_Achil._ Thou shalt have all:
And do all through thy power, men shall admire thee,
And the vices of _Septimius_ shall turn vertues.
_Sep._ Off: off: thou must off: off my cowardize,
Puling repentance off.
_Pho._ Now thou speakst nobly.
_Sep._ Off my dejected looks: and welcom impudence:
My daring shall be Deity, to save me:
Give me instructions, and put action on me:
A glorious cause upon my swords point, Gentlemen,
And let my wit, and valour work: you will raise me,
And make me out-dare all my miseries?
_Pho._ All this, and all thy wishes.
_Sep._ Use me then,
Womanish fear farewell: I'le never melt more,
Lead on, to some great thing, to wake my spirit:
I cut the Cedar _Pompey_, and I'le fell
This huge Oak _Cæsar_ too.
_Pho._ Now thou singst sweetly:
And _Ptolomy_ shall crown thee for thy service.
_Achil._ He's well wrought: put him on apace for cooling.
[_Exeunt._
_ACTUS QUINTUS. SCENA PRIMA._
_Enter_ Cæsar, Antony, Dolabella.
_Ant._ The tumult still encreases.
_Cæsar_. O my fortune!
My lustfull folly rather! but 'tis well,
And worthily I am made a bondsmans prey,
That after all my glorious victories,
In which I pass'd so many Seas of dangers,
When all the Elements conspir'd against me,
Would yield up the dominion of this head
To any mortal power: so blind and stupid,
To trust these base _Egyptians_, that proclaim'd
Their perjuries, in noble _Pompeys_ death,
And yet that could not warn me.
_Dol._ Be still _Cæsar_,
Who ever lov'd to exercise his fate,
Where danger look't most dreadful.
_Ant._ If you fall,
Fall not alone: let the King and his Sister
Be buried in your ruines: on my life
They both are guilty: reason may assure you
_Photinus_ nor _Achillas_ durst attempt you,
Or shake one Dart, or sword, aim'd at your safety,
Without their warrant.
_Cæsar_. For the young King I know not
How he may be misled; but for his Sister
(Unequall'd _Cleopatra_) 'twere a kind
Of blasphemy to doubt her: ugly treason
Durst never dwell in such a glorious building,
Nor can so clear and great a spirit, as hers is,
Admit of falsehood.
_Ant._ Let us seize on him then:
And leave her to her fortune.
_Dol._ If he have power
Use it to your security, and let
His honesty acquit him: if he be false
It is too great an honour he should dye
By your victorious hand.
_Cæsar_. He comes: and I
Shall do as I find cause.
_Enter_ Ptolomy, Achoreus, Apollodorus.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account