[Exit. Cleo. Dolabella! Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, Which my love makes religion to obey, I tell you this: Cæsar through Syria Intends his journey; and, within three days, You with your children will he send before: Make your best use of this: I have perform'd Your pleasure, and my promise.

Cleo.

Dolabella,
I your servant.
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks.-[Exit DOL.] Now,
Iras, what think'st thou?

I shall remain your debtor.
Dol.

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanic slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.
Iras.
The gods forbid!
Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras:-saucy lictors
Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers
Ballad us out o' tune: the quick comedians
Extemporally will stage us, and present
Our Alexandrian revels; Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
I' the posture of a whore.
Iras.

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.

Cleo.

Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents.

the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those that do die of it, do seldom or never recover.

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died on 't? Clown. Very many, men and women too. I 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.

[Sets down the basket.

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

Cleo. Aỳ, 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.

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.

Cleo. 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; 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.

worm.

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 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,
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 may say,

The gods themselves do weep.

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, thou mortal wretch,

[To an asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool,

Peace, peace!

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 wild 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.
1 Guard. Where is the queen?
Char.
I Guard. Cæsar hath sent-
Char.

Speak softly, wake her not.

O, come apace, despatch: I I Guard. Approach, ho! beguil❜d.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies an as. partly feel thee. All's not well: Cæsar's

2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar; cali him.

I Guard. What work is here!-Charmian, is this well done?

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

Ah, soldier!

Dol. How goes it here?

2 Guard.

Dol.

[Dies.

Re-enter DOLabella.

All dead.

Cæsar, thy thoughts

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

[Within.] A way there! a way for 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.
In solemn show, attend this funeral;
And then to Rome:-come, Dolabella, see
High order in this great solemnity.

Our army shall,

[Exeunt

I Gent. I do extend him, Sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold His measure duly.

2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth?

I Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour, Against the Romans, with Cassibelan; But had his titles by Tenantius, whom He serv'd with glory and admir'd success,So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:

Ana had, besides this gentleman in question,

Two other sons, who, in the wars o' the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which their

father

(Then old and fond of issue) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus Leonatus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts to him all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd;
And in's spring became a harvest: liv'd in court
(Which rare it is to do) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read
What kind of man he is.