Enter one of the guard. Guard. Here is a rural fellow, That will not be denied your highness' presence: Cle. Let him come in. What poor an instrument Re-enter GUARD, with a CLOWN bringing in a basket. Guard. This is the man. Cle. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm1 of Nilus there, That kills and pains not? Clown. Truly I have him; but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal: those that do die of it do seldom or never recover. Cle. Rememberest thou any that have died on 't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday; a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty ;— how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt. Serpent. Truly, she makes a very good report o' the worm : but he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do. But this is most fallible, the worm 's an odd worm. Cle. Get thee hence; farewell. Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cle. Farewell. [Clown sets down the basket. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.1 Cle. Ay, ay: farewell. Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted, but in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in the worm. Cle. Take thou no care: it shall be heeded. Clown. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you; for it is not worth the feeding. Cle. Will it eat me? Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: 1 know, that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods great harm in their women; for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five. Cle. Well, get thee gone: farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy of the [Erit. worm. Act according to his nature. Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c. Cle. Give me my robe; put on my crown: I have Immortal longings in me. Now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip: Yare, yare,1 good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I hear Antony call; I see him rouse himself : To praise my noble act; I hear him mock [kisses them. If thou and nature can so gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I say, The gods themselves do weep! Cle. may This proves me base : If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss 1 Make haste. Which is my heaven to have.—Come, thou mortal wretch, [to the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Char. O eastern star! Cle. Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? Char. O, break! O, break! Cle. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,— O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too :———— [applying another asp to her arm. Of eyes again so royal! Your crown 's awry; Enter the GUARD, rushing in. 1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char. Speak softly; wake her not. Impolitic, thus to leave the means of death within my reach. |