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Ballad us out o' tune: the quick 1 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.

2

O the good gods!

Cle. Nay, that is certain.

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

Cle.

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
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,3 I'll give thee leave

To play till doomsday.-Bring our crown and all. Wherefore's this noise?

[Exit Iras. A noise within.

1 Lively, inventive.

? Female characters were formerly played by boys.

3 Task-work.

Guard.

Enter one of the Guard.

Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be denied your highness' presence:
He brings you figs.

Cle. Let him come in. What poor an instrument
[Exit Guard.
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.

Re-enter GUARD, with a CLOWN bringing in a basket.

Guard.

This is the man.

Cle. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm 1 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.

Cle. Rememberest 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.

Serpent.

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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.

Cle. Get thee hence; farewell.

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm.

Cle. Farewell.

[Clown sets down the basket.

Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.1

Cle. 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.

Cle. Take thou no care: it shall be heeded.

Clown. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you; for it is not worth the feeding.

Cle. 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. Cle. Well, get thee gone: farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy of the [Exit.

worm.

1 Act according to his nature.

Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c.

Cle. 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,1 good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I hear
Antony call; I 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.
Dost fall?

Have I the aspic in my lips?

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.

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say,

The gods themselves do weep !

Cle.

This proves me base

If she first meet the curled Antony,

He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss,

:

1 Make haste.

Which is my heaven to have.-Come, thou mortal wretch,

[to 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!
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar ass

1

Unpolicied! 1

Char. O eastern star!

Cle.

Peace, peace!

Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,

That sucks the nurse asleep?

Char.

O, break! O, break!

Cle. 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— [falls on a bed, and dies.
Char. In this wild 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

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

Enter the GUARD, rushing in.

1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char.

Speak softly; wake her not.

1 Impolitic, thus to leave the means of death within my reach.

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