The tragedie of Cleopatra Queen of Ægypt. By T.M. Acted 1626

Actus Tertius. (Book 3)

Enter PINNARIUS SCARPUS with Souldiers.

PIN.

TIs not Antonius, worthy souldiers, But Rome herself to whom you owe your valours What he could claim, you have perform'd already; And serv'd him truly, whilst he was to you A Generall, to Rome a Magistrate. You are discharg'd from all obedience You ow'd to him, by fate it self, and may Nay, ought to follow him, whom Roman fates Appoint your Generall, the noble Caesar Great Julius heir, not to his name alone But spirit and fortunes, which have both appear'd In this so great and finall a defeat Given to Antonius. Before we knew not

••o whom the Gods and Fortune had assign'd Our service souldiers; now they have declar'd. ••nd let us follow where they please to lead. ••or faith is impious striving to sustain That side, whose fall the Gods themselves ordain.

SOL.

••••esar, Caesar, Caesar.

PIN.

••our judgments guide you right; for could you think ••o small a strength as ours could raise again The desperate state of faln Antonius, ••nder whose ruine all those legions sunk? ••hat madnesse were it, souldiers to preferre A hopelesse civill warre before the weal And peace of Rome? and desperatly provoke The prosperous fortunes of victorious Caesar? 〈◊〉〈◊〉 have already to Cornelius Gal••us

Dio.

By letter signify'd our purposes. Who sent from Caesar now is marching hither, To joyn his strength with ours: but ha••k his Drum Give notice of his comming.

Enter GALLUS.

Hail Pinnarius.

PIN.

Ah hail Cornelius Gallus, Most wish'd for, an most happily arriv'd At Paraetonium.

GAL.

Victorious Caesar With love and favour greets Pinnarius Scarpus, Caesar, then whom the world acknowledges No other power; whom Fortune now has made ••ole Lord of all.

PI.

I, and my souldiers With Paraetonium are at Caesar's service. Whither's Antonius fled?

GAL.

Hither to Aegypt With Cleopatra? 'Twas a victory So strangely given away, as not the like In former times I think has ere been heard; On which especially so great a price As the sole sway of all the world depended. The Fleets encountred both, while with the Camps On either shore stood to behold the fight,

Di••▪

Heer the Caesarian, there the Antonian Fleet With equall hopes came on, with fury equall. And long maintain'd a sharpe and cruell fight, With mutuall slaughter, while the Oceans face▪ Was forc'd to lose his colour, and rceive A crimson die. The ships Antonius had Were tall, and slowly did like Castles move. But Caesar's small, yet quick and active, stirr'd

Dio▪ Florus▪ Plutarch▪

On every side with all advantages. Long fortune doubted, and bright victory Knew not which way to lean, but kept them both In equall ballance; till Antonius Himself at last betray'd his glorious hopes. For when his Mistris Cleopatra fled,

Plutarch▪ Dio▪ Florus▪

Although a while within his manly breast The Roman honour strove 'gainst wanton love, Love got the conquest, and Antonius Fled after her, leaving his souldiers there To sell their lives in vain; who many houres Though he were fled, made good the navall fight. And had Antonius stay'd, it may be fear'd Caesar had not prevail'd: at last the Fleet Wanting their Admirall, though not without

Much slaughter, fled, or yielded all to Caesar.

PIN.

But what became of all his strength on land?

GAL.

Nay, there's the wonder, there's Antonius madnesse, And such a madnesse as will strike amazement To all that heare it told: after his flight He nere return'd, though in the campe he had Under the conduct of Canidius And other Captains nineteen legions Fresh and unfought, which might with reason hope Had he been there, to have recover'd all. They still remayn'd encamped, and though oft ••ollicited by Caesar to revolt Were kept from yielding, by Canidius ••n hope of Antony's return. Untill ••anidius fearing his own souldiers minds

Plutarch.

••nd Caesar's anger fled away by night, They then despairing yielded all to Caesar. Who by this time I think's arriv'd in Aegypt. About Pelusium.

PI.

Will you view the town?

GAL.

With all my heart, noble Pinnarius.

