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
Your Lordships most Obliged most Humble and most Obedient Servant JOHN DRYDEN PREFACE THe death of Anthony and Cleopatra is a Subject which has been treated by the greatest Wits of our Nation after Shakespeare and by all so variously that their Example has given me the confidence to try my felf in this Bowe of Ulysses amongst the Crowd of Sutors and withal to take my own measures in aiming at the Mark I doubt not but the same Motive has prevailed with all of us in this attempt I mean the excellency of the Moral for the chief Persons represented were famous Patterns of unlawful Love and their end accordingly was unfortunate All reasonable Men have long since concluded That the Heroe of the Poem ought not to be a Character of perfect Virtue for then he could not without injustice be made unhappy nor yet altogether wicked because he could not then be pitied I have therefore steer'd the middle course and have drawn the character of Anthony as favourably as Plutarch Appian and Dion Cassius wou'd give me leave the like I have observ'd in Cleopatra That which is wanting to work up the pity to a greater heighth was not afforded me by the story for the crimes of Love which they both committed were not occasioned by any necessity or fatal ignorance but were wholly voluntary since our passions are or ought to be within our power The Fabrick of the Play is regular enough as to the inferior parts of it and the Unities of Time Place and Action more exactly observ'd than perhaps the English Theater requires Particularly the Action is so much one that it is the only of the kind without Episode or Underplot every Scene in the Tragedy conducing to the main design and every Act concluding with a turn of it The greatest error in the contrivance seems to be in the person of Octavia For though I might use the privilege of a Poet to introduce her into Alexandria yet I had not enough consider'd that the compassion she mov'd to her self and Children was destructive to that which I reserv'd for Anthony and Cleopatra whose mutual love being founded upon vice must lessen the favour of the Audience to them when Virtue and Innocence were oppress'd by it And though I justified Anthony in some measure by making Octavia's departure to proceed wholly from her self yet the force of the first Machine still remain'd and the dividing of pity like the cutting of a River into many Channels abated the strength of the natural Stream But this is an Objection which none of my Criticks have urg'd against me and therefore I might have let it pass if I could have resolv'd to have been partial to my self The faults my Enemies have found are rather cavils concerning little and not essential Decencies which a Master of the Ceremonies may decide betwixt us The French Poets I confess are strict Observers of these Punctilio's They would not for example have suffer'd Cleopatra and Octavia to have met or if they had met there must only have pass'd betwixt them some cold civilities but no eagerness of repartée for fear of offending against the greatness of their Characters and the modesty of their Sex This Objection I foresaw and at the same time contemn'd for I judg'd it both natural and probable that Octavia proud of her new-gain'd Conquest would search out Cleopatra to triumph over her and that Cleopatra thus attack'd was not of a spirit to shun the encounter and 't is not unlikely that two exasperated Rivals should use such Satyr as I have put into their mouths for after all though the one were a Roman and the other a Queen they were both Women 'T is true some actions though natural are not fit to be represented and broad obscenities in words ought in good-manners to be avoided expressions therefore are a modest cloathing of our thoughts as Breeches and Petticoats are of our Bodies If I have kept my self within the bounds of modesty all beyond it is but nicety and affectation which is no more but Modesty deprav'd into a Vice they betray themselves who are too quick of apprehension in such cases and leave all râ—…asonable Men to imagine worse of them than of the Poet. Honest Montaigne goes yet farther Nous ne sommes que ceremonie la ceremonie nâ—…s us emporte laissons la substance des choses Nous nous tenons aux bâ—…ches abandonnons le tronc le corps Nous avons appris aux Dames de rougir oyans seulement noâ—…nmer ce qu' elles ne craignent aucunement 〈◊〉 Nous n'esons appeller a droict nos membres ne craignons par de les employer a toute sorte de debauche La ceremonie nous