Spousals with a tie too strong For Roman Laws to break Iras. Will you then die Cleop. Why shou'dst thou make that Question Iras. Caesar is most merciful Cleop. Let him be soâ—… To â—…hose that want his Mercy my poor Lord Made no such Cov'nant with him to spare me When he was dead Yield me to Caesar's pride What to be led in Triumph through the Streets A Spectacle to base Plebeian Eyes While some dejected Friend of Antony's Close in a Corner shakes his Head and mutters A Secret Curse on her who ruin'd him I 'll none of that Char. Whatever you resolve I 'll follow ev'n to Death Iras. I only fear'd For you but more shou'd fear to live without you Cleop. Why now 't is as it shou'd be Quick my Friends Dispatch ere this the Town 's in Caesar's hands My Lord looks down concern'd and fears my stay Lest I shou'd be surpriz'd Keep him not waiting for his Love too long You Charmion bring my Crown and richest Jewels With 'em the Wreath of Victory I made Vain Augury for him who now lies dead You Iras bring the Cure of all our Ills. Iras. The Aspicks Madam Cleop. Must I bid you twice Exeunt Char. and Iâ—…as 'T is sweet to die when they wou'd force life on me To rush into the dark aboad of Death And seize him first if he be like my Love He is not frightful sure We 're now alone in secresie and silence And is not this like Lovers I may kiss These pale cold Lips Octavia does not see me And Oh! 't is better far to have him thus Than see him in her Arms. O welcome welcome Enter Charmion Iras. Char. What must be done Cleop. Short Ceremony Friends But yet it must be decent First this Laurel Shall Crown my Hero's Head he fell not basely Nor left his Shield behind him Only thou Cou'dst triumph o'er thy self and thou alone Wert worthy so to triumph Char. To what end These Ensigns of your Pomp and Royalty Cleop. Dull that thou art why 't is to meet my Love As when I saw him first on Cydnos bank All sparkling like a Goddess so adorn'd I 'll find him once again my second Spousals Shall match my first in Glory Haste haste both And dress the Bride of Antony Char. 'T is done Cleop. Now seat me by my Lord. I claim this place For I must Conquer Caesar too like him And win my share o' th' World Hail you dear Relicks Of my Immortal Love O let no Impious hand remove you hence But rest for ever here let Egypt give His Death that Peace which it deny'd his Life Reach me the Casket Iâ—…s Underneath the fruit the Aspick lies Cleop. putting aside the leaves Welcom thou kind Deceiver Thou best of Thieves who with an easie key Do'st open Life and unperceiv'd by us Ev'n steal us from our selves discharging so Death's dreadful Office better than himself Touching our Limbs so gently into slumber That Death stands by deceiv'd by his own Image And thinks himself but Sleep Serap within The Queen where is she The Town is yielded Caesar's at the Gates Cleop. He comes too late to invade the Rights of Death Haste bare my Arm and rouze the Serpents fury Holds out her Arm and draws it back Coward Flesh Woud'st thou conspire with Caesar to betray me As thou wert none of mine I 'll force thee to 't And not be sent by him But bring my Self my Soul to Antony Turns aside and then shows her Arm bloody Take hence the work is done Serap within Break ope the Door And guard the Traitor well Char. The next is ours Iras. Now Charmion to be worthy Of your great Queen and Mistress They apply the Aspicks Cleop. Already Death I feel thee in my Veins I go with such a will to find my Lord That we shall quickly meet A heavy numness creeps through every Limb And now 't is at my Head my Eye-lids fall And my dear Love is vanish'd in a Mist. Where shall I find him where O turn me to him And lay me on his Breast Caesar thy worst Now part us if thou caust Dies Iras sinks down at her feet and dies Charmion stands behind her Chair as dressing her Head Enter Sâ—…on two Priests Alexas bound Egyptians 2. Prâ—… 〈◊〉 Serapion what havock Death has made Serap 'T was 〈◊〉 â—…ar'd Charmion is this well done Char. Yes 't is well done and like a Queen the last Of her great Race I follow her Sinks down Dies Alexas 'T is true She has done well much better thus to die Than live to make a Holy-day in Rome Serap See see how the Lovers sit in State together As they were giving Laws to half Mankind Th' impression of a Smile left in her Face Shows she dy'd pleas'd with him for whom she liv'd And went to Charm him in another World Caesars's just entring grief has now no leisure Secure that Villain as our pledge of safety To grace th' Imperial Triumph Sleep blest Pair Secure from humane Chance long Ages out While all the Storms of Fate fly o'er your Tomb And Fame to late Posterity shall tell No Lovers liv'd so great or dy'd so well Epilogue POets