That I fome lady trifles have referv'd,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and fay,
Some nobler token I have kept apart

For Livia, and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded

With one that I have bred? The gods! It fmites me
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence

[TO SELEUCUS.

Or I fhall fhow the cinders of my fpirits
Through the ashes of my chance :-Wert thou a man,
Thou would'st have mercy on me.

Caf.

Forbear, Seleucus.

[Exit SELEUCUs.

Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greateft, are misthought For things that others do; and, when we fall,

We answer others' merits in our name,

Are therefore to be pitied.

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
Put we i' the roll of conqueft: ftill be it yours,

Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,

Cæfar's no merchant, to make prize with you

Of things that merchants fold. Therefore be cheer'd; Make not your thoughts your prifons: no, dear queen; For we intend fo to dispose you, as

Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and fleep:

Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; And so adieu.

Cleo. My master, and my lord!

Caf.

Not fo: Adieu.

[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.

Hie thee again :

I have spoke already, and it is provided;

Go, put it to the haste.

Char.

Madam, I will.

Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this: Cæfar through Syria
Intends his journey; and, within three days,
You with your children will he fend before :
Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
Your pleasure, and my promise.

Cleo.

Dolabella,

Dol.

I your fervant.

Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæfar.

Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. [Exit DOLA.] Now, Iras, what think'ft thou?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanick flaves

With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of grofs diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras.

The gods forbid !

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictors

I 4

Will

Will catch at us, like ftrumpets; and fcald rhymers
Ballad us out o' tune: the quick comedians
Extemporally will stage us, and present

Our Alexandrian revels; Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall fee
Some fqueaking Cleopatra boy my greatness

I' the posture of a whore.

Iras.

O the good gods!

Cleo. Nay, that is certain.

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

Cleo.

Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer

Their most abfurd 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 defpatch indeed:

And, when thou haft done this chare, I'll give thee leave
To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all.

Wherefore's this noife?

Guard.

[Exit IRAS. A noife within.

Enter one of the Guard.

Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be deny'd your highness' presence;

He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an inftrument

May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
My refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing

[Exit Guard.

Of

Of woman ini me: Now from head to foot

I am marble-conftant: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket.

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him.

Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,
That kills and pains not?

[Exit Guard.

Clown. Truly I have him but I would not be the party that should defire 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 fomething 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 the felt,-Truly, the makes a very good report o' the worm: But he that will believe all that they fay, shall never be faved 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 fets 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 trufted, but in the keeping of wife people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in the worm.

Cleo. Take thou no.care; it shall be heeded.

Clown.

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. But, truly, tefe fame whorefon 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.

Clown. Yes, forfooth; I wish you joy of 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; I fee him roufe himfelf

To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Cæfar, which the gods give men
To excufe their after wrath: Hufband, I come:
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
I am fire, and air; my other elements

I give to bafer life.-So,-have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian ;—Iras, long farewell.

[Kiffes them. IRAS falls and dies. Have I the afpick in my lips? Dost fall?

If thou and nature can fo gently part,
The ftroke of death is as a lover's pinch,

Which hurts, and is defir'd. Doft thou lie ftill?