Scene 1
(Enter Caesar with Agrippa, Dolabella, Maecenas, Gallus, and Proculeius, his council of war.)
CAESAR
Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield.2429
Being so frustrate, tell him, he mocks2430
The pauses that he makes.2431
DOLABELLA
Caesar, I shall.
(Dolabella exits.)
(Enter Dercetus with the sword of Antony.)
CAESAR
Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar’st2432
Appear thus to us?2433
DERCETUS
I am called Dercetus.
Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy2434
Best to be served. Whilst he stood up and spoke,2435
He was my master, and I wore my life2436
To spend upon his haters. If thou please2437
To take me to thee, as I was to him2438
I’ll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not,2439
I yield thee up my life.2440
CAESAR
What is ’t thou say’st?
DERCETUS
I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.2441
CAESAR
The breaking of so great a thing should make2442
A greater crack. The round world2443
Should have shook lions into civil streets2444
And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony2445
Is not a single doom; in the name lay2446
A moiety of the world.2447
DERCETUS
He is dead, Caesar,
Not by a public minister of justice,2448
Nor by a hirèd knife, but that self hand2449
Which writ his honor in the acts it did2450
Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,2451
Splitted the heart. This is his sword.2452
I robbed his wound of it. Behold it stained2453
With his most noble blood.2454
CAESAR
Look you sad, friends?
The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings2455
To wash the eyes of kings.2456
AGRIPPA
And strange it is
That nature must compel us to lament2457
Our most persisted deeds.2458
MAECENAS
His taints and honors
Waged equal with him.2459
AGRIPPA
A rarer spirit never
Did steer humanity, but you gods will give us2460
Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touched.2461
MAECENAS
When such a spacious mirror’s set before him,2462
He needs must see himself.2463
CAESAR
O Antony,
I have followed thee to this, but we do lance2464
Diseases in our bodies. I must perforce2465
Have shown to thee such a declining day2466
Or look on thine. We could not stall together2467
In the whole world. But yet let me lament2468
With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts2469
That thou my brother, my competitor2470
In top of all design, my mate in empire,2471
Friend and companion in the front of war,2472
The arm of mine own body, and the heart2473
Where mine his thoughts did kindle—that our stars2474
Unreconciliable should divide2475
Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends—2476
(Enter an Egyptian.)
But I will tell you at some meeter season.2477
The business of this man looks out of him.2478
We’ll hear him what he says.—Whence are you?2479
EGYPTIAN
A poor Egyptian yet, the Queen my mistress,2480
Confined in all she has, her monument,2481
Of thy intents desires instruction,2482
That she preparedly may frame herself2483
To th’ way she’s forced to.2484
CAESAR
Bid her have good heart.
She soon shall know of us, by some of ours,2485
How honorable and how kindly we2486
Determine for her. For Caesar cannot live2487
To be ungentle.2488
EGYPTIAN
So the gods preserve thee.
(He exits.)
CAESAR
Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say2489
We purpose her no shame. Give her what comforts2490
The quality of her passion shall require,2491
Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke2492
She do defeat us, for her life in Rome2493
Would be eternal in our triumph. Go,2494
And with your speediest bring us what she says2495
And how you find of her.2496
PROCULEIUS
Caesar, I shall.
(Proculeius exits.)
CAESAR
Gallus, go you along.2497
(Gallus exits.)
Where’s Dolabella,
To second Proculeius?2498
CAESAR
Let him alone, for I remember now2499
How he’s employed. He shall in time be ready.2500
Go with me to my tent, where you shall see2501
How hardly I was drawn into this war,2502
How calm and gentle I proceeded still2503
In all my writings. Go with me and see2504
What I can show in this.2505
(They exit.)
Scene 2
(Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras.)
CLEOPATRA
My desolation does begin to make2506
A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar;2507
Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave,2508
A minister of her will. And it is great2509
To do that thing that ends all other deeds,2510
Which shackles accidents and bolts up change,2511
Which sleeps and never palates more the dung,2512
The beggar’s nurse, and Caesar’s.2513
(Enter Proculeius.)
PROCULEIUS
Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt,2514
And bids thee study on what fair demands2515
Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.2516
CLEOPATRA
What’s thy name?
