discipline they keep Through the whole Camp that neither wine nor sleep Betray us to surprize thô peace seem near Wise Pilots at the Port a tempest fear Mecoen Great Sir your Souldiers find they have to do Not with a rude unarm'd and barb'rous Crew But Romans like themselves in Conquest bred And next your self by the best Captain led Their jealousie of Fame and Love for you Will make 'em any thing forbear or do A shout of joy Enter Agrippa Agrip. Antonius Legions newly are arriv'd And through the Camp are with loud joy receiv'd Tir'd with his impotent and distant sway They now Great Sir will you alone obey Caes. Then vanish all his hopes and all my fears In my whole sky of Fate no Cloud appears That one black corner did a tempest threat Agrip. You much are to Photinus care in debt Him in the Camp when I arriv'd I found Caes. Yee Gods why am I to a Villain bound Tell my new friends I their arrears will pay A Roman Emperor they still obey Mecoen Antonius now will any Laws receive What from weak Foes we do not take we give Demand the Roman Legions yet behind And that his pow'r to Asia be confin'd Caes. The man was once my Friend my Brother still What are these thoughts that wou'd ambition chill Mecoen Forget that name he has deserv'd so ill The spoil of Egypt will the VVar defray For a meer peace Rome will repine to pay Enter Octavia Him brother let Aegyptian Princes call He has no Interest in your blood at all Since the best Ty he slights and in her place Does a less fair Aegyptian Queen embrace Oct. Pernicious Counceller that does foment A War all but the Parthians wou'd prevent My Wrongs shall never thy Ambition hide I 'le tear the Masque of pity from thy pride I thought thee once deserving thy great place Of Tuscan Kings sprung from the glorious race But thou art false cruel and bloody now That open hatred thou durst never show To my dear Lord does still in malice lurk And on this dire Occasion seeks to work Caes. Sister your Husband I would but reclaim And make him worthy of your virtuous flame His present life does his past glory stain He makes a Queen the Partner of his raign The Roman Empire he does much deface And with the Spoil adorns her foraign race Arabia where the Nabatheans live And part of Syria he did lately give To their new issue one he stiles the Moon To name the other he profanes the Sun Oct. If he has given much he conquer'd more His valour for his bounty found the store And pardon somewhat on a Sisters score Caes. The names of Emperor and Queen they scorn And like immortal Gods themselves adorn He does for Bacchus she for Isis pass And in their shapes the wond'ring Crowd amaze Oct. To Gods of their own honour leave the Care Since they both Jealous and Almighty are I fear so high you 'l my concernments press You 'l break on that you never can redress Caes. I understand no Riddles but he shall Do my Octavia sudden right or fall The rest I cou'd with small excuse forgive But under this affront I cannot live Oct. You say his other faults you cou'd forgive Caes. Empire's our real quarrel but I must Aside Her virtuous Mind with no such secret trust I could Oct. Then that pretence I 'le thus remove and dy Stabs her self Mec. interposes Still more inhumane must I then remain The cover of your Pride and Lust to reign Thô I were dead you might your ends pursue But let me vanish from the painful view Mec. Not for the World such virtue shou'd not dy But be intire translated to the Sky Caes. I Sister your late rashness can forgive So you henceforth will promise me to live Mecoenas see remov'd all means of Death Let Nature and not rage conclude her breath Ex. Caesar Agrippa c. Oct. Peace to the World and my unhappy Lord My Brother but for you wou'd soon afford Mec. Condemn not actions till you know their end But mine perhaps will then but more offend Oct. I know you 'l say 't is brave to rule alone That my great Brother wou'd become that Throne And raising him you in proportion rise But still remember there are Deities Above you both just pow'rful and wise Mec. Ambition never overturn'd my mind I am already more then I design'd Oct. Why do you then the general peace oppose 'T is Avarice or Ambition makes Men foes Mec. I Madam wou'd some marks of courage show And what I durst for my great Master do Oct. Romans of courage need no other proof Since to be born a Roman is enough Mec. 'T is truth but yet Oct. Some unjust pique you bear My dearest Lord you cannot well declare But good Mecoena's for such once you were T' obstruct this Treaty for my sake forbear Mec. 