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- William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act V, Scene II
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Scene IIAlexandria. A room in the monumentEnter Cleopatra, Charmian, and IrasCleopatraMy 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 dug, The beggar’s nurse and Caesar’s.Enter, to the gates of the monument, Proculeius, Gallus and SoldiersProculeiusCaesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt; And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.CleopatraWhat’s thy name?ProculeiusMy name is Proculeius.CleopatraAntony 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 conquer’d Egypt for my son, He gives me so much of mine own, as I Will kneel to him with thanks.ProculeiusBe 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 kneel’d to.CleopatraPray 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’ the face.ProculeiusThis I’ll report, dear lady. Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it.GallusYou 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 gatesTo Proculeius and the GuardGuard her till Caesar come.ExitIrasRoyal queen!CharmianO Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen:CleopatraQuick, quick, good hands.Drawing a daggerProculeiusHold, worthy lady, hold:Seizes and disarms herDo not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved, but not betray’d.CleopatraWhat, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish?ProculeiusCleopatra, 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.CleopatraWhere art thou, death? Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen Worthy many babes and beggars!ProculeiusO, temperance, lady!CleopatraSir, 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 pinion’d 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 water-flies Blow me into abhorring! rather make My country’s high pyramides my gibbet, And hang me up in chains!ProculeiusYou do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Caesar.Enter DolabellaDolabellaProculeius, What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, And he hath sent for thee: for the queen, I’ll take her to my guard.ProculeiusSo, Dolabella, It shall content me best: be gentle to her.To CleopatraTo Caesar I will speak what you shall please, If you’ll employ me to him.CleopatraSay, I would die.Exeunt Proculeius and SoldiersDolabellaMost noble empress, you have heard of me?CleopatraI cannot tell.DolabellaAssuredly you know me.CleopatraNo matter, sir, what I have heard or known. You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; Is’t not your trick?DolabellaI understand not, madam.CleopatraI dream’d there was an Emperor Antony: O, such another sleep, that I might see But such another man!DolabellaIf it might please ye,—CleopatraHis face was as the heavens; and therein stuck A sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted The little o’ the earth.DolabellaMost sovereign creature,—CleopatraHis 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, 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 Walk’d crowns and crownets; realms and islands were As plates dropp’d from his pocket.DolabellaCleopatra!CleopatraThink you there was, or might be, such a man As this I dream’d of?DolabellaGentle madam, no.CleopatraYou 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 And Antony, were nature’s piece ‘gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.DolabellaHear 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.CleopatraI thank you, sir, Know you what Caesar means to do with me?DolabellaI am loath to tell you what I would you knew.CleopatraNay, pray you, sir,—DolabellaThough he be honourable,—CleopatraHe’ll lead me, then, in triumph?DolabellaMadam, 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 TrainOctavius CaesarWhich is the Queen of Egypt?DolabellaIt is the emperor, madam.Cleopatra kneelsOctavius CaesarArise, you shall not kneel: I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.CleopatraSir, the gods Will have it thus; my master and my lord I must obey.Octavius CaesarTake 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.CleopatraSole 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 Have often shamed our sex.Octavius CaesarCleopatra, 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.CleopatraAnd 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 CaesarYou shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.CleopatraThis is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am possess’d of: ’tis exactly valued; Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus?SeleucusHere, madam.CleopatraThis is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserved To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.SeleucusMadam, I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, Speak that which is not.CleopatraWhat have I kept back?SeleucusEnough to purchase what you have made known.Octavius CaesarNay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed.CleopatraSee, Caesar! O, behold, 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 Go back, I warrant thee; but I’ll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog! O rarely base!Octavius CaesarGood queen, let us entreat you.CleopatraO Caesar, what a wounding shame is this, 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, 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 SeleucusPrithee, 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.Octavius CaesarForbear, Seleucus.Exit SeleucusCleopatraBe 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.Octavius CaesarCleopatra, Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged, Put we i’ the 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 cheer’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.CleopatraMy master, and my lord!Octavius CaesarNot so. Adieu.Flourish. Exeunt Octavius Caesar and his trainCleopatraHe words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian.Whispers CharmianIrasFinish, good lady; the bright day is done, And we are for the dark.CleopatraHie thee again: I have spoke already, and it is provided; Go put it to the haste.CharmianMadam, I will.Re-enter DolabellaDolabellaWhere is the queen?CharmianBehold, sir.ExitCleopatraDolabella!DolabellaMadam, 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 perform’d Your pleasure and my promise.CleopatraDolabella, I shall remain your debtor.DolabellaI your servant, Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.CleopatraFarewell, and thanks.Exit DolabellaNow, Iras, what think’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.IrasThe gods forbid!CleopatraNay, ’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’ the posture of a whore.IrasO the good gods!CleopatraNay, that’s certain.IrasI’ll never see ’t; for, I am sure, my nails Are stronger than mine eyes.CleopatraWhy, that’s the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents.Re-enter CharmianNow, 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. Wherefore’s this noise?Exit Iras. A noise withinEnter a GuardsmanGuardHere is a rural fellow That will not be denied your highness presence: He brings you figs.CleopatraLet him come in.Exit GuardsmanWhat 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.Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in a basketGuardThis is the man.CleopatraAvoid, and leave him.Exit GuardsmanHast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not?ClownTruly, 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.CleopatraRememberest thou any that have died on’t?ClownVery 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.CleopatraGet thee hence; farewell.ClownI wish you all joy of the worm.Setting down his basketCleopatraFarewell.ClownYou must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.CleopatraAy, ay; farewell.ClownLook you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in worm.CleopatraTake thou no care; it shall be heeded.ClownVery good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.CleopatraWill it eat me?ClownYou 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.CleopatraWell, get thee gone; farewell.ClownYes, forsooth: I wish you joy o’ the worm.ExitRe-enter Iras with a robe, crown, &cCleopatraGive 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 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 diesHave 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.CharmianDissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, The gods themselves do weep!CleopatraThis 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, thou mortal wretch,To an asp, which she applies to her breastWith 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!CharmianO eastern star!CleopatraPeace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep?CharmianO, break! O, break!CleopatraAs sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,— O Antony!—Nay, I will take thee too.Applying another asp to her armWhat should I stay—DiesCharmianIn this vile world? So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies A lass unparallel’d. Downy windows, close; 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 inFirst GuardWhere is the queen?CharmianSpeak softly, wake her not.First GuardCaesar hath sent—CharmianToo slow a messenger.Applies an aspO, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.First GuardApproach, ho! All’s not well: Caesar’s beguiled.Second GuardThere’s Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him.First GuardWhat work is here! Charmian, is this well done?CharmianIt is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier! [Dies]Re-enter DolabellaDolabellaHow goes it here?Second GuardAll dead.DolabellaCaesar, 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 marchingDolabellaO sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear is done.Octavius CaesarBravest at the last, She levell’d at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed.DolabellaWho was last with them?First GuardA simple countryman, that brought her figs: This was his basket.Octavius CaesarPoison’d, then.First GuardO 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 CaesarO 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.DolabellaHere, on her breast, There is a vent of blood and something blown: The like is on her arm.First GuardThis is an aspic’s trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile.Octavius CaesarMost 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: 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.Exeunt
William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act V
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William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act V
- William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act V
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