[our!

Dol. Oh! she has touch'd him in the tenderest part.

See how he reddens with despight and shame To be out-done in generosity!

Ant. Octavia, I have heard you, and must praise

The greatness of your soul;

But cannot yield to what you have proposed:
For I can ne'er be conquer'd but by love;
And you do all for duty. You would free me,
And would be dropp'd at Athens; was't not

so?

Oct. It was, my lord.

Ant. Then I must be obliged,

To one who loves me not; who to herself, May call me thankless and ungrateful man. I'll not endure it; no.

Vent. I'm glad it pinches there.

Oct. Would you triumph o'er poor Octavia's virtue?

That pride was all I had to bear me up;
That you might think you owed me for your

life,

And owed it to my duty, not my love.

Ant. Therefore you love me not.
Oct. Therefore, my lord,

I should not love you.

Ant. Therefore you would leave me.

Oct. And therefore I should leave you-If I could.

Dol. Her soul's too great, after such injuries, To say she loves and yet she lets you see it. Her modesty and silence plead her cause.

Ant. O Dolabella! which way shall I turn? I find a secret yielding in my soul; But Cleopatra, who would die with me, Must she be left? Pity pleads for Octavia, But does it not plead more for Cleopatra ! Vent. Justice and pity both plead for OctaFor Cleopatra, neither.

[via;

One would be ruin'd with you; but she first
Had ruin'd you; the other you have ruin'd,
And yet she would preserve you.

In every thing their merits are unequal.
Ant. O my distracted soul!

Oct. Sweet Heaven, compose it.

Come, come, my lord, if I can pardon you, Methinks you should accept it. Look on these; [glected

Are they not yours? Or stand they thus neAs they are mine? Go to him, children, go, Kneel to him, take him by the hand, speak to

That, if I must speak, I shall speak just so. Ant. I leave you then to your sad task, farewell.

I sent her word to meet you.

[Goes to the door, comes back.

I forgot;
Let her be told, I'll make her peace with mine:
Her crown and dignity shall be preserved,
If I have power with Cæsar- -O be sure
To think on that.

Dol. Fear not, I will remember.

Ant. And tell her, too, how much I was constrain'd;

I did not this but with extremest force.
Desire her not to hate my memory,
For I still cherish hers ;-insist on that.
Dol. Trust me, I'll not forget it.
Ant. Then that's all.

[Goes and returns again.
Wilt thou forgive my fondness this once more?
Tell her, though we shall never meet again,
If I should hear she took another love,
The news would break my heart-Now I

must go;

For every time I have returned I feel
My soul more tender; and my next command
Would be to bid her stay, and ruin both.

[Exit.

Vent. Alone, and talking to himself! concern'd too!

Perhaps my guess is right; he loved her once, And may pursue it still.

Dol. O friendship! friendship!

Ill canst thou answer this; and reason, worse:
Unfaithful in th' attempt; hopeless to win;
And, if I win, undone. Mere madness all.
And, yet th' occasion fair. What injury
To him, to wear the robe which he throws by?
Vent. None, none at all. This happens as I
wish,

To ruin her yet more with Antony.

Enter CLEO. with ALEX. CHAR. and IRAs, on the other side.

Dol. She comes! what charms have sorrow on that face! [sweetness; Sorrow seems pleased to dwell with so much Yet now and then, a melancholy smile [night, Breaks loose, like light'ning in a winter's And shows a moment's day.

Vent. If she should love him too! her eunuch there!

That porc'pisce bodes ill weather. Draw, draw nearer,

Sweet devil, that I may hear.
Alex. Believe me; try

[DOL. goes over to CHAR. and IRAS. To make him jealous; jealousy is like A polish'd glass held to the lips when life's in doubt:

[show it. If there be breath, 'twill catch the damp and Cleo. I grant you jealousy's a proof of love, But 'tis a weak and unavailing medicine; Alex. "Tis your last remedy, and strongest

too :

And then this Dolabella, who so fit
To practise on? he's handsome, valiant, young,
And looks as he were laid for nature's bait,
To catch weak women's eyes.

He stands already more than half suspected
Of loving you: the least kind word or glance,
You give this youth, will kindle him with
love:

Then like a burning vessel set adrift,
You'll send him down amain before the wind,
To fire the heart of jealous Antony.

