Exit Guardsman Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not? 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. CLEOPATRA Rememberest 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 worm's an odd worm. CLEOPATRA Get thee hence; farewell. Clown I wish you all joy of the worm.
Setting down his basket CLEOPATRA Farewell. Clown You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. CLEOPATRA 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 worm. CLEOPATRA Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. Clown Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding. CLEOPATRA 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. CLEOPATRA Well, get thee gone; farewell. Clown Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o' the worm.
Exit Re-enter IRAS with a robe, crown, & c CLEOPATRA 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 desired. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. CHARMIAN Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, The gods themselves do weep! CLEOPATRA 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 an asp, which she applies to her breast With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak, That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass Unpolicied! CHARMIAN O eastern star! CLEOPATRA Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep? CHARMIAN O, break! O, break! CLEOPATRA 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--Dies CHARMIAN In this vile 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 First Guard Where is the queen? CHARMIAN Speak softly, wake her not. First Guard Caesar hath sent-- CHARMIAN Too slow a messenger.
Applies an asp O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee. First Guard Approach, ho! All's not well: Caesar's beguiled. Second Guard There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him. First Guard What work is here! Charmian, is this well done? CHARMIAN It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings.
Ah, soldier!
Dies Re-enter DOLABELLA DOLABELLA How goes it here? Second Guard All dead. DOLABELLA Caesar, 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 Caesar!'
Re-enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR and all his train marching DOLABELLA O sir, you are too sure an augurer;That you did fear is done. OCTAVIUS CAESAR Bravest at the last, She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?
I do not see them bleed. DOLABELLA Who was last with them? First Guard A simple countryman, that brought her figs:
This was his basket. OCTAVIUS CAESAR Poison'd, then. First Guard O Caesar, 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. OCTAVIUS CAESAR 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. DOLABELLA Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood and something blown:
The like is on her arm. First Guard This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. OCTAVIUS CAESAR 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:
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And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity.
Exeunt
