My desolation does begin to make

5.2.43202A better life. 'Tis paltry to be Caesar:

5.2.53203Not being Fortune, he's but Fortune's knave,

5.2.63204A minister of her will; and it is great

5.2.73205To do that thing that ends all other deeds,

5.2.83206Which shackles accidents and bolts up change,

5.2.93207Which sleeps and never palates more the dung,

5.2.103208The beggar's nurse, and Caesar's.

Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt,

5.2.133211And bids thee study on what fair demands

5.2.143212Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.

Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. What's thy name?

My name is Proculeius.

My name is Proculeius. Antony

5.2.163216Did tell me of you, bade me trust you, but

5.2.173217I do not greatly care to be deceived

5.2.183218That have no use for trusting. If your master

5.2.193219Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him

5.2.203220That majesty, to keep decorum, must

5.2.213221No less beg than a kingdom. If he please

5.2.223222To give me conquered Egypt for my son,

5.2.233223He gives me so much of mine own as I

5.2.243224Will kneel to him with thanks.

Will kneel to him with thanks. Be of good cheer:

5.2.253226You're fall'n into a princely hand. Fear nothing;

5.2.263227Make your full reference freely to my lord,

5.2.273228Who is so full of grace that it flows over

5.2.283229On all that need. Let me report to him

5.2.293230Your sweet dependency, and you shall find

5.2.303231A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness,

5.2.313232Where he for grace is kneeled to.

Where he for grace is kneeled to. Pray you tell him,

5.2.323234I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him

5.2.333235The greatness he has got. I hourly learn

5.2.343236A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly

5.2.353237Look him i'th'face.

Look him i'th'face. This I'll report, dear lady.

5.2.363239Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied

5.2.373240Of him that caused it.

5.2.38[Enter Gallus and Soldiers from behind.

You see how easily she may be surprised.

5.2.403242Guard her till Caesar come.

Guard her till Caesar come. Royal queen!

Oh Cleopatra, thou art taken, queen!

[Drawing a dagger] Quick, quick, good hands!

[Drawing a dagger] Quick, quick, good hands! 5.2.43[Disarming her] Hold, worthy lady, hold:

5.2.443247Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this

5.2.453248Relieved but not betrayed.

Relieved but not betrayed. What, of death too,

5.2.46That rids our dogs of languish?

That rids our dogs of languish? Cleopatra,

5.2.47Do not abuse my master's bounty by

5.2.483251Th'undoing of yourself. Let the world see

5.2.493252His nobleness well acted, which your death

5.2.503253Will never let come forth.

Will never let come forth. Where art thou, Death?

5.2.513255Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen

5.2.523256Worth many babes and beggars!

Worth many babes and beggars! Oh temperance, lady.

Sir, I will eat no meat; I'll not drink, sir;

5.2.543259If idle talk will once be necessary

5.2.553260I'll not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin,

5.2.563261Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I

5.2.573262Will not wait pinioned at your master's court,

5.2.583263Nor once be chastised with the sober eye

5.2.593264Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up

5.2.603265And show me to the shouting varletry

5.2.613266Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt

5.2.623267Be gentle grave unto me. Rather on Nilus' mud

5.2.633268Lay me stark-naked and let the water-flies

5.2.643269Blow me into abhorring. Rather make

5.2.653270My country's high pyramides my gibbet,

5.2.663271And hang me up in chains!

And hang me up in chains! You do extend

5.2.673273These thoughts of horror further than you shall

5.2.683274Find cause in Caesar.

Find cause in Caesar. Proculeius,

5.2.693277What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,

5.2.703278And he hath sent for thee. For the queen,

5.2.713279I'll take her to my guard.

I'll take her to my guard. So Dolabella,

5.2.723281It shall content me best. Be gentle to her.

5.2.73[To Cleopatra] 3282To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,

5.2.743283If you'll employ me to him.

If you'll employ me to him. Say I would die.

5.2.75Exit Proculeius [with Soldiers].

Most noble empress, you have heard of me.

I cannot tell.

I cannot tell. Assuredly you know me.

No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.

5.2.793289You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams--

5.2.803290Is't not your trick?

Is't not your trick? I understand not, madam.

I dreamt there was an emperor Antony.

5.2.823293Oh, such another sleep, that I might see

5.2.833294But such another man.

But such another man. If it might please ye.

His face was as the heav'ns, and therein stuck

5.2.853297A sun and moon which kept their course, and lighted

5.2.863298The little O, the earth.

The little O, the earth. Most sovereign creature.

His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm

5.2.883301Crested the world. His voice was propertied

5.2.893302As all the tunèd spheres, and that to friends--

5.2.903304But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,

5.2.913305He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,

5.2.923306There was no winter in't--an autumn 'twas,

5.2.933307That grew the more by reaping. His delights

5.2.943308Were dolphin-like; they showed his back above

5.2.95The element they lived in. In his livery

5.2.963309Walked crowns and crownets; realms and islands were

5.2.973310As plates dropped from his pocket.

