O sun! thy uprise shall I see no more: Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end, Enter CLEOPATRA. Ah, thou spell! Avaunt! Cleo. Why is my lord enrag'd against his love? Ant. Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving, And blemish Cæsar's triumph. Let him take thee, And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians: Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot Of all thy sex; most monster-like, be shown For poor'st diminutives, for 2 doits; and let Patient Octavia plough thy visage up With her prepared nails. [Exit CLEO. 'Tis well thou'rt gone, If it be well to live; but better 'twere Thou fell'st under my fury, for one death Might have prevented many.-Eros, ho!The shirt of Nessus is upon me teach me, Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage: Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon; And with those hands, that grasp'd the heaviest club, Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die: To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I full Under this plot; she dies for't.-Eros, ho! [Exit. SCENE XI.-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN. Cleo. Help me, my women! O! he is more mad Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly Was never so emboss'd. Char. To the monument! Ay, noble lord. Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'st me. Eros. Ant. Sometime, we see a cloud that's dragonish, A vapor, sometime, like a bear, or lion, A tower'd citadel, a pendant rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon't, that nod unto the world, [signs; And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these "My crownet," i. e., the crown of my endeavors."Fast and loose," a juggling game, practised by the gipsies, now called pricking at the belt - For poor'st diminutives," i. e. for the smallest piece of money.- Lichas, the boy that brought the poisoned shirt to Hercules.-" Emboss'd," Le, foaming at the mouth. The rack 'dislimns, and makes it indistinct, As water is in water. Eros. It does, my lord. Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us She has robb'd me of my sword. Mar. No, Antony; My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled With thine entirely. Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch: peace! She hath betray'd me, and shall die the death. Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once, And that she has discharg'd. What thou would'st do, Is done unto thy hand: the last she spake Was, Antony! most noble Antony! Then, in the midst a tearing groan did break Between her heart and lips. She render'd life, Ant. Unarm me, Eros: the long day's task is done, And we must sleep.-That thou depart'st hence safe, Does pay thy labor richly; go.-[Exit MARDIAN. Off, pluck off: h The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Eros. What would my lord? Ant. Since Cleopatra died I have liv'd in such dishonor, that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack Than she, which by her death our Cæsar tells, courage of a woman; less noble minded The But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come. Eros. Turn from me, then, that noble countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. Ant. Lo thee! [ Turning 1his face from him. Eros. My sword is drawn. Ant. Then, let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it. Eros. My dear master, My captain, and my emperor, let me say, Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell. Ant. 'Tis said, man; and farewell. Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? Now, Eros. Eros. Why, there then.-[Falls on his Sword.] Thus do I escape the sorrow Ant. Of Antony's death. Ant. [Dies. Thrice nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros! what I should, and thou could'st not. My queen and Eros [Falling on his Sword. I learn'd of thee.-How! not dead? not dead ?— The guard!-how 1-O, despatch me! Enter DERCETAS and Guard. 1 Guard. What's the noise? Ant. I have done my work ill, friends: O! make Of what I have begun. [an end 2 Guard. The star is fallen. 1 Guard. And time is at his period. All. Alas, and woe! Ant. Let him that loves me, strike me dead. 1 Guard. 2 Guard. Nor I. Not I. 3 Guard. Nor any one. [Exeunt Guard. Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. This sword but shown to Cæsar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him. ■"Pleach'd," i, e., folded. "Corrigible," i, e., corrected. Penetrative for penetrating." His baseness that en sued," i. e., the baseness of him that followed. -"The worship," ie., the dignity; the honor. SCENE XIII.-The Same. A Monument. Enter, above, CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and ĪRAS. Cleo. O Charmian! I will never go from hence. Char. Be comforted, dear madam. Cleo. No, I will not Enter, below, ANTONY, borne by the Guard. Burn the great sphere thou mov'st_in!-darkling Ant. Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so! Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only I here importune death a while, until { "Compos'd,” i. c., arranged; agreed. 島 Bebrooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, have What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian! Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe. Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes, Ant. O! quick, or I am gone. Cleo. Here's port, indeed!-How heavy weighs Our strength is all gone into heaviness, [my lord! That makes the weight: had I great Juno's power, The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up, And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little ;Wishers were ever fools.-O! come, come, come; [They draw ANTONY up. And welcome, welcome! die, where thou hast liv'd: Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power, Thus would I wear them out. е All. A heavy sight. Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying. Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, Provok'd by my offence. Ant. Cleo. They do not go together. Gentle, hear me. Ant. The miserable change now at my end My countryman, a Roman by a Roman [Dies. Noblest of men, woo't die? The soldier's pole is fallen: young boys, and girls, Char. Lady! Madam! My noble girls!-Ah, women, women! look, The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings Agr. Cleo. No more, but e'en a woman; and commanded By such poor passion as the maid that milks, And does the meanest 'chares.-It were for me To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; Cleopatra means that she dare not come down out of the monument to Antony.-b" Be brooch'd," i. e.. be ornamented, adorned.-" Still condition," i. e., sedate disposition.-"Demurring," i. e., looking gravely." Quicken," i e., revive. "Chares," i. e., chores. Mec. 6 Weighed equal with him. Agr. His taints and honors A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity; but you gods will give us Some faults to make us men. Cæsar is touch'd. Mec. When such a spacious mirror's set before him, He needs must see himself, Diseases in our bodies. I must perforce Our equalness to this.-Hear me, good friends,- Enter a Messenger. [tress, The business of this man looks out of him; Cæs. Bid her have good heart: She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, How honorable and how kindly we Determine for her; for Cæsar cannot live To be ungentle. Mess. And with your speediest bring us what she says, Pro. Dolabella! All. Cæs. Let him alone, for I remember now How he's employed: he shall in time be ready. Go with me to my tent, where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war, How calm and gentle I proceeded still In all my writings. Go with me, and see What I can show in this. [Exeunt. Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, Pro. Cleo.5 d Pray you, tell him I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly The greatness he has got. I hourly learn Look him i' the face. Pro. This I'll report, dear lady. Have comfort; for, I know, your plight is pitied Of him that caus'd it. Gal. You see how easily she may be surpris'd. [PROCULEIUS, and two of the Guard, ascend the Monument by a ladder, and come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar Guard her till Cæsar come. and open the Gates. [TO PROCULEIUS and the Guard. Exit GALLUS. Iras. Royal queen! Char. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen!— Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands. [Drawing a Dagger. Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold! [Disarms her. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Reliev'd, but not betray'd. Cleo. What, of death, too, That rids our dogs of languish? Pro. Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master's bounty, by Cleo. Pro. O! temperance, lady. Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir; SCENE II.-Alexandria. A Room in the Monu- If idle talk will once be accessary, ment. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS. knave, Cleo. My desolation does begin to make Enter, to the Gates of the Monument, PROCULEIUS, Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the queen of Egypt; And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. I'll not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin, You do extend These thoughts of horror farther, than you shall Find cause in Cæsar. We will extenuate rather than enforce : [and we A sun, and moon, which kept their course, and lighted Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. The little O, the earth. Dol. b Most sovereign creature,Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm a Crested the world; his voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas, That grew the more by reaping his delights Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above The element they liv'd in: in his livery [were Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands As plates dropp'd from his pocket. Dol. Cleopatra, Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a As this I dream'd of? [man Gentle madam, no. Dol. It's past the size of dreaming: nature wants stuff Dol. Hear me, good madam. Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it As answering to the weight: would I might never O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, By the rebound of yours, a grief that 1 smites My very heart at root. Cleo. I thank you, sir. Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me? Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew. Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,— Dol. Though he be honorable, Cleo. He'll lead me, then, in triumph? Cas. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued; 2[Showing a Paper. Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus? Sel. Here, madam. Cleo. This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd To myself nothing.-Speak the truth, Seleucus. I had rather seal my lips, than to my peril What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Cas. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed. Cleo. See, Cæsar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours, And should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild.-O slave, of no more trust Than love that's hir'd!-What! goest thou back? thou shalt Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings. Slave, soul-less villain, dog! O'rarely base! Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. To one so meek, that mine own servant should Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar, As we greet modern friends withal; and say, For Livia, and 1Octavia, to induce [me m With one that I have bred? Ye gods! it smites Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit SELEUCUS. "Project," i. e., delineate; shape; form.-"Rarely base," i. e., base beyond example.-"Parcel," i. e., add up. His envy," i. e., his malice. "Immoment," i. e, trifling.- "Modern," i. e., common; ordinary.-"Livia and Octavia," Cæsar's wife and sister. With for by. |