The Works of William Shakespeare

Cleo.

Pray 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.

Pro. This I'll report, dear lady. Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it.

Gal. You 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 descend-
ed, come behind Cleopatra. Some of
the Guard unbar and open the gates.
[To Proculeius and the Guard] Guard her till
Cæsar come.
Exit.

Iras. Royal queen!
Char. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen.
Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands.

[Drawing a dagger. Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold: [Seizes and disarms her. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved, but not betray'd.

Cleo.

What, of death too,

That rids our dogs of languish? Pro.

Cleopatra,

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.

Cleo. Where art thou, death? Come hither, come! come, come, and take a

queen

Worth many babes and beggars!
Pro.

O, temperance, lady!
Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir;
If idle talk will once be necessary,
50
I'll not sleep neither: this mortal house I'll ruin,
Do Cæsar 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!

Pro.

You do extend

It shall content me best: be gentle to her.
[To Cleo.] To Cæsar I will speak what you shall
please,

If you'll employ me to him.
Cleo.

Say, I would die. 70 [Exeunt Proculeius and Soldiers. Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me? Cleo. I cannot tell.

The little O, the earth.
Dol.
Most sovereign creature,—
Cleo. His 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. Dol.

Cleopatra! Cleo. Think you there was, or might be, such

a man

As this I dream'd of?
Dol.
Gentle madam, no.
Cleo. You 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
An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,
Condemning shadows quite.

Dol.
Hear me, good madam. 100
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.

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Cæs. Arise, you shall not kneel:
I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
Cleo.
Sir, the gods
Will have it thus; my master and my lord
I must obey.

Cæs. Take 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.

We will extenuate rather than enforce: If you apply yourself to our intents,

For things that others do; and, when we fall,

Which towards you are most gentle, you shall We answer others' merits in our name,

find

130

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.

Cleo. And 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.

Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. Cieo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,

I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
Not petty things admitted.. Where's Seleucus?
Sel. Here, madam.

141

Cleo. This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord,

Upon his peril, that I have reserved

To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam,

I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril,
Speak that which is not.
Cleo.

What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known.

Cæs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.

Cleo. See, Cæsar! O, behold, 150 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?

Are therefore to be pitied.

Cæs.

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged,

180

Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be 't yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
Cæsar'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

Cleo.
Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your com-
mand,

Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this: Cæsar 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.
Cleo.

Dolabella,

200

I shall remain your debtor.
Dol.
I your servant.
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. [Exit Dolabella.
Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as 1: mechanic slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forced to drink their vapour.

Iras.

The gods forbid ! Cleo. Nay, '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

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 placed, and I have nothing
Of woman in me: now from head to foot

I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon 240
No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in
a basket.
Guard.
This is the man.
Cleo. Avoid, and leave him.

[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.

Cleo. Rememberest thou any that have died on't? 249 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.

260

Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.
Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm.
[Setting down his basket.

Cleo. Farewell.

Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.

Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell.

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.

worm.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. 280
Clown. Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o' the
[Exit.
Re-enter IRAS with a robe, crown, &c.
Cleo. 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 Cæsar, which the gods give men 289
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 300
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,
He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss
Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mor-
tal 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,
and dispatch.
angry,
O, couldst thou speak,
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar ass 310
Unpolicied!

Char. O eastern star!
Cleo.
Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?
Char.
O, break! O, break!
Cleo. 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.
Char. 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;

Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be I'll mend it, and then play.

320

Enter the Guard, rushing in. First Guard. Where is the queen? Char. Speak softly, wake her not. First Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies an asp. O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee. First Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar's beguiled.

Sec. Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar; call him.

First Guard. What work is here! Charmian, is this well done?

Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess

Descended of so many royal kings.
Ah, soldier!

Re-enter Dolabella.

Dol. How goes it here?

Sec. Guard.

330 [Dies.

All dead. Dol. Cæsar, 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 Cæsar!' Re-enter CESAR and all his train, marching. Dol. O sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear is done.

Cæs. Bravest at the last, She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, 339 Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed. Dol.

Who was last with them?

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.

360

Cæs. 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: 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.

palace.

Enter two Gentlemen.

First Gent. You do not meet a man but
frowns: our bloods

No more obey the heavens than our courtiers
Still seem as does the king.

Sec. Gent.
But what's the matter?
First Gent. His daughter, and the heir of 's
kingdom, whom

He purposed to his wife's sole son-a widow
That late he married-hath referr'd herself
Unto a poor but worthy gentleman: she's wedded;
Her husband banish'd; she imprison'd: all
Is outward sorrow; though I think the king
Be touch'd at very heart.

Sec. Gent.

First Gent.

the queen,

Two British Captains.

A Frenchman, friend to Philario.
Two Lords of Cymbeline's court.
Two Gentlemen of the same.
Two Gaolers.

Queen, wife to Cymbeline.

IMOGEN, daughter to Cymbeline by a former

queen.

HELEN, a lady attending on Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, a Soothsayer, a Dutchman, a Spaniard, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

Sec. Gent.

Apparitions.

SCENE: Britain; Rome.

What's his name and birth? First Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: his father

Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour
Against the Romans with Cassibelan,
But had his titles by Tenantius whom
He served with glory and admired success,
So gain'd the sur-addition Leonatus;
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who in the wars o' the time
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father,

Then old and fond of issue, took such sorrow
That he quit being, and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman our theme, deceased
As he was born. The king he takes the babe 40
To his protection, calls him Posthumus Leonatus,
Breeds him and makes him of his bed-chamber,
Puts to him all the learnings that his time
He that hath lost her too; so is Could make him the receiver of; which he took,

None but the king?

ΙΟ

That most desired the match; but not a courtier,
Although they wear their faces to the bent
Of the king's looks, hath a heart that is not
Glad at the thing they scowl at.

Sec. Gent.
And why so?
First Gent. He that hath miss'd the princess
is a thing

Too bad for bad report: and he that hath her-
I mean, that married her, alack, good man!
And therefore banish'd-is a creature such
As, to seek through the regions of the earth
For one his like, there would be something failing
In him that should compare. I do not think
So fair an outward and such stuff within
Endows a man but he.

Sec. Gent.

You speak him far.

First Gent. I do extend him, sir, within him-
self,

Crush him together rather than unfold
His measure duly.

As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd,
And in's spring became a harvest, lived in court-
Which rare it is to do-most praised, most loved,
A sample to the youngest, to the more mature
A glass that feated them, and to the graver
A child that guided dotards; to his mistress, 50
For whom he now is banish'd, her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read
What kind of man he is.

Sec. Gent.
I honour him
Even out of your report. But, pray you, tell me,
Is she sole child to the king?
First Gent.

His only child.
He had two sons: if this be worth your hearing,
Mark it: the eldest of them at three years old,
I' the swathing-clothes the other, from their nur

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