'T is for your sake alone it must not be Oct. If it be good for Rome regard not Me. Mec. Y' are Sister to my Emperor and Friend My utmost care must your concerns attend I do not as you think confusion seek Nor keep I to your Lord a secret pique But if this Treaty be confirm'd to day I must at Rome and you in Asia stay Oct. It is the part of the whole World I 'd chuse And gaining Him what is 't I care to loose Mec. Ah Madam seem less virtuous or less fair Who can behold you and not vengeance sware Such suffering goodness will mankind ingage And on Antonius pull their publick rage Oct. This to the Sister of your Emperor Mec. This to the only Beauty I adore Beyond my patience you have rackt my Breast And my deep guilt at last must be confest I love you Madam Oct. My next request you 'l then not disallow Mec. Speak it and I a blind Obedience vow Oct. Let me then die for I have liv'd too long And heard of Love in my Antonius wrong Mec. Not in his wrong I 'le the reversion wait And live like Heirs in hope of an Estate Oct. Your word is past recall My Death I claim Mec. From me who both your Guard and Lover am Oct. I not the stroak but means of Death require By my own hand I noblest shall expire Will you then promise to promote the peace Mec. You offer poison to my known Disease But from those hands I nothing can refuse I 'le ruine all my hopes so you will live Oct. Yes I will live but not an hour survive My dear Antonius him you must preserve If ought you from Octavia would deserve Ex. Mec. Whom whilst he lives I never can enjoy And if he dies she will her self destroy I am undone obey or disobey I needs must perish but may chose my way Ex. omnes ACT. III. Scene the First Caesars Tents Enter Caesar Mecoenas Agrippa Caesar. THe Asians now with double Taxes prest His slothful Days and drunken Nights detest Buffoons and
those eyes Cleop. To them you never were more dear than now A manly look over your sorrows throw The Captain of my Gallies I have try'd And for his cowardice the Villain di'd With him die all remembrance of what 's past I my Caesarion have toward India sent This day Antillus to Armenia went What Merchant in one Ship wou'd venture all They may survive and so revenge our fall Ant. 'T is well they 're gone their youth was useless here And we for them more than our selves shou'd fear He spies Seleucus 's Son Cleop. See here the false Seleucus only Son On whom I beg quick justice may be done His fathers Treason might on me reflect Shou'd I the Son from your reveng protect My love and honour let his death secure The shortest doubt they neither can endure Ant. None dares be impious to that degree To lay on you the Villains treachery Now my revenge I cannot execute Lest I shou'd seem your virtue to dispute Cleop. You doubt me not I know but others may Let his death take their jealousie away Can. She safely may the cruel offer make apart Which she well knows Antonius will not take Ant. He must not die nor is it true revenge When the offenders suffer by exchange The youth it seems is not Seleucus care Or our resentment thus he wou'd not dare Cleop. Let him at least for an example die Princes invite who pardon treachery Ant. 'T were cruelty to kill the Innocent For Crimes they neither knew nor cou'd prevent I beg his life my Queen Cleop. You may command Or Life or Death at Cleopatra's hand We who but now might halfe the World command Are overthrown at Sea besieg'd at Land Each hour the news of some fresh Treason brings From Faithless States or from revolted Kings Ant. Let those Crown'd Slaves from out our Party go A Treach'rous Friend will be a Tim'rous Foe Cleop. The Plains about are cover'd with our Foes Hiding the Earth as when our Nile o're-flows Yet sate I in Antonius Courage rest As if that Heart he gave me fill'd my Breast Ant. When Brutus this Octavius over-threw In a pitch'd Field I Cassius did subdue And turn'd the Fortune of that fatal day Which thus ungrateful Rome and He repay But here remaining I those Legions loose Which all commands but from my Mouth refuse Cleop. They ever us'd Canidius to obey May he not go and my Antonius stay For you my Peoples love and more I lost Must I not keep what has so dearly cost Ant. Ah Madam you shou'd take the weakest part And help a Lover to defend his Heart Thô swounding Men with ease resign their Breath Their careful Friends still pull 'm back from Death You should my Lethargy of Honour chide And drive me thô unwilling from your side Die at your Feet the meanest Lover might But in your quarrel the whole World shall fight Cleop. If I am Captive to the Romans made Surpriz'd in this weak place or else betray'd Think not I 'le live to be redeem'd again And like a Slave of my proud Lords complain At the first Dawn of my ill Fate I 'le die Ant. O name not Death we ' l meet in Triumph here I 'le raise the Siege e're you have time to fear Cleop. But then your Love in absence will it last Men think of joys to come and slight the past Ant. My Heart shall like those Trees the East does show Where Blossomes and ripe Fruit hang on one Bough With new desires soft hopes at