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Enter CAESAR,
AGRIPPA, THIDIAS, and
DOLABELLA, with others
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CAESAR, AGRIPPA,
THIDIAS, and DOLABELLA enter, with
others of the court.
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CAESAR Let him appear that’s come from Antony.
Know you him?
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CAESAR Let the envoy from Antony come in. Do you know him?
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DOLABELLA Caesar, ’tis his
schoolmaster—
An argument that he is plucked, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
5Which had superfluous kings for messengers
Not many moons gone by.
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DOLABELLA It’s Antony’s schoolmaster. By sending such an insignificant
emissary, Antony shows us how low he has sunk. Not so long ago, he
had so many royal supporters that he sent along extra kings as
messengers.
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Enter AMBASSADOR from
Antony
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Antony’s AMBASSADOR
enters.
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CAESAR Approach and
speak.
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CAESAR Come forward and speak.
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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
10To his grand sea.
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AMBASSADOR Humble as I am, I represent Antony. Until recently, I was as
unimportant to his affairs as the morning dew is to the wide ocean.
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CAESAR Be ’t so. Declare thine
office.
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CAESAR So be it. Say what you’re here for.
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AMBASSADOR Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Egypt; which not granted,
He lessens his requests, and to thee sues
To let him breathe between the heavens and earth
15A private man in Athens. This for him.
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness,
Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace.
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AMBASSADOR He acknowledges that you are the master of his fate, and he
requests to be allowed to live in Egypt. If that is not granted, he
reduces his requests and asks only that he be allowed to live as a
private man in Athens. That’s all he asks for himself. Cleopatra
recognizes your greatness and accepts your authority. She only asks
that the crown of Egypt pass to her heirs, who are now at your
mercy.
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