Cas. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I ap- Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and Even make me wild: O slave, of no more Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. trust Than love that's hired! What, goest thou back? thou shalt Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, [Whispers Charmian. Iras. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, And we are for the dark. Cleo. Though they had wings: slave, soulless vil- I have spoke already, and it is provided; lain, dog! O rarely base! Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, 160 To one so meek, that mine own servant should and 170 With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me Beneath the fall I have. [To Seleucus] Prithee, Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits a man, Hie thee again: Go put it to the haste. Madam, I will. Now, Iras, what think'st thou? Thou wouldst have mercy on me. Now, Charmian! I give thee leave 231 To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and - all. Wherefore's this noise? [Exit Iras. A noise within. Guard. ence: He brings you figs. 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, sha!! never be saved by half that they do: but this is most fallible, the worm 's an odd worm. Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. 260 Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. [Setting down his basket. 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. 271 Cleo. Will it eat me? Clown. You must not think I am so sim ple but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: I know that a woman is a dish for Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. 280 Immortal longings in me: now no more Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in Guard. [Exit Guardsman. Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not? Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell. 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 If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world 249 It is not worth leave-taking. died on 't? 301 Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? 311 Char. O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too: Enter the Guard, rushing in. All's not Too slow a messenger. [Applies an asp. O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee. First Guard. Approach, ho! well: Cæsar's beguiled. Sec. Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar; call him. First Guard. What work is here! mian, is this well done? Char for a Char. It is well done, and fitting princess Descended of so many royal kings. 330 Ah, soldier! [Dies. Re-enter Dolabella. 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 CÆSAR and all his train, marching. Dol. O sir, you are too sure an augurer; "That you did fear is done. Cas. I do not see them bleed. 340 Who was last with them? First Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs: This was his basket. This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony 350 In her strong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood and something blown: The 1ke 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 Cas. That so she died; for her physician tells me Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed; She hath pursued conclusions infinite 361 She shall be buried by her Antony: Sec. Gent. That a king's children should be so convey'd, So slackly guarded, and the search so slow, That could not trace them! First Gent. Howsoe'er 'tis strange, Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at, Yet it is true, sir. Sec. Gent. First Gent. We must forbear: here comes the gentleman, I do well believe you. The queen, and princess. [Exeunt. Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN. Queen. No, be assured you shall not find me, daughter, After the slander of most stepmothers, 70 queen, And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send, Though ink be made of gall. Queen. 100 Be brief, I pray you: If the king come, I shall incur I know not How much of his displeasure. [Aside] Yet I'll move him To walk this way: I never do him wrong, But he does buy my injuries, to be friends; Pays dear for my offences. [Exit. Post. Should we be taking leave As long a term as yet we have to live, The loathness to depart would grow. Adieu! Imo. Nay, stay a little: Were you but riding forth to air yourself, Such parting were too petty. Look here, love; Evil-eyed unto you: you're my prisoner, but This diamond was my mother's: take it, Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys heart; That lock up your restraint. For you, Post-But keep it till you woo another wife, humus, So soon as I can win the offended king, When Imogen is dead. Post. How, how, another? |