Scene 1
Enter Caesar with Agrippa , Dolabella , Maecenas ,
Gallus , and Proculeius , his council of war .
CAESAR
, aside to Dolabella
Go to him , Dolabella , bid him yield .
Being so frustrate , tell him , he mocks
The pauses that he makes .
DOLABELLA
Caesar , I shall .
Dolabella exits .
Enter Dercetus with the sword of Antony .
CAESAR
Wherefore is that ? And what art thou that dar’st
Appear thus to us ?
DERCETUS
I am called Dercetus .
Mark Antony I served , who best was worthy
Best to be served . Whilst he stood up and spoke ,
He was my master , and I wore my life
To spend upon his haters . If thou please
To take me to thee , as I was to him
I’ll be to Caesar ; if thou pleasest not ,
I yield thee up my life .
CAESAR
What is ’t thou say’st ?
DERCETUS
I say , O Caesar , Antony is dead .
[241]ACT 5. SC. 1
CAESAR
The breaking of so great a thing should make
A greater crack . The round world
Should have shook lions into civil streets
And citizens to their dens . The death of Antony
Is not a single doom ; in the name lay
A moiety of the world .
DERCETUS
He is dead , Caesar ,
Not by a public minister of justice ,
Nor by a hirèd knife , but that self hand
Which writ his honor in the acts it did
Hath , with the courage which the heart did lend it ,
Splitted the heart . This is his sword .
I robbed his wound of it . Behold it stained
With his most noble blood .
CAESAR
Look you sad , friends ?
The gods rebuke me , but it is tidings
To wash the eyes of kings .
AGRIPPA
And strange it is
That nature must compel us to lament
Our most persisted deeds .
MAECENAS
His taints and honors
Waged equal with him .
AGRIPPA
A rarer spirit never
Did steer humanity , but you gods will give us
Some faults to make us men . Caesar is touched .
MAECENAS
When such a spacious mirror’s set before him ,
He needs must see himself .
CAESAR
O Antony ,
I have followed thee to this , but we do lance
Diseases in our bodies . I must perforce
Have shown to thee such a declining day
Or look on thine . We could not stall together
In the whole world . But yet let me lament
With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts
[243] ACT 5. SC. 1 That thou my brother , my competitor
In top of all design , my mate in empire ,
Friend and companion in the front of war ,
The arm of mine own body , and the heart
Where mine his thoughts did kindle — that our stars
Unreconciliable should divide
Our equalness to this . Hear me , good friends —
Enter an Egyptian .
But I will tell you at some meeter season .
The business of this man looks out of him .
We’ll hear him what he says . — Whence are you ?
EGYPTIAN
A poor Egyptian yet , the Queen my mistress ,
Confined in all she has , her monument ,
Of thy intents desires instruction ,
That she preparedly may frame herself
To th’ way she’s forced to .
CAESAR
Bid her have good heart .
She soon shall know of us , by some of ours ,
How honorable and how kindly we
Determine for her . For Caesar cannot live
To be ungentle .
EGYPTIAN
So the gods preserve thee .
He exits .
CAESAR
Come hither , Proculeius . Go and say
We purpose her no shame . Give her what comforts
The quality of her passion shall require ,
Lest , in her greatness , by some mortal stroke
She do defeat us , for her life in Rome
Would be eternal in our triumph . Go ,
And with your speediest bring us what she says
And how you find of her .
PROCULEIUS
Caesar , I shall .
Proculeius exits .
[245]ACT 5. SC. 2
CAESAR
Gallus , go you along .
Gallus exits .
Where’s Dolabella ,
To second Proculeius ?
ALL
Dolabella !
CAESAR
Let him alone , for I remember now
How he’s employed . He shall in time be ready .
Go with me to my tent , where you shall see
How hardly I was drawn into this war ,
How calm and gentle I proceeded still
In all my writings . Go with me and see
What I can show in this .
They exit .
Scene 2
Enter Cleopatra , Charmian , and Iras .
CLEOPATRA
My 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 .
