Iras. Finish, good Lady, the bright day is done And we are for the dark. Iras. Behold, Sir. Cleo. Dolabella! Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn, by your command, Which my love makes religion to obey, I tell you this: Cæfar through Syria Intends his journey, and within three days Cleo. Dolabella, I fhall remain your debtor. Dol. I your fervant. Adieu, good Queen, I must attend on Cæfar. [Exit. Cleo. Farewel, and thanks. Now, Iras, what think'ft thou? Thou, an Egyptian puppet, fhall be fhewn With greafie aprons, rules, and hammers, fhall Iras. The Gods forbid ! Cleo. Nay, 'tis moft certain, Iras: fawcy lictors Will catch at us like ftrumpets, and stall'd rhymers Ballad us out o' tune. The quick Comedians Extemp'rally will ftage us, and present Our Alexandrian revels: Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall fee I' th' pofture of a whore. boys. Heretofore the parts of women were acted upon the stage by Tras. O the good Gods! Cleo. Nay, that's certain. Iras. I'll never fee it; for I'm fure my nails Are ftronger than mine eyes. Cleo. Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Shew me, my women, like a Queen: go fetch To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go→→→ Wherefore this noife? Enter a Guardfman. Guardf. Here is a rural fellow," [A noife within. That will not be deny'd your Highness' prefence; Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an inftrument [Exit Guardsman. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. Enter Guardfman, and Clown with a basket. Cleo. Avoid and leave him. [Exit Guardsman. Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not? Clown. Truly I have him: but I would not be the party that fhould defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal: thofe that do die of it, do feldom or never re cover. Cleo. Remember'ft thou any that have dy'd on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday, a very honeft wo man, man, but fomething given to lie, as a woman should not do, but in the way of honefty. How the dy'd of the biting of it, what pain the felt! truly, the makes a very good report o' th' worm: but he that will believe half that they fay, fhall never be faved by all that they do: but this is moft fallible, the worm's an odd worm, Cleo. Get thee hence, farewel. Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. Cleo. Ay, ay, farewel. Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trufted but in the keeping of wife people; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm. Cleo. Take no care, it fhall be heeded. Clown. Very good; give it nothing I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding. Cleo. Will it eat me? Clown. You must not think I am so fimple, but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: I know, that a woman is a difh for the Gods, if the devil dress her not. But truly, these fame whore-fon devils do the Gods great harm in their women: for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five. Cleo. Well, get thee gone, farewel. Clown. Yes forfooth, I wish you joy o' th' worm. [Exit. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have To praife my noble act. I hear him mock I give to bafer life. Come Come then, and take the laft warmth of my lips. [To Iras, who falls down. If thou and nature can fo gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Which hurts, and is defir'd. Doft thou lye ftill? It is not worth leave-taking. [Iras dies Char. Diffolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may fay, The Gods themselves do weep! Cleo. This proves me base. If the first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her, and spend that kifs [To the Serpent, applying it to her breast Char. Oh eastern star! Cleo. Peace, peace! Doft thou not fee my baby at my breast, That fucks the nurse asleep? Char. O break! O break! Cleo. As fweet as balm, as foft as air, as gentle. nay, I will take thee too. O Antony ! What should I flay [Applying another Afp to her arm. Char. In this wild world? fo fare thee well: Of eyes again fo royal! your crown's awry, Enter the Guard rushing in. I Guard. Where is the Queen? Char. Speak foftly, wake her not. [Dies 1 Guard. Cafar hath fent- [Charmian applies the Afp. VOL. VII. Ff Char Char. Too flow a meffenger. Oh come, apace, difpatch, I partly feel thee. Guard. Approach, ho! all's not well: Cafar's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella fent from Cæfar; call him. 1 Guard. What work is here, Charmian? is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a Princess Defcended of fo many royal Kings. Ah, foldiers! Enter Dolabella. Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. All dead! Dol. Cafar, thy thoughts [Charmian dies, Touch their effects in this; thy felf art coming Enter Cæfar and Attendants. All. Make way there, way for Cafar. Caf. Braveft at last, She levell'd at our purpose, and being royal Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not fee them bleed. Dol. Who was laft with them? 1 Guard. A fimple countryman, that brought her figs $ This was his basket. Caf. Poison'd then! 1 Guard. Oh Cæfar! This Charmian liv'd but now, fhe flood and spake & I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead miftrefs, tremblingly fhe flood, And on the fudden dropt. Caf. Oh noble weakness! If they had fwallow'd poifon, 'twould appear In her ftrong toil of grace. Dol. Here on her breaft There is a vent of blood, and fomething blown : Guard |