Certaine small poems lately printed with the tragedie of Philotas. Written by Samuel Daniel.

THE TRAGEDIE of Cleopatra.

The Scaene supposed Alexandria.

THE ACTORS

• Cleopatra.
• Octauius Caesar.
• Proculeius.
• Dolobella.
• Titius, seruant to dolabella.
• two Philosophers.
  • Arius
  • Philostratus.
• Seleucus, secretary to Cleopatra.
• Rodon, tutor to Caesario.
• Nuntius.
• The Chorus, all Egyptians.

ACTVS PRIMVS.

Cleopatra.

YET do I liue, and yet doth breath extend My life beyond my life? not can my graue Shut vp my griefes, to make my end my end? Will yet confusion haue more then I haue? Is th'honor, wonder, glory, pompe, and all Of Cleopatra dead, and she not dead? Haue I out-liu'd my selfe, and seene the fall Of all vpon me, and not ruined? Can yet these eyes endure the ghastly looke

Of Desolations darke and ougly face, Wont but on Fortunes fairest side to l••oke, Where nought was but applause, but smiles, & grace? Whiles on his shoulders all my rest relide On whom the Bu•• then of ••••'ambition lay, My Atlas, and supporter of my pride That did the world of all my glory sway, Who now throwne downe, disgrac'd, confounded lies Crusht with the weight of Shame and Infamy, Following th'vnlucky party of mine eies, The traines of lust and imbecilitie. Whereby my dissolution is become The graue of Egypt and the wracke of all; My vnforeseeing weakenesse must int••••ome My Countries fame, and glorie with my fall. Now who would thinke that I were she who late With all the ornaments on earth inrich'd, Enuiron'd with delights, compass'd with state, Glittring in pomp that h••••s and eyes bewitch'd; Should thus distrest, cast downe from off that height Leuell'd with low disgrac'd calamitie, Vnder the weight of such affliction sigh, Reduc'd vnto th'extr••••amest misery••

Am I the woman whose inu••n••ue pride, Adorn'd like Isis, sco••••d mortality? Is't I would haue my frailety so belide, That fla••terie could perswade I was no•• I. Well, then I see, they but delude that praise vs, Greatnesse is mocke, prosperitie betraye vs: And we are but our selues, although this cloude

Of interposed smoake makes vs seeme more: These spreading parts of pomp whereof w'are p••ov••d. Are not our parts, but parts of others store. Witnesse these gallant fortune following traines, These Summer Swallowes of felicitie Gone with the heate: of all, see what remaines, This monument, two maides, and wretched I. And I t'adorne their triumphs am reseru'd A captiue, kept to honour others spoyles, Whom Caesar labors so to haue preseru'd And seekes to entertaine my life with wiles. But Caesar, it is more then thou canst do, Promise, flatter, threaten extreamitie. Imploy thy wits and all thy force thereto, I haue both hands, and will, and I can die. Though thou, of both my country and my crowne, Of powre, of meanes and all dost quite bereaue me•• Though thou hast wholy Egypt made thine owne•• Yet hast thou left me that which will deceiue thee. That courage with my bloud and birth innated, Admir'd of all the earth as thou art now, Can neuer be so abiectly abated To be thy slaue that rul'd as good as thou. Thinke Caesar, I that liu'd and raign'd a Queene. Doe scorne to buy my life at such a rate, That I should vnderneath my selfe be seene, Basely induring to suruiue my state: That Rome should see my scepter-bearing hands Behind me bound, and glory in my teares, That I should passe whereas Octauia stands,

To veiw my miserie that purchas'd he••s. No, I disdaine that head which wore a crowne, Should stoope to rake vp that which others giue; I must not be, vnlesse I be mine owne•• Tis sweet to die when we are forc'd to liue. Nor had I staide behind my s••lfe this space, Nor paid such intr'est for this borrow'd breath, But that hereby I seeke to purchase grace•• For my distressed scede after my death•• It's that which doth my deerest bloud controule, That's it alas detaines me from my to••••be, Whiles Nature brings to contradict my soule The argument of mine vnhappy wombe.

You lucklesse issue of an wofull mother, The wretched pledges of a wanton bed, You Kings design'd, must subiects liue ••o other; Or else, I feare, scarce liue, when I am dead. It is for you I temporize with Caesar, And stay this while to mediate your safetie: For you I faine content and sooth his pleasure, Calamitie herein hath made me craftie. But this is but to trie what may be done, For come what will, this stands I must ••ie free, And die my selfe vncaptiu'd and vnwone. Bloud, Children, Nature, all must pardon me. My soule yeelds Honor vp the victorie•• And I must be a Queene, forget a mother, Though mother would I be, were I no I: And Queene would not be now, could I be other.

But what know I if th'heauens haue decreed,

And that the sinnes of Egypt haue deseru'd The Ptolomies should faile and none succeed, And that my weaknesse was thereto reseru'd That I should bring confusion to my stare, And fill the measure of iniquity, Luxuriousnesse in me should raise the rate Of loose and ill-dispensed liberty. If it be so, then what neede these delaies? Since I was made the meanes of misery: Why should I striue but to make death my praise, That had my life but for my infamie? And let me write in letters of my bloud A fit memoriall for the times to come, To be example to such Princes good As please themselues, and care not what become.

And Antony although the world takes note That my defects haue onely ruin'd thee: And my ambitious practises are thought The motiue and the cause of all to be: Yet God thou know'st this staine is wrongly laide Vpon my soule, whom ill successe makes ill: And my condemn'd misfortune hath no aide Against prowd lucke that argues what it will. I haue no meanes to vndeceiue their minds, But to bring in the witnesse of my bloud. To testifie the faith and loue that bindes My equall shame, to fall with whom I stood. Defects I grant I had, but this was worst, That being the first to fall I dy'd not first.

Though I perhaps could lighten mine own side

With some excuse of my constrained case Drawn downe with pow••e: but that were to deuide My shame: to stand alone in my disgrace. To cleere me so, would shew m••'affections naught And make th'excuse more hainous then the faule. Since if I should ou•• errors disunite, I should confound afflictions onely rest, That from sterne death euen steales a sad delight To die with friends or with the like distrest. And since we tooke of either such firme hold In th'ouerwhelming seas of fortune cast. What powre should be of powre to revnfold The a••••mes of our affections lockt so fast. For grapling in the ocean of our pride, We sunke••adh others greatnesse both together: And both made shipwracke of our fame beside, Both wrought a like destruction vnto either: And therefore I am bound to sacrifice To death and thee, the life that doth reproue'me: Our like distresse I feele doth simpathi••e, And euen affliction makes me truly loue thee, Which Antonie, I must confesse my fault I neuer did sincerely vntill now, Now I protest I do, now am I taught In death to loue, in life that knew not how. For whilst my glory in her greatnesse stoode, And that I saw my state, and knew my beauty: Saw how the world admir'd me, how they woo'd, I then thought all men must loue me of duty: And I loue none; for my lasciuious Court,

Fertile in euer fresh and new-choise pleasure, Affoorded me so bountifull disport, That I to stay on Loue had neuer leisure: My vagabond desires no limites sound. For lust is endlesse, pleasure hath no bound. Thou comming from the strictnesse of thy Citty. And this loose pomp of monarchs neuer learnest, Inur'd to warres, in womens wiles vnwitty, Whilst others faind, thou fell'st to loue in earnest; Not knowing how we like them best that houer, And make least reckning of a doting louer.

And yet thou cam'st but in my beauties waine, When new appeering wrinckles of declining Wrought with the hand of yeeres, seem'd to detaine My graces light, as now but dimly shining Euen in the confines of mine age, when I Failing of what I was, and was but thus; When such as we do deeme in iealousie That men loue for themselues, and not for vs. Then, and but thus, thou didst loue most sincerely O Antony (who best deseru'st it better) This Autumne of my beauty bought so dearly, For which in more then death, I stand thy debter. Which I will pay thee with so true a minde, (Casting vp all these deepe accompts of mine) That both our soules, and all the world shall find All recknings cleer'd, betwixt my loue and thine.

But to the end I may preuent prowd Caesar, Who doth so eagerly my life importune, I must preuaile me of this little leasure, Seeming to sute my minde vnto my fortune;

Thereby with more conuenience to prouide For what my death and honour best shall fit: An yeelding base content must wary hide My last dissigne till I accomplish it, That hereby yet the world shall see that I, Although vnwise to live, had wit to die.