As plates dropped from his pocket. Cleopatra.

Think you there was, or might be such a man

5.2.993313As this I dreamt of?

As this I dreamt of? Gentle madam, no.

You lie up to the hearing of the gods.

5.2.1013316But if there be, or ever were one such,

5.2.1023317It's past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff

5.2.1033318To vie strange forms with fancy, yet t'imagine

5.2.1043319An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,

5.2.1053320Condemning shadows quite.

Condemning shadows quite. Hear me, good madam:

5.2.1063322Your loss is as yourself, great, and you bear it

5.2.1073323As answering to the weight. Would I might never

5.2.1083324O'er-take pursued success, but I do feel,

5.2.1093325By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites

5.2.1103326My very heart at root.

My very heart at root. I thank you, sir.

5.2.1113328Know you what Caesar means to do with me?

I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

Nay, pray you, sir.

Nay, pray you, sir. Though he be honorable--

He'll lead me then in triumph.

He'll lead me then in triumph. Madam, he will, I know't.

Make way there! Caesar!

Make way there! Caesar! Which is the Queen of Egypt?

It is the emperor, madam.

It is the emperor, madam. Arise, you shall not kneel.

5.2.1193340I pray you rise; rise, Egypt.

I pray you rise; rise, Egypt. Sir, the gods

5.2.120Will have it thus.

5.2.1213342My master and my lord

5.2.122I must obey.

I must obey. Take to you no hard thoughts.

5.2.1233344The record of what injuries you did us,

5.2.1243345Though written in our flesh, we shall remember

5.2.1253346As things but done by chance.

As things but done by chance. Sole sir o'th'world,

5.2.1263348I cannot project mine own cause so well

5.2.1273349To make it clear, but do confess I have

5.2.1283350Been laden with like frailties, which before

5.2.1293351Have often shamed our sex.

Have often shamed our sex. Cleopatra, know

5.2.1303353We will extenuate rather than enforce;

5.2.1313354If you apply yourself to our intents,

5.2.1323355Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find

5.2.1333356A benefit in this change; but if you seek

5.2.1343357To lay on me a cruelty by taking

5.2.1353358Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself

5.2.1363359Of my good purposes and put your children

5.2.1373360To that destruction which I'll guard them from

5.2.1383361If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

And may through all the world; 'tis yours, and we

5.2.1403363Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest shall

5.2.1413364Hang in what place you please. [Giving a paper] Here, my good lord.

You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.

This is the brief of money, plate and jewels

5.2.1443367I am possessed of. 'Tis exactly valued,

5.2.1453368Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?

Here, madam.

This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord,

5.2.1493371Upon his peril, that I have reserved

5.2.1503372To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

Madam, I had rather seal my lips

5.2.1523374Than to my peril speak that which is not.

What have I kept back?

Enough to purchase what you have made known.

Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve

5.2.1563378Your wisdom in the deed.

Your wisdom in the deed. See, Caesar! Oh, behold

5.2.1573380How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours,

5.2.1583381And should we shift estates, yours would be mine.

5.2.1593382The ingratitude of this Seleucus does

5.2.1603383Even make me wild. O slave, of no more trust

5.2.1613384Than love that's hired! What, goest thou back? Thou shalt

5.2.1623385Go back, I warrant thee, but I'll catch thine eyes

5.2.1633386Though they had wings! Slave, soulless, villain, dog!

5.2.1643387O rarely base!

O rarely base! Good queen, let us entreat you.

O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,

5.2.1663390That--thou vouchsafing here to visit me,

5.2.1673391Doing the honor of thy lordliness

5.2.1683392To one so meek--that mine own servant should

5.2.1693393Parcel the sum of my disgraces by

5.2.1703394Addition of his envy. Say, good Caesar,

5.2.1713395That I some lady-trifles have reserved,

5.2.1723396Immoment toys, things of such dignity

5.2.1733397As we greet modern friends withal; and say

5.2.1743398Some nobler token I have kept apart

5.2.1753399For Livia and Octavia, to induce

5.2.1763400Their mediation--must I be unfolded

5.2.1773401With one that I have bred? The gods, it smites me

5.2.1783402Beneath the fall I have! [To Seleucus] Prithee go hence,

5.2.1793403Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits

5.2.1803404Through th'ashes of my chance. Were't thou a man,

5.2.1813405Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

Thou wouldst have mercy on me. Forbear, Seleucus.

Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought

5.2.1843408For things that others do, and when we fall,

5.2.1853409We answer others' merits in our name,

5.2.1863410Are therefore to be pitied.

