Cleo.My desolation does begin to makeA better life: Tis paltry to be Cæsar:Not being Fortune, hee's but Fortunes knaue,A minister of her will: and it is greatTo do that thing that ends all other deeds,Which shackles accedents, and bolts vp change;Which sleepes, and neuer pallates more the dung,The beggers Nurse, and Cæsars.
Enter Proculeius.
Pro.Cæsar sends greeting to the Queene of Egypt,And bids thee study on what faire demandsThou mean'st to haue him grant thee.
Cleo.What's thy name?
Pro.My name is Proculeius.
Cleo.AnthonyDid tell me of you, bad me trust you, butI do not greatly care to be deceiu'dThat haue no vse for trusting. If your MasterWould haue a Queece his begger, you must tell him,That Maiesty to keepe decorum, mustNo lesse begge then a Kingdome: If he pleaseTo giue me conquer'd Egypt for my Sonne,He giues me so much of mine owne, as IWill kneele to him with thankes.
Pro.Be of good cheere:Y'are falne into a Princely hand, feare nothing,Make your full reference freely to my Lord,Who is so full of Grace, that it flowes ouerOn all that neede. Let me report to himYour sweet dependancie, and you shall findeA Conqueror that will pray in ayde for kindnesse,Where he for grace is kneel'd too.
Cleo.Pray you tell him,I am his Fortunes Vassall, and I send himThe Greatnesse he has got. I hourely learneA Doctrine of Obedience, and would gladlyLooke him i'th'Face.
Pro.This Ile report (deere Lady)Haue comfort, for I know your plight is pittiedOf him that caus'd it.
Pro.You see how easily she may be surpriz'd:Guard her till Cæsar come.
Iras.Royall Queene.
Char.Oh Cleopatra, thon art taken Queene.
Cleo.Quicke, quicke, good hands.
Pro.Hold worthy Lady, hold:Doe not your selfe such wrong, who are in thisReleeu'd, but not betraid.
Cleo.What of death too that rids our dogs of languish
Pro.Cleopatra, do not abuse my Masters bounty, byTh'vndoing of your selfe: Let the World seeHis Noblenesse well acted, which your deathWill neuer let come forth.
Cleo.Where art thou Death?Come hither come; Come, come, and take a QueeneWorth many Babes and Beggers.
Pro.Oh temperance Lady.
Cleo.Sir, I will eate no meate, Ile not drinke sir,If idle talke will once be necessaryIle not sleepe neither. This mortall house Ile ruine,Do Cæsar what he can. Know sir, that IWill not waite pinnion'd at your Masters Court,Nor once be chastic'd with the sober eyeOf dull Octauia. Shall they hoyst me vp,And shew me to the showting VarlotarieOf censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt.Be gentle graue vnto me, rather on Nylus muddeLay me starke-nak'd, and let the water-FliesBlow me into abhorring; rather makeMy Countries high pyramides my Gibbet,And hang me vp in Chaines.
Pro.You do extendThese thoughts of horror further then you shallFinde cause in Cæsar.
Enter Dolabella.
Dol.Proculeius,What thou hast done, thy Master Cæsar knowes,And he hath sent for thee: for the Queene,Ile take her to my Guard.
Pro.So Dolabella,It shall content me best: Be gentle to her,To Cæsar I will speake, what you shall please,Exit ProculeiusIf you'l imploy me to him.
Cleo.Say, I would dye.
Dol.Most Noble Empresse, you haue heard of me.
Cleo.I cannot tell.
Dol.Assuredly you know me.
Cleo.No matter sir, what I haue heard or knowne:You laugh when Boyes or Women tell their Dreames,Is't not your tricke?
Dol.I vnderstand not, Madam.
Cleo.I dreampt there was an Emperor Anthony.Oh such another sleepe, that I might seeBut such another man.
Dol.If it might please ye.
Cleo.His face was as the Heau'ns, and therein stuckeA Sunne and Moone, which kept their course, & lightedThe little o'th'earth.
Dol.Most Soueraigne Creature.
Cleo.His legges bestrid the Ocean, his rear'd armeCrested the world: His voyce was propertiedAs all the tuned Spheres, and that to Friends:But when he meant to quaile, and shake the Orbe,He was as ratling Thunder. For his Bounty,There was no winter in't. An Anthony it was,That grew the more by reaping: His delightsWere Dolphin-like, they shew'd his backe aboueThe Element they liu'd in: In his LiueryWalk'd Crownes and Crownets: Realms & Islands wereAs plates dropt from his pocket.
