Would'st thou be window'd in great Rome, and see
Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdued
To penetrative shame; whilst the wheel'd seat
Of fortunate Cæsar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued?
Eros.
Ant. Come then; for with a wound I must be
cur'd.
Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn
Most useful for thy country.
O, sir, pardon me. Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not then
To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once;
Or thy precedent services are all
But accidents unpurpos'd. 'Draw, and come.
Eros. Turn from me then that noble counte-
Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.
Ant. Lo thee.
[Turning 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?
Ant
Now, Eros.
Bros. Why, there then-[Falls on his sword.]
Thus do I escape the sorrow
Of Antony's death.
[Dies.
Ant.
Thrice nobler than myself!
Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what [Eros
I should, and thou could'st not. My queen and
Have, by their brave instruction, got upon me
A nobleness in record: But I will be
A bridegroom in my death, and run into't
As to a lover's bed. Come then; and, Eros,
Thy master dies thy scholar; to do thus
Ant. Too late, good Dlomed:-Call my guard,
I pr'ythee.
Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The
Come, your lord calls.
[guard, what, ho!
Enter some of the Guard.
Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra
'Tis the last service that I shall command you.
1 Guard. Woe are we, sir, you may not live to
All your true followers out.
[wear
All.
Most heavy day!
Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp
fate
To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome
Which comes to punish us, and we punish it
Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:
I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,
And have my thanks for all.
[Exeunt, bearing Antony.
SCENE XIII. The same. A Monument.
Enter above, Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras.
Cleo. O Charmian, I will never go from hence.
Char. Be comforted, dear madam.
Cleo.
No, I will not
All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
Enter Diomedes.
As that which makes it.-How now? is he dead 2
Dio. His death's upon him, but not dead.
Look out o' the other side your monument,
His guard have brought him thither.
Enter Antony, borne by the Guard.
Cleo.
O thou sun
Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in !-darkling
stand
[Falling on his sword. The varying shore o'the world!-0 Antony!
I learn'd of thee. How! not yet dead? not dead ? Antony, Antony !-Charmian, help; help, Iras;
The guard!-ho!-O, despatch me.
Help, friends below; let's draw him hither.
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. Not 1.
2 Guard. Nor 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.
Not Cæsar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,
But Antony's hath triumphed on itself.
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
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.-
Cleo.
I dare not, dear
(Dear my lord, pardon,) I dare not,
Lest I be taken; not the imperious show
Of the full-fortun'd Cæsar ever shall
Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents,
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe :
[have
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes,
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour
Demuring upon me.-But come, come, Antony,
Help me, my women, we must draw thee up-
Assist, good friends.
O, quick, or I am gone."
Cleo. Here's sport, 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 ;-0, 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.
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.
One word, sweet queen :|
Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety.-O!
Cleo. They do not go together.
Ant.
Gentle, hear me ;
None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius.
Cleo. My resolution, and my hands, I'll trust;
None about Cæsar.
Ant. The miserable change now at my end,
Lament nor sorrow at: but please your thoughts,
In feeding them with those my former fortunes
Wherein I liv'd, the greatest prince o' the world,
The noblest and do now not basely die,
Nor cowardly; put off my helmet to
My countryman, a Roman, by a Roman
Valiantly vanquish'd. Now, my spirit is going
1 can no more.
Cleo.
Noblest of men, woo't die ?
Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a stye ?-O, see my women,
The crown o' the earth doth melt-My lord!-
O, wither'd is the garland of the war,
The soldier's pole is fallen; young boys, and girls,
Are level now with men the odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon.
[She faints.
Char.
O, quietness, lady!
Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign.
Char.
Char. O madam, madam, madam!
Iras.
Char. Peace, peace, Iras.
Madam,-
Royal Egypt!
[manded
Cleo. No more, but e'en a woman; and com-
By such poor passion as the maid that milks,
And does the meanest chares. It were for me
To throw my scepter at the injurious gods;
To tell them, that this world did equal theirs,
Till they had stolen our jewel. All's but naught;
Patience is sottish; and impatience does
Become a dog that's mad: Then is it sin,
To rush into the secret house of death,
Ere death dare come to us?How do you, women?
What, what? good cheer! Why, how now, Char-
mian ?
My noble girls !-Ah, women, women! look,
Our lamp is spent, it's out-Good sirs, take
[To the Guard below.
