"Caf. Good queen, let us intreat you. [Interpofing. Cle. O Cafar, what a wounding fhame is this; That thou vouchfafing here to vifit me,

Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one fo mean, that mine own fervant should
Parcel the fum of my difgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cafar,
That I fome lady trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys, things of fuch dignity,
As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nabler token I have kept apart
For Livia and O&avia, to induce
Their mediation; muft I be unfolded

Of one that I have bred? The gods! It fmites me
Beneath the fall I have.-Pr'ythee, go hence;

Or I fhall fhew the cinders of my spirits

Through the afhes of my chance :-Wert thou a man, Thou would't have mercy on me.

Gaf. Forbear, Seleucus.

[Exit Seleucus.

Cle. Be it known, that we, the greateft, are misthought

For things that others do; and, when we fall,

We answer others' merits: in our name

Are therefore to be pity'd.

Caf. Cleopatra,

Not what you have referv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i'the roll of conqueft: ftill be it yours,

Beflow it at your pleafüre; and believe,

Cafar'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 queen ; For we intend fo to difpofe you, as

Yourself fhall give us counfel. Feed, and sleep:

Our care and pity is fo much upon you,

That we remain your friend; and fo, adieu.

Cle My mafter, and my lord,

Caf. Not fo Adieu.

[Exeunt Cæfar, Dolabella, and Train.

Cle. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should

not

Re noble to myself: But hark thee, Charmian.

Ird. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,
And we are for the dark.

Cle. Hye thee again :

I have spoke already, and it is provided;

Go, put it to the hafte.

Cha. Madam, I will.

[Going.

[Exit Charmian.

1

Cle. Dolabella?

Dol. Madam, as thereto fworn by your command,

Which my love makes religion to obey,

I tell you this: Cafar 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 pleasure, and my promise.

Cle. Dolabella,

1 fhall remain your debtor.

Dol. I your fervant.

Adieu, good queen; I muft attend on Cæfar.
Cle. Farewel, and thanks.

Now, Iras, what think't thou?

[Exit Dolabella,

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, fhalt be fhewn
In Rome, as well as 1: mechanic flaves,

Wich greafy aprons, rules, and hammers, ball
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of grofs diet, fhall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Ira. The gods forbid!

Cle. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictors
Will catch at us, like ftrumpets; and fcald rimers
Ballad us out o'tune: the quick comedians

Extemporally will ftage us, and present

Our Alexandrian revels; Antony

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

I'the posture of a whore.

Ira. O the good gods!

Cle. Nav, that's certain.
VOL. VI.

R

Ira. F'll never fee't; for I am fare, my nails Are ftronger than mine eyes.

Cle. Why, that's the way

To fool their preparation, and to conquer

Their

affur'd intents.Now, Charmian ?

Re-enter Charmian.

Shew me, my women, like a queen:Go fetch
My best attires;-Iam again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony-Sirrah, fras, go.-
Now, noble Charmian, we'll difpatch indeed:

And, when thou haft done this chare, I'll give thee leave
To play 'till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all.
[Exit Iras. Charmian falls to adjusting
Cleopatra's drefs. Noife within.

Wherefore's this noise?

Enter one of the Guard.

Gua. Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be deny'd your highness' presence;

He brings you figs.

Cle. Let him come in. [Exit Guard.] How poor an inftrument

May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
My refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
Of woman in me: Now from head to foot
I am marble-conftant: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guard with a Clown.

Gua. This is the man.

Cle. Avoid, and leave him.

[Exit Guard.

Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,

That kills and pains not?

Clo. Truly, I have him: but I would not be the party that should defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; thofe, that do die of it, do feldom or

I ever recover.

Cle. Remember'ft thou any that have dy'd on't ?

Clo. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest

woman;

woman; but fouething 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 pain he felt,Truly; fhe makes a very good report pohkorworm po But he that will be lieve all that they fay, shall never be faved by half that they do But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd

worm.

Cle. Get thee hence; farewel.

Glo. I wish you all joy of the worm.

Cle. Farewel.

[Setting down his bafket. Exit.

"Clo. You must think this, look you, that the worms " will do his kind.

"Cle. Ay, ay; farewel.

"Clo. Look you, the worm is not to be trufted, butin the keeping of wife people; for, indeed, there is "no goodness in the worm.

"Cle. Take thou no care; it fhall be heeded.

"Clo. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you, för “it is not worth the feeding;

"Cle. Will it eat me?

Cla. You must not think I am fo fimple, but I
"know the devi! Aimfelf will not eat a woman: I
“know, that a woman is a difh for the gods, if the
"devil drefs her not. But, truly, these fame whoreson
devils do the gods great harm in their women; for in
66. every ten that they make, the devils mar five.
"Cle. Well, get thee gone; farewel

"Clo. Yes, forfooth: I wish you joy of the worm.
[Exitz

Re-enter Iras, with Robe, &c.

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

To praise my noble act; I hear him muck
The luck of Gafar, which the gods give men
To excufe their after wrath Hufband, I come :

R. 2.

[Goes

Goes to a bed or fopha, which he afcends; her women compofe her on it: Iras fets the basket, which She has been holding upon her own arm, by her. Now to that name my courage prove my title! I am fire, and air; my other elements I give to bafer life.-So, have you done? Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. Farewel, kind Charmian ;-Iras, long farewel.

[Kiffing them. Iras falls. Have I the afpick in my lips? Doft fall? 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 lie ftill?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

It is not worth leave-taking.

Cha. Diffolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may fay, The gods themselves do weep!

Cle. This proves me base:

If the first meet the curled Antony,

He'll make demand of her; and spend that kifs,

Which is my heaven to have.—Come, mortal wretch,

[To the Afp; applying it to her breast.

With thy fharp teeth this knot intrinficate

Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, [Stirring it.
Be angry, and difpatch. O, could't thou speak!
That I might hear thee call great Cæfar, als,

Unpolicy'd!

Cha. O eaftern star !

Cle. Peace, peace:

Doft thou not fee my baby at my breast,

That fucks the nurse asleep?

Cha. O, break! O, break!

Cle. As fweet as balm, as foft as air, as gentle

O, Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too :

[Applying another Afp to her arms

What should I stay-
Cha. In this vile world?-So, fare thee well.-
Now boast thee, death; in thy poffeffion lies
A lafs unparallel'd.-Downy windows, clofe;
And golden Phabus never be beheld

[Dies.

Of