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Antony and Cleopatra

Act V, Scene 2

Alexandria. A room in the monument.
 
[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS]
 
CLEOPATRA
          ,    ,        ,       ,         ,
      My des|ola|tion does | begin | to make
         ,        ,           ,    2    ,    ,
      A bet|ter life:| 'Tis palt|ry to be | Caesar:
       T   Tx    T          ,         ,           ,
      Not being For|tune, he's | but For|tune's knave,
         ,     ,      2      ,         ,        ,
      A min|ister | of her will:| and it | is great
          ,          ,            ,         ,       ,
      To do | that thing | that ends | all^oth|er deeds,
              ,        ,     ,           ,           ,
      Which shack|les ac|cidents,| and bolts | up change;
               ,          ,      ,         ,          ,
      Which sleeps,| and nev|er pal|ates more | the dung,
           ,          ,          ,
      The beg|gar's nurse,| and Cae|sar's.  \\
 
[Enter, to the gates of the monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS and Soldiers]
 
PROCULEIUS
       ,         ,     ,         2        ,        ,
      Caesar | sends greet/ing to the | Queen of | Egypt,
            ,          ,      ,          ,        ,
      And bids | thee stu|dy on | what fair | demands
              ,          ,          ,
      Thou meanst | to have | him grant | thee.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                                   ,           ,
                                                What's | thy name?
 
PROCULEIUS
           ,         ,    ,
      My name | is Proc|ulei|us.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                   ,    ,
                                  Ant|ony
            ,        ,          ,         ,           ,
      Did tell | me of | you, bade | me trust | you, but
         ,         ,        ,        ,        ,
      I do | not great|ly care | to be | deceived
             ,        ,          ,         ,         ,      2->
      That have | no use | for trust|ing. If | your mas||ter
              ,        ,          ,          2         ,   ,
      Would have | a queen | his beg|gar, you must / tell him,
            ,    ,         ,       ,        ,
      That maj|esty,| to keep | decor|um, must
       T   T   T        2    ,        ,         ,
      No less beg | than a king|dom: if | he please
           ,        ,         ,       ,        ,
      To give | me con|quered Eg|ypt for | my son,
           ,         ,     ,             ,       ,
      He gives | me so | much of | mine^own,| as I
             ,         ,            ,
      Will kneel | to him | with thanks.
 
PROCULEIUS
                                         ,              ,
                                        Be of | good* cheer:
                x      ,  2       ,         ,           ,
      You're fallen | into a | princely | hand, fear*| nothing,
        ,           ,   ,             ,        2     ,
      Make your | full ref/erence | freely | to my lord,
         2    ,     ,         ,                ,     ,
      Who is so | full of | grace, that | it flows | over
          ,           ,     ,           ,        ,
      On all | that need.| Let me | report | to him
             ,        ,      ,        ,            ,
      Your sweet | depen|dency,| and you | shall find
         ,      ,        2       ,        ,          ,       ->
      A con|queror | that will pray | in aid | for kind||ness,
        ,       2      ,           ,
      Where | he for grace | is kneeled | to.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                                ,            x
                                              Pray | you tell him,
      ,   2       ,           ,        ,        ,
      I am his | fortune's | vassal,| and I | send him
            ,         ,        ,        ,       ,
      The great|ness he | has got.| I hour|ly learn
         ,    ,     2   ,   2      ,            ,
      A doc|trine of o|bedience,| and would | gladly
        ,          2      ,
      Look him | in the face.
 
PROCULEIUS
                                ,      2     ,           ,
                              This I'll re|port (dear*| lady)
        ,   ,           2      ,            ,         ,
      Have com/fort, for I | know your | plight is | pitied
          ,               x
      Of him | that caused it.  \\
 
GALLUS
           ,         ,   2   ,         ,         ,
      You see | how eas|ily she | may be | surprised:
        ,               ,        ,
      Guard her | till Cae|sar come.  \\
 
[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]
 
[Exit]
 
IRAS
Royal queen.
 
CHARMIAN
           ,    ,        ,         ,       ,
      Oh* Cle|opat|ra, thou | art tak|en queen.
 
CLEOPATRA
       ___     ___            ,
      Quick,| quick,| good* hands. \\
 
PROCULEIUS
       __     ,        ,      __    oo
      Hold | worthy | lady,| hold:|
          ,          ,           ,          ,         ,
      Do not | yourself | such^wrong,| who are | in this
           ,          ,        ,
      Relieved,| but not | betrayed.  \\
 
CLEOPATRA
          2     ,      ,           ,          ,        ,
      What of death | too that | rids our | dogs of | languish.
 
