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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
366
The Tragedie of
Cæs. Which is the Queene of Egypt.
Dol. It is the Emperor Madam.
Cleo. kneeles.
Cæsar. Arise, you shall not kneele:
3340I pray you rise, rise Egypt.
Cleo. Sir, the Gods will haue it thus,
My Master and my Lord I must obey,
Cæsar. Take to you no hard thoughts,
The Record of what iniuries you did vs,
3345Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.
Cleo. Sole Sir o'th'World,
I cannot proiect mine owne cause so well
To make it cleare, but do confesse I haue
3350Bene laden with like frailties, which before
Haue often sham'd our Sex.
Cæsar. Cleopatra know,
We will extenuate rather then inforce:
If you apply your selfe to our intents,
3355Which towards you are most gentle, you shall finde
A benefit in this change: but if you seeke
To lay on me a Cruelty, by taking
Anthonies course, you shall bereaue your selfe
Of my good purposes, and put your children
3360To that destruction which Ile guard them from,
If thereon you relye. Ile take my leaue.
Cleo. And may through all the world: tis yours, & we
your Scutcheons, and your signes of Conquest shall
Hang in what place you please. Here my good Lord.
3365Cæsar. You shall aduise me in all for Cleopatra.
Cleo. This is the breefe: of Money, Plate, & Iewels
I am possest of, 'tis exactly valewed,
Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?
Seleu. Heere Madam.
3370Cleo. This is my Treasurer, let him speake (my Lord)
Vpon his perill, that I haue reseru'd
To my selfe nothing. Speake the truth Seleucus.
Seleu. Madam, I had rather seele my lippes,
Then to my perill speake that which is not.
3375Cleo. What haue I kept backe.
Sel. Enough to purchase what you haue made known
Cæsar. Nay blush not Cleopatra, I approue
Your Wisedome in the deede.
Cleo. See Cæsar: Oh behold,
3380How pompe is followed: Mine will now be yours,
And should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
The ingratitude of this Seleucus, does
Euen make me wilde. Oh Slaue, of no more trust
Then loue that's hyr'd? What goest thou backe, yu shalt
3385Go backe I warrant thee: but Ile catch thine eyes
Though they had wings. Slaue, Soule-lesse, Villain, Dog.
O rarely base!
Cæsar. Good Queene, let vs intreat you.
Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this,
3390That thou vouchsafing heere to visit me,
Doing the Honour of thy Lordlinesse
To one so meeke, that mine owne Seruant should
Parcell the summe of my disgraces, by
Addition of his Enuy. Say (good Cæsar)
3395That I some Lady trifles haue reseru'd,
Immoment toyes, things of such Dignitie
As we greet moderne Friends withall, and say
Some Nobler token I haue kept apart
For Liuia and Octauia, to induce
3400Their mediation, must I be vnfolded
With one that I haue bred: The Gods! it smites me
Beneath the fall I haue. Prythee go hence,

Or I shall shew the Cynders of my spirits
Through th'Ashes of my chance: Wer't thou a man,
3405Thou would'st haue mercy on me.
Cæsar. Forbeare Seleucus.
Cleo. Be it known, that we the greatest are mis-thoght
For things that others do: and when we fall,
We answer others merits, in our name
3410Are therefore to be pittied.
Cæsar. Cleopatra,
Not what you haue reseru'd, nor what acknowledg'd
Put we i'th' Roll of Conquest: still bee't yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure, and beleeue
3415Cæsars no Merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that Merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd,
Make not your thoughts your prisons: No deere Queen,
For we intend so to dispose you, as
Your selfe shall giue vs counsell: Feede, and sleepe:
3420Our care and pitty is so much vpon you,
That we remaine your Friend, and so adieu.
Cleo. My Master, and my Lord.
Cæsar. Not so: Adieu.
Flourish.
Exeunt Cæsar, and his Traine.
3425Cleo. He words me Gyrles, he words me,
That I should not be Noble to my selfe.
But hearke thee Charmian.
Iras. Finish good Lady, the bright day is done,
And we are for the darke.
3430Cleo. Hye thee againe,
I haue spoke already, and it is prouided,
Go put it to the haste.
Char. Madam, I will.
Enter Dolabella.
3435Dol. Where's the Queene?
Char. Behold sir.
Cleo. Dolabella.
Dol. Madam, as thereto sworne, by your command
(Which my loue makes Religion to obey)
3440I tell you this: Cæsar through Syria
Intends his iourney, and within three dayes,
You with your Children will he send before,
Make your best vse of this. I haue perform'd
Your pleasure, and my promise.
3445Cleo. Dolabella, I shall remaine your debter.
Dol. I your Seruant:
Adieu good Queene, I must attend on Cæsar.
Exit
Cleo. Farewell, and thankes.
Now Iras, what think'st thou?
3450Thou, an Egyptian Puppet shall be shewne
In Rome aswell as I: Mechanicke Slaues
With greazie Aprons, Rules, and Hammers shall
Vplift vs to the view. In their thicke breathes,
Ranke of grosse dyet, shall we be enclowded,
3455And forc'd to drinke their vapour.
Iras. The Gods forbid.
Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certaine Iras: sawcie Lictors
Will catch at vs like Strumpets, and scald Rimers
Ballads vs out a Tune. The quicke Comedians
3460Extemporally will stage vs, and present
Our Alexandrian Reuels: Anthony
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra Boy my greatnesse
I'th'posture of a Whore.
3465Iras. O the good Gods!
Cleo. Nay that's certaine.
Iras. Ile neuer see't? for I am sure mine Nailes
Are stronger then mine eyes.
Cleo.