once be prest And all those Riper Joys Love gives the blest Courage and Love shall sway each in their turn I 'le fight to conquer conquer to return Seeming Ambitious to the publick view I 'le make my private end and dearer You. This Storm once past in Peace and Love we 'l Raign Like the Immortal Gods the Giants slain Cleop. Moments to absent Lovers tedious grow 'T is not how time but how the mind does go And once Antonius wou'd have thought so too Ant. Dearer than ever think not that I part Without the utmost Torment of my Heart Whil'st you perswade your danger chides my stay Make me not cast me and your Self away How well I lov'd you did at Actium see When to be near you I left Victory And chose to be companion of your flight Rather than conquer in a distant Fight Press not that heart you know so well too far Our Fortune will no second frailty bear Cleop. The truest Misers choose to sit about And tell their wealth but dare not trust it out I know as well as you 't is fit you go Yet what is best I cannot let you do Ant. For my attendance I some few will take All other Romans of your Guard I make Cleop. If you must go it quickly shall appear My love sought this delay and not my fear When you attaque we 'l sally from the Town And blood instead of Nile our Plain shall drown We 'l in the midst of Caesar's Army meet And like Bellona I my Mars will greet Ant. VVou'd Goddesses themselves to me endear In Cleopatra's shape they must appear Cleop. My heart can danger though not absence bear To Love 't is VVax but Adamant to Fear Ant. Mine has such Courage from your Firmness took That I can almost bear a parting look Cleop. Take it and each unto their charge make haste Ant. Our hardest victory I hope is past Exeunt omnes ACT II. Scene the First The Town Enter Antonius Canidius Ant. EMpire and Glory both farewell Come shame And shed thy Venom on Antonius Name VVither the Lawrels on his Brows and teach The VVorld to scorn its most inglorious VVretch Forsaken in the choicest hour of time My hopes and resolutions in their prime Honor my Queen and I Dictator made And all his rough Commands cou'd have obey'd Love for a while we purpose to dethrone As Mariners in Storms their Sails take down Can Romans thus their General forsake Can. They urg'd want of Provision and of Pay Ant. Both which had been redrest without delay Th' obliging Queen Can. VVhom you may thank for this Their general Discontent at her was lowd But Souldiers are a rude uncivil Crowd Play'rs and Minstrels Singers and Buffoons Are the great Instruments and Props of Thrones I my old Legions to your Aid have brought Firm to your Side not tainted in a Thought They say Photinus in the Camp was seen And that he was imploy'd there by the Queen Ant. At a revolt so strange I am surpriz'd Can. Pray Heaven it were not in the Town devis'd Your upright Nature stoops not to Descry The low and subtil ways of Treachery Thô you may fail She can't Beauty will find Victorious and young Monarchs ever kind Ant. Your honest meaning does your life protect Presume no more her vertue to suspect Can. May I not say Photinus is a Knave Ant. Tax not the man unless good proof you have Enter Photinus pursued by
fierce Convulsion did endure And in the pain I talkt I know not what But rest for ever of that heart secure Where too much Love did the short storm create Enter a Servant Serv. The Castle is beset and all have vow'd To stain their VVeapons in your treacherous blood Phot. Step in a while They that will rise must wait And at each Throw assist their lab'ring fate Ex. Iras. Let 'em all enter no resistance make I can die gladly for my Country's sake Enter Memnon and Chilax with the Rabble What is 't my honest Countrymen demand You need not ask with weapons in your hand Memn Thou hast thy Country to a lasting VVar betray'd Chil. And therefore for thy death prepare Phot. VVho I alas I but my Queen obey'd And both were of Antonius pow'r afraid Like you I wisht an opportunity VVhen Egypt was from Roman Forces free That we might then with Caesar make our peace Chil. Now Fate presents it this occasion seize In our Queens absence you the Town command Egypt requires her Freedom at your hand Memn The City Gates against Antonius shut So thou wilt put thy meaning out of doubt Phot. But then our Queen Memn She is Antonius Slave And merits amongst us nor Throne nor Grave This once perform'd be thou our General If not like a faint Slave unpitied fall Offers to run at him Phot. I 'l do unforc't what ever you require But now you bind me to my own desire I ever thought Antonius Cause unblest I did his Riot loath and Loves detest So we did all I think and 't were unjust We shou'd defend who still abhorr'd his lust Let Pimps and Parasites his Battels fight Buffoons and loose Companions of the night Male-Bawds and let that goatish