CÆSAR

I believe
Thou dost not hate or love or envy me;
Even as I know, and knowing believe, we all—
Our father, thou and I—triune in heart—
Hold loveliest of all living things to love
This.

Enter Lucrezia

LUCREZIA

Mother! What do tears and thou for once
Together? Rain in sunshine?

VANNOZZA

Ask thy sire,
Am I not now the moon? Saint Anna bore
Saint Mary Virgin—did not God prefer
The child, and thrust behind with scarce a smile
The mother?

ALEXANDER

Thrust not out thy thorns at heaven,
Rose.

LUCREZIA