Is done unto thy hand; the last she spake
Was, Antony! most noble Antony!

Then in the midst a tearing groan did break
The name of Antony; it was divided
Between her heart and lips; she render'd life,
Thy name so buried in her.

Ant. Mar.

Dead then?

Dead. Ant. Eros, unarm; the long day's task is done, And we must sleep:-That thou depart'st hence safe, Does pay thy labour richly; Go.-Off, pluck off;[Exit Mardian.

The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep
The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,
Crack thy frail case!-Apace, Eros, apace.--
No more a soldier:-Bruised pieces, go;
You have been nobly borne.-From me awhile.-

[Exit Eros.

I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now
All length is torture:-Since the torch is out,
Lie down, and stray no further: Now all labour
Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles
Itself with strength Seal then, and all is done.-
Eros I come, my queen-Eros !-Stay for me:
Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand,
And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze:
Dido and her Eneas shall want troops,
And all the haunt be ours.-Come, Eros, Eros!
Re-enter Eros.

Eros. What would my lord?
Ant.
Since Cleopatra died,
I have liv'd in such dishonour, that the gods
Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back
With ships made cities, condemn myself, to lack
The courage of a woman; less noble mind
Than she, which, by her death, our Cæsar tells,
I am conqueror of myself. Thou art sworn, Eros,
That, when the exigent should come (which now
Is come, indeed), when I should see behind me
The inevitable prosecution of

Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,
Thou then wouldst kill me: do't; the time is come:
Thou strik'st not me, 'tis Cæsar thou defeat'st.
Put colour in thy cheek.
Eros.
The gods withhold me!
Shall I do that, which all the Parthian darts,
Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?

Ant.

Eros,

Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome, and see
Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdued

To penetrative shame; whilst the wheel'd seat
Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued?

Eros. My sword is drawn. Ant.

Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. Ant. Lo thee. [Turning from him. Then let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it. Eros. My dear master, My captain, and my emperor! let me say, Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell. Ant. 'Tis said, man;-and farewell. Eros, Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? Ant. Now, Eros. Eros. Why, there then-[Falls on his Sword] Thus do I escape the sorrow Of Antony's death. Ant. Thrice nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what

[Dies.

phesying fear

Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw
(Which never shall be found), you did suspect
She had dispos'd with Cæsar, and that your rage
Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was
dead;

But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
I dread, too late.

[pr'ythee. Ant. Too late, good Diomed:-Call my guard, I Dio. What ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, Come, your lord calls. [what, ho!

Enter some of the Guard.
Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides;
'Tis the last service that I shall command you.
1 Guard. Woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear
All your true followers out.
All.
Most heavy day!
Ant. Nay, good, my fellows, do not please sharp fate
To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome
Which comes to punish us, and we punish it
Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:

I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,
And have my thanks for all.

[Exeunt, bearing Antony.
SCENE XIII. The same. A Monument.
Enter above, Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras.
Cleo. O Charmian, I will never go from hence.
Char. Be comforted, dear madam.
Cleo.
No, I will not:

All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
Enter Diomedes.

As that which makes it.-How now? is he dead?
Dio. His death's upon him, but not dead.
Look out o'the other side your monument,
His guard have brought him thither.

Enter Antony, borne by the Guard,

Peace:

Cleo.
O thou san,
Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in!-darkling
The varying shore o'the world!-0 Antony! [stand,
Antony, Antony!-Charmian, help; help, Iras;
Help, friends below; let's draw him hither.
Ant.
Not Cæsar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,
But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself.
Cleo, So it should be, that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!
Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only

I here importune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.-

Cleo.

I dare not, dear (Dear, my lord, pardon), I dare not, Lest I be taken not the imperious show

Of the full-fortun'd Cæsar ever shall

Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, have

Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe:
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes,
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour
Demuring upon me.-But come, come, Antony,-
Help me, my women, we must draw thee up ;-
Assist, good friends.

Ant.
O, quick, or I am gone.
Cleo. Here's sport, indeed!-How heavy weighs
Our strength is all gone into heaviness, my lord?
That makes the weight: Had I great Juno's power,
The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up,
And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little,-
Wishers were ever fools;-0, come, come, come;
[They draw Antony up.
And welcome, welcome! die, where thou hast liv'd:
Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out.

All.

A heavy sight!
Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying:
Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, Provok'd by may offence.

Ant.

One word, sweet queen: Of Cesar seek your honour, with your safety.-0! Cleo. They do not go together.

Ant.

Gentle, hear me : None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius. Cleo. My resolution, and my hands, I'll trust; None about Cæsar.

Ant. The miserable change now at my end, Lament nor sorrow at: but please your thoughts, In feeding them with those my former fortuues Wherein I liv'd, the greatest prince o'the world, The noblest and do now not basely die, Nor cowardly; put off my helmet to My countryman, a Roman, by a Roman Valiantly vanquish'd. Now, my spirit is going;

I can no more. Cleo.

[Dies.

