The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1 Enter Cleopatra, Charmian and Iras.
2 CLEOPATRA.
3 My desolation does begin to make
4 A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar;
5 Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave,
6 A minister of her will. And it is great
7 To do that thing that ends all other deeds,
8 Which shackles accidents and bolts up change,
9 Which sleeps and never palates more the dung,
10 The beggar’s nurse and Caesar’s.
11 Enter Proculeius.
12 PROCULEIUS.
13 Caesar sends greetings to the queen of Egypt,
14 And bids thee study on what fair demands
15 Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.
16 CLEOPATRA.
17 What’s thy name?
18 PROCULEIUS.
19 My name is Proculeius.
20 CLEOPATRA.
21 Antony
22 Did tell me of you, bade me trust you, but
23 I do not greatly care to be deceived
24 That have no use for trusting. If your master
25 Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him
26 That majesty, to keep decorum, must
27 No less beg than a kingdom. If he please
28 To give me conquered Egypt for my son,
29 He gives me so much of mine own as I
30 Will kneel to him with thanks.
31 PROCULEIUS.
32 Be of good cheer.
33 You are fallen into a princely hand; fear nothing.
34 Make your full reference freely to my lord,
35 Who is so full of grace that it flows over
36 On all that need. Let me report to him
37 Your sweet dependency, and you shall find
38 A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness
39 Where he for grace is kneeled to.
40 CLEOPATRA.
41 Pray you tell him
42 I am his fortune’s vassal and I send him
43 The greatness he has got. I hourly learn
44 A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly
45 Look him i’ th’ face.
46 PROCULEIUS.
47 This I’ll report, dear lady.
48 Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
49 Of him that caused it.
50 Enter Gallus and Roman Soldiers.
51 You see how easily she may be surprised.
52 Guard her till Caesar come.
53 IRAS.
54 Royal queen!
55 CHARMIAN.
56 O Cleopatra, thou art taken, queen!
57 CLEOPATRA.
58 Quick, quick, good hands.
59 [_Drawing a dagger._]
60 PROCULEIUS.
61 Hold, worthy lady, hold!
62 [_Seizes and disarms her._]
63 Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
64 Relieved, but not betrayed.
65 CLEOPATRA.
66 What, of death too,
67 That rids our dogs of languish?
68 PROCULEIUS.
69 Cleopatra,
70 Do not abuse my master’s bounty by
71 Th’ undoing of yourself. Let the world see
72 His nobleness well acted, which your death
73 Will never let come forth.
74 CLEOPATRA.
75 Where art thou, Death?
76 Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen
77 Worth many babes and beggars!
78 PROCULEIUS.
79 O, temperance, lady!
80 CLEOPATRA.
81 Sir, I will eat no meat; I’ll not drink, sir;
82 If idle talk will once be necessary,
83 I’ll not sleep neither. This mortal house I’ll ruin,
84 Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
85 Will not wait pinioned at your master’s court,
86 Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
87 Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up
88 And show me to the shouting varletry
89 Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
90 Be gentle grave unto me! Rather on Nilus’ mud
91 Lay me stark-naked, and let the water-flies
92 Blow me into abhorring! Rather make
93 My country’s high pyramides my gibbet
94 And hang me up in chains!
95 PROCULEIUS.
96 You do extend
97 These thoughts of horror further than you shall
98 Find cause in Caesar.
99 Enter Dolabella.
100 DOLABELLA.
101 Proculeius,
102 What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
103 And he hath sent for thee. For the queen,
104 I’ll take her to my guard.
105 PROCULEIUS.
106 So, Dolabella,
107 It shall content me best. Be gentle to her.
108 [_To Cleopatra._] To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,
109 If you’ll employ me to him.
110 CLEOPATRA.
111 Say I would die.
112 [_Exeunt Proculeius and Soldiers._]
