Then, like a burning vessel set adrift, Cleo. Can I do this? ah, no! my love's so true, Alex. Force yourself; The event will be, your lover will return Cleo. I must attempt it; But oh, with what regret! [Erit Alex. She comes up to Dolabella. Vent. So now the scene draws near; they're in my reach. Cleo. to Dol. Discoursing with my women! Share in your entertainment? Char. You have been The subject of it, madam. Cleo. How! and how? Iras. Such praises of your beauty! Your Roman wits, your Gallus and Tibullus, For you must mourn, and I must grieve to cause it. Cleo. You, Charmion, and your fellow, stand at distance. Hold up, my spirits! [Aside.]-Well, now your mournful matter, For I am prepared, perhaps can guess it too. Dol. I wish you would, for 'tis a thankless office To tell ill news; and I, of all your sex, Most fear displeasing you, Cleo. Of all your sex, I soonest could forgive you, if you should. Vent. Most delicate advances! Woman! woman! Dear, damned unconstant sex! Cleo. No, no, I am not run mad; I can bear fortune; And love may be expelled by other love, Dol. -You overjoy me, madam, Cleo. And constancy deserves reward, that is certain. Dol. Deserves it not, but give it leave to hope. Vent. I'll swear thou hast my leave. I have With fiery eyes, and with contracted brows, In sounds scarce human, ‘Hence, away for ever! [All the time of this speech Cleopatra seems more and more concerned, till she sinks quite down. 'Let her be driven, as far as men can think, 'From man's commerce: she'll poison to the cen Dol. Help, help! Oh wretch! oh cursed, cur- | Would you indeed! the pretty hand in earnest ? sed wretch! you seen How often he came back, and every time (But what can you not do, who made me false !) Cleo. With how much ease believe we what Rise, Dolabella; if you have been guilty, [Aside. 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. Oct. What quick eyes has guilt! Vent. Seem not to have observed them, and go on. Oct. Most glorious impudence! Make we of this discovery? Oct. Let it die. Vent. I pity Dolabella! but she is dangerous; Her eyes have power beyond Thessalian charms To draw the moon from heaven; for eloquence The sca-green Sirens taught her voice their flattery; And, while she speaks, night steals upon the day, Unmarked of those, that hear: then she's so charming, The advance of kindness, which I made, was Age buds at sight of her, and swells to youth: feigned, To call back fleeting love by jealousy; Dol. I find your breast fenced round from hu- Transparent as a rock of solid crystal, What endless treasure hast thou thrown away, Cleo. Could you not beg An hour's admittance to his private ear? Like one, who wanders through long barren wilds, Is near to succour hunger, Eats his fill before his painful march, So would I feed a while my famished eyes VENTIDIUS, with OCTAVIA, behind. Vent. From whence you may discover-Oh, sweet, sweet! The holy priests gaze on her when she smiles, With a malignant joy behold such beauty, He parted hence, and Cleopatra with him. Vent. Your Cleopatra, Dolabella's Cleopatra, Every man's Cleopatra. Ant. 'Tis false. Vent. I do not lie, my lord. Ant. Speak softly; 'twas by my command he Is this so strange? should mistresses be left, Vent. [To Oct.] 'Tis less; a very nothing: you too saw it As well as I, and therefore 'tis no secret. Vent. Yes; she saw young Dolabella- Vent. Young? I think him young, And handsome too; and so do others think him. At last she took occasion to talk softly, And brought her cheek up close, and leaned on his, At which he whispered kisses back on hers; So playful with my friend? Vent. Even she, my lord. And not provide against a time of change? You know she's not much used to lonely nights. Ant. I'll think no more of it. I know 'tis false, and see the plot betwixt you. Oct. Are you concerned, Ant. I should be, were it so; For, though 'tis past, I would not, that the world Should tax my former choice; that I loved one Of so light note; but I forgive you both. Vent. What has my age deserved, that you I would abuse your ears with perjury? Ant. Though heaven and earth 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? Vent. To make you do what most you hate, You are of Cleopatra's private counsel, Vent. My most illustrious pandar! No fine set speech, no cadence, no turned periods, By your confession, what more passed betwixt them, How near the business draws to your employment, 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. Oct. [Aside.] See how he gives him courage, how he fears To find her false, and shuts his eyes to truth, Alex. As far as love may plead for woman's frailty, Urged by desert and greatness of the lover, Ant. 'Tis well and truly spoken: Mark, Ventidius. Alex. To you, most noble emperor, her strong passion Stands not excused, but wholly justified. She thought a Roman only could deserve her, Ant. 'Tis but truth. Alex. And yet, though love and your unmatched desert Have drawn her from the due regard of honour, Vent. [Aside.] Oh, wheel you there? dare not Ant, I bid you leave me. In private for your love, who has betrayed you. You did but half return to me; your kindness Lingered behind with her. I hear, my lord, You make conditions for her, And would include her treaty: wondrous proofs Of love to me! Ant. Are you my friend, Ventidius? Or are you turned a Dolabella too, And let this fury loose? Vent. Oh, be advised, Sweet madam! and retire. Oct. Yes, I will go, but never to return; To the dear pledges of our former love So take my last farewell! for I despair [Exit. Vent. I combat heaven, which blasts my best designs! My last attempt must be to win her back; [Exit. Ant. Why was I framed with this plain honest heart, Which knows not to disguise its griefs and weak ness, But bears its workings outward to the world? Enter DOLABELLA. Vent. Obey him, madam; best withdraw Who has profaned the sacred name of friend, awhile, And see how this will work. And worn it into vileness! With how secure a brow and specious form Lay lulled betwixt your bosoms, and there slept Secure of injured faith? Dol. If she has wronged you, Heaven, hell, and you, revenge it! Ant. If she has wrouged ine! Ant. Well, Dolabella, you performed my Thou wouldst evade thy part of guilt: but swear message? Dol. I did, unwillingly. Ant. Unwillingly! Was it so hard for you to bear our parting? You should have wished it. In punishing such crimes. The rolling stone This tender heart, which, with an infant fondness, Thou lovest not her. Dol. Not so as I love you. Ant. Not so? Swear, swear, I say, thou dost not love her. Dol. No more than friendship will allow. Friendship allows thee nothing: thou art perju red Who durst not own to her thou dost not love, Nor own to me thou dost! Ventidius heard it, Octavia saw it. Cleo. They are enemies. Ant. Alexas is not so; he, he confest it ; He, who next hell best knew it, he avowed it. Why do I seek a proof beyond yourself? [To Dol. You, whom I sent to bear my last farewell, Returned to plead her stay. Dol. What shall I answer? If to have loved be guilt, then I have sinned; Cleo. Ah, what will not a woman do, who loves! What means will she refuse to keep that heart, Where all her joys are placed! 'Twas I encou raged, 'Twas I blew up the fire, that scorched his soul, To make you jealous, and by that regain you: But all in vain; I could not counterfeit : In spite of all the dams, my love broke o'er, casion, And thus one minute's feigning has destroyed Ant. Thin cobweb arts of falsehood, Dol. Forgive your mistress. Ant. You have convinced yourselves; You plead each other's cause. What witness have you, That you but meant to raise my jealousy? Ant. Guilt witnesses for guilt! Hence love You have no longer place in human breasts; X |