Sel. Here, Madam.

Cleo. This is my Treasurer, let him fpeak, my Lord, Upon his peril, that I have referv'd

To my felf nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

Sel. Madam, I had rather feal my Lips, Than to my peril fpeak that which is not.

Cleo. What have I kept back?

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known.
Cef. Nay, bluth not Cleopatra, I approve

Your Wisdom in the deed.

Cleo. See Cafar! Oh behold,

How pomp is followed: mine will now be yours,
And thould we shift Eftates, yours would be mine.
The ingratitude of this Seleucus, do's

Even make me. wild, Oh Slave, of no more truft
Than love that's hir'd. What, goeft thou back, thou shalt
Go back I warrant thee: but I'll catch thine Eyes

Though they had Wings. Slave, Soul-lefs, Villian, Dog,
O rarely bafe!

Caf. Good Queen, let us intreat you.

Cleo. O Cafar, what a wounding fhame is this, That thou vouchfafing here to vifit me,

Doing the Honour of thy Lordlinefs

To one fo meek, that mine own Servant should
Parcel the fum of my disgraces, by
Addition of his Envy! Say, good Cafar,
That I fome Lady-trifles have referv'd,
Immoment toys, things of fuch Dignity
As we greet modern Friends withal, and say
Some Nobler Token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation, muft I be unfolded

With one that I have bred? the gods ! it fmites me
Beneath the fall I have. Prethee go hence,
Or I fhall fhew the Cynders of my Spirits

Through th'athes of my chance: Wert thou a Man,
Thou would'st have mercy on me.

Caf. Forbear, Seleucus.

Cleo. Be it known, that we the greateft are mif-thought For things that others do; and when we fall,

We anfwer others merits, in our Names

Are

Are therefore to be pitied.

Caf. Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd
Put me i'th' Roll of Conqueft, ftill be't yours;
Beftow it at your pleasure, and believe

Cafar's no Merchant to make prize with

you

Of things that Merchants fold. Therefore be cheer'd,

Make not your Thoughts your Prifons: No, dear Queen,
For we intend fo to dispose you, as

Your felf fhall give us counfel: Feed, and Sleep.
Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your Friend, and so adieu.

Cleo. My Mafter, and my Lord.

Caf. Not fo: Adieu. [Exeunt Cæfar, and his Train. Cleo. He words me, Girls, he words me,

That I should not be noble to my felf.

But hark thee, Charmian.

Iras. Finish, good Lady, the bright day is done, And we are for the dark.

Cleo. Hie thee again.

I have spoke already, and it is provided,

Go

put it to the hafte.

Char. Madam, I will.

Enter Dolabella.

Dol. Where's the Queen?

Char. Behold, Sir."

Cleo. Dolabella.

Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn, by your command,
Which my love makes Religion to obey,
I tell you this: Cafar through Syria
Intends his Journey, and within three days,
You with your Children will he fend before,
Make your beft ufe of this. I have perform'd
Your pleasure, and my promise.

Cleo. Dolabella, I fhall remain your Debtor.
Dol. I your Servant.

Adieu, good Queen, I must attend on Cafar.

[Exit.

Cleo. Farewel, and thanks. Now, Iras, what think'st thou?

Thou, an Egyptian Puppet, fhalt be fhewn

In Rome as well as I: Mechanick Slaves

With greafie Aprons, Rules, and Hammers, fhall

Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,
Rank of grofs Diet, fhall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras. The gods forbid.

Cleo. Nay, 'tis moft certain, Iras: fawcy Licors Will catch at us like Strumpets, and scall'd Rhimers Ballad us out a tune. The quick Comedians Extemporally will ftage us, and prefent

Our Alexandrian Revels: Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall fee
Some fpeaking Cleopatra Boy my greatness
I'th' pofture of a Whore.

Iras. O the good gods!

Cleo. Nay, that's certain.

Iras. I'll never fee't; for I am fure my Nails. Are stronger than mine Eyes.

Cleo. Why that's the way

To fool their preparation and to conquer
Their most abfurd intents. Now Charmian.
Enter Charmian.

Shew me my Women like a Queen: Go fetch
My best Attires. I am again for Cidnus
To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go,
Now, noble Charmian, we'll dispatch indeed,

And when thou haft done this chare, I'll give thee leave

To play 'till Doom's-day: bring our Crown, and all

Wherefore this noife?

Enter a Guardfman.

[A noife within.

Guardf. Here is a rural Fellow,

That will not be deny'd your Highness prefence,

He brings you Figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an Inftrument

[Exit Guardsman. May do a noble deed; he brings me Liberty. My Refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of Woman in me; now from Head to Foot I am Marble conftant: now the fleeting Moon No Planet is of mine.

Enter Guardsman and Clown, with a Basket. Guardf. This is the Man.

Cleo. Avoid and leave him.

Haft thou the pretty Worm of Nilus there,

That kills and pains not?

[Exit Guardfman.

Clown. Truly I have him: but I would not be the party that fhould defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal: thofe that do die of it, do feldom or never re

cover.

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 he felt; truly, fhe makes a very good report o'th' Worm: but he that will believe all that they fay, shall never be faved by half that they do: but this is molt 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 muft think this, look you, that the Worm will do his kind.

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 goodnefs in the Worm.

Cleo. Take no care, it fhall 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 drefs her not. But truly, these fame whore-fon 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, farewel.

Clown. Yes forfooth, I wish you joy o'th' Worm. [Exit, Cleo. Give me my Robe, put on my Crown, I have Immortal longings in me. Now no more

The juice of Egypt's Grape fhall moift his Lip.
Yare, yare, good Iras, quick-methinks I hear

Antony

Antony call, I fee him rowse himself

To praise my noble A&t. I hear him mock
The luck of Cafar, which the gods give Men
To excufe their atter wrath. Husband, I come;
Now to that Name, my Courage prove my Title.
I am Fire, and Air; my other Elements

I give to bafer life.

So-have you done? Come then, and take the laft warmth of my Lips.

Farewel kind Charmian, Iras, long farewel. [Applying the Afp.
Have I the Afpick in my Lips? Doft fall?

If thou and Nature can fo gently part,
The ftroke of Death is as a Lovers Pinch,
Which hurts, and is defir'd.

Doft thou lye ftill?
If thus thou vanifheft, thou tell'ft the World

It is not worth leave taking.

Char. Diffolve thick Cloud and Rain, that I may fay, The gods themselves do weep.

Cleo. This proves me bafe

If the approves the curled Antony,

He'll make demand of her, and spend that kifs.

Which is my Heav'n to have.

Come thou mortal wretch,

With thy fharp Teeth this knot intrinficate

Of life at once untie: Poor venomous Fool,

Be angry and difpatch. Oh couldft thou speak,

That I might hear thee call great Cafar Afs, unpolicied.

Char. Oh Eastern Star!

Cleo. Peace, peace!

Doft thou not fee my Baby at my Breaft,

That fucks the Nurfe afleep.

Char. O break! O break!

Cleo. As fweet as Balm, as foft as Air, as gentle.

O Antony! Nay I will take thee too.

What fhould I ftay

Char. In this wild World? fo fare thee well:
Now boaft thee Death, in thy poffeffion lyes
A Lafs unparallel'd. Downy Windows close,
And Golden Phoebus never be beheld

Of Eyes again fo Royal: your Crowns away,
I'll mend it, and then play

[Dies.

Enter