defend d'exprimer par paroles les choses licites naturelles nous l'en croyons la raison nous defend de n'en faire point d'illicites mauvaises personne ne l'en croid My comfort is that by this opinion my Enemies are but sucking Criticks who wou'd fain be nibbling ere their Teeth are come Yet in this nicety of manners does the excellency of French Poetry consist their Heroes are the most civil people breathing but their good breeding seldom extends to a word of sense All their Wit is in their Ceremony they want the Genius which animates our Stage and therefore 't is but necessary when they cannot please that they should take care not to offend But as the civillest Man in the company is commonly the dullest so these Authors while they are afraid to make you laugh or cry out of pure good manners make you sleep They are so careful not to exasperate a Critick that they never leave him any work so busie with the Broom and make so clean a riddance that there is little left either for censure or for praise for no part of a Poem is worth our discommending where the whole is insipid as when we have once tasted of pall'd Wine we stay not to examine it Glass by Glass But while they affect to shine in ttifles they are often careless in essentials Thus their Hippolitus is so scrupulous in point of decency that he will rather expose himself to death than accuse his Stepmother to his Father and my Criticks I am sure will commend him for it but we of grosser apprehensions are apt to think that this excess of generosity is not practicable but with Fools and Madmen This was good manners with a vengeance and the Audience is like to be much concern'd at the misfortunes of this admirable Heroe but take Hippolitus out of his Poetick Fit and I suppose he would think it a wiser part to set the Saddle on the right Horse and chuse rather to live with the reputation of a plain-spoken honest Man than to die with the infamy of an incestuous Villain In the mean time we may take notice that where the Poet ought to have preserv'd the character as it was deliver'd to us by Antiquity when he should have
No more Ant. Thou dar'st not trust my Passion but thou may'st Thou only lov'st the rest have flatter'd me Ven. Heav'ns blessing on your heart for that kind word May I believe you love me speak again Ant. Indeed I do Speak this and this and this Hugging him Thy praises were unjust but I 'll deserve 'em And yet mend all Do with me what thou wilt Lead me to victory thou know'st the way Ven. And Will you leave this Ant. Prithee do not curse her And I will leave her though Heav'n knows I love Beyond Life Conquest Empire all but Honor But I will leave her Ven. That 's my Royal Master And Shall we Fight Ant. I warrant thee old Soldier Thou shalt behold me once again in Iron And at the head of our old Troops that beat The Parthians cry aloud Come follow me Ven. O now I hear my Emperor in that word Octavius fell Gods let me see that day And if I have Ten years behind take all Ill thank you for th' exchange Ant. Oh Cleopatra Ven. Again Ant. I 've done in that last Sigh she went Coesar shall know what 't is to force a Lover From all he holds most dear Ven. Methinks you breath Another Soul Your looks are more Divine You speak a Heroe and you move a God Ant. O thou hast fir'd me my Soul 's up in Arms And Mans each part about me once again That noble eagerness of Fight has seiz'd me That eagerness with which I darted upward To Cassius's Camp In vain the steepy Hill Oppos'd my way in vain a War of Spears Sung round my head and planted all my shield I won the Trenches while my formost Men Lagg'd on the Plain below Ven. Ye Gods ye Gods For such another hour Ant. Come on my Soldier Our Hearts and Arms are still the same I long Once more to meet our Foes that Thou and I Like Time and Death marching before our Troops May taste fate to 'em Mowe 'em out a passage And entring where the foremost Squadrons yield â—…egin the noble Harvest of the Field Exeunt ACT. II. Cleopatra Iras and Alexas Cleop. WHat shall I do or whither shall I turn Ventidius has o'rcome and he will go Alex. He goes to Fight for you Cleo. Then he would see me e're he went to fight Flatter me not if once he goes he 's lost And all my hopes destroy'd Alex. Does this weak passion Become a Mighty Queen Cleo. I am no Queen Is this to be a Queen to be besieg'd By yon insulting Roman and to wait Each hour the Victor's Chain These ills are small For Antony is lost and I can Mourn For nothing else but him Now come Octavius I have no more to lose prepare thy Bands I 'm fit