PROCULEIUS
         2  ,       ,      2   ,        ,          ,        , ->
      *Cleopat|ra, do | not^abuse | my mast|er's boun||ty, by
         2   ,    3  3      ,                ,    ,
      The undo|ing of yourself;| let the / world see  ??
           ,             ,   ,        ,            ,
      His nob|leness / well act|ed, which | your death
             x      T    T    T
      Will never | let come forth.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                            ,           ,
                                     Where art | thou death?
             ,        ,      T     T    .    T        ,
      Come* hith|er come;| come, come, and take | a queen
        ,     2      ,          ,
      Worth many | babes and | beggars.
 
PROCULEIUS
                                             ,          ,     ->
                                        Oh tempe|rance la||dy.
 
CLEOPATRA
       ,     2      ,         ,      ,         ,
      Sir,| I will eat | no meat,| I'll not^|drink sir,
          ,      ,           ,        ,      x
      If id|le talk | will once | be nec|essary
           2      ,    ,             ,       ,          x
      I'll* not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin,  ????
          ,        ,        ,      ,             ,
      Do Cae|sar what | he can.| Know sir,| that I
            ,      ,   ,                   ,          ,
      Will not | wait pin/ioned at | your mast|er's court,
            ,         ,    ,               ,      ,
      Nor once | be chas|tised with | the sob|er eye
           ,       ,  2     ,            ,         ,
      Of dull | Octav|ia. Shall | they hoist | me up,
            ,        ,         ,        ,     ,
      And show | me to | the shout|ing var|letry
          ,    2      ,     ,    2      ,        ,
      Of cen|suring Rome?| Rather a | ditch in | Egypt,
          ,        ,     ,   2      ,           ,       ,
      Be gent|le grave | unto me,| rather | on Nil|us' mud
       T   T   T      ,           ,         ,       ,
      Lay me stark | naked,| and let | the wat|er-flies (hex with prev)
        ,        ,        ,         ,        ,
      Blow me | into | abhor|ring; rath|er make
           ,          ,     ,     ,        ,
      My count|ry's high | pyra|mids my | gibbet,
            ,        ,         ,
      And hang | me up | in chains.
 
PROCULEIUS
                                         ,       ,
                                    You do | extend
                ,          ,        ,        ,          ,
      These thoughts | of hor|ror furth|er than | you shall
             ,         ,
      Find^cause | in Cae|sar.
 
[Enter DOLABELLA]
 
DOLABELLA
                                ,     ,     ->
                               Pro|culei||us,
        ,        2       ,         ,       ,        ,
      What | thou hast done,| thy mast|er Cae|sar knows,
           ,          ,          ,     ,          ,
      And he | hath sent | for thee:| for the | queen,
      <-          ,         ,        ,
        I'll || take her | to my | guard.
 
PROCULEIUS
                                                ,    ,
                                          So | Dola|bella,
       ,      2      ,         ,         ,        ,
      It shall con|tent me | best: be | gentle | to her.
          ,      ,          ,           ,             ,
      To Cae|sar I | will speak,| what you | shall please,
            ,         ,        ,
      If you'll | employ | me to | him.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                         ,     2       ,
                                        Say,| I would die.
 
[Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers]
 
DOLABELLA
            ,      ,         ,           ,         ,
      Most^nob|le emp|ress, you | have heard | of me.
 
CLEOPATRA
         ,        ,
      I can|not tell.
 
DOLABELLA
                        ,    2   ,      ,
                     Assur|edly you | know me.
 
CLEOPATRA
          ,       ,         ,          ,          ,
      No mat|ter sir,| what I | have heard | or known:
            ,            ,        ,       ,             ,
      You laugh | when boys | or wom|en tell | their dreams,
        2    ,           ,
      Is it not | your trick?
 
DOLABELLA
                               2        ,    ,     ,
                              I under/stand not,| madam.
 
CLEOPATRA
           ,            ,        ,   2    ,    ,
      I dreamt | there was | an emp|eror Ant|ony:
           ,      ,        ,          ,          ,
      Oh such | anoth|er sleep,| that I | might see
            ,      ,       ,
      But such | anoth|er man.
 
DOLABELLA
                                 2     ,        ,
                               If it might | please ye.
 
CLEOPATRA
            ,         ,          x            ,        ,
      His face | was as | the heavens,| and there|in stuck
         ,          ,            ,             ,           ,      2->
      A sun | and moon,| which kept | their course,| and light||ed
             x       2      ,
      The little | of the earth.
 
DOLABELLA
                                   ,   ,             ,
                                 Most sov/ereign | creature.
 
