SCENA IV.
Enter Cæsar, Antony, Dolabella, Sceva, above.
Cæsar. I wonder at the glory of this Kingdom,
And the most bounteous preparation,
Still as I pass, they court me with.
Sceva. I'le tell ye:
In Gaul, and Germany, we saw such visions,
And stood not to admire 'em, but possess 'em:
When they are ours, they are worth our admiration.
Enter Cleopatra.
Ant. The young Queen comes: give room.
Cæsar. Welcom (my dearest)
Come bless my side.
Sceva. I marry: here's a wonder,
As she appears now, I am no true Souldier,
If I be not readie to recant.
Cleo. Be merry Sir,
My Brother will be proud to do you honour
That now appears himself.
Enter Ptolomy, Achoreus, Achillas, Photinus, Apollodorus.
Pto. Haile to great Cæsar
My Royal Guest, first I will feast thine eyes
With wealthy Ægypts store, and then thy palate,
And wait my self upon thee. [Treasure brought in.
Cæsar. What rich Service!
What mines of treasure!
Cleo. My Cæsar,
What do you admire? pray ye turn, and let me talk to ye.
Have ye forgot me Sir? how, a new object?
Am I grown old o'th' sudden, Cæsar?
Cæsar. Tell me
From whence comes all this wealth?
Cleo. Is your eye that way?
And all my Beauties banisht?
Ptol. I'le tell thee Cæsar,
We owe for all this wealth to the old Nilus:
We need no dropping rain to cheer the husband-man,
Nor Merchant that ploughs up the Sea, to seek us;
Within the wealthy womb of reverent Nilus,
All this is nourish'd: who to do thee honour,
Comes to discover his seven Deities,
(His conceal'd heads) unto thee: see with pleasure.
Cæsar. The matchless wealth of this Land!
Cleo. Come, ye shall hear me.
Cæsar. Away: let me imagine.
Cleo. How? frown on me?
The eyes of Cæsar wrapt in storms?
Cæsar. I am sorry:
But let me think—
Mustek, SONG.
Enter Isis, and three Labourers.
Isis, the Goddess of this Land,
Bids thee (great Cæsar) understand
And mark our Customes, and first know,
With greedy eyes these watch the flow
Of plenteous Nilus: when he comes,
With Songs, with Daunces, Timbrels, Drums
They entertain him, cut his way,
And give his proud Heads leave to play:
Nilus himself shall rise, and show
His matchless wealth in Over-flow.
Labourers SONG.
Come let us help the reverend Nile,
He's very old (alas the while)
Let us dig him easie wayes,
And prepare a thousand Playes:
To delight his streams let's sing
A loud welcom to our Spring.
This way let his curling Heads
Fall into our new made Beds.
This way let his wanton spawns,
Frisky and glide it o're the Lawns.
This way profit comes, and gain:
How he tumbles here amain!
How his waters haste to fall
Into our Channels! Labour all
And let him in: Let Nilus flow,
And perpetuall plenty show.
With Incense let us bless the brim,
And as the wanton fishes swim,
Let us Gums, and Garlands fling,
And loud our Timbrels ring.
Come (old Father) come away,
Our labour is our holy day.
Isis. Here comes the aged River now
With Garlands of great Pearl, his Brow
Begirt and rounded: In his Flow
All things take life; and all things grow.
A thousand wealthy Treasures still,
To do him service at his will
Follow his rising Flood, and pour
Perpetuall blessings in our store.
Hear him: and next there will advance,
His sacred Heads to tread a Dance,
In honour of my Royal Guest,
Mark them too: and you have a Feast.
Cleo. A little dross betray me?
Cæsar. I am asham'd I warr'd at home, (my friends)
When such wealth may be got abroad: what honour?
Nay everlasting glory had Rome purchas'd,
Had she a just cause but to visit Ægypt?
Nilus SONG, and Dance.
Make room for my rich waters fall, and bless my Flood,
Nilus comes flowing, to you all encrease and good.
Now the Plants and Flowers shall spring,
And the merry Plough-man sing
In my bidden waves I bring
Bread, and wine, and every thing.
Let the Damsells sing me in:
Sing aloud that I may rise:
Your holy Feasts and hours begin,
And each hand bring a Sacrifice.
Now my wanton Pearls I show
That to Ladies fair necks grow.
