THIDIAS Shall I say to Caesar
What you require of him?—For he partly begs
To be desired to give. It much would please him
That of his fortunes you should make a staff
To lean upon. But it would warm his spirits
To hear from me you had left Antony,
And put yourself under his shroud,
The universal landlord.
CLEOPATRA What’s your name?
THIDIAS My name is Thidias. (3.13.64-72)
Thidias continues to press all the right buttons; he doesn’t ask Cleopatra what she wants, what she’d like to ask for, but rather shall I say to Caesar what you require of him? You give the orders; just say the word. (Require can be request, but doesn’t have to be.) He pushes on: for Caesar partly begs to be desired to give. He’s waiting; ask for anything you want. It’s flirty, imagining Caesar begging, begging to be desired, begging to be desired to give. Quite an offer, quite an image, Caesar ready and waiting, standing by. And really, it much would please him that of his fortunes you should make a staff to lean upon. The pleasure would be all his, if you were to take advantage of him and his offer, let him take care of you. (Has Caesar actually instructed Thidias to be quite this suggestive, or is it all his own initiative?) He’d love to look after you, show you a good time! and, even more, it would warm his spirits to hear from me you had left Antony, and put yourself under his shroud. What he’d really, really like, what would cheer him up (turn him on) even more would be the news that you’d ditched Antony and thrown yourself on him, Caesar, under his protection (shroud is unfortunate here, but it simply means shelter, such as that provided by a tree—a sturdy Roman oak, perhaps), as the universal landlord. Caesar will take charge of you now, little lady; you won’t have to worry about a thing.
Cleopatra can purr even as she, perhaps, procrastinates: and what’s your name? With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking, young man? She’s desired and desirable once more, it seems, and she needs to be sure that this messenger is on her side (or so she thinks)—also, this is just her default, when feeling vulnerable and uncertain: seduce or lash out? Or both? My name is Thidias, he replies. He knows what she’s up to, and he’s the one in control.