Passages from this character's speech that contain the most distinguishing words for Cluster 1 (nony, tailors, butler, mall, jesu, massinissa…). Matches are highlighted.
her case, (Poor soul,) needs rather pity now then love. But shortly shall thy Lord hear more of me. And ending so her speech, no longer stayed, But hasted to the Tomb of Anthony. And this was all she did, and all she said. And Sir, even now her self hath Letters sent, I met her messenger as I came hither, With a dispatch as
sumptuous state, With all the bravest ornaments she had. How having dined, she writes, and sends away Him straight to Caesar, and commanded than All should depart the Tomb, and none to stay But her two maids, and one poor Countryman.
Full speech
I shall my Lord so far as I could note, Or my conceit observe in any wise. It was the time when as she having God Leave to her Dearest dead to sacrifice; And now was issuing out the Monument, With Odours, Incense, Garlands in her hand, When I approached (as one from Caesar sent,) And did her close thy message understand. She turns her back, and with her takes me in, Reads in thy lines thy strange unlooked for tale: And reads, and smiles, and stays, and does begin Again to read, then blushed, and then was pale. And having ended with a sighs, refoldes Thy Letter up: and with a fixed eye, (Which steadfast her imagination holds) She mused a while, standing confusedly. At length. Ah friend, (says she,) tell thy good Lord, How deer I hold his pitying of my case: That out of his sweet nature can afford, A miserable woman so much grace. Tell him how much my heavy soul does grieve Merciless Caesar should so deal with me: Pray him that he would all the counsel give, That might divert him from such cruelty. As for my love, say Anthony hath all, Say that my heart is gone into the graven With him, in whom it rests and ever shall: I have it not my self, nor cannot have. Yet tell him, he shall more command of me Then any, whosoever living, can. He that so friendly shows himself to be A right kind Roman, and a Gentleman. Although his Nation (fatal unto me,) Have had mine age a spoil, my youth a pray, Yet his affection must accepted be, That favours one distressed in such decay. Ah, he was worthy then to have been loved, Of Cleopatra while her glory lasted; Before she had declining fortune proved, Or scene her honour wracked, her flower blasted. Now there is nothing left her but disgrace, Nothing but her affliction that can move: Tell Dolabella, one that's in her case, (Poor soul,) needs rather pity now then love. But shortly shall thy Lord hear more of me. And ending so her speech, no longer stayed, But hasted to the Tomb of Anthony. And this was all she did, and all she said. And Sir, even now her self hath Letters sent, I met her messenger as I came hither, With a dispatch as he to Caesar went, But knows not what imports her sending thither. Yet this he told, how Cleopatra late Was come from sacrifice. How richly clad Was served to dinner in most sumptuous state, With all the bravest ornaments she had. How having dined, she writes, and sends away Him straight to Caesar, and commanded than All should depart the Tomb, and none to stay But her two maids, and one poor Countryman.
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.