Cleo. Can I do this? Ah, no; my love's so true,

That I can neither hide it where it is,
Nor show it where it is not.

Alex. Force yourself.

Th' event will be, your lover will return
Doubly desirous to possess the good
Which once he fear'd to lose.

Cleo. I must attempt it:

But oh! with what regret!

[Exit ALEX. she comes up to DOL. Vent. So now the scene draws near; they're in my reach.

Cleo. [To DoL.] Discoursing with my women! might not I

Share in your entertainment?
Char. You have been

The subject of it, Madam.
Cleo. How! and how!

Iras. Such praises of your beauty!
Cleo. Mere poetry.

Your Roman wits, your Gallus and Tibulelus,
Have taught you this from Cytheris and Delia.
Dol. Those Roman wits have never been in
Egypt,

Cytheris and Delia else had been unsung:
I, who have seen- -had I been born a poet,
Should choose a nobler name.

Cleo. You flatter me,

Cleo. No, no, I'm not run mad; I can bear fortune;

And love may be expell'd by other love,
As poisons are by poisons.

Dol. -You o'erjoy me, Madam,
To find your griefs so moderately borne,
You've heard the worst; all are not false like
him.

Cleo. No; Heaven forbid they should.
Dol. Some men are constant.
Cleo. And constancy deserves reward, that's
certain.

Dol. Deserves it not; but give it leave to hope. Vent. I'll swear thou hast my leave. I have [Exit.

enough.

Dol. I came prepared,

To tell you heavy news; news, which I thought Would fright the blood from your pale cheeks

to hear;

But you have met it with a cheerfulness
That makes my task more easy; and my
tongue,

Which on another's message was employ'd,
Would gladly speak its own.

Cleo. Hold, Dolabella.

First tell me, were you chosen by my lord?
Or sought you this employment?

Dol. He pick'd me out; and as his bosomfriend,

He charged me with his words.

Clep. The message then

I know was tender, and each accent smooth, To mollify that rugged word Depart.

Dol. Oh! you mistake; he chose the harshest words;

He coin'd his face in the severest stamp,
And fury shook his fabric like an earthquake;
He heaved for vent, and burst like bellowing
Ætna,

[ever;
In sounds scarce human, "Hence, away for
Let her begone, the blot of my renown,
And bane of all hopes.

[All the time of this speech CLEOPATRA seems more and more concerned, till she sinks quite down.

centre.'

Let her be driven as far as men can think From man's commerce; she'll poison to the [Faints. cursed, cur

Cleo. Oh, I can bear no more. Dol. Help, help! O wretch! sed! wretch!

What have I done!

Char. Heaven be praised,

She comes again.

Cleo. Why have you brought me back to this loathed being,

Th' abode of falsehood, violated vows,
And injured love? For pity, let me go;
For, if there be a place of long repose,
I'm sure I want it. Unkind, unkind.

Dol. Believe me 'tis against myself I speak, [Kneeling.

That sure deserves belief; I injured him;
My friend ne'er spoke those words. Oh, had
you seen

How often he came back, and every time
With something more obliging and more kind,
To add to what he said; what dear farewells,
How almost vanquish'd by his love he parted,
And lean'd to what unwillingly he left;
I, traitor as I was, for love of you, [false !)
(But what can you not do, who made me
I forged that lie; for whose forgiveness kneels
This self-accused, self-punished criminal.
Cleo. With how much ease believe we what
we wish!

[feign'd,

Rise, Dolabella; if you have been guilty,
I have contributed, and too much love
Has made me guilty too.
The advance of kindness which I made, was
To call back fleeting love by jealousy;
But 'twould not last. Oh! rather let me lose,
Than so ignobly trifle with his heart.

Dol. I find your breast fenced round from human reach,

Transparent as a rock of solid crystal;
Seen through but never pierced.

Cleo. Could you not beg

An hour's admittance to his private ear,
Before we part? for I have far to go,
If death be far, and never must return.

VENTIDIUS, with OCTAVIA behind.

Vent. From whence you may discover-O, sweet, sweet!

Would you indeed? the pretty hand in earnest?
Dol. I will, for this reward. [Takes her hand.
-Draw it not back,
"Tis all I e'er will beg.

Vent. They turn upon us.