Exit

CHORVS.

BEhold what furies still Torment their tortur'd brest, Who by their doing ill, Haue wrought the worldes vnrest. Which when being most distrest, Yet more to vexe their sprite, The hidious face of sinne. (In formes they must detest) Standes euer in their sight. Their conscience still within Th'eternall larum is That euer-barking dog that calles vpon their misse.

No meanes at all to hide Man from himselfe can finde: No way to start aside Out from the hell of minde. But in himselfe confin'd, He still sees sinne before:

And winged-footed paine, That swiftly comes behinde, The which is euer-more, The sure and certaine gaine Impiety doth get, And wanton loose respect, that doth it selfe forget.

And Cleopatra now, Well sees the dangerous way She tooke, and car'd not•• how, Which led her to decay.

And likewise makes vs pay For her disordred lust, The int'rest of our blood: Or liue a seruile pray, Vnder a hand vniust, As others shall thinke good. This hath her riot woone And thus she hath her state her selfe and vs vndone.

Now euery mouth can tell, What close was muttered: How that she did not well, To take the course she did.

For now is nothing hid, Of what feare did restraine, No secret closely done, But now is vttered. The text is made most plaine That flatterie glos'd vpon, The bed of sinne reueal'd,

And all the luxurie that shame would have conceal'd.

The scene is broken downe, And all vncou'red lyes, The purple actors knowne Scarce men, whom men despise.

The complots of the wise, Proue imperfections smoake: And all what wonder gaue To pleasure-gazing eyes, Lyes scattred, dasht, all broke. Thus much beguiled haue Poore vnconsiderate wights, These momentarie pleasures•• fugitiue delights.

ACTVS SECVNDVS.

Caesar. Proculeius.

KIngdoms I see we winne, we conquere Climates, Yet cannot vanquish hearts, nor force obedience, Affections kept in close-concealed limits. Stand farre without the reach of sworde or violence, Who forc'd do pay vs dutie, pay not loue: Free is the heart, the temple of the minde, The Sanctuarie sacred from aboue, Where nature keeps the keyes that loose and bind. No mortall hand force open can that doore, So close shut vp, and lockt to all mankind: I see mens bodies onely ours, no more, The rest, anothers right, that rules the minde.

Behold, my forces vanquisht haue this Land, Subdu'd that strong Competitor of mine: All Egypt yeelds to my all-conqu'ring hand, And all their treasure and themselues resigne, Onely this Queene, that hath lost all this all. To whom is nothing left except a minde: Cannot into a thought of yeelding fall, To be dispos'd as Chance hath her assign'd. But Proculei, what hope doth she now giue, Will shee be brought to condiscend to liue?

Proc.

My Lord, what time being sent from you to try To win her forth al••••e (if that I might) From out the Monument, where wo••ully She liues inclos'd in most afflicted plight: No way I found, no meanes how to surprize her, But through a gra••e at th'entry of the place Standing to treat, I labour'd to aduise her, To come to Caesar, and to sue for grace. She said she crau'd not life, but leaue to die, Yet for her children, pray'd they might inherite, That Caesar would vouchsafe (in clemencie) To pittie them, though she deseru'd no merite. So leauing her for then; and since of late, With Gallus sent to trie an other time, The whilst he entertaines her at the grate, I found the meanes vp to the Tombe to clime. Where, in descending in the closest wise, And silent manner as I could contriue: Her woman me descri'd, and out she cries, Poore Cleopatra, thou art tane aliue. With that the Queene ••aught from her side her knife,

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?

What, must he stretch foorth his ambitious hand Into the right of Death, and force vs heere? Hath Miserie no couert where to stand Free from the storme of Pride, is't safe no where? Cannot my land, my golde, my crowne suffice, And all what I held deere, to him made common, But that he must in this sort tyrannize, Th'afflicted body of an wofull woman? Tell him, my frailetie, and the gods haue giuen Sufficient glory, could he be content: And let him now with his desires make euen, And leaue me to this horror, to lament. Now he hath taken all away from mee, What must he take me from my selfe by force? Ah, let him yet (in mercie) leaue me free The kingdome of this poore distressed corse. No other crownel seeke, no other good. Yet wish that Caesar would vouchsafe this grace, To fauour the poore of-spring of my bloud. Confused issue, yet of Romane race. If bloud and name be linckes of loue in Princes, Not spurres of hate; my poore Caesario may Finde fauour notwithstanding mine offences, And Caesars bloud, may Caesars raging stay. But if that with the torrent of my fall, All must be rapt with furious violence, And no respect, nor no regard at all, Can aught with nature or with bloud dispence: Then be it so, if needs it must be so. There staies and shrinckes in horror of her state: When I beganne to mittigate her woe,

And thy great mercies vnto her relate; Wishing her not despaire, but rather come And sue for grace•• and shake off idle feares: No doubt she should obtaine as gentle doome As she desir'd, both for her selfe and hers. And so with much adoe, (well pacifide Seeming to be) she shew'd content to liue, Saying she was resolu'd thy doome t'abide, And to accept what fauour thou would'st giue, And here withall crau'd also that shee might Performe her last••••tes to her lost belou'd. To sacrifice to him that wrought her plight: And that she might not be by force remou'd. I granting from thy part this her request, L•••••• her for then, seeming in better rest.

Caes.

But dost thou thinke she will remaine so still?

Pro.

I thinke, and do assure my selfe she will.

Caes.

Ah, priuate men sound not the harts of Princes, Whose purposes beare contrarie pretences.

Pro.

Why tis her safetie to come yeeld to thee.

Caes.

But tis more honour for her to die free.

Pro.

She may thereby procure her childrens good.

Caes.

Princes are not ally'd vnto their blood.

Pro.

Can Princes powre dispence with nature than?

Caes.

To be a Prince, is more then be a man.

Pro.

There's none but haue in time perswaded beene,

Caes,

And so might she too, were she not a Queene.

Pro.

Diuers respects will force her be reclaim'd.

Caes.

Princes (like Lions) neuer will be ••am'd A priuate man may yeeld and care not how, But greater hearts will breake before they bow.

And sure I thinke sh'will neuer condiscend, To liue to grace our spoiles with her disgrace: But yet let still a wary troupe attend, To guard her person, and to watch the place. And looke that none with her come to confer: Shortly my selfe will go to visite her.

CHORVS.

OPINION, how doost thou molest Th'affected minde of restlesse man? Who following thee neuer can, Nor euer shall attaine to rest, For getting what thou saist is best, Yet loe, that best he findes farre wide Of what thou promisedst before: For in the same he lookt for more, Which proues but small when once tis tride Then something else thou find'st beside. To draw him still from thought to thought, When in the end all prooues but nought. Farther from rest he findes him than, Then at the first when he began.

O malecontent seducing guest, Contriuer of our greatest woes: Which borne of winde, and fed with showes. Doost nurse thy selfe in thine vnrest. Iudging vngotten things the best, Or what thou in conceit desig'nst,

And all things in the world dost deeme, Not as they are, but as they seeme: Which shews, their state thou ill design'st, And liu'st to come, in present pin'st. For what thou hast, thou still dost lacke: O mindes tormentor, bodies wracke, Vaine promiser of that sweete rest, Which neuer any yet possest.

If we vnto ambition tend, Then doost thou drawe our weakenesse on, With vaine imagination Of that which neuer hath an end. Or if that lust we apprehend, How doth that pleasant plague infest? O what strange formes of luxurie, Thou strait dost cast t'intice vs by? And tell'st vs that is euer best, Which we haue neuer yet possest. And that more pleasure rests beside, In something that we haue not tride. And when the sanse likewise is had, Then all is one, and all is bad.

This Antony can say is true, And Cleopatra knowes tis so, By th'experience of their woe. She can say, she neuer knew But that lust found pleasures new, And was neuer satisfide: He can say by proofe of toile,

Ambition is a Vulture vile, That feeds vpon the hart of pride: And findes no rest when all is tride. For worlds cannot confine the one, Th'other, lists and bounds hath none. And both subuert the minde, the state, Procure destruction, enuie, hate.