Dol.Cleopatra.
Cleo.Thinke you there was, or might be such a manAs this I dreampt of?
Dol.Gentle Madam, no.
Cleo.You Lye vp to the hearing of the Gods:But if there be, not euer were one suchIt's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants stuffeTo vie strange formes with fancie, yet t'imagineAn Anthony were Natures peece, 'gainst Fancie,Condemning shadowes quite.
Dol.Heare me, good Madam:Your losse is as your selfe, great; and you beare itAs answering to the waight, would I might neuerOre-take pursu'de successe: But I do feeleBy the rebound of yours, a greefe that suitesMy very heart at roote.
Cleo.I thanke you sir:Know you what Cæsar meanes to do with me?
Dol.I am loath to tell you what, I would you knew.
Cleo.Nay pray you sir.
Dol.Though he be Honourable.
Cleo.Hee'l leade me then in Triumph.
Dol.Flourish.Madam he will, I know't.
Enter Proculeius, Cæsar, Gallus, Mecenas,and others of his Traine.
All.Make way there Cæsar.
Cæs.Which is the Queene of Egypt.
Dol.Cleo. kneeles.It is the Emperor Madam.
Cæsar.Arise, you shall not kneele:I pray you rise, rise Egypt.
Cleo.Sir, the Gods will haue it thus,My Master and my Lord I must obey,
Cæsar.Take to you no hard thoughts,The Record of what iniuries you did vs,Though written in our flesh, we shall rememberAs things but done by chance.
Cleo.Sole Sir o'th'World,I cannot proiect mine owne cause so wellTo make it cleare, but do confesse I haueBene laden with like frailties, which beforeHaue often sham'd our Sex.
Cæsar.Cleopatra know,We will extenuate rather then inforce:If you apply your selfe to our intents,Which towards you are most gentle, you shall findeA benefit in this change: but if you seekeTo lay on me a Cruelty, by takingAnthonies course, you shall bereaue your selfeOf my good purposes, and put your childrenTo that destruction which Ile guard them from,If thereon you relye. Ile take my leaue.
Cleo.And may through all the world: tis yours, & weyour Scutcheons, and your signes of Conquest shallHang in what place you please. Here my good Lord.
Cæsar.You shall aduise me in all for Cleopatra.
Cleo.This is the breefe: of Money, Plate, & IewelsI am possest of, 'tis exactly valewed,Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?
Seleu.Heere Madam.
Cleo.This is my Treasurer, let him speake (my Lord)Vpon his perill, that I haue reseru'dTo my selfe nothing. Speake the truth Seleucus.
Seleu.Madam, I had rather seele my lippes,Then to my perill speake that which is not.
Cleo.What haue I kept backe.
Sel.Enough to purchase what you haue made known
Cæsar.Nay blush not Cleopatra, I approueYour Wisedome in the deede.
Cleo.See Cæsar: Oh behold,How pompe is followed: Mine will now be yours,And should we shift estates, yours would be mine.The ingratitude of this Seleucus, doesEuen make me wilde. Oh Slaue, of no more trustThen loue that's hyr'd? What goest thou backe, yu shaltGo backe I warrant thee: but Ile catch thine eyesThough they had wings. Slaue, Soule-lesse, Villain, Dog.O rarely base!
Cæsar.Good Queene, let vs intreat you.
Cleo.O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this,That thou vouchsafing heere to visit me,Doing the Honour of thy LordlinesseTo one so meeke, that mine owne Seruant shouldParcell the summe of my disgraces, byAddition of his Enuy. Say (good Cæsar)That I some Lady trifles haue reseru'd,Immoment toyes, things of such DignitieAs we greet moderne Friends withall, and saySome Nobler token I haue kept apartFor Liuia and Octauia, to induceTheir mediation, must I be vnfoldedWith one that I haue bred: The Gods! it smites meBeneath the fall I haue. Prythee go hence,Or I shall shew the Cynders of my spiritsThrough th'Ashes of my chance: Wer't thou a man,Thou would'st haue mercy on me.
Cæsar.Forbeare Seleucus.
Cleo.Be it known, that we the greatest are mis-thoghtFor things that others do: and when we fall,We answer others merits, in our nameAre therefore to be pittied.
