And we are for the dark. Cleo. Hie thee again : I have spoke already, and it is provided; Char. Madam, I will. Re-enter DOLABELLA. Dol. Where is the queen? [Exit CHARMIAN. Char. Behold, sir. Cleo. Dolabelia ? Dol. Madam, as thereto 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, Make your best use of this: I have perform'd Cleo. Dolabella, I shall remain your debtor. Dol. I your servant. Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar. Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, Iras. The gods forbid ! Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictors Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers4 Ballad us out o'tune: the quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present Our Alexandrian revels; Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Iras. O the good gods! Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails Are stronger than mine eyes. Cleo. Why, that is the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian ?— [4] Scald-a word of contempt implying poverty, disease, and filth. JOH. [5] The parts of women were acted on the stage by boys. HANMER. Enter CHARMIAN. Show me, my women, like a queen ;- Go fetch Guard. Here is a rural fellow, That will not be denied your highness' presence; Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instrument [Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket. Guard. This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, [Exit Guard. 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. Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't ? 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 o'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. Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the Basket, Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. [6] Worm is the Teutonick word for serpent; we have the blind-worm and slow-worm still in our language, and the Norwegians call an enormous monster, seen sometimes in the northern ocean, the sea.worm. JOHNS. 102 And we are for Dol. Where is Thou, an Egyptian ] [4] Scald-a word of conten [5] The parts of women we I That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass Char. O eastern star ! Cleo. Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? Char. O, break! O, break! Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too : [Applying another asp to her arm. What should I stay[Falls on a bed, and dies. Char. In this wild world?—So, fare thee well.Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close ;7 And golden Phoebus never be beheld Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry ; Enter the Guard, rushing in. 1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char. Speak softly, wake her not. 1 Guard. Cæsar hath sent— Char. Too slow a messsenger. [Applies the asp. -O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard.Approach,ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil❜d. 2Guard.There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar;-call him. 1Guard. What work is here?—Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. h, soldier! Enter DOLABELLA. Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. All dead. Dol. Cæsar, thy thoughts ouch their effects in this: Thyself art coming see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou sought'st to hinder. Within. A way there, way for Cæsar! Enter CESAR, and Attendants. ol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; at you did fear, is done. as. Bravest at the last : : levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, [Dies. Charmian, in saying this, must be conceived to close Cleopatra's eyes of the first ceremonies performed towards a dead body. RITSON. 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: 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. Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the worm.[Exit. Re-enter IRAS, with a Robe, Crown, c. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have To praise my noble act; I hear him mock The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, The gods themselves do weep! Cleo. This proves me base : If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss, Which is my heaven to have. Come, mortal wretch, [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, |