CAESAR

ntonius then with Cleopatra's fled To Alexandria. 'Twas our intent, good Titius, not to leave A town of that import behind our backs. Go Proculeius, summon it, and know W e her the Governor will yield or no. Exit. Pro What news with thee? Bring him. Queen Cleopatra to great Caesar wishes All health and victory; and humbly proffers Her self and all her Fortune's to his service: In token of which she here presents by me This Crown and Sceptre. But tell me first, where is Antonius? Not Cleopatra? then I doubt the man Grows weary of these worldly vanities. I would not loose this gold, Nor willingly let Cleopatra die Before her person have adorned my triumph. I do not mean To let her know my mind, or once suspect I can help it, but I have it now. hyreus come hither; I must now rely Pon thy wisdom, care, and diligence and employment that concerns me nearly. ut 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 do not doubt, the woman's credulous, and thinks all men are bound to be in love With that ensnaring face; if thou perceive he will be wrought on, win her to betray ntonius to my hand: the way to woo her leave good Thyreus to thy eloquence And cunning working of it: spare thy reply to Euph. id him come hither. Commend my hearty love To Cleopatra ; bid her fear no ill From me at all. What I desire from her My freed man Thyreus has commission To utter to her self. Epaphroditus, So see him well rewarded. Let him rue His stubborn loyalty, soldiers make ready For the assault; it's shame so small a town Should stay our fortune in the full career. Exeunt Here buried do I lie; thou gentle wave Calli mah Epigr de Ti moan Keep hateful man from treading Ti mons grave. Reader be gone; inquire no more of me, A curse upon thee whatsoever thou be. 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 the utmost they resist, thy will Shall rule our Justice. We give but what we owe, a debt so great As mine to thee can never be overpaid. Great Alexander, whose victorious hand Founded that City, whose eternized 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? Dispatch him then. Arius, no more, I know what thou desirest; Fergusius live; That thou knowest him has saved thee. Let's away And march with speed to Alexandria. They dare not man. What conquest can Antonius hope for here? Let it be so. Exeunt. The paleness of your fear declares your gilded. But that, though never 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 Alexanders sake, Plutarch. Dio. Next for the love of reverend Arius Our Master her whose goodness far outweighs All your offences and rebellions. What's he? We dare believe thee, And therefore welcome him. Most willingly Achoreus, I would see Dio. Gods, but not Oxen. I fain would see great Alexander's hearse Sueton· The mansion once of so divine a soul A spirit greater then the world it self, Whom the world feared but could not satisfy. I'ld see Kings only, not dead carcases. Sueton. Dio. But see, Epaphroditus is returned. Speak man, where is Antonius? How? slave? what hand durst do it? That was our fear: cruel Antonius. Too cruel to thy self, to Room, 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 Fortune's, Plutarch. Thou brave revenger of great Julius death, Witness these tears, though I were forced to war (While 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 and 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. What men are these? Let me peruse it well, it shall be granted. Your lives and Fortune's both are safe, and since We ever loved fidelity, you shall If so you Like, be welcome to our service, Where did he die? Is she there still? Now I shall know; speak Gallus, what's the news? We will in person presently go see her. Protect me Pallas against false Venus charms. Exeunt. 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 then this sad attire. If Caesar come, I do not fear his chiding I have a certain Antidote against that. It's not his anger, but his love afflicts My doubting soul, whither 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. How sweet a sorrow dwells upon that brow! How would she look in smiling dalliance? O 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 then she, Rise Cleopatra, Caesar's victory Takes nought from you. Good Queen stand up, And freely speak what you desire: And can you think I should deny it you? Do but express it Be cheery Cleopatra, fear no wrong At Caesar's hands. 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 Room. Beside with men and money you give aid To Caius Cassius in Philippi field Who murdered Caesar in the Capitol. 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 forgotten. 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. Epaphroditus. Are those the men? Carry them To Cleopatra's Palace; let them uva Near to Epaphroditus. What's the news? How fares the Queen? She has deceived thee, And all of us; the worst that I could fear Is come to pass: o run Epaphroditus, I'll follow thee with all the speed I can. But all too late, I fear, our speed will come. Exeunt. We come too late, and all in vain I fea Our care has been. '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 in ernall Gods, If ere to humane prayers you could lend And exorable ear, it's 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. Is there no hope? We will no longer strive against destiny. Though thou art dead, yet live renowned for ever; And let this Actium 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 raze of Ptolemy : And all, and more then what thy letter craved Will Caesar grant with dead Antonius In richer state then 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 from 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 ntrails of afflicted Room. Her 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 Room with conquered Egypt's spoils. Here the woman writes That for her liberty, and to confirm The Crown of Egypt to her self and children To gratify my favour she has hid Dio Plutarch Within her palace a great mass of gold. Unknown to Antonius.