113 DOLABELLA.
114 Most noble empress, you have heard of me?
115 CLEOPATRA.
116 I cannot tell.
117 DOLABELLA.
118 Assuredly you know me.
119 CLEOPATRA.
120 No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
121 You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
122 Is’t not your trick?
123 DOLABELLA.
124 I understand not, madam.
125 CLEOPATRA.
126 I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony.
127 O, such another sleep, that I might see
128 But such another man!
129 DOLABELLA.
130 If it might please you—
131 CLEOPATRA.
132 His face was as the heavens, and therein stuck
133 A sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted
134 The little O, the earth.
135 DOLABELLA.
136 Most sovereign creature—
137 CLEOPATRA.
138 His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm
139 Crested the world; his voice was propertied
140 As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;
141 But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
142 He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,
143 There was no winter in’t; an autumn ’twas
144 That grew the more by reaping. His delights
145 Were dolphin-like; they showed his back above
146 The element they lived in. In his livery
147 Walked crowns and crownets; realms and islands were
148 As plates dropped from his pocket.
149 DOLABELLA.
150 Cleopatra—
151 CLEOPATRA.
152 Think you there was or might be such a man
153 As this I dreamt of?
154 DOLABELLA.
155 Gentle madam, no.
156 CLEOPATRA.
157 You lie up to the hearing of the gods!
158 But if there be nor ever were one such,
159 It’s past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff
160 To vie strange forms with fancy; yet t’ imagine
161 An Antony were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy,
162 Condemning shadows quite.
163 DOLABELLA.
164 Hear me, good madam.
165 Your loss is, as yourself, great; and you bear it
166 As answering to the weight. Would I might never
167 O’ertake pursued success, but I do feel,
168 By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
169 My very heart at root.
170 CLEOPATRA.
171 I thank you, sir.
172 Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
173 DOLABELLA.
174 I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
175 CLEOPATRA.
176 Nay, pray you, sir.
177 DOLABELLA.
178 Though he be honourable—
179 CLEOPATRA.
180 He’ll lead me, then, in triumph.
181 DOLABELLA.
182 Madam, he will. I know it.
183 Flourish. Enter Caesar, Proculeius, Gallus, Maecenas and others of his
184 train.
185 ALL.
186 Make way there! Caesar!
187 CAESAR.
188 Which is the Queen of Egypt?
189 DOLABELLA.
190 It is the Emperor, madam.
191 [_Cleopatra kneels._]
192 CAESAR.
193 Arise, you shall not kneel.
194 I pray you, rise. Rise, Egypt.
195 CLEOPATRA.
196 Sir, the gods
197 Will have it thus. My master and my lord
198 I must obey.
199 CAESAR.
200 Take to you no hard thoughts.
201 The record of what injuries you did us,
202 Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
203 As things but done by chance.
204 CLEOPATRA.
205 Sole sir o’ th’ world,
206 I cannot project mine own cause so well
207 To make it clear, but do confess I have
208 Been laden with like frailties which before
209 Have often shamed our sex.
210 CAESAR.
211 Cleopatra, know
212 We will extenuate rather than enforce.
213 If you apply yourself to our intents,
214 Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find
215 A benefit in this change; but if you seek
216 To lay on me a cruelty by taking
217 Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself
218 Of my good purposes, and put your children
219 To that destruction which I’ll guard them from
220 If thereon you rely. I’ll take my leave.
221 CLEOPATRA.
222 And may, through all the world. ’Tis yours, and we,
223 Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall
224 Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.
225 CAESAR.
226 You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
227 CLEOPATRA.
228 This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels
229 I am possessed of. ’Tis exactly valued,
230 Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus?
231 Enter Seleucus.
232 SELEUCUS.
233 Here, madam.
234 CLEOPATRA.
235 This is my treasurer. Let him speak, my lord,
236 Upon his peril, that I have reserved
237 To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
238 SELEUCUS.
239 Madam, I had rather seal my lips
240 Than to my peril speak that which is not.
241 CLEOPATRA.
242 What have I kept back?
243 SELEUCUS.
244 Enough to purchase what you have made known.
245 CAESAR.
246 Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve
247 Your wisdom in the deed.
248 CLEOPATRA.
249 See, Caesar! O, behold,
250 How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours
251 And should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
252 The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
253 Even make me wild. O slave, of no more trust
254 Than love that’s hired! What, goest thou back? Thou shalt
255 Go back, I warrant thee! But I’ll catch thine eyes
256 Though they had wings. Slave, soulless villain, dog!
257 O rarely base!
258 CAESAR.
259 Good queen, let us entreat you.
260 CLEOPATRA.
261 O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
262 That thou vouchsafing here to visit me,
263 Doing the honour of thy lordliness
264 To one so meek, that mine own servant should
265 Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
266 Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
267 That I some lady trifles have reserved,
268 Immoment toys, things of such dignity
269 As we greet modern friends withal; and say
270 Some nobler token I have kept apart
271 For Livia and Octavia, to induce
272 Their mediation, must I be unfolded
273 With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
274 Beneath the fall I have.
275 [_To Seleucus_.] Prithee go hence,
276 Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
277 Through th’ ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man,
278 Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
279 CAESAR.
280 Forbear, Seleucus.
281 [_Exit Seleucus._]
282 CLEOPATRA.
283 Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought
284 For things that others do; and when we fall,
285 We answer others’ merits in our name,
286 Are therefore to be pitied.
287 CAESAR.
288 Cleopatra,
289 Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged
290 Put we i’ th’ roll of conquest. Still be’t yours;
291 Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe
292 Caesar’s no merchant to make prize with you
293 Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered;
294 Make not your thoughts your prisons. No, dear queen;
295 For we intend so to dispose you as
296 Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.
