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 your servant.

Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. [Exit DoL.] Now,
Iras, what think'st thou?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shall be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanick slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

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 9 comedians
Extemporally will stage us, and present
Our Alexandria revels; Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness.
Iras.

O the good gods!

Cleo. Nay, that is certain. 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?

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

To play till doomsday. - 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 [Erit 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.
[Erit 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 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. [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.

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.
Have I the aspick in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,

If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
It is not worth leave-taking.

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

Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep?

Char. O, break! O, break! Cleo. 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.

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, way for Cæsar!

Enter CESAR, and Attendants.

Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear, is done.

Cæs.

Bravest at the last: She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, I do not see them bleed. Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?

Dol.

Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs; This was his basket.

Cæs.

1 Guard.

Poison'd then.

O Cæsar,

This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake;
I found her trimming up the diadem
On her dead mistress; trembling she stood,
And on the sudden dropp'd.

Cæs.

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 In her strong toil of grace. 5

Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown : The like is on her arm.

1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail: and these figleaves

Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves Upon the caves of Nile.

Cæs. Most probable, That so she died; for her physician tells me, She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed; And bear her women from the monument: She shall be buried by her Antony; No grave upon the earth shall clip 6 in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them: and their story is No less in pity than his glory, which Brought them to be lamented. In solemn show, attend this funeral; And then to Rome. - Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity.

For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think,
So fair an outward, and such stuff within,
Endows a man but he.

2 Gent.

You speak him far. ? 1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly. 3

2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth? 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour, Against the Romans, with Cassibelan : But had his titles by Tenantius 4, whom He serv'd with glory and admir'd success: So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus : And had, besides this gentleman in question, Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time, Died with their swords in hand; for which their

father

(Then old and fond of issue) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd: and
2 i. e. You praise him extensively.

3 My praise, however extensive, is within his merit.
4 The father of Cymbeline.

Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
Evil-eyed unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthúmus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,
You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.
Post.

I will from hence to-day.
Queen.

Please your highness,

You know the peril :I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king Hath charg'd you should not speak together.

Imo.

[Exit QUEEN.

Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds! - My dearest husband,

I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing, (Always reserv'd my holy duty,) what

His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

Post.
My queen! my mistress!
O, lady, weep no more; lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man! I will remain
The loyal'st husband that did e'er plight troth.

5 Formed their manners.

To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.
Post.

[Aside.

[Exit.
Should we be taking leave
The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!
As long a term as yet we have to live,
Imo. Nay, stay a little :

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love,
This diamond was my mother's: take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post.
How! how! another?
And sear up my embracements from a next
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,

With bonds of death! - Remain thou here

[Putting on the Ring. As I my poor self did exchange for you, While sense can keep it on! And sweetest, fairest,

To your so infinite loss; so in our trifles
I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your face.

[Aside.

1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside.

Clo. I would they had not come between us. 2 Lord. So would I, till you had measured bow long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside. Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me!

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit. 3

2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there had been some hurt done!

2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. Clo. You'll go with us?

1 Lord. I'll attend your lordship. Clo. Nay, come, let's go together. 2 Lord. Well, my lord.

[Aside.

[Ereunt.

With his next 'vantage. 1

Be assur'd, madam,

Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him, How I would think on him, at certain hours, Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear

3 To understand the force of this idea, it should be remem. bered that anciently almost every sign had a motto, or some attempt at a witticism underneath it.

2 Consideration.

4 Opportunity.