TPTT The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra: ACT V
Introduction
ACT I
ACT II
ACT III
ACT IV
ACT V
SCENE I. Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.
SCENE II. Alexandria. A room in the monument.
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SCENE II. Alexandria. A room in the monument.
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
5     To do that thing that ends all other deeds;
      Which shackles accidents and bolts up change;
      Which sleeps, and never palates more the dug,
      The beggar's nurse and Caesar's.
Enter, to the gates of the monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS and Soldiers
PROCULEIUS
      Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt;
10    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.
CLEOPATRA
      Antony
15    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
20    No less beg than a kingdom: if he please
      To give me conquer'd 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;
25    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
30    A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness,
      Where he for grace is kneel'd to.
CLEOPATRA
      Pray you, tell him
      I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him
      The greatness he has got. I hourly learn
35    A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly
      Look him i' the face.
PROCULEIUS
      This I'll report, dear lady.
      Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
      Of him that caused it.
GALLUS
40    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 descended, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates

To PROCULEIUS and the Guard

      Guard her till Caesar come.
Exit
IRAS
      Royal queen!
CHARMIAN
      O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen:
CLEOPATRA
      Quick, quick, good hands.
Drawing a dagger
PROCULEIUS
45    Hold, worthy lady, hold:

Seizes and disarms her

      Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
      Relieved, but not betray'd.
CLEOPATRA
      What, of death too,
      That rids our dogs of languish?
PROCULEIUS
50    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.
CLEOPATRA
55    Where art thou, death?
      Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen
      Worthy many babes and beggars!
PROCULEIUS
      O, temperance, lady!
CLEOPATRA
      Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir;
60    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 pinion'd at your master's court;
      Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
65    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
70    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
75    Find cause in Caesar.
Enter DOLABELLA
DOLABELLA
      Proculeius,
      What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
      And he hath sent for thee: for the queen,
      I'll take her to my guard.
PROCULEIUS
80    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.
Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers
DOLABELLA
85    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;
90    Is't not your trick?
DOLABELLA
      I understand not, madam.
CLEOPATRA
      I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony:
      O, such another sleep, that I might see
      But such another man!
DOLABELLA
95    If it might please ye,--
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
100   Most sovereign creature,--
CLEOPATRA
      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,
105   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
110   Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were
      As plates dropp'd from his pocket.
DOLABELLA
      Cleopatra!
CLEOPATRA
      Think you there was, or might be, such a man
      As this I dream'd of?
DOLABELLA
115   Gentle madam, no.
CLEOPATRA
      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
120   And 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
125   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
130   I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
CLEOPATRA
      Nay, pray you, sir,--
DOLABELLA
      Though he be honourable,--
CLEOPATRA
      He'll lead me, then, in triumph?
DOLABELLA
      Madam, he will; I know't.
Flourish, and shout within, 'Make way there: Octavius Caesar!'
Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECAENAS, SELEUCUS, and others of his Train
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
135   Which is the Queen of Egypt?
DOLABELLA
      It is the emperor, madam.
CLEOPATRA kneels
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Arise, you shall not kneel:
      I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
CLEOPATRA
      Sir, the gods
140   Will have it thus; my master and my lord
      I must obey.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Take to you no hard thoughts:
      The record of what injuries you did us,
      Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
145   As things but done by chance.
CLEOPATRA
      Sole sir o' the 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
150   Have often shamed our sex.
OCTAVIUS 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
155   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,
160   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.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
CLEOPATRA
165   This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
      I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
      Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?
SELEUCUS
      Here, madam.
CLEOPATRA
      This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord,
170   Upon his peril, that I have reserved
      To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
SELEUCUS
      Madam,
      I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril,
      Speak that which is not.
CLEOPATRA
175   What have I kept back?
SELEUCUS
      Enough to purchase what you have made known.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
      Your wisdom in the deed.
CLEOPATRA
      See, Caesar! O, behold,
180   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? thou shalt
185   Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,
      Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog!
      O rarely base!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Good queen, let us entreat you.
CLEOPATRA
      O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
190   That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
      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 Caesar,
195   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
200   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
205   Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man,
      Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Forbear, Seleucus.
Exit SELEUCUS
CLEOPATRA
      Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought
      For things that others do; and, when we fall,
210   We answer others' merits in our name,
      Are therefore to be pitied.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Cleopatra,
      Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged,
      Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be't yours,
215   Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
      Caesar'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 queen;
      For we intend so to dispose you as
220   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.
CLEOPATRA
      My master, and my lord!
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Not so. Adieu.
Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and his train
CLEOPATRA
225   He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
      Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian.
Whispers CHARMIAN
IRAS
      Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,
      And we are for the dark.
CLEOPATRA
      Hie thee again:
230   I have spoke already, and it is provided;
      Go put it to the haste.
CHARMIAN
      Madam, I will.
Re-enter DOLABELLA
DOLABELLA
      Where is the queen?
CHARMIAN
      Behold, sir.
Exit
CLEOPATRA
235   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
240   You with your children will he send before:
      Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
      Your pleasure and my promise.
CLEOPATRA
      Dolabella,
      I shall remain your debtor.
DOLABELLA
245   I your servant,
      Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.
CLEOPATRA
      Farewell, and thanks.