Exeunt.

Enter CaeSAR, AGRIPPA, TITIUS, PLAN∣CUS, THYRE••S, EPAPHRODI∣TUS, PROCULEIUS.

Cae.

••ntonius then with Cleopatra's fled To Alexandria.

AGR.

Tis certain, Caesar.

PHA.

They say the vanquish'd Queen most cunningly:

Dio▪

(Fearing it seems, to be excluded else From her own Kingdome) fain'd her self victorious, Landing in Aegypt with triumphant songs Her ships all crown'd with laurell, to deceive The credulous people: where being enter'd once She leaves unpractis'd no strange tyranny; And, as we hear, to win the Parthan King Unto her side, beheaded Artavasdes

Di••▪

King of Armenia, and the Parthians ••o, Who was her prisoner, that Artavasdes, Whom Anthony so basely had surpris'd.

TI.

Caesar, 'twere fit to take Pelusium Before we march to Alexandria.

Cae.

'Twas our intent, good Titius, not to leaue A town of that import behinde our backs. Go Proculeius, summon it, and know W••e her the Governour will yield or no.

Exit. Pro▪

Enter. Servant.

What news with thee?

SER.

Caesar, a messenger From Cleopatra craves admittance.

Cae.

Bring him.

Enter EUPHRONIUS.

Queen Cleopatra to great Caesar wishes All health and victory; and humbly proffers Her self and all her fortunes to his service:

〈◊〉〈◊〉▪

In token of which she here presents by mee

This Crown and Scepter.

TI.

••rave and ominous.

EUP.

••umbly entreating Caesar's noble favour To her and hers; the rest of her desires ••o please it Caesar to peruse the same, This letter holds.

PLA.

•• warrant a love-lettet.

Cae.

But tell me first, where is Antonius?

EUP.

••••ll truly tell (though it may seem to some ••ncredible) that great Antonius A man of late in conversation ••o free, and full of jollity, in a strange Deep melancholly has retir'd himself

Plut. Strabo lib. 17.

To Pharos Ile; where like Athenian Timon, Who did professe a hatred to mankinde, And fled all company, he lives alone; And on the solitary shore has built A little house to feed his frantike humour, And imitate that Timon's life, whose name He takes unto himself: no friends at all Nor servants are admitted to his presence, But only two, Roman Lucilius And Aristocrates the Graecian.

Cae.

Not Cleopatra? then I doubt the man Grows weary of these worldly vanities.

AGR.

•• never heard of such a change as this. Give me the letter. I'll peruse it now

He reads.

AGRIPPA, AGR. CaeSAR.

they retire.

Caes.

Here the woman writes That for her liberty, and to confirme The Crown of Aegypt to her self and children To gratifie my favour she has hid

Dio▪ Plutarch▪

Within her pallace a great masse of gold. Unknown t' Antonius.

AGRI.

'Tis like ennough, For Cleoptraea's rich, and long has been, Besides the sacriledge she lately did In robbing all the Temples of the Gods About these parts.

Cae.

I would not lose this gold, Nor willingly let Cleopatra die Before her person have adorn'd my triumph.

AGR.

That will be hard to bring to passe, and must Be wrought with subtilty: you must not send A threatning message back; for if you do, All's lost, her life, her gold and all are vanish'd. For Cleopatra, as in all her acts It has appear'd, is of a wondrous spirit, Of an ambition greater then her fortunes Have ever been, though she so long have sway'd A soveraignty ore half the Roman world, Trod on the necks of humbled Kings, and rul'd Antonius as her slave: her haughty spirit Will never stoop so much as to a thought Of such captivity.

Cae.

I do not mean

To let her know my minde, or once suspect 〈◊〉〈◊〉 I can help it, but I have it now. ••hyreus come hither; I must now rely ••pon thy wisdome, care, and diligence 〈◊〉〈◊〉 an employment that concerns me neerly. ••ut I am confident: go with this fellow

Dio. Plutarch.