like Disputants when Reasons fail Have one sure Refurge left and that 's to rail Fop Coxcomb Fool are thunder'd through the Pit And this is all their Equipage of Wit We wonder how the Devil this diff'rence grows Betwixt our Fools in Verse and yours in Prose For 'Faith the quarrel rightly understood 'T is Civil War with their own Flesh and Blood The Thread-bare Author hates the gawdy Coat And swears at the Gilt Coach but swears a foot For 't is observ'd of every Scribling Man He grows a Fop as fast as e'er he can Prunes up and asks his Oracle the Glass If Pink or Purple best become his Face For our poor Wretch he neither rails nor prays Nor likes your Wit just as you like his Plays He has not yet so much of Mr. Bays He does his best and if he cannot please Wou'd quietly sue out his Writ of Ease Yet if he might his own Grand Jury call By the Fair Sex he begs to stand or fall Let Caesar's Pow'r the Mens ambition move But grace you him who lost the World for Love Yet if some ' antiquated Lady say The last Age is not Copy'd in his Play Heav'n help the Man who for that Face must drudge Which only has the wrinkles of a Judge Let not the Young and Beauteous joyn with those For shou'd you raise such numerous Hosts of Foes Young Wits and Sparke he to his aid must call 'T is more than one Man's work to please you all FINIS
Sweet Heav'n compose it Come come my Lord if I can pardon you Methinks you should accept it Look on these Are they not yours Or stand they thus neglected As they are mine Go to him Children go Kneel to him take him by the hand speak to him For you may speak and he may own you too Without a Blush and so he cannot all His Children go I say and pull him to me And pull him to your selves from that bad Woman You Agrippina hang upon his Arms And you Antonia clasp about his Waste If he will shake you off if he will dash you Against the Pavement you must bear it Children For you are mine and I was born to suffer Here the Children go to him c. Ven. Was ever sight so moving Emperor Dolla Friend Octav. Husband Both Childr Father Ant. I am vanquish'd take me Octavia take me Children share me all Embracing them I 've been a thriftless Debtor to your Loves And run out much in Riot from your Stock But all shall be amended Octav. O blest hour Dolla O happy Change Ven. My joy stops at my tongue But it has found two Channels here for one And Bubbles out above Ant. to Octav. This is thy Triumph lead me where thou wilt Ev'n to thy Brothers Camp Octav. All there are yours Enter Alexas hastily Alex. The Queen my Mistress Sir and yours Ant. 'T is past Octavia you shall stay this night To morrow Caesar and we are one Ex. leading Octavia Doll and the Children follow Ven. There 's News for you run My officious Eunuch Be sure to be the first haste forward Haste my dear Eunuch haste Exit Alex. This downright fighting Fool this thick-scull'd Hero This blunt unthinking Instrument of Death With plain dull Virtue has out-gone my Wit Pleasure forsook my early'st Infancy The Luxury of others robb'd my Cradle And ravish'd thence the Promise of a Man Cast out from Nature disinherited Of what her meanest Children claim by kind Yet Greatness kept me from Contempt that 's gone Had Cleopatra follow'd my advice Then he had been betray'd who now forsakes She dies for love but she has known its joys Gods is this just that I who knows no joys Must die because she loves Enter Cleopatra Charmion Iras Train Oh Madam I have seen what blasts my Eyes Octavia's here Cleop. Peace with that Raven's note I know it too and now am in The Pangs of Death Alex. You are no more a Queen Egypt is lost Cleop. What tell'st thou me of Egypt My Life my Soul is lost Octavia has him O fatal Name to Cleopatra's love My kisses my embraces now are hers While I But thou hast seen my Rival speak Does she deserve this Blessing Is she fair Bright as a Goddess and is all perfection Confin'd to her It is Poor I was made Of that course matter which when she was finish'd The Gods threw by for rubbish Alex. She 's indeed a very Miracle Cleop. Death to my hopes a Miracle Alex. bowing A Miracle I mean of Goodness for in Beauty Madam You make all Wonders cease Cleop. I was too rash Take this in part of recompence But Oh Giving a Ring I fear thou flatter'st me Char. She comes she 's here Iras. Flie Madam Caesar s Sister Cleop. Were she the Sister of the Thund'rer Jove And bore her Brother's Lightning in her Eyes Thus would I face my Rival Meets Octav. with Ventid Octav. bears up to her Their Trains come up on either side Octav. I need not ask if you are Cleopatra Your haughty Carriage Cleop. Shows I am a Queen Nor need I ask you who you are Octav. A Roman A Name that makes and can unmake a Queen Cleop. Your Lord the Man