Enter Proculeius .
PROCULEIUS
Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt ,
And bids thee study on what fair demands
Thou mean’st to have him grant thee .
CLEOPATRA
What’s thy name ?
PROCULEIUS
My name is Proculeius .
[247]ACT 5. SC. 2
CLEOPATRA
Antony
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 conquered Egypt for my son ,
He gives me so much of mine own as I
Will kneel to him with thanks .
PROCULEIUS
Be 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 kneeled to .
CLEOPATRA
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’ th’ face .
PROCULEIUS
This I’ll report , dear lady .
Have comfort , for I know your plight is pitied
Of him that caused it .
Gallus and Soldiers enter and seize Cleopatra .
GALLUS
You see how easily she may be surprised .
Guard her till Caesar come .
IRAS
Royal queen !
CHARMIAN
O , Cleopatra , thou art taken , queen !
CLEOPATRA
, drawing a dagger
Quick , quick , good hands !
[249]ACT 5. SC. 2
PROCULEIUS
, seizing the dagger
Hold , worthy lady , hold !
Do not yourself such wrong , who are in this
Relieved , but not betrayed .
CLEOPATRA
What , of death , too ,
That rids our dogs of languish ?
PROCULEIUS
Cleopatra ,
Do not abuse my master’s bounty by
Th’ undoing of yourself . Let the world see
His nobleness well acted , which your death
Will never let come forth .
CLEOPATRA
Where art thou , Death ?
Come hither , come ! Come , come , and take a queen
Worth many babes and beggars .
PROCULEIUS
O , temperance , lady !
CLEOPATRA
Sir , 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 pinioned 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 waterflies
Blow me into abhorring ; rather make
My country’s high pyramides my gibbet
And hang me up in chains !
PROCULEIUS
You do extend
These thoughts of horror further than you shall
Find cause in Caesar .
Enter Dolabella .
DOLABELLA
Proculeius ,
What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows ,
[251] ACT 5. SC. 2 And he hath sent for thee . For the Queen ,
I’ll take her to my guard .
PROCULEIUS
So , 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 .
CLEOPATRA
Say I would die .
Proculeius , Gallus , and Soldiers exit .
DOLABELLA
Most noble empress , you have heard of me .
CLEOPATRA
I cannot tell .
DOLABELLA
Assuredly you know me .
CLEOPATRA
No matter , sir , what I have heard or known .
You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams ;
Is ’t not your trick ?
DOLABELLA
I understand not , madam .
CLEOPATRA
I dreamt there was an emperor Antony .
O , such another sleep , that I might see
But such another man .
DOLABELLA
If it might please you —
CLEOPATRA
His face was as the heavens , and therein stuck
A sun and moon , which kept their course and
lighted
The little O , the Earth .
DOLABELLA
Most sovereign creature —
CLEOPATRA
His legs bestrid the ocean , his reared arm
Crested the world . His voice was propertied
As all the tunèd spheres , and that to friends ;
But when he meant to quail and shake the orb ,
[253] ACT 5. SC. 2 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 showed his back above
The element they lived in . In his livery
Walked crowns and crownets ; realms and islands
were
As plates dropped from his pocket .
DOLABELLA
Cleopatra —
CLEOPATRA
Think you there was , or might be , such a man
As this I dreamt of ?
DOLABELLA
Gentle madam , no .
CLEOPATRA
You lie up to the hearing of the gods !
But if there be nor ever were one such ,
It’s past the size of dreaming . Nature wants stuff
To vie strange forms with fancy , yet t’ imagine
An Antony were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy ,
Condemning shadows quite .
DOLABELLA
Hear 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 .
CLEOPATRA
I thank you , sir .
Know you what Caesar means to do with me ?
DOLABELLA
I am loath to tell you what I would you knew .
CLEOPATRA
Nay , pray you , sir .
DOLABELLA
Though he be honorable —
CLEOPATRA
He’ll lead me , then , in triumph .
DOLABELLA
Madam , he will . I know ’t .