Seem not to have observed them, and go on.
[They enter.
Dol. Saw you the emperor, Ventidius?
Vent. No.

I sought him; but I heard that he was private.
None with him, but Hipparchus his freedman.
Dol. Know you his business?
Vent. Giving him instructions,
And letters to his brother Cæsar.
Dol. Well, he must be found.

[Exit DoL and CLEO. Oct. Most glorious impudence! Vent. She look'd, methought,

As she would say, take your old man, Octavia,
Thank you, I'm better here.
Well, but what use

Make we of this discovery?

Oct. Let it die.

Vent. I pity Dolabella; but she's dangerous: And, Antony

Must needs have some remains of passion still,
Which may ferment into a worse relapse
If now not fully cured.But see he comes-
Enter ANTONY.

Ant. Octavia, I was looking for you, my love: What, are your letters ready? I have given My last instructions.

Oct. Mine, my lord, are written.

Ant. Ventidius!

Vent. My lord?

[Drawing him aside

Ant. A word in private.
When saw you Dolabella?
He parted hence, and Cleopatra with him.
Vent. Now, my lord,
Ant. Speak softly. 'Twas by my command
he went,

To bear my last farewell.
Vent. It look'd, indeed,
Like your farewell.

[Aloud.

What secret meaning have you in those words
Ant. More softly- -My farewell!
Of my farewell? He did it by my order.

Vent. Then he obey'd your order, I suppose?

You bid him do it with all gentleness,

All kindness and all-love.

[Aloud.

our,

She blush'd, and sigh'd, and smiled, and blush'd again;

At last took occasion to talk softly.
And then she cried aloud, That constancy
Should be rewarded-This I saw and heard.
Ant. What woman was it, whom you heard
and saw

So playful with my friend?
Not Cleopatra?

Vent. Even she, my lord!
Ant. My Cleopatra?
Vent. Your Cleopatra ;
Dolabella's Cleopatra.
Every man's Cleopatra.
Ant. "Tis false.

I know 'tis false, and see the plot betwixt you. Vent. What has my age deserved, that you should think

I would abuse your ears with perjury?
If Heaven be true, she's false.

Ant. Though Heaven and earth
Should witness it, I'll not believe her tainted.
Vent. I'll bring you then a witness

From hell to prove her so. Nay, go not back; [Seeing ALEXAS just entering, and starting

back.

For stay you must and shall.

Alex. What means my lord?

At last, Heaven open'd her unwilling eyes
To see the wrongs she offer'd fair Octavia,
Whose holy bed she lawlessly usurp'd.
The sad effects of this unprosperous war,
Confirm'd those pious thoughts.

Vent. [Aside.] Oh, wheel you there? Observe him now; the man begins to mend. And talk substantial reason. Fear not, eunuch.

The emperor has given thee leave to speak. Alex. Else had I never dared t' offend his

ears

With what the last necessity has urged
On my forsaken mistress; yet I must not
Presume to say her heart is wholly alter'd.
Ant. No, dare not for thy life, I charge
thee, dare

Not pronounce that fatal word.

Oct. Must I bear this? Good Heaven afford me patience! [Aside.

Vent. On, sweet eunuch; my dear half man, proceed. Alex. Yet Dolabella

Has loved her long; he, next my god-like lord, [passion, Deserves her best; and should she meet his Rejected, as she is, by him she loved

Ant. Hence, from my sight, for I can bear

no more!

Let furies drag thee quick to hell! each torturing hand

Do thou employ, till Cleopatra comes,

speak truth.

Alex. My noble lord.

Vent. My most illustrious pander,

No fine set speech, no cadence, no turn'd pe

riods,

But a plain home-spun truth, is what I ask :
I did, myself, o'erhear your queen make love
To Dolabella. Speak; for I will know,
By your confession, what more past betwixt
them;
[ment;
How near the business draws to your employ-
And when the happy hour.

Ant. Speak truth, Alexas, whether it offend
Or please Ventidius, care not. Justify
Thy injured queen from malice. Dare his

worst.

Alex. As far as love may plead for woman's frailty

Urged by desert and greatness of the lover;
So far, divine Octavia, may my queen
Stand even excused to you for loving him,
Who is your lord: so far from brave Venti-
dius,

May her past actions hope a fair report.
Ant. "Tis well and truly spoken; mark,

Ventidius.

