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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Anthony and Cleopatra.
365
3205To do that thing that ends all other deeds,
Which shackles accedents, and bolts vp change;
Which sleepes, and neuer pallates more the dung,
The beggers Nurse, and Cæsars.
Enter Proculeius.
3210Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the Queene of Egypt,
And bids thee study on what faire demands
Thou mean'st to haue him grant thee.
Cleo. What's thy name?
Pro. My name is Proculeius.
3215Cleo. Anthony
Did tell me of you, bad me trust you, but
I do not greatly care to be deceiu'd
That haue no vse for trusting. If your Master
Would haue a Queece his begger, you must tell him,
3220That Maiesty to keepe decorum, must
No lesse begge then a Kingdome: If he please
To giue me conquer'd Egypt for my Sonne,
He giues me so much of mine owne, as I
Will kneele to him with thankes.
3225Pro. Be of good cheere:
Y'are falne into a Princely hand, feare nothing,
Make your full reference freely to my Lord,
Who is so full of Grace, that it flowes ouer
On all that neede. Let me report to him
3230Your sweet dependacie, and you shall finde
A Conqueror that will pray in ayde for kindnesse,
Where he for grace is kneel'd too.
Cleo. Pray you tell him,
I am his Fortunes Vassall, and I send him
3235The Greatnesse he has got. I hourely learne
A Doctrine of Obedience, and would gladly
Looke him i'th'Face.
Pro. This Ile report (deere Lady)
Haue comfort, for I know your plight is pittied
3240Of him that caus'd it.
Pro. You see how easily she may be surpriz'd:
Guard her till Cæsar come.
Iras. Royall Queene.
Char. Oh Cleopatra, thou art taken Queene.
3245Cleo. Quicke, quicke, good hands.
Pro. Hold worthy Lady, hold:
Doe not your selfe such wrong, who are in this
Releeu'd, but not betraid.
Cleo. What of death too that rids our dogs of languish
3250Pro. Cleopatra, do not abuse my Masters bounty, by
Th'vndoing of your selfe: Let the World see
His Noblenesse well acted, which your death
Will neuer let come forth.
Cleo. Where art thou Death?
3255Come hither come; Come, come, and take a Queene
Worth many Babes and Beggers.
Pro. Oh temperance Lady.
Cleo. Sir, I will eate no meate, Ile not drinke sir,
If idle talke will once be necessary
3260Ile not sleepe neither. This mortall house Ile ruine,
Do Cæsar what he can. Know sir, that I
Will not waite pinnion'd at your Masters Court,
Nor once be chastic'd with the sober eye
Of dull Octauia. Shall they hoyst me vp,
3265And shew me to the showting Varlotarie
Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt.
Be gentle graue vnto me, rather on Nylus mudde
Lay me starke-nak'd, and let the water-Flies
Blow me into abhorring; rather make
3270My Countries high pyramides my Gibbet,

And hang me vp in Chaines.
Pro. You do extend
These thoughts of horror further then you shall
Finde cause in Cæsar.
3275
Enter Dolabella.
Dol. Proculeius,
What thou hast done, thy Master Cæsar knowes,
And he hath sent for thee: for the Queene,
Ile take her to my Guard.
3280Pro. So Dolabella,
It shall content me best: Be gentle to her,
To Cæsar I will speake, what you shall please,
If you'l imploy me to him.
Exit Proculeius
Cleo. Say, I would dye.
3285Dol. Most Noble Empresse, you haue heard of me.
Cleo. I cannot tell.
Dol. Assuredly you know me.
Cleo. No matter sir, what I haue heard or knowne:
You laugh when Boyes or Women tell their Dreames,
3290Is't not your tricke?
Dol. I vnderstand not, Madam.
Cleo. I dreampt there was an Emperor Anthony.
Oh such another sleepe, that I might see
But such another man.
3295Dol. If it might please ye.
Cleo. His face was as the Heau'ns, and therein stucke
A Sunne and Moone, which kept their course, & lighted
The little o'th'earth.
Dol. Most Soueraigne Creature.
3300Cleo. His legges bestrid the Ocean, his rear'd arme
Crested the world: His voyce was propertied
As all the tuned Spheres, and that to Friends:
But when he meant to quaile, and shake the Orbe,
He was as ratling Thunder. For his Bounty,
3305There was no winter in't. An Anthony it was,
That grew the more by reaping: His delights
Were Dolphin-like, they shew'd his backe aboue
The Element they liu'd in: In his Liuery
Walk'd Crownes and Crownets: Realms & Islands were
3310As plates dropt from his pocket.
Dol. Cleopatra.
Cleo. Thinke you there was, or might be such a man
As this I dreampt of?
Dol. Gentle Madam, no.
3315Cleo. You Lye vp to the hearing of the Gods:
But if there be, nor euer were one such
It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuffe
To vie strange formes with fancie, yet t'imagine
An Anthony were Natures peece, 'gainst Fancie,
3320Condemning shadowes quite.
Dol. Heare me, good Madam:
Your losse is as your selfe, great; and you beare it
As answering to the waight, would I might neuer
Ore-take pursu'de successe: But I do feele
3325By the rebound of yours, a greefe that suites
My very heart at roote.
Cleo. I thanke you sir:
Know you what Cæsar meanes to do with me?
Dol. I am loath to tell you what, I would you knew.
3330Cleo. Nay pray you sir.
Dol. Though he be Honourable.
Cleo. Hee'l leade me then in Triumph.
Dol. Madam he will, I know't.
Flourish.
Enter Proculeius, Cæsar, Gallus, Mecenas,
3335and others of his Traine.
All. Make way there Cæsar.
z z
Cæsar