Cæsar.Cleopatra,Not what you haue reseru'd, nor what acknowledg'dPut we i'th'Roll of Conquest: still bee't yours,Bestow it at your pleasure, and beleeueCæsars no Merchant, to make prize with youOf things that Merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd,Make not your thoughts your prisons: No deere Queen,For we intend so to dispose you, asYour selfe shall giue vs counsell: Feede, and sleepe:Our care and pitty is so much vpon you,That we remaine your Friend, and so adieu.
Cleo.My Master, and my Lord.
Cæsar.Flourish.Not so: Adieu.Exeunt Cæsar, and his Traine.
Cleo.He words me Gyrles, he words me,That I should not be Noble to my selfe.But hearke thee Charmian.
Iras.Finish good Lady, the bright day is done,And we are for the darke.
Cleo.Hye th e againe,I haue spoke already, and it is prouided,Go put it to the haste.
Char.Madam, I will.
Enter Dolabella.
Dol.Where's the Queene?
Char.Behold sir.
Cleo.Dolabella.
Dol.Madam, as thereto sworne, by your command(Which my loue makes Religion to obey)I tell you this: Cæsar through SyriaIntends his iourney, and within three dayes,You with your Children will he send before,Make your best vse of this. I haue perform'dYour pleasure, and my promise.
Cleo.Dolabella, I shall remaine your debter.
Dol.I your Seruant:ExitAdieu good Queene, I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo.Farewell, and thankes.Now Iras, what think'st thou?Thou, an Egyptian Puppet shall be shewneIn Rome aswell as I: Mechanicke SlauesWith greazie Aprons, Rules, and Hammers shallVplift vs to the view. In their thicke breathes,Ranke of grosse dyet, shall we be enclowded,And forc'd to drinke their vapour.
Iras.The Gods forbid.
Cleo.Nay, 'tis most certain Iras: sawcie LictorsWill catch at vs like Strumpets, and scald RimersBallads vs out a Tune. The quicke ComediansExtemporally will stage vs, and presentOur Alexandrian Reuels: AnthonyShall be brought drunken forth, and I shall seeSome squeaking Cleopatra Boy my greatnesseI'th'posture of a Whore.
Iras.O the good Gods!
Cleo.Nay that's certaine.
Iras.Ile neuer see't? for I am sure mine NailesAre stronger then mine eyes.
Cleo.Why that's the way to foole their preparation,And to conquer their most absurd intents.Enter Charmian.Now Charmian.Shew me my Women like a Queene: Go fetchMy best Attyres. I am againe for Cidrus,To meete Marke Anthony. Sirra Iras, go(Now Noble Charmian, wee'l dispatch indeede,)And when thou hast done this chare, Ile giue thee leaueTo play till Doomesday: bring our Crowne, and all.A noise within.Wherefore's this noise?
Enter a Guardsman.
Gards.Heere is a rurall Fellow,That will not be deny'de your Highnesse presence,He brings you Figges.
Cleo.Exit Guardsman.Let him come in.What poore an InstrumentMay do a Noble deede: he brings me liberty:My Resolution's plac'd, and I haue nothingOf woman in me: Now from head to footeI am Marble constant: now the fleeting MooneNo Planet is of mine.
Enter Guardsman, and Clowne.
Guards.This is the man.
Cleo.Exit Guardsman.Auoid, and leaue him.Hast thou the pretty worme of Nylus there,That killes and paines not?
Clow.Truly I haue him: but I would not be the partie that should desire you to touch him, for his byting isimmortall: those that doe dye of it, doe seldome or neuer recouer.
Cleo.Remember'st thou any that haue dyed on't?
Clow.Very many, men and women too. I heard ofone of them no longer then yesterday, a very honest woman, but something giuen to lye, as a woman should notdo, but in the way of honesty, how she dyed of the byting of it, what paine she felt: Truely, she makes a veriegood report o'th'worme: but he that wil beleeue all thatthey say, shall neuer be saued by halfe that they do: butthis is most falliable, the Worme's an odde Worme.
Cleo.Get thee hence, farewell.
Clow.I wish you all ioy of the Worme.
Cleo.Farewell.
Clow.You must thinke this (looke you,) that theWorme will do his kinde.
Cleo.I, I, farewell.
Clow.Looke you, the Worme is not to bee trusted,but in the keeping of wise people: for indeede, there isno goodnesse in the Worme.
Cleo.Take thou no care, it shall be heeded.
Clow.Very good: giue it nothing I pray you, for itis not worth the feeding.
Cleo.Will it eate me?
Clow.You must not think I am so simple, but I knowthe diuell himselfe will not eate a woman: I know, thata woman is a dish for the Gods, if the diuell dresse hernot. But truly, these same whorson diuels doe the Godsgreat harme in their women: for in euery tenne that theymake, the diuels marre fiue.