who serves me is a Roman Octav. He was a Roman till he lost that Name To be a Slave in Egypt but I come To free him thence Cleop. Peace peace my Lover's Juno When he grew weary of that Houshold-Clog He chose my easier Bonds Octav. I wonder not Your Bonds are easie you have long been practis'd In that lascivious Art he 's not the first For whom you spread your snares let Caesar witness Cleop. I lov'd not Caesar 't was but gratitude I paid his Love the worst your Malice can Is but to say the greatest of Mankind Has been my Slave The next but far above him In my Esteem is he whom Law calls yours But whom his Love made mine Oct. coming up close to her I would view nearer That Face which has so long usurp'd my right To find th' inevitable Charms that catch Mankind so sure that ruin'd my dear Lord. Cleop. O you do well to search for had you known But half these Charms you had not lost his heart Octav. Far be their knowledge from a Roman Lady Far from a modest Wife Shame of our Sex Dost thou not Blush to own those black Endearments That make sin pleasing Cleop. You may Blush who want 'em if bounteous Nature if indulgent Heav'n Have giv'n me Charms to please the bravest Man Should I not thank ' em should I be asham'd And not be Proud I am that he has lov'd me And when I love not him Heav'n change this Face For one like that Octav. Thou lov'st him not so well Cleop. I Love him better and deserve him more Octav. You do not cannot you have been his ruine Wâ—…o made him cheap at Rome but Cleopatra Who made him scorn'd abroad but Cleopatra At Actium who betray'd him Cleopatra Who made his Children Orphans and poor me A wretched Widow only Cleopatra Cleop. Yet she who loves him best is Cleopatra If you have suffer'd I have suffer'd more You bear the specious Title of a Wife To gild your Cause and draw the pitying World To favour it the World contemns poor me For I have lost my Honour lost my Fame And stain'd the Glory of my Royal House And all to bear the branded Name of Mistress There wants but Life and that too I would lose For him I love Octav. Be 't so then take thy Wish Exit cum suis. Cleop. And 't is my Wish Now he is lost for whom alone I liv'd My sight grows dim and every Object dances And swims before me in the maze of Death My Spirits while they were oppos'd kept up They could not sink beneath a Rivals scorn But now she 's gone they faint Alex. Mine have had leisure To recollect their Strength and furnish Counsel To ruine her who else must ruine you Cleop. Vain Promiser Lead me my Charmion nay your hand too Iras My Grief has weight enough to sink you both Conduct me to some Solitary Chamber And draw the Curtains round Then leave me to my self to take alone My fill of Grief There I till Death will his unkindness weep As harmless Infants moan themselves asleep Exeunt ACT IV. Antony Dollabella Dolla WHy would you shift it from your self on me Can you not tell her you must part Ant. I cannot I could pull out
'T is a hard word but stay Ven. See now th' effects of her so boasted love She strives to drag you down to ruine with her But could she 'scape without you oh how soon Would she let go her hold and haste to shore And never look behind Cleo. Then judge my love by this Giving Antony a Writing Could I have born A life or death a happiness or woe From yours divided this had giv'n me means Ant. By Hercules the Writing of Octavius I know it well 't is that prescribing hand Young as it was that led the way to mine And left me but the second place in Murder See see Ventidius here he offers Aegypt And joyns all Syria to it as a present So in requital she forsake my fortunes And joyn her Arms with his Cleo. And yet you leave me You leave me Antony and yet I love you Indeed I do I have refus'd a Kingdom That 's a Trifle For I could part with life with any thing But only you O let me die but with you Is that a hard request Ant. Next living with you 'T is all that Heav'n can give Alex. aside He melts We conquer Cleo. No you shall go your Int'rest calls you hence Yes your dear interest pulls too strong for these Weak Arms to hold you here Takes his hand Go leave me Soldier For you 're no more a Lover leave me dying Push me all pale and panting from your Bosome And when your March begins let one run after Breathless almost for Joy and cry she 's dead The Soldiers shout you then perhaps may sigh And muster all your Roman Gravity Ventidius chides and strait your Brow clears up As I had never been Ant. Gods 't is too much too much for Man to bear Cleo. What is' t for me then A weak forsaken Woman and a Lover Here let me breath my last envy me not This minute in your Arms I 'll die apace As fast as e'er I can and end your trouble Ant. Dye Rather let me perish loos'nd