Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 8 (massinissa, yaw, league, renown, quasi, apud…). Matches are highlighted.
of all. And yet, would all were but thine own alone: That others ruin had not with thy fallen Brought Room her sorrows, to my triumphs moan. For breaking off the league of love and blood. Thou makest my winning joy a gain unpleasing: Sith th'eye of grief must look into our good, Thorough the horror of our own bloodshedding. And
thy soul thus overcharged with care, How well I will entreat thee thou shalt find, So soon as some affairs dispatched are. Till when ̄ farewell. Cl. Thanks thrice-renowned Caesar, Poor Cleopatra rests thine own for ever. What in a passion Dolabella? what? take heed: Let others fresh examples be thy warning; What mischiefs these,
Full speech
But dost thou think she will remain so still? Ah, private men found not the hearts of Princes, Whose actions oft bear contrary pretences. But 'tis more honour for her to die free. Princes respect their honour more then blood. To be a Prince, is more then be a man. And so might she too, were she not a Queen. Princes (Like Lyons) never will be tamed. A private man may yield, and care not how, But greater hearts will break before they bow. And sure I think sh'will never condescend, To live to grace our spoils with her disgrace: But yet let still a wary watch attend, To guard her person, and to watch the place. And look that none with her come to confer: Shortly my self will go to visit her. WHat Cleopatrae, dost thou doubt so much Of Caesars mercy, that thou hidest thy face? Or dost thou think, thy' offences can be such, That they surmount the measure of our grace? Rise Queen, none but thy self is cause of all. And yet, would all were but thine own alone: That others ruin had not with thy fallen Brought Room her sorrows, to my triumphs moan. For breaking off the league of love and blood. Thou makest my winning joy a gain unpleasing: Sith th'eye of grief must look into our good, Thorough the horror of our own bloodshedding. And all, we must attribute unto thee. Love? alas no, it was innated hatred That thou and thine hast ever born our people: That made thee seek all means to have us scattered, To disunite our strength, and makers feeble. And therefore did that breast nurse our dissension, With hope t'exalt thy self, augment thy state: To pray upon the wrack of our contention, And (with the rest our foes,) to joy thereat. Hold, hold, a poor revenge can work so feeble Well Cleopatra, fear not, thou shalt find What favour thou desirest, or canst expect: For Caesar never yet was found but kind To such as yield, and can themselves subject. And therefore give thou comfort to thy mind; Relieve thy soul thus overcharged with care, How well I will entreat thee thou shalt find, So soon as some affairs dispatched are. Till when ̄ farewell. Cl. Thanks thrice-renowned Caesar, Poor Cleopatra rests thine own for ever. What in a passion Dolabella? what? take heed: Let others fresh examples be thy warning; What mischiefs these, so idle humours breed, While error keeps us from a true discerning. Indeed, I saw she laboured to impart Her sweetest graces in her saddest cheer: Presuming on the face that knew the art To move with what aspect so ever it were. But all in vain, she takes her aim amiss, The ground and mark, her level much deceives; Time now hath altered all, for neither is She as she was, nor we as she conceives. And therefore now, it best she left such badness, Folly in youth is sin, in age, 'tis madness. And for my partly, I seek but t'entertaine In her some feeding hope to draw her forth; The greatest Trophy that my travails gain, Is to bring home a prizall of such worth. And now, sith that she seems so well content To be disposed by us, without more stay She with her children shall to Room be sent, While I by Syria thither take my way.
Plot summary
Plot — Cleopatra
Antony is dead, but Cleopatra still lives, holed up in her monument. She wants to join her lover in death, but is restrained by fear of how her children will be treated afterwards. Egypt has been conquered by Caesar, who visits the defeated Queen; she asks for mercy and hands over an inventory of her treasure, but her secretary Seleucus betrays her by notifying Caesar that she has kept some items back. Attempting to get her son Caesario out of Egypt, she entrusts him to his tutor Rhodon; but Rhodon is bribed by Caesar’s agents and hands the boy over to be killed by the Romans. Charmed by her beauty, Dolabella warns Cleopatra that Caesar intends to display her in his triumph, so she procures two asps and kills herself with them. ‘ —— ° ; 1593 B-Text In this version, more is told of the death of Antony before the start of the action: how Cleopatra sent him a false report of her death, which precipitated his attempted suicide, and how he was hoisted up into the monument to die. Cleopatra’s wish to kill herself is initially kept secret: she is first seen making arrangements to send Caesario to India, intending that he should one day return to supplant Caesar as the ruler of the Roman Empire.