drunken Herd Which made him odious die to make him fear'd Memn Antonius now at Rome despairs of all And seeks to crush our Egypt with his fall But he shall find that some of us still wake Who nothing fear and all dare undertake Chil. Let 's man the Town with all the Force we have Keep out Antonius and our Country save Caesar will hold us Enemies no more But call in Friends and Allyes as before Memn For us the people do in throngs declare Tir'd with the danger and the charge of War Phot. I 'm brav'd here by Canidius at each turn And with revenge and rage like you I burn The mighty Charge I greedily accept Your Town shall be with Faith and Courage kept In your disgrace believe I had no part But honour'd your free Tongue and honest Heart Memn How we were all mistaken in this man Exeunt Scene the Fourth The Gates being shut Enter Antonius Cleopatra Canidius and Attendants Anto. How well my Queen doth this one act reprove My needless Jealousie and shew your Love Cleop. Her whom you not esteem why wou'd you save But thô unjust Antonius still is brave Ant. I not esteem you by the Gods I do As much as Love Cleop. No my Antonius No! You think me all that can a Queen disgrace Lighter than Woman and than Man more base How cou'd I else forsake you in distress Or could Thyreus in a moment please Anto. It was the raging Feaver of my Love And strongest Natures strong Distempers prove Forgive it Madam as my Loves excess Cleop. Had Caesar su'd I had his flame disdain'd And cou'd you think another entertain'd When the whole World shall to his Fortune yield My Heart against your Foe shall keep the Field Anto. On me so thick your obligations fall I must subdue that World to pay 'em all And make proud Rome acknowledge you her Queen Your Glory does demand no less a Scene Canid. 'T is very fine here 's all the Sense he has His Legions Empire all are in that face I do not think he knows he is besieg'd But quite undone talks how he is oblig'd Pray Sir do you consider where we are If we stay long we shall have Caesar here Ant. Were he in sight I 'd not one word forbear Till I did guiltless to my Queen appear Thyreus dying Cleop. Have you kill'd him then I shall be hateful to the Race of men To Cleopatra it is death to speak On him she loves she a swift War does call And those she looks on by Antonius fall Anto. He clear'd your Vertue with his dying Breath Cleop. You stain'd it in the manner of his death Anto. Lovers like Misers cannot bear the stealth Of the least trifle from their endless wealth I saw him kiss your hand for that he dy'd And shou'd had he Ten Thousand lives beside You seem not pleas'd with my revenge enough Cleop. It was too rash and for his crime too rough Anto. T' attempt the spotless Honor of my Queen Is such a Crime as it is death to mean Cleop. He shou'd have liv'd if that he lov'd indeed My Scorn all other Torments might exceed His life had been but one continued pain And mine but one long Act of my disdain But now all means to clear my self are lost You can but think me innocent at most Anto. I from that Viper such an Oyl have wrung As heals that Love which he before had stung Since from a dying Rival's mouth I hear His hope was as ill grounded as my fear He call'd you most Ingrateful as he dy'd Confess'd his Passion and accus'd your Pride What stronger demonstration can be thought Cleop. Could nothing I might say the like have wrought Then vain is all I 've suffer'd and have done My slighted Fame and my endanger'd Throne Can nothing weigh and 't was Thyreus grace That I was clear'd Antonius held me base Anto. O say not so My Love of its own strength Had overcome that jealousie at length To him indeed I owe my speedy Cure Cleop. Are you for ever from relapse secure Anto. I rather will believe all that is strange The whole Sex true than that my Queen can change Enter Souldier from the Town Sould. The Town is lost your Romans kill'd or fled And false Photinus does the Traytor head Memnon and Chilax in bright Arms appear And for Octavius Caesar all declare Anto. Canid. appear with their Army under the Walls and find opposition some that go near are kill'd Anto. Treason before and Enemies behind In such a choice 't were equal to be blind I know not which I shou'd attacque the first I 'm only sure of all Delay 's the worst Storm then the Town with all that we can make E're Caesar see and this advantage take Safe at a distance here my Queen must stay Charge without While we with blood and slaughter force our way They are beat off Canid. It is in vain these Barb'rous Villains dare Not hope for the fair Quarter of a War And are turn'd desperate Anto. We are alike Desperate with them When for the whole both Parties strike Courage must carry 't Charge them once agen Charge Shout Scene the Fifth The Gates drawn open A