PROCULEIUS
My name is Proculeius.2517
CLEOPATRA
Antony
Did tell me of you, bade me trust you, but2518
I do not greatly care to be deceived2519
That have no use for trusting. If your master2520
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him2521
That majesty, to keep decorum, must2522
No less beg than a kingdom. If he please2523
To give me conquered Egypt for my son,2524
He gives me so much of mine own as I2525
Will kneel to him with thanks.2526
PROCULEIUS
Be of good cheer.
You’re fall’n into a princely hand; fear nothing.2527
Make your full reference freely to my lord,2528
Who is so full of grace that it flows over2529
On all that need. Let me report to him2530
Your sweet dependency, and you shall find2531
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness2532
Where he for grace is kneeled to.2533
CLEOPATRA
Pray you tell him
I am his fortune’s vassal and I send him2534
The greatness he has got. I hourly learn2535
A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly2536
Look him i’ th’ face.2537
PROCULEIUS
This I’ll report, dear lady.
Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied2538
Of him that caused it.2539
(Gallus and Soldiers enter and seize Cleopatra.)
GALLUS
You see how easily she may be surprised.2540
Guard her till Caesar come.2541
CHARMIAN
O, Cleopatra, thou art taken, queen!2542
CLEOPATRA
Drawing a dagger. Quick, quick, good hands!2543
PROCULEIUS
Seizing the dagger. Hold, worthy lady, hold!2544
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this2545
Relieved, but not betrayed.2546
CLEOPATRA
What, of death, too,
That rids our dogs of languish?2547
PROCULEIUS
Cleopatra,
Do not abuse my master’s bounty by2548
Th’ undoing of yourself. Let the world see2549
His nobleness well acted, which your death2550
Will never let come forth.2551
CLEOPATRA
Where art thou, Death?
Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen2552
Worth many babes and beggars.2553
PROCULEIUS
O, temperance, lady!
CLEOPATRA
Sir, I will eat no meat; I’ll not drink, sir.2554
If idle talk will once be necessary—2555
I’ll not sleep neither. This mortal house I’ll ruin,2556
Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I2557
Will not wait pinioned at your master’s court,2558
Nor once be chastised with the sober eye2559
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up2560
And show me to the shouting varletry2561
Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt2562
Be gentle grave unto me; rather on Nilus’ mud2563
Lay me stark naked, and let the waterflies2564
Blow me into abhorring; rather make2565
My country’s high pyramides my gibbet2566
And hang me up in chains!2567
PROCULEIUS
You do extend
These thoughts of horror further than you shall2568
Find cause in Caesar.2569
(Enter Dolabella.)
DOLABELLA
Proculeius,
What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,2570
And he hath sent for thee. For the Queen,2571
I’ll take her to my guard.2572
PROCULEIUS
So, Dolabella,
It shall content me best. Be gentle to her.2573
To Cleopatra. To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,2574
If you’ll employ me to him.2575
CLEOPATRA
Say I would die.
(Proculeius, Gallus, and Soldiers exit.)
DOLABELLA
Most noble empress, you have heard of me.2576
CLEOPATRA
I cannot tell.2577
DOLABELLA
Assuredly you know me.
CLEOPATRA
No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.2578
You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;2579
Is ’t not your trick?2580
DOLABELLA
I understand not, madam.
CLEOPATRA
I dreamt there was an emperor Antony.2581
O, such another sleep, that I might see2582
But such another man.2583
DOLABELLA
If it might please you—
CLEOPATRA
His face was as the heavens, and therein stuck2584
A sun and moon, which kept their course and lighted2585
The little O, the Earth.2586
DOLABELLA
Most sovereign creature—
CLEOPATRA
His legs bestrid the ocean, his reared arm2587
Crested the world. His voice was propertied2588
As all the tunèd spheres, and that to friends;2589
But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,2590
He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,2591
There was no winter in ’t; an autumn ’twas2592
That grew the more by reaping. His delights2593
Were dolphin-like; they showed his back above2594
The element they lived in. In his livery2595
Walked crowns and crownets; realms and islands were2596
As plates dropped from his pocket.2597
CLEOPATRA
Think you there was, or might be, such a man2598
As this I dreamt of?2599
DOLABELLA
Gentle madam, no.