CLEOPATRA
            ,        ,         ,                ,    ,
      His legs | bestrid | the o|cean, his / reared arm
        ,             ,           ,          ,       ,
      Crested | the world:| his voice | was prop|ertied
          ,         ,        ,            ,          ,
      As all | the tun|ed spheres,| and that | to friends:
            ,         ,          ,           ,          ,
      But when | he meant | to quail,| and shake | the orb,
       ,    2      ,           ,        ,          ,
      He was as | rattling | thunder.| For his | bounty,
              ,        ,        x         ,         ,
      There* was | no wint|er in it.| An aut|umn 'twas,
             ,          ,         ,        ,         ,
      That grew | the more | by reap|ing: his | delights
             ,        ,            ,           ,       ,
      Were dolph|in-like,| they showed | his back | above
           ,   2     ,      ,         ,        ,  2
      The el|ement they | lived in:| in his | livery
         T      T    .    T           ,          ,         ,
      Walked crowns and crown|ets: realms | and is|lands were
            ,        ,        2        ,
      As plates | dropped from his | pocket.
 
DOLABELLA
                                              ,    ,
                                             Cleo|patra.
 
CLEOPATRA
        ,                ,         ,          ,       ,
      Think you | there was,| or might | be such | a man
           ,         ,
      As this | I dreamt | of?
 
DOLABELLA
                                ,       ,       ,
                               gent|le mad|am, no.
 
CLEOPATRA
           ,     ,           ,        ,         ,
      You lie | up to | the hear|ing of | the gods:
           ,          ,      ,       ,          ,
      But if | there be,| or ev|er were | one^such
             ,          ,         ,         ,     2        ,
      It's past | the size | of dream|ing: na|ture wants^stuff
       .  T     T      T           ,       ,      2  ,      2->
      To vie strange forms | with fan|cy, yet | to imag||ine
          ,    ,         ,          ,             ,     o
      An Ant|ony | were na|ture's piece,| gainst^fan|cy,
          ,        ,         ,
      Condem|ning shad|ows quite.
 
DOLABELLA
                                    ,              ,      o
                                  Hear me,| good* mad|am:    (hex with prev)
             ,        ,         ,      ,                  x
      Your loss | is as | yourself,| great; and | you bear it
          ,      ,      2       ,       ,               x
      As ans|wering | to the weight,| would I | might never
           ,         ,         ,             ,   ,
      Oretake | pursued | success:| but I / do feel
                ,  ,          ,         ,             ,
      By the / rebound | of yours,| a grief | that smites
          ,      ,          ,
      My ve|ry heart | at root.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                    ,          ,
                                I thank | you sir:
        ,              ,        ,         ,         ,
      Know you | what Cae|sar means | to do | with me?
 
DOLABELLA
       2     ,          ,          ,        ,           ,
      I am loath | to tell | you what,| I would | you knew.
 
CLEOPATRA
             ,         ,
      Nay* pray | you sir.
 
DOLABELLA
                              ,            ,   2  ,
                           Though he | be hon|orable.
 
CLEOPATRA
              ,         ,        ,
      He'll lead | me then | in tri|umph.  \\
 
DOLABELLA
Madam, he will, I know it.
 
ALL
Make way there Caesar.
 
[Flourish, and shout within, Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECAENAS, SELEUCUS, and others of his Train]
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
        ,     2        ,        ,
      Which is the | Queen of | Egypt.
 
DOLABELLA
       ,   2       ,  2      ,
      It is the | emperor | madam.  (tri with prev)
 
[CLEOPATRA kneels]
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
         ,          ,           ,
      Arise,| you shall | not kneel:
      <-    ,          ,          ,     ->
        I pray | you rise,|| rise^Eg|ypt.
 
CLEOPATRA
       ,          ,           ,         ,
      Sir,| the gods | will have | it thus,
          ,       ,         ,        ,      ,
      My mast|er and | my lord | I must | obey.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
        ,            ,    __      ____     oo
      Take to | you no | hard | thoughts,|
           ,       ,         ,     ,           x
      The re|cord of | what in|juries | you did us,
               ,       ,         ,          ,        ,      2->
      Though writ|ten in | our flesh,| we shall | remem||ber
            ,           ,          ,
      As things | but done | by chance.
 
