I am poffeft of'tis exactly valued, (38) 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. 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, 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 By one that I have bred? the Gods!it fmites me Through th' afhes of my chance: wert thou a man, Cef. Forbear, Seleucus.. Cleo. Be't known, that we the Greatest are mifthought For things that others do; and, when we fall, 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, 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 With greafie aprons, rules, and hammers, shall 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 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 Shew me, my women, like a Queen: go fetch 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. (39) Why, that's the way 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, 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. |