3205To do that thing that ends all other deeds,

3206Which shackles accedents, and bolts vp change;

3207Which sleepes, and neuer pallates more the dung,

3208The beggers Nurse, and Caesars.

3210Pro. Caesar sends greeting to the Queene of Egypt,

3211And bids thee study on what faire demands

3212Thou mean'st to haue him grant thee.

3213Cleo. What's thy name?

3214Pro. My name is Proculeius.

3215Cleo. Anthony

3216Did tell me of you, bad me trust you, but

3217I do not greatly care to be deceiu'd

3218That haue no vse for trusting. If your Master

3219Would haue a Queece his begger, you must tell him,

3220That Maiesty to keepe decorum, must

3221No lesse begge then a Kingdome: If he please

3222To giue me conquer'd Egypt for my Sonne,

3223He giues me so much of mine owne, as I

3224Will kneele to him with thankes.

3225Pro. Be of good cheere:

3226Y'are falne into a Princely hand, feare nothing,

3227Make your full reference freely to my Lord,

3228Who is so full of Grace, that it flowes ouer

3229On all that neede. Let me report to him

3230Your sweet dependacie, and you shall finde

3231A Conqueror that will pray in ayde for kindnesse,

3232Where he for grace is kneel'd too.

3233Cleo. Pray you tell him,

3234I am his Fortunes Vassall, and I send him

3235The Greatnesse he has got. I hourely learne

3236A Doctrine of Obedience, and would gladly

3237Looke him i'th'Face.

3238Pro. This Ile report (deere Lady)

3239Haue comfort, for I know your plight is pittied

3240Of him that caus'd it.

3241Pro. You see how easily she may be surpriz'd:

3242Guard her till Caesar come.

3243Iras. Royall Queene.

3244Char. Oh Cleopatra, thou art taken Queene.

3245Cleo. Quicke, quicke, good hands.

3246Pro. Hold worthy Lady, hold:

3247Doe not your selfe such wrong, who are in this

3248Releeu'd, but not betraid.

3249Cleo. What of death too that rids our dogs of languish

3250Pro. Cleopatra, do not abuse my Masters bounty, by

3251Th'vndoing of your selfe: Let the World see

3252His Noblenesse well acted, which your death

3253Will neuer let come forth.

3254Cleo. Where art thou Death?

3255Come hither come; Come, come, and take a Queene

3256Worth many Babes and Beggers.

3257Pro. Oh temperance Lady.

3258Cleo. Sir, I will eate no meate, Ile not drinke sir,

3259If idle talke will once be necessary

3260Ile not sleepe neither. This mortall house Ile ruine,

3261Do Caesar what he can. Know sir, that I

3262Will not waite pinnion'd at your Masters Court,

3263Nor once be chastic'd with the sober eye

3264Of dull Octauia. Shall they hoyst me vp,

3265And shew me to the showting Varlotarie

3266Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt.

3267Be gentle graue vnto me, rather on Nylus mudde

3268Lay me starke-nak'd, and let the water-Flies

3269Blow me into abhorring; rather make

3270My Countries high pyramides my Gibbet,

3271And hang me vp in Chaines.

3272Pro. You do extend

3273These thoughts of horror further then you shall

3274Finde cause in Caesar.

3276Dol. Proculeius,

3277What thou hast done, thy Master Caesar knowes,

3278And he hath sent for thee: for the Queene,

3279Ile take her to my Guard.

3280Pro. So Dolabella,

3281It shall content me best: Be gentle to her,

3282To Caesar I will speake, what you shall please,

3283If you'l imploy me to him. Exit Proculeius

3284Cleo. Say, I would dye.

3285Dol. Most Noble Empresse, you haue heard of me.

3286Cleo. I cannot tell.

3287Dol. Assuredly you know me.

3288Cleo. No matter sir, what I haue heard or knowne:

3289You laugh when Boyes or Women tell their Dreames,

3290Is't not your tricke?

3291Dol. I vnderstand not, Madam.

3292Cleo. I dreampt there was an Emperor Anthony.

3293Oh such another sleepe, that I might see

3294But such another man.

3295Dol. If it might please ye.

3296Cleo. His face was as the Heau'ns, and therein stucke

3297A Sunne and Moone, which kept their course, & lighted

3298The little o'th'earth.

3299Dol. Most Soueraigne Creature.

3300Cleo. His legges bestrid the Ocean, his rear'd arme

3301Crested the world: His voyce was propertied

3302As all the tuned Spheres, and that to Friends:

3303But when he meant to quaile, and shake the Orbe,

3304He was as ratling Thunder. For his Bounty,

3305There was no winter in't. An Anthony it was,

3306That grew the more by reaping: His delights

3307Were Dolphin-like, they shew'd his backe aboue

3308The Element they liu'd in: In his Liuery

3309Walk'd Crownes and Crownets: Realms & Islands were

3310As plates dropt from his pocket.

3311Dol. Cleopatra.

3312Cleo. Thinke you there was, or might be such a man

3313As this I dreampt of?

3314Dol. Gentle Madam, no.

3315Cleo. You Lye vp to the hearing of the Gods:

3316But if there be, nor euer were one such

3317It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuffe

3318To vie strange formes with fancie, yet t'imagine

3319An Anthony were Natures peece, 'gainst Fancie,

3320Condemning shadowes quite.

3321Dol. Heare me, good Madam:

3322Your losse is as your selfe, great; and you beare it

3323As answering to the waight, would I might neuer

3324Ore-take pursu'de successe: But I do feele

3325By the rebound of yours, a greefe that suites

3326My very heart at roote.

3327Cleo. I thanke you sir:

3328Know you what Caesar meanes to do with me?

3329Dol. I am loath to tell you what, I would you knew.

3330Cleo. Nay pray you sir.

3331Dol. Though he be Honourable.

3332Cleo. Hee'l leade me then in Triumph.

3333Dol. Madam he will, I know't. Flourish.

3336All. Make way there Caesar.

z z Caesar