shout from the Town Photinus is attacqued from behind Antonius Enters Anto. SPare on your Lives th' unarm'd and meaner sort And all who to Our Clemency resort This easie entrance to some Friend we owe We from within came pouring on the Foe Canid. They are no Traytors till they kill our men And then as vanquish't must be spar'd agen Anto. They 're Cleopatra's Subjects let that be A full Protection in our Victory Enter Lucilius with Photinus Memnon and Chilax Prisoners Lucil. Health to Antonius in whose Cause to fight Is less Lucilius duty than delight Take from my hand your treacherous Enemies And use 'em as your Safety shall advise Memn Traitor 's a name my Vertue cannot brook How cou'd I break a Trust I never took Anto. Armes 'gainst your Lawful Queen are still unjust A Subject born betrays a Native trust But thou Photinus beyond Villains base Whom with her Trust and Friendship she did grace Whom Birth and Fortune both had laid so low To raise thee up again she scarce knew how Only rash Favour whose extravagance Seems yet a blinder Power than that of Chance Remain'd thy Friend Phot. I do confess my Queen From nothing made me all that I have been And much I to Antonius favour owe Whom then should I depend on but you two Anto. We two whom thou didst shut the Town against And to whom now thou but repentance feign'st Phot. From this seditious Rout what cou'd I gain I might not hope in Cleopatra's reign Weigh then my Int'rest by that Scale you 'l find My Crime though great lay never in my mind I shou'd have dy'd I know I wish I had Rather than seem'd to have my Trust betray'd I shou'd have chose their Dagger scorn'd their side It had been past and I had nobly dy'd Chil. O that thou hadst I would have driv'n it home Till forth with the broad point thy Soul had come Phot. Death I have often met in open field With my Sword sent repell'd him with my Shield Surpriz'd defenceless I confess I shook And cou'd not in cold blood his visage brook 'T was all my Crime you Romans only can Serenely and unshaken put oft man We might have known that Party needs must fall Who to his own fear owe their General Phot. Kill me alas I do not ask to live Shou'd you I never cou'd my self forgive Death to my fear is due why shou'd I plead I was no Traytor I was worse afraid Love Faith and Zeal if Resolution fail No more than the faint Glow-worm's Fire avail All that I now repent is that with shame I lose that Life I might have lost with Fame Anto. How cam'st thou to appear in open Arms For thy black Soul has Treachery such Charms Phot. Had I not been their General I had dy'd Death turn'd the Scale and so I took their side Besides I for your Service thought it best I shou'd with them maintain my Interest That at some time unlook't for you might see The good intent of seeming Treachery What greater Blessing can your Arms attend Than t' have your Foes commanded by your Friend I early of Lucilius project knew And from the neighb'ring parts my Arms withdrew That he a Body might of Romans form The great exploit securely to perform Anto. 'T is possible thou mayst be honest yet 't were strange Men still were doubted who but seem to change But say how came this Tumult to begin Phot. The people long have discontented been Curst me aloud and murmur'd at the Queen That to your side so firmly we adher'd And to their Common Peace your Cause preferr'd They said they wou'd not be the Victor's prey But whom they must at last betimes obey And ruine all who stop't 'em in their way Anto. Where were the Souldiers Phot. When she sally'd forth None stay'd who lov'd the Queen or Martial Worth But all the Discontents remain'd behind And had effected what they long design'd Had not those Pow'rs that Treachery prevent To your relief the brave Lucilius sent He in the Town a Band of Romans got And overthrew the Rebels and their Plot. Anto. You then are none of 'em Phot. I was by force But Lucrece ne're cou'd hate vile Tarquin worse Than I these Forcers of my Loyalty Points to the Lords And like her too since not believ'd I 'l dye Memn You durst not dye by an Egyptian Sword What is 't this sudden Courage does afford Phot. I was no Villain thought but now I hate My Life and cou'd rush gladly on my fate And you repent Chil. That e're we trusted thee Slave more uncertain than a Winters Sea Anto. I will believe Death shook thy Loyalty And all thou didst was Fear not Treachery Photinus rise thy frailty I forgive Rises And if thou can'st or dar'st thus branded live But never more a weighty Charge receive Phot. I wou'd live gladly to redeem my Crime 'T is all the benefit I ask of Time Anto. But you Fierce Lords that dare your Soveraign balme And would depose or govern in Her name Shall find what 't is to play with Royalty And fall like Phaeton from the borrow'd Skie Chil. We scorn thy Mercy and our Country love And gladly from her