CLEOPATRA
You lie up to the hearing of the gods!2600
But if there be nor ever were one such,2601
It’s past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff2602
To vie strange forms with fancy, yet t’ imagine2603
An Antony were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy,2604
Condemning shadows quite.2605
DOLABELLA
Hear me, good madam.
Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it2606
As answering to the weight. Would I might never2607
O’ertake pursued success but I do feel,2608
By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites2609
My very heart at root.2610
CLEOPATRA
I thank you, sir.
Know you what Caesar means to do with me?2611
DOLABELLA
I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.2612
CLEOPATRA
Nay, pray you, sir.2613
DOLABELLA
Though he be honorable—
CLEOPATRA
He’ll lead me, then, in triumph.2614
DOLABELLA
Madam, he will. I know ’t.2615
(Flourish. Enter Caesar, Proculeius, Gallus, Maecenas, and others of his train.)
ALL
Make way there! Caesar!2616
CAESAR
Which is the Queen of Egypt?2617
DOLABELLA
It is the Emperor, madam.2618
(Cleopatra kneels.)
CAESAR
Arise. You shall not kneel.2619
I pray you, rise. Rise, Egypt.2620
CLEOPATRA
Sir, the gods
Will have it thus. My master and my lord2621
I must obey.2622
(She stands.)
CAESAR
Take to you no hard thoughts.
The record of what injuries you did us,2623
Though written in our flesh, we shall remember2624
As things but done by chance.2625
CLEOPATRA
Sole sir o’ th’ world,
I cannot project mine own cause so well2626
To make it clear, but do confess I have2627
Been laden with like frailties which before2628
Have often shamed our sex.2629
CAESAR
Cleopatra, know
We will extenuate rather than enforce.2630
If you apply yourself to our intents,2631
Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find2632
A benefit in this change; but if you seek2633
To lay on me a cruelty by taking2634
Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself2635
Of my good purposes, and put your children2636
To that destruction which I’ll guard them from2637
If thereon you rely. I’ll take my leave.2638
CLEOPATRA
And may through all the world. ’Tis yours, and we,2639
Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall2640
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.2641
(She holds out a paper.)
CAESAR
You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.2642
CLEOPATRA
This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels2643
I am possessed of. ’Tis exactly valued,2644
Not petty things admitted.—Where’s Seleucus?2645
(Enter Seleucus.)
SELEUCUS
Here, madam.2646
CLEOPATRA
This is my treasurer. Let him speak, my lord,2647
Upon his peril, that I have reserved2648
To myself nothing.—Speak the truth, Seleucus.2649
SELEUCUS
Madam, I had rather seel my lips2650
Than to my peril speak that which is not.2651
CLEOPATRA
What have I kept back?2652
SELEUCUS
Enough to purchase what you have made known.2653
CAESAR
Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve2654
Your wisdom in the deed.2655
CLEOPATRA
See, Caesar, O, behold
How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours,2656
And should we shift estates, yours would be mine.2657
The ingratitude of this Seleucus does2658
Even make me wild.—O slave, of no more trust2659
Than love that’s hired! What, goest thou back? Thou shalt2660
Go back, I warrant thee! But I’ll catch thine eyes2661
Though they had wings. Slave, soulless villain, dog!2662
O rarely base!2663
CAESAR
Good queen, let us entreat you—
CLEOPATRA
O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,2664
That thou vouchsafing here to visit me,2665
Doing the honor of thy lordliness2666
To one so meek, that mine own servant should2667
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by2668
Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,2669
That I some lady trifles have reserved,2670
Immoment toys, things of such dignity2671
As we greet modern friends withal, and say2672
Some nobler token I have kept apart2673
For Livia and Octavia, to induce2674
Their mediation, must I be unfolded2675
With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me2676
Beneath the fall I have. To Seleucus. Prithee, go hence,2677
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits2678
Through th’ ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man,2679
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.2680
CAESAR
Forbear, Seleucus.
(Seleucus exits.)
