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  • Title: Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Randall Martin

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-433-2

    Copyright Randall Martin. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Randall Martin
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

    366The Tragedie of
    Caes. Which is the Queene of Egypt.
    Dol. It is the Emperor Madam. Cleo. kneeles.
    Caesar. 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,
    Caesar. 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.
    Caesar. 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.
    3365Caesar. 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
    Caesar. Nay blush not Cleopatra, I approue
    Your Wisedome in the deede.
    Cleo. See Caesar: 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!
    Caesar. Good Queene, let vs intreat you.
    Cleo. O Caesar, 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 Caesar)
    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.
    Caesar. 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.
    Caesar. 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
    3415Caesars 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.
    Caesar. Not so: Adieu. Flourish.
    Exeunt Caesar, 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: Caesar 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 Caesar. Exit
    Cleo. Farewell, and thankes.
    Now Iras, what think'st thou?
    3450Thou, an Egyptian Puppet shall be shewne
    In Rome as well 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.
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