After the ouerthrowe of _Brutus_ and _Cassius_, the libertie of _Rome_ being now vtterly oppressed, and the Empire setled in the hands of _Octauius Cæsar_ and _Marcus Antonius_, (who for knitting a straiter bonde of amitie betweene them, had taken to wife _Octauia_ the sister of _Cæsar_) _Antonius_ vndertooke a iourney against the Parthians, with intent to regaine on them the honor wonne by them from the Romains, at the discomfiture and slaughter of _Crassus_. But comming in his iourney into Siria, the places renewed in his remembrance the long intermitted loue of _Cleopatra_ Queene of Aegipt: who before time had both in Cilicia and at Alexandria, entertained him with all the exquisite delightes and sumptuous pleasures, which a great Prince and voluptuous Louer could to the vttermost desire. Whereupon omitting his enterprice, he made his returne to Alexandria, againe falling to his former loues, without any regard of his vertuous wife _Octauia_, by whom neuertheles he had excellent Children. This occasion _Octauius_ tooke of taking armes against him: and preparing a mighty fleet, encountred him at Actium, who also had assembled to that place a great number of Gallies of his own, besides 60. which _Cleopatra_ brought with her from Aegipt. But at the very beginning of the battell _Cleopatra_ with all her Gallies betooke her to flight, which _Antony_ seeing could not but follow; by his departure leauing to _Octauius_ the greatest victorye which in any Sea Battell hath beene heard off. Which he not negligent to pursue, followes them the next spring, and besiedgeth them within Alexandria, where _Antony_ finding all that he trusted to faile him, beginneth to growe iealouse and to suspect _Cleopatra_. She thereupon enclosed her selfe with two of her women in a monument she had before caused to be built, thence sends him woord she was dead: which he beleeuing for truth, gaue himselfe with his Swoord a deadly wound: but died not vntill a messenger came from _Cleopatra_ to haue him brought to her to the tombe. Which she not daring to open least she should be made a prisoner to the _Romaines_, and carried in _Cæsars_ triumph, cast downe a corde from an high window, by the which (her women helping her) she trussed vp _Antonius_ halfe dead, and so got him into the monument. The Stage supposed Alexandria: the Chorus, first Egiptians, and after Romane Souldiors. The Historie to be read at large in _Plutarch_ in the life of _Antonius_. The Actors. _Antonius_. _Cleopatra_. _Eras_ and } _Cleopatras_ women. _Charmion_. } _Philostratus_ a Philosopher. _Lucilius_. _Diomede_ Secretary to _Cleopatra_. _Octauius Cæsar._ _Agrippa_. _Euphron_, teacher of _Cleopatras_ children. _Children_ of _Cleopatra_. _Dircetus_ the Messenger. [Decoration] _Antonius._