Ant. Thrice nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what

I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and
Eros

Have, by their brave instruction, got upon me
A nobleness in record: But I will be
A bridegroom in my death, and run into't
As to a lover's bed. Come then; and, Eros,
Thy master dies thy scholar; to do thus

[Falling on his sword. I learn'd of thee. How! not yet dead? not dead? The guard!-ho! - O, despatch me.

Enter DERCETAS and Guard.

1 Guard. What's the noise? Ant. I have done my work ill, friends: O, make an end

Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw
(Which never shall be found,) you did suspect
She had dispos'd with Cæsar, and that your rage
Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was
dead;

But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
I dread, too late.

Ant. Too late, good Diomed: :- - Call my guard,
I pr'ythee.

Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, what, ho! Come, your lord calls.

As that which makes it. - How now? is he dead?
Dio. His death's upon him, but not dead.
Look out o' the other side your monument,
His guard have brought him thither.

Enter ANTONY, borne by the Guard.

Cleo. O thou sun, Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in ! — darkling stand

The varying shore o' the world! - O Antony! Antony, Antony! - Charmian, help; help, Iras; Help, friends below; Let's draw him hither.

Not Cæsar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,
But Antony's hath triumphed on itself.
Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!
Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
I here impórtune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.

Cleo.
I dare not, dear
(Dear my lord, pardon,) I dare not,

Lest I be taken: not the imperious show
Of the full-fortun'd Cæsar ever shall

Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe:
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes,
And still conclusion 5, shall acquire no honour
Demuring upon me. — But come, come, Antony,-
Help me, my women, we must draw thee up ; —
Assist, good friends.

Ant.

O, quick, or I am gone. Cleo. Here's sport indeed! - How heavy weighs my lord!

Our strength is all gone into heaviness,
That makes the weight: Had I great Juno's power,
The strong wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up,
And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little, -
Wishers were ever fools; - O, come, come, come;
[They draw ANTONY up.
And welcome, welcome! die, where thou hast liv'd:
Quicken 6 with kissing; had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out.

All.

A heavy sight.
Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying:
Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, Provok'd by my offence.

Ant.

One word, sweet queen: Of Cæsar seek your honour, with your safety. —O! Cleo. They do not go together.

Ant. Gentle, hear me : None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius. 1 Ornamented. Sedate determination.

• Reviva

Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
What, what? good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?
My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look!
Our lamp is spent, it's out: Good sirs, take
heart: -
[To the Guard below.
We'll bury him: and then what's brave, what's noble,
Let's do it after the high Roman fashion,
And make death proud to take us.
Come away:
This case of that huge spirit now is cold.
Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend
But resolution, and the briefest end.

[Exeunt; those above bearing off ANTONY's Body.

Cæsar, I shall. [Exit DOLABELLA.

Enter DERCETAS, with the Sword of ANTONY. Cæs. Wherefore is that? and what art thou, that dar'st Appear thus to us?

Cæs. What is't thou say'st? Der. I say, O Cæsar, Antony is dead. Cæs. The breaking of so great a thing should make A greater crack: The round world should have shook Lions into civil streets,

And citizens to their dens.

Cæs.

Look you sad, friends?

The gods rebuke me, but it is a tidings To wash the eyes of kings.

Agr.

And strange it is, That nature must compel us to lament Our most persisted deeds.

Mec.

His taints and honours

Waged equal with him.
Agr.
A rarer spirit never
Did steer humanity: but you gods will give us
Some faults to make us mend. Cæsar is touch'd.
Mec. When such a spacious mirror's set before him,
He needs must see himself.

O Antony !

-

Cæs. I have follow'd thee to this: But we do lance Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce Have shown to thee such a declining day, Or look on thine; we could not stall together In the whole world: but yet let me lament, With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, That thou, my brother, my competitor In top of all design, my mate in empire, Friend and companion in the front of war, The arm of mine own body, and the heart Where mine his thoughts did kindle, — that our

stars,

Unreconciliable, should divide

Is not a single doom; in the name lay A moiety of the world.

Der.

