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. 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 o' th' worm. Cleo. Enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c. [Exit. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me. Now, no more To praise my noble act; I hear him mock I am fire, and air; my other elements I give to baser life. So, have you done? [Kisses them. IRAS falls 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? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. Char. Dissolve, thick cloud; and rain, that I may say, The gods themselves do weep. Cleo. This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss, Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal wretch, [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Char. Cleo. O eastern star ! 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. [Falls on a bed, and dies. What should I stay Char. In this wild world? So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies Of eyes again so royal! Your crown 's awry; 1 Guard. Char. Enter the Guard, rushing in. Where is the Queen? Speak softly; wake her not. 1 Guard. Cæsar hath sent Char Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp. O, come; apace; dispatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar: call him. 1 Guard. What work is here? — Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. thyself art coming Touch their effects in this: To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou So sought'st to hinder. Within. A way there! a way for Cæsar! Enter CÆSAR, and his Train. 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, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed. Dol. Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman that brought her This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake. I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress: tremblingly she stood, And on the sudden dropp'd. O noble weakness! Cæs. As she would catch another Antony In her strong toil of grace. 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 fig leaves Have slime upon them, such as th' aspick leaves 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 VOL. XII. earth shall clip in it I |