Nature Leap from its hinges Sink the props of Heav'n And fall the Skies to crush the neather World My Eyes my Soul my all Embraces her Ven. And what 's this Toy In ballance with your Fortune Honor Fame Ant. What is' t Ventidius it out-weighs 'em all Why we have more than Conquer'd Caesar now My Queen 's not only Innocent but Loves me This this is she who drags me down to ruin ' But could she 'scape without me with what haste Would she let slip her hold and make to shore And never look behind Down on thy knees Blasphemer as thou art And ask forgiveness of wrong'd Innocence Ven. I 'll rather die than take it Will you go Ant. Go Whither go from all that 's excellent Faith Honour Virtue all good things forbid That I should go from her who sets my love Above the price of Kingdoms Give you Gods Give to your Boy your Caesar This Rattle of a Globe to play withal This Gu-gau World and put him cheaply off I 'll not be pleas'd with less than Cleopatra Cleo. She wholly yours My heart 's so full of joy That I shall do some wild extravagance Of Love in publick and the foolish World Which knows not tenderness will think me Mad. Ven. O Women Women Women all the Gods Have not such pow'r of doing good to Man As you of doing harm Exit Ant. Our Men are Arm'd Unbar the Gate that looks to Caesar's Camp I would revenge the Treachery he meaâ—… me And long security makes Conquest easie I 'm eager to return before I go For all the pleasures I have known beat thick On my remembrance how I long for Night That both the sweets of mutual love may try And once Triumph o'er Caesar e're we die Exeunt ACT III. At one door Enter Cleopatra Charmion Iras and Alexas a Train of Aegyptians at the other Antony and Romans The entrance on both sides is prepar'd by Musick the Trumpets first sounding on Antony's part then answer'd by Timbrels c. on Cleopatra's Charmion and Iras hold a Laurel Wreath betwixt them A Dance of Aegyptians After the Ceremony Cleopatra Crowns Antony Ant. I Thought how those white arms would fold me in And strain me close and melt me into love So pleas'd with that sweet Image I sprung forwards And added all my strength to every blow Cleo. Come to me come my Soldier to my Arms You 've been too long away from my embraces But when I have you fast and all my own With broken murmurs and with amorous sighs I 'll say you were unkind and punish you And mark you red with many an eager kiss Ant. My Brighter Venus Cleo. O my greater Mars Ant. Thou joinst us well my Love Suppose me come from the Phlegraean Plains Where gasping Gyants lay cleft by my Sword And Mountain tops par'd off each other blow To bury those I slew receive me Goddess Let Caesar spread his subtle Nets like Vulcan In thy embraces I would be beheld By Heav'n and Earth at once And make their envy what they meant their sport Let those who took us blush I would love on With awful State regardless of their frowns As their superior God There 's no satiety of Love in thee Enjoy'd thou still art new perpetual Spring Is in thy arms the ripen'd fruit but falls And blossoms rise to fill its empty place And I grow rich by giving Enter Ventidius and stands apart Alex. O now the danger 's past your General 〈◊〉 He joyns not in your joys nor minds your Triumphs But with contracted brows looks frowning on As envying your Success Ant. Now on my Soul he loves me truly loves me He never flatter'd me in any vice But awes me with his virtue ev'n this minute Methinks he has a right of chiding me Lead to the Temple I 'll avoid his presence It checks too strong upon me Exeunt the rest As Antony is going Ventidius pulls him by the Robe Ven. Emperor Ant. looking back 'T is the old argument I pr'ythee spare me Ven. But this one hearing Emperor Ant. Let go My Robe or by my Father Hercules Ven. By Hercules his Father that 's yet greater I bring you somewhat you would wish to know Ant. Thou see'st we are observ'd attend me here And I 'll return Exit Ven. I 'm waining in his favour yet I love him I love this Man who runs to meet his ruin And sure the Gods like me are fond of him His Virtues lye so mingled with his Crimes As would confound their choice to punish one And not reward the other Enter Antony Ant. We can conquer You see without your aid We have dislodg'd their Troops They look on us at distance and like Curs Scap'd from the Lions paws they bay far off And lick their wounds and saintly threaten War Five thousand Romans with their faces upward â—…ye breathless on the Plain Ven. 'T is well and he Who lost 'em could have spar'd Ten thousand