And now when all this is prou'd vaine, Yet Opinion leaues not heere, But sticks to Cleopatra neere, Perswading now, how she shall gaine Honour by death•• and fame attaine. And what a shame it were to liue, Her kingdome lost, her Louer dead: And so with this perswasion led, Dispaire doth such a courage giue, That nought else can her minde relieue, Nor yet diuert her from that thought: To this conclusion all is brought: This is that rest this vaine world lends, To end in death that all things ends.

ACTVS TERTIVS.

Philostratus. Arius.

HOw deepely Arius am I bound to thee, That sau'dst frō death this wretched life of mine: Obtaining Caesars gentle grace for mee, When I of all helpes else dispaird but thine?

Although I see in such a woful state. Life is not that which should be much desir'd Sith all our glories come to end their date, Our Countries honour and our own expir'd Now that the hand of wrath hath ouer-gone vs. We liue but as i•• th'armes of our dead mother, With bloud vnder our feet, ruine vpon vs, And in a Land most wretched of all other, When yet we reckon life our deerest good. And so we liue, we care not how we liue: So deepe we feele impressed in our blood, That touch which Nature with our breath did giue. And yet what blasts of words hath Learning found, To blow against the feare of death and dying? What comforts vnsicke eloquence can sound, And yet all failes vs in the point of trying. For whilst we reason with the breath of safety, Without the compasse of destruction liuing, What precepts shew we then what courage lofty In taxing others feares in councell giuing? When all this ayre of sweet-contriued wordes Proues but weake armour to defend the hart. For when this life, pale Feare and Terrour boords, Where are our precepts then, where is our arte? O who is he that from himselfe can tourne, That beares about the body of a man? Who doth not toile and labour to adiorne The day of death, by any meanes he can? All this I speake to th'end my selfe t'excuse, For my base begging of a seruile breath, Wherein I grant my selfe much to abuse,

So shamefully to seeke t'auoide my death.

Arius.

Philostratus, that selfe s••me care to liue, Possesseth all alike, and grieue not then, Nature doth vs no more then others giue: Though we speake more then men, we are but men. And yet (in truth) these miseries to see, Wherein we stand in most extreame distresse: Might to our selues sufficient motiues be To loath this life, and weigh our death the lesse: For neuer any age hath better taught, What feeble footing pride and greatnesse hath. How' improuident prosperity is caught. And cleane confounded in the day of wrath. See how dismaid Confusion keepes those streetes. That nought but mirth and musique late resounded, How nothing with our eic but horror meetes, Our state, our wealth, our pride and all confounded. Yet what weake sight did not discerne from far This black-arising tempest, all confounding? Who did not see we should be what we are, When pride and ryot grew to such abounding. When dissolute impietie possest Th'vnrespectiue mindes of prince and people: When insolent Securitie found rest In wanton thoughts, which lust and ease made feeble. Then when vnwary Peace with fat-fed pleasure: New-fresh muented ryots still detected. Purchac'd with all the Ptolomies rich treasure, Our lawes, our gods, our mysteryes neglected. Who saw not how this confluence of vice, This inundation of disorders, must

At length of force pay backe the bloodie price Of sad destruction, (a reward for lust) O thou and I haue heard, and read, and knowne Of like proud states, as wofully incombred. And fram'd by them, examples for our owne: Which now among examples must be numbred. For this decre a law from high is giuen, An ancient Canon, of eternall date, In Consistory of the starres of heauen, Entred the Booke of vnauoyded Fate: That no state can in heigh of happinesse. In the'exaltation of their glory stand: But thither once arriu'd declining lesse, Ruine themselues, or fall by others hand. Thus doth the euer-changing course of things Runne a perpetuall cirkle, euer turning: And that same day that hiest glory brings, Brings vs vnto the poynt of back-returning: For sencelesse sensualty, doth euer Accompany felicity and greatnesse. A fatall witch, whose charmes do leaue vs neuer Till we leaue all in sorrow for our sweetnesse; When yet our selues must be the cause we fall, Although the same be first decreed on hie: Our errors still must beare the blame of all, This must it be: earth, aske not heauen why.

Yet mighty men with wary iealous hand, Striue to cut off all obstacles of feare: All whatsoeuer seems but to withstand Their least conceit of quiet held so ••eere: And so intrench themselues with blood with crimes,

With all iniustice as their feares dispose: Yet for all this we see, how oftentimes The meanes they worke to keepe are meanes to lose, And sure I cannot see, how this can stand With great Augustus glory and his honor, T'extinguish the succession of our land, For her offence that pulld the warres vpon her,

Phi.

Must all her yssue be confounded now?

Ari.

Yea all that from the roots of kings did grow,

Phi.

And sweet Caesario sprong of Caesars blood?

Ari.

Plurality of Caesars are not good.

Phi.

Alas, what hurt procures his feeble arme?

Ari.

Not for it doth, but that it may do harme.

Phi.

Then when it offers hurt, represse the same.

Ari.

Tis best to quench a sparke before it flame.

Phi.

Tis inhumane, an innocent to kill.

Ari.

Such innocents seldome remaine so still. And sure his death may best procure our peace, Competitors the subiect deerely buies: And so that our affliction may surcease, Let great men be the peoples sacrifice.

But see where Caesar comes himselfe to try And worke the minde of our distressed Queene With some deluding hope: whereby She might be drawn to haue her fortune seene. But yet I trust, Rome will not see that face (That queld her champions) blush in base disgrace,

SCENA SECVNDA.

Caesar, Cleopatra, Selucus, Dolabella.

Caesar.

VVHat Cleopatra, doost thou doubt so much Of Caesars mercy, that thou hid'st thy face? Or dost thou thinke, thy offences can be such, That they surmount the measure of our grace?

Cle.

O Caesar, not for that I flie thy sight My soule this sad retire of sorrow chose: But that m'oppressed thoughts abhorring light Like best in darkenesse, my disgrace ••'inclose. And heere to these close limites of despaire, This solitary horror where I bide: Caesar, I thought no Roman should repaire, More after him, who here oppressed dyde. Yet now, here at thy conquering feete I lie, Poore captiue soule, that neuer thought to bow: Whose happy foote of rule and Maiestie Stood late on that same ground thou standest now.

Caes.

Rise Queene, none but thy selfe is cause of all, And yet, would all were but thine owne alone: That others ruine had not with thy fall Brought Rome her sorrowes, to my triumphes mone. For breaking off the league of loue and blood, Thou mak'st my winning ioy againe vnpleasing: Sith th'eye of griefs looke not into our good, But thor'w the horror of our owne blood shedding. And all, we must attribute vnto thee.

Cle.

To me? Caesar, what should a woman doe Opprest with greatnes? what was it for me To contradict my Lord, being bent thereto? I was by loue, by feare by weakenesse, made An instrument to such disseignes as these. For when the Lord of all the Orient bade, Who but obey'd? who was not glad to please? And how could I withdraw my succouring hand From him that had my heart, and what was mine? The int'rest of my faith in streightest band, My loue to his most firmely did combine.

Caes.

Loue? ah no no, it was th'innated hatred That thou and thine hast euer borne our people: That made thee seeke all meanes to haue vs scattred, To disunite our strength, and make vs feeble. And therefore did that breast nurse our dissention, With hope t'exalt thy selfe, t'augment thy state: To pray vpon the wracke of our contention, And (with the rest our foes,) to ioy thereat.

Cleo:

O Caesar, see how easie tis t'accuse Whom Fortune hath made faulty by their fall, The wretched conquered may not resuse The titles of reproch hee's charg'd withall. The conquering cause hath right, wherein thou art, The vanquisht still is iudgde the worser part. Which part is mine, because I lost my part. No lesser then the portion of a Crowne. Enough for me, alas was needed art To gaine by others, but to keepe mine owne? But heere let weaker powers note what it is, To neighbour great Compe••itors too neere,

If wee take part, we oft do perish thus, If neutrall bide, both parties we must feare. Alas, what shall the forst partakers doe, When following none, yet must they perish too? But Caesar, sith thy right and cause is such, Be not a heauy weight vpon calamitie: Depresse not the afflicted ouer-much, The chie••est glorie is the Victors lenitie. Th'inheritance of mercie from him take, Of whom thou hast thy fortune•• and thy name: Great Caesar me a Queene at first did make, And let not Caesar now confound the same, Reade here these lines which still I keepe with me, The witnesse of his loue and fauours euer: And God forbid this should be said of thee, That Caesar wrong'd the fauoured of Caesar. For looke what I haue beene to Antony Thinke thou the same I might haue beene to thee. And here I do present thee with the note Of all the treasure, all the iewels rate That Egypt hath in many ages got; And looke what Cleopatra hath, is there.

