To tell them that this world did equal theirs, Become a dog that's mad. Then is it sin, Ere death dare come to us?-How do you, women? Our lamp is spent, it's out.-Good sirs, take heart. Come away; This case of that huge spirit now is cold. Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend [Exeunt; those above bearing off ANTONY's body. ACT V. SCENE I. Cæsar's Camp before Alexandria. Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MECENAS, Gallus, PROCULEIUS, and others. Cæs. Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield; Being so frustrate, tell him, he mocks us by The pauses that he makes. Dol. Cæsar, I shall. [Exit DOLABELLA. Enter DERCETAS, with the sword of ANTONY. Cæs. Wherefore is that? and what art thou that dar'st Appear thus to us? Der. I am called Dercetas; Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy Best to be served; whilst he stood up and spoke, He was my master; and I wore my life, To spend upon his haters. If thou please What is't thou say'st? Cæs. The breaking of so great a thing should make A greater crack. The round world should have shook Lions into civil streets, And citizens to their dens.-The death of Antony A moiety of the world. Der. He is dead, Cæsar; Not by a public minister of justice, Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand, Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, I robbed his wound of it; behold it stained With his most noble blood. Cæs. The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings Agr. Look you sad, friends? And strange it is, His taints and honors A rarer spirit never That nature must compel us to lament Our most persisted deeds. Mec. Waged equal with him. Agr. Did steer humanity: but you, gods, will give us Some faults to make us men. Cæsar is touched. Mec. When such a spacious mirror's set before him, He needs must see himself. Cæs. O Antony! I have followed thee to this;-but we do lance. Where mine his thoughts did kindle-that our stars, Our equalness to this.- Hear me, good friends,- Enter a Messenger. The business of this man looks out of him; Mess. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen, my mistress, Confined in all she has, her monument, Of thy intents desires instruction; That she preparedly may frame herself To the way she's forced to. Cæs. Bid her have good heart; She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, Determine for her; for Cæsar cannot live Mess. So the gods preserve thee! Cæs. Come hither, Proculeius. Go, and say, We purpose her no shame; give her what comforts Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke And with your speediest, bring us what she says, Pro. Cæsar, I shall. [Exit. [Exit PROCULEIUS. [Exit GALLUS. Cæs. Gallus, go you along.-Where's Dolabella, To second Proculeius? Cæs. Let him alone, for I remember now In all my writings. Go with me, and see [Exeunt. SCENE II. Alexandria. A Room in the Monument. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS. Cleo. My desolation does begin to make 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.] What's thy name? Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but I do not greatly care to be deceived, That have no use for trusting. If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, No less beg than a kingdom. If he please Pro. Be of good cheer; Cleo. [Within.] Pray you, tell him Pro. Gal. You see how easily she may be surprised; of the Guard unbar and open the gates. Guard her till Cæsar come. Some [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 Cleo. What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish. 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, (If idle talk will once be necessary;) I'll not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin, Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Pro. You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Dol. Enter DOLABELLA. Proculeius, What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows, Pro. If you'll employ me to him. [To CLEOPATRA. Say, I would die. [Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers. Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me? Cleo. I cannot tell. Dol. Assuredly, you know me. |