All For Love by John Dryden (epub ebook reader TXT) 📕

IRAS. The aspics, madam?

CLEOPATRA. Must I bid you twice? [Exit CHARMION and IRAS.] ‘Tis sweet to die, when they would force life on me, To rush into the dark abode of death, And seize him first; if he be like my love, He is not frightful, sure. We’re now alone, in secrecy and silence; And is not this like lovers? I may kiss These pale, cold lips; Octavia does not see me: And, oh! ‘tis better far to have him thus, Than see him in her arms.—Oh, welcome, welcome!

Enter CHARMION and IRAS

CHARMION. What must be done?

CLEOPATRA. Short ceremony, friends; But yet it must be decent. First, this laurel Shall crown my hero’s head: he fell not basely, Nor left his shield behind him.—Only thou Couldst triumph o’er thyself; and thou alone Wert worthy so to triumph.

CHARMION. To what end These ensigns of your pomp and royalty?

CLEOPATRA. Dull, that thou art! why ‘tis to meet my love; As when I saw him first, on Cydnus’ bank, All sparkling, like a goddess: so adorned, I’ll find him once again; my second spousals Shall match my first in glory. Haste, haste, both, And dress the bride of Antony.

CHARMION. ‘Tis done.

CLEOPATRA. Now seat me by my lord. I claim this place, For I must conquer Caesar too, like him, And win my share of the world.—Hail, you dear relics Of my immortal love! O let no impious hand remove you hence: But rest for ever here! Let Egypt give His death that peace, which it denied his life.— Reach me the casket.

IRAS. Underneath the fruit The aspic lies.

CLEOPATRA. Welcome, thou kind deceiver! [Putting aside the leaves.] Thou best of thieves: who, with an easy key, Dost open life, and, unperceived by us, Even steal us from ourselves; discharging so Death’s dreadful office, better than himself; Touching our limbs so gently into slumber, That Death stands by, deceived by his own image, And thinks himself but sleep.

SERAPION. The queen, where is she? [Within.] The town is yielded, Caesar’s at the gates.

CLEOPATRA. He comes too late to invade the rights of death! Haste, bare my arm, and rouse the serpent’s fury. [Holds out her arm, and draws it back.] Coward flesh, Wouldst thou conspire with Caesar to betray me, As thou wert none of mine? I’ll force thee to it, And not be sent by him, But bring, myself, my soul to Antony. [Turns aside, and then shows her arm bloody.] Take hence; the work is done.

SERAPION. Break ope the door, [Within.] And guard the traitor well.

CHARMION. The next is ours.

IRAS. Now, Charmion, to be worthy Of our great queen and mistress. [They apply the aspics.]

CLEOPATRA. Already, death, I feel thee in my veins: I go with such a will to find my lord, That we shall quickly meet. A heavy numbness creeps through every limb, And now ‘tis at my head: My eyelids fall, And my dear love is vanquished in a mist. Where shall I find him, where? O turn me to him, And lay me on his breast!—Caesar, thy worst; Now part us, if thou canst. [Dies.] [IRAS sinks down at her feet, and dies; CHARMION stands behind her chair, as dressing her head.]

Enter SERAPION, two PRIESTS, ALEXAS bound, EGYPTIANS

PRIEST. Behold, Serapion, What havoc death has made!

SERAPION. ‘Twas what I feared.— Charmion, is this well done?

CHARMION. Yes, ‘tis well done, and like a queen, the last Of her great race: I follow her. [Sinks down: dies.]

ALEXAS. ‘Tis true, She has done well: Much better thus to die, Than live to make a holiday in Rome.

SERAPION. See how the lovers sit in state together, As they were giving laws to half mankind! The impression of a smile, left in her face, Shows she died pleased with him for whom she lived, And went to charm him in another world. Caesar’s just entering: grief has now no leisure. Secure that villain, as our pledge of safety, To grace the imperial triumph.—Sleep, blest pair, Secure from human chance, long ages out, While all the storms of fate fly o’er your tomb; And fame to late posterity shall tell, No lovers lived so great, or died so well. [Exeunt.]