Mess. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my mistress, Confined in all she has (her monument), Of thy intents desires instruction: That she preparédly may frame herself Cæs. Bid her have good heart : She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, Mess. So the gods preserve thee! [Exit. Pro. Cæsar, I shall. [Exit PROCULEIUS. Cas. Gallus, go you along.-Where's Dolabella, To second Proculeius? [Exit GALLUS. SCENE II.-Alexandria. A Room in the Monument. 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; 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 And bids thee study on what fair demands This I'll report, dear lady. Have comfort; for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it. Gal. You see how easily she may be surprised.— [PROCULEIUS and two of the Guard enter the Monument by a ladder placed against a window, and come behind CLEOPATRA. Others unbar and open the gates. Guard her till Cæsar come. Iras. Royal queen! [Exit GALLUS. Char. O Cleopatra, thou art taken, queen! Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands! [Draws a dagger. Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold! [Disarms her. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved, but not betrayed. What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish? Cleopatra, Cleo. Pro. Do not abuse my master's bounty by Cleo. Where art thou, death? 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, Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Dol. Most sovereign creature,— Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his reared arm Crested the world: his voice was propertied As all the tunéd spheres, and that to friends; But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, He was a rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in 't; an autumn 't was, That grew the more by reaping: his delights Were dolphin-like; they shewed his back above The element they lived in: in his livery Walked crowns and crownets; realms and islands were As plates dropped from his pocket. Know you what Cæsar means to do with me? Dol. I am loth 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. Madam, he will: I know it. Enter CESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECENAS, Cæs. Which is the Queen of Egypt? [CLEOPATRA kneels. Cæs. Arise; you shall not kneel.— I pray you, rise: rise, Egypt. Cleo. Sir, the gods A benefit in this change: but if you seek Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself Cleo. And may through all the world: 't is 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 possessed of: 't is exactly valued; Cleo. This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserved To myself nothing.-Speak the truth, Seleucus. I had rather seel my lips than, to my peril, Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this, To one so meek, that mine own servant should As we greet modern friends withal; and say, For Livia and Octavia, to induce With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me Beneath the fall I have.-Pr'y thee, go hence; [TO SELEUCUS. Or I shall shew the cinders of my spirits Through the ashes of my chance :-wert thou a man, Thou wouldst have mercy on me. Cæs. Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit SELEUCUS. Cleo. Be it known that we, the greatest, are mis-thought For things that others do; and when we fall, Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be it yours, Make not your thoughts your prisons; no, dear Cæs. Not so: adieu. [Exeunt CÆSAR and Train. Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. I shall remain your debtor. Dol. 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. [Exit Guard].—How May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. 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 pain 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. Immortal longings in me: now no more To praise my noble act: I hear him mock I give to baser life.-So; have you done? Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain: that I The gods themselves do weep! [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, 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 unparalleled.-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. 1st Guard. Where is the queen? Char. Speak softly; wake her not. 1st Guard. Cæsar hath sent |