ARKCODEX
Act V, Scene 2
1Alexandria. A room in the monument.
2Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras.
3CleopatraMy desolation does begin to make
A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar;
Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave,
A minister of her will: and it is great
To do that thing that ends all other deeds;
Which shackles accidents and bolts up change;
Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung,
The beggar’s nurse and Caesar’s.
4Enter, to the gates of the monument, Proculeius, Gallus, and Soldiers.
5ProculeiusCaesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt;
And bids thee study on what fair demands
Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.
6CleopatraWhat’s thy name?
7ProculeiusMy name is Proculeius.
8CleopatraAntony
Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but
I do not greatly care to be deceived,
That have no use for trusting. If your master
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him,
That majesty, to keep decorum, must
No less beg than a kingdom: if he please
To give me conquer’d Egypt for my son,
He gives me so much of mine own, as I
Will kneel to him with thanks.
9ProculeiusBe of good cheer;
You’re fall’n into a princely hand, fear nothing:
Make your full reference freely to my lord,
Who is so full of grace, that it flows over
On all that need: let me report to him
Your sweet dependency; and you shall find
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness,
Where he for grace is kneel’d to.
10CleopatraPray you, tell him
I am his fortune’s vassal, and I send him
The greatness he has got. I hourly learn
A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly
Look him i’ the face.
11ProculeiusThis I’ll report, dear lady.
Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
Of him that caused it.
12GallusYou see how easily she may be surprised: Here Proculeius and two of the Guard ascend the monument by a ladder placed against a window, and, having descended, come behind Cleopatra. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates.
13To Proculeius and the Guard. Guard her till Caesar come. Exit.
14IrasRoyal queen!
15CharmianO Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen.
16CleopatraQuick, quick, good hands. Drawing a dagger.
17ProculeiusHold, worthy lady, hold: Seizes and disarms her.
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
Relieved, but not betray’d.
18CleopatraWhat, of death too,
That rids our dogs of languish?
19ProculeiusCleopatra,
Do not abuse my master’s bounty by
The undoing of yourself: let the world see
His nobleness well acted, which your death
Will never let come forth.
20CleopatraWhere art thou, death?
Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen
Worthy many babes and beggars!
21ProculeiusO, temperance, lady!
22CleopatraSir, I will eat no meat, I’ll not drink, sir;
If idle talk will once be necessary,
I’ll not sleep neither: this mortal house I’ll ruin,
Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Will not wait pinion’d at your master’s court;
Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up
And show me to the shouting varletry
Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus’ mud
Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
Blow me into abhorring! rather make
My country’s high pyramides my gibbet,
And hang me up in chains!
23ProculeiusYou do extend
These thoughts of horror further than you shall
Find cause in Caesar.
24Enter Dolabella.
25DolabellaProculeius,
What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
And he hath sent for thee: for the queen,
I’ll take her to my guard.
26ProculeiusSo, Dolabella,
It shall content me best: be gentle to her.
To Cleopatra. To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,
If you’ll employ me to him.
27CleopatraSay, I would die. Exeunt Proculeius and Soldiers.
28DolabellaMost noble empress, you have heard of me?
29CleopatraI cannot tell.
30DolabellaAssuredly you know me.
31CleopatraNo matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
Is’t not your trick?
32DolabellaI understand not, madam.
33CleopatraI dream’d there was an Emperor Antony:
O, such another sleep, that I might see
But such another man!
34DolabellaIf it might please ye—
35CleopatraHis face was as the heavens; and therein stuck
A sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted
The little O, the earth.
36DolabellaMost sovereign creature—
37CleopatraHis 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 plates dropp’d from his pocket.
38DolabellaCleopatra!
39CleopatraThink you there was, or might be, such a man
As this I dream’d of?
40DolabellaGentle madam, no.
41CleopatraYou 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 stuff
To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine
And Antony, were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy,
Condemning shadows quite.
42DolabellaHear me, good madam.
Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it
As answering to the weight: would I might never
O’ertake pursued success, but I do feel,
By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
My very heart at root.
43CleopatraI thank you, sir,
Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
44DolabellaI am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
45CleopatraNay, pray you, sir—
46DolabellaThough he be honourable—
47CleopatraHe’ll lead me, then, in triumph?
48DolabellaMadam, he will; I know’t. Flourish, and shout within, “Make way there: Caesar!”
49Enter Caesar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mecaenas, Seleucus, and others of his Train.
50CaesarWhich is the Queen of Egypt?
51DolabellaIt is the emperor, madam. Cleopatra kneels.
52CaesarArise, you shall not kneel:
I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
53CleopatraSir, the gods
Will have it thus; my master and my lord
I must obey.
54CaesarTake to you no hard thoughts:
The record of what injuries you did us,
Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.
55CleopatraSole sir o’ 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.
56CaesarCleopatra, know,
We will extenuate rather than enforce:
If you apply yourself to our intents,
Which towards you are most gentle, you 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.
57CleopatraAnd 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.
58CaesarYou shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
59CleopatraThis is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
I am possess’d of: ’tis exactly valued;
Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus?