to be a Captive Antony Has taught my mind the fortune of a Slave Iras. Call Reason to assist you Cleo. I have none And none would have my Love 's a noble madness Which shows the cause deserv'd it Moderate sorrow Fits vulgar Love and for a vulgar Man But I have lov'd with such transcendent passion I soar'd at first quite out of Reasons view And now am lost above it No I 'm proud 'T is thus would Antony could see me now Think you he would not sigh though he must leave me Sure he would sigh for he is noble-natur'd And bears a tender heart â—… I know him well Ah no I know him not I knew him once But now 't is past Iras. Let it be past with you Forget him Madam Cleo. Never never Iras. He once was mine and once though now 't is gone Leaves a faint Image of possession still Alex. Think him unconstant cruel and ungrateful Cleo. I cannot if I could those thoughts were vain Faithless ungrateful cruel though he be I still must love him Enter Charmion Now What news my Charmion Will he be kind and Will he not forsake me Am I to live or dye nay Do I live Or am I dead for when he gave his answer Fate took the word and then I liv'd or dy'd Char. I found him Madam Cleo. A long Speech preparing If thou bring'st comfort hast and give it me For never was more need Iras. I know he loves you Cleo. Had he been kind her Eyes had told me so Before her Tongue could speak it now she studies To soften what he said but give me death Just as he sent it Charmion undisguis'd And in the words he spoke Char. I sound him then Incompass'd round I think with Iron Statues So mute so motionless his Soldiers stood While awfully he cast his Eyes about And ev'ry Leaders hopes or fears survey'd Methought he look'd resolv'd and yet not pleas'd When he beheld me strugling in the croud He blush'd and bad make way Alex. There 's comfort yet Char. Ventidius fixt his Eyes upon my passage Severely as he meant to frown me back And sullenly gave place I told my message Just as you gave it broken and disorder'd I numbred in it all your sighs and tears And while I mov'd your pitiful request That you but only beg'd a last farewel He fetch an inward groan and ev'ry time I nam'd you sigh'd as if his heart were breaking But shun'd my Eyes and guiltily look'd down He seem'd not now that awful Antony Who shook an Arm'd Assembly with his Nod But making show as he would rub his Eyes Disguis'd and blotted out a falling tear Cleo. Did he then weep and Was I worth a tear If what thou hast to say be not as pleasing Tell me no more but let me die contented Char. He bid me say He knew himself so well He could deny you nothing if he saw you And therefore Cleo. Thou would say he wou'd not see me Charm And therefore beg'd you not to use a power Which he could ill resist yet he should ever Respect you as he ought Cleo. Is that a word For Antony to use to Cleopatra Oh that faint word Respect how I disdain it Disdain my self for loving after it He should have kept that word for cold Octavia Respect is for a Wife Am I that thing That dull insipid lump without desires And without pow'r to give ' em Alex. You misjudge You see through Love and that deludes your sight As what is strait seems crooked through the Water But I who bear my reason undisturb'd Can see this Antony this dreaded Man A fearful slave who fain would run away And shuns his Master's Eyes if you pursue him My life on 't he still drags a chain along That needs must clog his flight Cleo. Could I believe thee Alex. By ev'ry circumstance I know he Loves True he 's hard prest by Interest and by Honour Yet he but doubts and parlies and casts out Many a long lookt for succour Cleo. He sends word He fears to see my face Alex. And would you more He shows his weakness who declines the Combat And you must urge your fortune Could he speak More plainly To my Ears the
an Eye and bid it go And t'other should not weep Oh Dollabella How many Deaths are in this word Depart I dare not trust my tongue to tell her so One Look of hers would thaw me into Tears And I should melt till I were lost agen Dolla Then let Ventidius He 's rough by Nature Ant. Oh he 'll speak too harshly He 'll kill her with the News Thou only thou Dolla Nature has cast me in so soft a Mould That but to hear a Story feign'd for Pleasure Of some sad Lovers Death moistens my Eyes And robs me of my Manhood I should speak So faintly with such fear to grieve her Heart She 'd not believe it earnest Ant. Therefore therefore Thou only thou art fit think thy self me And when thou speak'st but let it first be long Take off the edge from every