Antony and Cleopatra

Antony and Cleopatra

ACT III SCENE XII	Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.
	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	5
	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:	10
	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	15
	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;	20
	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	25
	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!	30
OCTAVIUS CAESAR	Bring him through the bands.
	Exit EUPHRONIUS
	To THYREUS
	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	35
	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,	40
	And what thou think'st his very action speaks
	In every power that moves.
THYREUS	Caesar, I shall.
	Exeunt