The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Being so frustrate,* tell him, he mocks us by The pauses that he makes.t

Dol. Cesar, I shall. [Exit DOLABELLA.

Enter DERCETAS, with the Sword of ANTONY. Ces. Wherefore is that? and what art thou,

that dar'st

Appear thus to us?

Der. I am call'd Dercetas;

Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy
Best to be serv'd: whilst he stood up and spoke,
He was my master; and I wore my life,
To spend upon his haters: If thou please
To take me to thee, as I was to him

I'll be to Cesar; if thou pleasest not,

I yield thee up my life.

Ces. What is't thou say'st?

Der. I say, O Cesar, Antony is dead.

Ces. The breaking of so great a thing should

make

A greater crack: The round world should have shook

Lions into civil streets,

[tony

That she preparedly may frame herself
To the way she's forced to.

Ces. 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 Cesar cannot live

To be ungentle.

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

forts

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
And how you find of her.
Pro. Cesar, I shall.

[says,

[Exit PROCULEIUS.

Ces. Gallus, go you along. Where's Dola

bella,

To second Proculeius? Agr. Mec. Dolabella!

[Exit GALLUS.

Ces. Let him alone, for I remember now
How he's employed; he shall in time be ready.

And citizens to their dens:-The death of An- Go with me to my tent; where you shall see
Is not a single doom; in the name lay
A moiety of the world.

He needs must see himself.

Ces. O Antony!

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 hist thoughts did kindle,-that
our stars,

Unreconcileable, should divide
[friends,
Our equalness to this.-Hear me, good
But I will tell you at some meeter season;

Enter a MESSENGER.

The business of this man looks out of him, We'll hear him what he says. Whence are you?

Mess. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my
mistress,

Confin'd in all she has, her monument,
Of thy intents desires instruction;

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 Cesar;
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
The beggar's nurse and Cesar's.
[dung,

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

Pro. Cesar 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.] What's thy name?
Pro. My name is Proculeius.

Cleo. [Within.] 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
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.

* Servant.

Have comfort; for, I know, your plight is piti- |O, such another sleep, that I might see Of him that caus'd it.

Dol. If it might please you,

[ed Gal. You see how easily she may be surpriz'd;

But such another man!

[Here PROCULEIUS, and two of the Guard, ascend the Monument by a Ladder placed against a Window, and having descended, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar and open the Gates.

Guard her till Cesar come.

[TO PROCULEIUS and the Guard. Exit

GALLUS.

Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck

A sun and moon; which kept their course.

and lighted The little O, the earth. Dol. Most sovereign creature,

Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd

As platest dropp'd from his pocket.
Dol. Cleopatra,-

Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be,

such a man

As this I dream'd of?

Dol. Gentle madam, no.

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 [gine To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imaAn Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.

Dol. Hear me, good madam: [it Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear As answering to the weight: 'Would I might

Bound, confined.

+ Rabble.

Ces. Cleopatra, know,

We will extenuate rather than enforce:

If you apply yourself to our intents,

We answer others' merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.
Ces. Cleopatra,

[ledg'd,

(Which towards you are most gentle,) you Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknow

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
[lord.
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good
Ces. You shall advise me in all for Cleopa-

tra.

Ces. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cesar! O, behold,

yours;

[mine.

How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be
And, should we shift estates, yours would be
The ingratitude of this Seleucus does [trust
Even make me wild:-O slave, of no more
Than love that's hir'd!-What, goest thou

back? thou shalt

[eyes,

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine
Though they had wings: Slave, soulless vil-

lian, dog!

O rarelyt base!

Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
Cesar'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 [sleep:
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and
Our care and pity is so much upon you,
That we remain your friend; And so adieu.
Cleo. My master, and my lord!
Ces. 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 And we are for the dark. [done,

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. Behold, Sir.

Cleo. Dolabella?

[Exit CHARMIAN.

Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your com

mand,

Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this: Cesar 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. Dolabella,
I shall remain your debtor.
Dol. I your servant.
Adien, good queen; I must attend on Cesar.
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: mechanic slaves,

Ces. Good queen, let us entreat you.
Cleo. O Cesar, what a wounding shame is With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall

As we greet moderný friends withal'; and say, Extemporally will stage us, and present

For things that others do; and, when we fall, Show me, my women, like a queen;-Go fetch

Enter CHARMIAN.

** Fire.

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 doomsday. Bring our crown and
Wherefore's this noise?

[all. [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.

ment

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru[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 fleetingi 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. Remembers't 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?

† Serpent.

+ Inconstant.

|| Make haste.

Act according to his nature.

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 Phœbus never be beheld

Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry; I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the GUARD, rushing in.

1 Guard. Where is the queen ?
Char. Speak softly, wake her not.
1 Guard. Cesar hath sent-
Char. Too slow a messenger.

[Applies the Asp.

O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cesar's beguil'd.

2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cesar;-call him.

1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is

this well done?

Char. It is well done, and fitting for a prinDescended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier!

Enter DOLABELLA

Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. All dead.

Dol. Cesar, thy thoughts

cess

[Dies.

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 Cesar!

* Unpolitic, to leave me to myrat.

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