
For ever honours it, though in great deeds  
He passed our glory far, shall not exceed  
Caesar in piety: he oft would say  
He ought a better being to his Master  
Then to father; one mere natural,  
The other mental, and diviner far.  
Who's that?  Enter EPAPHRODITUS with FERGUS. EPA. 
Fergusius the Philosopher  
Condemned 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 saved thee.  FER. 
Victory,  
And fame still wait on Caesar.  Cae. 
Let's away  
And march with speed to Alexandria.  AGR. 
Caesar, your horse are weary: 'tis 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 skilful horsemen; and despair of favour  
(Since twice you have refused his propositions)  
Will put another valour into him.  Cae. 
What conquest can Antonius hope for here?  AGR. 
His hopes (as near 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 supplies.  
But any fortune would prove higher far  
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 refreshed.  
And we prevent the worst.  Cae. 
Let it be so. Exeunt.  Enter LUCILIUS, ARISTOCRATES. LU. 
How formless is the form of man the soul,  
How various still how different from itself?  
How falsely called Queen of this little world?  
When she's a slave, and subject not alone  
Unto the Body's temperature, but all  
The storms of Fortune.  ARI. 
What occasion  
Make thee thus offer at Philosophy?  LU. 
Where hast thou lived thou shouldst not know th' occasion?  
The fits and changes of Antonius  
Are theme enough: how strange a loving soul  
Is the late hater of mankind become!  ARI. 
That is not strange, he's out of breath with cursing  
And now 'tis 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. 
Unless 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 discovered.  ARI. 
here they come  
Let us go fetch Antonius if we can.  CLEOPATRA, THYREUS. CLE. 
Pelusium shall be rendered up to Caesar Dio. Plutarch.  
By our command to our Lieutenant there  
Seleucus, whose obedience we not doubt.  THY. 
Noblest of Queens, you make Imperial Caesar  
As much a debtor to your courtesy  
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 'tis done to weaken him;  
Alas, Antonius is already fallen  
So low, that nothing can redeem him now  
Nor make him able to contest with Caesar.  
He has not only lost his Army's 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 performed, 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 used 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 bestowed? Can he, for whose dear sake  
A Queen so highly born as I preferred  
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? ungrateful 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 unconstancy: 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 privacy  
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 faithful heart: but if you think me false  
here sheath your sword: make me the subject rather  
Of manly rage then childish jealousy.  
It is a nobler crime, and fitter far  
For you to act, easier for me to suffer.  
For live suspected I nor can nor will.  
The lovely Asp, which I with care have kept  
And was intended a preservative  
'Gainst Caesar's cruelty, I now must use  
Against Antonius baseness a worse foe  
Than Caesar 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 wind 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 outlived so sad a thought.  
Let Thyreus be released, and sent to Caesar.  Enter CANIDIUS. 
Now is the time to sally forth, my Lord,  
The foe is tired with marching, and your horse  
Are ready all, and wait the signal only.  
The least delay loses the action.  ANT. 
I come Canidius; dearest Love farewell.  
Few hours 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 passed  
'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.  
'Twas but a servant's tongue I built upon.  
'Tis best to make all sure: within there, Eira.  EIRA. 
Madam!  CLE. 
Are all things ready in the tomb?  EI. 
Yes, Madam; Carmio's there and Mardio.  CLE. 
Then thither will I go, if fate contrive  
A future state of happiness for me,  
It is my castle: if my death they doom,  
I am possessed already of a tomb. 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 constancy upbraids  
This wicked age, and shall instruct the next,  
Take from a wretched hand this legacy.  
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 than Antonius can.  
My glass 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 persuading  
A man, whom once thou lov'dst to such a shame  
As to prefer a loathed captivity  
Before a noble death.  
Thy looks speak grief Dio.  Enter AEROS. 
Speak Erisychthon, where's the Queen?  ERO. 
She's dead my Lord. Plutarch.  
When those unhappy tidings came to her  
Of your defeat, she straight shut up herself  
Within her tomb, and died.  AN. 
Oh Cleopatra,  
Why have I lingered thus, that thou a woman  
Shouldst teach so old a soldier how to die?  
Fortune, I blame not thee; I have enjoyed  
What thou couldst give, and on the envied top  
Of thy proud wheel have long unshaken stood.  
Whom Kings have served, and Rome herself obeyed;  
Whom all the Zones of earth's diffused Globe,  
That know inhabitants, have known, and feared.  