dying Cries remove ACT. V. Scene the First The Palace Enter Antonius Cleopatra Charmion Iras and Attendants Cleop. FOrtune's afresh fond of Antonius grown And has this Minute her old Love put on She calls her wonted Charms into her Face And hugs him With the fierce ardor of a first embrace Anto. Of this success when they at Rome shall hear They 'l change perhaps their Superstitious fear And the ill Omens on my Foe transfer His will the Owl bethought unchas'd away Which upon Concord's Temple braves the day The Ape in Cere's Temple will be His And his defeat the Eight-foot-Dragon hiss The blood my Statue shed will his be thought So are weak minds by Superstition wrought Cleop. What we can't shun 't were better not to know Nor do the Gods maliciously foreshow To make us feel our Fate before it come But men too nicely pry into their doom Anto. Let it fall quick whatever they prepare It is the Thunders voice we cannot bear Blind to our Fate let us both hope and fear But thou Lucilius who do'st still outrun All that we can expect or wish were done Like some kind God thou leap'st into the Scale And turn'st it when all Mortals seem to fail Take from my hand this Armor of clear Gold Let the best Metal the best man enfold Lucil. Me dead or living you anon shall praise Enter Messenger Mess. With his whole Force Octavius Sir moves on 'T is thought on every part he 'l storm the Town Anto. His late defeat then stings the restless Boy And all at once we shall our Swords imploy Let us embrace then each man to his Post We 'l meet no more but Conquerors or Ghosts The World 's at stake my Queen and this short hour Contains the
Fate of all succeeding Pow'r If this one day we can our Fate defer To morrow's Sun will see Ventidius here Victorious Legions to my Aid he brings Flesh't all in Parthian Blood and spoiles of Kings Ex. Anto. Canid. Lucil. Enter Photinus at another Door Cleop. My boading Heart sayes we shall meet no more And sends up thoughts I never knew before My Ears with dismal dying cryes are fill'd And my Eyes grow with ghastly Visions wild Methinks I see Antonius bleeding there And all his Souldiers pale with Death or Fear Charm Your wounded Fancy does these forms create Expect as you deserve a better Fate Cleop. O that betimes he had my Cause forsook Caesar with pity on a Queen must look Defenceless too Winds unoppos'd give o're And but 'mongst Trees and solid Buildings roar The Romans against me declared the War But caught Antonius Vertue in that snare Phot. When two fierce Bulls contend the doubtful Herd Stand gazing by a while of both afear'd But soon as one the fatal strife declines The Captive number with the Victor joyns And so should we Cleop. Yes if meer Brutes we were And knew no Nobler Passion than vile Fear Minutes move slowly when such weight they bear Each now is more important than a year I grow impatient can bear no delay But quickning Fate would through the shell survey Char. The strongest place and nearest is your Tomb Hear good news soon the bad too soon will come Be patient Madam Cleop. Who compos'd can be A Tempest heard and their whole Wealth at Sea Each Pile that flies may pierce Antonius Heart And they in showrs from meeting Romans part Let us move on no matter where you lead A breaking Heart and a distemper'd Head Noise of Arms. Ex. Cleop. Charm Phot. Clashing of Arms I heard and noise of Drums Nearer and nearer the fierce Clangor comes Photinus steals off unseen Enter Antonius Canidius Lucilius as beaten back into the Town Anto. Gape Hell and to thy dismal Bottom take The lost Antonius this was our last Stake Warn'd by my ruine let no Roman more Set Foot on this inhospitable shoar Cowards and Traytors fill this impious Land Faithless and fearful without Heart or Hand Some ran to Caesar like an headlong Tyde The rest their fear made useless on our side Canid. Their Fear their Treachery we are betrai'd By Hands we trust the surest Snares are laid The Queen no doubt does correspondence hold With Rome and Caesar and we all are sold. Anto. I had but one glad thought within my brest And thou to that one thought wilt give no rest Fortune hath seiz'd my Empire and Renown Honest Old Souldier let my Love alone But you my generous Friends to Caesar go Too much already to your Love I owe Let me now sink alone enough y' have done A falling Tow'r 't were madness not to shun Your guilt is small let early penitence Your Ties and Love to me plead your defence Lucil. No Sun shall see me living after you My Death shall tell you that my Life was true Canid. For what should I my bending years preserve Canidius will no second Master serve A shout without Enter a Messenger Mess. Your Navy Sir is joyn'd with Caesar's Fleet And with one voice their Emperor they greet Both sides their bloody hatred have laid down And in one Body row toward the