297 Our care and pity is so much upon you
298 That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.
299 CLEOPATRA.
300 My master and my lord!
301 CAESAR.
302 Not so. Adieu.
303 [_Flourish. Exeunt Caesar and his train._]
304 CLEOPATRA.
305 He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
306 Be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian!
307 [_Whispers to Charmian._]
308 IRAS.
309 Finish, good lady. The bright day is done,
310 And we are for the dark.
311 CLEOPATRA.
312 Hie thee again.
313 I have spoke already, and it is provided.
314 Go put it to the haste.
315 CHARMIAN.
316 Madam, I will.
317 Enter Dolabella.
318 DOLABELLA.
319 Where’s the Queen?
320 CHARMIAN.
321 Behold, sir.
322 [_Exit._]
323 CLEOPATRA.
324 Dolabella!
325 DOLABELLA.
326 Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
327 Which my love makes religion to obey,
328 I tell you this: Caesar through Syria
329 Intends his journey, and within three days
330 You with your children will he send before.
331 Make your best use of this. I have performed
332 Your pleasure and my promise.
333 CLEOPATRA.
334 Dolabella,
335 I shall remain your debtor.
336 DOLABELLA.
337 I your servant.
338 Adieu, good queen. I must attend on Caesar.
339 CLEOPATRA.
340 Farewell, and thanks.
341 [_Exit Dolabella._]
342 Now, Iras, what think’st thou?
343 Thou an Egyptian puppet shall be shown
344 In Rome as well as I. Mechanic slaves
345 With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers shall
346 Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,
347 Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
348 And forced to drink their vapour.
349 IRAS.
350 The gods forbid!
351 CLEOPATRA.
352 Nay, ’tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors
353 Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers
354 Ballad us out o’ tune. The quick comedians
355 Extemporally will stage us and present
356 Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
357 Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
358 Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
359 I’ th’ posture of a whore.
360 IRAS.
361 O the good gods!
362 CLEOPATRA.
363 Nay, that’s certain.
364 IRAS.
365 I’ll never see’t, for I am sure mine nails
366 Are stronger than mine eyes.
367 CLEOPATRA.
368 Why, that’s the way
369 To fool their preparation and to conquer
370 Their most absurd intents.
371 Enter Charmian.
372 Now, Charmian!
373 Show me, my women, like a queen. Go fetch
374 My best attires. I am again for Cydnus
375 To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah, Iras, go.
376 Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch indeed,
377 And when thou hast done this chare, I’ll give thee leave
378 To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all.
379 [_Exit Iras. A noise within._]
380 Wherefore’s this noise?
381 Enter a Guardsman.
382 GUARDSMAN.
383 Here is a rural fellow
384 That will not be denied your highness’ presence.
385 He brings you figs.
386 CLEOPATRA.
387 Let him come in.
388 [_Exit Guardsman._]
389 What poor an instrument
390 May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty.
391 My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing
392 Of woman in me. Now from head to foot
393 I am marble-constant. Now the fleeting moon
394 No planet is of mine.
395 Enter Guardsman and Clown with a basket.
396 GUARDSMAN.
397 This is the man.
398 CLEOPATRA.
399 Avoid, and leave him.
400 [_Exit Guardsman._]
401 Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there
402 That kills and pains not?
403 CLOWN.
404 Truly, I have him, but I would not be the party that should desire you
405 to touch him, for his biting is immortal. Those that do die of it do
406 seldom or never recover.
407 CLEOPATRA.
408 Remember’st thou any that have died on’t?
409 CLOWN.
410 Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than
411 yesterday—a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman
412 should not do but in the way of honesty—how she died of the biting of
413 it, what pain she felt. Truly she makes a very good report o’ th’ worm;
414 but he that will believe all that they say shall never be saved by half
415 that they do. But this is most falliable, the worm’s an odd worm.
416 CLEOPATRA.
417 Get thee hence. Farewell.
418 CLOWN.
419 I wish you all joy of the worm.
420 [_Sets down the basket._]
421 CLEOPATRA.
422 Farewell.
423 CLOWN.
424 You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
425 CLEOPATRA.
426 Ay, ay, farewell.
427 CLOWN.
428 Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise
429 people; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm.
430 CLEOPATRA.
431 Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
432 CLOWN.
433 Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the
434 feeding.
435 CLEOPATRA.
436 Will it eat me?
437 CLOWN.
438 You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil himself will not
439 eat a woman. I know that a woman is a dish for the gods if the devil
440 dress her not. But truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods great
441 harm in their women, for in every ten that they make, the devils mar
442 five.
