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Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Cas. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo.

See, Cæsar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours; And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild: O slave, of no more trust Than love that's hir'd! - What, goest thou back? thou shalt

Go back, I warrant thee; I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings: Slave, soul-less villain, dog! O rarely base!

Cæs.

Good queen, let us entreat you.

Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is this;
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness

To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Cæsar,
That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity

As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia, and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded
With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;
Or I shall shew the cinders of my spirits [To SELEU.
Through the ashes of my chance:-Wert thou a man,
Thou would'st have mercy on me.
Cas. Forbear, Seleucus.
[Exit SELEUCUS.
Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are mis-
For things that others do? and, when we fall, [thought
We answer others' merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.

Cas.

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be it yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
Cæsar's no merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd;
Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen,
For we intend so to dispose you, as
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep.
Our care and pity is so much upon you,
That we remain your friend; And so adieu.
Cleo My master, and my lord!

Cas. Not so: Adieu. [Exeunt CÆSAR, and his Train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. [not [Whispers CHARMIAN, Iras. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, And we are for the dark.

Cleo.
Hie thee again:
I have spoke already, and it is provided;
Go, put it to the haste.
Char.

Madam, I will.
Re-enter DOLABELLA.

Dol. Where is the queen?
Char.

Behold, sir. [Exit CHARMIAN.
Dolabella?

Cleo.
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.

I shall remain your debtor.

Dolabella,

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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.-Now, Charmian ?—
Enter CHARMIAN.

Shew me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch
My best attires ;-I am again for Cydnus,
To meet Mark Antony:-Sirrah, Iras, go.-
Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed:
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave
To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all.
Wherefore's this noise? [Exit IRAS. A noise within.
Enter one of the Guard.

Guard.

Here is a rural fellow,

That will not be denied your highness' presence; He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instrument [Exit Guard.

May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
of woman in me: Now from head to foot
My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
I am marble-constant: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

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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

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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. Wil! 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 worm.

Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c.

[Exit.

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.

Enter the Guard, rushing in.
1 Guard. Where is the queen?
Char.

Speak softly, wake her not.
Char. Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp.
O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee.
1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's
beguil'd.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sent

[call him. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar;1 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!

Enter DOLABella.

All dead.

[Dies.

Dol. How goes it here?
2 Guard.
Dol.
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.
Enter CESAR, and Attendants.
Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer;
That you did fear, is done.

Cas.

Bravest at the last :

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1 Guard.
O Cæsar,
This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake:
I found her trimming up the diadem
On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,
And on the sudden dropp'd.

Cæs.

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may The gods themselves do weep! [say, Cleo. This proves me base: O noble weakness!If she first meet the curled Antony, If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss, By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, Which is my heaven to have. Come, mortal wretch, As she would catch another Antony [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. In her strong toil of grace. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venemous fool, Be angry, and despatch. O, could'st thou speak! That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass Unpolicied!

Char.

Cleo.

O eastern star!

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.

Dol.
Here, on her breast,
There is a vent of blood, and something blown :
The like is on her arm.

[leaves

1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail: and these figHave slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves Upon the caves of Nile.

Cas.

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

What should I stay- [Falls on a bed, and dies.
Char. In this wide world? So, fare thee well.—Strike those that make them; and their story is

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.

THIS play keeps curiosity always busy, and the passions always interested. The continual hurry of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick succession of one personage to another, call the mind forward without intermission from the first act to the last. But the power of delighting is derived principally from the frequent changes of the scene; for, except the feminine arts, some of which are too low, which distinguish Cleopatra, no character is very strongly discrimina.ed. Upton, who did not easily miss what he desired to find, has

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CYMBELINE.

THIS exquisite and romantic drama was not entered in the Sta-1 tioners' books, nor printed, till 1623. It was probably written in about 1609. The plot is in a great degree taken from the Ninth Novel of the Second Day of the Decameron of Boccacio, of which a deformed and interpolated translation had appeared so early as 1518; and an imitation, in an old storybook, entitled Westward for Smelts, was printed in 1603. Cymbeline, the king from whom the play takes its title, began

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CYMBELINE, King of Britain.

CLOTEN, son to the Queen by a former husband.
LEONATUS POSTHUMUS,a gentleman,husband to Imogen.
BELARIUS, a banished lord, disguised under the name
of Morgan.

