Re-enter IRAs with a robe, crown, &c. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have 290 [Kisses them. Iras falls and dies. Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie still? It is not worth leave-taking. 300 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, thou mortal wretch, [To an asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? 810 Char. What should I stay [Applying another asp to her arm. Char. In this vile world? So, fare thee well. او [Dies. 320 Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry; Enter the Guard, rushing in. First Guard. Where is the queen? Speak softly, wake her not First Guard. Cæsar hath sent- Too slow a messenger. O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee. First Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguiled. Sec. Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar; call him. First Guard. 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. Ah, soldier! Dol. 330 [Dies. Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming [Within "A way there, a way for Cæsar!" Re-enter CESAR, and all his train, marching. Dol. O sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear is done. Cæs. She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. Bravest at the last, The manner of their deaths? 340 Who was last with them? I do not see them bleed. Dol. First Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs: This was his basket. Cæs. First Guard. Poison'd, then. O Cæsar, This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood And on the sudden dropp'd. Cæs. O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, In her strong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood and something blown: The like is on her arm. 350 First Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Caes. Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed; Strike those that make them; and their story is Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall 360 [Exeunt. SCENE I. Britain. The garden of Cymbeline's palace. Enter two Gentlemen. a First Gent. You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods No more obey the heavens than our courtiers Still seem as does the king. Sec. Gent. But what's the matter? First Gent. His daughter, and the heir of's kingdom, whom He purposed to his wife's sole son-a widow That late he married-hath referr'd herself Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: she's wedded; Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all Is outward sorrow; though I think the king Sec. Gent. None but the king? First Gent. He that hath lost her too; so is the queen, That most desired the match; but not a courtier, Although they wear their faces to the bent Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not Sec. Gent. And why so? First Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess is a thing Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her— I mean, that married her, alack, good man! And therefore banish'd-is a creature such As, to seek through the regions of the earth For one his like, there would be something failing In him that should compare. I do not think So fair an outward and such stuff within Endows a man but he. Sec. Gent. You speak him far. First Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself, Crush him together rather than unfold His measure duly. Sec. Gent. What's his name and birth? ་་ན་་ First Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour Against the Romans with Cassibelan, But had his titles by Tenantius whom 10 20 80 He served with glory and admired success, So gain'd the sur-addition Leonatus; And had, besides this gentleman in question, Two other sons, who in the wars o' the time Died with their swords in hand; for which their father, As he was born. The king he takes the babe To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus, 40 50 |