443 CLEOPATRA.
444 Well, get thee gone. Farewell.
445 CLOWN.
446 Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o’ th’ worm.
447 [_Exit._]
448 Enter Iras with a robe, crown, &c.
449 CLEOPATRA.
450 Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have
451 Immortal longings in me. Now no more
452 The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip.
453 Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear
454 Antony call. I see him rouse himself
455 To praise my noble act. I hear him mock
456 The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
457 To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come!
458 Now to that name my courage prove my title!
459 I am fire and air; my other elements
460 I give to baser life.—So, have you done?
461 Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
462 Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell.
463 [_Kisses them. Iras falls and dies._]
464 Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
465 If thou and nature can so gently part,
466 The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch,
467 Which hurts and is desired. Dost thou lie still?
468 If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world
469 It is not worth leave-taking.
470 CHARMIAN.
471 Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say
472 The gods themselves do weep!
473 CLEOPATRA.
474 This proves me base.
475 If she first meet the curled Antony,
476 He’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss
477 Which is my heaven to have.—Come, thou mortal wretch,
478 [_To an asp, which she applies to her breast._]
479 With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
480 Of life at once untie. Poor venomous fool,
481 Be angry and dispatch. O couldst thou speak,
482 That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
483 Unpolicied!
484 CHARMIAN.
485 O eastern star!
486 CLEOPATRA.
487 Peace, peace!
488 Dost thou not see my baby at my breast
489 That sucks the nurse asleep?
490 CHARMIAN.
491 O, break! O, break!
492 CLEOPATRA.
493 As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle—
494 O Antony!—Nay, I will take thee too.
495 [_Applying another asp to her arm._]
496 What should I stay—
497 [_Dies._]
498 CHARMIAN.
499 In this vile world? So, fare thee well.
500 Now boast thee, Death, in thy possession lies
501 A lass unparalleled. Downy windows, close,
502 And golden Phœbus never be beheld
503 Of eyes again so royal! Your crown’s awry;
504 I’ll mend it and then play.
505 Enter the Guard rustling in.
506 FIRST GUARD.
507 Where’s the queen?
508 CHARMIAN.
509 Speak softly. Wake her not.
510 FIRST GUARD.
511 Caesar hath sent—
512 CHARMIAN.
513 Too slow a messenger.
514 [_Applies an asp._]
515 O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.
516 FIRST GUARD.
517 Approach, ho! All’s not well. Caesar’s beguiled.
518 SECOND GUARD.
519 There’s Dolabella sent from Caesar. Call him.
520 FIRST GUARD.
521 What work is here, Charmian? Is this well done?
522 CHARMIAN.
523 It is well done, and fitting for a princess
524 Descended of so many royal kings.
525 Ah, soldier!
526 [_Charmian dies._]
527 Enter Dolabella.
528 DOLABELLA.
529 How goes it here?
530 SECOND GUARD.
531 All dead.
532 DOLABELLA.
533 Caesar, thy thoughts
534 Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming
535 To see performed the dreaded act which thou
536 So sought’st to hinder.
537 Enter Caesar and all his train, marching.
538 ALL.
539 A way there, a way for Caesar!
540 DOLABELLA.
541 O sir, you are too sure an augurer:
542 That you did fear is done.
543 CAESAR.
544 Bravest at the last,
545 She levelled at our purposes and, being royal,
546 Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?
547 I do not see them bleed.
548 DOLABELLA.
549 Who was last with them?
550 FIRST GUARD.
551 A simple countryman that brought her figs.
552 This was his basket.
553 CAESAR.
554 Poisoned then.
555 FIRST GUARD.
556 O Caesar,
557 This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake.
558 I found her trimming up the diadem
559 On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,
560 And on the sudden dropped.
561 CAESAR.
562 O noble weakness!
563 If they had swallowed poison ’twould appear
564 By external swelling; but she looks like sleep,
565 As she would catch another Antony
566 In her strong toil of grace.
567 DOLABELLA.
568 Here on her breast
569 There is a vent of blood, and something blown.
570 The like is on her arm.
571 FIRST GUARD.
572 This is an aspic’s trail, and these fig leaves
573 Have slime upon them, such as th’ aspic leaves
574 Upon the caves of Nile.
575 CAESAR.
576 Most probable
577 That so she died, for her physician tells me
578 She hath pursued conclusions infinite
579 Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed,
580 And bear her women from the monument.
581 She shall be buried by her Antony.
582 No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
583 A pair so famous. High events as these
584 Strike those that make them; and their story is
585 No less in pity than his glory which
586 Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall
587 In solemn show attend this funeral,
588 And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see
589 High order in this great solemnity.
590 [_Exeunt omnes._]