Alex. To you, most noble emperor, her

strong passion

Stands not excused, but wholly justified.
Her beauty's charms alone, without her crown,
From Ind and Meroe drew the distant vows
Of sighing kings; and at her feet were laid
The sceptres of the earth, exposed on heaps,
To choose where she would reign;
She thought a Roman only could deserve her;
And, of all Romans, only Antony.
And, to be less than wife to you,
Their lawful passion.

Ant. "Tis but truth.

disdain'd

Alex. And yet though love, and your unmatch'd desert,

Oct. "Tis not well!

Indeed, my lord, 'tis much unkind to me,
To show this passion, this extreme concern-
ment,

For an abandon'd, faithless prostitute.
Ant. Octavia, leave me! I am much dis-
Leave me, I say!
[order❜d!

Oct. My lord!

Ant. I bid you leave me.

Oct. Yes, I will go; but never to return. My lord, my lord, love will not always last, When urged with long unkindness and dis

dain.

Take her again whom you prefer to me;
She stays but to be call'd. Poor cozen'd man:
Let a feign'd parting give her back your heart,
Which a feign'd love first got; for injured

comes

Ant. False Dolabella!
Dol. What's false, my lord?
Ant. Why, Dolabella's false,

less.

And Cleopatra's false; both false and faith[serpents Draw near, you well-join'd wickedness, you Whom I have in my kindly bosom warm'd, Till I am stung to death.

Dol. My lord, have I Deserved to be thus used?

Cleo. Can Heaven prepare

A newer torment. Can it find a curse
Beyond our separation?

Ant. Yes, if fate
Be just, much greater:
Two, two such!

Oh! there's no further name, two such-to me,
To me, wholock'd my soul within your breasts,
Had no desires, no joys, no life but you;
A friend and mistress,

Was what the world could give. O Cleopatra!
O Dolabella! how could you betray
This tender heart, which with an infant fond-
[slept

ness

Lay lulled betwixt your bosoms, and there Secure of injured faith?

Dol. If she has wrong'd you,

Heaven, hell, and you revenge it.

Ant. If she has wrong'd me! Ventidius heard it;

Octavia saw it.

Cleo. They are enemies.

Ant. Alexas is not so; he, he confess'd it; He, who, next to hell, best knew it, he avow'd

it.

Return'd to plead her stay.

Dol. What shall I answer?

If to have loved be guilt, then I have sinn'd;
But if to have repented of that love
Can wash away my crime, I have repented.
Yet, if I have offended past forgiveness,
Let her not suffer: she is innocent.
Ant. Thin cobweb art of falsehood,
Seen, and broke through at first.
Dol. Forgive your mistress.
Cleo. Forgive your friend.
Ant. I can forgive

A foe; but not a mistress, and a friend:
Treason is there in its most horrid shape,
Where trust is greatest. I'll hear no more;
Hence from my sight, for ever.

Cleo. How? for ever!

I cannot go one moment from your sight,
And must I go for ever?

My joys, my only joys are center'd here;
What place have I to go to? my own king-

dom?

hear me,

With strictest justice; for I beg no favour;
And if I have offended you, then kill me,
But do not banish me.

I have a fool within me takes your part;
Ant. I must not hear you.
But honour stops my ears. I am not to be
moved.

Cleo. Then we must part? Farewell, my
cruel lord.

Th' appearance is against me; and I go,
Unjustified, for ever from your sight.
My only comfort is, I know myself:
How I have loved, you know; how yet I love,

I love you more, even now you are unkind, Than when you loved me most; so well, so truly,

I'll never strive against it; but die pleased To think you once were mine.

Ant. Good Heaven, they weep at parting. Must I weep too? That calls them innocent. I must not weep; and yet I must, to think That I must not forgive

Live; but live wretched, 'tis but just you

should,

Who made me so: live from each other's
Let me not hear you meet.
sight:
[earth,
Set all the
And all the seas, betwixt your sunder'd loves:
Now, all take several ways;
View nothing common but the sun and skies:

And each your own sad fate with mine deplore;

That you were false, and I could trust no [Exeunt severally.

more.

And had not power to keep it. Oh, the curse Of doting on, even when I find it dotage!