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. 204
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. Exit [Dolabella].
Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I; mechanic slaves 208
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! 212
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 216
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! 220
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 224
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
