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
been A secret Servant to th' Aegyptian Queen What if I went with terms more moderate I who am less Obnoxius to his hate Caes. This Offer now the danger grows so near In a man less known shou'd take for fear Agrip. His Insolence no longer I defend Caes. See here the Challenge he thinks fit to send Agrip. reads Agrip. In single Combat let our Fencers fight With Armies Emperors dispute their right Caes. Like him I Roman blood would gladly spare And to a Combat would contract the War My youth and unfoil'd strength may Conquest claim Over this Shadow of a mighty Name Now prest with Age and with Debauches worn Th' unequal Combat I not fear but scorn Agrip. He like an aged Oak in Autumn shows From whose dry Arms some Leaves each minute blows One King or Ally still forsake his side His Empire ebbs like a declining Tide Have patience Sir he of himself muk fall Who in despair does for the Combat call Caes. To a brave Death I 'll open him the way See an Assault be made without delay I at my Armies head shall soon appear And if he dares he may engage me there Enter Octavia Octav. O Brother if that name have yet a Pow'r And be not lost in that of Emperor Pity my sad estate since I alone On both sides mourning can rejoyce on none The World divided in their wishes stand My self alone stab'd through on every hand A Brother here There must a Husband fall On the just Gods I know not how to call No chance of War can with my mind comply But I must weep at eithers Victory Caes. If I o'rcome your Husband I will spare Octav. He will not spare himself I more than fear Shou'd he prevail th' Egyptian Queen will sway Whom you and I and he must all obey His am'rous heart must execute her will And whom she frowns on in Obedience kill You to Ambition must a Victim bleed And from my hated Title to his bed Must Cleopatra in my Death be freed And haughty Rome acknowledg a vain Queen Or be of Civil Arms th' endless Scene Caes. He doth all terms of Reconcilement slight There nothing now remains but that we fight He 's now a meer soft Purple Asian Prince And Rome his Empire has disown'd long since Octav. Ingrateful Rome but most ingrateful you Can you forget whom Cassius overthrew Who first to Rome a Parthian triumph show'd And the long Pride of that great Empire bow'd Who the first Caesar made revenged his death And fixt that Empire which he did bequeath On you almost unknown Where they receive Base Natures hate and Love but where they give Caes. Go serve th' Aegyptian learn to dress her head Your slighted Love and your neglected Bed Can you forget and fulsomely pursue The Man with kindness who despises you I shou'd my self scorn fawning Beauty too 'T is as absurd as if the Gods shou'd sue Oct. Wives like good Subjects who to Tyrants bow To Husbands though unjust long patience owe They were for Freedom made Obedience We Courage their vertue ours is Chastity Reason it self in us must not be bold Nor decent Custom be by Wit controul'd On our own heads we desperately stray And are still happiest the vulgar way Caes. Who ever did such Moral Nonsence hear My Sister sure is turn'd Philosopher But we Antonius Pride will soon pull down This hour shall give me his whole lifes renown I the long trade of Fame disdain to drive But to the Top will at one step arrive Octav. Since then my pray'rs and tears can nothing gain In the Foes Camp no longer I 'll remain The Arms I hate my presence shall not grace Antonius Cause I 'll openly embrace To Rome I 'll go and all thy acts disown Make thy Ambition and thy Falshood known To every Roman of the Sword and Gown Till th' art more hated far than Cateline Then Scilla Marius or the Tarquins Line Some will for Freedom some Antonius fight And against Thee both parties I 'll unite Amongst thy Foes I like a Spark will fall And to a sudden Flame convert 'em all Caes. You wou'd not sure my Love so ill repay Octa. Your Love your Pride and endless Thirst of sway To gain my friends my Quarrel you pretend But universal Empire is your end Rome's once great Senate now is but a name While some with fear and some with Bribes you tame Men learn at Court what they must there repeat And for Concurrence not for Council meet At least all such as think of being great They blindly labour at their own ill fate And dig up by the roots