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 Erisychthon, take this sword, perform the promise  
Which thou hast made, to kill me whensoe'er  
I should command: make no reply in words.  ER. 
I will be true or die. Stand fair; your Erisychthon  
Will be your Usher to th'elysian fields. Kills himself.  AN. 
What hast thou done unfaithful faithful Erisychthon Dio. Plutarch.  
Too kindly cruel, falsely virtuous?  
I'll trust no more, to be no more directed  
By such examples: but we must be speedy.  
The gates ere this time are set ope to Caesar.  
Fair Cleopatra, I am coming now  
To dwell with thee, and ever to behold  
Thy heavenly figure, where nor time nor death  
Shall make divorce of our eternal loves.  
Thus, thus I come to thee: unfaithful sword,  
I never knew thee slow in giving death  
Till this sad hour, some friendly hand lend aid,  
And with another wound release my soul.  Enter MARDIO. 
Where is my Lord Antonius? Oh sad sight  
The Queen enclosed in her tomb desired  
To take her last leave of you.  AN. 
Is she living?  
'tis 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 surprise Antonius;  
You Proculeius, and Cornelius Gallus,  
Go presently to Cleopatra's tomb,  
Woe 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. 
here he comes himself.  Enter CAESAR, ARIUS, TITIUS, PLANCUS. Cae. 
The paleness of your fear declares your guilt.  
But that, though ne'er so great, shall not exceed  
Our clemency, to let you know it was  
Your happiness to be subdued by us.  
Mercy shall rule our just severity.  
First for your founder Alexander's sake, Plutarch. Dio.  
Next for the love of reverent Arius  
Our Master here whose goodness far outweighs  
All your offences and rebellions.  CIT. 
Caesar in goodness, as in greatness, bears  
Equality 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 therefore welcome him.  ACHO. 
Please it great Caesar,  
To give Achoreus leave to wait on him  
Into the ancient Temples of our Gods  
To show th' Egyptian 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 blanked the Priest.  Cae. 
I fain would see great Alexander's hearse Sueton·  
The mansion once of so divine a soul  
A spirit greater than the world itself,  
Whom the world feared but could not satisfy.  ACH. 
Within the vault of our Pyramids  
His body yet all whole may Caesar see.  
And all the bodies of our Ptolemies.  Cae. 
I'd see Kings only, not dead carcases. Sueton. Dio.  
But see, Epaphroditus is returned.  Enter EPAPHRODITUS, LUCILIUS, 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: cruel Antonius.  
Too cruel to thyself, to Rome, and me  
How white a day have all the people lost?  
How great might Caesar's happiness 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,  
Witness these tears, though I were forced to war  
(Whilst thou preferring foreign love before  
Caesar's alliance, didst reject my kindred,  
And scorn my love) I still could honour thee.  
But since too cruel fate denies to me  
So great an happiness as to express  
This love to thee alive, let thy dear ghost  
Behold my Piety, and see the honours  
Caesar will do to thy sad funeral.  LU. 
Most royal Caesar-like dissimulation.  ARI. 
I hope howe'er 'twill 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 loved fidelity, you shall  
If so you like, be welcome to our service,  LU. 
'Tis our desire; our lives and fortunes ever  
Shall do great Caesar true and faithful service  
As they before did to Antonius.  Cae. 
Where did he die?  EPA. 
In Cleopatra's arms  
By her with ropes let up into the tomb,  
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 called at Cleopatra's tomb, Dio. Plutarch.  
Who from above made answer, and denied  
To yield herself, but upon Caesar's word.  
When I with best persuasions strove to win her,  
And held her talk awhile, whilst Proculeius  
On other side the tomb espied a place  
That open stood, by which the Queen received  
Dying Antonius, which he scaling entered  
Behind the Queen: but had he not been speedy  
She there had slain herself: a maid of hers  
Spied Proculeius entering, and aloud  
Cried out oh Queen thou art surprised alive.  
She drawing a short poniard was restrained  
By Proculeius, who both held her hand  
And spoke her fair; at last obtained so much  
By strong persuasions of your clemency  
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 fruitless hope  
Mixed with a killing fear: my thoughts are now  
More black and baleful than this sad attire.  
If Caesar come, I do not fear his chiding  
I have a certain Antidote 'gainst that.  
'Tis not his anger, but his love afflicts  
My doubting soul, whether that love will prove  
Feigned 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 dwells upon that brow!  
How would she look in smiling dalliance?  
Oh pardon me thou powerful God of love,  
That durst presume to tempt thy Deity.  
