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Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.2

Cleopatra. Ay, ay; farewell.

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.

Cleopatra. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.

Clown. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.

Cleopatra. 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. Cleopatra. Well, get thee gone; farewell.

Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the worm.

[Exit.

Re-enter IRAS, with a Robe, Crown, &c. Cleopatra. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me: Now no more

3

The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:-
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.-Methinks I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself

To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
The luck of Cæsar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath: Husband, I come:
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
I am fire, and air; my other elements
I give to baser life. So,―have you done?
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian;-Iras, long farewell.

[Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies.

Have I the aspick in my lips? Dost fall?

If thou and nature can so gently part,

If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

It is not worth leave-taking.

Charmian. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I

may say,

The gods themselves do weep!

2 Act according to his nature.

3 Make haste.

Cleopatra.

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,
Be angry and despatch. O, couldst thou speak!
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass
Unpolicied.

Charmian. O eastern star!
Cleopatra.

Peace, peace!

Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?

Charmian.

O, break! O, break!

Cleopatra. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,— O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too:—

[Applying another Asp to her Arm. [Falls on a Bed, and dies. Charmian. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well.—

What should I stay

Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies

A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close;
And golden Phoebus never be beheld

Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the GUARD, rushing in.

1 Guard. Where is the queen? Charmian.

Speak softly, wake her not.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentCharmian.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies the Asp.

O, come: apace, despatch: I partly feel thee.

1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's be

guil'd.

2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar ;-call

him.

* Unpolitic, to leave me to myself.

1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is this

well done?

Charmian. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings.

Ah, soldier!

[Dies.

Enter DOLABELLA.

Dolabella. How goes it here?

2 Guard.

All dead.

Cæsar, thy thoughts

[Within.]

A way there, way for Cæsar!

Dolabella.

Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming
To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou
So sought'st to hinder.

Enter CESAR, and ATTENDANTS.

Dolabella. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer;

That you did fear, is done.

Cæsar.

Bravest at the last:

She levell❜d at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way.-The manner of their deaths?
I do not see them bleed.

Dolabella.

Who was last with them?

1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her

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This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem

On her dead mistress; trembling she stood,

And on the sudden dropp'd.

O noble weakness!

Cæsar.
If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,
As she would catch another Antony

In her strong toil of grace.5

Dolabella.

Here, on her breast,

5 Graceful appearance.

There is a vent of blood, and something blown:

The like is on her arm.

1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves

Upon the caves of Nile.

Cæsar.

Most probable,

That so she died; for her physician tells me,

She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite

Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed;
And bear her women from the monument:-
She shall be buried by her Antony;
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them: and their story is
No less in pity, than his glory, which
Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall,
In solemn show, attend this funeral;
And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see
High order in this great solemnity.

6 Enfold.

[Exeunt.

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