Are therefore to be pitied. Cleopatra,

5.2.1873412Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged

5.2.1883413Put we i'th' roll of conquest. Still be't yours;

5.2.1893414Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe

5.2.1903415Caesar's no merchant to make prize with you

5.2.1913416Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered,

5.2.1923417Make not your thoughts your prisons. No, dear queen,

5.2.1933418For we intend so to dispose you as

5.2.1943419Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.

5.2.1953420Our care and pity is so much upon you

5.2.1963421That we remain your friend; and so adieu.

My master and my lord.

My master and my lord. Not so. Adieu.

He words me, girls, he words me 3426that I

5.2.201Should not be noble to myself.

5.2.2023427But hark thee, Charmian.

Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,

5.2.2053429And we are for the dark.

And we are for the dark. [To Charmian] Hie thee again.

5.2.2063431I have spoke already, and it is provided;

5.2.2073432Go put it to the haste.

Go put it to the haste. Madam, I will.

Where's the queen?

Where's the queen? Behold, sir.

Where's the queen? Behold, sir. Dolabella.

Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,

5.2.2113439Which my love makes religion to obey,

5.2.2123440I tell you this: Caesar through Syria

5.2.2133441Intends his journey, and within three days.

5.2.2143442You with your children will he send before.

5.2.2153443Make your best use of this. I have performed

5.2.2163444Your pleasure, and my promise.

Your pleasure, and my promise. Dolabella,

5.2.217I shall remain your debtor.

I shall remain your debtor. I your servant.

5.2.2183447Adieu, good queen, I must attend on Caesar.

Farewell and thanks. Exit [Dolabella].

Farewell and thanks. Exit [Dolabella]. 3449Now Iras, what think'st thou?

5.2.2203450Thou, an Egyptian puppet shall be shown

5.2.2213451In Rome as well as I. Mechanic slaves

5.2.2223452With greasy aprons, rules and hammers shall

5.2.2233453Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths

5.2.2243454Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,

5.2.2253455And forced to drink their vapor.

And forced to drink their vapor. The gods forbid.

Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors

5.2.2273458Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers

5.2.2283459Ballad us out a tune. The quick comedians

5.2.2293460Extemporally will stage us, and present

5.2.2303461Our Alexandrian revels: Antony

5.2.2313462Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see

5.2.2323463Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness

5.2.2333464I'th'posture of a whore.

I'th'posture of a whore. O the good gods!

Nay, that's certain.

I'll never see't! For I am sure my nails

5.2.2363468Are stronger than mine eyes.

Are stronger than mine eyes. Why, that's the way

5.2.237To fool their preparation 3470and to conquer

5.2.238Their most absurd intents.

Their most absurd intents. 3472Now, Charmian.

5.2.2393473Show me, my women, like a queen. Go fetch

5.2.2403474My best attires. I am again for Cydnus

5.2.2413475To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go--

5.2.2423476Now, noble Charmian, we'll dispatch indeed--

5.2.2433477And when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave

5.2.2443478To play till doomsday. Bring our crown, and all.

5.2.2473480Wherefore's this noise?

Wherefore's this noise? Here is a rural fellow

5.2.2483483That will not be denied your highness' presence.

5.2.2493484He brings you figs.

Let him come in.

Let him come in. 3486What poor an instrument

5.2.2513487May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty.

5.2.2523488My resolution's placed, and I have nothing

5.2.2533489Of woman in me. Now from head to foot

5.2.2543490I am marble constant; now the fleeting moon

5.2.2553491No planet is of mine.

No planet is of mine. This is the man.

Avoid, and leave him.

Avoid, and leave him. 3495Hast thou the pretty worm

5.2.257Of Nilus there,

5.2.2583496That kills and pains not?

Truly I have him; but I would not be the par3498ty that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is 3499immortal. Those that do die of it, do seldom or ne3500ver recover.

Remember'st thou any that have died on't?

Very many men, and women too. I heard of 3503one of them no longer than yesterday--a very honest wo3504man, but something given to lie, as a woman should not 3505do but in the way of honesty--how she died of the bi3506ting of it, what pain she felt. Truly, she makes a very 3507good report o'th'worm. But he that will believe all that 3508they say shall never be saved by half that they do. But 3509this is most falliable: the worm's an odd worm.

Get thee hence. Farewell.

I wish you all joy of the worm.

Farewell.

You must think this, look you, that the 3514worm will do his kind.

Ay, ay, farewell.

Look you, the worm is not to be trusted 3517but in the keeping of wise people, for indeed there is 3518no goodness in the worm.

Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.

Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it 3521is not worth the feeding.

Will it eat me?

You must not think I am so simple, but I know 3524the devil himself will not eat a woman; I know that 3525a woman is a dish for the gods if the devil dress her 3526not. But truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods 3527great harm in their women, for in every ten that they 3528make, the devils mar five.