Town Canid. Sir with Egyptians it was chiefly mann'd And is there yet no dealing underhand Still does the Queen so innocent appear Her people guilty she alone is clear Anto. Her peoples Love her Love to me has lost And now her Faith is by their Treason cros't Pity not blame the Queen who sinks this hour Crush't with the ruines of an Emperor By Land and Sea betray'd what shall we do Canid. Let 's fight and die in Arms upon the Foe Anto. We of resistance scarce can make a shoe Death shuns the naked Throat and proffer'd Brest He flies when call'd to be a welcome Guest I may be tane alive and made a scorn Where I have oft the highest Honours worn Rome never shall my conquer'd Face behold Death I have seiz'd and will not lose my hold Shout again Enter Souldier Sould. Caesar is entred and we all are lost Some Roman Souldiers still make good their Post. Anto. Their number speak Sould. Two Legions at the most Anto. Command 'em to yield easie Victory Their number is Too small to conquer and too great to dye Canid. What means our Emperor Anto. To spare your Blood Too long you have my angry Fate withstood What is Command for which we so contend Danger and Envy the High Charge attend A few we please and Multitudes offend Canid. to the Sould. Canid. Thou art a Coward fled'st before thy time And with pretence of News woud'st hide thy Crime 'T is false Sould. So it were false indeed I 'd gladly die But this shall show I did not basely flie Kills himself Enter Photinus Phot. Horror on horror Sir th' unhappy Queen Betray'd by a Report that you were slain Anto. I understand you she her self has kill'd And better knew to die than how to yield Phot. Alas she has I pull'd the reaking Steel From her warm Wound and with it rush't her life Her latest breath was busie with your name And the sweet pledges of your mutual flame Your Children she embrac't and then she dy'd Anto. How well had I been with great Iulius slain Or by some flying Parthians darted Cane Thy gentle Nature Brutus how I hate Through which I live to taste the dregs of Fate Such is the gloomy state of Mortals here We knew not what to wish or what to fear My Name in Arms my Friends and Empire gone Yet while she liv'd I was not quite undone Methought I still had something to do here Canid. Y'have more than ever Sir your Souldiers chear And bid 'em for a bold defence prepare Anto. Never let Romans now each other love Their tedious quarrel I will soon remove ' Twice has my Sword with Roman Blood been dy'd It draws no more but from Antonius side Had the just Gods intended I should live To hate my life such cause they wou'd not give They had preserv'd my Empire and my Queen Enough and more I have both Fortunes seen Strike good Lucilius 'T is a friendly part Let no Foes weapon pierce thy Masters Heart Lucil. goes behind makes as if he would kill him but passes the Weapon through his own Body The Noblest way thou show'st me what to do Thou giv'st th' Example and I 'le give the blow Antonius kills himself Phot. I 'le call some help A great shriek is given at his fall all run out of the room except Phot. But 't will but increase my pain For should'st thou stir I 'd stab my self again Canid. Let others sigh and weep but let us go Phot. makes towards the door Anto. stabs himself again and falls Phot. reenters And vent our grief in rage upon the
yields Whil'st we our Freedom from our Swords receive Caes. What have I done that men had rather dye By their own hand than trust my Clemency Mecoen Canidius to his Master was most true And did for him what I wou'd do for you Agrip. The World does no more Enemies contain And Caesar over peaceful Rome may raign Ex. Omnes Enter Antonius Cleopatra Charmion and Iras in the Monument Anto. 'T was I that pull'd on you the hate of Rome And all your Ills past present and to come It is not fit nor possible I live And my dear Queen it growes unkind to grieve Cleop. 'T was I that lost you in each Roman mind And to your ruine can you still be kind How can you bear this Tyranny of Fate And not the Cause your Cleopatra hate Anto. So Venus look't when the Idalian Bear The tender side of her Adonis tore Nor yields my Queen in Beauty or in grief When half the World under my rule was plac't Your Love was all the joy that I cou'd tast It was my chief delight and is my last I dye and have but one short word to say But you must swear my Queen you will obey Cleop. By all our Love I will my death command And see the eager duty of my hand Anto. Your death it is the only thing I fear And Fate no other way can reach me here Cleop. Down from a Throne to any private State It is a dismal Precipice to the Great I giddy with the horrid prospect grow And shall fall in unless Death help me now Anto. Heav'n that success does to my Arms deny Whispers a Roman Soul and bids him dye Our case is different to Caesar sue Thô me he hate he needs must pity you Your Beauty and my Love were all your Crime And you must live my Queen Cleop. When you are dead To be despis'd reproach't in triumph lead A Queen and Slave who wou'd not life renounce Rather than bear those distant names at once Anto. But you may live a Queen say you obey'd Through fear and were compell'd to give me Aid That all your Subjects private Orders had Not to resist him and my Cause betray'd Say that at last you did my Death procure Say any thing that may your Life and Crown secure Cleop. 