Characteristics of Women Part 39

He craves access unto your highness.

CLEOPATRA

No;-- Say no; I will have none to trouble me.

ARSINOE.

Good sister!--

CLEOPATRA.

None, I say. I will be private.

Would thou hadst flung me into Nilus, keeper, When first thou gav'st consent to bring my body To this unthankful Caesar!

APOLLODORUS.

'Twas your will, madam.

Nay more, your charge upon me, as I honor'd you.

You know what danger I endur'd.

CLEOPATRA.

Take this, [_giving a jewel_, And carry it to that lordly Caesar sent thee; There's a new love, a handsome one, a rich one,-- One that will hug his mind: bid him make love to it: Tell the ambitious broker this will suffer--

_Enter_ CaeSAR.

APOLLODORUS.

He enters.

CLEOPATRA.

How!

CaeSAR.

I do not use to wait, lady Where I am, all the doors are free and open.

CLEOPATRA.

I guess so by your rudeness.

CaeSAR.

You're not angry?

Things of your tender mould should be most gentle.

Why should you frown? Good G.o.ds, what a set anger Have you forc'd into your face! Come, I must temper you.

What a coy smile was there, and a disdainful!

How like an ominous flash it broke out from you!

Defend me, love! Sweet, who has anger'd you?

CLEOPATRA.

Show him a gla.s.s! That false face has betray'd me-- That base heart wrong'd me!

CaeSAR.

Be more sweetly angry.

I wrong'd you, fair?

CLEOPATRA.

Away with your foul flatteries; They are too gross! But that I dare be angry, And with as great a G.o.d as Caesar is, To show how poorly I respect his memory I would not speak to you.

CaeSAR.

Pray you, undo this riddle, And tell me how I've vexed you.

CLEOPATRA.

Let me think first, Whether I may put on patience That will with honor suffer me. Know I hate you!

Let that begin the story. Now I'll tell you.

CaeSAR.

But do it mildly: in a n.o.ble lady, Softness of spirit, and a sober nature, That moves like summer winds, cool, and blows sweetness, Shows blessed, like herself.

CLEOPATRA.

And that great blessedness.

You first reap'd of me; till you taught my nature, Like a rude storm, to talk aloud and thunder, Sleep was not gentler than my soul, and stiller.

You had the spring of my affections, And my fair fruits I gave you leave to taste of; You must expect the winter of mine anger.

You flung me off--before the court disgraced me-- When in the pride I appear'd of all my beauty-- Appear'd your mistress; took unto your eyes The common strumpet, love of hated lucre,-- Courted with covetous heart the slave of nature,-- Gave all your thoughts to gold, that men of glory, And minds adorned with n.o.ble love, would kick at!

Soldiers of royal mark scorn such base purchase; Beauty and honor are the marks they shoot at.

I spake to you then, I courted you, and woo'd you, Called you dear Caesar, hung about you tenderly, Was proud to appear your friend--

CaeSAR.

You have mistaken me.

CLEOPATRA.

But neither eye, nor favor, not a smile Was I blessed back withal, but shook off rudely, And as you had been sold to sordid infamy, You fell before the images of treasure, And in your soul you wors.h.i.+p'd. I stood slighted; Forgotten, and contemned; my soft embraces, And those sweet kisses which you called Elysium As letters writ in sand, no more remember'd; The name and glory of your Cleopatra Laugh'd at, and made a story to your captains!

Shall I endure?

CaeSAR.

You are deceived in all this; Upon my life you are; 'tis your much tenderness.