Cleo.Well, get thee gone, farewell.
Clow.ExitYes forsooth: I wish you ioy o'th'worm.
Cleo.Giue me my Robe, put on my Crowne, I haueImmortall longings in me. Now no moreThe iuyce of Egypts Grape shall moyst this lip.Yare, yare, good Iras; quicke: Me thinkes I heareAnthony call: I see him rowse himselfeTo praise my Noble Act. I heare him mockThe lucke of Cæsar, which the Gods giue menTo excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come:Now to that name, my Courage proue my Title.I am Fire, and Ayre; my other ElementsI giue to baser life. So, haue you done?Come then, and take the last warmth of my Lippes.Farewell kinde Charmian, Iras, long farewell.Haue I the Aspicke in my lippes? Dost fall?If thou, and Nature can so gently part,The stroke of death is as a Louers pinch,Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lye still?If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world,It is not worth leaue-taking.
Char.Dissolue thicke clowd, & Raine, that I may sayThe Gods themselues do weepe.
Cleo.This proues me base:If she first meete the Curled Anthony,Hee'l make demand of her, and spend that kisseWhich is my heauen to haue. Come thou mortal wretch,With thy sharpe teeth this knot intrinsicate,Of life at once vntye: Poore venomous Foole,Be angry, and dispatch. Oh could'st thou speake,That I might heare thee call great Cæsar Asse, vnpolicied.
Char.Oh Easterne Starre.
Cleo.Peace, peace:Dost thou not see my Baby at my breast,That suckes the Nurse asleepe.
Char.O breake! O breake!
Cleo.As sweet as Balme, as soft as Ayre, as gentle.O Anthony! Nay I will take thee too.Dyes.What should I stay———
Char.In this wilde World? So fare thee well:Now boast thee Death, in thy possession lyesA Lasse vnparalell'd. Downie Windowes cloze,And golden Phœbus, neuer be beheldOf eyes againe so Royall: your Crownes away,Ile mend it, and then play———
Enter the Guard rustling in, and Dolabella.
1. Guard.Where's the Queene?
Char.Speake softly, wake her not.
1Cæsar hath sent
Char.Too slow a Messenger.Oh come apace, dispatch, I partly feele thee.
1Approach hoa,All's not well: Cæsar's beguild.
2There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar: call him.
1What worke is heere Charmian?Is this well done?
Char.It is well done, and fitting for a PrincesseDescended of so many Royall Kings.Charmian dyes.Ah Souldier.
Enter Dolabella.
Dol.How goes it heere?
2. Guard.All dead.
Dol.Cæsar, thy thoughtsTouch their effects in this: Thy selfe art commingTo see perform'd the dreaded Act which thouSo sought'st to hinder.
Enter Cæsar and all his Traine, marching.
All.A way there, a way for Cæsar.
Dol.Oh sir, you are too sure an Augurer:That you did feare, is done.
Cæsar.Brauest at the last,She leuell'd at our purposes, and being RoyallTooke her owne way: the manner of their deaths,I do not see them bleede.
Dol.Who was last with them?
1. Guard.A simple Countryman, that broght hir Figs:This was his Basket.
Cæsar.Poyson'd then.
1. Guard.Oh Cæsar:This Charmian liu'd but now, she stood and spake:I found her trimming vp the Diadem;On her dead Mistris tremblingly she stood,And on the sodaine dropt.
Cæsar.Oh Noble weakenesse:If they had swallow'd poyson, 'twould appeareBy externall swelling: but she lookes like sleepe,As she would catch another AnthonyIn her strong toyle of Grace.
Dol.Heere on her brest,There is a vent of Bloud, and something blowne,The like is on her Arme.
1. Guard.This is an Aspickes traile,And these Figge-leaues haue slime vpon them, suchAs th'Aspicke leaues vpon the Caues of Nyle.
Cæsar.Most probableThat so she dyed: for her Physitian tels meeShe hath pursu'de Conclusions infiniteOf easie wayes to dye. Take vp her bed,And beare her Women from the Monument,She shall be buried by her Anthony.No Graue vpon the earth shall clip in itA payre so famous: high euents as theseStrike those that make them: and their Story isNo lesse in pitty, then his Glory whichBrought them to be lamented. Our Army shallIn solemne shew, attend this Funerall,And then to Rome. Come Dolabella, seeExeunt omnesHigh Order, in this great Solmemnity.