To Alexandria; use to the Queen Thy best and most perswasive Oratory. Tell her I love her, and extremly dote On her admired beauty, thou art wise ••nd need'st no great instructions; the successe 〈◊〉〈◊〉 do not doubt, the woman's credulous, ••nd thinks all men are bound to be in love With that insnaring face; if thou perceive ••he will be wrought on, winne her to betray ••ntonius to my hand: the way to woo her 〈◊〉〈◊〉 leave good Thyreus to thy eloquence And cunning working of it: spare thy reply

to Euph.

••id him come hither. Commend my hearty love To Cleopatra; bid her fear no ill From me at all. What I desire from her My freed man Thyreus has commission To utter to her self. Epaphroditus, So see him well rewarded.

EPA.

Health to Caesar.

Exeunt. Epa. & Euph.

Enter PROCULEIUS.

The Governour is stout, and does resolve To stand th' extremest hazard of the warre Before he yield Pelusium.

Cae.

Let him rue His stubborn loyalty, souldiers make ready For the assault; 'tis shame so small a town▪

Should stay our fortune in the full carreer.

Exeunt▪

ANTONIUS disguis'd like TIMON, reading.

Here bury'd do I lie; thou gentle wave

Calli••mah•• Epigr•••• de Ti••mone▪

Keep hatefull man from treading Ti∣mons grave. Reader be gone; enquire no more of me, A curse upon thee whatsoere thou be.

ANT.

Good, good; oh Timon, Athens nere could boast A wise philosoher but thee. Thou knew'st The nature of all men, that all were false; True Timon, true, they are all Knaves indeed. Thou wisely hat'st that wicked thing call'd man, Whom other forced Philosophers admire, And call a noble creature, and partaker Of divine nature: they were fools, fools Timon, All other Sects were fools, and I will follow No sect but thine; I am a Timonist. That's not enough, Timon himself I am.

Enter LUCILIUS, ARISTOCRATES.

Yonder he sits, see Aristocrates How much unlike that great Antonius, Whose person late so many legions guarded, So many Kings attended as their Lord.

ARI.

Antonius, where? thou art deceiv'd Lucilius, That's Timon man.

LU.

How canst thou jest at this This wofull passion, which alone's enough To melt his foes and Caesar into tears.

ARI.

We feed this foolish passion, to give way,

••nd keep aloof thus. I'll go to him. Timon.

AN.

••a! what art thou? be gone I say from me. ••et you to Caesar man: I hate you all.

ARI.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 hate thee, Timon; dost thou think 'tis love ••as brought me hither? I am come to vex thee.

AN.

Oh welcome, what's thy name? i'st Alcibi••des?

ARI.

Hast thou forgot me?

ANT.

Dost thou hate all men?

ARI.

Why dost thou think me so unnaturall To love a man? but may we not love women?

AN.

Yes, they may be belov'd; provided always That they be false.

ARI.

True Timon, wicked women May be belov'd, because they ruine men.

ANT.

Right, right; and now I better think upon't I'll set no gallowses or gibbets up As I entended once, for men to come And hang themselves, I'll keep a bawdy house.

ARI.

A better way by farre, 'twill ruine moe, I wonder, Timon, at that foolish plot That I have heard, that in thy gardens once In Athens thou did'st set up gallowses For men in discontent to hang themselves. How few think'st thou would be so mad to do it? But to a wench they'll come, and then the office That thou shalt have will be of more account.

For where have you a man of any fashion That now adays turnes hangman; but a Pandar Is on employment that befits a Statesman, A thing requires good parts and gravity.

ANT.

I'de try that course; but tis too slow a plot. Oh for a speedy way to kill the world I have done somewhat in my days; my wars And bloudy battels were not made in vain. For I was once Antonius, and a Roman, As in the wars of Troy Pythagoras Before that transmigration of his soul, Had been Euphorbus.

AN.

Thou art like him still.

ANT.

And when I was Triumvir first at Rome,

AN.

That was a time indeed, then I could heare Of those good deeds, which must be still a comfort To your good consciences, though they be past. When Rome was fill'd with slaughter, flow'd with bloud. But they perchance were Knaves that were proscrib'd▪ And might have done more mischief had they liv'd.

AN.

