CLEOPATRA   His face was as the heav’ns, and therein stuck A sun and moon, which kept their course and lighted The little O o’th’ earth. DOLABELLA               Most sovereign creature— CLEOPATRA His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm Crested the world. His voice was propertied As all the tunèd spheres, and that to friends; But […]

DOLABELLA   Most noble Empress, you have heard of me. CLEOPATRA   I cannot tell. DOLABELLA                           Assuredly you know me. CLEOPATRA No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; Is’t not your trick? DOLABELLA   I understand not, madam. CLEOPATRA I dreamt there was an Emperor […]

PROCULEIUS             You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Caesar. Enter Dolabella DOLABELLA               Proculeius, What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, And he hath sent for thee. For the Queen, I’ll take her to my guard. PROCULEIUS So, Dolabella, It shall content me best. Be gentle to her. […]

CLEOPATRA  Sir, I will eat no meat. I’ll not drink, sir. If idle talk will once be necessary, I’ll not sleep, neither. This mortal house I’ll ruin, Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I Will not wait pinioned at your master’s court, Nor once be chastised with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. […]

CW: suicide   CLEOPATRA  [drawing a dagger] Quick, quick, good hands! PROCULEIUS             [disarming Cleopatra] Hold, worthy lady, hold! Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved but not betrayed. CLEOPATRA               What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish? PROCULEIUS              Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master’s bounty by Th’undoing of yourself. Let […]

CLEOPATRA              Pray you, tell him I am his fortune’s vassal, and I send him The greatness he has got. I hourly learn A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly Look him i’th’ face. PROCULEIUS             This I’ll report, dear lady; Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it.  [Enter Gallus […]

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 […]

Enter Proculeius PROCULEIUS Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt, And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean’st to have him grant thee. CLEOPATRA                          What’s thy name? PROCULEIUS My name is Proculeius. CLEOPATRA                             Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but I do not greatly care to be deceived, […]

CW: suicide Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras. CLEOPATRA  My desolation does begin to make A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar. Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave, A minister of her will. And it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds, Which shackles accidents and bolts up change, Which sleeps […]

CAESAR          Gallus, go you along. Where’s Dolabella, [Exit Gallus] To second Proculeius? ALL BUT CAESAR                  Dolabella! CAESAR          Let him alone; for I remember now How he’s employed. He shall in time be ready. Go with me to my tent, where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war, How calm and […]