Forgive my confidence. I now excuse  
Antonius' weakness, but stay there my heart,  
My virtuous Livia is more fair than she,  CLE. 
Hail mighty Prince; for that high name the Gods. Dio. Plutarch.  
Who reft me of it, have bestowed 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 ne'er denied  
His greatest enemies.  Cae. 
And can you think  
I should deny it you? Do but express it▪  CLE. 
That thou wouldst kill me Caesar; I have lived  
These many years too long: I should have died Dio.  
When that great Worthy, that renowned Caesar  
Was basely murdered in Rome's Capitol.  
Surviving him was my unhappiness.  
But I have lived to see his son inherit Dio.  
His state and Empire, and control the world.  Cae. 
Be cheery Cleopatra, fear no wrong  
At Caesar's hands.  CLE. 
Death is no wrong at all.  
I have deserved it, Sir.  Cae. 
But can you think  
That we, whose clemency so many men  
And stubborn enemies so oft have proved,  
Should now at last be cruel to a Queen?  
But we must chide you, that so long together  
Have sided with Antonius, and with him  
Conspired the wrack of Rome.  CLE. 
That's soon excused.  
If 'twere a crime to love Antonius Dio. Plutarch.  
(Which I confess I did, and his large favours  
Truly deserved it) think it was not mine  
But fates own crime, that first allotted me  
To his protection: had your share of rule  
In Egypt lain, I had been Caesar's friend.  Cae. 
Besides with men and money you give aid  
To Caius Cassius in Philippi field  
Who murdered Caesar in the Capitol.  CLE. 
Caesar, as false as truth itself is true.  
I was accused to Antonius Plutarch. Appian.  
For that before; but in Cilicia  
I quickly cleared those causeless jealousies,  
Witness thou glorious star, which the great soul  
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 suspicion shall be purged with death.  
I can no longer live.  Cae. 
What have I done?  
I fear my rashness has too far betrayed Dio.  
My thoughts to Cleopatra: gentle Queen  
Be comforted; expect at Caesar's hand  
Nothing but love and friendship: do not wrong  
My goodness with unjust suspicion  
All former grievances are quite forgot.  
Your port and state shall be maintained at full.  
Your household 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 overreach  
My jealousies: no signs of love at all, Exit Caesar.  
No smile, nor amorous glance, I was deceived,  
And merely cozened by base Thyreus.  
But I must hide my fears, and clear 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 courtesy.  EPA. 
Oh Madam, Caesar's th' unexampled mirror  
Of royalty, and does as far exceed  
All petty Kings in goodness as in power.  
And if my humblest services in aught  
May give content to royal Cleopatra  
I shall be proud to be commanded still.  CLE. 
Thanks good Epaphroditus.  
That love is true that's showed 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 carriage 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 hear his answer.  EPA. 
Fear not Madam.  
A quick performance, it rejoices me  
To see her look so cheerily again. Exit Epa.  CLE. 
So now my trouble is removed, I come,  
I come my dearest Lord Antonius,  
Never till now thy true and faithful love.  
My much abused Lord, do not disdain  
Or blush t'acknowledge Cleopatra's name  
When tears and blood have washed her spotted soul.  
Wert thou alive again, not all the world  
Should shake my constancy, or make divorce  
Twixt thee and me: 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' falsehood.  
Dido forgives the perjured Prince of Troy,  
And Troilus repentant Cressida.  
Though false to thee alive, I now am come  
A faithful lover of thy dust and comb. Exit.  Enter AGRIPPA, GALLUS, and two Psyls. GAL. 
Marcus Agrippa, I have here provided  
As Caesar gave in charge two Libyan Psyls.  
All Afrique yields not fitter for his purpose.  AGRI. 
They look like likely ones.  GAL. 
They have been proved,  
And have already on my soldiers,  
When they were bit by Serpents, done strange cures,  
Past all belief or hope, recalled fled life  
Back to his mansion, and beyond the power  
Of Aesculapius have sucked and charmed  
The mortal venom from their dying limbs.  
These two, Agrippa in their infancy  
Their doubting sires to try their lawful births Plinius. Solinus. Lucanus.  
(As Eagles try their Eaglets 'gainst the Sun)  
Exposed to mortal Serpents, and were so  
Confirmed 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 Cleopatra's Palace; let them wait  
Near to Epaphroditus. What's the news?  
How fares the Queen?  EPA. 
Never more cheery Sir.  