Seleu.

Nay there's not all set down within that roule, I know some things she hath reseru'd apart.

Cle.

What vile vngrateful wretch, dar'st tho•• cōtroule Thy Queene and soueraigne, cai••i••e as thou art.

Caes.

Holde, holde; a poore reuenge cā worke so feeble hands

Cle.

Ah Caesar, what a great indignitie Is this, that here my vassall subiect stands T' accuse me to my Lord of trecher••e? If I reseru'd some certaine womens toyes,

Alas it was not for my selfe (God knowes,) Poore miserable soule, that little ioyes In trifling ornaments in outward showes. But what I kept, I kept to make my way Vnto thy Liuia and Octauius grace, That thereby in compassion mooued, they Might mediate thy fauour in my case.

Caes.

Well Cleopatra, feare not, thou shalt finde What fauour thou desir'st, or canst expect: For Caesar neuer yet was found but kinde To such as yeeld, and can themselues subiect. And therefore giue thou comfort to thy minde, Relieue thy soule thus ouer-charg'd with care, How well I will intreate thee thou shalt find, So soone as some affaires dispatched are. Till when farewel. Cl. Thanks thrise renowned Caesar, Poore Cleopatra rests thine owne for ••uer.

Dol.

No maruell Caesar though our greatest spirits, Haue to the powre of such act arming beautie Been brought to yeeld the honor of their merits: Forgetting all respect of other dutie. Then whilst the glory of her youth remain'd The wondring object to each wanton eye': Before her full of sweet (with sorrow wain'd,) Came to the period of this miserie. If still, euen in the midst of death and horror Such beautie shines, thorow clouds of age & sorrow, If euen those sweet decaies seeme to pleade for her, Which from affliction mouing graces borrow: If in calamitie she could thus moue, What could she do adorn'd with youth and loue?

What could she do then, when as spreading wide The pomp of beauty, in her glory dight? When arm'd with wonder, she could vse beside, Th'ingines of her loue, Hope and Delight?

Daughter of Meruaile beauty O see how Thou canst disgracing sorrowes sweetly grace. What power thou show'st in a distressed brow, That mak'st affliction faire, giu'st teares their grace. What can vntressed locks, can torne rent haire, A weeping eye, a waiilng face be faire? I see then, artlesse feature can content, And that true beauty needs no ornament,

Caes.

What in passion a Dolabella? what take heed: Let others fresh examples be thy warning: What mischiefs these, so idle humors breed, Whilst error keepes vs from a true discerning. Indeed I saw she labour'd to impart Her sweetest graces in her saddest cheere: Presuming on the face that knew the art To moue with what aspect so eu'r it were. But all in vaine, she takes her ayme amisse. The ground and marke her leuel much deceiues: Time now hath altred all, for neither is She as she was, nor we as she conceiues. And therefore now leaue he•• vnto her sadnesse Folly in youth is sinne, in age, tis madnesse.

And for my part, I seeke but ••'entertaine In her some feeding hope to draw her forth, The greatest Trophey that my trauaile •• gaine, ••••to bring home a prizall of such worth. A•••• now, sith that she seemes so well content.

To be dispos'd by vs, without more stay She with her children shall to Rome be fent, Whilst I by Syria thither take my way.

CHORVS.

O Fearefull frowning Nemesis, Daughter of Iustice, most seuere, That art the worlds great arbitresse, And Queene of causes raigning heere: Whose swift-sure hand is euer neere Eternall iustice, righting wrong: Who neuer yet deferrest long The prowds decay, the weaks redresse: But through thy power euery where, Dost raze the great, and raise the lesse. The lesse made great dost ruine too, To shew the earth what heauen can do.

Thou from darke-clos'd eternitie, From thy blacke cloudy hidden seate, The worlds disorders dost desery: Which when they swell so prowdly great, Reuersing th'order nature set, Thou giu'st thy all confounding doome, Which none can know before it come. Th'ineuitable destinie, Which neither wit nor strength can let, Fast chain'd vnto necessitie, In mortall things doth order so, Th'alternate course of weale or wo.

O how the powres of heauen doe play With trauailed mortalitie: And doth their weakenesse still betray, In their best prosperitie? When being lifted vp so hie, They looke beyond themselues so farre, That to themselues they take no care; Whilst swift confusion downe doth lay, Their late prowd mounting vanitie: Bringing their glory to decay, And with the ruine of their fall, Extinguish people, state and all.

But is it Iustice that all wee The innocent poore multitude, For great mens faults should punisht be, And to destruction thus pursude? O why should th'heauens vs include, Within the compasse of their fall, Who of themselues procured all? Or do the gods in close decree, Occasion take how to extrude Man from the earth with crueltie? Ah no, the gods are euer iust, Our faults excuse their rigor must.

This is the period Fate set downe, To Egypts fat prosperitie: Which now vnto her greatest growne, Must perish thus, by course must die, And some must be the causers why

This reuolution must be wrought: As borne to bring their state to nought: To change the people and the crowne, And purge the worlds iniquitie: Which vice so farre hath ouer growne. As we, so they that treate vs thus, Must one day perish like to vs.

ACTVS QVARTVS.

Seleucus. Rodon.

Sel.

FRiend Rodon neuer in a better bowre, Could I haue met thee then eu'n now I do, Hauing affliction in the greatest powre Vpon my soule, and none to tell it too. For tis some ease our sorrowes to reueale, If they to whom we shall impart our woes Seeme but to feele a part of what we feele: And meete vs with a sigh but at a cloze.

Rod.

And neuer (friend Seleuchus) found'st thou one That better could beare such a part with thee: Who by his own, knows others cares to mone, And can, in like accord of griefe, agree. And therefore tell th'oppression of thy hart, Tell to an eare prepar'd and tun'd to care: And I will likewise vnto thee impart As sad a tale as what thou shalt declare. So shall we both our mournefull plaints combine,

Ile waile thy state, and thou shalt pittie mine.

Cel.

Wel then, thou know'st how I haue liu'd in grace With Cleopatra, and esteem'd in Court As one of Councell, and of chiefest place, And euer held my credite in that sort. Till now in this confusion of our state, When thinking to haue vs'd a meane to climbe, And fled the wretched, flowne vnto the great, (Following the fortune of the present time,) Am come to be cast downe and ruin'd cleane; And in the course of mine own plot vndone. For hauing all the secrets of the Queene Reueald to Caesar, to haue fauor wonne. My trechery is quited with disgrace, My falshood loath'd, and not without great reason. Though good for him, yet Princes in this case Do hate the Traitor, though they loue the treason. For how could he imagine I would be Faithfull to him, being false vnto mine owne? And false to such a bounteous Queene as she. That had me rais'd and made mine honor knowne. He saw twas not for zeale to him I bare, But for base feare, or mine owne state to settle. Weakenesse is false, and faith in Cowards rare, Feare findes out shifts, timiditie is subtle. And therefore scorn'd of him, scorn'd of mine own. Hatefull to all that looke into my state: Despis'd Seleucus now is onely grown The marke of infamy, that is pointed at.

Rod.

Tis much thou saist, and O too much to feele, And I do grieue and do lament thy fall:

But yet all this which thou doest heere reueale, Compar'd with mine, will make thine seeme but small. Although my fault be in the selfe-same kind, Yet in degree far greater, far more hatefull; Mine sprong of mischiefe, thine from feeble mind, I staind with blood, thou onely but vngratefull. For vnto me did Cleopatra giu•••• The best and deerest treasure of her blood, Louely Caesario, whom she would haue liue Free from the dangers wherein Egypt stoode. And vnto me with him this charge she gaue, Here Rodon, take, conuey from out this coast, This precious Gem, the chiefest that I haue, The iewell of any soule I value most. Guide him to India, leade him farre from hence, Safeguard him where secure he may remaine, Till better fortune call him backe from thence, And Egypts peace be reconcil'd againe. For this is he that may our hopes bring backe; (The rising Sunne of our declining state:) These be the hands that may restore our wracke, And raise the broken ruines made of late. He may giue limits to the boundlesse pride Of fierce Octauius, and abate his might: Great Iulius of•• spring, he may come to guide The Empire of the world, ••s his by right.

