come: She had a pro dead; I am conqueror of myself. Thou art sworn, Eros, This sword but shown to Casar, with this tidings, Enter DIOMEDES. Dio. Where's Antony ? Thou then would'st kill me : do't; the time is Der. There, Diomed, there. Dio. Lives he ? Thou strik'st not me, 'tis Cæsar thou defeat'st. Wilt thou not answer, man ? [Erit DERCETAS. Put colour in thy cheek. Ant. Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, Eros. The gods withhold me ! and give me Shall I do that, which all the Parthian darts, Sufficing strokes for death. Though enemy, lost aim, and could not ? Dio. Most absolute lord, Ant. Eros, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee. Now, my lord. Ant. Where is she? To penetrative shame ; whilst the wheel'd seat Dio. Lock'd in her monument. Of fortunate Cæsar, drawn before him, branded phesying fear His baseness that ensued ? Of what hath come to pass : for when she saw Eros. I would not see't. (Which never shall be found,) you did suspect Ani. Come then ; for with a wound I must be She had dispos’d with Cæsar, and that your rage cur'd. Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country. But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent Erus. O, sir, pardon me. Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou I dread, too late. not then Ant. Too late, good Diomed : - Call my guard, To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once ; I pr’ythee. Or thy precedent services are all Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The But accidents unpurpos’d. Draw, and come. 'guard, what, ho! Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance, Come, your lord calls. Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. Ant. Lo thee. [Turning from him. Enter some of the Guard. Eros. My sword is drawn. Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra Ant. Then let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it. 'Tis the last service that I shall command you. Eros. My dear master, i Guard. Woe are we, sir, you may not live to My captain, and my emperor ; let me say, Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell. All your true followers out. Ant. 'Tis said, man ;- and farewell. AU. Most heavy day! Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp Ant. Now, Eros. fate Eros. Why, there then :-(Falls on his sword.] To grace it with your sorrows : bid that welcome Thus do I escape the sorrow Which comes to punish us, and we punish it Of Antony's death. (Dies. Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up : Ant. Thrice nobler than myself ! I have led you oft ; carry me now, good friends, Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what And have my thanks for all. I should, and thou could'st not. My queen and Eros [Ereunt, bearing Antony. Have, by their brave instruction, got upon me A nobleness in record : But I will be SCENE XIII. The same. A Monument. A bridegroom in my death, and run into't As to a lover's bed. Come then ; and, Eros, Enter above, CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS. Thy master dies thy scholar ; to do thus Cleo. O Charmian, I will never go from hence. [Falling on his word. Char. Be comforted, dear madam. I learn’d of thee. How! not yet dead ? not dead?- Cleo. No, I will not The guard – ho! – 0, despatch me. All strange and terrible events are welcome, But comforts we despise ; our size of sorrow, Enter DERCETAS and Guard. Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great 1 Girard. What's the noise ? Enter DIOMEDES. Ant. I have done my work ill, friends; 0, make an end As that which makes it. How now? is he dead? of what I have begun. Dio. His death's upon him, but not dead. 2 Guard. The star is fallen. Look out o'the other side your monument, I Guard. And time is at his period. His guard have brought him thither. Au. Alas, and woe! Ant. Let him that loves me, strike me dead. Enter Antony, borne by the Guard. 1 Guard. Not I. Cleo. O thou sun, 2 Guard. Nor I. Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in! - darkling 3 Guard. Nor any one. (Ereunt Guard. stand Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. | The varying shore o'the world! - Antony ! з с bides ; wear Antony, Antony! - Charmian, help; help, Iras; Lament nor sorrow at: but please your thoughts, Help, friends below ; let's draw him hither. In feeding them with those my former fortunes Ant. Peace : Wherein I liv'd, the greatest prince o' the world, Not Cæsar's valour bath o'erthrown Antony, The noblest : and do now not basely die, But Antony's hath triumphed on itself. Nor cowardly; put off my helmet to Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony My countryman, a Roman, by a Roman Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so ! Valiantly vanquish’d. Now, my spirit is going; Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying ; only I can no more. (Dies. I here importune death a while, until Cleo. Noblest of men, woo't die? Of many thousand kisses the poor last Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide In this dull world, which in thy absence is No better than a stye ?- 0, see my women, Dear my lord, pardon,) I dare not, The crown o'the earth doth melt: - My lord! Lest I be taken : not the imperious show O, wither'd is the garland of the war, Of the full-fortun'd Cæsar ever shall The soldier's pole is fallen ; young boys, and girls, Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, Are level now with men : the odds is gone, have And there is nothing left remarkable Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe : Beneath the visiting moon. (She faints. Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes, Char. O, quietness, lady! And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign. Demuring upon me. - But come, come, Antony,- Char. Lady, Help me, my women, - we must draw thee up ;- Iras. Madam, Assist, good friends. Char. O madam, madam, madam! Ant. 0, quick, or I am gone. Iris. Royal Egypt ! Cle Here's sport, indeed! - How heavy weighs Empress ! Char. Peace, peace, Iras. Our strength is all gone into heaviness, Cleo. No more, but e'en a woman; and com. That makes the weight: Had I great Juno's power, manded The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up, By such poor passion as the maid that milks, And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little, And does the meanest chares. — It were for me Wishers were ever fools ;- -0, come, come, come; To throw my scepter at the injurious gods; [They draw ANTONY up. To tell them, that this world did equal theirs, And welcome, welcome ! die, where thou hast Till they had stolen our jewel. All's but naught; liv'd: Patience is sottish ; and impatience does Quicken with kissing ; had my lips that power, Become a dog that's mad : Then is it sin, Thus would I wear them out. To rush into the secret house of death, AU. A heavy sight! Ere death dare come to us?— How do you, women? Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying : What, what ? good cheer! Why, how now, Char Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. mian ? Cleo. No, let me speak ; and let me rail so My noble girls ! - Ah, women, women! look, high, Our lamp is spent, it's out:- Good sirs, take That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, heart : [To the Guard below. Provok'd by my offence. We'll bury him; and then, what's brave, what's Ant. One word, sweet queen: noble, Of Cæsar seek your honour, with your safety.-0! Let's do it after the high Roman fashion, Cleo. They do not go together. And make death proud to take us. Come, away : Ant. Gentle, hear me ; This case of that huge spirit now is cold. None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius. Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend Cleo. My resolution, and my hands, I'll trust; But resolution, and the briefest end. None about Cæsar. [Exeunt ; those above bearing off ANTONY's body. Ant. The miserable change now at my end, my lord ! ACT V. SCENE I. - Cæsar's Camp before Alexandria. Der. I am cail'd Dercetas; Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy Enter CÆSAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MECÆNAS, Best to be serv'd : whilst he stood up, and spoke, He was my master; and I wore my life, I'll be to Cæsar; if thou pleasest not, Cæs. What is't thou say'st ? Enter DERCETAS, with the sword of ANTONY. Der. I say, O Cæsar, Antony is dead. Cæs. Wherefore is that? and what art thou, that Cæs. The breaking of so great a thing should make dar'st A greater crack: The round world should have appear thus to us? shook Lions into civil streets, Agr. Mec. Dolabella! How he's employed; he shall in tiine be ready. A moiety of the world. Go with me to my tent : where you shall see Der. He is dead, Cæsar ; How hardly I was drawn into this war; Not by a publick minister of justice, How calm and gentle I proceeded still Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand, In all my writings; Go with me, and see Which writ his honour in the acts it did, What I can show in this. (Ereunt. Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, Splitted the heart. This is his sword; SCENE II. - Alexandria. A Room in the I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd Monument. Look you sad, friends ? Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and Iras. Cleo. My desolation does begin to make Agr. And strange it is, A better life: 'Tis paltry to be Cæsar ; That nature must compel us to lament Not being fortune, he's but fortune's knave, A minister of her will; And it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds; Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change; Waged equal with him. Agr. A rarer spirit never Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung, Did steer humanity : but you, gods, will give us The beggar's nurse and Cæsar's. Some faults to make us men. Cæsar is touch'd. Enter, to the gates of the Monument, PROCULEIUS, Mec. When such a spacious mirror's set before Gallus, and Soldiers. him, He needs must see himself. Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the queen of Egypt; Cæs. O Antony ! And bids thee study on what fair demands I have follow'd thee to this; But we do lance Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. Diseases in our bodies : I must perforce Cleo. [Within. ] What's thy name? Have shown to thee such a declining day, Pro. My name is Proculeius. Antony That have no use for trusting. If your master In top of all design, my mate in empire, Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell hiin, Friend and companion in the front of war, That majesty, to keep decorum, must The arm of mine own body, and the heart No less beg than a kingdom : if he please Where mine his thoughts did kindle,- tha our To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son, stars, He gives me so much of mine own, as I Unreconciliable, should divide Will kneel to him with thanks. Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends,- Pro. Be of good cheer; But I will tell you at some meeter season ; You are fallen into a princely hand, fear nothing : Make your full reference freely to my lord, Who is so full of grace, that it flows over On all that need : Let me report to him We'll hear him what he says. Whence are you? Your sweet dependancy : and you shall find Mess. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my | A conqueror, that will pray in aid for kindness, mistress, Where he for grace is kneel'd to. Confin'd in all she has, he monument Clo. [Within.] Pray you, tell him Of thy intents desires instruction ; I am bis fortune's vassal, and I send him That she preparedly may frame herselt The greatness he has got. I hourly learn To the way she's forced to. A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly Cæs. Bid her have good heart; Look him i' the face. ours, This I'll report, dear lady. How honourable and how kindly we Have comfort; for, I know, your plight is pitied Determine for her: for Cæsar cannot live Of him that caus'd it. To be ungentle. Gal. You see how easily she may be surpriz'd; Mess. So the gods preserve thee! (Eril. [Here PROCULEIUS, and two of ihe Guard, ascend Cæs. Come hither, Proculeius; Go, and say, the Monument by a ladder placed against tz We purpose her no shame : give her what com window, and having descended, come behind forts CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar und The quality of her passion shall require ; open the gates. Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke Guard her till Cæsar come. She do defeat us : for her life in Rome [To PROCULEIUS and the Guard. Exit Gallus. Would be eternal in our triumph : Go, Iras. Royal queen! Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands. [Drawing a dagger. Cæs. Gallus, go you along. - Where's Dolabella, Hold, worthy lady, bold : To second Proculeius? [Erit Gallus. [Seizes and disarms her. Pro. were man Pro. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this The element they liv'd in: In his livery Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands Cleo. What, of death too That rids our dogs of languish? As plates dropp'd from his pocket. Cleopatra, Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master's bounty, by Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a The undoing of yourself: let the world see His nobleness well acted, which your death As this I dream'a of? Will never let come forth. Dol. Gentle madam, no. Cleo. Where art thou, deain? Cieo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. Come hither, come ! come, come, and take a But, if there be, or ever were one such, queen It's past the size of dreaming : Nature wants stuff Worth many babes and beggars ! To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine Pro. O, temperance, lady! | An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir ; | Condemning shadows quite. If idle talk will once be necessary, Dol. Hear me, good madam : I'll not sleep neither : This mortal house I'll ruir. Your loss is as yourself, great ; and you bear it Do Cæsar what he can. Know, sir, that I As answering to the weight: 'Would I miglit Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court; never Nor once be chástis'd with the sober eye O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up, By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots And show me to the shouting varletry My very heart at root. Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Cleo. I thank you, sir. Be gentle grave to me! rather on Nilus' mud Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me? Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you Blow me into abhorring! rather make knew. My country's high pyramides my gibbet, Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir, And hang me up in chains ! Dol. Though he be honourable, You do extend Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph ? These thoughts of horror further than you shall Dol. Madam, he will; Find cause in Cæsar. I know it. Within. Make way there, - Cæsar. Enter Cæsar, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECAXAS, What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows, SELEUCUS, and Attendants. And he hath sent for thee : as for the queen, Cres. Which is the queiri I'll take her to my guard. Of Egypt? Dol. 'Tis the emperor, madam. (CLEOPATRA ÁRezis To Cæsar I will speak what you shall please, Cæs. Arise, [ To CLEOPATRA. You shall not kneel: If you'll employ me to him. I pray you, rise ; rise, Egypt. Cleo. Say, I would die. Cleo. Sir, the gods [Exeunt ProcuLEIUS, and Soldiers. Will have it thus ; my master and iny lord Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of I must obey. me? Cæs. Take to you no hard thoughts : Cleo. I cannot tell. The record of what injuries you did us, Dol. Assuredly, , you know me. Though written in our flesh, we shall remember Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard, or known. As things but done by chance. You laugh, when boys, or women, tell their dreams; Cleo. Sole sir o'the worla, Is't not your trick ? I cannot project mine own cause so well Dol. I understand not, madam. To make it clear ; but do confess, I have Cleo. I dream'd, there was an emperor Antony ;- Been laden with like frailties, which before 0, such another sleep, that I might see Have often sham'd our sex. But such another man ! Cæs. Cleopatra, know, Dol. If it might please you, We will extenuate rather than enforce : Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein | If you apply yourself to our intents, stuck (Which towards you are most gentle,) you shall find A sun, and moon; which kept their course, and A benefit in this change; but if you seek lighted To lay on me a cruelty, by taking The little 0, the earth. Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself Dol. Most sovereign creature,- Of my gond purposes, and put your children Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean : his rear'd arm To that destruction which I'll guard them frual, Crested the world: his voice was propertied If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave. As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends ; Cleo. And may, through all the world : 'tis yours; But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, and we He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas, shall That grew the more by reaping : His delights Hang in what place you please. Here, ny goed Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above lord. Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. Cæs. Not so: Adieu. Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, [Ereunt Cæsar, and his Train. I am possess'd of : 'tis exactly valued ; Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I Not petty things admitted. - Where's Seleucus ? should not Sel. Here, madam. Be noble to myself : but hark thee, Charmian. Clev. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my [ Whispers CHARMIAN. lord. Iras. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd And we are for the dark. To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus, Cleo. Hie thee again : Sel. Madam, I have spoke already, and it is provided ; I had rather seel my lips, than, to my peril, Go, put it to the haste. Speak that which is not. Char. Madam, I will. Re-enter DOLABELLA. Dol. Where is the queen ? Cæs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra ; approve Char. Behold, sir. (Exit CharmiAN. Your wisdom in the deed. Cleo. Dolabella? Cieo. See, Cæsar! 0, behold, Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours ; Which my love makes religion to obey, And, should we shift estates, yours would be I tell you this : Cæsar through Syria mine. Intends his journey ; and, within three days, The ingratitude of this Seleucus does You with your children will he send before : Even make me wild: 0 slave, of no more trust Make your best use of this : I have perform'd Than love that's hir'd! - What, goest thou back ? Your pleasure, and my promise. thou shalt Cleo. Dolabella, I your servant. Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar. O rarely base! Cleo. Farewell , and thanks. (Erit Dou.] Now, Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. Iras, what think'st thou ? In Rome, as well as I: mechanick slaves With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall To one so meek, that mine own servant shoula Uplift us to the view ; in their thick breaths, Parcel the sum of my disgraces by Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar, And forc'd to drink their vapour. That I some lady trifies have reserv’d, Iras. The gods forbid : Immoment toys, things of such dignity Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras : Saucy lictors As we greet modern friends withal ; and say, Will catch at us, like strumpets ; and scald rhymers Some nobler token I have kept apart Ballad us out o'tune : the quick comedians For Livia, and Octavia, to induce Extemporally will stage us, and present Their mediation ; must I be unfolded Our Alexandrian revels ; Antony With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence ; I' the posture of a whore. [TO SELEUCUS. Iras. O the good gods ! Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Through the ashes of my chance : Wert thou a Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails man, Are stronger than mine eyes. Thou would'st have mercy on me. Cleo. Why, that's the way Caes. Forbear, Seleucus. To fool their preparation, and to conquer (Erit SELEUCUS. Their most absurd intents. Now, Charmian? Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are mis Enter CHARMIAN. thought For things that others do; and, when we fall, Show me, my women, like a queen ;- Go fetch We answer otliers' merits in our name, My best attires ; - I am again for Cydnus, To meet Mark Antony :- Sirrah, Iras, go. Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed : leave Bestow it at your pleasure ; and believe, To play till dooms-day. Bring our crown and all. C sar's no merchant, to make prize with you Wherefore's this noise ? Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd; [Exit IRAS. A noise withir Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear Enter one of the Guard. queen; For we intend so to dispose you, as Guard. Here is a rural fellor Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep : That will not be denied your highness' presence Our care and pity is so much upon you, He brings you figs. That we remain your friend; And so adieu. Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instrume. Cleo. My master, and my lord! (Exit Guard. me |