Cleo. Where art thou, death? Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen Worth many babes and beggars!

Pro.

O, temperance, lady! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir; If idle talk will once be necessary, I'll not sleep neither: This mortal house I'll ruin, Do Cæsar what he can. Know, sir, that I Will not wait pinion'd' at your master's court; Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up, And show me to the shouting varletry2 Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Be gentle grave to me! rather on Nilus' mud Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies Blow me into abhorring! rather make My country's high pyramides my gibbet, And hang me up in chains!

Pro.

You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Cæsar.

Dol.

Most sovereign creature,Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm Crested the world: his voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; But when he meant to quail3 and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, || There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas, That grew the more by reaping: His delights Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above The element they liv'd in: In his livery Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands

were

||

Hear me, good madam: Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it As answering to the weight: 'Would I might never O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots My very heart at root.

Cleo.

I thank you, sir. Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me? Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,—
Dol.

Though he be honourable,-
Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph?
Dol.
Madam, he will;

I know it.

Within. Make way there,-Cæsar.

Enter Cæsar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mæcenas, Seleucus, and Attendants. Which is the queen

Cœs. Of Egypt? Dol.

Cœs.

'Tis the emperor, madam. [Cleo. kneels. Arise,

You shall not kneel

I

pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
Cleo.
Sir, the gods
Will have it thus; my master and my lord
I must obey.

Cœs. Take to you no hard thoughts:
The record of what injuries you did us,
Though written in our esh, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.

Cleo.

I

Sole sir o'the world, cannot project5 mine own cause so well To make it clear; but do confess, I have Been laden with like frailties, which before Have often sham'd our sex.

Cœs.
Cleopatra, know,
We will extenuate rather than enforce :
you apply yourself to our intents

(Which towards you are most gentle,) you shall

find

A benefit in this change; but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking
Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

(4) Silver money. (5) Shape or form.

Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.
Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus?
Sel. Here, madam.

Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord,
Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd
To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam,

I had rather seel! my lips, than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.

Cleo.
What have I kept back?
Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made

known.

Cas. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cæsar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild :-O slave, of no more trust Than love that's hir'd!-What, goest thou back? thou shalt

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,
Though they had wings: Slave, soul-less villain,
dog!
O rarely2 base!
Cœs.

Good queen, let us entreat you. Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this; That, thou vouchsafing here to visit me, Doing the honour of thy lordliness To one so meek, that mine own servant should Parcels the sum of my disgraces by Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar, That I some lady trifles have reserv'd, Immoment toys, things of such dignity As we greet modern friends withal; and say, Some nobler token I have kept apart For Livia,5 and Octavia,6 to induce Their mediation; must I be unfolded With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence; [To Seleucus. Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Through the ashes of my chance:-Wert thou a

Not so: Adieu. [Exeunt Cæsar, and his train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not

Iras.

O the good gods! Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails Are stronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian ?

Enter Charmian.

Show me, my women, like a queen ;---Go fetch
My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony-Sirrah, Iras, go.-
Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed:
And, when thou hast done this chare,12 I'll give thee
leave

To play till dooms-day-Bring our crown and all.
Wherefore's this noise? [Ex. Iras. A noise within.
Enter one of the Guard.
Guard.
Here is a rural fellow,
That will not be denied your highness' presence;
He brings you figs.

(9) Beadles.

(10) Lively. (11) Female characters were played by boys. (12) Job of work.

ment

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru[Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of woman in me: Now from head to foot I am marble-constant: now the fleeting! moon No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket.

Guard.

This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm2 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.

I

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. 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, -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.

Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the basket. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.3

Cleo. 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.

Cleo. Take thou no care; it shall 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 simple, but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: I 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. || Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the [Exit. Re-enter Iras, with a robe, crown, &c.

worm.

Cleo. 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,4 good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Cæsar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath: Husband, I come;
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
am fire, and air; my other elements

I give to baser life.-So,-have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian ;-Iras, long farewell.
[Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.
Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desir'd. 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 may say,

The gods themselves do weep!
Cleo.
This proves me base:
If she first meet the curled Antony,
He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss,
Which is my heaven to have. Come, mortal wretch,
[To the asp, which she applies to her breast.
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
Of life at once untie : poor venomous fool,
Be angry, and despatch. O, could'st thou speak!
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass
Unpolicied !5
Char. O eastern star!

Cleo.
Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?

(1) Inconstant.

(2) Serpent. (3) Act according to his nature.

Char.
O, break! O, break!
Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as
gentle,-

O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too :-
[Applying another asp to her arm.
What should I stay- [Falls on a bed, and dies.
Char. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well.—
Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close;
And golden Phoebus never be beheld
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the Guard, rushing in.
1 Guard. Where is the queen?
Char.

Speak softly, wake her not. 1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp. O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil'd.

2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar;call him.

1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is this well done?

Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier!

[Dies.

Enter Dolabella.
Dol. How goes it here?
2 Guard.
Dol.

All dead.
Cæsar, thy thoughts
Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming
To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou
So sought'st to hinder.
[Within.] A way there, way for Cæsar!
Enter Cæsar, and Attendants.

Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear, is done.

(4) Make haste.

(5) Unpolitic, to leave me to myself.