O how he seemes the modell of his Syre? O how I gaze my Caesar in his face? Such was his gate, so did his lookes aspire; Such was his threatning brow, such was his grace. High shouldred, and his forehead euen as hie.

And O, (if he had not beene borne so late.) He might haue rul'd the worlds great Monarchy. And now haue beene the Champion of our state.

Then vnto him, O my deere Sonne (she saies,) Sonne of my youth, flie hence, O flie, be gone, Reserue thy selfe, ordain'd for better dayes, For much thou hast to ground thy hopes vpon. Leaue me (thy wofull Mother) to endure The fury of this tempest heere alone, Who cares not for her selfe, so thou be sure, Thou mayst reuenge, when others can but mone: Rodon will see thee safe, Rodon will guide Thee and thy wayes, thou shalt not neede to feare. Rodon (My faithfull seruant) will prouide What shal be best for the, take thou no care. And O good Rodon, looke well to his youth, The wayes are long, and dangers eu'ry where. I vrge it not that I doe doubt thy truth, Mothers will cast the worst, and alwayes feare. The absent danger greater still appeares, Lesse feares he, who is neere the thing he feares. And O, I know nor what presaging thought My sprite suggests of lucklesse bad euent: But yet it may be tis but Loue doth doate, Or ydle shadowes with my feares present, But yet the memory of mine owne fate Makes me feare his. And yet why should I feare His fortune may recouer better state, And he may come in pomp to gouerne here. But yet I doubt the Genius of our race By some malignant spirit comes ouerthrowne:

Our bloud must be extinct, in my disgrace, Egypt must haue no more Kings of their owne, Then let him stay, and let vs fall together, Sith it is fore-decreed that we must all? Yet who knowes what may come? let him go thither. What Merchaunt i•• one vessell ventures all? Let vs d••uide our starres. Go, go my sonne, Let not the fate of Egypt finde thee here: Try if so be thy destinie can shunne The common wracke of vs by being there. But who is he found•• euer yet defence Against the heauens, or hid him any where? Then what neede I to send thee so farre hence To seeke thy death that mayst as well die here? And here die with thy mother, die in rest, Not trauelling to what will come to thee. Why should we leaue our bloud vnto the East, When Egypt may a Tombe sufficient be?

O my diuided soule, what shall I do? Whereon shall now my resolution rest? What were I best resolue to yeeld vnto, When both are bad, how shall I know the best? Stay, I may hap so worke with Caesar now, That he may yeelde him to restore thy right. Goe: Caesar neuer will consent that thou So neere in bloud, shalt be so great in might. Then take him Rodon, go my sonne, farewell. But stay there's something else that I would say: Yet nothing now, but O god speede thee well, Lest saving more, that more may make thee stay. Yet let me speake: It may be tis the last,

That euer I shall speake to thee my sonne, Do Mothers vse to part in such post hast? What, must I end when I haue scarce begunne? Ah no (deere heart) tis no such slender twine Where with the knot is tide twixt thee and me, That bloud within thy veins came out of mine, Parting from thee I part from part of me: And therefore I must speake. Yet what? O sonne.

Here more she would, when more she could not say, Sorrow rebounding backe whence it begunne, Filld vp the passage, and quite stopt the way: When sweet Caesario with a princely spirit, (Though comfortlesse himselfe) did comfort giue, With mildest wordes perswading her to beare it. And as for him, she should not neede to grieue. And I (with protesta••ions of my part.) Swore by that faith, (which sworne I did deceiue) That I would vse all care, all wit and art To see him safe; And so we tooke our leaue. Scarce had we trauail'd to our iurnie•• end, When Caesar hauing knowledge of our way, His Agents after vs with speede doth send To labour me Caesario to betray. Who with rewards and promises so large, Assail'd me then, that I grew soone content And backe to Rhodes did reconuay my charge, Pretending that Octauius for him sent, To make him King of Egypt presently.

And thither come, seeing himselfe betray'd. And in the hands of death through trechery, Wayling his state, thus to himselfe he said.

Lo here brought backe by subtile traine to death Betraide by Tutors faith, or traitors rather My fault my bloud, and mine offence my birth, For being sonne of such a mighty Father.

From India, (whither sent by mothers care, To be reseru'd from Egipts common wracke,) To Rhodes, (so long the armes of tyrants are,) I am by Caesars subtile reach brought backe: Heere to be made th'oblation for his feares, Who doubts the poore reuenge these hāds may do him Respecting neither bloud, nor youth, nor yeeres, Or how small safety can my death be to him.

And is this all the good of being borne great? Then wretched greatnesse proud rich miserie, Pompous distresse, glittering calamity. Is it for this th'ambitious Fathers sweat, To purchase bloud and death for them and theirs? I•• this the issue that their glories get, So leaue a sure dest••uction to their heires? O how much better had it beene for me, From low descent, deriu'd of humble birth, T'haue eat the sweete sowre bread of pouerty, And drunke of Nylus streams in Nilus earth. Vnder the cou'ring of some quiet Cottage, Free from the wrath of heauen, secure in minde, Vntoucht when sad euents of princes dottage Confounds what euer mighty it doth finde. Out of the way of greatnesse, whose condition Is to haue all made cleere, and all thing plaine Betweene them and the marke of their ambition, That nothing let, the full sight of their raigne

Where nothing stands, that stands not in submission; Where greatnesse must all in it selfe containe. Kings will be alone, Competitors must downe, Neere death he stands, that stands to neare a Crowne.

Such is my case, for Caesar will haue all. My bloud must feale th'assurance of his state: Yet ah weake state that bloud assure him shall, Whose wrong full shedding, gods and men do hate. Iniustice neuer scapes vnpunisht still, Though men reuenge not, yet the heauens will.

And thou Augustus that with bloudy hand, Cut'st off succession from anothers race, Maist find the heauens thy vowes so to withstand, That others may depriue thine in like case When thou mayst see thy prowde contentious bed Yeelding thee none of thine that may inherite: Subuert thy bloud, place others in their sted, To pay this thy iniustice her due merite.

If it be true (as who can that denie Which sacred Priests of Memphis doe fore-say) Some of the of-spring yet of Antony. Shall all the rule of this whole Empire sway; And then Augustus, what is it thou gainest By poore Antillus bloud, or this of mine? Nothing but this thy victory thou, stainest, And pull'st the wrath of heauen on thee and thine. In vaine doth man contend against the starr's, For that he seekes to make, his wisdome marr's. Yet in the mean-time we whom Fates reserue, The bloudy sacrifices of ambition We feele the smart what euer they deserue,

And we indure the present times condition. The iustice of the heauens renenging thus, Doth onely satisfie it selfe, not vs.

Yet tis a pleasing comfort that doth ease Affliction in so great extremity. To thinke their dike destruction shall appease Our ghosts, who did procure our misery. But dead we are, vncertaine what shall bee, And liuing, we are sure to feele the wrong: Our certaine ruine we our selues do see. They ioy the while, and we know not how long. But yet Caesarie, thou must die content, For men will mone, and God reuenge th'innocent. Thus he complain'd, and thus thou hea'rst my shame,

S••l.

But how hath Caesar now rewarded thee?

Rod.

As he hath thee. And I expect the same, As fell to Theodor to fall to me: For he (one of my coate) hauing betraid The yong Antillus sonne of Anthony, And at his death from off his necke conuaid A iewell: which being ask••, he did denie: Caesar occasion tooke to hang him strait. Such instruments with Princes liue not long. Although they need such actors of deceit, Yet still our sight seemes to vpbraid their wrong; And therefore we must needes this daunger runne, And in the net of our owne guile be caught: We must not liue to brag what we haue done. For what is done, must not appeare their fault. But here comes Cleopatrae, Wofull Queene, And our shame wil not that we should be seene.

Exeunt.

Cleopatra.

WHat hath my face yet power to win a Louer? Can this torne remnant serue to grace me so, That it can Caesars secret plots discouer What he intends with me and mine to do? Why then poore Beautie thou hast done thy last, And best good seruice thou could'st do vnto me. For now the time of death reueal'd thou hast, Which in my life didst serue but to vndoe me.

Heere Dolabella far forsooth in loue, Writes, how that Caesar meanes forthwith, to send Both me and mine, th'ayre of Rome to proue: There his Triumphant Chariot to attend. I thanke the man, both for his loue and letter; The one comes fit to warne me thus before, But for th'other, I must die his debter, For Cleopatra now can loue no more.

