And euen in act to stab her martred brest,
I stept with speed, and held, and sau'd her life,
And forth her trembling hand the blade did wrest.
Ah Cleopatra, why shouldst thou, (said I)
Both iniurie thy selfe and Caesar so?
Barre him the honour of his victorie,
Who euer deales most mildly with his foe?
Liue, and relie on him, whose mercy will
To thy submission alwayes ready be.
With that (as all amaz'd) she held her still,
Twixt maiestie confuz'd and miserie.
Her proud grieu'd eyes, held sorrow and disdaine,
State and distresse warring within her soule:
Dying ambition disposlest her raigne,
So base affliction seemed to controule.
Like as a burning Lampe, whose liquor spent
With intermitted flames, when dead you deeme it,
Sends forth a dying slash, as discontent,
That so the matter failes that should redeeme it:
So she (in spight) to see her low-brought state,
When all her hopes were now consum'd to nought)
Scornes yet to make an abiect league with Fate,
Or once descend into a seruile thought.
Th'imperious tongue vnused to beseech,
Authoritie confounds with prayers so
That words of powre conioyn'd with humble speech,
Shew'd she would liue, yet scorn'd to pray her foe.
Ah, what hath Caesar heere to do, said she,
In confines of the dead in darknesse lying?
Will he not grant our sepulchres be free,
But violate the priuiledge of dying?