Handel's original draft of the first act prepared the aria for a different character; with a slightly variant text, it was allocated to Cleopatra's cousin Berenice, who urged Cleopatra to stalk Caesar like a crafty hunter to make him enamoured of her.
Handel's original draft of the first act prepared the aria for a different character. It was allocated to Cleopatra's cousin Berenice. This was with a slightly variant text. Cleopatra's cousin Berenice urged Cleopatra to stalk Caesar like a crafty hunter to make him enamoured of her.