Well, get thee gone. Farewell.

Yes forsooth. I wish you joy o'th'worm.

5.2.274Exit [leaving the basket].

Give me my robe, put on my crown. I have

5.2.2773532Immortal longings in me.

5.2.279Now no more

5.2.2803533The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip.

5.2.2813534Yare, yare, good Iras. Quick, methinks I hear

5.2.2823535Antony call; I see him rouse himself

5.2.2833536To praise my noble act; I hear him mock

5.2.2843537The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men

5.2.2853538To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come.

5.2.2863539Now to that name, my courage prove my title.

5.2.2873540I am fire and air; my other elements

5.2.2883541I give to baser life. So, have you done?

5.2.2893542Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.

5.2.2913543Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell.

5.2.2933544Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?

5.2.2943545If thou and nature can so gently part,

5.2.2953546The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,

5.2.2963547Which hurts and is desired. Dost thou lie still?

5.2.2973548If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

5.2.2983549It is not worth leave-taking.

Dissolve, thick cloud and rain, that I may say

5.2.3003551The gods themselves do weep.

The gods themselves do weep. This proves me base:

5.2.3013553If she first meet the curlèd Antony,

5.2.3023554He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss

5.2.3033555Which is my heaven to have.

Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal wretch:

5.2.3043556With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate

5.2.3053557Of life at once untie. Poor venomous fool,

5.2.3063558Be angry, and dispatch. Oh, could'st thou speak,

5.2.3073559That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass

5.2.308Unpolicied.

Unpolicied. O eastern star!

Unpolicied. O eastern star! Peace, peace.

5.2.3093562Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,

5.2.3103563That sucks the nurse asleep?

That sucks the nurse asleep? O break! O break!

As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle.

5.2.3123566O Antony! Nay, I will take thee too.

5.2.3143567What should I stay--

What should I stay-- In this wild world? So fare thee well.

5.2.3153569Now boast thee, Death: in thy possession lies

5.2.3163570A lass unparalleled. Downy windows, close,

5.2.3173571And golden Phoebus never be beheld

5.2.3183572Of eyes again so royal. Your crown's awry.

5.2.3193573I'll mend it, and then play--

Where's the queen?

Where's the queen? Speak softly, wake her not.

Caesar hath sent--

Caesar hath sent-- Too slow a messenger.

5.2.3233579Oh, come apace, dispatch, I partly feel thee.

Approach, ho! 3581All's not well. Caesar's beguiled.

There's Dolabella, sent from Caesar; call him.

What work is here, Charmian? 3584Is this well done?

It is well done, and fitting for a princess

5.2.3293586Descended of so many royal kings.

5.2.3303587Ah, soldier.

How goes it here?

How goes it here? All dead.

How goes it here? All dead. Caesar, thy thoughts

5.2.3343592Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming

5.2.3353593To see performed the dreaded act which thou

5.2.3363594So sought'st to hinder.

A way there! A way for Caesar!

Oh sir, you are too sure an augurer.

5.2.3403598That you did fear is done.

That you did fear is done. Bravest at the last,

5.2.3413600She leveled at our purposes, and being royal

5.2.3423601Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?

5.2.3433602I do not see them bleed.

I do not see them bleed. Who was last with them?

A simple countryman, that brought her figs.

5.2.3453605This was his basket.

This was his basket. Poisoned then.

This was his basket. Poisoned then. O Caesar,

5.2.3463608This Charmian lived but now, she stood and spake.

5.2.3473609I found her trimming up the diadem

5.2.3483610On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,

5.2.3493611And on the sudden dropped.

And on the sudden dropped. O noble weakness!

5.2.3503613If they had swallowed poison, 'twould appear

5.2.3513614By external swelling; but she looks like sleep,

5.2.3523615As she would catch another Antony

5.2.3533616In her strong toil of grace.

In her strong toil of grace. Here on her breast

5.2.3543618There is a vent of blood, and something blown.

5.2.3553619The like is on her arm.

This is an aspic's trail, 3621and these fig leaves

5.2.357Have slime upon them, such 3622as th'aspic leaves

5.2.358Upon the caves of Nile.

Upon the caves of Nile. Most probable

5.2.3593624That so she died, for her physician tells me

5.2.3603625She hath pursued conclusions infinite

5.2.3613626Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed,

5.2.3623627And bear her women from the monument.

5.2.3633628She shall be buried by her Antony.

5.2.3643629No grave upon the earth shall clip in it

5.2.3653630A pair so famous. High events as these

5.2.3663631Strike those that make them, and their story is

5.2.3673632No less in pity than his glory which

5.2.3683633Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall

5.2.3693634In solemn show attend this funeral,

5.2.3703635And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see

5.2.3713636High order in this great solemnity.