CLEOPATRA
Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought2681
For things that others do; and when we fall,2682
We answer others’ merits in our name—2683
Are therefore to be pitied.2684
CAESAR
Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged2685
Put we i’ th’ roll of conquest. Still be ’t yours!2686
Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe2687
Caesar’s no merchant to make prize with you2688
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered.2689
Make not your thoughts your prisons. No, dear queen,2690
For we intend so to dispose you as2691
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.2692
Our care and pity is so much upon you2693
That we remain your friend. And so adieu.2694
CLEOPATRA
My master and my lord!2695
CAESAR
Not so. Adieu.
Flourish. Caesar and his train exit.2696
CLEOPATRA
He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not2697
Be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian.2698
(She whispers to Charmian.)
IRAS
Finish, good lady. The bright day is done,2699
And we are for the dark.2700
CLEOPATRA
To Charmian. Hie thee again.
I have spoke already, and it is provided.2701
Go put it to the haste.2702
(Enter Dolabella.)
DOLABELLA
Where’s the Queen?2703
(She exits.)
DOLABELLA
Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,2704
Which my love makes religion to obey,2705
I tell you this: Caesar through Syria2706
Intends his journey, and within three days2707
You with your children will he send before.2708
Make your best use of this. I have performed2709
Your pleasure and my promise.2710
CLEOPATRA
Dolabella,
I shall remain your debtor.2711
DOLABELLA
I your servant.
Adieu, good queen. I must attend on Caesar.2712
CLEOPATRA
Farewell, and thanks.2713
(He exits.)
Now, Iras, what think’st thou?
Thou an Egyptian puppet shall be shown2714
In Rome as well as I. Mechanic slaves2715
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers shall2716
Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,2717
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded2718
And forced to drink their vapor.2719
CLEOPATRA
Nay, ’tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors2720
Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers2721
Ballad us out o’ tune. The quick comedians2722
Extemporally will stage us and present2723
Our Alexandrian revels. Antony2724
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see2725
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness2726
I’ th’ posture of a whore.2727
CLEOPATRA
Nay, that’s certain.2728
IRAS
I’ll never see ’t! For I am sure mine nails2729
Are stronger than mine eyes.2730
CLEOPATRA
Why, that’s the way
To fool their preparation and to conquer2731
Their most absurd intents.2732
(Enter Charmian.)
Now, Charmian!
Show me, my women, like a queen. Go fetch2733
My best attires. I am again for Cydnus2734
To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go.—2735
Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch indeed,2736
And when thou hast done this chare, I’ll give thee leave2737
To play till Doomsday.—Bring our crown and all.2738
(Iras exits. A noise within.)
Wherefore’s this noise?2739
(Enter a Guardsman.)
GUARDSMAN
Here is a rural fellow
That will not be denied your Highness’ presence.2740
He brings you figs.2741
CLEOPATRA
Let him come in.2742
(Guardsman exits.)
What poor an instrument
May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty.2743
My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing2744
Of woman in me. Now from head to foot2745
I am marble-constant. Now the fleeting moon2746
No planet is of mine.2747
(Enter Guardsman and Countryman, with a basket.)
GUARDSMAN
This is the man.
CLEOPATRA
Avoid, and leave him.2748
(Guardsman exits.)
Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there2749
That kills and pains not?2750
COUNTRYMAN
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.
CLEOPATRA
Remember’st thou any that have died on ’t?2751
COUNTRYMAN
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’ th’ worm. But he that will believe all that they say shall never be saved by half that they do. But this is most falliable, the worm’s an odd worm.
CLEOPATRA
Get thee hence. Farewell.2752
COUNTRYMAN
I wish you all joy of the worm.
(He sets down the basket.)
COUNTRYMAN
You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
CLEOPATRA
Ay, ay, farewell.2754
COUNTRYMAN
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.
CLEOPATRA
Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.2755
COUNTRYMAN
Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.
CLEOPATRA
Will it eat me?2756
COUNTRYMAN
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.
CLEOPATRA
Well, get thee gone. Farewell.2757
COUNTRYMAN
Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o’ th’ worm.
(He exits.)
(Enter Iras bearing Cleopatra’s royal regalia.)
