t
any regard of his vertuous wife _Octauia_, by whom neuertheles he
had excellent Children. This occasion _Octauius_ tooke of taking
armes against him: and preparing a mighty fleet, encountred him at
Actium, who also had assembled to that place a great number of
Gallies of his own, besides 60. which _Cleopatra_ brought with her
from Aegipt. But at the very beginning of the battell _Cleopatra_
with all her Gallies betooke her to flight, which _Antony_ seeing
could not but follow; by his departure leauing to _Octauius_ the
greatest victorye which in any Sea Battell hath beene heard off.
Which he not negligent to pursue, followes them the next spring, and
besiedgeth them within Alexandria, where _Antony_ finding all that
he trusted to faile him, beginneth to growe iealouse and to suspect
_Cleopatra_. She thereupon enclosed her selfe with two of her women
in a monument she had before caused to be built, thence sends him
woord she was dead: which he beleeuing for truth, gaue himselfe with
his Swoord a deadly wound: but died not vntill a messenger came from
_Cleopatra_ to haue him brought to her to the tombe. Which she not
daring to open least she should be made a prisoner to the
_Romaines_, and carried in _Caesars_ triumph, cast downe a corde from
an high window, by the which (her women helping her) she trussed vp
_Antonius_ halfe dead, and so got him into the monument. The Stage
supposed Alexandria: the Chorus, first Egiptians, and after Romane
Souldiors. The Historie to be read at large in _Plutarch_ in the
life of _Antonius_.

The Actors.

_Antonius_.
_Cleopatra_.
_Eras_ and } _Cleopatras_ women.
_Charmion_. }
_Philostratus_ a Philosopher.
_Lucilius_.
_Diomede_ Secretary to _Cleopatra_.
_Octauius Caesar._
_Agrippa_.
_Euphron_, teacher of _Cleopatras_ children.
_Children_ of _Cleopatra_.
_Dircetus_ the Messenger.

[Decoration]

_Antonius._

Since cruell Heau'ns against me obstinate,
Since all mishappes of the round engin doe
Conspire my harme: since men, since powers diuine,
Aire, earth, and Sea are all iniurious:
And that my Queene her self, in whome I liu'd,
The Idoll of my hart, doth me pursue;
It's meete I dye. For her haue I forgone
My Country, _Caesar_ vnto warre prouok'd
(For iust reuenge of Sisters wrong my wife,
Who mou'de my Queene (ay me!) to iealousie)
For loue of her, in her allurements caught
Abandon'd life, I honor haue despisd