Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may

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

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

Char.

Peace, peace!

O, break! O, break!

as

air, as gentle,

Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft 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 sent

Char.

Too slow a messenger.

[Applies the Asp.

O, come apace, despatch: I partly feel thee.

5 Unpolitick, to leave me to myself.

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.

Dol. How goes it here?

2 Guard.

Dol.

Enter DOLABella.

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 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?

1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her

figs;

This was his basket.

Cæs.

1 Guard.

Poison'd then.

O Cæsar,

This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake:

I found her trimming up the diadem

On her dead mistress; trembling she stood,

And on the sudden dropp'd.

Cæs.

VOL. VIII.

O noble weakness! ·

00

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. 6

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 figleaves

Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves Upon the caves of Nile.

Cæs.

Most probable,

That so she died; for her physician tells me,
She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite

Of easy ways to die. - Take up her bed;
And bear her women from the monument: —
She shall be buried by her Antony;

No grave upon the earth shall clip

in it

A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them: and their story is
No less in pity, than his glory, which

Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall,
In solemn show attend this funeral;

And then to Rome.

Come, Dolabella, see

High order in this great solemnity.

6 Graceful appearance.

[Exeunt.

7 Enfold.

END OF THE EIGHTH VOLUME.

LONDON:

I rinted by A. & R. Spottiswoode,
New-Street-Square.