'T were false and base it rather shall be said I kill'd my self when I beheld you dead Anto. Me the unhappy cause of all your wo Your own and your dear Country's overthrow Remember I was jealous rash soon mov'd Suspected no less fiercely than I lov'd How I Thyreus kill'd your Love accus'd And to your kind defence my faith refus'd From shame and rage I soon shall be at rest And Death of thousand ills hath chose the best He faints Cleop. O stay and take me with you Anto. Dearest Queen Let my Life end before your Death begin O Rome thy freedom does with me expire And thou art lost obtaining thy desire Dies Cleop. He 's gone he 's gone and I for ever lost The great Antonius now is but a Ghost A wandring shadow on the Stygian Coast. I 'm still a Queen though by the Fate of War Death and these Women all my Subjects are And this unhappy Monument is all Of the whole World that I my own can call Iras. O name not Death Caesar men say is good wise mild and just So many Vertues how can you distrust Cleop. Thô his last breath advis'd me to submit To Caesar and his falling Fortunes quit When I nam'd Death speechless my hand he prest And seem'd to say that I had chose the best Iras. He cou'd not be so cruel you mistook Too sharply you apply his dying look Cleo. He does expect it and I 'le keep my word If there be Death in Poyson Fire or Sword Charm Fortune with lighter stroaks strikes lighter things With her whole weight she crushes falling Kings Cleop. We shall in Triumph Charmion be led Till with our shame Romes Pride be surfeited Till every finger Cleopatra find Pointing at her who was their Queen design'd Char. Their Anger they may glut but not their Pride They ne'r had Triumph't if men durst have dy'd Cleop. Beauty thou art a fair but fading flow'r The tender prey of every coming hour In Youth thou Comet like art gaz'd upon But art portentous to thy self alone Unpunish't thou to few wer 't ever giv'n Nor art a Blessing but a Mark from Heav'n Greatness most envy'd when least understood Thou art no real but a seeming good Sick at the Heart Thou in the Face look'st well And none but such as feel thy pangs can tell By thy exalted State we only gain To be more wretched than the Vulgar can Iras. Think how he 'l use your Sons when you are dead And none their Cause can like a Mother plead Cleop. Perhaps when I am dead his hate may cease And Pity take declining Rages place Sure in the Grave all Enmities take end And Love alone can to the Dead extend Men say that we to th' other World shall bear The same Desires and Thoughts imploy'd as here The Hero shall in shining Arms delight In neighing Steeds shril sounds and empty fight Poets shall sing and in soft Dances move And Lovers in Eternal Roses Love If so Antonius we but change the Scene And there pursue what we did here begin Charm I am prepar'd to follow or to lead Name but the fatal Path that you will tread Cleop. In yonder golden Box three Asps there lie Of whose least venomous bite men sleep and die Take one and to my naked Breast apply Its poysonous mouth Charm Alone she shall not die Iras. When Iulius Caesar in the Senate fell Where were these thoughts and yet he lov'd as well Cleop. He lov'd me not he was ambitious he And but at looser Times took thought of me Glory and Empire fill'd his restless mind He knew not the soft pleasures of the Kind Our Joyes were frighted still with fresh alarms And new Designs still forc't him from my Arms. But my Antonius lov'd me with his Soul No cares of Empire did his Flame controul I was his Friend the Partner of his mind Our days were joyful and our nights were kind He liv'd for Me and I will die for Him Stings her So now 't is past I feel my eyes grow dim I am from triumph and contempt secure What all must bear I earlier endure Kneels down to Anto. To thy cold Arms take thy unhappy Queen Who both thy ruine and her own has been Other Embrace than this she 'l never know But a pale Ghost pursue thy shade below Good Asp bite deep and deadly in my Brest And give me sudden and Eternal Rest. She dies Iras runs away Charm Fool from thy hasty Fate thon can'st not run Iras. Let it bite you I 'le stay till you have done Alas my life but newly is begun Charm No thou woud'st live to shame thy Family But I 'le take care that thou