But hauing leaue, I must go take my leaue And last farewell of my dead Anthonie: Whose deerly honour'd tombe must here receiue This sacrifice, the last before I die

O sacred euer-memorable stone, That hast without my teares, within my flame, Receiue th'oblation of the wofull'st mone That euer yet from sad affliction came. And you deare reliques of my Lord and Loue, (The sweetest parcels of the faithfull'st liuer,) O let no impious hand dare to remoue You out from hence, but rest you here for euer.

Let Egypt now giue peace vnto you dead, That liuing gaue you trouble and turmoile: Sleepe quiet in this euer-lasting bed, In forraine land preferr'd before your soile, And O, if that the sp'rits of men remaine After their bodies; and do neuer die, Then heare thy ghost, thy captiue spouse complaine, And be attentiue to her miserie. But if that laboursome mortallitie Found this sweete error, onely to confine The curious search of idle vanitie, That would the deapth of darknesse vndermine: Or rather to giue rest vnto the thought Of wretched man, with th'after-comming ioy Of those conceiued fields whereon we dote, To pacifie the present worlds annoy: Then do I speake but onely to the ayre: But tis not so, my Anthonie doth heare: His euer-liuing ghost attends my prayer, And I do know his houering sprite is neere. And I will speake, and pray, and mourne to thee, O pure immortall loue that daign'st to heare: I feele thou answer'st my credulitie With touch of comfort, finding none elsewhere. Thou know'st these hands intomb'd thee here of late, Free and vnforc'd, which now must seruile be, Reseru'd for bands to grace proud Caesars state, Who seekes in me to triumph ouer thee. O if in life we could not seuerd be, Shall death diuide our bodies now a sunder? Must thine in Egypt, mine in Italie,

Be kept the Monuments of Fortunes wonder? If any powres be there whereas thou art, (Sith our owne cuntry gods betray our case,) O worke they may their gracious helpe impart, To saue thy wofull wife from such disgrace. Do not permit she shoutd in triumph shew The blush of her reproach, ioyn'd with thy shame But (rather) let that hate full tyrant know, That thou and I had powre t'auoyde the same. But what do I spend breath and ydle winde. In vaine inuoking a conceiued ayde? Why do I not my selfe occasion finde To breake the bounds wherein my selfe am staide? Words are for them that can complaine and liue, Whose melting hearts composd of baser frame, Can to their sorrows, time and leasure giue, But Cleopatra may not do the same. No Antony, thy loue requireth more: A lingring death, with thee deserues no merite, I must my selfe force open wide a dore To let out life, and so vnhouse my spirit. These hands must breake the prison of my soule To come to thee, there to enioy like state, As doth the long-pent solitary Foule. That hath escapt her cage, and found her mate, This sacrifice to sacrifize my life, Is that true incense that dooth best beseeme: These rites may serue a life-desiring wife, Who doing them, t'haue done enough doth deeme. My-hart-bloud should the purple flowers haue beene, Which heere vpon thy Tombe to thee are offred.

No smoake but dying breath should here bin seene, And this it had bin too, had I bin suffred. But what haue I saue these bare silly hands? And these weake fingers are not iron-poynted: They cannot pierce with them which stands And I of all meanes else am disapointed. But yet I must some way endeuour how To come vnto thee, whatsoere I do. O Death, art thou sohard to come by now, That we must pray, iutreate, and seeke thee too? But I will finde thee wheresoere thou lie. For who can stay a minde resolu'd to die?

And now I go to worke th'effect indeed, Ile neuer send more words or sights to thee: Ile bring my soule my selfe, and that with speede, My selfe will bring my soule to Antony. Come go my maides, my fortunes sole attenders, That minister to misery and sorrow: Your Mistris you vnto your freedome renders. And Will discharge your charge yet ere to morrow.

And now by this, I thinke the man I sent, Is neere retourn'd that brings me my dispatch. God grant his cunning sort to good euent, And that his skill may well beguile my watch: So shall I shun disgrace, leaue to be sorry, Flie to my loue, scape my foe, free my soule; So shall I act the last of life with glory, Die like a Queene, and rest without controule.

Exit.

CHORVS.

MIsterious Egypt, wonder breeder, Strict Religions strange obseruer, State-ordrer zeale, the best rule-keeper, Fostring still in temp'rate feruor: O how cam'st thou to lose so wholy all religion, law and order? And thus become the most vnholy of all Lands, that Nylus border? How could confus'd Disorder enter where sterne Law sate so seuerely? How durst weake lust and riot venter th'eye of Iustice looking neerely? Could not those meanes that made thee great Be still the meanes to keepe thy state?

Ah no, the course of things requireth change and alteration euer: That stayd continuance man desireth, th'vnconstant world yeeldeth neuer. We in our counsels must be blinded, And not see what doth import vs: And often times the thing least minded is the thing that most must hurt vs. Yet they that haue the sterne in guiding, tis their fault that should preuent it, Who when they see their Country sliding, for their priuate are contented.

We imiiate the greater powers, The Princes manners fashion ours.

Th'example of their light regarding, vulgar loosenesse much incenses: Vice uncontrould, growes wide inlarging, Kings small faults be great offences. And this hath set the window open vnto licence, lust, and riot: This way confusion first found broken, whereby entred our disquiet, Those lawes that olde Sesostris founded, and the Ptolomies obserued, Hereby first came to be confounded, which our state so long preserued. The wanton luxurie of Court. Did forme the people of like sort.

For all (respecting priuate pleasure,) vniuersally consenting To abuse their time their treasure, in their owne delights contenting: And future dangers nought respecting, whereby, (O how easie matter Made this so generall neglesting, confus'd weakenesse to discatter?) Caesar found th'effect true tried, in his easie entrance making: Who at the sight of armes, deseryed all our people, all forsaking. For ryot (worse then warre,) so sore

Had wasted all our strength before.

And thus is Egypt seruile rendred to the insolent destroyer: And all their sumptuous treasure tendred, all her wealth that did betray her, Which poison (O if heauen be rightfull,) may so farre infect their sences, That Egypts pleasures so delightfull, may breed them the like offences. And Romans learne our way of weakenes, be instructed in our vices: That our spoiles may spoile your greatnes, ouercome with our deuises. Fill full your hands, and carry home Enough from vs to ruine Rome.

ACTVS QVINTVS.

Dolabella. Titius.

Dol.

COme tell me Titius eu'ry circumstance How Cleopatra did receiue my newes: Tell eu'ry looke, each gesture, countenance, That she did in my Letters reading vse.

Tit.

I shall my Lord, so farre as I could note, Or my conceit obserue in any wise. It was the time when as she hauing got Leaue to her Deerest dead to sacrifice; And now was issuing out the monument

With odors, incense, garlands in her hand, When I approacht (as one from Caesar sent,) And did her close, thy message t'vnderstand.

She turnes her backe, and with her takes me in, Reades in thy lines thy strange vnlookt for tale: And reades, and smiles, and staies, and doth begin Againe to read, then blusht, and then was pale. And hauing ended with a sigh, refoldes Thy Letter vp: and with a fixed eye, (Which stedfast her imagination holds) She mus'd a while, standing confusedly: At length. Ah friend, saith she) tell thy good Lord, How deere I hold his pittying of my case: That out of his sweete nature can affoord A miserable woman so much grace. Tell him how much my heauy soule doth grieue; Mercilesse Caesar should so deale with me: Pray him that he would all the counsell giue, That might diuert him from such crueltie. As for my loue, say Antony hath all, Say that my hart is gone into the graue With him, in whom it rests and euer shall: I haue it not my selfe, not cannot haue. Yet tell him, he shall more command of me Then any, whosoeuer liuing can. Hee that so friendly shewes himselfe to be A right kinde Roman, and a Gentleman. Although his Nation (fatall vnto me,) Haue had mine age a spoile, my youth a pray, Yet his affection must accepted be, That fauours one distrest in her decay.

Ah. he was worthy then to haue been lou'd, Of Cleopatra whiles her glory lasted; Before she had declining fortune prou'd, Or seen her honour wrackt, her flowre thus blasted. Now there is nothing left her but disgrace, Nothing but her affliction that can moue, Tell Dolabella, one that's in her case. (Poore soule) needs rather pity now then loue. But shortly shall thy Lord heare more of me. And ending so her speech, no longer stai'd, But hasted to the tombe of Antonie, And this was all she did, and all she said.

