Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus?

⌈Enter Seleucus⌉

SELEUCUS Here, madam.

CLEOPATRA (to Caesar)

This is my treasurer. Let him speak, my lord,

Upon his peril, that I have reserved

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

SELEUCUS

Madam, I had rather seal my lips

Than to my peril speak that which is not.

CLEOPATRA What have I kept back?

SELEUCUS

Enough to purchase what you have made known.

CAESAR

Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve

Your wisdom in the deed.

CLEOPATRA

See, Caesar! O, behold

How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours,

And should we shift estates, yours would be mine.

The ingratitude of this Seleucus does

Even make me wild.—O slave, of no more trust

Than love that’s hired! What, goest thou back? Thou

shalt

Go back, I warrant thee; but I’ll catch thine eyes

Though they had wings. Slave, soulless villain, dog!

O rarely base!

CAESAR

Good Queen, let us entreat you.

CLEOPATRA

O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,

That thou vouchsafing here to visit me,

Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one so meek—that mine own servant should

Parcel the sum of my disgraces by

Addition of his envy. Say, good Caesar,

That I some lady trifles have reserved,

Immoment toys, things of such dignity

As we greet modern friends withal; and say

Some nobler token I have kept apart

For Livia and Octavia, to induce

Their mediation—must I be unfolded

With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me

Beneath the fall I have. (To Seleucus) Prithee, go hence,

Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits

Through th’ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man

Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

CAESAR

Forbear, Seleucus.

Exit Seleucus

CLEOPATRA

Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought

For things that others do; and when we fall

We answer others’ merits in our name,

Are therefore to be pitied.

CAESAR

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged

Put we i’th’ roll of conquest. Still be’t yours.

Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe

Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you

Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered.

Make not your thoughts your prisons. No, dear

Queen;

For we intend so to dispose you as

Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.

Our care and pity is so much upon you

That we remain your friend; and so adieu.

CLEOPATRA

My master and my lord!

CAESAR

Not so. Adieu.

Flourish. Exeunt Caesar and his train

CLEOPATRA

He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not

Be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian.

She whispers to Charmian

IRAS

Finish, good lady. The bright day is done,

And we are for the dark.

CLEOPATRA (to Charmian) Hie thee again.

I have spoke already, and it is provided.

Go put it to the haste.

CHARMIAN

Madam, I will.

Enter Dolabella

DOLABELLA

Where’s the Queen?

CHARMIAN

Behold, sir.

Exit

CLEOPATRA

Dolabella!

DOLABELLA

Madam, as thereto sworn by your command—

Which my love makes religion to obey—

I tell you this: Caesar through Syria

Intends his journey, and within three days

You with your children will he send before.

Make your best use of this. I have performed

Your pleasure, and my promise.

CLEOPATRA

Dolabella,

I shall remain your debtor.

DOLABELLA

I your servant.

Adieu, good Queen. I must attend on Caesar.

CLEOPATRA

Farewell, and thanks.

Exit Dolabella

Now, Iras, what think’st thou?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet shall be shown

In Rome, as well as I. Mechanic slaves

With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers shall

Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,

Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,

And forced to drink their vapour.

IRAS

The gods forbid!

CLEOPATRA

Nay, ‘tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors

Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers

Ballad us out o’ tune. The quick comedians

Extemporally will stage us, and present

Our Alexandrian revels. Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see

Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness

I’th’ posture of a whore.

IRAS

O, the good gods!

CLEOPATRA Nay, that’s certain.

IRAS

I’ll never see’t! For I am sure my nails

Are stronger than mine eyes.

CLEOPATRA Why, that’s the way

To fool their preparation and to conquer

Their most absurd intents.

Enter Charmian

Now, Charmian!

Show me, my women, like a queen. Go fetch

My best attires. I am again for Cydnus

To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go.

Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch indeed,

And when thou hast done this chore I’ll give thee

leave

To play till doomsday.—Bring our crown and all.

⌈Exit Iras⌉

A noise within

Wherefore’s this noise?

Enter a Guardsman

GUARDSMAN

Here is a rural fellow

That will not be denied your highness’ presence.