Antony and Cleopatra an historical Play |
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SCENE IV.
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Antony and Cleopatra | ||
54
SCENE IV.
A Camp in Egypt. Cæsar's Tent.Enter Cæsar, Thyreus, Dolabella, and others.
Cæs.
Let him appear, that's come from Antony:—
Know you him?
Dol.
—Cæsar, 'tis his soothsayer:
An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
Which had superfluous Kings for messengers,
Not many moons gone by.
Enter Soothsayer.
Cæs.
—Approach, and speak.
Soo.
Such as I am, I come from Antony:
I was of late as petty to his ends,
As is the morn dew on the mirtle leaf
To his grand sea.
Cæs.
—Be it so; Declare thine office.
Soo.
Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,
He lessens his request; and of thee sues
To let him breath between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens: This for him.
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness;
Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace.
Cæs.
—For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The Queen
Of audience, nor desire, shall fail; so she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there: This if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
55
Fortune pursue thee!
Cæs.
—Bring him through the bands.—
[Exit Soothsayer, attended.
To try thy eloquence, now's the time: Dispatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,
And in our name, what she requires; add more,
From thine invention offers: Women are not,
In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjure
The ne'er-touch'd vestal: Try thy cunning, Thyreus;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
Will answer as a law.
Thy.
—Cæsar, I go.
Cæs.
Observe how Antony becomes his flaw;
And what thou think'st his very action speaks
In every power that moves.
Thy.
—Cæsar, I shall.
[Exeunt.
Antony and Cleopatra | ||