Cle. The crown o' the earth doth melt! My lord! my lord!

O, wither'd is the garland of the war!

The soldier's pride is fall'n; the odds are gone;
And there is nothing left of worth beneath

The visiting moon!

Char. O, quietness, dear lady!

Iras. Oli, madam, madam!

Char. Leave us with the

[CLEOPATRA faints.

queen,

A while, good Diomed. Take the soldiers hence. [Exit DIOMEDES, with the Soldiers.

Cle. [Recovering.] Ah me!-Is't Charmion there? what, Iras, too?

Char. Dear royal empress!

Cle. Good now, come; take heart;

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

Let's do it after the high Roman fashion,

And make death proud to take us.

Iras. Listen!-hark!

Some one approaches.

Cle. Surprised!

Enter DOLABELLA.

E'en be it so. Well, sir, you come from Cæsar.
Dol. Cæsar sends greeting to the queen of Egypt,
And bids thee study on what fair demands

Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.

Cle. What's thy name?

Dol. My name is Dolabella :

Most noble queen, assuredly you know me ?

Cle. 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.

Cle. I dreamt there was an emperor Antony :O, such another sleep! that I might see

But such another man!

Know you what Cæsar means to do with me?

Dol. I am loth to tell you what I would you knew. Cle. He'll lead me, then, in triumph?

Dol. Madam, he will: Once, sworn by your command,

Which my love makes religion to obey,

I tell you this Cæsar 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.

Cle. Dolabella,

I shall remain your debtor.
Dol. I, your servant.

Adieu, good queen! I must attend on Cæsar.
Cle. Farewell, and thanks! [Exit DOLABELLA.
Now, Charmion, what think'st thou ?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shewn
In Rome, as well as I.

Char. O, the good gods! and must we live to see it?

Cle. No, never, never, Charmion! thou rememberest,

This morn, a rural fellow brought me fruit ;

And at the bottom of his basket lurk'd

The pretty worm of Nile, that kills, and pains not: Bring me that basket.

Methinks I hear

[Exit CHARMION,

Antony call; I see him rouse himself

To praise my noble act: I hear him mock
The luck of Cæsar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath.

Enter CHARMION with the basket.

Char. Oh, madam! what is it you have resolved? Cle. [Taking the basket.] Dull that thou art! I go to meet my love.

Ay, here's the aspick :-Husband, now I come!
[Goes to a couch which she ascends; her women
compose her on it.

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.
Farewell, kind Charmion! Iras, long farewell!

[Kissing them. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain! that I may say

The gods themselves do weep.
Come, mortal wretch,

[To the asp, applying it:

Come, thou poor venomous fool!

Be angry and dispatch.
Char. O, eastern star!

Cle. Peace, peace!

I soon shall meet my noble Antony,

And meet his kiss, which 'tis my heaven to have.
Char. O, break! O, break my heart!

Cle. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,-O, Antony!

Enter GUARD.

Guard. Where is the queen?

Approach, ho! All's not well.

[Dies.

What work is here! Charmion, is this well done?

Enter DOLABELLA.

Dol. How now?

Way there! make way for Cæsar!

Enter CESAR and his Officers.

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

Cæsar. Bravest at the last:

She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way. The manner of her death?
I do not see her bleed; she looks like sleep;

As she would catch another Antony

In her strong toil of grace.

1st Guard. [Taking up the basket.] These leaves have slime upon them;

Such as the aspick leaves upon the caves of Nile.
Cæsar. Most probable

That so she fell; for I have oft been told
She hath pursued conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die.

Now bear the bodies from the monument.
She shall be buried by her Antony;

Then we'll to Rome.-Come, Dolabella; sce

High honour in this great solemnity.

[Exeunt CESAR and his Party

SCENE V.

A Street in Alexandria.

Enter PROCULEIUS, with an Officer, and a Company of Soldiers.

Pro. Halt. We must here abide till Dolabella Arrive, to tell us how we may proceed

In the interment of Mark Antony;

Lo! in good time he comes.

Enter DOLABELLA.

Dol. Well met, my friends,

If well we meet upon a cause so mournful.
Pro. Antony was your friend.

Dol. He was ;-none, once,

So dear to me as Antony;-not Cæsar;

3

We were so closed within each other's bosoms,
The rivets were not found that join'd us fast.
War sunder'd us!-Oh, in his happier day,
His legs bestrid the ocean-his rear'd arm
Crested the world;-his voice was propertied
As all the tuned spheres, unto his friends;
But when he meant to quail, and strike the orb,
He was as rattling thunder.

Proc. How stands the order for our march?
Dol. E'en thus:-

Attend the ceremony, as to serve,

Rather than to command, its order.

They

Who served Mark Antony, e'en to the last,
The best will honour him.-Our Cæsar's troops
Must be subservient;-Antony's adherents
Must fix the order of procession, and

Admit us, or reject us, at their will.

Pro. I am instructed.

Dol. I shall go with you.

Pro. Now, soldiers, march!

[Soldiers and their leaders march out,

SCENE VI.

Alexandria.

A Grand Funeral Procession ;

During which is sung the following

EPICEDIUM.

CHORUS.

Cold in death the hero lies;

Nerveless, now, the victor's arm;