And we are for the dark.

Cleo. Hie thee again :
I have spoke already, and it is provided ;
Go, put it to the haste.
Char. Madam, I will.

Re-enter DOLABELLA.
Dol. Where is the queen ?
Char. Behold, sir.

[Exit CHARMIAN. Cleo. Dolabelia ?

Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this : Cæsar through Syria
Intends his journey ; and, within three days,
You with your children will he send before :
Make your best use of this : I have perform'd
Your pleasure, and my promise.

Cleo. Dolabella,
I shall remain your debtor.

Dol. I your servant.
Adieu, good queen ; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. [Exit Dol.)-Now,

Iras, what think'st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I : mechanic slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view ; in their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras. The gods forbid !

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras : Saucy lictors
Will catch at us, like strumpets ; and scald rhymers
Ballad us out o'tune : the quick comedians
Extemporally will stage us, and present
Our Alexandrian revels ; Antony
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
I'the posture of a whore.

Iras. O the good gods !
Cleo. Nay, that is certain.

Iras. I'll never see it ; for, I am sure, my nails
Are stronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that is the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most absurd intents. Now, Charmian ?

1

[4] Scaldma word of contempt implying poverty, disease, and filth. JOH. 151 The parts of women were acted on the stage by boys. HANMER.

Enter CHARMIAN.
Show me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch
My best attires ;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony :--Sirrah, Iras, go.
Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed :
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave
To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all.
Wherefore's this noise ? [Exit IRAS. A noise within.

Enter one of the Guard.
Guard. Here is a rural fellow,
That will not be denied your highness' presence ;
He brings you figs.
Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instrument

[Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing of woman in me: Now from head to foot I am marble-constant: now the fleeting moon No planet is of mine,

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket.
Guard. This is the man.
Cleo. Avoid, and leave him.

[Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not?

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 died on'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.
Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm.
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. [6] Worm is the Teutonick word for serpent; we have the blind-worm and slow-worm still in our language, and the Norwegians call an enormous monster, seen sometimes in the northern ocean, the sea.wom. JOHNS.

102

And we are for

Cleo. Hie the I have spoke ali Go, put it to the

Char. Madam,

Dol. Where is
Char. Behold, -
Cleo. Dolabelia

Dol. Madam, a
Which my love m
I tell you this : Ci
Intends his journey
You with your chil
Make your best us
Your pleasure, and

Cleo. Dolabella,
I shall remain your

Dol. I your serva
Adieu, good queen ;
Cleo. Farewell,

Iras, wha
Thou, an Egyptian
In Rome, as well as
With greasy aprons,
Uplift us to the view
Rank of gross diet, s.
And forc'd to drink t:

Iras. The gods for

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most Will catch at us, like Ballad us out o'tune : Extemporally will sta Our Alexandrian reve Shall be brought druni Some squeaking Cleo I'the posture of a who

Iras. O the good go
Cleo. Nay, that is

Iras. I'll never see i Are stronger than min

Cleo. Why, that is t To fool their preparat 'Their most absurd int

[4] Scald--a word of conter. .15) The parts of women we

That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass
Uopolicied!

Char. O eastern star !

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

Char. O, break! O, break!

Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle, O Antony Nay, I will take thee too :

[Applying another ash to her arm. What should I stay

[Falls on a bed, and dies. Char. In this wild world?-Šo, fare thee well.Now boast thee, death ! in thy possession lies A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close ;? And golden Phæbus dever be beheld Of eyes again so royal ! Your crown's awry ; I'll amend 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 sentChar. Too slow a messsenger.

[Applies the asp. -0, come ; apace, despatch : I partly feel thee. 1Guard.Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguild. 2Guard. There's Dolabella sent fromCæsar;- call him. 1Guard. What work is here ?-Charmian, is this well

done ? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Jescended of so many royal kings. h, soldier:

[Dies. Enter DOLABELLA. Dol. How goes it here ! 2 Guard. All dead. Dol. Cæsar, thy thoughts ouch their effects 'in this: Thyself art coming

see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou sought'st to hinder. Within. A way there, way for Cæsar!

Enter Cæsar, and Attendants. Vol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer ; at you did fear, is done. es. Bravest at the last : levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,

Charmian, in saying this, must be conceived to close Cleopatra's eyes : of the first ceremonies performed towards a dead body. RITSON.

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. Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the worm.[ Exit.

Re-enter IRAs, with a Robe, Crown, JC. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown ; I have Immortal longings in me : Now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip :Yare, yare, good Iras ; quick.—Methinks, I hear Antony call ; I see him rouse himself To praise my noble act ; I hear him mock The lack of Cæsar, which the gods give men To excuse their after wrath : Husband, I come: Now to that name my courage prove my title !. I am fire, and air ; my other elements I give to baser life.-S0,--have you done? Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. Farewell, kind Charmian ;-Iras, long farewell

. [Kisses them. Iras falls and dies. Have I the aspick in my lips Dost fall ? If thou and nature can so gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking,

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, The gods themselves do weep!

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,

[70 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, couldst thou speak!