Shakespeare Portal

Act 5, Scene 2

Alexandria. A Room in the Monument.

  1. [Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS.]
  2. Cleopatra
  3. 3095 My desolation does begin to make
  4. 3096 A better life. 'Tis paltry to be Caesar;
  5. 3097 Not being Fortune, he's but Fortune's knave,
  6. 3098 A minister of her will: and it is great
  7. 3099 To do that thing that ends all other deeds;
  8. 3100 Which shackles accidents and bolts up change;
  9. 3101 Which sleeps, and never palates more the dug,
  10. 3102 The beggar's nurse and Caesar's.
  11. [Enter, to the gates of the Monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS, and Soldiers.]
  12. Proculeius
  13. 3103 Caesar sends greetings to the queen of Egypt;
  14. 3104 And bids thee study on what fair demands
  15. 3105 Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.
  16. Cleopatra
  17. 3106 What's thy name?
  18. Proculeius
  19. 3107 My name is Proculeius.
  20. Cleopatra
  21. 3108 Antony
  22. 3109 Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but
  23. 3110 I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd,
  24. 3111 That have no use for trusting. If your master
  25. 3112 Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him
  26. 3113 That majesty, to keep decorum, must
  27. 3114 No less beg than a kingdom: if he please
  28. 3115 To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son,
  29. 3116 He gives me so much of mine own as I
  30. 3117 Will kneel to him with thanks.
  31. Proculeius
  32. 3118 Be of good cheer;
  33. 3119 You are fallen into a princely hand; fear nothing:
  34. 3120 Make your full reference freely to my lord,
  35. 3121 Who is so full of grace that it flows over
  36. 3122 On all that need: let me report to him
  37. 3123 Your sweet dependency; and you shall find
  38. 3124 A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness
  39. 3125 Where he for grace is kneel'd to.
  40. Cleopatra
  41. 3126 Pray you, tell him
  42. 3127 I am his fortune's vassal and I send him
  43. 3128 The greatness he has got. I hourly learn
  44. 3129 A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly
  45. 3130 Look him i' the face.
  46. Proculeius
  47. 3131 This I'll report, dear lady.
  48. 3132 Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
  49. 3133 Of him that caus'd it.
  50. Gallus
  51. 3134 You see how easily she may be surpris'd:
  52. [Here PROCULEIUS and two of the Guard ascend the Monument by a ladder placed against a window, and, having ascended, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates.]
  53. [To PROCULEIUS. and the Guear.]
  54. Gallus
  55. 3135 Guard her till Caesar come.
  56. [Exit.]
  57. Iras
  58. 3136 Royal queen!
  59. Charmian
  60. 3137 O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen!
  61. Cleopatra
  62. 3138 Quick, quick, good hands.
  63. [Drawing a dagger.]
  64. Proculeius
  65. 3139 Hold, worthy lady, hold;
  66. [Seizes and disarms her.]
  67. Proculeius
  68. 3140 Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
  69. 3141 Reliev'd, but not betray'd.
  70. Cleopatra
  71. 3142 What, of death too,
  72. 3143 That rids our dogs of languish?
  73. Proculeius
  74. 3144 Cleopatra,
  75. 3145 Do not abuse my master's bounty by
  76. 3146 Theundoing of yourself: let the world see
  77. 3147 His nobleness well acted, which your death
  78. 3148 Will never let come forth.
  79. Cleopatra
  80. 3149 Where art thou, death?
  81. 3150 Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen
  82. 3151 Worth many babes and beggars!
  83. Proculeius
  84. 3152 O, temperance, lady!
  85. Cleopatra
  86. 3153 Sir, I will eat no meat; I'll not drink, sir;
  87. 3154 If idle talk will once be accessary,
  88. 3155 I'll not sleep neither: this mortal house I'll ruin,
  89. 3156 Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
  90. 3157 Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court;
  91. 3158 Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye
  92. 3159 Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up,
  93. 3160 And show me to the shouting varletry
  94. 3161 Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
  95. 3162 Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud
  96. 3163 Lay me stark-nak'd, and let the water-flies
  97. 3164 Blow me into abhorring! rather make
  98. 3165 My country's high pyramides my gibbet,
  99. 3166 And hang me up in chains!