CLEOPATRA
        ,   ,              ___
      Sole sir / of the | world,  (tri with prev)
         ,     2     ,      T   T    T          ,
      I can|not project | mine own cause | so well
           ,         ,          ,        ,        ,
      To make | it clear,| but do | confess | I have
            ,              ,    ,           ,         ,
      Been lad|en with / like frail|ties, which | before
            ,        ,          ,
      Have of|ten shamed | our sex.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                                       2  ,       ,
                                    *Cleopat|ra know,
       ,           ,    ,     ,           2    ,
      We will | exten|uate | rather | than enforce:
          ,       ,          ,        ,        ,
      If you | apply | yourself | to our | intents,
               ,                  ,   ,        ,            ,
      Which towards | you are / most gent|le, you | shall find
         ,    ,      2        ,          ,         ,
      A ben|efit | in this change:| but if | you seek
          ,        ,       x        ,    ,
      To lay | on me | a cruel|ty, by | taking
       ,  2         ,           ,         ,           ,
      Antony's | course,| you shall | bereave | yourself
        2     ,     ,     ,          ,           ,
      Of my good | purpo|ses, and | put your | children
           ,        ,          ,            ,            ,
      To that | destruc|tion which | I'll guard | them from,
           ,       ,       ,          ,         ,
      If there|on you | rely.| I'll take | my leave.
 
CLEOPATRA
           ,             ,          ,            ,          ,
      And may | through^all | the world:| 'tis yours,| and we
             ,           ,           ,         ,    ,
      Your scutch|eons, and | your signs | of con|quest shall
        ,              ,            ,       ,               ,
      Hang in | what place | you please.| Here my | good* lord.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
       ,       2     ,    2      ,         ,    ,
      You shall ad|vise me in | all for | Cleo|patra.
 
CLEOPATRA
        ,             ,         ,        ,            x
      This is | the brief:| of mon|ey, plate,| and jewels,
      ,   2       ,          ,      ,       ,
      I am pos|sessed of,| 'tis ex|actly | valued;
           ,        ,        ,          ,          ,      ->
      Not pet|ty things | admit|ted. Where's | Seleuc||us?
 
SELEUCUS
        ,     ,
      Here | madam.  \\
 
CLEOPATRA
        ,            ,    2     ,          ,          ,
      This is | my treas|urer, let | him speak |(my lord)
        ,         ,        ,        ,         ,
      Upon | his per|il, that | I have | reserved
              ,   ,          ,           ,        ,       ->
      To my/self noth|ing. Speak | the truth | Seleuc||us.
 
SELEUCUS
       ,      ,        ,        ,         ,
      Mad|am, I | had rath|er seal | my lips,
        ,           ,       ,       ,              ,
      Than to | my per|il speak | that which | is not.
 
CLEOPATRA
        ,         T   T    T
      What have | I kept back.  \\
 
SELEUCUS
         ,          ,         ,                 ,    ,
      Enough | to purch|ase what | you have / made known.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
       T    T    T      2  ,      ,       ,
      Nay blush not | Cleopat|ra, I | approve
            ,     3  3      ,
      Your wis|dom in the deed.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                       ,       ,       ,
                                 See* Cae|sar: O | behold,
            ,        ,           ,          ,         ,
      How pomp | is fol|lowed: mine | will now | be yours,
             ,          ,         ,       ,                ,
      And should | we shift | estates,| yours would | be mine.
         2   ,      ,         ,       ,         ,
      The ingrat|itude | of this | Seleu|cus, does
              ,         ,         ,         ,           ,
      Eene* make | me wild.| Oh slave,| of no | more* trust
             ,             ,            ,            ,           ,
      Than love | that's hired?| What goest | thou back,| thou shalt
           ,       ,         ,       2       ,             ,
      Go back | I war|rant thee:| but I'll catch | thine^eyes
         ,       2        T      T      T         ,         ,
      Though they had | wings. slave, soul|less, vil|lain, dog.
          ,       ,
      O rare|ly base!
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                              ,        x        ,
                      Good* queen,| let us en|treat you.
 
CLEOPATRA
         ,         ,        ,         ,          ,
      O Cae|sar, what | a wound|ing shame | is this,
             ,          ,        ,        ,      ,
      That thou | vouchsaf|ing here | to vis|it me,
       ,           ,      ,         ,      ,
      Doing | the hon|or of | thy lord|liness
          ,         ,           ,     ,    ,
      To one | so meek,| that mine | own serv/ant should
       ,            ,        ,       ,        ,
      Parcel | the sum | of my | disgra|ces, by
         ,       ,        ,      ,          ,       2->
      Addi|tion of | his en|vy. Say (good* Cae||sar)
           ,         ,      ,        ,         ,
      That I | some la|dy trif|les have | reserved,
         ,        ,       T    .   T   T     ,
      Immom|ent toys,| things of such dig|nity
                ,    ,         ,          ,         ,
      As we / greet mod|ern friends | withal,| and say
            ,       ,     ,          ,       ,
      Some nob|ler tok|en I | have kept | apart
           ,   2  ,       ,  2    ,       ,
      For Liv|ia and | Octav|ia, to | induce
             ,   ,         ,    ,   2    ,
      Their med|ia|tion, must | I be un|folded
            ,         ,          ,          ,          ,        2->
      With one | that I | have bred:| The gods!| it smites || me
          ,           ,        ,     ,              ,
      Beneath | the fall | I have.| Prithee | go* hence,
         ,           ,          ,       ,         x
      Or I | shall show | the cind|ers of | my spirits
         ,           ,        2      ,       ,      2     ,
      Through the | ashes | of my chance:| wert thou a | man,
      <-           ,            ,       ,   2
        Thou || wouldst have | mercy | on me.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                                                    ,      ,
                                              For|bear Se|leucus.
 
