Act IIIScene XII
Caesar’s camp in Egypt
Enter Caesar, Agrippa, Dolabella with others.
Caesar
Let him appear that’s come from Antony.Know you him?
Dolabella
Caesar, ’tis his schoolmaster—An argument that he is plucked, when hitherHe sends so poor a pinion of his wing,Which had superfluous kings for messengersNot many moons gone by.
Enter Ambassador from Anthony.
Caesar
Approach, and speak.
Ambassador
Such as I am, I come from Antony.I was of late as petty to his endsAs is the morn-dew on the myrtle leafTo his grand sea.
Caesar
Be’t so. Declare thine office.
Ambassador
Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, andRequires to live in Egypt, which not granted,He lessens his requests, and to thee suesTo 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 cravesThe circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,Now hazarded to thy grace.
Caesar
For Antony,I have no ears to his request. The queenOf audience nor desire shall fail, so sheFrom Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,Or take his life there. This if she perform,She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
Ambassador
Fortune pursue thee!
Caesar
Bring him through the bands.
Exit Ambassador, attended.
To Thidias.
To try thy 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 notIn their best fortunes strong, but want will perjureThe ne’er-touch’d vestal. Try thy cunning, Thidias;Make thine own edict for thy pains, which weWill answer as a law.
Thidias
Caesar, I go.
Caesar
Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,And what thou think’st his very action speaksIn every power that moves.
Thidias
Caesar, I shall.
Exeunt.