more Yet if by this advantage you could gain An easier Peace while Caesar doubts the Chance Of Arms Ant. O think not on 't Ventidius The Boy pursues my ruin heâ—…ll no peace His malice is considerate in advantage O he 's the coolest Murderer so stanch He kills and keeps his temper Ven. Have you no friend In all his Army who has power to move him Mecaenas or Agrippa might do much Ant. They 're both too deep in Caesar's interests We 'll work it out by dint of Sword or perish Ven. â—…ain I would find some other Ant. Thank thy love Some four or five such Victories as this Will save thy farther pains Ven. Expect no more Caesar is on his Guard I know Sir you have conquer'd against odds But still you draw Supplies from one poor Town And of Aegyptians He has all the World And at his back Nations come pouring in To fill the gaps you make Pray think again Ant. Why dost thou drive me from my self to search For Foreign aids to hunt my memory And range all o'er a wast and barren place To find a Friend The wretched have no Friends Yet I had one the bravest Youth of Rome Whom Caesar loves beyond the Love of Women He could resolve his mind as Fire does Wax From that hard rugged Image melt him down And mould him in what softer form he pleas'd Ven. Him would I see that Man of all the world Just such a one we want Ant. He lov'd me too I was his Soul he liv'd not but in me We were so clos'd within each others Breasts The Rivets were not found that join'd us first That does not reach us yet we were so mixt As meeting Streams both to our selves were lost We were one Mass we could not give or take But from the same for he was I I he Ven. aside He moves as I would wish him Ant. After this I need not tell his Name 't was Dollabella Ven. He 's now in Caesar's Camp Ant. No matter where Since he 's no longer mine He took unkindly That I forbad him Cleopatra's sight Because I fear'd he lov'd her he confess'd He had a warmth which for my sake he stifled For 't were impossible that two so one Should not have lov'd the same When he departed He took no leave and that confirm'd my thoughts Ven. It argues that he lov'd you more than her â—…lse he had staid but he perceiv'd you jealous And would not grieve his Friend I know he love you Ant. I should have seen him then ere now Ven. Perhaps He has thus long been lab'ring for your Peace Ant. Would he were here Ven. Would you believe he lov'd you I read your Answer in your Eyes you would Not to conceal it longer he has sent A Messenger from Caesar's Camp with Letters Ant. Let him appear Ven. I 'll bring him instantly Exit Ventidius and Re-enters immediately with Dollabella Ant. 'T is he himself himself by holy Friendship Runs to embrace him Art thou return'd at last my better half Come give me all my self Let me not live If the young Bridegroom Ionging for his Night Was ever half so fond Dolla I must be silent for my Soul is busie About a noble Work she 's new come home Like a long absent Man and wanders o'er Each Room a Stranger to her own to looâ—… If all be safe Ant. Thou hast what 's left of mâ—… For I am now so sunk from what I was Thou find'st me at my lowest Water-mark The Rivers that ran in and rais'd my Fortunes Are all dry'd up or take another course What I have left is from my native Spring I 've still a Heart that swells in scorn of Fate And lifts me to my Banks Dolla Still you are Lord of all the World to me Ant. Why then I yet am so for thou art all If I had any Joy when thou wert absent I grudg'd it to my self methought I robb'd Thee of thy part But Oh my Dollabella Thou hast beheld me other than I am Hast thou not seen my morning Chambers fill'd With Scâ—…pter'd Slaves who waited to salute me With Eastern Monarchs who forgot the Sun To worship my uprising Menial Kings Ran coursing up and down my Palace-yard Stood silent in my Presence watch'd my Eyes And at my least Command all started out Like Racers to the Gaol Dolla Slaves to your Fortune Ant. Fortune is Caesar's now and what am I Ven. What you have made your self I will not flatter Ant. Is this friendly done Dolla Yes when his end is so I must join with him Indeed I must and yet you must not chide Why am I else your Friend Ant. Take heed young Maâ—… How thou upbraid'st my Love The Queen has Eyes And thou too hast a Soul Canst thou remember When swell'd with hatred thou beheld'st her first As Accessary to thy Brothers Death Dolla Spare my Remembrance 't was a guilty day And still the blush hangs here Ant. To clear her self For sending him no Aid she came from Egypt Her Gally down the Silver Cydnos row'd The Tackling Silk the Streamers wav'd with Gold The gentle Winds were lodg'd in Purple Sails Her Nymphs like Nereids round her Couch were plac'd Where she another Sea-born Venus lay Dolla No more I would not hear it Ant. O you must She lay and leant her Cheek upon her Hand And cast a Look so languishingly sweet As if secure of all Beholders Hearts Neglecting she