Sharper sound And let our parting be as gently made As other Loves begin wilt thou do this Dolla What you have said so sinks into my Soul That if I must speak I shall speak just so Ant. I leave you then to your sad task Farewel I sent her word to meet you Goes to the door and comes back I forgot Let her be told I 'll make her peace with mine Her Crown and Dignity shall be preserv'd If I have pow'r with Caesar. O be sure To think on that Dolla Fear not I will remember Antâ—…ny goes agiâ—… to the door and câ—…mes back Ant. And tell her too how much I was constrain'd I did not this but with extreamest force Dâ—…sire her not to hate my Memory For I still cherish hers insist on that Dolla Trust me I 'll not forget it Ant. Then that 's all Goes out and returns again Wilt thou forgive my fondness this once more Tell her tho' we shall never meet again If I should hear she took another Love The News would break my Heart Now I must go For every time I have return'd I feel My Soul more tender and my next Command Would be to bid her stay and ruine both Exit Dolla Men are but Children of a larger growth Our Appetites as apt to change as theirs And full as craving too and full as vain And yet the Soul shut up in her dark Room Viewing so clear abroad at home sees nothing But like a Mole in Earth busie and blind Works all her folly up and casts it outward To the Worlds open view thus I discover'd And blam'd the Love of ruin'd Antony Yet wish that I were he to be so ruin'd Enter Ventidius above Ven. Alone and Talking to himself concern'd too Perhaps my Guess is right he lov'd her once And may pursue it still Dolla O Friendship Friendship Ill canst thou answer this and Reason worse Unfaithful in th' Attempt hopeless to win And if I win undone mere madness all And yet th' occasion 's fair What injury To him to wear the Robe which he throws by Ven. None none at all This happens as I wish To ruine her yet more with Antony Enter Cleopatra talking with Alexas Charmion Iras on the other side Dolla She comes What Charms have sorrow on that Face Sorrow seems pleas'd to dwell with so much sweetness Yet now and then a Melancholy smile Breaks loose like Lightning in a Winter's night And shows a moments day Ven. If she should love him too Her Eunuch there That Porcpisce bodes ill weather Draw draw nearer Sweet Devil that I may hear Alex. Believe me try Dollabella goes over to Charmiâ—…n and Iras seems to talk with them To make him jealous jealousie is like A polisht Glass held to the lips when Life 's in doubt If there be Breath 't will catch the damp and show it Cleop. I grant you Jealousie 's a Proof of Love But 't is a weak and unavailing Med'cine It puts out the Disease and makes it show But has no pow'r to cure Alex. 'T is your last Remedy and strongest too And then this Dollabella who so fit To practice on He 's handsome valiant young And looks as he were laid for Nature's bait To catch weak Womens Eyes He stands already more than half suspected Of loving you the least kind word or glance You give this Youth will kindle him with Love Then like a burning Vessel set adrift You 'll send him down amain before the Wind To fire the Heart of jealous Antony Cleop. Can I do this Ah no my Love 's so true That I can neither hide it where it is Nor show it where it is not Nature meant me A Wife a silly harmless houshold Dove Fond without Art and kind without Deceit But Fortune that has made a Mistress of me Hast thrust me out to the wide World unfurnish'd Of falshood to be happy Alex. Force your self Th' event wil be your Lover will return Doubly desirous to possess the good Which once he â—…ar'd to lose Cleop. I must Attempt it But Oh with what regret Exit Alex. She comes up to Dollabella Ven. So now the Scene draws near they 're in my reach Cleop. to Dol. Discoursing with my Women Might not I Share in your Entertainment Char. You have been The Subject of it Madam Cleop. How and how â—…as Such praises of your Beauty Cleop. Mere Poetry Your Roman Wits your Gallus and Tibullus Have taught you this â—…rom Citheris and Delia. Dolla Those Roman Wits have never been in Egypt Citheris and Delia else had been unsung I who have seen had I been born a Poet Should chuse a nobler Name Cleop. You flatter me But 't is your Nation 's vice all of your Country Are flatterers and all false Your Friend 's like you I 'm sure he sent you not to speak these words Dolla No Madam yet he sent me Cleop. Well he sent you Dolla Of a less pleasing Errand Cleop. How less pleasing Less to you self or me Dolla Madam to both For you must