the tottering State Caes. Against Antonius Riots they declare And I at their Command but wage this War Octa. Dull Long-gown Statesmen you may feel that Sword Which thus you whet against my injur'd Lord. When Caesar wills a Law for all your rules It will be better taught in Camps than Schools Caes. Your fears distract you or you needs must see Your hopes of happiness depend on me 'T is my success must make Antonius find The dire effect of an unbridled mind Oct. Who ever did an Emperor reform Scarce Heav'n it self can that great Task perform Caes. Heaven chooses me the fittest instrument And on that glorious Task I 'm wholly bent Oct. Is 't thus Mecoenas you promote the Peace But you ne'r meant and promise but to please Mec. All that I durst I have already said I urg'd him till he thought I was afraid But where such Beauty and such Goodness fail What other Intercession can prevail Oct. Mecoenas I no Complements expect From one who does my first Commands neglect Mec. Men that like me have giv'n their Passions vent Are never after held indifferent Hatred or Love pursues the bold attempt It meets with a return or with contempt I fear the latter is Mecoenas lot Oct. I charge you never entertain me more With that false Love which hath so little pow'r Your breach of Word I easily forgive I 'm free and am not now oblig'd to live She weeps Nor will I long the first attacq survive Mec. A sound like that what Lover can indure I 'll move once more shou'd I his hate procure Ah Sir your weeping Beautious Sister view Then if you can her Husbands life pursue Such softness might an angry God disarm And from his hand the brandisht Thunder charm Caes. What means Mecoenas softned in her tears Another Man he to my eyes appears Where is that Soul bids me be Absolute And the dissenting World with Swords confute Move forwards still and spread my Conqu'ring Arms As far as Cinthia lights or Phoebus warms Mec. I can no more you your own Cause must plead I wou'd but can't against my self perswade Tho unsuccessful my endeavours were It was some Merit to obey so far Enter Messenger Mess. The Enemy preventing our attacq Does a fierce Sally on our Forces make Our formost Troops the warm ingagement shun And to
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
death can heal Chil. 'T is a rough Medicine she will never use And fatal were th' advice should she refuse We know his interest does her Councel sway Memn We this advice must privately convey Make her believe Octavius loves her too On that she will an easie faith bestow And in that hope what ist't she may not do Chil. 'T were all in vain and we our lives should lose Tamely and vilely laught at by our Foes Be Thieves and Rogues to execution led Let us die warm and at an Army's head The Romans will not ever be thus strong Thousands as well as we for changes long Memn Let 's silent wait the opportunity And by main force expel their tyranny Chil. I love my Queen and to rebel am loth Mem. I would but free her from Antonius pow'r And that once done lay down my arms next hour Chil. Let us some plot against his life devise He 's not our Prince for publick good he dies And for our Country falls a Sacrifice But see He comes and for his late disgrace His conscious vertue raging in his face Enter Antonius Canidius Photinus Ant. How slippery is the Top of humane state And on exalted Heads what tempests beat Whom Iove will ruine he makes deaf and blind So that they hugg th' ill fate he has design'd I else could never have bold Roman Swords Crowded and throng'd within these floating Boards Ships whom the winds more than their Pilots sway Where eager courage for a wave must stay The Valiant cannot board nor Coward fly But at the lust of the unconstant sky At land my Romans Can. Sir they bravely fought Tho rude in Ships and Sea affairs untaught Six hours they did a doubtful fight maintain Deserted by your base Egyptian Train And by your self if I may be so plain Ant. The just reproach has rows'd my Lyon heart Nor am I angry at the friendly smart I fled Canidius basely run away And fought for Empire below those for pay Of my new shame too much thou canst not say Can. They who by Ships would such a Cause decide Did not for conquest but for flight provide Pardon me Sir my bluntness must go on By barbarous fears and councels you 're undone Photi We in