[Exit SELEUCUS]
 
CLEOPATRA
        2     ,           ,         ,        ,          ,
      Be it known,| that we | the great|est are | misthought
             ,           ,       ,         ,         ,
      For things | that oth|ers do:| and when | we fall,
          ,       ,        ,        ,         ,
      We ans|wer oth|ers' mer|its, in | our name
            ,     ,    2      ,
      Are there|fore to be | pitied.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                                      ,    ,
                                     Cleo|patra,
       ,    ,       2           ,            ,       ,
      Not what / you have re|served, nor | what ack|nowledged
       ,         2      ,        ,    ,      ,                ,  ->
      Put we | in the roll | of con|quest: still / be it || yours,
           ,         2       ,         ,        ,
      Be|stow it | at your pleas|ure, and | believe
       ,              ,               ,    ,           ,
      Caesar's | no merch|ant, to / make prize | with you
            ,           ,           ,      ,               ,
      Of things | that merch|ants sold.| Therefore*| be cheered,
            ,             ,             ,        ,           ,
      Make^not | your thoughts | your pris|ons: no | dear* queen,
           ,       ,     ,          ,           ,
      For we | intend | so to | dispose | you, as
            ,            ,         ,         ,          ,
      Yourself | shall give | us couns|el. Feed,| and sleep:
            ,         ,   2    ,     ,     ,
      Our care | and pi|ty is so | much u|pon you,
            ,       ,            ,          ,      ,
      That we | remain your | friend,| and so | adieu.
 
CLEOPATRA
          ,        ,         ,
      My mast|er, and | my lord.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                                     ,      ,
                                Not so:| Adieu.
 
[Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and his train]
 
CLEOPATRA
           ,          ,          ,           ,     2        ,
      He words | me girls,| he words | me, that | I should not
           x       2    ,
      Be noble | to myself.
                                  ,      ,    ,
                            But hark | thee Char/mian.
 
[Whispers CHARMIAN]
 
IRAS
       ,              ,              ,    ,         ,
      Finish | good* la|dy, the / bright day | is done,
           ,        ,          ,
      And we | are for | the dark.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                   ,            ,
                                  Hie thee | again,
       2       ,        ,       ,     ,   2     ,
      I have spoke | alrea|dy, and | it is pro|vided,
          ,        ,         ,
      Go put | it to | the haste.
 
CHARMIAN
                                   ,          ,
                                  Madam,| I will.
 
[Enter DOLABELLA]
 
DOLABELLA
        ,             ,
      Where's the | queen?
 
CHARMIAN
                                 ,
                            Be|hold sir.
 
[Exit]
 
CLEOPATRA
                                           ,    ,
                                          Dola|bella.
 
DOLABELLA
       ,           ,        ,          ,         ,
      Madam,| as there|to sworn | by your | command
         T    T   T      ,       ,         2  ,
      (Which my love | makes re|ligion | to obey)
          ,          ,     ,          ,     ,
      I tell | you this:| Caesar | through Syr/ia
          ,      ,    ,          2     T    T     T
      Intends | his journ/ey, and wi|thin three days
       ,           ,    ,                   ,        ,
      You with | your child/ren will | he send | before,
        ,           T   T   .   T    ,              ,
      Make your | best use of this.| I have | performed
             ,               ,  ,      
      Your pleas|ure, and / my prom|ise.  \\
 
CLEOPATRA
        ,    ,      ,      2     ,          ,
       Dola|bella,| I shall re|main your | debtor.
 
DOLABELLA
      ,         ,
      I your | servant:  \\
         ,           ,     ,     2     ,        ,
      Adieu | good queen,| I must at|tend on | Caesar.
 
CLEOPATRA
            ,           ,
      Farewell,| and thanks.
                                   x      T     T      T
                             Now^Iras,| what thinkst thou?   ??
        ,          ,        ,        ,          ,
      Thou, an | Egyp|tian pup|pet shalt | be shown
           ,         ,       ,      ,         ,
      In Rome | as well | as I:| mechan|ic slaves
             ,      ,         ,          ,         ,
      With grea|sy ap|rons, rules,| and ham|mers shall
          ,        ,         ,                 ,      ,
      Uplift | us to | the view.| In their / thick breaths,
        ,         ,    ,              ,      ,
      Rank of | gross di/et, shall | be en|clouded,
             ,          ,            ,
      And forced | to drink | their va|por.
 