No, they were honest men; I look'd to that.

ARI.

'Twas well, and carefully.

AN.

Behold the list. But one among the rest most comforts me, That talking fellow Cicero, that us'd To taxe the vicious times, and was forsoeth A lover of his Country.

ARI.

Out upon him, Then he was rightly serv'd: for is it fit In a well govern'd state such men should live As love their Country? had 't not been for him Catiline's plot had thriv'd.

AN.

Tis true, I'm sure Caesar was on that side, he favour'd it.

ARI.

Yes, Caesar understood himself; ther's hope That this young Caesar too will prove as good A Patriot as ere his father was.

ANT.

He will do reason man: he is of nature Cruell enough; in that proscription ••t did appear; but now he'll reigne alone.

ARI.

Oh for such factions as were then a foot To rend the state, and fill the world with slaughter.

ANT.

Oh, let me hug thee Alcibiade••.

Enter CANIDIUS, LUCILIUS.

CA.

••s that he yonder? w••••t strange shape is that?

LU.

None talks with him but Aristocrates, Who following his own way, and suiting just With his conceit thinks to reclaim him so.

CA.

The news, that I shall bring, will make him worse, And fright that little reason that is left Quite from his brest.

LU.

It cannot so Canidius; Perchance to hear th'extremity of all Will cure his fit; it cannot make him worse. For death it self were better and more noble.

CA.

How weak a thing is man that seats his hopes In fortunes slippery, and unconstant favours, And seeks no surer strengths to guard his soul? Wanting a strong foundation, he is shaken With every winde, orethrown by every storm. And what so frequent as those storms in fortune? Whose fairest weather never brings assurance Of perpetuity but come what will I'll tell him all.

LU.

Do, good Canidius.

ANT.

Well Alcibiades, I am resolv'd I'll to the wars again, and either conquer Mine enemies, or take a course to starve And kill up my own souldiers, and so be Reveng'd on some body: One of these two May easily be brought to passe. How think'st thou?

ARI.

Yes, yes: but lets to Court, and there consult.

Enter MARDIO.

See who comes here, now for our bawdy project▪ Here is a servant I must needs preferre Well vers'd in bawdry, Master of the art. Come neer brave Mardio, come.

MAR.

My businesse Is not to you;

ARI.

Mark him but well, and tell me How he would execute the place.

MAR.

My Lord, The Queen entreats your presence at the Palace, The grieved Queen, who in your absence pines, Who suffers in your grief.

ARI.

Well urg'd old Eunuch.

ANT.

Ha! what of her? will she revolt to Caesar?

MAR.

She's farre from that, my Lord.

ANT.

What i'st he says?

ARI.

He says the constitution of her body Cannot hold out unlesse you visit her.

MAR.

The Queen shall know it, Aristocrates.

ARI.

Did you not say she pin'd and languish'd Sir, And what's the difference? tell your tale yourself.

ANT.

What does she say? does she not hate me man?

MAR.

Oh no my Lord, she loves you as her life. No spite of fortune that she has endur'd, Or can hereafter fear, grieves her so much As does your absence and strange melancholy.

ARI.

Well Mardio, thou art fittest for the place.

CAN.

My Lord Antonius?

AN.

Ha! mo men upon us?

CA.

I come to bring thee heavy news Antonius. The forces all, which thou didst leave encamp'd At Actium, horse and foot are gone to Caesar. And all th' auxiliary Kings; no strength At all is left thee, but what here thou hast At Alexandria.

AN.

Ha!

LU.

This sinks into him.

CA.

It makes a deep impression in his passion.

ARI.

And may perchance expell his other fit.

AN.

All you here yet! then I have friends I see. But tell me, can you be so mercifull As to forgive that most unmanly fit I have been in? oh, I am all in blushes.

CA.

My Lord, take better comfort.

AN.

Dearest friends. I will be proof 'gainst any fortune now.

Plutarch.

Come let's together to the Court, and there Drown sadnesse in rich cups of Meroë wine, And laugh at Fortunes malice, for your sight More cheers my spirits, then her frowns can dull them.

Exeun••.