For Livia and Octavia, to induce

Their mediation; muft I be unfolded

By one that I have bred! The gods! it fmites me Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;

[To Seleucus, Or I fhall fhew the cinders of my spirits

Through the afhes of my chance *. Wert thou a man, Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

Caf. 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.

Caf. Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i' th' roll of conqueft, ftill be't yours; Beftow it at your pleafure, and believe,

Cæfar's no merchant to make prize with you

Of things that merchants fold. Therefore be cheer'd:

Make not your thoughts your prifons; no, dear
For we intend fo to difpofe you, as
[Queen;
Yourfelf fhall give us counfel. Feed and deep.
Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; and fo adieu.
Cleo. My mafter, and my I

Caf. Not for

-Adieu.

Lord!

[Exeunt Cæfar and his train.

Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me,

That I fhould not be noble to myself.

But hark thee, Charmian:
Iras Finish, good Lady.
And we are for the dark.
Cleo. Hie thee again.

[Whispers Charmian.

The bright day is done,

I've spoke already, and it is provided;

Go put it to the haste.

Char. Madam, I will.

* Chance for fortune. Warburton

[Exit Charmian, ·

Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn, by your command, Which my love makes religion to obey,

I tell you this: Cæfar through Syria

Intends his journey, and, within three days,
You with your children will he fend before.
Make your beft ufe of this. I have perform'd
Your pleafure and my promise.

Cleo. Dolabella,

I fhall remain your debtor.

Dol. I your fervant.

Adieu, good Queen, I must attend on Cæfar. [Exit. Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. Now, Iras, what think it thou?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, fhalt be fhewn
In Rome as well as I: mechanic flaves,
With greasy aprons, rules and hammers, fhal
Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,
Rank of grofs diet, fhall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras. The gods forbid !

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras; faucy lictors Will catch at us like ftrumpets, and fcall'd rhimers Ballad us out o' tune. The quick comedians

Extemp'rally will flage us, and prefent

Our Alexandrian revels: Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I fhall feer Some fqueaking Cleopatra boy my greatness,

J' th' pofture of a whore.

Iras. O the good Gods!

Cleo Nay, that's certain.

Iras. I'll never fee it; for, I'm fure, my nails

Are ftronger than mine eyes.

Cleo. Why, that's the way

To fool their preparation, and to conquer 'Their most abfurd 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'ft done this charge, I'll give thee leave
To play till dooms-day. Bring our crown, and all.
Wherefore this noife?
[A noife within.

Enter a Guardfman.

Guardf. Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be deny'd your Highness' prefence;
He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an inftrumens
[Exit Guard/mam
May do a noble déed !-He brings me liberty.
My refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
Of woman in me; now from head to foot
I'm marble conftant; now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

Enter Guardfman, and Clown with a basket.
Guard/man. This is the man.

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guardfman.
Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,
That kills and pains not?

Clown. Truly I have him, but I would not be the party fhould defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those that do die of it, do feldoin or never recover.

Cleo. Remember'ft thou any that have dy'd on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. heard of one of them no longer than yesterday, a very honeft woman, but fomething given to lie, as a woman fhould not do, but in the way of honefty. How fie dy'd of the biting of it, what pain fhe felt! truly, he makes a very good report of th' worm but he that will believe all that they fay, fhall never be faved by half that they do.. But this is moft fallible, the worm'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 wife 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?

Glown. You must not think I am so fimple, but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman: L know that a woman is a difh for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these fame whore-fon 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, forfooth, I wish you joy o' th' worm.

[Exit.

Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have:
Immortal longings in me. Now no more
The juice of Egypt's grape fhall moist this lip.
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear
Antony call, I fee him roufe himself

To praise my noble act. I hear him mock
The luck of Cæfar, which the gods give. men
T' excufe 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 bafer life. So
Come then, and take the last
Farewell, kind Charmian.

Have I the afpic in my lips?

have you done? warmth of my lips. Iras, long farewell. [Applying the afp. doft fall? [To Iras.

The ferpent, will act according to his nature.

Johnfon

If thou and nature can fo gently part,
The ftroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
Which hurts, and is defir'd. Doft thou ly fill?
If thus thou vanifheft, thou tell'ft the world,

It is not worth leave-taking.

[Iras dies.

Char. Diffolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may The gods themselves do weep.'

Cleo. This proves me bafe.

If fhe first meets the curled Antony,

[fay,

He'll make demand of her, and spend that kifs, Which is my heav'n to have. Come, mortal wretch, With thy fharp teeth this knot intrinficate

[To the ferpent. Of life at once untie; poor venomous fool, Be angry, and difpatch. Oh, couldst thou fpeak, That I might hear thee call great Cæfar afs, Unpolicied!

Char. O eaftern ftar!

Cleo. Peace, peace!

Doft thou not fee my baby at my breast,

That fucks the nurse asleep?

Char. O break! O break!

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

[Applying another asp to her arm.

What, fhould I flay

[Dies.
Char. In this wild world? fo, fare thee well.
Now, boast thee, Death; in thy poffeflion lyes
A lafs unparallel'd. 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.

1 Guard. Where is the Queen ? Char. Speak foftly, wake her not. 1 Guard. Cæfar hath fent

Char. Too flow a meffenger.

[Charmian applies the afp.

Oh, come. Apace, difpatch. I partly feel thee. Guard. Approach, he! all's not well. Cæfar's beguil'd.