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Cleo.

Why, that's the way

To fool their preparation, and to conquer

Their most absurd 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 despatch indeed :
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee

leave

To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all. Wherefore's this noise? (Exit Iras. A noise within.

Guard.

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 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.

[Exit Guard.

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him.

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.

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. But, truly, these same whoreson 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, forsooth; I wish you joy of the worm.

Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c.

[Exit.

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! 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,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

It is not worth leave-taking.

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