GUIDERIUS,
ARVIRAGUS,

sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of Polydore and Cadwal, supposed sons to Belarius. PHILARIO, friend to Posthumus, IACHIMO, friend to Philario,

Italians.

A French Gentleman, friend to Philario.
CAIUS LUCIUS, general of the Roman Forces.

A Roman Captain.

Two British Captains.

PISANIO, servant to Posthumus.

CORNELIUS, a physician.
Two Gentlemen.

Two Guolers.

QUEEN, wife to Cymbeline.

IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former queen.
HELEN, woman to Imogen.

his reign, according to Holinshed, in the nineteenth year of the reign of Augustus Cæsar; and the play commences in or about the twenty-fourth year of Cymbeline's reign, which was the forty-second year of the reign of Augustus, and the sixteenth of the Christian æra; notwithstanding which, Shakspeare has peopled Rome with modern Italians; Philario, Tachimo, &c. Cymbeline is said to have reigned thirty-five years, leaving at his death two sons, Guiderius and Arviragus.

(I mean, that married her,-alack, good man!-
And therefore banish'd,) is a creature such
As, to seek through the regions of the earth
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think,
So fair an outward, and such stuff within,
Endows a man but he.
2 Gent.
You speak him far.
1 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?

1 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 :

And 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

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions,
a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gen-To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
tleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Mes-
sengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-sometimes in BRITAIN; sometimes in ITALY.

ACT I.

SCENE I.-Britain.

The Garden behind Cymbeline's Palace.
Enter Two Gentlemen.

1 Gent. You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods
No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers;
Still seem, as does the king's.
2 Gent.

But what's the matter? 1 Gent. His daughter, and the heir of his kingdom, whom

He purpos'd to his wife's sole son, (a widow,
That late he married,) hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor, but worthy, gentleman: She's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though, I think, the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

2 Gent.

None but the king?

1 Gent. He, that hath lost her, too: so is the queen,
That most desir'd the match: but not a courtier,
Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.

2 Gent.

And why so?

1 Gent. He that hath r iss'd the princess, is a thing Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her,

Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber:
Puts him to 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 his 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.

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SCENE II.-The same.

Enter the QUEEN, POSTHUMUS, and IMOGEN.

Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me,
After the slander of most step-mothers, [daughter,
Evil-ey'd unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus,
So soon as I can win the offended king,

I will be known your advocate: marry, yet
The fire of rage is in him; and 'twere good,

You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience
Your wisdom may inform you.

Post.

I will from hence to-day. Queen.

Please your highness,

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You know the peril :-
I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying
The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king
Hath charg'd you should not speak together.
Imo. O

[Exit QUEEN. Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant Can tickle where she wounds!-My dearest husband, I something fear my father's wrath; but nothing, (Always reserv'd my holy duty,) what

His rage can do on me: You must be gone;
And I shall here abide the hourly shot
Of angry eyes; not comforted to live,
But that there is this jewel in the world,
That I may see again.

Post. My queen! my mistress!
O, lady, weep no more: lest I give cause
To be suspected of more tenderness
Than doth become a man! I will remain

The loyal'st husband that did e're plight troth.
My residence in Rome, at one Philario's ;
Who to my father was a friend, to me
Known but by letter: thither write, my queen,
And with mine eyes I'll drink the words you send,
Though ink be made of gall.

Queen.

Re-enter QUEEN.

[Aside.

Be brief, I pray you:
If the king come, I shall incur I know not
How much of his displeasure: Yet I'll move him
To walk this way: I never do him wrong,
But he does buy my injuries, to be friends;
Pays dear for my offences.
[Exit.
Post.
Should we be taking leave
As long a term as yet we have to live,
The loathness to depart would grow: Adieu!
Imo. Nay, stay a little:

Were you but riding forth to air yourself,
Such parting were too petty. Look here, love;
This diamond was my mother's; take it, heart;
But keep it till you woo another wife,
When Imogen is dead.

Post. How! how! another?-
You gentle gods, give me but this I have,
And sear up my embracements from a next
With bonds of death!-Remain thou here

[Putting on the ring.
While sense can keep it on! And sweetest, fairest,
As I my poor self did exchange for you,
To your so infinite loss; so in our trifles
I still win of you: For my sake, wear this;
It is a manacle of love; I'll place it
Upon this fairest prisoner.

[Putting a bracelet on her arm Ö, the gods!

Imo. When shall we see again?

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Your faithful servant; I dare lay mine honour, He will remain so.

Pis.

