fate Ant. Nay, my good fellows, do not please sharp Or Cæsar seek your honour, with your safety.-01 Cleo. They do not go together. To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome | Ant. Gentle, hear me i Which comes to punish us, and we punish it None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius. Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up: | Cleo. My resolution, and my hands, I'll trust; I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends, None about Cæsar. . And have my thanks for all. Ant. The miserable change now at my end, (Exeunt bearing Antony. Lament nor sorrow at: but please your thoughts, In feeding them with those my former fortunes SCENE XIII.-The same. A monument. En Wherein I liv'd, the greatest prince o'the world, ter above, Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras. The noblest : and do now not basely die, Cleo. O Charmian, I will never go from hence. Nor cowardly; put off my helmet to Char. Be comforted, dear madam. My countrvman, a Roman, by a Roman Cleo. No, I will not: Valiantly vanquish'd. Now, my spirit is going ; All strange and terrible events are welcome, I can no more. But comforts we despise ; our size of sorrow, Cleo. Noblest of men, woo't die ? In this dull world, which in thy absence is No better than a stye 2-0, see, my women, The crown o'the earth doth melt: -My lord ! Dio. His death's upon him, but not dead. 0, wither'd is the garland of the war, Look out o'the other side your monument, The soldier's pole is fallen ; young boys, and girls, Are level now with men : the odds is gone, And there is nothing left remarkable Beneath the v (She fainls: Cleo. O thou sun, O, quietness, lady! Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in!-darkling Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign. stand Char. Lady,– The varying shore o’the world !-0 Antony! Iras. Madam, Antony, Antony !-Charmian, help; help, Iras; Char. O madam, madam, madam! Help, friends below; let's draw him hither. Iras. Royal Egypt! Ank. Peace: Empress! Cleo. No more, but e'en a woman; and comCleo. So it should be, that none but Antony manded Should conquer Antony ; but wo 'tis so ! By such poor passion as the maid that milks, Int. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only And does the meanest chares. It were for me I here importune death a while, until To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods ; Of many thousand kisses the poor last To tell them that this world did equal theirs, I lay upon thy lips. Till they had stolen our jewel. All's but naught; Cleo. I dare not, dear Patience is sottish; and impatience does (Dear my lord, pardon,) I dare not, Become a dog that's mad : 'Then is it sin, Lest I be taken : not the imperious show To rush into the secret house of death, or the full-fortun'd Cæsar ever shall Ere death dare come to us?--How do you, women? Be brooch'da with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, What, what? good cheer! Why, how now, Charhave mian? Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe: My noble girls !-Ah, women, women! look, Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes, Our lamp is spent, it's out:-Good sirs, take heart:And still conclusion," shall acquire no honour [To the guard below. Demuring upon me.-But come, come, Antony,- We'll bury him: and then, what's brave, what's Help me, my women, -we must draw thee up; I noble, Assist good friends. Let's do it after the high Roman fashion, Int. O, quick, or I am gone. And make death proud to take us. Come, away: Cleo. Here's sport, indeed !-How heavy weighs This case of that huge spirit now is cold. my lord! Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend Our strength is all gone into heaviness, But resolution, and the briefest end. That makes the weight: Had I great Juno's power, (Exeunt ; those above bearing off AnThe strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up, tony's body. And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little, Wishers were ever fools ;-0, come, come, come; [They draw Antony up. And welcome, welcome ! die where thou hast livd: Quicken“ with kissing; had my lips that power, ACT V. Thus would I wear them out." A heavy sight! SCENE 1.-Cæsar's camp before Alexandria. Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying: Enter Cæsar, Agrippa, 'Dolabella, Mæcenas, Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. Gallus, Proculeius, and others. Being so frustrate, tell him, he mocks us by One word, sweet queen : The pauses that he makes." (1) Without light. (2) Ornamented. (4) Revive. (5) Task-work. (3) Sedate determination. (6) Frustrated. (7) He trifles with us. YOL. II. 3 B se Dol. Cæsar, I shall, To the way she's forc'd to. Bid her bare good heart; She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, Determine for her: for Cæsar cannot live Mess. So the gods preserve thee! (Exit. Appear thus to us? Cæs. Come hither, Proculeius; Go, and say, Der. I am call'd Dercetas; We purpose her no shame: give her what comforts Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy The quality of her passion shall require ; Best to be serv'd: whilst he stood up, and spoke, Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke He was my master; and I wore my life, She do defeat us: for her life in Rome To spend upon his haters: If thou please Would be eternal in our triumph: Go, To takc ine to thee, as I was to him And, with your speediest, bring us what she says, I'll be to Cæsar; if thou pleasest not, And how you find of her. 1 yield thee up my life.. Pro. Cæsar, I shall. (Eril Pro. Ces. What is't thou say'st ? Cæs. Gallus, go you along.