  100. Proculeius
  101. 3167 You do extend
  102. 3168 These thoughts of horror further than you shall
  103. 3169 Find cause in Caesar.
  104. [Enter DOLABELLA.]
  105. Dolabella
  106. 3170 Proculeius,
  107. 3171 What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
  108. 3172 And he hath sent for thee: as for the queen,
  109. 3173 I'll take her to my guard.
  110. Proculeius
  111. 3174 So, Dolabella,
  112. 3175 It shall content me best: be gentle to her.—
  113. [To CLEOPATRA.]
  114. Proculeius
  115. 3176 To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,
  116. 3177 If you'll employ me to him.
  117. Cleopatra
  118. 3178 Say I would die.
  119. [Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers.]
  120. Dolabella
  121. 3179 Most noble empress, you have heard of me?
  122. Cleopatra
  123. 3180 I cannot tell.
  124. Dolabella
  125. 3181 Assuredly you know me.
  126. Cleopatra
  127. 3182 No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
  128. 3183 You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
  129. 3184 Is't not your trick?
  130. Dolabella
  131. 3185 I understand not, madam.
  132. Cleopatra
  133. 3186 I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony:—
  134. 3187 O, such another sleep, that I might see
  135. 3188 But such another man!
  136. Dolabella
  137. 3189 If it might please you,—
  138. Cleopatra
  139. 3190 His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck
  140. 3191 A sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted
  141. 3192 The little O, the earth.
  142. Dolabella
  143. 3193 Most sovereign creature,—
  144. Cleopatra
  145. 3194 His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm
  146. 3195 Crested the world: his voice was propertied
  147. 3196 As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;
  148. 3197 But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
  149. 3198 He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,
  150. 3199 There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas
  151. 3200 That grew the more by reaping: his delights
  152. 3201 Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above
  153. 3202 The element they liv'd in: in his livery
  154. 3203 Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were
  155. 3204 As plates dropp'd from his pocket.
  156. Dolabella
  157. 3205 Cleopatra,—
  158. Cleopatra
  159. 3206 Think you there was or might be such a man
  160. 3207 As this I dream'd of?
  161. Dolabella
  162. 3208 Gentle madam, no.
  163. Cleopatra
  164. 3209 You lie, up to the hearing of the gods.
  165. 3210 But if there be, or ever were, one such,
  166. 3211 It's past the size of dreaming: nature wants stuff
  167. 3212 To vie strange forms with fancy: yet to imagine
  168. 3213 An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,
  169. 3214 Condemning shadows quite.
  170. Dolabella
  171. 3215 Hear me, good madam.
  172. 3216 Your loss is, as yourself, great; and you bear it
  173. 3217 As answering to the weight: would I might never
  174. 3218 O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel,
  175. 3219 By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
  176. 3220 My very heart at root.
  177. Cleopatra
  178. 3221 I thank you, sir.
  179. 3222 Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
  180. Dolabella
  181. 3223 I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
  182. Cleopatra
  183. 3224 Nay, pray you, sir,—
  184. Dolabella
  185. 3225 Though he be honourable,—
  186. Cleopatra
  187. 3226 He'll lead me, then, in triumph?
  188. Dolabella
  189. 3227 Madam, he will;
  190. 3228 I know it.
  191. [Flourish within.]
  192. [Within.]
  193. Dolabella
  194. 3229 Make way there,—Caesar!
  195. [Enter CAESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MAECENAS, SELEUCUS, and Attendants.]
  196. Octavius Caesar
  197. 3230 Which is the queen of Egypt?
  198. Dolabella
  199. 3231 It is the emperor, madam.
