:

SCENE 1.–CÆSAR's Camp before Alexandria. Agr.

A rarer spirit never

Did steer humanity: but you, gods, will give us Enter CÆSAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MECENAS, Gallus, PROCULEIUS, and others.

Some faults to make us men. Cæsar is touch'd.

Mec. When such a spacious mirror's set before Cæs. Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield;

him, Being so frustrate, tell him,

He needs must see himself. He mocks us by the pauses that he makes.

Cæs.

O Antony ! Dol. Cæsar, I shal). [Exit DOLABELLA. I have follow'd thee to this :—But we do lance

Diseases in our bodies : I must perforce Enter DERCETAS, with the sword of Antony.

Have shown to thee such a declining day, Cæs. Wherefore is that? and what art thou that Or look on thine; we could not stall together dar'st

In the whole world : But yet let me lament, Appear thus to us?

With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, Der. I am call'd Dercetas;

That thou, my brother, my competitor Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy In top of all design, my mate in empire, Best to be serv’d: whilst he stood up, and spoke, Friend and companion in the front of war, He was my master; and I wore my life

The arm of mine own body, and the heart To spend upon his haters: If thou please

Where mine his thoughts did kindle,—that our stars, To take me to thee, as I was to him

Unreconciliable, should divide I'll be to Cæsar; if thou pleasest not,

Our equalness to this.—Hear me, good friends,I yield thee up my life.

But I will tell you at some meeter season; Cæs.

What is't thou say'st ?
Der. I say, O Cæsar, Antony is dead.

Enter a Messenger.
Cæs. The breaking of so great a thing should make The business of this man looks out of him,
A greater crack: The round world

We'll hear him what he says.--Whence are you ! Should have shook lions into civil streets,

Mess. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my And citizens to their dens :—The death of Antony mistress, Is not a single doom; in the name lay

Confin'd in all she has, her monument, A moiety of the world.

Of thy intents desires instruction; Der.

He is dead, Cæsar; That she preparedly may frame herself Not by a public minister of justice,

To the way she's forced to. Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand,

Cæs.

Bid her have good heart; Which writ his honour in the acts it did,

She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, How honourable and how kindly we Splitted the heart.- This is his sword;

Determine for her: for Cæsar cannot live I robb’d his wound of it; behold it stain'd

To be ungentle. With his most noble blood.

Mess. So the gods preserve thee! [Eril. Cæs.

Look you sad, friends ? Cæs. Come hither, Proculeius : Go, and say The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings

We purpose her no shame: give her what comforts To wash the eyes of kings.

The quality of her passion shall require ; Agr.

And strange it is Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke That nature must compel us to lament

She do defeat us: for her life in Rome Our most persisteil deeds.

Would be eternal in our triumph: Go, Mec.

His taints and honours And, with your speediest, bring us what she says, Wag'd equal with him.

And how you find of her.

a

man

Dol.

Cleopatra,- Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd Cleo. Think you there was, or might be, such a To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

Sel. Madam,
As this I dreamt of ?

I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril,
Doi.
Gentle madam, no.

Speak that which is not.
Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods.

Cleo.

What have I kept back? But, if there be, or ever were, one such,

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuff

known. To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine Cæs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Your wisdom in the deed. Condemning shadows quite.

Cleo.

See, Cæsar! O, behold, Dol.

Hear me, good madam : How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it And should we shift estates yours would be mine. As answering to the weight : 'Would I might never The ingratitude of this Seleucus does O'ertake pursued success, but I do feel,

Even make me wild : O slave, of no more trust By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots Than love that's hir'd !- What, goest thou back? My very heart at root.

thou shalt Cleo. I thank you, sir.

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Know you what Cæsar means to do with me? Though they had wings: Slave, soulless villain, Dol. I am loth to tell you what I would you dog ! knew.

O rarely base! Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,

Cas. Good queen, let us entreat you. Dol.

Though he be honourable, - Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this; Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph ?

That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, Dol.

Madam, he will ; Doing the honour of thy lordliness I know it.

To one so meek, that mine own servant should Within. Make way there,--Cæsar!

Parcel the sum of my disgraces by

Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar,
Enter Cæsar, Gallus, PROCULEIUS, MECENAS,

That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
SELEUCCS, and Altendants.

Immoment toys, things of such dignity
Cæs. Which is the queen of Egypt?

As we greet modern friends withal; and say, Dol. 'Tis the emperor, madam.

Some nobler token I have kept apart

(CLEOPATRA kneels. For Livia, and Octavia, to induce Cæs. Arise, you shall not kneel :

Their mediation ; must I be unfolded I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.

With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites Cleo.

Sir, the gods Will have it thus; my master and my lord

Beneath the fall I have. Prithee, go hence; I must obey.

(7. SELEUCUS. Cas. Take to you no hard thoughts : Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits The record of what injuries you did

Through the ashes of my chance :-Wert thou a Though written in our flesh, we shall remember

man, As things but done by chance.

Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
Cleo.
Sole sir o' the world, Cæs.

Forbear, Seleucus. I cannot project mine own cause so well

[Erit SELEYCUS. To make it clear; but do confess, I have

Cleo. Be it known that we, the greatest, are misBeen laden with like frailties, which before

thought Have often sham'd our sex.

For things that others do; and, when we fall, Cæs.

Cleopatra, know, We answer others' merits in our name, We will extenuate rather than enforce:

Are therefore to be pitied. If you apply yourself to our intents,

Cæs.