- Where's Dolabella, Der. I say, O Cæsar, Antony is dead. To second Proculeius? rit Gallus. Cas. The breaking of so great a thing should make Agr. Mæc. Dolabella! A greater crack: The round world should have Cæs. Let him alone, for I remember now shook How he's employed; he shall in time be ready. Lions into civil streets, Go with me to my tent; where you shall see How calm and gentle I proceeded still In all my writings : Go with me, and see (Ereml Not by a public minister of justice, Nor by a hired knife; but that sell hand, SCENE II.-Alexandria. A room in the monuWhich writ his honour in the acts it did, ment. Enter Clcopatra, Charmian, and Iras. Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, Splitted the heart.-This is his sword, Cleo. My desolation does begin to make I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd A better life: "Tis paltry to be Cæsar; With his most noble blood. Not being fortune, he's but fortune's knave, Ces. Look you sad, friends ? A minister of her will; And it is great The gods rebuke me, but it is a tidings To do that thing that ends all other deeds ; To wash the eyes of kings. Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change; Agr. And strange it is, Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung, That nature must compel us to lament The beggar's nurse and Cæsar's. Ilis taints and honours Enler, to the gales of the monument, Proculeius, Waged equal with him. Gallus, and Soldiers. Agr. A rarer spirit never | Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the queen of Did steer humanity: but you, gods, will give us Egypt; Cleo. (Within.] What's thy name? He needs must see himself. Pro. My name is Proculeius. O Antony ! Antony I do not greatly care to be deceivia, That have no use for trusting. If your master Or look on thino; we could not stall together Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, In the whole world : But yet let me lament, That majesty, to keep decoruin, must With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, No less beg than a kingdom: if he please That thou, my brother, my competitor To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son, In top of all design, my mate in empire, He gives me so mnuch of mine own, as I Friend and companion in the front of war, Will kneel to him with thanks. The arm of nine own body, and the heart Be of good cheer; Where mine his! thoughts did kindle,--that our You are fallen into a princely hand, fear nothing: stars, Make your full reference freely to my lord, Unreconciliable, should divide Who is so full of grace, that it flows over Our equalgess to this.--Hear me, good friends, On all that need: Let me report to him Your sweet dependency; and you shall find A conqueror, that will pray in aid for kindness, Where he for grace is kneelid to. The business of this man looks out of him, Cleo. (Within. Pray you, tell him We'll bear him what he says.-Whence are you? I am his fortune's vassal, and I send himn Mess. A poor Egyptian' yelThe queen my The greatness he has got. I hourly learn mistress, A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly Confio'd in all she has, her monument, Look him i'the face. Or thy intents desires instruction ; Pro. This I'll report, dear lady. . That the preparedly may frame herself Have comfort; for, I know, your plight is pilied or him that caus'd it. Gal. You sce how easily she may be surprisid: Cleo. (Here Proculeius, and two of the guard, ascend! Dol. Most sovereign creature,the monumení by a ladder placed against Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm a window, and having descended, come behind Crested the world: his voice was propertied Cleopatra. Some of the guard unbar and open As all the turned spheres, and that to friends : the gates. But when he meant to quail' and shake the orb, Guard her till Cæsar corne. He was as rattling thunder, For his bounty, [To Proculeius and the guard. [Exit Gall. There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas, Iras. Royal queen! That grew the more by reaping: His delights Char. O'Cleopatra ! thou art taken, queen! Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands. The element they liv'd in: In his livery [Drawing a dagger. Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold: were (Seizes and disarms her. As plates* dropp'd from his pocket. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Dol. Cleopatra,Relier'd, but not betray'd. | Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a Cleo. What, of death too, man That rids our dogs of languish ? .. As this I dream'd of ? Cleopatra, Gentle madam, no. Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. The undoing of yourself: let the world see But, if there be, or ever were one such, His nobleness well acted, which your death It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuff Will never let come forth. To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine Cleo. Where art thou, death ? | An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Come hither, come ! come, come, and take a queen Condemning shadows quite. Worth many babes and beggars ! Dol. Hear me, good madam : Pro. 8, temperance, lady! Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sír ; As answering to the weight: 'Would I might never Ir idle tall: will once be necessary,. O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, My very heart at root. I thank you, sir. Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me? or dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up, Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you And show me to the shouting varletry2 knew. of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,Be gentle grave to me! rather on Nilus' mud Dol. Though he be honourable,Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph ? Blow me into abhorring! rather make Dol. Madam, he will; My country's high pyramides my gibbet, I know it. And hang me up in chains ! Within. Mako way there,-Cæsar. Pro. You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Enter Cæsar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mæcenas, ScleuFind cause in Cæsar. cus, and Allendants. Cæs. Which is the queen Or Egypt? Dolo''Tis the emperor, madam. (Cleo. kneele. What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows, Cæs. Arise, And he hath sent for thee: as for the queen, You shall not kneel: I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt. Cleo. Sir, the gods If shall content me best : be gentle to her. Will have it thus; my master and my lord To Cæsar I will speak what you shall please, I must obey. [To Cleopatra. Cas. Take to you no hard thoughts : If you'll employ me to him. The record of what injuries you did us, Cleo. Say, I would die. Though written in our flesh, we shall remember (Ereunt Proculeius, and Soldiers. As things but done by chance. Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me?/ Cleo. Sole sir o'the world, Cleo. I cannot tell. I cannot projects mine own cause so well Assuredly, you know me. To make it clear; but do confess, I have Cæs. Cleopatra, know, Dol. I understand not, madam. We will extenuate rather than enforce: Cleo. I dream'd, there was an emperor Antony ;- If you apply yourself to our intents 0, such another sleep, that I might see (Which towards you are most gentle,) you shall But such another man! find Dol. If it might please you, - A benefit in this change; but if you seek Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein To lay on me a cruelty, by taking stuck Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself A sun, and moon; which kept their course, and of my good purposes, and put your children lighted To that destruction which I'll guard them from, The little o, the earth. If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave. (1) Bound, confined. (2) Rabble. (3) Crush.) (4) Silver money. (5) Shape or form. Cleo. And may, through all the world : 'tis yours; Our care and pity is so much upon you, That we remain your friend ; and so adieu. Not so: Adieu. Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. (Exeunt Cæsar, and his train. Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I I am possess'd of: 'lis exactly valued ; should not Not petty things admitted. -- Where's Seleucus? Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. Sel. Here, madam. (Whispers Charmian. Cleo. This is my treasurer ; let him speak, my lord. Iras. Finish, good lady: the bright day is done, Upon his peril, that I have reserved And we are for the dark. To myself' nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. | Cleo. Hie thee again: I have spoke already, and it is provided; Char. Madam, I will. Cleo. What have I kept back ?| Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made Re-enter Dolabella. known. Dol. Where is the queen? Cæs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Char. Behold, sir. (Exit Char. Your wisdom in the deed. Cleo. *** Dolabella? Cleo. See, Cæsar! O, behold, I Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; Which my love makes religion to obey, And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. I tell you this : Cæsar through Syria The ingratitude of this Seleucus does IIntends his journeyand. within three days, Even make me wild :-0 slave, of no more trust You with your children will he send before: Than love that's hir'd! What, goest thou back? Make your best use of this: I have perform'd thou shalt Your pleasure, and my promise. Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Cleo. Dolabella. Though they had wings: Slave, soul-less villain, I shall remain your debtor. dog! Dol. I your servant, O rarely? base! Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar. Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. (Erit Dol.) Now, Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this ; Iras, what think'st thou ? That, thou vouchsafing here to visit me, Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown Doing the honour of thy lordliness In Rome, as well as I: mechanic slaves To one so meek, that mine own servant should With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall Parcel' the sum of my disgraces by Uplift us to the view ; in their thick breaths, Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar, Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, That I some lady trifles have reserv'd, And forca to drink their vapour._ Immoment toys of such dignity Iras. The gods forbid ! As we greet modern friends withal; and say, Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras : Saucy lictors' Somo nobler token I have kept apart Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers For Livia,' and Octavia, to induce Ballad us out o'tune: the quickio comedians Their mediation ; must I be unfolded Extemporally will stage us, and present With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me Our Alexandrian revels; Antony Beneath the fall I have. Prythee, go hence; Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see " [To Seleucus. Some squeaking Cleopatra boyit my greatness Or I shall show the cinders" of my spirits I'the posture of a whore. Through the ashes of my chance :-Wert thou al O the good gods! man, Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Thou would'st have mercy on me. Iras. I'll never see it ; for, I am sure, my nails Cæs. Forbear, Seleucus. Are stronger than mine eyes. Why, that's the way Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are To fool their preparation, and to conquer mis-thought'. Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian?For things that others do; and, when we fall, We answer others' merits in our name, Enter Charmian. Are therefore to be pitied. Show me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch Cas. Cleopatra, My best attires ;-I am again for Cydnus, Not what you have reserv'd nor what acknowledg’d, To meet Mark Antony :---Sirrah, Iras, go.Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it yours, Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed : Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, And, when thou hast done this chare, 12 I'll give theo Cæsar's no merchant to make prize with you leave or things that merchants sold. Therefore be to play till dooms-day.--Bring our crown and all. cheer'd; Wherefore's this noise? (Ex. Tras. A noise within. Make 'not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen; Enter one of the Guard. For we intend so to dispose you, as Guard. Here is a rural fellow, Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep: That will not be denied your highness' presence ; He brings you figs. (1) Sew up. (2) Uncommonly. (3) Add to. (4) Common. (5) Cæsar's wise. (9) Beadles. (10) Lively. (6) Cæsar's sister. (7) Fire. (11) Female characters were played by boys. 28) Merits or demerits. (12) Job of work. Char. Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru- | Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I ment (Exit 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 : or woman in me: Now from head to fool If she first meet the curl'd 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, mortal wretcn, [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Guard. This is the man. Tor life at once untie : poor venomous fool, Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. (Exit Guard. Be angry, and despatch. O, could'st thou speak ! Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass That kills and pains not? Unpolicied! Clown. Truly I have him: but I would not be Char. O eastern star! the party that should desire you to touch him, for Cleo. Peace, peace! his biting is immortal; those, that do die of it, do Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, seldom or never recover. That sucks the nurse asleep? Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't ? "O, break! O, break! Cloron. Very many, men and women too. 1 Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as heard of one of them no longer than yesterday : a gentle, very honest woman, but something given to lie; as O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too :a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty : (Applying another asp to her arm. now she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt, What should I stay- Falls on a bed, and dies. -Truly, she makes a very good report o'the worm? | Char. In this wild world ?-So, fare thee well. But he that will believe all that they say, shall Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies never be saved by half that they do: But this is A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close; nost falible, the worm's an odd worm. And golden Phæbus never be beheld Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. or eyes again so royal ! Your crown's awry; Cloron. I wish you all joy of the worm. I'll mend it, and then play. Enter the Guard, rushing in. worm will do his kind.) | 1 Guard. Where is the queen ? Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. Char. Speak sostly, wake her not. Cloron. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted, i Guard. Cæsar hath sentout in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, Char. Too slow a messenger. there is no goodness in the worm. (Applies the asp. Cleo. Take thou no care ; it shall be heeded. Jo, come; apace, despatch : I partly feel thee. Cloron. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you,/ 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cofor it is not worth the feeding. sar's beguild. Cleo. Will it eat me ? 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar ; Cloron. You must not think I am so simple, but call him. I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: 1 I Guard. What work is here ? Charmian, is this know, that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the well done, devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whore- Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess son devils do the gods great harm in their women; Descended of so many royal kings. for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five. Ah, soldier ! (Diese Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. Cloron. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the Enter Dolabella. [Exit. Dol. How goes it here? All dead. Dol. Cæsar, thy thoughts Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming Immortal longings in me : Now no more To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip : So sought's to hinder. Enter Cæsar, and Allendants. Bravest at the last : I am fire, and air ; my other elements She levell’d at our purposes, and, being royal, I give to baser life. So,-have you done? Took her own way.-The manner of their deaths ? Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. I do not see them bleed. Farewell, kind Charmian ;-Iras, long farewell. Dol. Who was last with them? [Kisses them. Iras falls and dies. 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her Have I the aspic in my lips ? Vost fall ? If thou and nature can so gently part, This was his basket. The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Cæs. Poison'd then. Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still ? 1 1 Guard. If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake: It is not worth leave-taking. I found her trimming up the diadem. (1) Inconstant. (2) Serpent. (4) Make haste, (3) Act according to his nature. (5) Unpolitic, to leave me to myself. L figsmeket. |