  200. [CLEOPATRA kneels.]
  201. Octavius Caesar
  202. 3232 Arise, you shall not kneel:—
  203. 3233 I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
  204. Cleopatra
  205. 3234 Sir, the gods
  206. 3235 Will have it thus; my master and my lord
  207. 3236 I must obey.
  208. Octavius Caesar
  209. 3237 Take to you no hard thoughts;
  210. 3238 The record of what injuries you did us,
  211. 3239 Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
  212. 3240 As things but done by chance.
  213. Cleopatra
  214. 3241 Sole sir o' the world,
  215. 3242 I cannot project mine own cause so well
  216. 3243 To make it clear: but do confess I have
  217. 3244 Been laden with like frailties which before
  218. 3245 Have often sham'd our sex.
  219. Octavius Caesar
  220. 3246 Cleopatra, know
  221. 3247 We will extenuate rather than enforce:
  222. 3248 If you apply yourself to our intents,—
  223. 3249 Which towards you are most gentle,—you shall find
  224. 3250 A benefit in this change; but if you seek
  225. 3251 To lay on me a cruelty, by taking
  226. 3252 Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
  227. 3253 Of my good purposes, and put your children
  228. 3254 To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
  229. 3255 If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.
  230. Cleopatra
  231. 3256 And may, through all the world: 'tis yours, and we,
  232. 3257 Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall
  233. 3258 Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.
  234. Octavius Caesar
  235. 3259 You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
  236. Cleopatra
  237. 3260 This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
  238. 3261 I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
  239. 3262 Not petty things admitted.—Where's Seleucus?
  240. Seleucus
  241. 3263 Here, madam.
  242. Cleopatra
  243. 3264 This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord,
  244. 3265 Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd
  245. 3266 To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
  246. Seleucus
  247. 3267 Madam,
  248. 3268 I had rather seal my lips than to my peril
  249. 3269 Speak that which is not.
  250. Cleopatra
  251. 3270 What have I kept back?
  252. Seleucus
  253. 3271 Enough to purchase what you have made known.
  254. Octavius Caesar
  255. 3272 Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
  256. 3273 Your wisdom in the deed.
  257. Cleopatra
  258. 3274 See, Caesar! O, behold,
  259. 3275 How pomp is follow'd! Mine will now be yours;
  260. 3276 And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
  261. 3277 The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
  262. 3278 Even make me wild: O slave, of no more trust
  263. 3279 Than love that's hir'd!—What, goest thou back? thou shalt
  264. 3280 Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes
  265. 3281 Though they had wings; slave, soulless villain, dog!
  266. 3282 O rarely base!
  267. Octavius Caesar
  268. 3283 Good queen, let us entreat you.
  269. Cleopatra
  270. 3284 O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,—
  271. 3285 That thou vouchsafing here to visit me,
  272. 3286 Doing the honour of thy lordliness
  273. 3287 To one so meek, that mine own servant should
  274. 3288 Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
  275. 3289 Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
  276. 3290 That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
  277. 3291 Immoment toys, things of such dignity
  278. 3292 As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
  279. 3293 Some nobler token I have kept apart
  280. 3294 For Livia and Octavia, to induce
  281. 3295 Their mediation;—must I be unfolded
  282. 3296 With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
  283. 3297 Beneath the fall I have.
  284. [To SELEUCUS.]
  285. Cleopatra
  286. 3298 Pr'ythee go hence;
  287. 3299 Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
  288. 3300 Through theashes of my chance.—Wert thou a man,
  289. 3301 Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
  290. Octavius Caesar
  291. 3302 Forbear, Seleucus.
  292. [Exit SELEUCUS.]
  293. Cleopatra
  294. 3303 Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought
  295. 3304 For things that others do; and when we fall
  296. 3305 We answer others' merits in our name,
  297. 3306 Are therefore to be pitied.