He is dead, Cæsar;
Not by a public minister of justice,
Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand,
Which writ his honour in the acts it did,
Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,
Splitted the heart. This is his sword,

I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd
With his most noble blood.

Enter a Messenger.

That she preparedly may frame herself
To the way she's forc'd to.
Cæs.

Bid her have good heart;
She soon shall know of us, by some of ours,
How honourable and how kindly we
Determine for her: for Cæsar cannot live
To be ungentle.

Mess.
So the gods preserve thee! [Exit.
Cas. Come hither, Proculeius; Go, and say,
We purpose her no shame; give her what comforts

The quality of her passion shall require;
Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke
She do defeat us: for her life in Rome
Would be eternal in our triumph: Go,

And, with your speediest, bring us what she says,
And how you find of her.

Pro.

Cæsar, I shall. [Exit PROCULEIUS. Cas. Gallus, go you along. -Where's Dolabella, To second Proculeius? [Exit GALLUS.

Agr. Mec.

Dolabella!

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS. Cleo. My desolation does begin to make A better life: 'Tis paltry to be Cæsar; Not being fortune, he's but fortune's knave 9, A minister of her will; And it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds; Which shackles accidents; and bolts up change; Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung, The beggar's nurse and Cæsar's.

Enter, to the Gates of the Monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS, and Soldiers.

Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the queen of Egypt;
And bids thee study on what fair demands
Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.
Cleo. [Within.]

Pro. My name is Proculeius.
Cleo. [Within.]

What's thy name?

Antony

Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but
I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd,

That have no use for trusting. If your master
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him,
That majesty, to keep decorum, must

No less beg than a kingdom: if he please
To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son,
He gives me so much of mine own, as I
Will kneel to him with thanks.

[Drawing a Dagger.

Hold, worthy lady, hold:
[Seizes and disarms her.

Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
Reliev'd, but not betray'd.

Cleo.

What, of death too

Cleopatra,

That rids our dogs of languish?

Pro.

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
Worth 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,

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 chástis'd 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 to me! rather on Nilus' mud
Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
Blow me into abhorring! rather make
My country's high pyramides my gibbet,
And hang me up in chains!
Pro.

You do extend
These thoughts of horror further than you shall
Find cause in Cæsar.

It shall content me best: be gentle to her. To Cæsar I will speak what you shall please,

If you'll employ me to him. Cleo.

[TO CLEOPATRA.

Say, I would die [Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers.

Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me? Cleo. I cannot tell.

Dol.

Assuredly, you know me.

Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. You laugh, when boys, or women, tell their dreams; Is't not your trick?

1 Rabble.

Cleo. You lie up to the hearing of the gods. But, if there be, or ever were one such,

It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.

Dol.
Hear me, good madam :
Your loss is as yourself, great and you bear it
As answering to the weight: Would I might never
O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel,

By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots
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 honourable, Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? Dol.

I know it.

We will extenuate rather than enforce:
If you apply yourself to our intents,
(Which towards you are most gentle,) you shall find
A benefit in this change; but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking

Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

Cleo. And may; through all the world: 'tis yours: and we

Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.

Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued: Not petty things admitted.

Sel. Here, madam.

. Where's Seleucus?

To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity
As we greet modern 7 friends withal: and say,
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 smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;
[TO SELEUCUS.

Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
Through the ashes of my chance.

man,

Thou wouldst have mercy on me. Cæs.

Wert thou a

Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit SELEUCUS.

Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are mis

Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed : And, when thou hast done this chare. I'll give thee leave

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.

Hie thee again: I have spoke already, and it is provided; Go, put it to the haste. Char.

Madam, I will.

Re-enter DOLABELLA.

Dol. Where is the queen?
Char.

Cleo.

Behold, sir. [Exit CHARMIAN.
Dolabella?

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,
You with your children will he send before:
Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
Your pleasure and my promise.

Cleo.

I shall remain your debtor.

Dol.

Dolabella,

I your servant.

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

[Exit IRAS. A Noise within. Enter one of the Guard.

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 pains she felt.Truly, she makes a very good report o' the worm: But be 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. 2

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. [Erit.

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 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!

2 Act according to his nature.

3 Make haste