Enter DOLABELLA,
Dol. Where is the queen?
Char. Behold, sir.

(Exit, Cleo. Dolabella?

Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
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 wise.

Cleo, Dolabella,
I shall remain your debtor,
Dol. I

your servant.
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. (Erit DOLABELLA.]

Now, Ii. what think'st thou ?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanic slaves,
With greasy aprons, rules, and bammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
A? .orc'd to drink their vapour.
Tras. The gods forbid !

Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras; Saucy lictors
Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhimers
Ballad us out o'tune : the quick comedians
Extemporally will stage us, and present
Qur Alexandrian revels.

Iras. O the good gods.
Cleo. Nay, this is certain.

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 assurd intents.—Now, Charmian?

Enter CHARMIAN. Show me, my women, like a queen; go fetch My best attires ;-I am again for Cydnus, To meet Mark Antony :-Iras, go. Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch, indeed : And when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee

leave To play till dooms-day.-Bring our crown and all.

[Erit Iras.-CHARMIAN falls to adjusting

CLEOPATRA's Dress --Noise within. Wherefore's this noise?

Enter some of the GUARD.
i Guard. Here is a rural fellow,
That will not be deny'd your highness' presence
He brings you figs.
Cleo. Let him come in. (Exeunt GUARD.] How

poor an instrument
May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
Of woman in nie. Now from head to foot
I am marble constant: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

Enter GUARD, with the Clown.
1 Guard. This is the man.
Cleo. Avoid and leave him.

[Erit GUARD. Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not?

Cloun. Truly, I have him; but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for bis biting is immortal; those that do die of it, do seldom

or never recover.

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have dy'd 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 saved 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.

[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. 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.

Cloun. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell.
Clown. Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy of the worm.

[Exit,
Enter IRAs, with Robe, fc.
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,
To excuse their after wrath: Husband, I come:

[Goes to a Bed, or Sofa, which she ascends ;

her Womer compose her on it : Iras sets the Basket, which she has been holding upon her

own Arm, by her. 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.

[Kissing them. Iras falls.
Have I the aspick 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 theinselves 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, mortal wretch,

[To the Asp; applying it to her Breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool,

Stirring it. Be angry, and despatch. O, couldst thou speak ! That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass, Unpolicy'd !

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. Enter some of the Guard. 1 Guard. Where is the queen ? Chur. Speak softly, wake her not.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sento Char. Too slow a messenger.

[Applying the Asp. O, come apace, despatch; I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho ! All's not well : Cæsar's

beguild. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella, sent from Cæsar: call

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

Char. Iris well done, and fitting for a princess
Descended of so many royal kings.
Ah, soldier!

(Dies. Enter DOLABELLA. Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. 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.

Enter CÆSAR and Train.
Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer;
That you did fear, is done.

Oct. Brav'st at the last :
She leveld at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way.—The manner of their deaths?
I do not see them bleed.

Dol. Who was last with them?
1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her

figs; This was his basket.

Oct. Poisoned, then.

Dol. Here, on her breast,
There is a vent of blood, and something blown:
The like is on her arm.
1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail;

[Pointing to the Floor.