  298. Octavius Caesar
  299. 3307 Cleopatra,
  300. 3308 Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
  301. 3309 Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be't yours,
  302. 3310 Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe
  303. 3311 Caesar's no merchant, to make prize with you
  304. 3312 Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd;
  305. 3313 Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen;
  306. 3314 For we intend so to dispose you as
  307. 3315 Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep:
  308. 3316 Our care and pity is so much upon you
  309. 3317 That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.
  310. Cleopatra
  311. 3318 My master and my lord!
  312. Octavius Caesar
  313. 3319 Not so. Adieu.
  314. [Flourish. Exeunt CAESAR and his Train.]
  315. Cleopatra
  316. 3320 He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
  317. 3321 Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian!
  318. [Whispers CHARMIAN.]
  319. Iras
  320. 3322 Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,
  321. 3323 And we are for the dark.
  322. Cleopatra
  323. 3324 Hie thee again:
  324. 3325 I have spoke already, and it is provided;
  325. 3326 Go put it to the haste.
  326. Charmian
  327. 3327 Madam, I will.
  328. [Re-enter DOLABELLA.]
  329. Dolabella
  330. 3328 Where's the queen?
  331. Charmian
  332. 3329 Behold, sir.
  333. [Exit.]
  334. Cleopatra
  335. 3330 Dolabella!
  336. Dolabella
  337. 3331 Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
  338. 3332 Which my love makes religion to obey,
  339. 3333 I tell you this: Caesar through Syria
  340. 3334 Intends his journey; and within three days
  341. 3335 You with your children will he send before:
  342. 3336 Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
  343. 3337 Your pleasure and my promise.
  344. Cleopatra
  345. 3338 Dolabella,
  346. 3339 I shall remain your debtor.
  347. Dolabella
  348. 3340 I your servant.
  349. 3341 Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.
  350. Cleopatra
  351. 3342 Farewell, and thanks.
  352. [Exit DOLABELLA.]
  353. Cleopatra
  354. 3343 Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
  355. 3344 Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shall be shown
  356. 3345 In Rome as well as I: mechanic slaves,
  357. 3346 With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
  358. 3347 Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
  359. 3348 Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
  360. 3349 And forc'd to drink their vapour.
  361. Iras
  362. 3350 The gods forbid!
  363. Cleopatra
  364. 3351 Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras:—saucy lictors
  365. 3352 Will catch at us like strumpets; and scald rhymers
  366. 3353 Ballad us out o' tune: the quick comedians
  367. 3354 Extemporally will stage us, and present
  368. 3355 Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
  369. 3356 Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
  370. 3357 Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
  371. 3358 I' the posture of a whore.
  372. Iras
  373. 3359 O the good gods!
  374. Cleopatra
  375. 3360 Nay, that's certain.
  376. Iras
  377. 3361 I'll never see't; for I am sure mine nails
  378. 3362 Are stronger than mine eyes.
  379. Cleopatra
  380. 3363 Why, that's the way
  381. 3364 To fool their preparation and to conquer
  382. 3365 Their most absurd intents.
  383. [Enter CHARMIAN.]
  384. Cleopatra
  385. 3366 Now, Charmian!—
  386. 3367 Show me, my women, like a queen.—Go fetch
  387. 3368 My best attires;—I am again for Cydnus,
  388. 3369 To meet Mark Antony:—sirrah, Iras, go.—
  389. 3370 Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed;
  390. 3371 And when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave
  391. 3372 To play till doomsday.—Bring our crown and all.
  392. [Exit IRAS. A noise within.]
  393. Cleopatra
  394. 3373 Wherefore's this noise?
  395. [Enter one of the Guard.]
  396. Guard
  397. 3374 Here is a rural fellow
  398. 3375 That will not be denied your highness' presence:
  399. 3376 He brings you figs.
  400. Cleopatra
  401. 3377 Let him come in.
  402. [Exit Guard.]
