Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

There was no winter in't: An Autumn 'twas,
That grew the more by reaping. His delights
Were dolphin-like, they fhew'd his back above
The element they liv'd in; in his livery

Walk'd Crowns and Coronets, realms and islands were
As plates dropt from his pocket.

Dol. Cleopatra

Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a man As this I dreamt of?

Dol. Gentle Madam, no.

Cleo. You lye, up to the hearing of the Gods;
But if there be, or ever were one fuch,

It's past the fize of dreaming: Nature wants ftuff
To vie ftrange forms with Fancy, yet t' imagine (37)
An Antony, were Nature's Prize 'gainst Fancy,
Condemning fhadows quite.

Dol. Hear me, good Madam:

Your lofs is as yourself, great; and you bear it,
As anfw'ring to the weight: 'would, I might never
O'er-take purfu'd fuccefs, but I do feel,

By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots
My very heart at root.

Cleo. I thank you, Sir.

Know you, what Cæfar means to do with me?

Change, to reftore an exquifite fine Allufion: which carries its Reafon with it too, why there was no Winter (i. e: no Want, Barennefs,) in his Bounty.

-For his Bounty,

There was no Winter in't: an Autumn 'twas,
That grew the more by reaping.

I ought to take Notice, that the ingenious Dr. Thirlby like wife ftarted this very Emendation, and had mark'd it in the Margine of his Book. The Reafon of the Depravation might eafily arife from the great Similitude of the two Words in the old way of spelling, Antonie and Automne.

(37)

-Yet t'imagine

An Antony were Nature's piece, 'gainst Fancy,
Condemning Shadows quite.]

The pointing of this obfcure Paffage was rectified, and the chang-
Piece into Prize made, by Mr. Warburton.

ing

Dol

Dol. I'm loth to tell you, what I would you knew.
Cleo. Nay, pray you, Sir.

Dol. Though he be honourable-
Cleo. He'll lead me in triumph?
Dol. Madam, he will, I know't.

All. Make way there,

-Cæfar.

Enter Cæfar, Gallus, Mecenas, Proculeius, and Attendants.

Caf. Which is the Queen of Egypt?

Dol. It is the Emperor, Madam.
Caf. Arife, you shall not kneel:

[Cleo. kneels.

I pray you, rife, rife, Egypt.
Cleo. Sir, the Gods

Will have it thus; my mafter and my Lord
I must obey.

Caf. Take to you no hard thoughts:
The record of what injuries you did us,
Though written in our flesh, we fhall remember
As things but done by chance.

Cleo. Sole Sir o'th' world,

I cannot project mine own cause so well
To make it clear, but do confefs, I have

Been laden with like frailties, which before
Have often fham'd our Sex.

Caf. Cleopatra, know,

We will extenuate rather than inforce :

If you apply yourself to our intents,

(Which tow'rds you are moft gentle) you shall find A benefit in this Change; but if

you

To lay on me a cruelty, by taking

feek

Antony's courfe, you fhall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that deftruction which I'll guard them from,

If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

1

Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours;

and we,

Your fcutcheons, and your figns of Conqueft, fhall Hang in what place you pleafe. Here, my good Lord.

Caf. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.

Cleo.

Cleo. This is the brief of mony, plate, and jewels 'tis exactly valued, (38)

I am poffeft of–

Not petty things omitted

Sel. Here, Madam.

where's Seleucus?

Cleo. This is my treasurer, let him fpeak, my Lord, Upon his peril, that I have referv'd

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam, 1 had rather feal my lips,
Than to my peril fpeak that which is not.
Cleo. What have I kept back ?

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known.
Caf. Nay, blufh not, Cleopatra; I approve
Your wifdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cafar! Oh, behold,

How Pomp is follow'd: mine will now be yours,
And, fhould we shift eftates, yours would be mine.
Th' ingratitude of this Seleucus do's

Ev'n make me wild. Oh flave, of no more Truft Than love that's hir'd-What, goeft thou back? thou fhalt

Go back, I warrant thee: but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings. Slave, foul-lefs villain, dog, O rarely bafe!

Caf. Good Queen, let us intreat you.

Cleo. O Cafar, what a wounding fhame is this, That thou, vouchfafing here to vifit me,

(38)

-'Tis exactly valued,

Not petty Things admitted.]

Sagacious Editors! Cleopatra gives in a Lift of her Wealth, fays, 'tis exactly valued, but that petty Things are not admitted in this Lift: and then the appeals to her Treasurer, to vouch, that she has referv'd Nothing to herfelf. Nay, and when he betrays her in this Point, fhe is reduced to the fhift of exclaiming against the Ingratitude of Servants to a Prince in his Decline, and of making Apologies for having fecreted certain Trifles. What Confiftency is there in fuch a Conduct? And who does not fee, that we ought to read ?

'Tis exactly valued;

Not petty Things omitted.

For this Declaration lays open her Falfhood; and makes her angry, when her Treasurer detects her in a direct Lye,

Doing the honour of thy Lordlinefs

To one fo weak, that mine own fervant should
Parcel the fum of my difgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cafar,
That I fome lady-trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys, things of fuch Dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation, muft I be unfolded
By one that I have bred? the Gods!-

-it fmites me

Beneath the Fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;

Or I fhall fhew the cinders of my fpirits

Through th' afhes of my chance; wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

Caf. Forbear, Seleucus.

Cleo. Be't known, that we the Greatest are mifthought

For things that others do; and, when we fall,

We answer others' merits, in our names

Are therefore to be pitied.

Caf. Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i'th' roll of Conqueft, ftill be't yours;

Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe,

Cafar's no merchant to make prize with you

Of things that merchants fold. Therefore, be cheer'd:

Make not your thoughts your prifons; no, dear Queen,

For we intend fo to dispose you, as

Yourself fhall give us counfel: feed, and sleep.

Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu.

Cleo. My mafter, and my Lord!

Caf. Not fo:-adieu, [Exeunt Cæfar and his train.
Cleo. He words me, Girls, he words me,

That I should not be noble to myself.

But hark thee, Charmian.

[ocr errors]

[Whispers Charmian,

Iras. Finish, good lady, the bright day is done,

And we are for the dark.

3

Cleo.

Cleo. Hie thee again.

I've spoke already, and it is provided;

Go put it to the haste.

Char. Madam, I will.

[Exit Charm.

Enter Dolabella.

Dol. Where is the Queen?

Char. Behold, Sir.

Cleo. Dolabella.

Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn, by your Command, Which my love makes religion to obey,

I tell you this Cæfar through Syria

Intends his journey, and, within three days,
You with your children will he fend before;
Make your best use of this. I have perform'd
Your pleasure and my promise.

Cleo. Dolabella,

I fhall remain your debtor.

Dol. I your fervant.

Adieu, good Queen; I muft attend on Cafar.

[Exit.

Cleo. Farewel, and thanks. Now, Iras, what think’st

thou?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, fhalt be fhewn
In Rome as well as I: mechanick flaves

With greafy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,
Rank of grofs diet, fhall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras. The Gods forbid!

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: faucy lictors Will catch at us like ftrumpets, and fcall'd rhimers Ballad us out-o'-tune. The quick Comedians Extemp❜rally will stage us, and present

Our Alexandrian revels: Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall fee
Some fqueaking Cleopatra boy my Greatness,

I'th' posture of a whore.

Iras. O the good Gods!

Cleo. Nay, that's certain.

Iras. I'll never fee it; for, I'm fure, my

nails

« ZurückWeiter »