IRAS
                                                  ,        ,
                                            The gods | forbid.
 
CLEOPATRA
       ,                ,       ,       ,      ,       2->
      Nay, 'tis | most^cert|ain Ir|as: sau|cy lic||tors
             ,       2     ,       ,               ,     ,
      Will catch | at us like | strumpets,| and scald | rhymers
       ,    2      ,         ,           ,       ,  2
      Ballad us | out of | tune. The | quick co|medians
         ,     2  ,          ,          ,         ,
      Extem|porally | will stage | us, and | present
          ,     ,        ,        ,    ,
      Our Al|exand|rian rev|els: Ant|ony
                    ,      ,        ,         ,          ,
      Shall be / brought drunk|en forth,| and I | shall see
               ,         ,   ,      ,         ,        ->
      Some* squeak|ing Cle|opat|ra boy | my great||ness
        2       ,   ,      2    ,
      In the / posture | of a whore.
 
IRAS
                                     T  .    T    T
                                     O the good gods!
 
CLEOPATRA
       ,            ,
      Nay that's | certain.  \\
 
IRAS
            ,        x         ,        ,           ,
      I'll nev|er see it?| For I | am sure | mine^nails
            ,         ,           ,
      Are strong|er than | mine^eyes.  \\
 
CLEOPATRA
             ,          ,         ,           ,     ,      ->
      Why that's | the way | to fool | their pre|para|tion,
       ,        ,      2        ,        ,        ,
      And | to con|quer their most | absurd | intents.
 
[Enter CHARMIAN]
       ,    ,
      Now Char/mian,  \\
        ,           ,       ,        ,          ,
      Show me | my wom|en like | a queen:| go fetch
           ,        ,     ,   2    ,         ,
      My best | attires.| I am a|gain for | Cydnus,
           ,          ,   2    ,       ,      ,
      To meet | Mark^Ant|ony. Sir|rah Ir|as, go
        T    Tx    T    2     ,          ,         ,
      (Now noble Char|mian, we'll | dispatch | indeed,)
            ,        2       ,           ,            ,           ,
      And when | thou hast done | this chare,| I'll give | thee leave
           ,           ,    T     T    T       ,           T  ->
      To play | till dooms|day: bring our | crown, and || all.
         T    T             ,
      Wherefore's | this noise?  \\
 
[Exit IRAS. A noise within. Enter a Guardsman]
 
GUARD
        ,    2     ,       ,
      Here is a | rural | fellow,  \\
        ,          ,    2     ,           ,         ,
      That will | not be de|nied your | highness'| presence,
            ,           ,
      He brings | you figs.  \\
 
CLEOPATRA
       ,              ,
      Let him | come in.
                               ,        ,       ,
                        What poor | an inst|rument
           ,       x       ,           ,         ,   2
      May do | a noble | deed: he | brings me | liberty:
          ,    ,           ,         ,          ,      2->
      My res|olu|tion's placed,| and I | have noth||ing
          ,      ,        ,           ,         ,
      Of wom|an in | me: now | from head | to foot
       2    ,       ,          ,          ,         ,
      I am marb|le-const|ant: now | the flee|ting moon
           ,      ,        ,
      No plan|et is | of mine.
 
[Enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in a basket]
 
GUARD
                                ,            ,
                              This is | the man.
 
CLEOPATRA
         ,          ,
      Avoid,| and leave | him.  \\
 
[Exit Guardsman]
        ,               ,       ,        ,       ,
      Hast thou | the pret|ty worm | of Nil|us 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.
 
CLEOPATRA
         ,          ,    ,                   ,    x
      Remem|berst thou | any | that have / died on it?
 
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 of 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.
 
CLEOPATRA
Get thee hence, farewell.
 
CLOWN
I wish you all joy of the worm.
 
CLEOPATRA
Farewell.
 
CLOWN
You must think this (look you) that the worm will do his kind.
 
CLEOPATRA
Aye, aye, 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 worm.
 
CLEOPATRA
Take thou no care, it shall be heeded.
 
CLOWN
Very good: Give it nothing I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.
 
CLEOPATRA
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.
 
CLEOPATRA
Well, get thee gone, farewell.
 
CLOWN
Yes forsooth: I wish you joy of the worm.
 