We'll bury him: and then, what's brave, what's
Let's do it after the high Roman fashion, [noble,
And make death proud to take us. Come, away:
This case of that huge spirit now is cold.
Ah, women, women come; we have no friend
But resolution, and the briefest end.
Der. I say, O Cesar, Antony is dead. [make
Caes. The breaking of so great a thing should
A greater crack: The round world should have
Lions into civil streets,
[shook
And citizens to their dens :The death of Antony
Is not a single doom; in the name lay
A moiety of the world.
He is dead, Cæsar;
Not by a publick minister of justice,
Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand,
Which writ his honour in the acts it did,
Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,
Splitted the heart. This is his sword;
I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd
With his most noble blood.
Look you sad, friends?
The gods rebuke me, but it is a tidings
To wash the eyes of kings.
That nature must compel us to lament
Our most persisted deeds.
Waged equal with him.
Agr.
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
He needs must see himself.
[him,
Cæs.
O Antony !
I have follow'd thee to this ;-But we do lance
Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce
Have shown to thee such a declining day,
Or look on thine; we could not stall together
In the whole world: But yet let me lament,
With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts,
That thou, my brother, my competitor
In top of all design, my mate in empire,
Friend and companion in the front of war,
The arm of mine own body, and the heart
Where mine his thoughts did kindle,that our
Unreconciliable, should divide
[stafs
Our equalness to this.-Hear me, good friends,-
But I will tell you at some meeter season;
Enter a Messenger,
The business of this man looks out of him,
We'll hear him what he says. Whence are you?
Mess. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my
Confin'd in all she has, her monument, [mistress
Of thy intents desires instruction;
That she preparedly may frame herself
To the way she's forced to.
Cœs.
Bid her have good heart;
She soon shall know of us, by some of ours,
How honourable and how kindly we
[Exeunt; those above bearing off Antony's body. Determine for her: for Cæsar cannot live
SCENE I.-Cæsar's Camp before Alexandria. Enter Cæsar, Agrippa, Dolabella, Mecenas, lus, Proculeius, and others.
Caes. Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield;
Being so frustrate, tell him, he mocks us by
The pauses that he makes.
Dol.
So the gods preserve thee! [Erit
Cæs. Come hither, Proculeius; Go, and say
We purpose her no shame give her what comforts
The quality of her passion shall require;
Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke
She do defeat us: for her life in Rome
Gal-Would be eternal in our triumph: Go,
Caesar, I shall. [Exit Dolabella.
Enter Dercetas, with the sword of Antony."
Cas. Wherefore is that? and what art thou, that
Appear thus to us?
Der.
I am call'd Dercetas ;
Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy
Best to be serv'd: whilst he stood up, and spoke,
He was my master; and I wore my life,
To spend upon his haters: If thou please
To take me to thee, as I was to him
I'll be to Cæsar; if thou pleasest not,
I yield thee up my life.
And, with your speediest, bring us what she says,
And how you find of her.
Cæsar, I shall. [Exit Proculeius
Cæs. Gallus, go you along.-Where's Dolabella,
To second Proculeius?
[Brit Gallus
Agr. Mec.
Cas. 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..
SCENE IL-Alexandria.
A Room in the Mons ment.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras.
Cleo. My desolation does begin to make
A better life: 'Tis paltry to be Cæsar;
Not being fortune, he's but fortune's knave,
4 minister of her will; And it is great
To do that thing that ends all other deeds;
Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change;
Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung,
The beggar's nurse and Cæsar's.
Enter, to the gates of the monument, Proculeius,
Gallus, and Soldiers.
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.
Cleo. [Within.]
Pro. My name is Proculeius.
Cleo. [Within.]
Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but
I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd,
That have no use for trusting. If your master
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him,
That majesty, to keep decorum, must
No less beg than a kingdom: if he please
To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son,
He gives me so much of mine own, as I
Will kneel to him with thanks,
Be of good cheer;
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
Your sweet dependancy: and you shall find
A conqueror, that will pray in aid for kindness,
Where he for grace is kneel'd to,
Pray you, tell him
I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him
The greatness he has got. I hourly learn
A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly
Look him i'the face.
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 surpriz'd;
[Here Proculeius, and two of the Guard, ascend
the Monument by a ladder placed against a
windon, and having descended, come behind
Cleopatra. Some of the Guard unbar and
open the gates.
Guard her till Cæsar come.
[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:
[Seizes and disarms her.
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
Reliev'd, but not betray'd."
What, of death too That rids our dogs of languish ?
