Cle.
O Charmion, I shall ne'er go hence!

Char.
Be comforted.

Cle.
No;—strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it. Enter Diomedes.
How now?—is he dead?

Dio.
His death's upon him, but not dead.
Look out o'the other side your monument;
His Guard now bring him hither.

Cle.
O, Sun! now quit the shining sphere thou mov'st in,
And leave the world in darkness.—O, Mark Antony! Enter Antony, supported by the Guard.
Help, help! (Running to him.)

Ant.
I'm dying, Cleopatra, dying!
But here importune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses, the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.

Cle.
O, come, come, come! (Embracing him.)
And die where thou hast liv'd: had my lips power
Thus would I wear them out.

Ant.
Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

Cle.
No, let me rail at fortune; and—

Ant.
One word, sweet:
Of Cæsar seek your honour, and your safety.

Cle.
They do not go together.

Ant.
Gentle, hear me;—
None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius.

Cle.
My resolution, and my hand, I'll trust;—
None about Cæsar.

Ant.
The miserable change, now, at my end,
Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts
In feeding them with those my former fortunes;
Wherein I lived, the greatest prince o'the world,
The noblest; and do now not basely die,
Nor cowardly;—put off my helmet to
My countryman; a Roman, by a Roman,
Valiantly vanquish'd;—and—my spirit is going;
I can no more!—one kiss!—and—Oh! [Dies.

Cle.
The crown o'the earth doth melt! My Lord! my Lord!
O, wither'd is the garland of the war!
The soldier's pride is fall'n;—the odds are gone;
And there is nothing left of worth beneath
The visiting moon!

Char.
O, quietness, dear lady! [Cleopatra faints.

Iras
Oh, Madam, Madam!

Char.
Leave us with the Queen,
Awhile, good Diomed. Take the soldiers hence. [Exit Diomedes, with the Soldiers

Cle. (Recovering.)
Ah me!—Is't Charmion there? what, Iras, too?

My faithful girls!—Ah, women, women, look!
Look there! look there! (Pointing to Antony.)
The case of that huge spirit now is cold.

Char.
Dear, royal Empress!

Cle.
Good now, come; take heart:
We'll bury him; and then what's brave, what's noble,
Let's do it after the high Roman fashion,
And make death proud to take us. [Noise heard.

Iras.
Listen!—hark!—
Some one has forced the monument.

Cle.
Surprised! Enter Dolabella.
E'en be it so.—Well, Sir, you come from Cæsar.

Dol.
Cæsar sends greeting to the Queen of Ægypt;
And bids thee study on what fair demands
Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.

Cle.
What's thy name?

Dol.
My name is Dolabella:—
Most noble Queen, assuredly you know me?

Cle.
No matter, Sir, what I have heard, or known.
You laugh, when boys, or women, tell their dreams;
Is't not your trick?

Dol.
I understand not, Madam.

Cle.
I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony:—
O, such another sleep! that I might see
But such another man!

Dol.
Hear me, good Madam:
Your loss is mighty as yourself; you bear it
As answering to the weight.—Would I might never
O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel
A grief, that strikes my very heart at root.

Cle.
I thank you, Sir.—
Know you what Cæsar means to do with me?

Dol.
I am loth to tell you what I would you knew.

Cle.
He'll lead me, then, in triumph?

Dol.
Madam, he will: Once, 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 promise.

Cle.
Dolabella,
I shall remain your debtor.

Dol.
I, your servant.
Adieu, good Queen! I must attend on Cæsar.

Cle.
Farewel, and thanks! [Exit Dolabella.
Now, Charmion, what think'st thou?
Thou, an Ægyptian puppet, shalt be shewn
In Rome, as well as I.

Char.
O, the good gods! and must we live to see it?

Cle.
No, never, never, Charmion! thou remember'st,
This morn, a rural fellow brought me fruit!
And at the bottom of his basket lurk'd
The pretty worm of Nile, that kills, and pains not:
Bring me that basket. [Exit Charmion.
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.

Enter Charmion with the basket.

Char.
Oh, Madam! what is it you have resolved!

Cle. (Taking the basket.)
Dull that thou art! I go to meet my love.
Ay, here's the Aspick:—Husband, now, I come! (Goes to a couch, which she ascends: her women compose her on it.
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.
Farewel, kind Charmion! Iras, long farewel! (Kissing them.)
Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain! that I may say
The gods themselves do weep.
Come mortal wretch, (To the asp, applying it.)
Come, thou poor venomous fool!
Be angry and dispatch.

Char.
O, Eastern star!

Cle.
Peace, peace!
I soon shall meet my noble Antony,
And meet his kiss, which 'tis my Heav'n to have.

Char.
O, break! O, break, my heart!

Cle.
As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,—
O, Antony! (Dies.)

Char.
So, fare thee well!
Now boast thee, Death, in thy possession lies
A pair unparall'd.

Guards. (Without).
Break down the door!

1st Guard.
Where is the Queen?
Cæsar hath sent—

Char.
Too slow a messenger.

1st Guard.
Approach, ho! All's not well:—Cæsar's beguil'd.

2d Guard.
Where's Dolabella; sent from Cæsar? Call him:
He scarcely yet has left the monument.

1st Guard.
What work is here! Charmion, is this well done?

Char.
It is well done, and fitting for a Princess
Descended of so many royal kings. Enter Dolabella.

Dol.
How now? A cry without of

Way there! make way for Cæsar! Enter Cæsar, and Train.

Dol.
O, Sir! you are too sure an augurer;
That you did fear, is done.

Cæsar.
Bravest at the last:
She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way. The manner of her death?
I do not see her bleed; she looks like sleep;
As she would catch another Antony
In her strong toil of grace.

1st Guard. (Taking up the basket.)
These leaves have slime upon them;
Such as the Aspick leaves upon the caves of Nile.

Cæsar.
Most probable
That so she fell: for, I have oft been told,
She hath pursued conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die.

Now bear the bodies from the monument.
She shall be bury'd by her Antony;
Then we'll to Rome.—Come, Dolabella; see
High honour in this great solemnity. [Exeunt Cæsar and his Party.

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