Now my gold
And treasures that can ne're be told,
Shall bless this Land, by my rich Flow,
And after this, to crown your Eyes,
My hidden holy head arise.
Cæsar. The wonder of this wealth so troubles me,
I am not well: good-night.
Sce. I am glad ye have it:
Now we shall stir again.
Ptol. Thou wealth, still haunt him.
Sce. A greedy spirit set thee on: we are happy.
Ptol. Lights: lights for Cæsar, and attendance.
Cleo. Well,
I shall yet find a time to tell thee Cæsar,
Thou hast wrong'd her Love: the rest here.
Ptol. Lights along still:
Musick, and Sacrifice to sleep for Cæsar. [Exeunt.
Actus Quartus. Scena Prima.
Enter Ptolomy, Photinus, Achillas, Achoreus.
Ach. I told ye carefully, what this would prove to,
What this inestimable wealth and glory
Would draw upon ye: I advis'd your Majesty
Never to tempt a Conquering Guest: nor add
A bait, to catch a mind, bent by his Trade
To make the whole world his.
Pho. I was not heard Sir:
Or what I said, lost, and contemn'd: I dare say,
(And freshly now) 'twas a poor weakness in ye,
A glorious Childishness: I watch'd his eye,
And saw how Faulcon-like it towr'd, and flew
Upon the wealthy Quarry: how round it mark'd it:
I observ'd his words, and to what it tended;
How greedily he ask'd from whence it came,
And what Commerce we held for such abundance:
The shew of Nilus, how he laboured at
To find the secret wayes the Song delivered.
Ach. He never smil'd, I noted, at the pleasures,
But fixt his constant eyes upon the treasure;
I do not think his ears had so much leisure
After the wealth appear'd, to hear the Musique?
Most sure he has not slept since, his mind's troubled
With objects that would make their own still labour.
Pho. Your Sister he ne're gaz'd on: that's a main note,
The prime beauty of the world had no power over him.
Ach. Where was his mind the whilst?
Pho. Where was your carefulness
To shew an armed thief the way to rob ye?
Nay, would you give him this, 'twill excite him
To seek the rest. Ambition feels no gift,
Nor knows no bounds, indeed ye have done most weakly.
Ptol. Can I be too kind to my noble friend?
Pho. To be unkind unto your noble self, but savours
Of indiscretion, and your friend has found it.
Had ye been train'd up in the wants and miseries
A souldier marches through, and known his temperance
In offer'd courtesies, you would have made
A wiser Master of your own, and stronger.
Ptol. Why, should I give him all, he would return it:
'Tis more to him, to make Kings.
Pho. Pray be wiser,
And trust not with your lost wealth, your lov'd liberty.
To be a King still at your own discretion
Is like a King; to be at his, a vassail.
Now take good counsel, or no more take to ye
The freedom of a Prince.
Achil. 'Twill be too late else:
For, since the Masque, he sent three of his Captains
(Ambitious as himself) to view again
The glory of your wealth.
Pho. The next himself comes,
Not staying for your courtesie, and takes it.
Ptol. What counsel, my Achoreus?
Ach. I'le goe pray Sir,
(For that is best counsel now) the gods may help ye. [Ex.
Pho. I found ye out a way but 'twas not credited,
A most secure way: whither will ye flye now?
Achil. For when your wealth is gone, your power must follow.
Pho. And that diminisht also, what's your life worth?
Who would regard it?
Ptol. You say true.
Achil. What eye
Will look upon King Ptolomy? if they do look,
It must be in scorn:
For a poor King is a monster;
What ear remember ye? 'twill be then a courtesie
(A noble one) to take your life too from ye:
But if reserv'd, you stand to fill a victory,
As who knows Conquerours minds? though outwardly
They bear fair streams.
O Sir, does this not shake ye?
If to be honyed on to these afflictions—
Ptol. I never will: I was a Fool.
Pho. For then Sir
Your Countreys cause falls with ye too, and fetter'd:
All Ægypt shall be plough'd up with dishonour.
Ptol. No more: I am sensible: and now my spirit
Burns hot within me.
Achil. Keep it warm and fiery.
Pho. And last be counsel'd.
Ptol. I will, though I perish.
Pho. Goe in; we'l tell you all: and then we'l execute.
[Exeunt.