  403. Cleopatra
  404. 3378 What poor an instrument
  405. 3379 May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
  406. 3380 My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
  407. 3381 Of woman in me: now from head to foot
  408. 3382 I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon
  409. 3383 No planet is of mine.
  410. [Re-enter Guard, with Clown bringing a basket.]
  411. Guard
  412. 3384 This is the man.
  413. Cleopatra
  414. 3385 Avoid, and leave him.
  415. [Exit Guard.]
  416. Cleopatra
  417. 3386 Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there
  418. 3387 That kills and pains not?
  419. Clown
  420. 3388 Truly, I have him. But I would not be the party that should
  421. 3389 desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those that
  422. 3390 do die of it do seldom or never recover.
  423. Cleopatra
  424. 3391 Remember'st thou any that have died on't?
  425. Clown
  426. 3392 Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer
  427. 3393 than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie;
  428. 3394 as a woman should not do but in the way of honesty: how she died
  429. 3395 of the biting of it, what pain she felt,—truly she makes a very
  430. 3396 good report o' the worm; but he that will believe all that they
  431. 3397 say shall never be saved by half that they do: but this is most
  432. 3398 falliable, the worm's an odd worm.
  433. Cleopatra
  434. 3399 Get thee hence; farewell.
  435. Clown
  436. 3400 I wish you all joy of the worm.
  437. [Sets down the basket.]
  438. Cleopatra
  439. 3401 Farewell.
  440. Clown
  441. 3402 You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
  442. Cleopatra
  443. 3403 Ay, ay; farewell.
  444. Clown
  445. 3404 Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of
  446. 3405 wise people; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm.
  447. Cleopatra
  448. 3406 Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
  449. Clown
  450. 3407 Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the
  451. 3408 feeding.
  452. Cleopatra
  453. 3409 Will it eat me?
  454. Clown
  455. 3410 You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil himself
  456. 3411 will not eat a woman: I know that a woman is a dish for the gods,
  457. 3412 if the devil dress her not. But truly, these same whoreson devils
  458. 3413 do the gods great harm in their women, for in every ten that they
  459. 3414 make the devils mar five.
  460. Cleopatra
  461. 3415 Well, get thee gone; farewell.
  462. Clown
  463. 3416 Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o' the worm.
  464. [Exit.]
  465. [Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c.]
  466. Cleopatra
  467. 3417 Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
  468. 3418 Immortal longings in me: now no more
  469. 3419 The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:—
  470. 3420 Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.—Methinks I hear
  471. 3421 Antony call; I see him rouse himself
  472. 3422 To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
  473. 3423 The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
  474. 3424 To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come:
  475. 3425 Now to that name my courage prove my title!
  476. 3426 I am fire and air; my other elements
  477. 3427 I give to baser life.—So,—have you done?
  478. 3428 Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
  479. 3429 Farewell, kind Charmian;—Iras, long farewell.
  480. [Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies.]
  481. Cleopatra
  482. 3430 Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
  483. 3431 If thus thou and nature can so gently part,
  484. 3432 The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
  485. 3433 Which hurts and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?
  486. 3434 If thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
  487. 3435 It is not worth leave-taking.
  488. Charmian
  489. 3436 Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say
  490. 3437 The gods themselves do weep!
  491. Cleopatra
  492. 3438 This proves me base:
  493. 3439 If she first meet the curled Antony,
  494. 3440 He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss
  495. 3441 Which is my heaven to have.—Come, thou mortal wretch,
  496. [To an asp, which she applies to her breast.]
  497. Cleopatra
  498. 3442 With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
  499. 3443 Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool,
  500. 3444 Be angry and despatch. O couldst thou speak,
  501. 3445 That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
  502. 3446 Unpolicied!
  503. Charmian
  504. 3447 O eastern star!
  505. Cleopatra
  506. 3448 Peace, peace!
  507. 3449 Dost thou not see my baby at my breast
  508. 3450 That sucks the nurse asleep?
  509. Charmian
  510. 3451 O, break! O, break!
