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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 Cesar's.

Enter, to the Gates of the Monument, PROCU-
LEIUS, 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 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.

Pro, Be of good cheer:

You are fallen into a princely haud; fear nothing;

Make your full reference freely to my lord,
Who is so full of grace, that it flows over
On all that need: Let me report to him
Your sweet dependancy; and you shall find
A conqueror, that will pray in aid for kindness,
Where he for grace is kneel'd to.

Cleo. [Within.] Pray you, tell him

I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him
The greatness he has got.. I hourly learn
A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly
Look him i'the face.

Pro. This I'll report, dear lady.
Have comfort: for I know your plight is pitied
Of him that caus'd it.

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

[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.

Iras. Royal queen!
Char. O Cleopatra ! thou art taken, queen !—
Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands.

[Drawing a Dagger.

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

Dol. Hear me, good madam :

Come hither, come ! come, come, and take a queen Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it

Worth many babes and beggars !

Pro. O temperance, lady!

Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, If idle talk will once be necessary, [Sir; I'll not sleep neither: This mortal house I'll ruin,

Do Cesar what he can. Know, Sir, that I
Will not wait pinion'd + at your master's court;
Nor once be chastis'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

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As answering to the weight: 'Would I might

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Enter CESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS,MECENAS, With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites SELEUCUS, and Attendants.

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Ces. Arise :

You shall not kneel:

madam.

me

Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;
[To SELEUCUS.
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits

[CLEOPATRA kneels. Through the ashes of my chance :-Wert thou a

I pray you, rise: rise, Egypt.
Cleo. Sir, the gods

Will have it thus; my master and my lord
I must obey.

Ces. Take to you no hard thoughts:
The record of what injuries you did us,
Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.

Cleo. Sole Sir o'the world,

I cannot project⚫ mine own cause so well
To make it clear; but to confess, I have
Been laden with like frailties, which before
Have often sham'd our sex.

Ces. Cleopatra, know,

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
[lord.
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good
Ces. 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.-Where's Seleucus ?
Sel. Here, madam.

Cleo. This is my treasurer: let him speak, my
lord,

Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam,

I had rather seel my lips, than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.

Cleo. What have I kept back?

man,

Thou would'st have mercy on me.

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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!
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 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. Behold, Sir.

Cleo. Dolabella?

[Eixt CHARMIAN.

Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,

Which my love makes religion to obey,

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made I tell you this: Cesar through Syria

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The ingratitude of this Seleucus does

Even make me wild :-O slave, of no more trust Than love that's hir'd !-What, goest thou back ?-thou shalt

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings: Slave, soulless villain, dog!

O rarely base!

Ces. Good queen, let us entreat you.

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.

Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cesar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks.

[Exit DOL.

Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanic 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,

Cleo. O Cesar, what a wounding shame is And forc'd to drink their vapour.

this;

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✰ Uncommonly.
Common.
.. Sister

Merits or demerits.

A term of contempt.

Female characters

were played by boys.

Iras. I'll never for it; for, I am sure, my Immortal longings in me: Now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this hip:

nails

Are stronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why that's the way

Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I

hear

To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian - Antony call; I see him rouse himself

Enter CHARMIAN.

Show me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch
My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony :-Sirrab, 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 all.
Wherefore's this noise?

[Exit IRAS. A Noise within.

Enter one of the GUARD.

Guard. Here is a rural fellow,

To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Cesar, 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.
Farwell, kind Charmian ;-Iras, long farewell.
[Kisses them. IRAS julls and dies.
Have I the aspic 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?

That will not be denied your highness', pre- If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

sence:

He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru

ment

[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
Nɔ 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 yesterdaya 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
[Exit.

worm.

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Which is my heaven to have. Come, mortal wretch,

[To the Asp, which she applies to her
Breast.

With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool,
Be angry, and despatch. Oh! could'st thou
speak!

That I might hear thee call great Cesar, Ass
Unpolicied! ‡

Char. O eastern star!

Cleo. 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, is 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. I

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: Ce-

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1 An ass without common policy, thus to leave me to

myself.

Play my part in this tragedy.

Dol. Cesar, 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 Cesar!

Enter CESAR, and Attendants.

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

Ces. Bravest at the last :

She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?

