 | Antony and Cleopatra |  |
Scene the First.
Cæsar's Tents.Enter Cæsar, Agrippa, Mecœnas.
Cæsar.
Our Arms an easie Victory have found
Over a Foe, in love and pleasure drown'd.
Agrip.
I am pleas'd we have Antonius subdu'd
Yet rage to think a Roman was pursu'd:
Our souls did once our conquer'd Bodies loath,
And seldome did one World contain 'em both.
Yet now by hopes we're flatter'd to live on,
And with the Common Herd of Mankind run,
Crouching to Fate, which we by death might shun.
Cæs.
His Army's yet entire, and on the Shore;
No Troops so far the Roman Eagle bore:
Armenian Kings they have in Triumph led,
And Parthian blood in ten set Battles shed:
Their General to the last they will defend.
Mecœn.
None can defend those, who themseves betray:
He with his Queen again will run away,
And leave 'em fighting, as he did at Sea.
Agrip.
Remember, Sir, the joy the World exprest,
When threatning Wars and Mischiefs, you redrest.
With a late Peace, which an Alliance ty'd,
And your fair Sister made Antonius Bride.
2
If you content with half of it can live.
Cæs.
Against all strokes of Fate who can prepare?
That Match is half th'occasion of this War.
To him I did my dear Octavia give,
That Rome in peace, she might in Empire live;
That to one Emperor by blood ally'd,
And to the other by her Marriage ty'd,
She might all growing jealousie remove,
And be her self the Bond of lasting love.
But see th'unblest event; Antonius slights
That Tye, which even enemies unites;
And more than drunk with Cleopatra's charms,
He scorns both Roman-Love and Roman-Arms.
Agrip.
Love of our Country and our Interest
Is the true passion of a Roman Breast.
All other are Usurpers—
Cæs.
'Tis most true:
Yet this vile Flame he never will subdue,
Which spight of time and of enjoyment lives,
And of it's bane miraculously thrives.
He thinks his life depends upon her eye,
As that of Plants does on the Sun relye.
The ignorant are learn'd, if she think so,
And Cowards even Hercules out-do.
At her request he Provinces bestows,
And no mans worth but by her stamp he knows.
Whilst my Octavia leads a Stepdames life,
And tends the Children of his former Wife,
Ungrac'd without authority or sway.
Mecœn.
The wrongs of that fair Princess, Sir, are great,
And rage in all, but in her self create.
What Hers forgives, our virtue shou'd chastise:
Mortals revenge the blasphem'd Deities.
And strait the Impious wretch in pieces tear,
Whom Heaven in clemency wou'd long forbear.
From equal pow'r how can you be secure?
And less Antonius never will endure.
Agrip.
Antonius worsted will no league refuse,
And give in peace what battle could not lose.
3
And in his Bed and Empirie make her reign.
Mecœn.
Men leagues and peace in their distress embrace,
But keep 'em only till affairs change face.
Ambition's never safe till pow'r be past,
As men till Impotent are seldom Chaste.
Follow the blow, and doubt not the success;
But Fortune for her utmost favours press.
On petty Kings you trifling Conquests make,
Antonius brings you here an equal stake;
The World to be divided at one blow,
And Fate already has declar'd for you.
Agrip.
Men that have once an equal pow'r enjoy'd,
May see the Ballance chang'd, but not destroy'd.
He that is lessen'd to a Slaves degree,
Still conscious of the first equality,
Must hate the other, and himself much more.
Who ever saw a Captive Emperor?
With honour treat and yield perhaps he may,
But he can never like a Slave obey.
Cæs.
Peace we will offer, that he may refuse,
And the whole World his bloody mind accuse.
Thyreus knows the Queen: Him I will send,
Charge him that strait he in my Tent attend.
Ex. Omnes.
| Antony and Cleopatra | |