Cleo. I dream'd, there was an emperor An- Will have it thus; my master and my lord The little O, the earth. Dol. Most sovereign creature, Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'darm were As plates dropp'd from his pocket. Dol. Cleopatra, I must obey. Cæs. Take to you no hard thoughts: Cleo. Sole sir o'the world, I cannot project mine own cause so well Cæs. Cleopatra, know, We will extenuate rather than enforce: A benefit in this change; but if you seek Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, such a man As this I dream'd of? Dol. Gentle madam, no. Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine Dol. Hear me, good madam: Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it never shall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. Caes. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued; Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. I had rather seel my lips, than, to my peril, Cleo. What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. O rarely base! Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. To one so meek, that mine own servant should smites me Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence; a man, Thou would'st have mercy on me. [Exit Seleucis. Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, a re misthought For things that others do; and, when we fall, Cas. Cleopatra, Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknow ledg'd, Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it yours, Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen; For we intend so to dispose you, as Cas. Not so: Adieu. [Exeunt Cæsar, and his Train. Cleo. He vords me, girls, he 'words me, that I should not ་ Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your com Whith my love makes religion to obey, Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. I shall remain your debtor. Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar. Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown rhymers Ballad us out o'tune: the quick comedians Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Iras. O the good gods! Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails Cleo. Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Show me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all. [Exit Iras. A noise within. ACT V.] ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. That will not be denied your highness' presence; ment Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru- Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a Guard. This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him.- [Exit Guard. 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. Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have diedon'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,-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. Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the basket. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. 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. worm. Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c. have Immortal longings in me: Now no more 367 The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I Cleo. This proves me base : To the Asp, which she applies to her breast. Char. O eastern star! Cleo. Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, Char. O, break! O, break! Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too :--- well. Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies Enter the Guard, rushing in. [Applies the Asp. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæ- 1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a prin Enter DOLABElla. Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. All dead. Dol. 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 CESAR, and Attendants. Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; That, you did fear, is done. Cæs. Bravest at the last: She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed. Dol. Who was last with them? Cas. O noble weakness!If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony In her strong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown: The like is on her arm. 1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Cas. Most probable, That so she died; for her physician tells me, 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought She shall be buried by her Antony: her figs; This was his basket. Cas. Poison'd then. 1 Guard. O Cæsar, No grave upon the earth shall clip in it This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall, In solemn show, attend this funeral; |