mourn and I must grieve to cause it Cleop. You Charmion and your Fellow stand at distance Aside Hold up my Spirits Well now your mournful matter For I 'm prepar'd perhaps can Guess it too Dolla I wish you would for 't is a thankless office To tell ill News and I of all your Sex Most fear displeasing you Cleop. Of all your Sex I soonest could forgive you if you should Ven Most delicate advances Woman Woman Dear damn'd inconstant Sex Cleop. In the first place I am to be forsaken is' t not so Dolla I wish I could not Answer to that Question Cleop. Then pass it o'er because it troubles you I should have been more griev'd another time Next I 'm to lose my Kingdom Farewel Egypt Yet is there any more Dolla Madam I fear Your too deep Sense of Grief has turn'd your Reason Cleop. No no I 'm not run mad I can bear Fortune And Love may be expell'd by other Love As Poysons are by Poysons Dolla You o'erjoy me Madam To find your Griefs so moderately born You 've heard the worst all are not false like
lov'd you know how yet I love My only Comfort is I know my self I love you more ev'n now you are unkind Than when you lov'd me most so well so truly I 'll never strive against it but die pleas'd To think you once were mine Ant. Good Heav'n they weep at parting Must I weep too that calls 'em innocent I must not weep and yet I must to think That I must not forgive Live but live wretched 't is but just you shou'd Who made me so Live from each others sight Let me not hear you meet Set all the Earth And all the Seas betwixt your sunder'd Loves View nothing common but the Sun and Skys Now all take several ways And each your own sad fate with mine deplore That you were false and I could trust no more Exeunt severally ACT V. Cleopatra Charmion Iras. Char. BE juster Heav'n such Virtue punish'd thus Will make us think that Chance rules all above And shuffles with a Random hand the Lots Which Man is forc'd to draw Cleop. I cou'd tear out these Eyes that gain'd his Heart And had not pow'r to keep it O the Curse Of doting on ev'n when I find it Dotage Bear witness Gods you heard him bid me go You whom he mock'd with imprecating Vows Of promis'd Faith I 'll die I will not bear it You may hold me She pulls out her Dagger and they hold her But I can keep my Breath I can die inward And choak this Love Enter Alexas Iras. Help O Alexas help The Queen grows desperate her Soul struggles in her With all the Agonies of Love and Rage And strives to sorce its Passage Cleop. Let me go Art thou there Traitor O O for a little Breath to vent my Rage Give give me way and let me loose upon him Alex. Yes I deserve it for my ill-tim'd truth Was it for me to prop The Ruins of a falling Majesty To place my self beneath the mighty flaw Thus to be crush'd and pounded into Atoms By its o'erwhelming weight 'T is too presuming For Subjects to preserve that wilful pow'r Which Courts its own Destruction Cleop. I wou'd reason More calmly with you Did not you o'er-rule And force my plain direct and open Love Into these crooked paths of Jealousie Now what 's th' event Octavia is remov'd But Cleopatra's banish'd Thou thou Villain Has push'd my Boat to open Sea to prove At my sad Cost if thou canst steer it back It cannot be I 'm lost too far I 'm ruin'd Hence thou Impostor Traitor Monster Devil I can no more thou and my Griefs have sunk Me down so low that I want voice to Cuâ—…e thee Alex. Suppose from Shipwrack'd Seaman near the shore Dropping and faint wiâ—…h climbing up the Cliff If from above some Charitable hand Pull him to safety hazarding himself To draw the others weight wou'd he look back And Curse him for his Pains The Case is yours But one step more and you have gain'd the heighth Cleop. Sunk never more to rise Alex. Octavia's gone and Dollabella banish'd Believe me Madam Antony is yours His Heart was never lost but started off To Jealousie Love's last retreat and covert Where it lies hâ—…d in Shades watchful in silence And list'ning for the Sound that calls it back Some other any Man 't is so advanc'd May perfect this unfinish'd work which I Unhappy only to my self have lest So easie to his hand Cleop. Look well thou do 't else Alex. Else what your silence threatens Antony Is mounted up the Pharos from whose Turret He stands surveying our Egyptian Gallies Engag'd with Caesar's Fleet now Death or Conquest If the first happen Fate acquits my Promise If we o'ercome the Conqueror is yours A distant shout within Char. Have comfort Madam did you mark that Shout Second Shout nearer Iras. Hark they redouble it Alex. 