could take 'em Boy 's like Cupids Stood fanning with their painted Wings the Winds That plaid about her Face But if she smil'd A darting Glory seem'd to blaze abroad That Mens desiring Eyes were never weary'd But hung upon the Object To soft Flutes The Silver Oars kept Time and while they plaid The Hearing gave new Pleasure to the Sight And both to Thought 't was Heav'n or somewhat more For she so charm'd all Hearts that gazing Crowds Stood panting on the shore and wanted Breath To give their welcome Voice Then Dollabella where was then thy Soul Was not thy Fury quite disarm'd with Wonder Didst thoâ—… not shrink behind me from those Eyes And whisper in my Ears Oh tell her not That I accus'd her wiâ—…h my Brothers Death Dolla And should my Weakness be a Plea fer yours Mine was an Age when Love might be excus'd When kindly warâ—…th and when my springing youth Made it a Debt to Nature Yours Ven. Speak boldly Yours he would say in your declining Age When no more heat was left but what you forc'd When all the Sap was needful for the Trunk When it went down then you constrain'd the Course And robb'd from Nature to supply Desire In you I would not use so harsh a Word But 't is plain Dotage Ant. Ha! Dolla 'T was urg'd too home But yet the loss was private that I made 'T was but my self I lost I lost no Legions I had no World to lose no Peoples Love Ant. This from a Friend Dolla Yes Anthony a true one
by your Command Indeed 't is probable with some kind Message For she receiv'd it graciously she smil'd And then he grew familiar with her Hand Squeez'd it and worry'd it with ravenous Kisses She blush'd and sigh'd and smil'd and blush'd again At last she took occasion to Talk softly And brought her Cheek up close and lean'd on his At which he whisper'd Kisses back on hers And then she cry'd aloud That Constancy Should be rewarded Octav. This I saw and heard Ant. What Womam was it whom you heard and saw So playful with my Friend Not Cleopatra Ven. Ev'n she my Lord Ant. My Cleopatra Ven. Your Cleopatra Dollabella's Cleopatra Every Man's Cleopatra Ant. Tou â—…t Ven. I do not lye my Lord. Is this so strange should Mistresses be left And not provide against a time of Change You know she 's not much us'd to lonely Nights Ant. I 'll think no more on 't I know 't is false and see the Plot betwixt you You needed not have gone this way Octavia What harms it you that Cleopatra's just She 's mine no more I see and I forgive Urge it no farther Love Octav. Are you concern'd That she 's found false Ant. I should be were it so For tho 't is past I would not that the World Should Tax my former Choice That I lov'd one Of so light Note but I forgive you both Ven. What has my Age deserv'd that you should think I would abuse your Ears with Perjury If Heav'n be true she 's false Ant. Tho Heav'n and ' Earth Should witness it I 'll not believe her tainted Ven. I 'll bring you then a Witness From Hell to prove her so Nay go not back Seeing Alexas just entring and starting back For stay you must and shall Alex. What means my Lord Ven. To make you do what most you hate speak truth You are of Cleopatra's private Counsel Of her Bed-Counsel her lascivious hours Are conscious of each Nightly change she makes And watch her as Chaldeans do the Moon Can tell what Signs she passes through what day Alex. My Noble Lord. Ven. My most Illustrious Pandar No fine set Speech no Cadence to turn'd Periods But a plaâ—… home-spun Truth is what I ask I did my self o'er hear your Queen make love To Dollabella Speak for I will know By your Confession what more past betwixt 'em How near the bus'ness draws to your Employment And when the happy hour Ant. Speak truth Alexas whether it offend Or please Ventidius care not justifie Thy injur'd Queen from Malice dare his worst Oct. aside See how he gives him Courage how he fears To find her false and shuts his Eyes to truth Willing to be miâ—…ed Alex. As far as love may plead for Woman's frailty U g'd by desert and greatness of the Lover So far Divine Octavia may my Queen Stand evâ—… excus'd to yoâ—… for loving him Who is your Lord so far from brave Venttdius May her past Actions hope a fair Report Ant. T is well and truly spoken mark Ventidius Alex. To you most Noble Emperor her strong Passion Stands not excus'd but wholly justifi'd Her Beauty's Charms alone without her Crown From Ind and Meroe drew the distant Vows Of sighing Kings and at her Feet were laid The Scepters of the Earth expos'd on heaps To choose where she would Reign She thought a Roman only could deserve her And of all Romans only Antony And to be lâ—…ss than Wife to you disdain'd Their lawful Passion Ant. 