The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1 Enter Caesar, Agrippa, Dolabella with others.
2 CAESAR.
3 Let him appear that’s come from Antony.
4 Know you him?
5 DOLABELLA.
6 Caesar, ’tis his schoolmaster—
7 An argument that he is plucked, when hither
8 He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
9 Which had superfluous kings for messengers
10 Not many moons gone by.
11 Enter Ambassador from Anthony.
12 CAESAR.
13 Approach, and speak.
14 AMBASSADOR.
15 Such as I am, I come from Antony.
16 I was of late as petty to his ends
17 As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf
18 To his grand sea.
19 CAESAR.
20 Be’t so. Declare thine office.
21 AMBASSADOR.
22 Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
23 Requires to live in Egypt, which not granted,
24 He lessens his requests, and to thee sues
25 To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
26 A private man in Athens. This for him.
27 Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness,
28 Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves
29 The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
30 Now hazarded to thy grace.
31 CAESAR.
32 For Antony,
33 I have no ears to his request. The queen
34 Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
35 From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
36 Or take his life there. This if she perform,
37 She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
38 AMBASSADOR.
39 Fortune pursue thee!
40 CAESAR.
41 Bring him through the bands.
42 [_Exit Ambassador, attended._]
43 [_To Thidias_.] To try thy eloquence now ’tis time. Dispatch.
44 From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise,
45 And in our name, what she requires; add more,
46 From thine invention, offers. Women are not
47 In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure
48 The ne’er-touch’d vestal. Try thy cunning, Thidias;
49 Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
50 Will answer as a law.
51 THIDIAS.
52 Caesar, I go.
53 CAESAR.
54 Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
55 And what thou think’st his very action speaks
56 In every power that moves.
57 THIDIAS.
58 Caesar, I shall.
59 [_Exeunt._]