CAESAR
Let him appear that’s come from Antony.
Know you him?
DOLABELLA
Caesar, his schoolmaster—
An argument that he is plucked, when
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
Which had superfluous kings for messengers
Not many moons gone by.
CAESAR
Approach, and speak.
AMBASSADOR
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.
CAESAR
Be’t so. Declare office.
AMBASSADOR
Lord of his fortunes he salutes , and
Requires to live in Egypt, which not granted,
He lessens his requests, and to sues
To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens. This for him.
Next, Cleopatra does confess greatness,
Submits her to might, and of craves
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to grace.
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.
AMBASSADOR
Fortune pursue !
CAESAR
Bring him through the bands.
CAESAR
To try eloquence now time. Dispatch.
From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise,
And in our name, what she requires; add more,
From invention, offers. Women are not
In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure
The ne’er-touch’d vestal. Try cunning, Thidias;
Make own edict for pains, which we
Will answer as a law.
THIDIAS
Caesar, I go.
CAESAR
Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
And what think’st his very action speaks
In every power that moves.
THIDIAS
Caesar, I shall.