Neutrality secure might wait And calmly expect an Emp'ror from Fate But in your quarrel half our Fleet we lost Led by that Roman courage which you boast Memn Our Ships with a promiscuous crowd were fill'd Neither in Battle nor in Sailing skill'd Reapers and Ploughmen half ne'r tug'd an Oar Nor saw the foaming Sea but from the Shoar Must we be ruin'd and despis'd at last Canid. Did we by land a victory forego That a vain Queen might a rich Galley show My Legions Anto. Canidius no more I know they stood impatient on the Shoar Nineteen such Legions as might fate controul And fortunes wheel at their own pleasure roul Can. A loss at Sea let trading Nations mourn Victorious Romans to land Conquest born Trophies at Sea as much as gain despise Of which an Island is the highest prize The trembling world did to the Victor yield Crown'd with the Laurels of Pharsalia's field Chil. Since we have lost 't is well the gain was small One lucky blow at Land recovers all Phot. Th' Enemy is already at our Walls And our distress for sudden Counsel calls Our Queen amazed at the Siege appears Ant. But yet her love is stronger than her fears Her Country she has made the Seat of War 'T is just her safety be our early'st care I will her Guard within these Walls remain And 'gainst the angry Gods her Cause maintain Whil'st you Canidius to your Legions hast Slight our defeat their loyal hearts make fast To our just Cause our Enemies despise And for my absence some excuse devise Can. Sir I am blunt unknowing to deceive I 'le say you cannot Cleopatra Leave That you in her defence alone can fight And blest in love the Roman Empire slight Ant What shall I do shall I my Queen forsake And not her danger I create partake Caesar this night may Alexandria storm And all that lust or rage instruct perform Her beauty may the Conqueror disarm And his success and love that beauty charm Her Subjects weary of the Wars may rise And make her blood their common sacrifice Memn They say their Queen in policy of State Should buy her Country's peace at any rate Ant. They say who says Memnon you fain wou'd vent In others names your private discontent I see a sullen fierceness in your brow Which you wou'd put in act if you knew how Mem. Sir I am known to love my Country well Ant. So they say all that purpose to rebel Chil. Some with your head would young Octavius greet And on those bloody terms a Peace compleat Under such Polititians Pompey fell With tumults backt what may they not compel Ant. How shall they foes who cannot tumults quell The giddy multitude we must not fear But what we once resolve on make 'em bear Mem. 'T is ill to discontent whom we must use And men fight best when they their party choose Ant. 'T is chosen for 'em by their Soveraign And 't is sedition in them to complain Maxims too popular you still maintain Mem. Sir my plain speech does no design contain 'T is the meer issue of my heart and brain If it offend Ant. It does be gone Nor will I learn of you what 's to be done Exit When things go ill each Fool presumes t' advise And if more happy thinks himself more wise All wretchedly deplore the present state And that advice seems best which comes too late Phot. You loose your self in rage and have forgot Amintas Deotorus and the rout Of vulgar Kings have meanly turn'd about Canid. Pelusium by Seleucus is betray'd Some say the Qâ—een did his revolt perswade Ant. Monster such horrid blasphemy forbear Both were his own the falshood and the fear Can. Sir I but speak the language of the World Ant. Henceforth be ever dumb that World and thou It cannot must not nor it sha'nt be so Can. Nay if it sha'nt I have no more to say Ant. Aside all pâ—ssion and all heat I le lay And cooly argue what can be her end There to betray whom she does here defend Enter Cleopatra Charmion Iras with Seleucus 's young Son Egyptians But see the Queen Heart but this once stand fast aside And I 'le forgive thee all thy weakness past How can your goodness to a wretch extend Who all he lov'd so poorly did defend Cleo. 'T was not your life but me you cou'd not loose Love turn'd your back not Fear upon your Foes Ant. The timerous Deer their female standing by Each other will to wounds and death defie Love gives short courage to the meanest soul The creeping things he arms and winged fowl Yet overcharg'd with love I lost the day And in my Mistress presence ran away Cover'd with shame I fear to meet