Her looks express her hopes; nor in her words  
Can she conceal her inward cheerfulness.  
But one thing, Sir, she said she had forgot,  
Which nearly 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 deceived thee,  
And all of us; the worst that I could fear  
Is come to pass: 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 crowned, attended by GLAUCUS, MARDIO, EIRA, CHARMIO, she takes her state. ANTHONY's Hearse brought in CLE. 
This is my second Coronation day;  
But nobler than the first, and fuller far  
Of real honour, and magnificence.  
Nor till this pompous hour was Cleopatra  
A perfect Queen, alas, I did not sway  
A Sceptre over fortune, or command  
As now I do, the destinies themselves.  
I wore a painted honour, a mere shadow  
Of Royal state, and such a feeble Crown  
As war could threaten, treason undermine,  
And every puff 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 guess her meaning.  CLE. 
Glaucus and Mardio, leave the room a while.  Exeunt Glaucus and Mardio. 
Come hither Girls, 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 deceived.  
He lives my Charmio in the other world,  
And stays for me; I have been too too slack  
In coming to him: this that here lies dead  
Was but the house that lodged my dearest Lord,  
That earthly Mansion, that did once contain  
The kindest, noblest, and the truest soul  
That ever lived; and this our second meeting  
Is far 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 girls? is it to see your Mistress  
Greater than ere in Glory? if you loved me,  
You'd weep to see great Cleopatra led  
A wretched captive through the streets of Rome  
Before proud Caesar's chariot, mocked and flouted,  
And from a Queen become Octavia's drudge.  
No, no, my girls, I will be still myself  
And from this seat of state look down in scorn  
On Rome, and Caesar's threats as things below me.  EI. 
Nor here shall my attendance leave you, Madam,  
I'll wait upon you to th'elysian shades.  CHAR. 
Nor will poor Charmio be left behind.  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 celestial fire  
Consumed her beauty's relics, and sent down  
Her soul from that Majestic funeral.  
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 Asp, possess thy mansion; freely feed  
On these two hills, upon whose snowy tops  
The winged Cupid oft has taken stand,  
And shot from thence the proudest hearts on earth.  
Corruption now, and rottenness must seize  
This once admired fabric, and dissolve  
This flesh to common elements again:  
When skilful nature, were she strictly bound  
To search through all her store-house would be posed  
To tell which piece was Cleopatra once.  
Sweet Asp, I feel thy touch, and life begins  
From these cold limbs to take her gentle flight.  
A slumber seizes me; farewell my girls.  
Thus let the Romans find me dead, and know  
Maugre the power of Rome, and Caesar's spleen  
That Cleopatra lived, and died a Queen.  CHAR. 
She's dead, and Eira too. I hear a noise.  
There is no dallying now; I must be speedy,  
And use the common and sure way to death.  She stabs herself. 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 died the Queen?  CHAR. 
A death that well beseemed her royal birth. 〈◊〉.  AGR. 
See Caesar, see; the mark upon her breast,  
And here the fatal author.  Cae. 
'Twas the Asp.  
Be speedy now, and use your utmost power Sueton. Dio.  
You skilful Psyls, call back this royal 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 infernal Gods,  
If ere to humane prayers you could lend  
An exorable ear, 'tis 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 died?  PLA. 
No conquered Prince.  
Did ever find a nobler way to death.  
Had feeble Perseus known so brave a course,  
He had redeemed his captive life from shame.  
And not deprived the Conqueror of fame.  Cae. 
Is there no hope?  PSY. 
She's gone past all recovery.  Cae. 
We will no longer strive 'gainst destiny.  
Though thou art dead, yet live renowned for ever;  
And let this action speak thee to the world  
A foe not shaming Caesar's victory.  
No other Crown or Sceptre after thine  
Shall Egypt honour: thou shalt be the last  
Of all the reigning race of Ptolomey:  
And all, and more than what thy letter craved  
Will Caesar grant with dead Antonius  
In richer state than ere proud Memphis saw Sueton. Dio. Plutarch.  
Her Kings interred shall Cleopatra lie.  
Thy dying figure carved in fairest stone  
Shall my triumphant chariot wear, for all  
To gaze and wonder at thy form and worth.  
Egypt no more a Kingdom, now a Province  
Cornelius Gallus, is thy government.  
And here let Caesar sheath the civil sword,  
Whose fatal edge these twenty years has ripped  
The bleeding entrails of afflicted Rome.  
here 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 conquered Egypt's 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 Egypt.