Do not abuse my master's bounty by
The undoing of yourself: let the world see
His nobleness well acted, which your death
Will never let come forth.

Cleo.
Where art thou, death?
Come hither, come! come, come, and take a
queen

Worthy many babes and beggars!

Pro.

O, temperance, lady! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir;

If idle talk will once be necessary, 50 I'll not sleep neither: this mortal house I'll ruin,

Do Cæsar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court;
Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up
And show me to the shouting varletry
Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud

lighted The little O, the earth. Dol. Most sovereign creature,Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd

arm

Crested the world his voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends! But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas That grew the more by reaping his delights Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back

O'ertake pursued success, but I do feel,

By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites My very heart at root.

Cleo. I thank you, sir, Know you what Cæsar means to do with me? Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,Dol. Though he be honorable,— Cleo. He'll lead me, then, in triumph? Dol. Madam, he will; I know't. [Flourish, and shout within, ' Make way there: Cæsar!'

110

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. Sel. Madam,

I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, Speak that which is not.

Cleo.

What have I kept back?

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have

made known.

To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by

Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar,
That I some lady trifles have reserved,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity

As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded

170

With one that I have bred? The gods ! it

smites me

Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a

man,

Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
Cœs.

Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit Seleucus. Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest,

are misthought

For things that others do; and, when we fall,
We answer others' merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.

Cœs.

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserved, nor what ac

knowledged,

180

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.

I shall remain your debtor. Dol.

Dolabella,

I your servant,
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. [Exit Dolabella.
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 breathis,
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forced to drink their vapor.

Iras.
The gods forbid !
Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: saucy

lictors

That will not be denied your highness' pres

ence:

He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. [Exit Guardsman.
What poor an instrument
May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
My resolution's placed, 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.
241

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

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.

260

Cleo. Farewell. 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.
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; 1 see him rouse himself

To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck 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. So; 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 aspic 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 desired. Dost thou lie
still?

If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking.

301

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, thou mortal wretch,

[To an 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 dispatch. O, couldst thou speak,
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar ass 310
Unpolicied!

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 asp to her arm.
What should I stay-
[Dies.
Char. In this vile 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

320

Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry ; I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the Guard, rushing in. First Guard. Where is the queen? Char. Speak softly, wake her not. First Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies an asp. , corne 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 ali 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.