Dol.

Ah sweete distressed Lady. What hard hart Could chuse but pity thee, and loue thee too? Thy worthines, the state where in thou art Requireth both, and both I vow to doo. Although ambition lets not Caesar see The wrong he doth thy maiesty and sweetnesse. Which makes him now exact so much of thee, To adde vnto himselfe to grace his greatnesse, He knowes thou canst no hurt procure vs now, Sith all thy strength is seizd into our hands: Nor seares he that, but rather labours how He might shew Rome so great a Queene in bands: That our great Ladies (enuying thee so much That stain'd them all, and held them in such wonder,) Might ioy to see thee, and thy fortune such, Thereby extolling him that brought thee vnder, But I will seeke to stay it what I may; I am but one, yet one that Caesar loues, And O if now I could do more then pray,

Then should'st thou know how farre affection moues, But what my powre and prayer may preuaile, Ile ioyne them both, to hinder thy disgrace: And euen this present day I will not faile To doe my best with Caesar in this case.

Tit.

And sir, euen now herselfe hath letters sent. I met her messenger as I came hither, With a dispatch as he to Caesar went, But know not what imports her sending thither. Yet this he told, how Cleopatra late Was come from sacrifice. How richly clad Was seru'd to dinner in most sumptuous state, With all the brauest ornaments she had. How hauing din'd, she writes, and sends away Him strait to Caesar, and commanded than All should depart the Tombe, and none to stay But her two maides, and one Poore countriman.

Dol.

Why then I know she sends t'haue audience now, And meanes t'experience what her state can do: To see it maiestie will make him bow To what affliction could not moue him too. And O, if now she could but bring a view Of that fresh beauty she in youth possest (The argument wherewith she ouerthrew The wit of Iulius Caesar, and the rest,) Then happily Augustus might relent. Whilst powrefull Loue, (farre stronger then ambition) Might worke in him, a minde to be content To condescend vnto her small petition But being as she is, yet doth she merite To be respected for her hauing been,

The wonder of her kinde, of so rare spirit, A glorious Lady, and a mighty Queene. And now, but by a little weakenesse ••alling To do that which perhaps sh'was forst to do: Alas, an errour past, is past recalling, Take away weakenesse, and take women too. But now I go•• to be thy aduocate, Sweete Cleopatra, now ••le vse mine arte. Thy presence will me greatly animate, Thy face will teach my tongue, thy loue my hart.

SCENA SECVNDA.

Nuntius.

AM I ordain'd the carefull Messenger, And sad newes-bringer of the strangest death, Which selfe hand did vpon it selfe inferre, To free a captiue soule from seruile breath? Must I the lamentable wonder shew, Which all the world may grieue and maruell at? The rarest forme of death on earth below, That euer pitty, glory, wonder gat.

Cho.

What newes bringst thou, can Egipt yet yeeld more, Of sorrow than it hath? what can it adde Vnto th'already ouerflowing store Of sad affliction, matter yet more sad? Haue we not seene our worst calamity? Is there behind yet something of distresse Vnknowne? if there be greater misery Relate it, that we do not waile the lesse.

Tell vs what so it be, and tell at first, For sorrow euer longs to heare her worst.

Nu.

Well then, the strangest thing relate I will, That euer eye of mortall man hath seene.

I (as you know) euen from my youth, haue still Attended on the person of the Queene: And euer in all fortunes good or ill, With her as one of chiefest trust haue beene. And now in these so great extremities, That euer could to maiesty be fall, I did my best in what I could deuise, And left her not, till now she left vs all.

Cho.

What is she gone. Hath Caesar forst her so?

Nun.

Yea, she is gone, and hath deceiu'd him too.

Cho.

What, fled to India; to go find her sonne?

Nun.

No, not to India, but to finde her sonne.

Cho.

Why thē there's hope she may her state recouer

Nun.

Her state? nay rather honour, and her Louer.

Cho.

Her Louer? him she cannot haue againe.

Nun.

Wel, him she hath, with him she doth remaine

Cho.

Why thē she's dead Ist so? why speakst not thou

Nun.

You gesse aright, and I will tell you how. When she perceiu'd all hope was cleane bereft, That Caesar meant to send her strait away, And saw no meanes of reconcilement left, Worke what she could, she could not worke to stay: She calls me to her, and she thus began. O thou, whose trust hath euer beene the same, And one in all my fortunes, faithfull man, Alone conten•• t'attend disgrace and shame. Thou, whom the fea••efull ruine of my fall,

Neuer deterr'd to leaue calamitie: As did those others smooth state-pleasers all, Who followed but my fortune, and not me. Tis thou must do a seruice for thy Queene, Wherein thy faith and skill must do their best: Thy honest care and d••uy shal be seene, Performing this, more then in all the rest. For all what thou hast done, may die with thee, Although tis pitty that such faith should die. But this shall euermore remembred be, A rare example to posterity. And looke how long as Cleopatra shall In after ages liue in memory. So long shall thy cleere same endure withall, And therefore thou must not my sute deny Nor contradict my will. For what I will I am resolu'd•• and this now must it be: Go find me out with all thy art and skill Two Aspicks, and conuay them close to me. I haue a worke to do with them in hand, Enquire not what, for thou shalt soone see what, If th'heauens do not my disseigns withstand, But do thy charge, and let me shift with that.

Being thus coniur'd by her t'whom I had vow'd My true perpetuall seruice, forth I went, Deuising how my close attempt to shrowde, So that there might no art my art preuent. And so disguisd in habite as you see, Hauing found out the thing for which I went, I soone return'd againe, and brought with me The Aspicks, in a basket closely pent.

Which I had filld with Figges, and leaues vpon. And comming to the guard that kept the dore, What hast thou there? said they, and lookt thereon. Seeing the figges, they deem'd of nothing more, But said, they were the fayrest they had seene. Taste some, said I, for they are good and pleasant. No, no, said they, go beare them to thy Queene, Thinking me some poore man that brought a present. Well, in I went, wherebrighter then the Sunne, Glittering in all her pompous rich aray, Great Cleopatra sate, as if sh'had wonne Caesar, and all the world beside this day: Euen as she was when on thy cristall streames. Cleere Cydnos she did shew what earth could shew. When Asia all ama'zd in wonder deemes Venus from heauen was come on earth below, Euen as she went at first to meet her Loue, So goes she now at last againe to find him. But that first, did her greatnesse onely proue, This last her loue, that could not liue behind him. Yet as she sate, the doubt of my good speed, Detracts much from the sweetnesse of her looke: Cheere-marrer Care, did then such passions breed, That made her eye bewray the griefe she tooke. But she no sooner sees me in the place, But strait her sorrow-clouded brow she cleeres, Lightning a smile from out a stormie face. Which all her tempest-beaten sences cheeres.

Looke how a strayed perplexed traueller, When chasd by theeues, and euen at point of ••••king, Descrying sodainly some towne not far,

Or some vnlookt for aide to him-warde making; Cheeres vp his tyred sprites, thrusts forth his strength To meete that good, that comes in so good houre: Such was her ioy perceiuing now at length, Her honour was t'escape so proud a power. Forth from her seate she hastes to meete the present, And as one ouer-ioy'd, she caught it strait. And with a smiling cheere in action pleasant, Looking among the figs, findes the deceit. And seeing there the vgly venemous beast, Nothing dismaid, she fayes and views it well, At length th'extreamest of her passion ceast, When she began with words her ioy to tell.

