0, such an another sleep, that I might see But such another man!

Dol. If it might please you,→ Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck [and lighted A sun and moon; which kept their course, The little O, the earth. Dol. Most sovereign creature, Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd

arm

Crested the world: his voice was propertied
As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;
But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,
There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas,
That
grew
the more by reaping: His delights
Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above
The element they lived in: In his livery
Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and
islands were

As platest dropp'd from his pocket.
Dol.

Cleopatra,

[ber Sole sir of the world, I cannot project † mine own cause so well To make it clear; but do confess, I have Been laden with like frailties, which before Have often shamed our sex.

Cæs.

Cleopatra, know, We will extenuate rather than enforce: If you apply yourself to our intents, (Which towards you are most gentle,) you

Cleo. Think you, there was, or might be, As this I dream'd of? [such a man Dol. Gentle madam, no. Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods; But, if there be, or ever were one such, It's past the size of dreaming: Nature wants [gine To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imaAn Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.

Dol.

stuff

Cleo.

shall find

A benefit in this change; but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty, by taking
Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

Hear me, good madam: Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it As answering to the weight: 'Would I might O'ertake pursued success, but I do feel, [never By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots My very heart at root. I thank you, sir. Know you, what Cæsar means to do with me; Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,- [you knew. Though he be honourable,Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph? Madam, he will;

Dol.

Dol.

I know it.

Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours: and we [shall Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. [patra.

Within. Make way there,-Cæsar. Enter CESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECENAS, SELEUCUS, and Attendants. Which is the queen

Cas. Of Egypt?

Dol.

Cas.

Ces. You shall advise me in all for CleoCleo. 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.
[my lord,
Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak,
Upon his peril, that I have reserved

'Tis the emperor, madam.
[CLEOPATRA kneels.
Arise,

You shall not kneel:

I pray you rise; rise, Egypt.

Cleo.

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. Sel. Madam,

Sir, the gods

Will have it thus; my master and my lord

I must obey.

Cas.

The record of what injuries you did us, Take to you no hard thoughts:

• Crash.

+ Silver money. Add to.

I had rather seel my lips, than, to my períl,
Speak that which is not.
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.

yours;

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

་་

Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine
Though they had wings; Slave, soul-less 'vil-
O rarely base!
[láin, dog!
Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you.
Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, [this;
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 reserved,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity
As we greet modern friends** withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia +t, and Octavia ‡‡, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded
With one that I have bred? The gods! It

Common.

smites me

tt: Cæsar's wife.

Sew up. il Uncommonly, His sister.

are misthought

For things that others do; and, when we fall,
We answer others' merits + in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.

Cas.

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged, [yours, Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, Cæsar's no merchant, to make prize with y su Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd ; [queen; Make not your thoughts your prisons; no, dear 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. Cléo. My master, and my lord! Not so: Adieu. [Exeunt CÆSAR, and his Train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not

Cas.

Iras.

10 the good gods! Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my Are stronger than mine eyes.

(nails

Cleo. Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents. Now, Charmian? Enter CHARMIAN.

Show 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 Wherefore's this noise?

[Exit IRAS. A Noise within. Enter one of the Guard. Guard. Here's a rural fellow, That will not be denied your highness' pre He brings you figs.

[seuce: Cleo, Let him come in. How poor an i

strument..

[Exit Guard. May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My resolution's placed, 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.

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a basket.

Guard. This is the man. Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm tt of Nilus there, That kills and pains not?

Clown. Truly I have hini: but I would no be the party that should desire you to tone 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 yester day: 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 of 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 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, but in the keeping of wise people; for indeed, there is no goodness in the worm.

Lively. || Female characters were played tt Serpent." # Act according to his nature

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.

the worm.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. Clown. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of [Exit. Re-enter IRAS, with a Robe, Crown, &c. Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I Immortal longings in me: Now no more [have The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip: Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.-Methinks I Antony call; I see him rouse himself [hear 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. [well. Farewell, kind Charmian;-Iras, long fare[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, [still? Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou ze If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking.

Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that The gods themselves do weep! [I may say, Cleo. This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her; and spend that kiss [wretch, Come, mortal applies to her With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, Be angry, and despatch. O, couldst thou speak!

Which is my heaven to have. [To the Asp, which she Breast.

That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass
Unpolicied t!
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. What should I stay-[Falls on a Bed, & 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

O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, oh! All's not well: Cæsar's beguiled. [Cæsar;-call him. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from 1 Guard. What work is here ?-Charmian, is this well-done? [princess Char. It is well done, and fitting for a Descended of so many royal kings, Ah, soldier!

Enter DOLABELLA. Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard.

Dol.

[Dies

All dead. 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, 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 : She levell'd at our purposes, and being royal, Took her own way.-The manner of their I do not see them bleed.

[deaths?

Dol. Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought This was his basket. [her tigs; O Cæsar,

Cæs. Guard

Poison'd then.

This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and
I found her trimming up the diadem [spake:
On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,
And on the sudden dropp'd.
Cæs.
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.
[fig-leaves

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

Cas. Most probable, That so she died; for her physician tells me, She hath pursued 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 Strike those that make them: and their story is No less in pity, than his glory, which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall, In solemn show, attend this funeral ; And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity. [Exeunt.

Eufold.

Graceful appearance.

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 vir. By her election may be truly read, [tue; What kind of man he is..

[me,

2 Gent. I honour him Even out of your report. But, 'pray you, tell Is she sole child to the king?

1 Gent. His only child. (ing, He had two sons, (if this be worth your hear. Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old, I' the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery [knowledge Were stolen and to this hour, no guess in Which way they went. 2 Gent.

How long is this ago? *1 Gent. Some twenty years.

[convey'd! 2 Gent. That a king's children should be so So slackly guarded! And the search so slow, That could not trace them!

1 Gent. Howsoe'er 'tis strange, Or that the negligence may well be laughed 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 assured, you shall not find
me, daughter,

After the slander of most step-mothers,
Evil-eyed unto you: you are my prisoner, but
Your gaoler shall deliver you the keys [mus,
That lock up your restraint. For you, Posthú-
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 pa-
Your wisdom may inform you. [tience.
Post.
Please your highness,

I will from hence to-day.
Queen.

You know the peril :I'll fetch a turn about the garden, pitying The pangs of barr'd affections; though the king

Hath charged you should not speak together.
[Exit Queen.
Imo.
0
Dissembling courtesy! How fine this tyrant
Can tickle were she wounds!-My dearest
husband,
[thing,

I something fear my father's wrath; but no-
(Always reserved my holy duty,) what
His rage can do on ine: 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'er plight troth.
My residence in Rome, at one Philario's;

• Close no A more exquisite feeling.

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
Though ink be made of gall.
[send,
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 bim [Aside.

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: Adien!
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 senset 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. O, the gods! When shall we see again?

Imo.

Enter CYMBELINE and Lords.
Post.
Alack, the king!
Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from
my sight!

If, after this command, thou fraught the court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away !
Thou art poison to my blood.
Post.
The gods protect you
And bless the good remainders of the court!
I am gone.
[Exit.
Imo. There cannot be a pinch in death
More sharp than this is.
Cym.

O disloyal thing,
That shouldst repair my youth; thou beapest
A year's age on me!
Imo.
I beseech yon, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation;
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more
Subdues all pangs, all fears.
[rare
Cym.
Past grace? obedience?
Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way
[of my queen

past grace. Cym. That might'st have had the sole son Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an And did avoid a puttock T.

[eagle,

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; wouldst have made my throne

A seat for baseness.