[255]ACT 5. SC. 2
Flourish . Enter Caesar , Proculeius , Gallus , Maecenas ,
and others of his train .
ALL
Make way there ! Caesar !
CAESAR
Which is the Queen of Egypt ?
DOLABELLA
It is the Emperor , madam .
Cleopatra kneels .
CAESAR
Arise . You shall not kneel .
I pray you , rise . Rise , Egypt .
CLEOPATRA
Sir , the gods
Will have it thus . My master and my lord
I must obey .
She stands .
CAESAR
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 .
CLEOPATRA
Sole sir o’ th’ 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 .
CAESAR
Cleopatra , 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 .
CLEOPATRA
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 .
She holds out a paper .
[257]ACT 5. SC. 2
CAESAR
You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra .
CLEOPATRA
This is the brief of money , plate , and jewels
I am possessed of . ’Tis exactly valued ,
Not petty things admitted . — Where’s Seleucus ?
Enter Seleucus .
SELEUCUS
Here , madam .
CLEOPATRA
This is my treasurer . Let him speak , my lord ,
Upon his peril , that I have reserved
To myself nothing . — Speak the truth , Seleucus .
SELEUCUS
Madam , I had rather seel my lips
Than to my peril speak that which is not .
CLEOPATRA
What have I kept back ?
SELEUCUS
Enough to purchase what you have made known .
CAESAR
Nay , blush not , Cleopatra . I approve
Your wisdom in the deed .
CLEOPATRA
See , Caesar , O , behold
How pomp is followed ! 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 !
CAESAR
Good queen , let us entreat you —
CLEOPATRA
O Caesar , what a wounding shame is this ,
That thou vouchsafing here to visit me ,
[259] ACT 5. SC. 2 Doing the honor 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 th’ ashes of my chance . Wert thou a man ,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me .
CAESAR
Forbear , Seleucus .
Seleucus exits .
CLEOPATRA
Be 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 .
CAESAR
Cleopatra ,
Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged
Put we i’ th’ 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
cheered .
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 .
[261]ACT 5. SC. 2
CLEOPATRA
My master and my lord !
CAESAR
Not so . Adieu .
Flourish . Caesar and his train exit .
CLEOPATRA
He words me , girls , he words me , that I should not
Be noble to myself . But hark thee , Charmian .
She whispers to Charmian .
IRAS
Finish , good lady . The bright day is done ,
And we are for the dark .
CLEOPATRA
, to Charmian
Hie thee again .
I have spoke already , and it is provided .
Go put it to the haste .
CHARMIAN
Madam , I will .
Enter Dolabella .
DOLABELLA
Where’s the Queen ?
CHARMIAN
Behold , sir .
She exits .
CLEOPATRA
Dolabella .
DOLABELLA
Madam , 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 performed
Your pleasure and my promise .
CLEOPATRA
Dolabella ,
I shall remain your debtor .
DOLABELLA
I your servant .
Adieu , good queen . I must attend on Caesar .
CLEOPATRA
Farewell , and thanks .
He exits .
Now , Iras , what think’st thou ?
[263] ACT 5. SC. 2 Thou an Egyptian puppet shall 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 we be enclouded
And forced to drink their vapor .
IRAS
The gods forbid !
CLEOPATRA
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
Our Alexandrian revels . Antony
Shall be brought drunken forth , and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
I’ th’ posture of a whore .
IRAS
O the good gods !
CLEOPATRA
Nay , that’s certain .
IRAS
I’ll never see ’t ! For I am sure mine nails
Are stronger than mine eyes .
CLEOPATRA
Why , that’s the way
To fool their preparation and to conquer
Their most absurd intents .
Enter Charmian .
Now , 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 .
Iras exits .
A noise within .
Wherefore’s this noise ?
[265]ACT 5. SC. 2
Enter a Guardsman .
GUARDSMAN
Here is a rural fellow
That will not be denied your Highness’ presence .
He brings you figs .
CLEOPATRA
Let him come in .
Guardsman exits .
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 .