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
Players chiefly have his ear He dares not the free tongues of Romans hear To marry Whores to Fencers is his sport And with their Issue throng his loathed Court Now lewd Cytheris has a greater Train Than his own Mother or his Wife maintain From such a Foe as this what can we fear In whom all symptoms of lost pow'r appear Mecoen The flatt'ring Greeks his easie nature praise But on the rest he heavy burthens lays In drunken Bounty for a riotous treat He gave his Fav'rite Cook a spacious Street Men say no hour dares move without its Feast Which is for their fantastick pallats drest Now must the rising Sun their Riot view Which the next day prevents the Evening dew In every draught they some rich Gem consume And spend a private Fortune in one Room Caes. Empire of pains and virtue the slow fruit How ill dost thou with vice and riot suit Cinna was bloody Marius unjust Tarquin and Appius raging in their Lust Lucullus was luxurious loud his ease Thus on each man his single vice did seize But all these faults are in Antonius met Mecoen His Court with Asian Flatt'rers is fill'd And Lying Greeks the only Servants held These serve the turns of riotous delight Whilst Romans only are thought fit to fight Agrip. Example is a living Law whose sway Men more than all the written Laws obey Princes of all men therefore shou'd take care How in their manners they the Crowd ensnare But above all his dotage on the Queen Employs my wonder was it ever seen A Woman rul'd an Emperor till now What Horse the Mare what Bull obeys the Cow Nature that Monster Love does disavow In all her kinds only fantastick Man Finds ways of folly which no other can Mecoen He that will vilify the pow'r of Love In the first place let him our Gods reprove Who oft their heavenly Mansions have forsook And the mean shapes of Birds and Beasts have took To pursue Mortals in an amorous way And form their glorious Image in our clay Agrip. The God that lov'd what Nymph yet ever rul'd He was again a God his Lust once cool'd Had womens will our good or ill procur'd The World had never half so long endur'd The high embrace fill'd all their spacious thought And proofs of kindness were no farther sought Caes. Th'unable sure the ugly or the old First in affairs of Love made use of gold Then Princes to out-bid 'em threw in pow'r Now heart for heart 's the Traffick of the Poor Agrip. Women should 〈…〉 like idle Passengers While the tall Ship 〈…〉 steers Wisdom high Courage 〈…〉 If o're the Wise and brave 〈…〉 And this Antonius conduct ha 〈…〉 Caes. 'T is time the insur'd World we should redeem From a mans sway so lost in her esteem Agrip. What is success in Arms if Conqu'ring Rome By Troops of Asian Vices be o'recome Caes. To set all right I must be absolute My least commands None daring to dispute Rome's desp'rate state can never find redress But from a pow'r as able to oppress Whilst for the publick good my pow'r I use Seeing my end Men will the means excuse Th' Omnipotence of Gods who thinks too great Since men below they with compassion treat Agrip. But envy does all mortal pow'r attend Men fear the Means and still suspect the end He that can hurt who answers but he will Men pass in fear by sleeping Lyons still Empire is safest moderately great And death unseen does on Ambition wait Caes. He that can do no ill can do no good And if in one in both may be withstood The actions of a Tyrant I abhor But as things stand I cannot want the pow'r Agrip. Our Laws the art of ruling best contain Mecoen Fools find it there wise Princes in their Brain Agrip. Pow'r long possest few Princes care to use But give it up for others to abuse From Phoebus self the World no hazard run But cou'd not bear one day his Vent'rous Son He through new wayes the flaming Chariot drove And all was fear below and fire above Caes. I to no Phaeton will the reins commit Nor in inglorious ease a moment sit I le see the Common-wealth no mischief take And do and suffer all things for her sake Mecoen Rome on your vertue leans her aged head As old Anchises on Aeneas did And thinks she may with 〈…〉 you Factions at Home 〈…〉 You whom the 〈…〉 oes hold Bolder than Youth and 〈…〉 Old Agrip. The name of Coâ—â—â—â—-wealth is popular And every Caesar may his