'T is but Truth Alex. And yet tho' Love and your unmatch'd Desert Have drawn her from the due regard of Honor At last Heav'n open'd her unwilling Eyes To see the wrongs she offer'd fair Octavia Whose holy Bed she lawfully usurpt The sad Effects of this improsperous War Confirm'd those pious Thoughts Ven. aside O wheel you there Observe him now the Man begins to mend And Talk substantial Reason Fear not Eunuch The Emperor has giv'n thee leave to speak Alex. Else had I never dar'd t' offend his Ears With what the last necessity has urg'd On my forsaken Mistress yet I must not Presume to say her Heart is wholly alter'd Ant. No dare not for thy Life I Charge thee dare not Pronounce that fatal word Octav. aside Must I bear this good Heav'n afford me patience Ven. On sweet Eunuch my dear half Man proceed Alex. Yet Dollabella Has lov'd her long he next my God-like Lord Deserves her best and should she meet his Passion Rejected as she is by him she lov'd Ant. Hence from my sight for I can bear no more Let Furies drag thee quick to Hell each torturing hand Do thou employ till Cleopatra comes Then joyn thou too and help to torture her Exit Alexas thrust out by Antony Octav. 'T is not well Indeed my Lord 't is much unkind to me To show this Passion this extreme Concernment For an abandon'd faithless Prostitute Ant. Octavia leave me I am much disorder'd Leave me I say Octav. My Lord Ant. I bid you leave me Ven. Obey him Madam best withdraw a while And see how this will work Octav. Wherein have I offended you my Lord That I am bid to leave you Am I false Or infamous Am I a Cleopatra Were I she Base as she is you would not bid me leave you But hang upon my Neck take slight Excuses And fawn upon my Falshood Ant. 'T is too much Too much Octavia I am prest with Sorrows Too heavy to be born and you add more I would retire and recollect what 's left Of Man within to aid me Octav. You would mourn In private for your Love who has betray'd you You did but half return to me your kindness Linger'd behind with her I hear my Lord You make Conditions for her And would include her Treaty Wondrous proofs Of Love to me Ant. Are you my Friend Ventidius Or are you turn'd a Dollabella too And let this Fury loose Ven. Oh be advis'd Sweet Madam and retire Octav. Yes I will go but never to return You shall no more be haunted with this Fury My Lord my Lord Love will not always last When urg'd with long unkindness and disdain Take her again whom you perfer to me She stays but to be call'd Poor cozen'd Man Let a feign'd parting give her back your Heart Which a feign'd Love first got for injur'd me Tho my just Sense of wrongs forbid my stay My Duty shall be yours To the dear Pledges of our former Love My tenderness and care shall be transferr'd And they shall Cheer by Turns my Widow'd Nights So take my last farewel for I despair To have you whole and scorn to take you half Exit Ven. I combat Heav'n which blasts my best Designs My last Attempt must be to win her back But Oh I fear in vain Exit Ant. Why was I fram'd with this plain honest Heart Which knows not to disguise its Griefs and Weakness But bears its workings outward to the World I should have kept the
thou canst Now for thy Life which basely thou wou'dst save While mine I prize at this Come good Serapion Exeunt Clop Serap Char. Iras. Alex. O that I less cou'd fear to lose this Being Which like a Snow-ball in my Coward hand The more 't is grasp'd the faster melts away Poor Reason what a wretched Aid art thou For still in spight of thee These two long Lovers Soul and Body dread Their final Separation Let me think What can I say to save my self from Death No matter what becomes of Cleopatra Ant. within Which way where Ven. within This leads to th' Monument Alex. Ah me I hear him yet I 'm unprepar'd My gift of lying's gone And this Court-Devil which I so oft have rais'd Forsakes me at my need I dare not stay Yet cannot far go hence Enter Antony and Ventidius Exit Ant. O happy Caesar Thou hast Men to lead Think not 't is thou hast conquer'd Antony Bâ—…t Rome has conquer'd Egypt I 'm betray'd Ven. Curse on this treach'rous Train Their Soâ—…l and Heav'n infect 'em all with Baseness And their young Souls come tainted to the World With the first breath they draw Ant. Th' Original Villain sure no God created He was a Bastard of the Sun by Nile Ap'd into Man with all his Mother's Mud Crusted about his Soul Ven. The Nation is One Universal Traitor and their Queen The very Spirit and Extract of 'em all Ant. Is there yet left A possibility of Aid from Valour Is there one God unsworn to my Destruction The least unmortgag'd hope for if there be Methinks I cannot fall beneath the Fate Of such a Boy as Caesar. The World 's one half is yet in Antony And from each Limb of it that 's hew'd away The Soul comes back to me Ven. There yet