_Octav._ A Roman: A name, that makes and can unmake a queen. _Cleo._ Your lord, the man who serves me, is a Roman. _Octav._ He was a Roman, till he lost that name, To be a slave in Egypt; but I come To free him thence. _Cleo._ Peace, peace, my lover's Juno. When he grew weary of that household-clog, He chose my easier bonds. _Octav._ I wonder not Your bonds are easy; you have long been practised In that lascivious art: He's not the first, For whom you spread your snares: Let Caesar witness. _Cleo._ I loved not Caesar; 'twas but gratitude I paid his love: The worst your malice can, Is but to say, the greatest of mankind Has been my slave. The next, but far above him In my esteem, is he whom law calls yours, But whom his love made mine. _Octav._ I would view nearer [_Coming up close to her._ That face, which has so long usurped my right, To find the inevitable charms, that catch Mankind so sure, that ruined my dear lord. _Cleo._ O, you do well to search; for had you known But half these charms, you had not lost his heart. _Octav._ Far be their knowledge from a Roman lady, Far from a modest wife! Shame of your sex, Dost thou not blush, to own those black endearments, That make sin pleasing? _Cleo._ You may blush, who want them. If bounteous nature, if indulgent heaven Have given me charms to please the bravest man, Should I not thank them? should I be ashamed, And not be proud? I am, that he has loved me; And, when I love not him, heaven change this face For one like that. _Octav._ Thou lov'st him not so well. _Cleo._ I love him better, and deserve him more. _Octav._ You do not; cannot: You have been his ruin. Who made him cheap at Rome, but Cleopatra? Who made him scorned abroad, but Cleopatra? At Actium, who betrayed him? Cleopatra. Who made his children orphans, and poor me A wretched widow? only Cleopatra. _Cleo._ Yet she, who loves him best, is Cleopatra. If you have suffered, I have suffered more. You bear the specious title of a wife, To gild your cause, and draw the pitying world To favour it: the world condemns poor me; For I have lost my honour, lost my fame, And stained the glory of my royal house, And all to bear the branded name of mistress. There wants but life, and that too I would lose For him I love. _Octav._ Be't so then; take thy wish. [_Exit with her Train._ _Cleo._ And 'tis my wish, Now he is lost for whom alone I lived. My sight grows dim, and every object dances, And swims before me, in the maze of death. My spirits, while they were opposed, kept up; They could not sink beneath a rival's scorn: But now she's gone, they faint. _Alex._ Mine have had leisure To recollect their strength, and furnish counsel, To ruin her, who else must ruin you.