Exit DOLABELLA

      Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
      Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
250   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 be enclouded,
      And forced to drink their vapour.
IRAS
255   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
260   Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
      Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
      Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
      I' the posture of a whore.
IRAS
      O the good gods!
CLEOPATRA
265   Nay, that's certain.
IRAS
      I'll never see 't; for, I am sure, my nails
      Are stronger than mine eyes.
CLEOPATRA
      Why, that's the way
      To fool their preparation, and to conquer
270   Their most absurd intents.

Re-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.
275   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.
      Wherefore's this noise?
Exit IRAS. A noise within
Enter a Guardsman
Guard
      Here is a rural fellow
280   That will not be denied your highness presence:
      He brings you figs.
CLEOPATRA
      Let him come in.

Exit Guardsman

      What poor an instrument
      May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
285   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.
Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in a basket
Guard
      This is the man.
CLEOPATRA
290   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
295   is immortal; those that do die of it do seldom or
      never recover.
CLEOPATRA
      Rememberest 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,
300   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
305   half that they do: but this is most fallible, the
      worm's an odd worm.
CLEOPATRA
      Get thee hence; farewell.
Clown
      I wish you all joy of the worm.
Setting down his basket
CLEOPATRA
      Farewell.
Clown
310   You must think this, look you, that the worm will
      do his kind.
CLEOPATRA
      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
315   goodness in worm.
CLEOPATRA
      Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
Clown
      Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is
      not worth the feeding.
CLEOPATRA
      Will it eat me?
Clown
320   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
325   that they make, the devils mar five.
CLEOPATRA
      Well, get thee gone; farewell.
Clown
      Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o' the worm.
Exit
Re-enter IRAS with a robe, crown, &c
CLEOPATRA
      Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
      Immortal longings in me: now no more
330   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 Caesar, which the gods give men
335   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.
340   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?
345   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:
350   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
      mortal wretch,

To an asp, which she applies to her breast

      With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
355   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
360   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,--
365   O Antony!--Nay, I will take thee too.

Applying another asp to her arm

      What should I stay--
Dies
CHARMIAN
      In this vile world? So, fare thee well.
      Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies
      A lass unparallel'd. Downy windows, close;
370   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, rushing in
First Guard
      Where is the queen?
CHARMIAN
      Speak softly, wake her not.
First Guard
375   Caesar hath sent--
CHARMIAN
      Too slow a messenger.

Applies 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.
First Guard
380   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!
Dies
Re-enter DOLABELLA
DOLABELLA
      How goes it here?
Second Guard
385   All dead.
DOLABELLA
      Caesar, 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 Caesar!'
Re-enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR and all his train marching
DOLABELLA
390   O sir, you are too sure an augurer;
      That you did fear is done.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Bravest at the last,
      She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
      Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?
395   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.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
      Poison'd, then.
First Guard
400   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 dropp'd.
OCTAVIUS CAESAR
405   O noble weakness!
      If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
      By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,
      As she would catch another Antony
      In her strong toil of grace.
DOLABELLA
410   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 the aspic leaves
415   Upon the caves of Nile.
OCTAVIUS 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;
420   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
425   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
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