Cleo. How See Cæsar! O, behold, is follow'd! mine will now be yours; pomp And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild: - O slave, of no more trust thou shalt Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings: Slave, soul-less villain, dog! O rarely base! Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this; That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, Doing the honour of thy lordliness To one so meek, that mine own servant should With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me [TO SELEUCUS. Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits a man, Thou would'st have mercy on me. Cæs. Wert thou Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit SELEUCus. Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are mis thought For things that others do; and, when we fall, 7 Add to. 8 Common. 9 Cæsar's wife. We answer others' merits in our name, Cæs. Cleopatra, Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be it 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. [Exeunt CESAR, 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. I have spoke already, and it is provided; Char. Hie thee again: Madam, I will. · 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, Make your best use of this: I have perform'd Cleo. Dolabella, I your servant. Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar. Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shall be shown 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 2 Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails Are stronger than mine eyes. Cleo. Why that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian? Enter CHARMIAN. Show me, my women, like a queen;-Go fetch 2 Lively. 3 Female characters were played by boys. VOL. VIII. To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all. Wherefore 's this noise? Guard. [Exit IRAS. A Noise within. Enter one of the 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. 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. Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. Clown: Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the worm. Re-enter IRAS, with a Robe, Crown, &c. [Exit. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have To praise my noble act; I hear him mock I give to baser life.-So,-have you done? [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, 4 Act according to his nature, s Make haste. |