Iras. I'll never fee it; for, I am fure, Are stronger than mine eyes. Cleo. Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer my nails Their most abfurd intents.-Now, Charmian?- Shew me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch To play 'till doomsday.-Bring our crown and all. Enter one of the Guard. Guard. Here's a rural fellow, [A noife within. That will not be deny'd your highness' prefence; He brings you figs. Cleo. Let him come in. What poor an inftrument [Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My refolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of woman in me: Now from head to foot am marble-conftant: now the fleeting moon No planet is of mine. Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket. Guard. This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. Haft thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not? [Exit Guard. Clown. Clown. Truly I have him: but I would not be the party that should defire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; thofe that do die of it, do feldom or never recover. Cleo. Remember'ft thou any that have dy'd on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but fomething given to lye; as a woman fhould not do, but in the way of honefty: how the dy'd of the biting of it, what pain fhe felt,-Truly, fhe makes a very good report o' the worm: But he that will believe all that they fay, shall never be faved by half that they do: But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm. Cleo. Get thee hence; farewel. Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewel. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. Cleo. Ay, ay; farewel. Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted, but in the keeping of wife people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in the worm. Cleo. Take thou no care; it fhall be heeded. Clown. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding. Gleo. Will it eat me? Clown. You must not think I am fo fimple, but I know, the devil himself will not eat a woman: I know, that a woman is a difh for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these fame whorefon 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; farewel. Clown. Clown. Yes, forfooth; I wish you joy o' the worm. Re-enter IRAS, with robe, crown, &c. [Exit. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have To praife my noble act; I hear him mock I give to bafer life.-So,-have you done? [Applying the afp. Have I the afpick in my lips? Doft fall? [To IRAS. If thou and nature can fo gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Which hurts, and is defir'd. Doft thou lie ftill ? It is not worth leave-taking. [IRAS dies. Char. Diffolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may The gods themselves do weep! Cleo. This proves me base: If the first meet the curled Antony, [fay, 'He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss, Which is my heaven to have.-Come, thou mortal wretch, With thy fharp teeth this knot intrinficate [To the afp. Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, That That I might hear thee call great Cæfar, afs Unpolicy'd! Char. O eastern star! Cleo. Peace, peace! Doft thou not fee my baby at my breast, That fucks the nurse asleep? Char. O, break! O, break! Cleo. As fweet as balm, as foft as air, as gentle, O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too : [Applying another afp to her arm. What, fhould I stay [Dies. Char. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well.- Of eyes again fo royal! Your crown's awry; Enter the Guard, rufhing in. I Guard. Where is the queen? [CHARMIAN applies the afp O, come; apace, difpatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæfar's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella fent from Cæfar;call him. Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Defcended of fo many royal kings. Ab, foldier! [CHARMIAN dies Enter Enter DOLABELLA. Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. All dead. Dol. Cæfar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: Thyfelf art coming Within. A way there, a way for Cæfar! Eater CESAR, and Attendants. Dol. O, fir, you are too fure an augurer; That you did fear, is done. Caf. Braveft at the last She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not fee them bleed. Dol. Who was laft with them? Guard. A fimple countryman, that brought her This was his basket. Caf. Poifon'd then. 1 Guard. O Cæfar, [figs; This Charmian liv'd but now; fhe ftood, and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead miftrefs; tremblingly she stood, And on the fudden dropp'd. Caf. O noble weakness !— If they had fwallow'd poifon, 'twould appear In her ftrong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown : 1 Guard. |