60SeleucusHere, madam.
61CleopatraThis is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord,
Upon his peril, that I have reserved
To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
62SeleucusMadam,
I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.
63CleopatraWhat have I kept back?
64SeleucusEnough to purchase what you have made known.
65CaesarNay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
Your wisdom in the deed.
66CleopatraSee, Caesar! 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 hired! What, goest thou back? thou shalt
Go back, I warrant thee; but I’ll catch thine eyes,
Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog!
O rarely base!
67CaesarGood queen, let us entreat you.
68CleopatraO Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
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 Caesar,
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 and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded
With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me
Beneath the fall I have. To Seleucus. Prithee, go hence;
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
69CaesarForbear, Seleucus. Exit Seleucus.
70CleopatraBe it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought
For things that others do; and, when we fall,
We answer others’ merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.
71CaesarCleopatra,
Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged,
Put we i’ the roll of conquest: still be’t yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be 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:
Our care and pity is so much upon you,
That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.
72CleopatraMy master, and my lord!
73CaesarNot so. Adieu. Flourish. Exeunt Caesar and his train.
74CleopatraHe words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. Whispers Charmian.
75IrasFinish, good lady; the bright day is done,
And we are for the dark.
76CleopatraHie thee again:
I have spoke already, and it is provided;
Go put it to the haste.
77CharmianMadam, I will.
78Reenter Dolabella.
79DolabellaWhere is the queen?
80CharmianBehold, sir. Exit.
81CleopatraDolabella!
82DolabellaMadam, as thereto sworn by your command,
Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this: Caesar through Syria
Intends his journey; and within three days
You with your children will he send before:
Make your best use of this: I have perform’d
Your pleasure and my promise.
83CleopatraDolabella,
I shall remain your debtor.
84DolabellaI your servant.
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.
85CleopatraFarewell, and thanks. Exit Dolabella. Now, Iras, what think’st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanic slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, shall be enclouded,
And forced to drink their vapour.
86IrasThe gods forbid!
87CleopatraNay, ’tis most certain, Iras: saucy lictors
Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers
Ballad us out o’ tune: the quick comedians
Extemporally will stage us, and present
Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
I’ the posture of a whore.
88IrasO the good gods!
89CleopatraNay, that’s certain.
90IrasI’ll never see’t; for, I am sure, my nails
Are stronger than mine eyes.
91CleopatraWhy, that’s the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
Their most absurd intents.
92Reenter Charmian.
93Now, 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 dispatch indeed;
And, when thou hast done this chare, I’ll give thee leave
To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all.
Wherefore’s this noise? Exit Iras. A noise within.
94Enter a Guardsman.
95GuardHere is a rural fellow
That will not be denied your highness’ presence:
He brings you figs.
96CleopatraLet him come in. Exit Guardsman. What poor an instrument
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.
97Reenter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in a basket.
98GuardThis is the man.
99CleopatraAvoid, and leave him. Exit Guardsman.
Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,
That kills and pains not?
100ClownTruly, 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.
101CleopatraRememberest thou any that have died on’t?
102ClownVery 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.
103CleopatraGet thee hence; farewell.
104ClownI wish you all joy of the worm. Setting down his basket.
105CleopatraFarewell.
106ClownYou must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
107CleopatraAy, ay; farewell.
108ClownLook you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in worm.
109CleopatraTake thou no care; it shall be heeded.
110ClownVery good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.
111CleopatraWill it eat me?
112ClownYou 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.
113CleopatraWell, get thee gone; farewell.
114ClownYes, forsooth: I wish you joy o’ the worm. Exit.
115Reenter Iras with a robe, crown, etc.
116CleopatraGive 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.
117CharmianDissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say,
The gods themselves do weep!
118CleopatraThis 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!
119CharmianO eastern star!
120CleopatraPeace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?
121CharmianO, break! O, break!
122CleopatraAs 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.
123CharmianIn 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.
124Enter the Guard, rushing in.
125First GuardWhere is the queen?
126CharmianSpeak softly, wake her not.
127First GuardCaesar hath sent—
128CharmianToo slow a messenger. Applies an asp.
O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.
129First GuardApproach, ho! All’s not well: Caesar’s beguiled.
130Second GuardThere’s Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him.
131First GuardWhat work is here! Charmian, is this well done?
132CharmianIt is well done, and fitting for a princess
Descended of so many royal kings.
Ah, soldier! Dies.
133Reenter Dolabella.
134DolabellaHow goes it here?
135Second GuardAll dead.
136DolabellaCaesar, 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!”
137Reenter Caesar and all his train, marching.
138DolabellaO sir, you are too sure an augurer;
That you did fear is done.
139CaesarBravest 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.
140DolabellaWho was last with them?
141First GuardA simple countryman, that brought her figs:
This was his basket.
142CaesarPoison’d, then.
143First GuardO 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.
144CaesarO 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.
145DolabellaHere, on her breast,
There is a vent of blood and something blown:
The like is on her arm.
146First GuardThis is an aspic’s trail: and these fig-leaves
Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves
Upon the caves of Nile.
147CaesarMost 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.