I humbly thank your highness. Queen. Pray, walk a while.

Imo.

About some half hour hence,
I pray you, speak with me: you shall, at least,
Go see my lord aboard: for this time, leave me. [Er.

SCENE III.-A public Place.
Enter CLOTEN and Two Lords.

1 Lord. Sir, I would advise you to shift a shirt; the violence of action hath made you reek as a sacrifice: Where air comes out, air comes in: there's none abroad so wholesome as that you vent.

Clo. If my shirt were bloody, then to shift itHave I hurt him?

2 Lord. No, faith; not so much as his patience.

[Aside. 1 Lord. Hurt him? his body's a passable carcase, if he be not hurt: it is a thoroughfare for steel, if it

be not hurt.

Lord. His steel was in debt: it went o'the back side the town.

Clo. The villain would not stand me.

face.

[Aside.

2 Lord. No; but he fled forward still, toward your [Aside. 1 Lord. Stand you! You have land enough of your own but he added to your having; gave you some ground.

2 Lord. As many inches as you have oceans: Puppies! [Aside. Clo. I would, they had not come between us. Lord. So would I, till you had measured how long a fool you were upon the ground. [Aside.

Clo. And that she should love this fellow, and refuse me !

2 Lord. If it be a sin to make a true election, she is damned.

[Aside.

1 Lord. Sir, as I told you always, her beauty and her brain go not together: She's a good sign, but I have seen small reflection of her wit.

2 Lord. She shines not upon fools, lest the reflection should hurt her. [Aside. Clo. Come, I'll to my chamber: 'Would there had been some hurt done!

2 Lord. I wish not so; unless it had been the fall of an ass, which is no great hurt. [Aside.

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SCENE IV.-A Room in Cymbeline's Palace.

Enter IMOGEN and PISANIO.

Imo. I would thou grew'st unto the shores o'the haven,

And question'dst every sail: if he should write,
And I not have it, 'twere a paper lost,
As offer'd mercy is. What was the last
That he spake to thee?

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Imo. I did not take my leave of him, but had
Most pretty things to say: ere I could tell him,
How I would think on him, at certain hours,
Such thoughts, and such; or I could make him swear
The shes of Italy should not betray

Mine interest, and his honour; or have charg'd him,
At the sixth hour of morn, at noon, at midnight,
To encounter me with orisons, for then
I am in heaven for him; or ere I could
Give him that parting kiss, which I had set
And, like the tyrannous breathing of the north
Betwixt too charming words, comes in my father,
Shakes all our buds from growing.
Enter a Lady.

Lady.
Desires your highness' company.

The queen, madam,

Imo. Those things I bid you do, get them deI will attend the queen. [spatch'd.Pis. Madam, I shall. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.

Rome.-An Apartment in Philario's House.

Enter PHILARIO, IACHIMO, a Frenchman,
a Dutchman, and a Spaniard.

Iach. Believe it, sir: I have seen him in Britain: he was then of a crescent note; expected to prove so worthy, as since he hath been allowed the name of: but I could then have looked on him without the help of admiration; though the catalogue of his endowments had been tabled by his side, and I to peruse him by items.

Phi. You speak of him when he was less furnished, than now he is, with that which makes him both without and within.

French. I have seen him in France: we had very many there, could behold the sun with as firm eyes as he.

Iach. This matter of marrying his king's daughter, (wherein he must be weighed rather by her value, than his own,) words him, I doubt not, a great deal

from the matter.

French. And then his banishment:

Iach. Ay, and the approbation of those, that weep this lamentable divorce, under her colours, are wonderfully to extend him; be it but to fortify her judgment, which else an easy battery might lay flat, for taking a beggar without more quality. But how comes it, he is to sojourn with you? How creeps acI!-quaintance?

Pis.
Imo. Then wav'd his handkerchief?
Pis.

'Twas, His queen, his queen!

And kiss'd it, madam.
Imo. Senseless linen! happier therein than
And that was all?

Pis.
No, madam ;. for so long
As he could make me with this eye or ear
Distinguish him from others, he did keep
The deck, with glove, or hat, or handkerchief,
Still waving, as the fits and stirs of his mind
Could best express how slow his soul sail'd on,

Phi. His father and I were soldiers together; to whom I have been often bound for no less than my life:

Enter POSTHUMUS.

Here comes the Briton: Let him be so entertained amongst you, as suits, with gentlemen of your knowing, to a stranger of his quality.-I beseech you all,

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