  511. Cleopatra
  512. 3452 As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle:—
  513. 3453 O Antony! Nay, I will take thee too:—
  514. [Applying another asp to her arm.]
  515. Cleopatra
  516. 3454 What should I stay,—
  517. [Falls on a bed and dies.]
  518. Charmian
  519. 3455 In this vile world?—So, fare thee well.—
  520. 3456 Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies
  521. 3457 A lass unparallel'd.—Downy windows, close;
  522. 3458 And golden Phoebus never be beheld
  523. 3459 Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
  524. 3460 I'll mend it and then play.
  525. [Enter the guard, rushing in.]
  526. First Guard
  527. 3461 Where's the queen?
  528. Charmian
  529. 3462 Speak softly, wake her not.
  530. First Guard
  531. 3463 Caesar hath sent,—
  532. Charmian
  533. 3464 Too slow a messenger.
  534. [Applies an asp.]
  535. Charmian
  536. 3465 O, come apace, despatch: I partly feel thee.
  537. First Guard
  538. 3466 Approach, ho! all's not well: Caesar's beguil'd.
  539. Second Guard
  540. 3467 There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him.
  541. First Guard
  542. 3468 What work is here!—Charmian, is this well done?
  543. Charmian
  544. 3469 It is well done, and fitting for a princess
  545. 3470 Descended of so many royal kings.
  546. 3471 Ah, soldier!
  547. [CHARMIAN dies.]
  548. [Re-enter DOLABELLA.]
  549. Dolabella
  550. 3472 How goes it here?
  551. Second Guard
  552. 3473 All dead.
  553. Dolabella
  554. 3474 Caesar, thy thoughts
  555. 3475 Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming
  556. 3476 To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou
  557. 3477 So sought'st to hinder.
  558. [Within.]
  559. Dolabella
  560. 3478 A way there, a way for Caesar!
  561. [Re-enter CAESAR and his Train.]
  562. Dolabella
  563. 3479 O sir, you are too sure an augurer;
  564. 3480 That you did fear is done.
  565. Octavius Caesar
  566. 3481 Bravest at the last,
  567. 3482 She levell'd at our purposes, and being royal,
  568. 3483 Took her own way.—The manner of their deaths?
  569. 3484 I do not see them bleed.
  570. Dolabella
  571. 3485 Who was last with them?
  572. First Guard
  573. 3486 A simple countryman that brought her figs.
  574. 3487 This was his basket.
  575. Octavius Caesar
  576. 3488 Poison'd then.
  577. First Guard
  578. 3489 O Caesar,
  579. 3490 This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood and spake:
  580. 3491 I found her trimming up the diadem
  581. 3492 On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,
  582. 3493 And on the sudden dropp'd.
  583. Octavius Caesar
  584. 3494 O noble weakness!—
  585. 3495 If they had swallow'd poison 'twould appear
  586. 3496 By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,—
  587. 3497 As she would catch another Antony
  588. 3498 In her strong toil of grace.
  589. Dolabella
  590. 3499 Here on her breast
  591. 3500 There is a vent of blood, and something blown:
  592. 3501 The like is on her arm.
  593. First Guard
  594. 3502 This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves
  595. 3503 Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves
  596. 3504 Upon the caves of Nile.
  597. Octavius Caesar
  598. 3505 Most probable
  599. 3506 That so she died; for her physician tells me
  600. 3507 She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite
  601. 3508 Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed,
  602. 3509 And bear her women from the monument:—
  603. 3510 She shall be buried by her Antony:
  604. 3511 No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
  605. 3512 A pair so famous. High events as these
  606. 3513 Strike those that make them; and their story is
  607. 3514 No less in pity than his glory which
  608. 3515 Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall
  609. 3516 In solemn show attend this funeral;
  610. 3517 And then to Rome.—Come, Dolabella, see
  611. 3518 High order in this great solemnity.
  612. [Exeunt.]