Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/138

126

You with your children will he send before.

Make your best use of this; I have perform'd

Your pleasure and my promise.

Cleo. Dolabella,

I shall remain your debtor.

Dol. I your servant.

Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.

Cleo. Farewell, and thanks.

Now, Iras, what think'st thou?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown

In Rome, as well as I; mechanic slaves

With greasy aprons, rules and hammers, shall

Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,

Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,

And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras. The gods forbid!

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors

Will catch at us, like strumpets, and scald rimers

Ballad us out o' tune; the quick comedians

Extemporally will stage us, and present

Our Alexandrian revels. Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see

Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness

I' the posture of a whore.

Iras. O, the good gods!

Cleo. Nay, that's certain.

Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure my nails

Are stronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that's the way

To fool their preparation, and to conquer

Their most absurd intents.

 213 lictors: officials attendant on Roman magistrates

214 scald: mean

218, 219 and I shall see greatness; cf. n.

220 posture: behavior