Do not abuse my master's bounty, by
The undoing of yourself: let the world see
His nobleness well acted, which your death
Will never let come forth.
Cleo.
Where art thou, death?
Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen
Worth many babes and beggars!
Pro.
O, temperance, lady! I
Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir;
If idle talk will once be necessary,
I'll not sleep neither: This mortal house I'll ruin,
Do Cæsar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court;
Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up,
And show me to the shouting varletry
Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
Be gentle grave to me! rather on Nilus' mud,
Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
Blow me into abhorring! rather make
My country's high pyramides my gibbet,
And hang me up in chains!
If it might please you, Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck
A sun, and moon; which kept their course, and
The little O, the earth.
[lighted
Most sovereign creature,-
Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm
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
Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands
As plates dropp'd from his pocket.
[were
Dol.
Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, such a
As this I dream'd of ?
[man
Dol.
Gentle madam, no.
Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods.
But, if there be, or ever were one such,
It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuff
To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine
An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,
Condemning shadows quite.
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 shoots
My very heart at root.
Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me?
Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you
Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,-
[knew.
Though he be honourable,--
Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph?
know it.
Within. Make way there,-Cæsar.
Enter Cæsar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mccænas,
Seleucus, and Attendants.
We will extenuate rather than enforce :
If you apply yourself to our intents,
(Which towards you are most gentle,) you shall
A benefit in this change; but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking
Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave. [and we
Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours;
Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest,
(lord.
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good
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;
Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus?
Sel. Here, madam.
Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd [lord,
To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam,
I had rather seel my lips, than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.
Cleo.
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 The ingratitude of this Seleucus does [mine. 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,
O rarely base!
[dog!
Cas.
Good queen, let us entreat you.
Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this;
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness
To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar,
That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia, and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded
With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence; [me
[To Seleucus.
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
Through the ashes of my chance :-Wert thou a
Thou would'st have mercy on me.
[man,
Cæs.
Forbear, Seleucus.
[Exit Seleucus.
Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are mis-
thought
For things that others do; and, when we fall,
We answer others' merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.
Cæs. Not what you have reserv'd, nor what, acknowPut we i' the roll of conquest: still be it yours, Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, Cæsar's no merchant, to make prize with you
O the good gods! Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my nails Are stronger than mine eyes.
Why, that's the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most absurd intents. Now, Charmian ?→
Enter Charmian,
Show me, my women, like a queen;-Go fetch
My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony Sirrah, Iras, go
Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed:
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee
leave
To play till dooms-day.Bring our crown and all
Wherefore's this noise?
[Exit Iras. A noise within
Enter one of the Guard.”
4 How poor an instrument [Brit Guard.
May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. ›
My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing"
Of woman in me Now from head to foot
No planet is of mine.
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be I am marble-constant now the fleeting moodTM
Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. heard of one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman should not do, but in the way of honesty: how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt, Truly, she makes a very good report o' the worm: But he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do: But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm. Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewell. [Clown sets down the basket, Clown. You must think this, look you, worm will do his kind.
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.
Cleo. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. Clown. Very good give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.
Clown. You must not think I am so simple, but know the devil himself will not eat a woman: know, that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whoreson 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; farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the [Exit.
Re-enter Iras, with a robe, crown, &c. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me: Now no more 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 Caesar, 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, The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking.
Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I The gods themselves do weep! (may say, 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, mortal
[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, could'st thou speak! That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass Unpolicied! O eastern star !
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep?
Char.
O, break! O, break
Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,-
O Antony-Nay, I will take thee too:-
[Applying another asp to her arm.
What should I stay- [Falls on a bed, and dies.
Char. In this wide world?-So, fare thee well.-
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.
Guard. Where is the queen ?
Speak softly, wake her not. Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp.
1 Guard. Cæsar hath sent Char.
0, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee.1 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil'd [call him. 9 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar ;1 Guard. What work is here ?Charmian, is this well done?Yesu
Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier!
Cæsar, thy thoughts To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming So sought'st to hinder. Within.
A way there, a way for Caesar!
Enter Cæsar and Attendants.
Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer;" That you did fear, is done.
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.
Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs. This was his basket. Cæs.
This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and
I found her trimming up the diadem
On her dead mistress: tremblingly she stood,
And on the sudden dropp'd.
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.
Dol.
Here, on her breast,
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.
Most probable, a That so she died; for her physician tells me, She hath pursued 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.
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