'T is from the Port. The loudness shows it near good News kind Heavens Cleop. Osiris make it so Enter Serapion Serap Where where 's the Queen Alex. How frightfully the holy Coward stares As if not yet recover'd of th' Assault When all his Gods and what 's more dear to him His Offerings were at stake Serap O horror horror Egypt has been our latest hour is come The Queen of Nations from her ancient Seat Is Sunk for ever in the dark Abyss Time has unrowl'd her Glories to the last And now clos'd up the Volume Cleop. Be more plain Say whence thon com'st though Fate is in thy Face Which from thy haggard Eyes looks wildly out And threatens ere thou speak'st Serap I came from Pharos From viewing spare me and imagine it Our Lands last hope your Navy Cleop. Vanquish'd Serap No. They fought not Cleop. Then they fled Serap Nor that I saw With Antony your well appointed Fleet Row out and thrice he wav'd his hand on high And thrice with cheerful Crys they shouted back 'T was then false Fortune like a fawning Strumpet â—…out to leave the Bankrupt Prodigal With a dissembling Smile would kiss at parting And flatter to the last the well-tim'd Oars Now dipt from every Bank now smoothly run To meet the Foe and soon indeed they met But not as Foes In few we saw their Caps On either side thrown up the Egpptian Gallies Receiv'd like Friends past through and fell behind The Roman rear and now they all come forward And ride within the Poâ—…t Cleop. Enough Serapion I 've heard my doom This needed not you Gods When I lost Antony your work was done 'T is but 〈◊〉 malice Where 's my Lord How bears he this last â—…low Serap His fury cannot be express'd by words Thrice he Attempted headlong to have faln Full on his Foes and aim'd at Caesar's Galley With-held he raves on you Crys He 's betray'd Should he now find you Alex. Shun him ' seek your safety Till you can clear your Innocence Cleop. I 'll stay Alex. You must not haste you to your Monument While I make speed to Caesar. Cleop. Caesar No I have no business with him Alex. I can work him To spare your Life and let this Madman perish Cleop. Base fawning Wretch wouldst thou betray him too Hence from my sight I will not hear a Traytor 'T was thy Design brought all this ruine on us Serapion thou art honest Counsel me But haste each moment's precious Serap Retire you must not yet see Antony He who began this mischief 'T is just he tempt the Danger let him clear you And since he offer'd you his servile tongue To gain a poor precarious Life from Caesar Let him expose that fawning Eloquence And speak to Antony Alex. O Heavens I dare not I meet my certain Death Cleop. Slave thou deserv'st it Not that I fear my Lord will I avoid him I know him Noble when he banish'd me And thought me false he scorn'd to take my Life But I 'll be justifi'd and then die with him Alex. O pity me and let me follow you Cleop. To Death if thou stir hence Speak if
all the Bribes of Life are gone away Ven. Wou'd you be taken Ant. Yes I wou'd be taken But as a Roman ought dead my Ventidius For I 'll convey my Soul from Caesar's reach And lay down life my self 'T is time the World Shou'd have a Lord and know whom to obey We two have kept its Homage in suspence And bent the Globe on whose each side we trod Tell it was dinted inwards Let him walk Alone upon 't I 'm weary of my part My Torch is out and the World stands before me Like a black Desart at the approach of Night I 'll lay me down and stray no â—…arther on Ven. I cou'd be griev'd But that I 'll not out-live you choose your Death For I have seen him in such various shapes I care not which I take I 'm only troubled The Life I bear is worn to such a Rag 'T is scarce worth giving I cou'd wish indeed We threw it from us with a better Grace That like two Lyons taken in the Toils We might at last thrust out our paws and wound The Hunters that inclose us Ant. I have thought on 't Ventidius you must live Ven. I must not Sir Ant. Wilt thou not live to speak some good of me To stand by my fair Fame and guard th' approaches From the ill Tongues of Men Ven. Who shall guard mine For living after you Ant. Say I command it Ven. If we die well our Deaths wâ—…ll speak themselves And need no living Witness Ant. Thou hast lov'd me And â—…ain I wou'd reward thee I must die Kill me and take the Merit of my Death To make thee Friends with Câ—…sar Ven. Thank your kindness You said I lov'd you and in recompence You bid me turn a Traitor did I think You wou'd have us'd me thus that I shou'd die With a hard thought of you Ant. Forgive me Roman Since I have heard of Cleopatra's