Cleopatra, (Which towards you are inost geutle,) you shall Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledgid, find

Put we i the roll of conquest : still be it yours, A benefit in this change; but if you seek

Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe To lay on me a cruelty, by taking

Cæsar's no merchant, to make prize with you Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be Of my good purposes, and put your children

cheer'd ; To that destruction which I'll guard them from, Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear If thereon you rely. I'll take iny leave.

queen; Cleo. And may, through all the world : 'tis For we intend so to dispose you, as yours; and we

Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep: Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Our care and pity is so inuch upon you, Hang in what place you please. Here, my good | That we remain your friend : And so adieu. lord.

Cleo. My master, and my lord ! Ces. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. Cas.

Not so: Adien. Cleo. This is the briet of money, plate, and

[Ereunt Cæsar, and his Train. jewels,

Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I I am possess d of: 'tis exactly valued;

should not Not petty thinys adlınitted.- Where's Seleucus ? Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. Sel. Hero, madam.

[Whispers CHARMIAN. Clco. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my Iras. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, lord,

And we are for the dark.

me

us,

Cleo.
Hie thee again :

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Erit Guard. have spoke already, and it is provided ;

Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, io, put it to the haste.

That kills and pains not ?
Char.
Madam, I will

Clown. Truly I have him: but I would not be

the party that should desire you to touch him, for Re-enter DOLABELLA.

his biting is immortal; those that do die of it do Dol. Where is the queen ?

seldom or never recover. Char. Behold, sir. [Erit CHARMIAN. Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't ?

1

Clown. Very many, men and women too. Cleo.

Dolabella?
Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,

heard of one of them no longer than yesterday : a

very honest woman, but something given to lie; as Which my love mukes religion to obey,

a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty: I tell you this: Cesar through Syria

how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt, Intends his journey: anil, within three days,

– Truly, she makes a very good report o' the You with your children will he send before : Make your best use of this: I have perform'd

worm : But he that will believe all that they say, Your pleasure, and my proinise.

shall never be saved by half that they do: But this

is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm. Cleo.

Dolabella,

Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.
I shall remain your debtor.
Dol.
I your servant.

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm.

Cleo. Farewell. (Clown sets down the baskel. Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.

Clown. You must think this, look you, that the Cleo. Farewell, and thanks.—[Erit Dol.)

worm will do his kind. Now, Iras, what think'st thou ? Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown

Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell.

Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted, In Rome, as well as I : mechanic slaves

but in the keeping of wise people : for, indeed, With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall

there is no goodness in the worm. Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,

Cleo. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Clown. Very good : give it nothing, I pray you,

for it is not worth the feeding. Iras.

The gods forbid !

Cleo. Will it eat me ? Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictors Will catch at us like strumpets; and scald rhymers I know the devil himself will not eat a woinan: 1

Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but Ballad us out o' tune : the quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present

know that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the Our Alexandrian revels : Antony

devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whoreShall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see

son devils do the gods great harm in their women; Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness

for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell.
l'the posture of a whore.
Iras.
O the good gods!

Cloun. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the worm.

[Erit. Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails

Re-enter Iras, with a robe, crown, fr.
Are stronger than mine eyes.
Cleo.
Why, that's the way

Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have To fool their preparation, and to conquer

Immortal longings in me: Now no more Their most absurd intents.—Now, Charmian ?

The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip :

Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.—Methinks I hear Enter CHARMIAN.

Antony call; I see him rouse himself

To praise my noble act; I hear him mock Show me, my women, like a queen;—Go fetch The luck of Cæsar, which the gods give men My best attires ;-I am again for Cydnus,

To excuse their after wrath: Husband, I come: To meet Mark Antony :-Sirrah, Iras, go.— Now to that name my courage prove my title ! Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed :

I am fire and air; my other elements And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee

I give to baser life.-So,-have you done? leave

Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. To play till doomsday.-Bring our crown and all.

Farewell, kind Charmian ;-Iras, long farewell. Wherefore's this noise ?

[Kisses them. IR48 falls and dies. [Exit Iras. A noise within.

Have I the aspic in my lips ? Dost fall ?

If thou and nature can so gently part,
Enter one of the Guard.

The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Guard.

Here is a rural fellow Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie stil ? That will not be denied your highness' presence ; If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world He brings you figs.

It is not worth leave-taking. Cleo. Let him come in. What poor an instru- Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain ; that I ment

(Erit Guard.

may say, May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. The gods themselves do weep! My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing

Cleo.

This proves me base : Of woman in me: Now from head to foot

If she first meet the curled Antony, I am marble-constant: now the fleeting moon He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss No planet is of mine.

Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal

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

[ To the asp, which she applies to her breasl. Guard. This is the man.

With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate

Of life at once untie : poor venomous fool,
Be angry, and despatch. O, couldst thou speak !
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass
Unpolicies!

Char. O eastern star!
Cleo.

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

Char.

0, 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 atm. What should I stay —

(Falls on a bed, and dies.
Char. Iu this wild world ?_So, fare thee well.-
Now boast thee, Death! in thy possession lies
A lass unparallel'd.—Downy windows, close;

CLRO

Poor venomous fooi, be angry, and despatch.

And golden Phæbus never be beheld

Descended of so many royal kings. Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry; Ah, soldier!

[ Dies. I'll mend it, and then play

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

Dol. How goes it here ?
2 Guard.

All dead.
Char.
Speak softly, wake her not.

Dol.

Cæsar, thy thoughts 1. Guard. Cæsar hath sent

Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming Char. Too slow a messenger.

To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou

(Applies the asp. So sought'st to hinder. O, come; apace, despatch : ( partly feel thee.

Within. A way there, a way for Cæsar! 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguild.

Enter Cæsar, and Attendants. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar ;call him.

Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; I Guard. What work is here ?-Charmian, is That you did fear is done. this well done?

Cæs.

Bravest at the last : Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess She levell’d at our purposes, and, being royal,