ABSTRACT
Plutarch's Lives of Noble Grecians and Romanes 307 away rich.! Nowe things passing thus, Agrippa by divers letters sent one after an other unto Cresar, prayed him to returne to Rome, bicause the affaires there did of necessity require his person and presence. Thereupon he did deferre the warre till the next yeare following 2: but when winter was done, he returned againe through Syria by the coast of Africke, to make warres against Antonius, and his other Captaines. When the citie of Pelusium was taken,3 there ran a rumor in the citie, that Seleucus, by Cleopatraes consent, had surrendered the same. But to deere her selfe that she did not, Cleopatra brought Seleucus wife and children unto Antonius, to be revenged of them at his pleasure. Furthermore, Cleopatra had long before made many sumptuous tombes and monumentes, as well for excellencie of workemanshippe, as for height and greatnes of building, joyning hard to the temple of Isis.4 Thither she caused to be brought all the treasure and pretious things she had of the auncient kings her predecessors: as gold, silver, emerods, pearles, ebbanie, ivorie, and sinnamon, and besides all that, a marvelous number of torches, faggots, and flaxe. So Octavius Cresar being affrayed to loose suche a treasure and masse of riches, and that this woman for spight would set it a fire, and burne it every whit: he alwayes sent some one or other unto her from him, to put her in good comfort, whilest he in the meane time drewe neere the citie with his armie. So Cresar came, and pitched his campe hard by the city, in the place where they runne and manage their horses. Antonius made a saly upon him, and fought verie valliantly, so that he drave Cresars horsemen backe, fighting with his men even into their campe.5 Then he came againe to the pallace, greatly boasting of this victorie, and sweetely kissed Cleopatra, armed as he was, when he came from the fight, recommending one of his men ofarmes unto her, that had valliantly fought in this skirmish. Cleopatra to reward his manlines, gave him an armor and head peece of deane gold 6 : howbeit the man at armes when he had received this rich gift, stale away by night, and went to Cresar. Antonius sent againe to chalenge Cresar, to fight with him hande to hande. Cresar aunswered him, that he had many other wayes to dye then SO.7 Then Antonius seeing there was no way more honorable for him to dye, then fighting valliantly: he determined to sette up his rest, both by sea and lande.8 So being at supper, (as it is reported) he commaunded his officers and household servauntes that waited on him at his bord, that they
308 Allt01?:y and Cleopatra should fill his cuppes full, and make as muche of him as they could: for said he, you know not whether you shall doe so much for me to morrow or not, or whether you shall serve an other maister: and it may be you shall see me no more, but a dead bodie. This notwithstanding, perceiving that his frends and men fell a weeping to heare him say so: to salve that he had spoken, he added this more unto it, that he would not leade them to battell, where he thought not rather safely to returne with victorie, then valliantly to dye with honor.1 Furthermore, the selfe same night within litle of midnight, when all the citie was quiet, full of feare and sorrowe, thinking what would be the issue and ende of this wane: it is said that sodainly they heard a marvelous sweete harmonie of sundrie sortes of instrumentes of musicke, with the crie of a multitude of people, as they had bene dauncing, and had song as they use in Bacchus feastes, with movinges and turninges after the maner of the Satyres: and it seemed that this daunce went through the city unto the gate that opened to the enemies, and that all the troupe that made this noise they heard, went out of the city at that gate. 2 Now, such as in reason sought the depth of the interpretacion of this wonder, thought that it was the god unto whom Antonius bare singular devotion to counterfeate and resemble him, that did forsake them.3 The next morning by breake of day, he went to set those few footemen he had in order upon the hills adjoyning unto the citie: and there he stoode to behold his gallies which departed from the haven, and rowed against the gallies of his enemies, and so stoode still, looking what exployte his souldiers in them would do. But when by force of rowing they were come neere unto them, they first saluted Cresars men: and then Cresars men resaluted them also, and of two armies made but one,4 and then did all together row toward the citie. When Antonius sawe that his men did forsake him, and yeelded unto Cresar, and that his footemen were broken and overthrowen: he then fled into the citie, crying out that Cleopatra had betrayed him unto them, with whom he had made warre for her sake.5 Then she being affraied of his fury, fled into the tombe which she had caused to be made, and there locked the dores unto her, and shut all the springes of the lockes with great boltes, and in the meane time sent unto Antonius to tell him that she was dead.6 Antonius