O rarest beast (saith she) that Affrick breeds, How deerely welcome art thou vnto me? The fearest creature that faire Nylus feedes Me thinks I see, in now beholding thee. What though the euer-erring world doth deeme That angred Nature fram'd thee bu•• in spight? Little they know what they of light esteeme, That neuer learn'd the wonder of thy might. Better then Death, Deaths office thou dischargest. That with on•• gentle touch canst free our breath: And in a pleasing sleepe our soule inlargest, Making our selues not priuy to our death, If Nature err'd, O then how happy e••••or, Thinking to make thee worst, she made the best: Sith thou best freest vs from our liues worst terror, In sweetly bringing; soules to quiet rest. When that inexorable Monster Death That follows Fortune, flies the poore distressed,

Tortures our bodies ere he takes our breath, And loads with paines th'already weake oppressed. How oft haue I begg'd praid. intreated him To take my life, which he would neuer do, And when he comes, he coms so vgly grim, Attended on with hidious torments to. Therefore come thou, of wonders wonder chiefe That open canst with such a•• easiekey The doore of life, come gentle cunning thiefe, That from our selues so steal'st our selues away. Well did our Priests discerne somthing diuine Shadow'd in thee, and therefore first they did Offrings and worships due to thee assigne, In whom they found such mysteries were hid. Comparing thy swift motion to the Sunne, That mou'st without the instruments that moue: And neuer waxing old, but alwayes one, Doost therein a diuinity approue. And therefore too, the rather vnto thee In zeale I make the offring of my bloud, Calamity confirming now in me A sure beliefe that piety makes good. Which happy men neglect, or hold ambiguous, And only the afflicted are religious.

And here I sacrifice these armes to Death, That Lust late dedicated to Delights: Offring vp for my last, this last of breath, The complement of my loues dearest rites, With that she bares her arme, and offer makes To touch her death, yet at the touch with drawes, And seeming more to speake, occasion takes,

Willing to die, and willing too to pause. Looke how a mother at her sonnes departing For some farre voyage bent to get him fame, Doth entertaine him with an idle pa••ling And still doth speake, and still speakes but the same; Now bids farewell, and now recalles him backe, Tells what was told, and bids againe farewell, And yet againe recalles; for still doth lacke Something that Loue would faine and cannot tell. Pleas'd he should go, yet cannot let him go. So she, although she knew there was no way But this, yet this she could not handle so But she must shew that life desir'd delay. Faine would she entertaine the time as now. And now would faine that Death would seize vpō her, Whilst I might see presented in her brow, The doubtfull combate tride twixt Life and Honor. Life bringing Legions of fresh hopes with her, Arm'd with the proofe of time, which yeeldes we say Comfort and helpe, to such as doe referre All vnto him, and can admit delay. But Honour scorning Life, loe forth leades hee Cleere Immorralitie arm'd all in flames: Through whose bright shining rayes of glory, she Might see how base was life that her defames. Besides she saw whole armies of reproches, And base Disgraces, Furies fearfull, sad, Marching therewith, and Shame that still incroches Vpon her face, in blushing colours clad. Which representments seeing, farre worse then death Shee deem'd to yeeld to Life, and therefore chose

To render all to Honour, heart and breath: And that with speede, least that her inward foes False flesh and bloud, ioyning with life and hope, Should mutinie against her resolution. And to the end she would not giue them scope, Shee presently proceeds to th'execution. And sharpely blaming of her rebell powres, False flesh (saith she) and what dost thou conspire With Caesar too, as thou wert none of ours, To worke my shame, and hinder my desire? Wilt thou retaine in closure of thy vaines, That enemy base life, to let my good? No, know there is a greater powre constraines Then can be counterchekt with fearefull blood. For to the minde that's great, nothing seemes great•• And seeing death to be the last of woes, And life lasting disgrace, which I shall get, What doe I lose, that haue but life to lose?

This hauing said, strengthned in her owne hart. And vnion of her selfe, sences in one Charging together, she performes that part That hath so great a part of glory wonne, And so receiues the deadly poys'ning tuch; That touch that tride the gold of her loue, pure, And hath confirm'd her honour to be such, As must a wonder to all worlds endure. Now not an yeelding shrinke or touch of feare, Consented to bewray least sence of paine: But still in one same sweete vnalired cheere, Her honour did her dying thoughts retaine.

Well, now this worke is done (saith she) heere ends

This act of Life, that part the Fares assign'd: What glory of disgraces this world lends, Both haue I had, and both I leaue behind. And now ô earth, the Theater where I Haue acted this, witnesse I die vnforst. Witnesse my soule partes free to Antony, And now prowde Tyrant Caesar do thy worst.

This said, she staies, and makes a sodaine pause, As if to feele w••••••her the poyson wrought: Or rather else the working might be cause That made her stay, and intertain'd her thought. For in that instant I might well perceiue The drowsie humour in her falling brow: And how each powre, each part opprest did leaue Their former office, and did sencelesse grow. Looke how a new pluckt branch against the Sunne, Declines his fading leaues in feeble sort; So her disioyned ioyn•• ures as vndone, Let fall her weake dissolued limbes support. Yet loe that face the wonder of her life, Retaines in death, a grace that graceth death, Colour so liuely, cheere so louely rise, That none would think such beauty could wāt breath. And in that cheere th'impression of a smile, Did seeme to shew she scorned Death and Caesar, As glorying that she could them both beguile, And telling Death how much her death did please her Wonder it was to see how soone she went, She went with such a will, and did so haste it, That sure I thinke shee did her paine preuent, Fore-going paine, or staying not to taste it,

And sencelesse, in her sincking downe she wries The Diademe which on her head she wore, Which Charmion (poore weake feeble maid) espies, And hastes to right it as it was before. For Eras now was dead, and Charmion too Euen at the point, for both would immitate Their Mistresse glory, striuing like to doo. But Charmion would in this exceed her mate, For she would haue this honour to be last, That should adorne that head that must be seene To weare that Crowne in death, which life held fast, That all the world might know she dide a Queene, And as she stood setting it fitly on, Loe, in rush Caesars messengers in haste, Thinking to haue preuented what was done. But yet they came too late, for all was past. For there they found stretcht on a bed of gold, Dead Cleopatra, and that prowdly dead, In all the rich attire procure she could, And dying Charmion trimming of her head, And Eras at her feete, dead in like case. Charmion, is this well done? said one of them. Yea, well said she, and her that from the race Of so great Kings descends, doth best become. And with that word, yeelds to, her faithfull breath, To passe th'assurance of her loue with death.

Cho.

But how knew Caesar of her close intents

Nun.

By Letters which before to him she sent. For when she had procur'd this meanes to die, She writes, and earnestly intreates, she might Be buried in one Tombe with Antony,

Whereby then Caesar gess'd all went not right. And forthwith sends, yet ere the message came She was dispatcht, he crost in his intent. Her prouidence had ordred so the same, That she was sure none should her plot preuent.

CHORVS.

THen thus we haue beheld Th'accomplishment of woes The full of ruine and The worst of worst of ills: And seene all hope expeld, That euer sweete repose Shall repossesse the Land, That Desolation fills, And where Ambition spills With vncontrouled hand, All th'issue of all those That so long rule haue held: To make vs no more vs, But cleane confound vs thus.

And canst O Nylus thou, Father of flouds indure, That yellow Tyber should With sandy streames rule thee? Wilt thou be pleas'd to bow To him those feete so pure, Whose vnknowne head we hold A powre diuine to be? Thou that didst euer see

Thy free bankes vncontrould, Liue vnder thine owne care: Ah wilt thou beare it now? And now wilt yeeld thy streames A prey to other Reames?

Draw backe thy waters flo To thy concealed head: Rockes strangle vp thy waues, Stop Cataractes thy fall. And turne thy courses so, That sandy Desarts dead, (The world of dust that craues To swallow thee vp all, May drinke so much as shall Reuiue from vastie graues A liuing greene which spred Far florishing, may gro On that wide face of Death, Where nothing now drawes breath,

Fatten some people there, Euen as thou vs hast done, With plenties wanton store, And feeble luxurie: And them as vs prepare Fit for the day of mone Respected not before. Leaue leuell'd Egypt drie, A barren prey to lie, Wasted for euer-more, Of plenties yeelding none

To recompence the care Of Victors greedy lust, And bring forth nought but dust.

And so O leaue to be, Sith thou art what thou art: Let not our race possesse Th'inheritance of shame, The fee of sinne, that we Haue left them for their part: The yoake of whose distresse Must still vpbraid our blame, Telling from whom it came, Our weight of wantonnesse Lies heauie on their hart, Who neuer-more shall see The glory of that worth They left, who brought vs forth.

O thou all-seeing light, High President of heauen, You magistrates the starres Of that eternall Court Of Prouidence and Right Are these the bounds y'haue giuen Th'vntranspassable barres, That limit pride so short, Is greatnesse of this sort, That greatnesse greatnesse marres, And wracks it selfe, selfe driuen On Rocks of her owne might? Doth Order order so Disorders ouer-thro?

FINIS.