Brutus fear Mecaen Romans that barb'rous Murder so reveng'd It shews the thoughts of a Republick chang'd Caes. Men die of Agues too much heat or cold And others grow ridiculous old Ex. Caes. Oct. Mec. manet Agrip. The thoughts of humane chance should make us bold I le seize the Empire which I le die or hold Agrip. Born under Kings our Father freedom sought And with their blood the Godlike treasure bought We their vile issue in our chains delight And born to freedom for our Tyrants fight Exit Agrip. Scene the Second The Palace Enter Antonius Canidius Photinus Can. For what Sir must we then prepare Thyreus does he bring us Peace or War Anto. He offers Peace but upon terms so high At the great rate I 'd not an Empire buy My former gifts I meanly must resume And give accounts of all my act to Rome My faithful friends from their Commands remove And place such as the Senate shall approve Canid. True friends displac't will pardon your distress And thô your pow'r Anto. A Pageant pow'r and Empire but in show True Empire only those great Souls enjoy Who can in what and whom they please employ And without leave from Rome a Crown bestow Exalt a Friend and trample on a Foe This by your Love and Arms I once attchiev'd Nor will be of it but by Arms depriv'd Can. Ambition is the Dropsey of the Soul Whose thirst we must not yield to but controul Anto. Some Drudg of State may a less pow'r esteem And ruling many let a few rule him Mean Slave to them high Tyrant to the rest With fear and pride at once defile his breast By Hercules I won't if any here Think that a Course too desp'rate I steer Let him retire and his own fears obey Canid. The Gods well know my fears are all for you And your most daring thoughts shall find me true It is not Caesar nor our blow at Sea That to these terms incline me to agree But 't is the love of Rome which you have lost And that your Ryots here and Loves have cost Ant. Caesar and I you know were never friends And only hung together for our ends Yet in his Cause this Tongue an Army rais'd And made Rome hate that deed she late had prais'd Brutus and Cassius felt the deadly sting And all to make Octavius more than King So blindly did I act so little see Into the dark Decrees of Destiny
Foe From the strange horror of that dismal sight Cowards would rush into the midst of fight Anto. Let Cowards crowd to force resign their breath Brave Minds look through it and make use of Death Thou can'st not now my fatal Journey stay Phot. Nor wou'd I Sir you 'r fairly on your way Anto. Death soon will place me out of Fortunes reach Why stayes my Soul to sally at this breach Phot. It is not big enough Anto. Do'st mock me now Can my few Minutes a new Torture know Phot. They may and to provoke thy parting Soul Know that the Queen yet lives thou loving Fool And I the Story of her Death contriv'd To make thee kill thy self which has arriv'd Just as I wish't by thy own hand thou dy'st And art at once the Victim and the Priest Anto. Furies and Hell Phot. Curse on but Caesar shall With Egypts Scepter thank me for thy fall Though decently he cou'd not take thy Head He 'l inwardly rejoyce to find thee dead And hug the man that eas'd him from the fear Of such a Rival yet his guilt did spare Anto. Thou mak'st me hate by turns my Life and Death O for a moments strength my Sword to sheath In thy false Heart But 't will not be my hand forsakes my Will Only himself can poor Antonius kill Phot. ' Coud you have liv'd I had seem'd honest still But now take all the Queen her self must Bleed Iras and I must to her Throne Succeed Thy Councills still to Caesar I betray'd This last revolt I in thy Navy made Anto. Triumphant Villain What provok't thee to 't Phot. Ambition Sir I had no Armies I Nor was I born of Royal Progeny No Crown descended on my Lazy Head I cou'd no open path to greatness tread But none despis'd that to a Throne did Lead Anto. All Charmion said of Thee it seems was true Phot. And all Canidius ' ere suspected too I have discharg'd my Conscience at this Last Dy thou Whilst I to Iras and a Throne make hast Ex. Phot. Enter Charmion Iras and Attendants Charm The Queen Entreats Anto. Does my Queen Live and may Antonius yet Above the Earth his Cleopatra Meet Charm She lives but shut up in her Monument Her rowling Thoughts on some dire Mischief bent By Isis Temple Sir you know