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, that the worm will do his kind. Cleo. Ay, 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 o' th' worm. Cleo. Enter IRAs, with a robe, crown, &c. [Exit. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have Immortal longings in me. Now, no more To praise my noble act; I hear him mock I am fire, and air; my other elements I give to baser life. — So, — have you done? Iras, long farewell. [Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies. Have I the aspic 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? 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 the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Char. Cleo. O eastern star ! Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? O, break! O, break! Char. O Antony! - Nay, I will take thee too. [Applying another asp to her arm. Char. In this wild world? -So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry; 1 Guard. Char. Enter the Guard, rushing in. Where is the Queen? Speak softly; wake her not. 1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar. Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp. O, come; apace; dispatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguil❜d. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar: call him. 1 Guard. What work is here? well done? Charmian, is this Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. thyself art coming Touch their effects in this: To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou So sought'st to hinder. Within. A way there! a way for Cæsar! Enter CESAR, and his Train. Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer : That you did fear, is done. Cæs. Bravest at the last: She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, Dol. Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman that brought her This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake. I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress: tremblingly she stood, O noble weakness! Cæs. 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 figleaves Have slime upon them, such as th' aspick leaves Cæs. 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 VOL. XII. earth shall clip in it High events as these I |