[Exit. Enter IRAS with a robe, crown, etc]
 
CLEOPATRA
        ,            ,         ,        ,         ,
      Give me | my robe,| put^on | my crown,| I have
         ,        ,        ,        ,         ,
      Immort|al long|ings in | me. Now | no more
            ,        ,          ,             ,           ,
      The juice | of Eg|ypt's grape | shall moist | this lip.
        T     T     .    T       ,          ,         ,
      Yare, yare, good* Ir|as; quick.| Methinks | I hear  ??
       ,        ,       ,          ,          ,
      Anto|ny call:| I see | him rouse | himself
            ,         ,      ,        ,          ,
      To praise | my nob|le act.| I hear | him mock
            ,        ,         ,      .    T    T   T
      The luck | of Cae|sar, which | the gods give men
        2    ,           ,       ,      ,            ,
      To excuse | their aft|er wrath.| Husband,| I come:
       ,              ,         ,        ,          x
      Now to | that name,| my cour|age prove | my title.
       2     ,         ,        ,     ,      ,
      I am fire,| and air;| my oth|er el|ements
          ,        ,       ,     ,               ,
      I give | to bas|er life.| So, have | you done?
        ,               ,          ,       ,             ,
      Come then,| and take | the last | warmth of | my lips.
            ,           ,    2    ,       ,          ,
      Farewell,| kind^Char|mian, Ir|as, long |*farewell.
 
[Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies]
        ,           ,      ,        ,           ,
      Have I | the as|pic in | my lips?| Dost fall?
           ,         ,       ,         ,       ,
      If thou,| and na|ture can | so gent|ly part,
             ,          ,         ,      ,         ,
      The stroke | of death | is as | a lov|er's pinch,
              ,          ,       ,       ,               ,
      Which hurts,| and is | desired.| Dost thou | lie still?
           ,          ,      ,            ,           ,
      If thus | thou van|ishest,| thou tellst | the world
       ,       T    T     T     ,       oo
      It is | not worth leave-|taking.|
 
CHARMIAN
       .   T     T     T           ,         ,        ,
      Dissolve thick cloud,| and rain,| that I | may say
            ,           ,          ,
      The gods | themselves | do weep.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                               ,          ,
                                       This proves | me base:
          ,            ,          ,      ,    ,
      If she | first^meet | the curl|ed Ant|ony,
              ,        ,        ,          ,            ,
      He'll make | demand | of her,| and spend | that kiss
                ,    x        ,     ,        ,        ,
      Which is my heaven to have. Come thou mortal wretch,  ????
                   ,     ,            ,        ,      ,
      With thy / sharp teeth | this knot | intrins|icate,
           ,         ,       ,           ,   2      ,
      Of life | at once | untie:| poor* ven|omous fool,
          ,       ,         ,            ,             ,
      Be ang|ry, and | dispatch.| Oh* couldst | thou speak,
           ,           ,           ,           ,       ,
      That I | might hear | thee call | great^Cae|sar ass,
         ,   3   3
      Unpol|icied.
 
CHARMIAN
                       ,         ,
                   Oh east|ern star.
 
CLEOPATRA
                                      ___     ___
                                     Peace,| peace:
             ,         ,        ,     ,         ,
      Dost thou | not see | my ba|by at | my breast,
             ,           ,        ,
      That sucks | the nurse | asleep.
 
CHARMIAN
                                           ,         ,
                                       O break!| O break!
 
CLEOPATRA
           ,          ,         ,        ,          x
      As sweet | as balm,| as soft | as air,| as gentle.
         ,    ,    ,   2         T    T   T
      O Ant|ony!| Nay I will | take thee too.
        ,               ,
      What should | I stay--  \\
 
[Dies]
 
CHARMIAN
       T   T    T      ,           T    T    T
      In this wild | world? So*| fare thee well:
             ,            ,      ,           ,         ,
      Now* boast | thee death,| in thy | posses|sion lies
          ,       ,              ,      ,         ,
      A lass | unpar|alleled*. Dow|ny wind|ows close,  ??
            ,       ,       ,      ,       ,
      And gold|en Phoe|bus nev|er be | beheld
           ,       ,         x             ,         ,
      Of eyes | again | so royal:| your crown's | away,
        ,    ,                T    T
      I'll mend / it, and | then play--
 
[Enter the Guard, rushing in]
 
FIRST GUARD
                                           T             ,
                                        Where's | the queen?
 
CHARMIAN
       ___     ,         ,        ___   oo
      Speak | softly,| wake her | not.|
 
FIRST GUARD
       ,              ,
      Caesar | hath sent
 
CHARMIAN
                                ,       ,      ,
                         Too* slow | a mes|senger.
       ,     2    ,         ,          ,        ,
      Oh come^a|pace, dis|patch, I | partly | feel thee.
 
