PROCULEIUS Be of good cheer.

You’re fall’n into a princely hand; fear nothing.

Make your full reference freely to my lord,

Who is so full of grace that it flows over

On all that need. Let me report to him

Your sweet dependency, and you shall find

A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness,

Where he for grace is kneeled to.    (5.2.21-8)

Proculeius is all non-committal emollience, but with the occasional jab: be of good cheer. You’re fall’n into a princely hand; fear nothing. Don’t worry about a thing! Caesar is an absolute gent. And yet fallen still glances at Cleopatra’s descent in fortune and power—part of the pattern of ups and downs in the play—and the princely hand of Caesar suggests her powerlessness; she’s in Caesar’s hands, his to do as he likes with, to touch as he sees fit. Still plenty to fear, then. But make your full reference freely to my lord; save the particulars of your petitions for when you see Caesar himself, and give yourself over completely to him. You will find him so full of grace that it flows over on all that need; he’s a great guy! He’s so generous, so merciful! And here Proculeius attributes to Caesar (who has more often seemed uptight, rigid, a control freak) the kind of free-flowing, easy bounty and generosity more associated with Antony, and with Cleopatra herself. Therefore let me report to him your sweet dependency: I’ll let him know that you’re throwing yourself on his mercy, that you totally submit to him—and in so doing, you shall find a conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness, where he for grace is kneeled to. If you submit and beg for mercy, Caesar will behave to you with such graciousness, such magnanimity, that he’ll in effect be asking you to help him be as nice as possible to you! But, note, he’s still your conqueror. And don’t you forget it.