For Livia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation ; must I be unfolded
By one that I have bred! The gods! it smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Prythee, go hence;

[To Seleucus.
Our I shall Thew the cinders of my spirits
Through the ashes of my chance *. Wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

Cæf. Forbear, Seleucus.
Cleo. Be't known, that we the greatest are mis-

thought
For things that others do ; and, when we fall,
We answer others' merits in our names ;
Are therefore to be pitied.

Cef. Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserv’d, nor what acknowledg'd
Put we i''th' roll of conquest, still be’t yours;
Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe,
Cæsar's no merchant to make prize with you
Of things that merchants fold. Therefore be

cheer'd: Make not your thoughts your prisons; no, dear For we intend so to dispose you, as

[Queen ;
Yourself 'shall give us counsel. Feed and neep.
Our care and pity is so much upon you,
That we remain your friend ; and so adieu.

Cleo. My master, and my Lord!
Caf: Not foAdieu.

[Exeunt Cælar and his frair.
SC EN E
Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me,
That I should'not be noble to myself.
But hark thee, Charinian: [Whispers Charmian,

Iras Finish, good Lady. The bright day is done, And we are for the dark.

Cleo. Hie thee again..
I've spoke already, and it is provided;
Go put it to the hafte.

Char. Madam, I will: [Exit Charmiar
• Chance for fortune. Warburton.;

.

Enter Dolabella.
Dol. Where is the Queen?
Char. Behold, Sir.
Clen. Dolabella.

Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn, 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.

Clen. Dolabella,
I Mall renain your debtor.

Dol. I your servant.
Adieu, good Queen, I must attend on Cæsar. [Exit.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. Now, Iras, what

think’lt thou ?
Thou, an Ægyptian puppet, fhalt be thewn
In Rome as well as I : mechanie slaves,
With greasy aprons, rules and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, fhall we be enclouded,
And forc d to drink their vapour.

Iras. The gods forbid !

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras; faucy li&tors Will catch at us like strumpets, and scalp'd rhimers. Ballad us out of tune. The quick comedians Extemp'rally will fage us, and present Our Alexandrian revels: Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatnessy l'th' pofture of a whore.

Iras. O the good Gods! + Cleo Nay, that's certain.

Iras. l'll nøver see it; for, I'm sure, my nails Are stronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that's the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most absurd intents. Now, Charmian,

.

Enter Charmian.
Shew 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 dispatch indeed
And when thou'st done this charge, I'll give thee leave
To play till dooms-day. Bring our crown, and allu
Wherefore this noise ?

[A noise within.
Enter a Guardsman.
Guards. Here is a rural fellow,
That will itot be deny'd your Highness prefence;
He brings you figs.
Cleo. Let himn come in. How poor an instrument

[Exit Guardsman
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'm marble constant ; now the feeling moon
No planet is of mine.

Enter Guardsman, and Clown with a basket.
Guardsınan. This is the man.

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guardsman,
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 should defire you to touch bim, for his biting iä imniorial; those that do die of it, do fel doin or never recover.

Cleo. Remember'it thou any that have dy'd on't?

Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday, a very honest woman, but fomething given to lie, as a woman fhould not do, but in the way of honefty. How the dy'd of the biting of it, what pair the felt! truly, the makes a very good report of th? worm : but he that will believe all that they fay, lhall never be faved by half that shey do. , But this is most fallible, the worin's an odd worm.

Cleo. Get thee hence, farewell,

Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm.
Cleo. Farewell.

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: [. lenow that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whore-son devils do the gods great harm in their wol men! for, in every ten that they make, the devils mar fire.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone. Farewell.
Clawn. Yes, corsooth, I wish you joy o'th' worm.

[Exit.
S CE N E VI.
Cléo. Give me my robe; put on my crown; I have :
Immortal longings in me. Now po inore
The juice of Ægypt's grape shall moist this lip.
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I liear-
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,
T'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.
Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell

.

[ Applying the aspi Haye I the aspic in my lips ?' dolt fall? [To Iras. The serpent, will act according to his nature:

Johnson.

If thou and nature can fo gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is defird. Doft'thou ly fill ?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'At the world,
It is not worth leave-taking.

[Iras dies. Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may The gods themselves do weep.'

[lay, Cleo. This proves me baseIf he first meets the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss, Which is my heav'n to have. Come, mortal wretch, With thy Tharp teeth this knot intrinlicate

[To the serpent. Of life at once untie ; poor venomous fool, Be angry, and dispatch. Oh, couldst thou fpeak, That I might hear thee call great. Cæsar ass, Unpolicied!

Char. O eastern star !

Cleo. Peace, peace! Dort thou not see my baby at my breast, 'That sucks the nurse asleep?

Char. O break! O break!

Cleo. As fweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle, O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too.

[ Applying another app to her arm. What, should I stay

[Dios. Char. In this wild world? fo, fare thee well. Now, boast thee, Death ; in thy pofseflion lyes A lass unparalleld. Downy windows, clofe ; And golden Phoebus never be beheld Of eyes again fo royal! Your crown's awry; I'll mend it, and then play

Enter the Guard, rushing in, i Guard. Where is the Queen ? Char. Speak foftly, wake her not, 1 Guard. Cæfar haih fentChar. Too flow a messenger.

[Charmian applies the ofp. Oh, come. Apace, dispatch. I partly feel thee. Guard. 'Approach, ho! all's not well. Cæfar's

beguild.