_Cleopatra._ _Euphron._ _Children of Cleopatra._
_Charmion._ _Eras._

_Cleop._

O cruell Fortune! o accursed lott!
O plaguy loue! o most detested brand!
O wretched ioyes! o beauties miserable!
O deadlie state! o deadly roialtie!
O hatefull life! o Queene most lamentable!
O _Antonie_ by my fault buriable!
O hellish worke of heau'n! alas! the wrath
Of all the Gods at once on vs is falne.
Vnhappie Queene! o would I in this world
The wandring light of day had neuer sene?
Alas! of mine the plague and poison I
The crowne haue lost my ancestors me left,
This Realme I haue to straungers subiect made,
And robd my children of their heritage.
Yet this is nought (alas!) vnto the price
Of you deare husband, whome my snares entrap'd:
Of you, whom I haue plagu'd, whom I haue made
With bloudie hand a guest of mouldie Tombe:
Of you, whome I destroid, of you, deare Lord,
Whome I of Empire, honor, life haue spoil'd.
O hurtfull woman! and can I yet liue,
Yet longer liue in this Ghost-haunted tombe?
Can I yet breathe! can yet in such annoy,
Yet can my Soule within this bodie dwell?
O Sisters you that spinne the thredes of death!
O _Styx_! o _Phlegethon_! you brookes of hell!
O Impes of _Night_!

_Euph._ Liue for your childrens sake:
Let not your death of kingdome them depriue.
Alas what shall they do? who will haue care?
Who will preserue this royall race of yours?
Who pittie take? euen now me seemes I see
These little soules to seruile bondage falne,
And borne in triumph.

_Cl._ Ah most miserable!

_Euph._ Their tender armes with cursed corde fast bound
At their weake backs.

_Cl._ Ah Gods what pittie more!

_Eph._ Their seelie necks to ground with weaknesse bend.

_Cl._ Neuer on vs, good Gods, such mischiefe sende.

_Euph._ And pointed at with fingers as they go.

_Cl._ Rather a thousand deaths.

_Euph._ Lastly his knife
Some cruell caytiue in their bloud embrue.

_Cl._ Ah my heart breaks. By shadie bankes of hell,
By fieldes wheron the lonely Ghosts do treade,
By my soule, and the soule of _Antonie_
I you beseche, _Euphron_, of them haue care.
Be their good Father, let your wisedome lett
That they fall not into this Tyrants handes.
Rather conduct them where their freezed locks
Black _AEthiopes_ to neighbour Sunne do shewe;
On wauie _Ocean_ at the waters will