Death My Reason bears no rule upon my Tongue But lets my thoughts break all at Random out I 've thought better do not deny me twice Ven. By Heav'n I will not Let it not be t' out-live you Ant. Kill me first And then die thou for 't is but just thou serve Thy Friend before thy self Ven. Give me your haâ—…d We soon shall meet again Now farewel Emperor Embrace Methinks that word 's too cold to be my last Since Death sweeps dsstinctions Farewel Friend That 's all I will not make a bus'ness of a trifle And yet I cannot look on you and kill you Pray turn your Face Ant. I do strike home sure Ven. Home as my Sword will reach Kills himself Ant. O thou mistak'st That wound was none of thine give it me back Thou robb'st me of my Death Ven. I do indeed But think 't is the first time I e'er deceiv'd you Iâ—… that may plead my Pardon And you Gods Forgive me if you will for I die perjur'd Rather then kill my Friend Dies Ant. Farewel Ever my Leader ev'n in Death My Queen and thou have got the start of me And I 'm the lag of Honour Gone so soon Is Death no more He us'd him carelesly With a familiar kindness ere he knock'd Ran to the Door and took him in his Arms As who shou'd say Y' are welcome at all hours A Friend need give no warning Books had spoil'd him â—…or all the Learn'd are Cowards by profession 'T is not worth My farther thought for Death for ought I know Is but to think no more Here 's to be satisfi'd Falls on his Sword I 've mist my heart O unperforming hand Thou never cou'dst have err'd in a worse time My Fortune jades me to the last and Death Like a great Man takes state and makes me wait For my Admittance Trampling within Some perhaps from Caesar If he shou'd find me living and suspect That I plaid booty with my Life I 'll mend My work ere they can reach me Rises upon his Knees Enter Cleopatra Charmion Iras. Cleop. Where is my Lord where is he Char. There he lies And dead Venâ—…idius by him Cleop. My sears were Prophets I am come too late O that accurs'd Alexas Runs to him Ant. Art thou living Or am I dead before I knew and thou Tâ—…e first kind Ghost that meets me Cleop. Help me Seat him Send quickly send for help They place him in a Chair Ant. I am answer'd We live both Sit thee down my Cleopatrâ—… I 'll make the most I can of Life to stay A moment more with thee Cleop. How is it with you Ant. T is as with a Man Removing in a hurry all pack'd up But one dear Jewel that his haste forgot And he for that returns upon the spur So I come back for thee Cleop. Too long you Heav'ns you have been cruel to me Now show your mended Faith and give me back His fleeting Life Ant. It will not be my Love I keep my Soul by force Say but thou art not false Cleop. 'T is now too late To say I 'm true I 'll prove it and die with you Unknown to me Alexas feign'd my Death Which when I knew I hasted to prevent This â—…atal consequence My Fleet betray'd Both you and me Ant. And Dollabella Cleop. Scarce esteem'd before he lov'd but hated now Ant. Enough my Life 's not long enough for more Thou sayst thou wilt come after I believe thee For I can now believe whate'er thou sayst That we may part more kindly Cleop. I will come Doubt not my Life I 'll come and quickly too Caesar shall triumph o'er no part of thee Ant. But grieve not while thou stay'st My last disastrous Times Think we have had a clear and glorious day And Heav'n did kindly to delay the Storm Just till our close of Ev'ning Ten years love And not a moment lost but all improv'd To th' utmost Joys What Ages have we liv'd And now to die each others and so dying While hand in hand we walk in Groves below Whole Troops of Lovers Ghosts shall flock about uâ—… And all the Train be ours Cleop. Your words are like the Notes of dying Swans Too sweet to last Were there so many hours For your unkindness and not one for Love Ant. No not a minute This one kiss more worth Than all I leave to Caesar. Dies Cleop. O tell me so again And take Ten thousand kisses for that word My Lord my Lord speak if you yet have being Sigh to me if you cannot speak or cast Oâ—…e look Do any thing that shows you live Iras. He 's gone too far to hear you And this you see a Lump of sensless â—…lay The leavings of a Soul Câ—…ar Remember Madam He charg'd you not to grieve Cleop. And I 'll obey him I have not lov'd a Roman not to know What should become of his Wife his Wife my Charmionâ—… For 't is to that high Title I aspire And now I 'll not die less Let dull Octavia Survive to mourn him dead my Nobler Fate Shall knit our
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