I am poffeft of'tis exactly valued, (38)
Not petty things omitted-where's Seleucus?
Sel. Here, Madam.

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

To my felf nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam, I 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. .. Gef. Nay, blufh not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cafar! Oh, behold,

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

Ev'n make me wild. Oh flave, of no more Trust 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, says, 'tis exactly valued, but that petty Things are not admitted in this Lift: and then the appeals to her Treasurer, to vouch, that he has referv'd Nothing to her felf. Nay, and when he betrays her in this Point, fhe is reduced to the shift 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 lordliness

To one fo weak, that mine own fervant fhould
Parcel the fum of my difgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cafar,
That I fome lady-trifles have referv'd,
Immoment toys, things of fuch Dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and fay,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia aud Octavia, to induce
Their mediation, must 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 would't have mercy on me.

Cef. 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;

Beftow it at your pleafure, 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 difpofe you, as

Your felf fhall give us counfel: feed, and fleep.

Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu.

Cleo. My mafter, and my lord!

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

That I fhould not be noble to my felf.

But hark thee, Charmian.

[Whispers Charmian.

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

And we are for the dark.

Cleo.

Dol. Where is the Queen?

Char. Behold, Sir.

Cleo. Dolabella.

[Exit Charm.

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 ufe 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 Cæfar. [Exit. Cleo. Farewel, and thanks. Now, Iras, what think'ft thou?

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

With greafie 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 moft certain, Iras: fawcy lictors Will catch at us like ftrumpets, and scall'd rhimers Ballad us out-o'-tune. The quick Comedians

Extemp'rally will ftage us, and present

Our Alexandrian revels: Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall 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

Are

Are ftronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that's the way (39)

To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most affur'd intents. Now, Charmian:
Enter Charmian.

Shew me, my women, like a Queen: go fetch
My best attires. I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go-
Now, noble Charmian, we'll dispatch indeed;
And when thou'ft done this chare, I'll give thee leave
To play till dooms-day-bring our Crown, and all.
[A noife within.

Wherefore this noise?

Enter a Guardsman.

Guards. Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be deny'd your Highness' presence;

He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an inftrument

[Exit Guardfman.

May do a noble deed!-he brings me liberty.
My refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
Of woman in me; now from head to foot
I'm marble conftant: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

(39)

Why, that's the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most abfurd Intents.]

As plaufible as this Epithet may at firft Glance appear, I have great Sufpicions of it. Why fhould Cleopatra call Cafar's Defigns abfurd? She could not think his Intent of carrying her in Triumph, such, with regard to his own Glory: and her finding an Expedient to disappoint him, could not bring it under that predicament. I much rather think, the Poet wrote;

and to conquer

Their most affur'd Intents.

i. e. the Purposes, which they are most determin'd to put in practice; make Themselves most sure of accomplishing.

VOL. VII.

I

Enter

Enter Guardfman, and Clown with a basket. Guards. This is the man.

Cleo. Avoid and leave him.

[Exit Guardsman.

Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,
That kills and pains not?

Clown. Truly, I have him: but I would not be the party should defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal: thofe, that do die of it, do feldom or

never recover.

ho

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have dy'd on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday, a very neft woman, but fomething given to lie, as a woman fhould not do, but in the way of honefty. How the dy'd of the biting of it, what pain the felt! truly, the makes a very good report o'th' worm: but he, that will believe all that they fay, fhall never be faved by half that they do: but this is moft fallible, the worm's an odd worm.

Clee. Get thee hence, farewel.

Clorun. I wish you all joy of the worm.

Cleo. Farewel.

Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.

Cleo. Ay, ay, farewel.

Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trufted but in the keeping of wife people; for, indeed, where is no goodness in the worm.

Cleo. Take thou no care, it fhall be heeded.

Clown. Very good give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.

Cleo. Will it eat me?

Clown. You must not think, I am so fimple, but I know, the devil himself will not eat a woman: I know, that a woman is a difh for the Gods, if the devil drefs her not. But, truly, these fame whore-fon devils do the Gods great harm in their women! for, in every ten that they make, the devils mar five.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone, farewel.

Clown.