Enter EUPHRONIUS, ambassador from Antony. Cæs. Approach, and speak. Euph. Such as I am, I come from Antony: As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf Cæs. Be't so: declare thine office. IO Euph. Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted, To let him breathe between the heavens and earth, Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness; Now hazarded to thy grace. Cæs. Cæs. 20 Bring him through the bands. [Exit Euphronius. [To Thyreus] To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: dispatch; From Antony win Cleopatra: promise, And in our name, what she requires; add more, In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure 30 The ne'er-touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thy reus; Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Thyr. Cæsar, I go. Cæs. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,* And what thou think'st his very action speaks In every power that moves. *Conforms to breach of fortune. Cæsar, I shall. [Exeunt. Thyr. SCENE XIII. Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and IRAS. Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus? Eno. Think, and die. Cleo. Is Antony or we in fault for this? Eno. Antony only, that would make his will Frighted each other? why should he follow? ΙΟ Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point, Cleo. Prithee, peace. Enter ANTONY with EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador. Ant. Is that his answer? Euph. Ay, my lord. Ant. The queen shall then have courtesy, so she Will yield us up. Euph. Ant. He says so. Let her know't. To the boy Cæsar send this grizzled head, Cleo. That head, my lord? 19 Ant. To him again: tell him he wears the rose Of youth upon him; from which the world should note Something particular: his coin, ships, legions, May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail Under the service of a child as soon As i' the command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore To lay his gay comparisons apart, And answer me declined, sword against sword, 29 [Exeunt Antony and Euphronius. To suffer all alike. That he should dream, His judgement too. Att. Enter an Attendant. A messenger from Cæsar. Cleo. What, no more ceremony? See, my women! Against the blown rose may they stop their nose That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir. 40 [Exit Attendant. [Aside] Mine honesty and I begin to Eno. * square.* *Quarrel. Does conquer him that did his master conquer, Cleo. Enter THYREUS. Cæsar's will? None but friends: say boldly. Thyr. Hear it apart. Cleo. Thyr. So, haply, are they friends to Antony. Eno. He needs as many, sir, as Cæsar has; Or needs not us. If Cæsar please, our master 50 Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know Whose he is we are, and that is, Cæsar's. Thyr. So. Thus then, thou most renown'd: Cæsar entreats, Not to consider in what case thou stand'st, Further than he is Cæsar. Cleo. Go on: right royal. Thyr. He knows that you embrace not Antony As you did love, but as you fear'd him. Cleo. O! Thyr. The scars upon your honour, therefore, he Does pity, as constrained blemishes, Not as deserved. Cleo. He is a god, and knows 60 What is most right: mine honour was not yielded, But conquer'd merely. Eno. [Aside] To be sure of that, I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky, [Exit. Thyr. Shall I say to Cæsar What you require of him? for he partly begs To be desired to give. It much would please him, That of his fortunes you should make a staff To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits, To hear from me you had left Antony, And put yourself under his shrowd, The universal landlord. Cleo. What's your name? Thyr. My name is Thyreus. 70 Most kind messenger, Say to great Cæsar this: in deputation I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt Thyr. 'Tis your noblest course. Wisdom and fortune combating together, If that the former dare but what it can, No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay My duty on your hand. Cleo. Your Cæsar's father oft, When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in, As it rain'd kisses. Ant. Re-enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS. Favours, by Jove that thunders! What art thou, fellow? 80 Thyr. One that but performs The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest To have command obey'd. Eno. 89 [Aside] You will be whipp'd. Ant. Approach, there! Ah, you kite! Now, gods and devils! Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried 'Ho!' Like boys unto a muss,* kings would start forth, And cry 'Your will?' Have you no ears? Antony yet. Enter Attendants. I am *Scramble. Take hence this Jack,† and whip him. Eno. [Aside] 'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp Than with an old one dying. †Mean fellow. Moon and stars! Ant. Whip him. Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries That do acknowledge Cæsar, should I find them So saucy with the hand of she here,-what's her name, Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows, Ant. [Exeunt Attendants with Thyreus. You were half blasted ere I knew you: ha! Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome, Forborne the getting of a lawful race, And by a gem of women, to be abused By one that looks on feeders ?* *Servants. IIO Cleo. Good my lord,Ant. You have been a boggler ever: But when we in our viciousness grow hardO misery on 't!-the wise gods seel* our eyes: In our own filth drop our clear judgements; make us Adore our errors; laugh at 's, while we strut To our confusion. *Close. |