278 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA. Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. all for Cleopatra. Cas. You shall advise me Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued; Not petty things admitted.-Where's Seleucus? Sel. Here, madam. Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord. Upon his peril, that I have reserved To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. I had rather seel' my lips, than, to my peril, Cleo. What have I kept back? 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; but I'll catch thine eyes,! Though they had wings: Slave, soul-less villain, dog! O rarely2 base! Cæs. To one so meek, that mine own servant should As we greet modern friends withal; and say, man, Thou would'st have mercy on me. For things that others do; and, when we fall, Cas. Cleopatra, Not what you have reserv'd nor what acknowledg'd, 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: (1) Sew up. (2) Uncommonly. (3) Add to. Common. (5) Cæsar's wife. (6) Cæsar's sister. (7) Fire. Merits or demerits. Our care and pity is so much upon you, Cæs. Not so: Adieu [Exeunt Cæsar, and his train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. [Whispers Charmian. I have spoke already, and it is provided; Madam, I will. Re-enter Dolabella. Dol. Where is the queen? Char. Cleo. Behold, sir. [Erit Char. Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, I tell you this: Cæsar through Syria | I shall remain your debtor. Dolabella. I your servant, Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown Iras. The gods forbid! Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictors Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Iras. O the good gods! Show me, my women, like a queen ;-Go fetch To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all. Here is a rural feilow, Guard. That will not be denied your highness' presence; He brings you figs. Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru-| ment [Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of woman in me: Now from head to foot I am marble-constant: now the fleeting' moon No planet is of mine. Guard. Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket. Clown. Truly I have him: but I would not be 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 sne 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 nost fallible, the worm's an odd worm. 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, out 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? 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 Caesar, 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 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? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. 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, gentle, O Antony!-Nay, I will take thee too : [Applying another asp to her arm What should I stav- [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. 1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar. Speak softly, wake her not. Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp. O, come; apace, despatch: 1 Guard. Approach, ho! sar's beguil'd. I partly feel thee. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar ;call him. 1 Guard. What work is here ?-Chưmian, is this well done, Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier! Enter Dolabella. Dol. How goes it here? All dead. Dien Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this Thyself art coming To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou So sought's to hinder. [Within.] A way there, way for Cæsar! Enter Cæsar, and Attendants. O noble weakness!If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony 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 aspic's trail: and these Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Cæs. Most probable, That so she died; for her physician tells me, This play keeps curiosity always busy, and the passions always interested. The continual hurry of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick fig-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 discriminated. Upton, who did not easily miss what he desired to find, has discovered that the language of Antony is, with great skill and learning, made pompous and superb, according to his real practice. But I think his diction not distinguishable from that of others: the most tumid speech in the play is that which Cæsar makes to Octavia. The events, of which the principal are described according te Listo y re produced without any art of connection or rate of pisnosition. JOHNSON. ACT I. SCENE 1.-Britain. The garden behind Cymbeline's palace. Enter Two Gentlemen. 1 Gentleman. His measure duly.' What's his name, and birth? You do not meet a man but frowns: our bloods' So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus: No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers ; He purpos'd to his wife's sole son (a widow, 2 Gent. the That most desir'd the match: But not a courtier, 2 Gent. And why so? 1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold (1) Inclination, natural disposition, (3) My praise, however extensive, is within his averit. And had, besides this gentleman in question, (Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow, 2 Gent. I honour him Even out of your report. How long is this ago? 1 Gent. Some twenty years. (4) The father of Cymbeline. 2 Gent. That a king's children should be so con- | You gentle gods, give me but this I have, vey'd ! So slackly guarded! And the search so slow, That could not trace them! 1 Gent. Howsoe'r 'tis strange, Or that the negligence may well be laugh'd at, Yet is it true, sir. 2 Gent. I do well believe you. 1 Gent. We must forbear: Here comes the queen, and princess. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same. Enter the Queen, Posthumus, and Imogen. Queen. No, be assur'd, you shall not find me, daughter, After the slander of most step-mothers, That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthumus, I will be known your advocate: marry, yet You lean'd unto his sentence, with what patience Post. I will from hence to-day. Queen. Please your highness, You know the peril : I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying Imo. [Exit Queen. O, 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; But that there is this jewel in the world, 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'er 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. Re-enter Queen. Queen. 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 [Aside. To walk this way: I never do him wrong, Were you but riding forth to air yourself, Such parting were too petty. Look here, love; Post. 'Beseech your patience :-Peace. Dear lady daughter, peace;-Sweet sovereign, Leave us to ourselves; and make yourself some comfort Out of your best advice. Сут. Nay, let her lar.guish How! how! another ?-A drop of blood a day; and, being aged, (1) Close up. (2) Sensation. (4) A more exquisite feeling. (3) Fill. (5) Only. (6) A kite. (8) Consideration. (7) Cattle-keeper's |