remain Three Legions in the Town The last Assault Lopt off the rest if Death be your Design As I must wish it now these are sufficient To make a heap about us of dead Foes An honest Pile for burial Ant. They 're enough We 'll not divide our-Stars but side by side Fight emâ—…lous and with malicious Eyes Survey each other's Acts so every Death Thou giv'st I 'll take on me as a just Debt And pay thee back a Soul Ven. Now you shall see I love you Not a word Of chiding more By my few hours of Life I am so pleas'd with this brave Roman Fate That I wou'd not be Caesar to out-live you When we put off this Flesh and mount together I shall be shown to all th' Etherial crowd Lo this is he who dy'd with Antony Ant. Who knows but we may pierce through all their Troops And reach my Veterans yet 'T is worth the tempting T' o'er-leap this Gulph of Fate And leave our wand'ring Destinies behind Enter Alexas trombling Ven. See see that Villain See Cleopatra stampt upon that Face With all her cunning all her Arts of Falshood How she looks out through those dissembling Eyes How he sets his Count'nance for deceit And promises a Lye before he speaks Let me dispatch him first Drawing Alex. O spare me spare me Ant. Hold he 's not worth your killing On thy Life Which thou mayst keep because I scorn to take it No Syllable to justifie thy Queen Save thy base tongue its Office Alex. Sir she 's gone Where she shall never be molested more By Love or you Ant. Fled to her Dollabella Die Traitor I revoke my Promise die Going to kill him Alex. O hold she is not fled Ant. She is my Eyes Are open to her Falshood my whole Life Has been a Golden dream of Love and Friendship But now I wake I 'm like a Merchant rows'd From soft repose to see his Vessel sinking And all his Wealth cast o'er Ingrateful Woman Who follow'd me but as the Swallow Summer Hatching her young ones in my kindly Beams Singing her flatt'ries to my morning wake But now my Winter comes she spread her wings And seeks the Spring of Caesar. Alex. Think not so Her Fortunes have in all things mixt with yours Had she betray'd her Naval force to Rome How easily might she have gone to Caesar Secure by such a Bride Ven. She sent it first To be more welcome after Ant. 'T is too plain Else wou'd she have appear'd to clear her self Alex. Too fatally she has she could not bear To be accus'd by you but shut her self Within her Monument look'd down and sigh'd While from her unchang'd face the silent tears Dropt as they had not leave but stole their parting Some undistinguish'd words she inly murmur'd At last she rais'd her Eyes and with such Looks As dying Lucrece cast Ant. My heart forbodes Ven. All for the best go on Alex. She snatch'd her Ponyard And ere we cou'd prevent the fatal Blow Plung'd it within her Breast then turn'd to me Go bear my Lord said she my last Farewel And ask him if he yet suspect my Faith More she was saying but Death rush'd betwixt She half pronounc'd your Name with her last Breath And bury'd half within her Ven. Heav'n be prais'd Ant. Then art thou innocent my poor dear Love And art thou dead O those two words their Sound shou'd be divided Hadst thou been false and dy'd or hadst thou liv'd And hadst been true But Innocence and Death This shows not well above Then what am I The Murderer of this Truth this Innocence Thoughts cannot form themselves in words so horrid As can express my Guilt Ven. Is' t come to this The Gods have been too graciou And thus you thank 'em for 't Ant. to Alex. Why stay'st thou here Is 〈◊〉 â—…or thee to spy upon my Soul And see its inward mourning Get thee hence Thou art not worthy to behold what now Becomes a Roman Emperor to perform Alex. Aside He loves her still His grief betrays it Good The joy to find She 's yet alive compleats the Reconcilement I 've sav'd my self and her But Oh! the Romans Fate comes too fast upon my Wit Hunts me too hard and meets me at each double Exit Ven. Wou'd she had dy'd a little sooner tho Before Octavia went you might have treated Now 't will look tame and wou'd not be receiv'd Come rouze your self and le ts die warm together Ant. I will not fight there 's no more work for War The bus'ness of my angry hours is done Vâ—…n Caesar is at your Gates Ant. Why let him enter 〈◊〉 welcome now Ven. What Lethargy has crept into your Soul Ant. 'T is but a scorn of Life and just desire To free my self from Bondage Ven. Do it bravely Ant. I will but not by fighting O Ventidius What shou'd I fight for now My Queen is dead I was but great for her my Pow'r my Empire Were but my Merchandise to buy her Love And conquer'd Kings my Factors Now she 's dead Let Caesar take the World An Empty Circle since the Jewel 's gone Which made it worth my strife my Being's nauseous For