The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this, That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, 160 Doing the honor of thy lordliness To one so meek, that mine own servant should Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar, As we greet modern friends withal; and say, 170 Put we' the roll of conquest: still be 't yours, Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, Cæsar's no merchant, to make prize with you Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd ; Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen; For we intend so to dispose you as Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep : Our care and pity is so much upon you, That we remain your friend; and so, adieu. Cleo. My master, and my lord! Cæs. Not so. Adieu. 190 [Flourish. Exeunt Cæsar and his train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. [Whispers Charmian. Iras. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, And we are for the dark. Cleo. Char. Madam, I will. Cleo. Let him come in. [Exit Guardsman. Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in Guard. [Exit Guardsman. 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. Rememberest thou any that have died on't? 249 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. [Setting down his basket. Cleo. Farewell. 260 Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. 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? 271 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. 280 Clown. Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o' the worm. [Exit. Re-enter IRAs with a robe, crown, &c. Immortal longings in me now no more Antony call; 1 see him rouse himself I give to baser life. So; have you done? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. 301 Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that The gods themselves do weep! This proves me base : [To an asp, which she applies to her breast. Char. O eastern star ! Peace, peace! That sucks the nurse asleep? Char. O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too. Char. In this vile world? So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies Enter the Guard, rushing in. Too slow a messenger. [Applies an asp. , come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee. First Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well Cæsar's beguiled. Dol. How goes it here? Sec. Guard. All dead. Dol. 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, a way for Cæsar!' Re-enter CESAR and all his train marching. 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. 340 Who was last with them? First Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs : This was his basket. Cæs. First Guard. Poison'd, then. O Cæsar, This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem Cæs. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood and something blown: The like is on her arm. First Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Most probable Cæs. That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursued 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 361 No less in pity than his glory which shall In solemn show attend this funeral; |