I do not see them bleed.

Dol. Who was last with them?

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Ces. Most probable,

That so she died; for her physician tells me,
She had pursu'd conclusions + infinite

Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed;
And bear her women from the monument :-

1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought She shall be buried by her Antony:

her figs :

This was his basket.

Ces. Poison'd then.

1 Guard. O Cesar,

No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so fainous. High events as these
Strike those that make them, and their story is
No less in pity, than his glory, which

This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall,

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TITUS ANDRONICUS.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

AS it is intended, in the present collection of Shakspeare's Dramatic Works, to present in regular succession all such as have the scenery, characters, or manners, drawn from the same country, the sanguinary and disgusting .Tragedy of Titus Andronicus is placed in immediate sequence to those that are essentially of Roman origin. The events, however, are not of historical occurrence, but were probably borrowed from an old ballad entered on the books of the Stationers' Company in the year 1593, about which period it may also have been written. Its identity, however, as one of Shakspeare's productions, rests on a very doubtful foundation. Dr. Percy supposes it only to have been corrected and re-touched by aim; but, says Dr. Johnson, "I do not find his touches very discernible." It is devoid of any striking sentiment--- it has none of the philosophic stateliness which generally distinguishes his plays---the anachronisms are gross--the language throughout is as tumid and laboured as the plot is horrid and unnatural ;---and the only approach to energy discernible in the play, occurs in the scene between Aaron, the nurse, and Demetrius. Indeed, there is internal evidence enough (in the versification, the character of the composition, the total difference of conduct, language, and sentiment, and also in its resemblance to several dramas of much more ancient date) to prove, with irresistible force, that it has been erroneously ascribed to Shakspeare. Dr. Johnson says, "All the editors and critics agree with Mr. Theobald in supposing this play spurious. I see no reason for differing from them; for the colour of the style is wholly different from that of the other play, and there is an attempt at regular versification and artificial closes, not always inelegant, yet seldom pleasing. The barbarity of the spectacle, and the general massacre which are here exhibited, can scarcely be conceived tolerable to any audience; yet we are told by Jonson, that they were not only borne but applauded. That Shakspeare wrote any part, though Theobald declares it incontestible, I see no reason for believing."

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

SATURNINUS, Son to the late Emperor of Rome, | ÆMILIUS, a noble Roman. and afterwards declared Emperor ALARBUS,

Bassi, himself, there to Saturninus in for CHIRON,

with Lavinia.

Sons to Tamora.

AARON, a Moor, beloved by Tamora.

TITUS ANDRONICUS, a noble Roman, General | A CAPTAIN, TRIBUNE, MESSENGER, and CLOWN; against the Goths.

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Romans.

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SCENE: Rome, and the Country near it.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Rome.-Before the Capitol. The tomb of the ANDRONICI appearing; the TRIBUNES and SENATORS aloft, as in the Senate. Enter, below, SATURNINUS and his Followers, on one side; and BASSIANUS and his Followers on the other; with Drum and Colours.

Sat. Noble patricians, patrons of my right,
Defend the justice of my cause with arms;
And, countrymen, my loving followers,
Plead my successive title with your swords:
I am his first-born son, that was the last
That wore the imperial diadem of Rome,
Then let my father's honours live in me,
Nor wrong mine age with this indignity.

Keep then this passage to the Capitol :
And suffer not dishonour to approach
The imperial seat, to virtue consecrate,
To justice, continence, and nobility:
But let desert in pure election shine;
And, Romans, fight for freedom in your choice.
Enter MARCUS ANDRONICUS, aloft, with the
Crown.

Mar. Princes, that strive by factions and by
friends,

Ambitiously for fule and empery,-
Know, that the people of Rome, for whom we
stand

A special party, have, by their common voice,
In election for the Roman empery,

Chosen Andronicus, surnamed Pius

For many good and great deserts to Rome;

Bas. Romans, friends, followers, favourers of A nobler man, a braver warrior,

of my right,

If ever Bassianus, Cesar's son,

Were gracious in the eyes of royal Rome,

My title to the succession.

Lives not this day within the city walls:
He by the senate is accited⚫ home,
From weary wars against the barbarous Goths,

• Summoned.

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