Enter Guardsman and Countryman , with a basket .
GUARDSMAN
This is the man .
CLEOPATRA
Avoid , and leave him .
Guardsman exits .
Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there
That kills and pains not ?
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 ?
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 .
COUNTRYMAN
I wish you all joy of the worm .
He sets down the basket .
[267]ACT 5. SC. 2
CLEOPATRA
Farewell .
COUNTRYMAN
You must think this , look you , that the
worm will do his kind .
CLEOPATRA
Ay , ay , farewell .
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 .
COUNTRYMAN
Very good . Give it nothing , I pray you ,
for it is not worth the feeding .
CLEOPATRA
Will it eat me ?
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 .
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 have
Immortal longings in me . Now no more
The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip .
Charmian and Iras begin to dress her .
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 ?
[269] ACT 5. SC. 2 Come then , and take the last warmth of my lips .
Farewell , kind Charmian . — Iras , long farewell .
She 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 .
CHARMIAN
Dissolve , thick cloud , and rain , that I may say
The gods themselves do weep !
CLEOPATRA
This proves me base .
If she first meet the curlèd Antony ,
He’ll make demand of her , and spend that kiss
Which is my heaven to have . — Come , thou mortal
wretch ,
She places an asp on 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 !
CHARMIAN
O eastern star !
CLEOPATRA
Peace , peace !
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast ,
That sucks the nurse asleep ?
CHARMIAN
O , break ! O , break !
CLEOPATRA
As sweet as balm , as soft as air , as gentle —
O Antony ! — Nay , I will take thee too .
She places an asp on her arm .
What should I stay —
Dies .
CHARMIAN
In this wild world ? So , fare thee well .
Now boast thee , Death , in thy possession lies
A lass unparalleled . Downy windows , close ,
She closes Cleopatra’s eyes .
[271] ACT 5. SC. 2 And golden Phoebus , never be beheld
Of eyes again so royal . Your crown’s awry .
I’ll mend it , and then play —
Enter the Guard rustling in .
FIRST GUARD
Where’s the Queen ?
CHARMIAN
Speak softly . Wake her not .
FIRST GUARD
Caesar hath sent —
CHARMIAN
Too slow a messenger .
She takes out an asp .
O , come apace , dispatch ! I partly feel thee .
FIRST GUARD
Approach , ho ! All’s not well . Caesar’s beguiled .
SECOND GUARD
There’s Dolabella sent from Caesar . Call him .
A Guardsman exits .
FIRST GUARD
What work is here , Charmian ? Is this well done ?
CHARMIAN
It is well done , and fitting for a princess
Descended of so many royal kings .
Ah , soldier !
Charmian dies .
Enter Dolabella .
DOLABELLA
How goes it here ?
SECOND GUARD
All dead .
DOLABELLA
Caesar , thy thoughts
Touch their effects in this . Thyself art coming
To see performed the dreaded act which thou
So sought’st to hinder .
Enter Caesar and all his train , marching .
ALL
A way there , a way for Caesar !
[273]ACT 5. SC. 2
DOLABELLA
O sir , you are too sure an augurer :
That you did fear is done .
CAESAR
Bravest at the last ,
She leveled at our purposes and , being royal ,
Took her own way . The manner of their deaths ?
I do not see them bleed .
DOLABELLA
Who was last with them ?
FIRST GUARD
A simple countryman that brought her figs .
This was his basket .
CAESAR
Poisoned , then .
FIRST GUARD
O 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 dropped .
CAESAR
O , noble weakness !
If they had swallowed poison , ’twould appear
By external swelling ; but she looks like sleep ,
As she would catch another Antony
In her strong toil of grace .
DOLABELLA
Here on her breast
There is a vent of blood , and something blown .
The like is on her arm .
FIRST GUARD
This is an aspic’s trail , and these fig leaves
Have slime upon them , such as th’ aspic leaves
Upon the caves of Nile .
CAESAR
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 .
[275] ACT 5. SC. 2 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 .
They all exit , the Guards
bearing the dead bodies .