CLEOPATRA
Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have2758
Immortal longings in me. Now no more2759
The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip.2760
(Charmian and Iras begin to dress her.)
Yare, yare, good Iras, quick. Methinks I hear2761
Antony call. I see him rouse himself2762
To praise my noble act. I hear him mock2763
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men2764
To excuse their after wrath.—Husband, I come!2765
Now to that name my courage prove my title.2766
I am fire and air; my other elements2767
I give to baser life.—So, have you done?2768
Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.2769
Farewell, kind Charmian.—Iras, long farewell.2770
(She kisses them. Iras falls and dies.)
Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?2771
If thou and nature can so gently part,2772
The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch,2773
Which hurts and is desired. Dost thou lie still?2774
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world2775
It is not worth leave-taking.2776
CHARMIAN
Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say2777
The gods themselves do weep!2778
CLEOPATRA
This proves me base.
If she first meet the curlèd Antony,2779
He’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss2780
Which is my heaven to have.—Come, thou mortal wretch,2781
(She places an asp on her breast.)
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate2782
Of life at once untie. Poor venomous fool,2783
Be angry and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak,2784
That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass2785
Unpolicied!2786
CLEOPATRA
Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,2787
That sucks the nurse asleep?2788
CHARMIAN
O, break! O, break!
CLEOPATRA
As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle—2789
O Antony!—Nay, I will take thee too.2790
(She places an asp on her arm.)
What should I stay—2791
(Dies.)
CHARMIAN
In this wild world? So, fare thee well.
Now boast thee, Death, in thy possession lies2792
A lass unparalleled. Downy windows, close,2793
(She closes Cleopatra’s eyes.)
And golden Phoebus, never be beheld2794
Of eyes again so royal. Your crown’s awry.2795
I’ll mend it, and then play—2796
(Enter the Guard rustling in.)
FIRST GUARD
Where’s the Queen?2797
CHARMIAN
Speak softly. Wake her not.
FIRST GUARD
Caesar hath sent—2798
CHARMIAN
Too slow a messenger.
(She takes out an asp.)
O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.2799
FIRST GUARD
Approach, ho! All’s not well. Caesar’s beguiled.2800
SECOND GUARD
There’s Dolabella sent from Caesar. Call him.2801
(A Guardsman exits.)
FIRST GUARD
What work is here, Charmian? Is this well done?2802
CHARMIAN
It is well done, and fitting for a princess2803
Descended of so many royal kings.2804
Ah, soldier!2805
(Charmian dies.)
(Enter Dolabella.)
DOLABELLA
How goes it here?2806
DOLABELLA
Caesar, thy thoughts
Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming2807
To see performed the dreaded act which thou2808
So sought’st to hinder.2809
(Enter Caesar and all his train, marching.)
ALL
A way there, a way for Caesar!2810
DOLABELLA
O sir, you are too sure an augurer:2811
That you did fear is done.2812
CAESAR
Bravest at the last,
She leveled at our purposes and, being royal,2813
Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?2814
I do not see them bleed.2815
DOLABELLA
Who was last with them?
FIRST GUARD
A simple countryman that brought her figs.2816
This was his basket.2817
FIRST GUARD
O Caesar,
This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake.2818
I found her trimming up the diadem2819
On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,2820
And on the sudden dropped.2821
CAESAR
O, noble weakness!
If they had swallowed poison, ’twould appear2822
By external swelling; but she looks like sleep,2823
As she would catch another Antony2824
In her strong toil of grace.2825
DOLABELLA
Here on her breast
There is a vent of blood, and something blown.2826
The like is on her arm.2827
FIRST GUARD
This is an aspic’s trail, and these fig leaves2828
Have slime upon them, such as th’ aspic leaves2829
Upon the caves of Nile.2830
CAESAR
Most probable
That so she died, for her physician tells me2831
She hath pursued conclusions infinite2832
Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed,2833
And bear her women from the monument.2834
She shall be buried by her Antony.2835
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it2836
A pair so famous. High events as these2837
Strike those that make them; and their story is2838
No less in pity than his glory which2839
Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall2840
In solemn show attend this funeral,2841
And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see2842
High order in this great solemnity.2843
(They all exit, the Guards bearing the dead bodies.)