it Stands The Rarest Fabrick made by Mortal hands All she holds dear she has throng'd there but you And now intreats that you will enter too Anto. With those we love a Triumph 't is to fall Most gladly I obey her fatal Call Charm Just Heaven's you faint what is it you have done That with such Streams these Living Fountains run Anto. It was a sudden qualm Limbs do but bear Me to My Queen and I 'l dismiss you there I cannot dy till I have paid that Debt Nor have our Souls appointed where to Meet Stand off my Fate and dare not touch me yet Charm Secure from Caesar you a while may be And there what 's fittest to be done Decree A shout The place Anto. The Victory comes on I hear the Noise And of prevailing Foes th' insulting Voyce Caesar to spare me did strickt Order give I may be taken and compell'd to live Move on all Fates but that I can forgive Exeunt Enter Caesar Agrippa Mecoenas and Souldiers Mec. Sir y' are entirely Master of the Town All men their Hatred and their Armes lay down And the whole World now bends to you alone Agrip. The names of Parties and of Factions cease And War has brought forth her fair Daughter Peace Caes. Command the Souldiers Fury be restrain'd That Rage destroy not what their Virtue gain'd Th' Egyptians now my Clemency shall share I would be lov'd in Peace though Fear'd in War In this Confusion wher 's the haughty Queen Mec. Since first we entred She no more was seen Enter Photinus with a Sword Phot. Great Caesar at my hands that Sword receive Which his Deaths Wound did to Antonius give Caes. Thou hast not kill'd him Villain quickly speak Thy Limbs upon a Thousand Racks I 'l break To find the Truth Phot. He is not Dead but long he cannot Live And his own Arm the Fatal blow did give By my advice indeed Caes. By thy advice Thus Rome by Egypt is defeated twice Thou hast the pow'r of pardoning from me tane And empty Wishes now alone remain Each Man will think what he himself had done And my great mind interpret by his own Hence from my sight since blasted is by Thee The fairest Fruit of all my Victory Phot. I wish Antonius blood were yet unspilt But Yours is the advantage Mine the guilt Empire and Glory can no Partners bear Since you forgive your Foes excuse my care Caes. Where is the Queen Phot. Fled to the Monument Which for her last Retreat she ever meant Where she has all the Jewels of the Crown And the Chief Wealth of th' distracted Town There great Antonius Bleeding in her Armes Takes his last Leave of her destructive Charmes Give me Two hundred Men within an houre They shall alive or dead be in Your pow'r Caes. Thou Monster of all Villany forbear Thou woud'st thy Gods from off their Altars tear Who woud'st not thy Afflicted Sov'raign spare Agrip. Men say she is Generous if so our Force Will only drive her on some desp'rate Course If Honourable Terms we should refuse We shall her Person and her Treasure lose She 'l both Convert into one spreading Flame And shortning hated Life extend her Fame Mec. A Roman Mind can only Death command Fear no such Courage from a Barbarous Hand Enter a Servant Serv. Octavia Sir Caes. Poor Soul I pity Her She ill the news will of Antonius bear She 's past all human Grief and human Care Caes. She is not dead Serv. Yes in her way to Rome Of grief and discontent as we presume Caes. Ye joyes of Victory a while forbear I must on my Octavia drop a tear She was the best of Women Gentlest Wife In every part how vertuous was her life Mec. From out the Christal Palace of her Brest Her clearer Soul is gone to endless rest What time what reason can my loss digest Enter Messenger Mess. Canidius still does an old Fort defend Caes. On every spark of War we must attend True Wisdom will no Enemy despise From small beginnings mighty Flames arise Enter Canidius with his Souldiers Canid. Thus the last Sword for Liberty I draw And whom Despair thrusts on no numbers awe Who knows But that those nobler Souls of Ancient Rome May strike with us 'gainst slavery to come Enter Caesar with his Souldiers Caes. I charge you all the brave Canidius spare Let not his Blood now stain the ended War His number speaks not terror but despair Canid. is beaten off the Stage He re-enters Canid. Fight but one Minute longer whil'st that I And some few nobler Souls like Romans die They kill themselves Then may you all by Caesars mercy live The rest