My refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Re-enter Guard, with the Clown bringing a Basket. Guard. This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,(8) Clown. Truly I have him : but I would not be the party fhould defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those, that do die of it, do seldom or never recover. 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 honest woman, but fomething given to lie; as a woman fhould not do, but in the way of honefty: How the dy'd of the biting of it, what pain fhe felt! truly, fhe makes a very good report o'the worm; but he, that will believe all that they fay, fhall never be faved by half 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. Cleo. Farewel. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.(9) 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 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 fo fimple, 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 (7) Alluding to the Ægyptian devotion paid to the moon under the name of Ifis. WARB. (8) Worm-is the Teutonick word for Serpent: we have the Blindworm and Slow-worm ftill in our language, and the Norwegians call an enormous monfter, feen fometimes in the northern ocean, the Sea-worm. JOH (9) The ferpent will act according to his nature. JOHNS not. But, truly, these fame whore-fon devils do the Gods great harm in their women; for in every tem that they make, the devils mar five. Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewel. Clown. Yes, forfooth; I wish you joy o' the worm. To praise my noble act. I hear him mock [Applying the Afp. [To IRAS. Have I the afpick in my lips? Doft fall? It is not worth leave-taking. [IRAS dies. Char. Diffolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, The Gods themselves do weep! Cleo. This proves me base : If the first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her ;(2) and spend that kifs, Which is my heaven to have.---Come, thou mortal wretch With thy fharp teeth this knot intrinficate [To the Serpent. Be angry, and dispatch. Oh, couldst thou speak, Char. Oh eastern star ! Cleo. Peace, peace! Doft thou not fee my baby at my breast, That fucks the nurfe afleep? Char. O break! O-break.! (2). He will enquire of her concerning me, and kiss her for giving hum intelligence. JOHNS. Cleo. As fweet as balm, as foft as air, as gentle, O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too :[Applying another Afp to her Arm. What should I ftay- Of eyes again fo royal! Your crown's awry; Enter the Guard, rushing in. [Dies. [CHARMIAN applies the Afp. Oh, come. Apace, difpatch :-I partly feel thee. I Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæfar's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella fent from Cæfar;-call him. I 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, foldier! [CHARMIAN dies. Enter DOLABELLA. Dol. How goes it there? 2 Guard. All dead. Dol. Cæfar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: Thyfelf art coming Enter CESAR and Attendants. All. A way there, make way for Cæfar! That, you did fear, is done.. Caf. Braveft at the last : She levell❜d at our purposes, and, being royal, Dol. Who was laft with them? I Guard. A fimple countryman, that brought her figs; This was the basket. Caf. Poison'd then! 1 Guard. Oh Cæfar, This Charmian liv'd but now; the flood, and fpake : On her dead miftrefs; tremblingly she stood, Caf. Oh noble weakness ! If they had fwallow'd poifon, 'twould appear By external fwelling but the looks like sleep; As the would catch another Antony In her ftrong toil of grace. Dol. Here on her breast There is a vent of blood, and fomething blown : I Guard. This is an aspick's trail; and these fig-leaves Have flime upon them, fuch as the afpick leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Caf. Moft probable, That fo the dy'd; for her phyfician tells me, Of eafy ways to die.-Take up her bed; And bear her women from the monument :- No grave upon the earth fhall clip in it Strike thofe that make them: and their story is Brought them to be lamented. Our army fhall, And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see [Exeunt omnes. END OF VOL. VI. |