Though they had wings: Slave, soulless Villain, Dog! ACT V Sc. II CÆS. Good Queen, let us entreat you. CLEO. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is 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 reserv'd, As we greet modern1 friends withal; and say, For Livia and Octavia, to induce Their mediation; must I be unfolded 160 With one that I have bred? The Gods! it smites me hence; Or I shall shew the cinders of my spirits Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man, CÆS. 173 Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit SELEUCUs. CLEO. Be it known that we, the greatest, are mis thought For things that others do; and, when we fall, We answer others' merits3 in our name; Are therefore to be pitied. Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, 180 Cæsar's no merchant, to make prize with you Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd; For we intend so to dispose you as Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep: That we remain your friend; and so, adieu. CLEO. My master, and my Lord! CLEO. He words me, Girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. 191 [whispers CHARMIAN. IRAS. Finish, good Lady; the bright day is done, And we are for the dark. DOL. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, Intends his journey; and, within three days, CLEO. I shall remain your debtor. DOL. Dolabella, I your servant. Adieu, good Queen; I must attend on Cæsar. CLEO. Farewell, and thanks. 200 [Exit DOLABELLA. Now, Iras, what think'st thou ? Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shewn IRAS. The Gods forbid! CLEO. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: saucy lictors Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers 210 ACT V Sc. II Our Alexandrian revels; Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see I' the posture of a whore. IRAS. CLEO. Nay, that's certain. O the good Gods! 220 IRAS. I'll never see 't; for I am sure my nails Are stronger than mine eyes. CLEO. Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents. Re-enter CHARMIAN. Now, Charmian! Shew me, my Women, like a Queen. Go fetch 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 To play till Doomsday. Bring our crown and all. 230 [Exit IRAS. A noise within. ויד GUARD. Enter a Guardsman. Here is a rural fellow That will not be denied your Highness' presence: He brings you figs. CLEO. Let him come in. [Exit Guardsman. What poor an instrument May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing Of woman in me: now from head to foot I am marble-constant; now the fleeting Moon Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown, bringing in a basket. GUARD. This is the man. 240 [Exit Guardsman. CLEO. Avoid, and leave him. 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. 248 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 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 sav'd 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. [setting down his basket. CLOWN. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. CLEO. Ay, ay; farewell. 261 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. CLEO. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. CLOWN. Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it 269 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. CLEO. Well, get thee gone; farewell. CLOWN. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy o' the worm. [exit. Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, etc. CLEO. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have 280 ACT V Sc. II ACT V Yare, yare, good Iras; quick! Methinks I hear To praise my noble act; I hear him mock I give to baser life. So; have you done? 290 [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 desir'd. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the World It is not worth leave-taking. CHAR. Dissolve, thick Cloud, and rain; that I may say The Gods themselves do weep! CLEO. This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, Of life at once untie: poor venomous Fool, Be angry, and dispatch. O, could'st thou speak, CLEO. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle O Antony!--Nay, I will take thee too. What should I stay 310 [applying another asp to her arm. CHAR. In this vile World? So, fare thee well. [dies. |