| [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others] | |
| OCTAVIUS CAESAR | Let him appear that's come from Antony. Know you him? |
| DOLABELLA | Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster: An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither He sends so poor a pinion off his wing, Which had superfluous kings for messengers Not many moons gone by. |
| [Enter EUPHRONIUS, ambassador from MARK ANTONY] | |
| OCTAVIUS CAESAR | Approach, and speak. |
| EUPHRONIUS | Such as I am, I come from Antony: I was of late as petty to his ends As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf To his grand sea. |
| OCTAVIUS CAESAR | Be't so: declare thine office. |
| EUPHRONIUS | Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted, He lessens his requests; and to thee sues To let him breathe between the heavens and earth, A private man in Athens: this for him. Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness; Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs, Now hazarded to thy grace. |
| OCTAVIUS CAESAR | For Antony, I have no ears to his request. The queen Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend, Or take his life there: this if she perform, She shall not sue unheard. So to them both. |
| EUPHRONIUS | Fortune pursue thee! |
| OCTAVIUS CAESAR | Bring him through the bands. |
| [Exit EUPHRONIUS] | |
| [To THYREUS] To try eloquence, now 'tis time: dispatch; From Antony win Cleopatra: promise, And in our name, what she requires; add more, From thine invention, offers: women are not In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure The ne'er touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus; Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law. |
|
| THYREUS | Caesar, I go. |
| OCTAVIUS CAESAR | Observe how Antony becomes his flaw, And what thou think'st his very action speaks In every power that moves. |
| THYREUS | Caesar, I shall. |
| [Exeunt] |