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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 the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me. Caesar Forbear, Seleucus. Exit Seleucus. Cleopatra

Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought
For things that others do; and, when we fall,
We answer othersโ€™ merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.

Caesar

Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged,
Put we iโ€™ the roll of conquest: still beโ€™t yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
Caesarโ€™s no merchant, to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheerโ€™d;
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.

Cleopatra My master, and my lord! Caesar Not so. Adieu. Flourish. Exeunt Caesar and his train. Cleopatra

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:
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 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 performโ€™d
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. Exit Dolabella. Now, Iras, what thinkโ€™st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt 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 be enclouded,
And forced to drink their vapour.

Iras The gods forbid! Cleopatra

Nay, โ€™tis most certain, Iras: saucy lictors
Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers
Ballad us out oโ€™ 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
Iโ€™ the posture of a whore.

Iras O the good gods! Cleopatra Nay, thatโ€™s certain. Iras

Iโ€™ll never seeโ€™t; for, I am sure, my nails
Are stronger than mine eyes.

Cleopatra

Why, thatโ€™s the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer
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.
Now, noble Charmian, weโ€™ll dispatch indeed;
And, when thou hast done this chare, Iโ€™ll give thee leave
To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all.
Whereforeโ€™s this noise? Exit Iras. A noise within.

Enter a Guardsman. Guard

Here is a rural fellow
That will not be denied your highnessโ€™ 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.
My resolutionโ€™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

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 is immortal; those that do die of it do seldom or never recover. Cleopatra Rememberest thou any that have died onโ€™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 oโ€™ 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 wormโ€™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 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 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 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. Clown Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy oโ€™ the worm. Exit. Re-enter Iras with a robe, crown, etc. Cleopatra

Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
Immortal longings in me: now no more
The juice of Egyptโ€™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
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.
Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell. Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.
Have I the

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