FIRST GUARD
           ,     __
      Approach | ho,  \\
        T    T    T     ,              ,     oo
      All's not well:| Caesar's | beguiled.|
 
SECOND GUARD
         ,       2   ,        ,          ,         ,
      There's *Dola|bella | sent from | Caesar:| call him.
 
FIRST GUARD
             ,         ,      ,   2
      What work | is here | Charmian?
                                                 ,    ,
                                     Is this / well done?
 
CHARMIAN
       Tx     T    T          ,          2      ,   ,
      It is well done, | and fit|ting for a / princess
          ,            ,  ,     ,       ,
      Descend|ed of / so ma|ny roy|al kings.
          ,
      Ah soldier.  \\
 
[Dies. Enter DOLABELLA]
 
DOLABELLA
            ,         ,
      How goes | it here?
 
SECOND GUARD
                                 ,
                          All* dead.
 
DOLABELLA
                                      ,               ,
                                     Caesar,| thy thoughts
        ,        2     ,          ,         ,         ,
      Touch their ef|fects in | this: thy|self art | coming
          ,          ,           ,       ,            ,
      To see | performed | the dread|ed act | which thou
             ,          ,
      So soughtst | to hind|er.  \\
 
WITHIN
A way there, a way for Caesar.
 
[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR and all his train marching]
 
DOLABELLA
         ,               ,    ,        ,    ,
      O sir,| you are / too sure | an aug|urer:
            ,          ,         ,
      That you | did fear,| is done.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                                     ,          2      ,
                                    Bravest | at the last,
       ,   ,          2       ,   2            x      ,
      She lev/elled at our | purposes*,| and being | royal
        ,             ,         ,       ,            ,
      Took her | own^way:| The man|ner of | their deaths,
         ,        ,           ,
      I do | not see | them bleed.
 
DOLABELLA
                                      2      ,      ,
                                  Who* was last | with them?
 
FIRST GUARD
         ,        ,      ,            ,            ,
      A simp|le count|ryman,| that brought | her figs:
        ,     2       ,
      This was his | basket.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                              ,           ,
                             Poisoned | then.
 
FIRST GUARD
                                                   ,
                                              O | Caesar:
             ,    2    ,          ,          ,           ,
      This Char|mian lived | but now,| she stood | and spake:
          ,           ,        ,        ,   ,
      I found | her trim|ming up | the di|adem:
                 ,   ,          ,        ,         ,
      On her / dead mist|ress trem|blingly | she stood,
           ,        ,         ,
      And on | the sud|den dropped.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
                                        x       ,
                                    O noble | weakness:
       ,              ,         ,           ,         ,
      If they | had swal|lowed pois|on, 'twould | appear
        2   ,        ,         ,          ,            ,
      By exter|nal swel|ling: but | she looks | like sleep,
          ,            ,        ,      ,    ,
      As she | would catch | anoth|er Ant|ony
                  ,     ,         ,
      In her / strong toil | of grace.
 
DOLABELLA
                                         ,              ,
                                       Here on | her breast,
        ,            ,         ,           ,          ,
      There is | a vent | of blood,| and some|thing blown,
            ,        ,        ,
      The like | is on | her arm.  \\
 
FIRST GUARD
        ,    2      ,          ,
      This is an | aspic's | trail,  \\
       .    T    T     T            ,       ,            ,
      And these fig-leaves | have slime | upon | them, such
        2     ,        ,       ,          ,          ,
      As the as|pic leaves | upon | the caves | of Nile.
 
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
        ,   ,
      Most pro/bable  ????
            ,         ,         ,       ,         ,        ->
      That so | she died:| for her | physi|cian tells || me
       ,        2     ,         ,        ,     ,
      She | hath pursued | conclus|ions in|finite
          ,      ,        ,          ,        ,
      Of ea|sy ways | to die.| Take^up | her bed,
            ,         ,       ,         ,     ,
      And bear | her wom|en from | the mon|ument,
            ,         ,       ,        ,    ,
      She shall | be bur|ied by | her Ant|ony.
            ,       ,          ,             ,        ,
      No* grave | upon | the earth | shall clip | in it
          ,        ,         ,       ,          ,
      A pair | so fam|ous: High | events | as these
        __       ,            ,               ,      ,   2
      Strike | those that | make them:| and their | story is
            ,        ,             ,   ,       ,
      No* less | in pi|ty, than / his glo|ry which
         ,        2      ,     ,            ,      ,
      Brought them to | be la|mented.| Our^ar|my shall
          ,        ,        ,          ,    ,
      In so|lemn show,| attend | this fun|eral,
            ,         ,      ,         ,       ,
      And then | to Rome.| Come *Do|label|la, see
        ,   ,                  ,        ,     ,
      High ord/er, in | this great | solem|nity.
 
[Exeunt]

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