Noblest of men, woo't die ?
Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty?-O, see, my women,
The crown o'the earth doth melt-My lord?-
O, wither'd is the garland of the war,

The soldiers' pole is fallen; young boys, and girls,
Are level now with men: the odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon.

Char.

[She faints.

O, quietness, lady! Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign.

Char.

Iras.

Char. O madam, madam, madam ! Iras.

Empress !

Char. Peace, peace, Iras.

Lady,Madam,

Royal Egypt!

Cleo. No more, but e'en a woman; and commanded By such poor passion as the maid that milks, And does the meanest chares. It were for me To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; To tell them, that this world did equal theirs, Till they had stolen our jewel. Ali's but naught; Patience is sottish; and impatience does. Become a dog that's mad: Then is it sin, To rash into the secret house of death,

Ere death dare come to us?-How do you, women? What, what? good cheer! Why, how now, CharMy noble girls!-Ah, women, women! look, [mian? Our lamp is spent, it's out:--Good sirs, take heart: To the Guard below.

We'll bury him and then, what's brave, what's noble,

Enter Dercetas, with the Sword of Antony. Cas. Wherefore is that? and what art thou, that Appear thus to us? [dar'st 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 Cæsar; if thou pleasest not, I yield thee up my life. Cas.

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 his thoughts did kindle,-that our stars,
Unreconcileable, should divide

Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends,--
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 monumeat,

Of thy intents desires instruction;
That she preparedly may frame herself
To the way she's forced to.
Cas.
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 Cæsar cannot live
To be ungentle.

Mess.
So the gods preserve thee! [Exit.
Caes. Come hither, Proculeius; Go, and say,
We purpose her no shame give her what comforts
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 says,
And how you find of her.
Pro.

Cæsar, I shall. [Exit. Cas. Gallus, go you along.-Where's Dolabella, To second Proculeius? [Exit Gallus.

Dolabella!

Agr. Mec. Cas. Let him alone, for I remember now How he's employ'd; he shall in time be ready. Go with me to my tent; where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war; How calm and gentle I proceeded still In all my writings: Go with me, and see What I can show in this.

[Exeunt.

Dol.

Cæsar, I shall.

[Exit.

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 Egypt; And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.

Cleo. [Within]

Pro. My name is Proculeius. Cleo. [Within]

What's thy name?

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 deep 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 1
Will kneel to him with thanks.

It shall content me best be gentle to her.-
To Cæsar I will speak what you shall please,

If you'll employ me to him.
Cleo.

[To Cleopatra.

Say, I would die. [Exeunt Proculeius and Soldiers. Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me? Cleo. I cannot tell.

Dol. Assuredly, you know me. Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard, or known. You laugh, when boys, or women, tell their dreams; Is't not your trick?" Dol. I understand not, madam. Cleo. I dream'd, there was an emperor Antony ;O, such another sleep, that I might see But such another man!

Dol. If it might please you,Cleo. His face was as the heavens: and therein stuck The little O, the earth. A sun and moon; which kept their course, and lighted

Dol.

Most sovereign creature,Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm Crested the world: his voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas, That grew the more by reaping: His delights Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above The element they liv'd in: In his livery Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands As plates dropp'd from his pocket.

Cleopatra,

[were

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

Dol.

Hear me, good madam : Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, As answering to the weight: Would I might never By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots My very heart at root. I thank you, sir. Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me? Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew. Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,Dol,

Cleo.

Though he be honourable,Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? Dol.

I know it.

Madam, he will;

Within. Make way there,-Cæsar.

Enter Cæsar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mecenas,

Seleucus, and Attendants.

What, of death too,

Cleopatra,

Cæs.

Which is the queen

Of Egypt? Dol.

'Tis the emperor, madam.

[Cleopatra kneels. Arise,

Do not abuse my master's bounty, by
The undoing of yourself: let the world see
His nobleness well acted, which your death"
Will never let come forth.

Cleo.
Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen
Worth many babes and beggars!

Pro.

O, temperance, lady! 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, Do Cæsar 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 Blow me into abhorring! rather make My country's high pyramids my gibbet, And hang me up in chains!

You shall not kneel :

I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
Cleo.
Sir, the gods
Will have it thus; my master and my lord
I must obey.
Cas.

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.
Sole sir o'the world,

Cleo.

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

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.

[and we Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. Caes. 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?

Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made

known.

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

Cleo.

See, Cæsar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. 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, soul-less villain, dog!
O rarely base!
Cæs.

Good queen, let us entreat you.

Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this;
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar,
That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity

As we greet modern friends withal: and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia, and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded
With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;
[To Seleucus.
Or I shall show 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

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure: and believe,
Cæsar's no nrerchant, 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
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep :
Our care and pity is so much upon yon,
That we remain your friend; And so adieu.
Cleo. My master, and my lord!
Cæs.

Not so: Adieu. [Exeunt Cæsar and his Train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should Be noble to myself; but hark thee, Charmian. [not [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.

[leave

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
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,
That will not be denied 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.
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.

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. Will it eat me?

Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: 1 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.