Excerpt from Antony and Cleopatra - anthology. Bereft of her lover, the disgraced Roman leader Antony, and faced with the fearful prospect of public humiliation at the hands of Caesar, who has defeated both her and Antony in battle, Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt, has only one remaining course of action available if she wishes to remain in control of her destiny: to take her own life. She is captured by Caesar's soldiers within the monument to which she has retreated, and is forced to deal with various Roman guards and officials before she can accomplish her final act. She ponders aloud the horrors of the alternative fate and eulogizes Antony, with whom she longs to be reunited, struggling to maintain her dignity before the haughty Caesar. At last, dressed in her royal finery by her maids, Charmian and Iras, she takes up the venomous snakes that have been brought to her, and commits suicide. In her magnificently staged death, Cleopatra restores and seals forever the image of majesty and nobility that had been robbed from her by Caesar's criticism and military success. As the play ends, even Caesar, who had previously termed Cleopatra a "strumpet" and Antony a lovestruck "fool," is impressed. He bestows upon the tragic couple the honor of a "solemn show" to attend their funeral, and brings to completion Cleopatra's last wish, as he orders that: "She shall be buried by her Antony." Antony and Cleopatra Act 5, Scene ii Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian 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 To do that thing that ends all other deeds, Which shackles accidents and bolts up change; Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung, 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, 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 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 conquered 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; Y'are 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 kneeled to. CLEOPATRA. Pray 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'th'face. PROCULEIUS This I'll report, dear lady. Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it. The soldiers approach Cleopatra from behind GALLUS. You see how easily she may be surprised. They seize Cleopatra Guard her till Caesar comes. Exit Gallus IRAS. Royal queen! CHARMIAN. O Cleopatra! Thou art taken, queen. CLEOPATRA. Quick, quick, good hands! She draws a dagger PROCULEIUS. Hold, worthy lady, hold! He disarms her Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved, but not betrayed. CLEOPATRA. What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish? PROCULEIUS. Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master's bounty by Th'undoing of yourself. Let the world see His nobleness well acted, which your death Will never let come forth. CLEOPATRA. What art thou, death? Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen Worth many babes and beggars! PROCULEIUS. O, temperance, lady! CLEOPATRA. Sir, 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 pinioned 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 nak'd and let the waterflies 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 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. 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. Exuent Proculieus and soldiers DOLABELLA. 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; Is't not your trick? DOLABELLA. I understand not, madam. CLEOPATRA. I dreamt there was an emperor Antony. O, such another sleep, that I might see But such another man! DOLABELLA. If I 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 o'th'earth. DOLABELLA. Most sovereign creature-- CLEOPATRA. His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm Crested the world; his voice was propertied As all the tunèd 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 Antony it was That grew the more by reaping. His delights Were dolphin-like; they showed his back above The element they lived in. In his livery Walked crowns and crownets; realms and islands were As plates dropped from his pocket. DOLABELLA. Cleopatra-- CLEOPATRA. Think you there was or might be such a man As this I dreamt of? DOLABELLA. Gentle madam, no. CLEOPATRA. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. But if there be nor ever were one such, It's past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy, yet t'imagine An 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 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. 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. Enter Proculeius, Caesar, Gallus, Maecenas, and others of Caesar's train ALL. Make way there! Caesar! CAESAR. Which is the Queen of Egypt? DOLABELLA. It is the Emperor, madam. Cleopatra kneels CAESAR. Arise! You shall not kneel. I pray you rise; rise, Egypt. CLEOPATRA. Sir, the gods Will have it thus. My master and my lord I must obey. CAESAR. Take 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. CLEOPATRA. Sole sir o'th'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. 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 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. 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. She gives him a paper CAESAR. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. CLEOPATRA. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels I am possessed of. 'Tis exactly valued, Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus? Enter Seleucus SELEUCUS. Here, madam. CLEOPATRA. This is my treasurer. Let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserved To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. SELEUCUS. Madam, I had rather seel my lips than to my peril Speak that which is not. CLEOPATRA. What have I kept back? SELEUCUS. Enough to purchase what you have made known. CAESAR. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve Your wisdom in the deed. CLEOPATRA. See, Caesar; O behold, How pomp is followed! 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! CAESAR. Good queen, let us entreat you. CLEOPATRA. O 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 Seleucus) Prithee go hence, Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Through th'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 others' merits in our name, Are therefore to be pitied. CAESAR. Cleopatra, Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged Put we i'th'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 cheered. 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. Exuent Caesar, Dolabella, Proculeius, Gallus, Maecenas, and Caesar's other attendants CLEOPATRA. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian. She whispers to 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. Enter Dolabella DOLABELLA. Where's the Queen? CHARMIAN. Behold, sir. 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 performed 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 think'st thou? Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shall 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 we be enclouded, And forced to drink their vapour. IRAS. 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 Our Alexandrian revels. Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness I'th'posture of a whore. IRAS. O, the good gods! CLEOPATRA. 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 Their most absurd intents. 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, 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. Exit Iras A noise within Wherefore's this noise? Enter a Guardsman GUARDSMAN. Here is a rural fellow That will not he 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. 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. Enter Guardsman and Clown with a basket GUARDSMAN. 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. Remember'st 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, 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'th'worm. But he that will believe all that they say shall never be saved by half that they do. But this is most falliable, the worm's an odd worm. CLEOPATRA. Get thee hence, farewell. CLOWN. I wish you all joy of the worm. He sets down the 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 the worm. CLEOPATRA. Take thou no care; it shall he 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 o'th'worm. Exit Enter Iras with a robe, crown, sceptre, and other regalia CLEOPATRA. Give 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. She 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? 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; If she first meet the curlèd Antony, He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss Which is my heaven to have. (To an asp) Come, thou mortal wretch, With 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! CHARMIAN. O easten star! CLEOPATRA. 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-- O, Antony! Nay, I will take thee too. She applies another asp to her arm What should I stay-- She dies CHARMIAN. In this vile world? So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies A lass unparalleled. 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, rustling in FIRST GUARD. Where's the Queen? CHARMIAN. Speak softly, wake her not. FIRST GUARD. Caesar hath sent-- CHARMIAN. Too slow a messenger. She applies an asp to herself 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. 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! Charmian dies Enter Dolabella DOLABELLA. How goes it here? SECOND GUARD. All dead. DOLABELLA. Caesar thy thoughts Touch their effect in this. Thyself art coming. To see performed the dreaded act which thou So sought'st to hinder. Enter Caesar, and all his train, marching ALL. A way there, a way for Caesar! DOLABELLA. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear is done. CAESAR. Bravest at the last, She levelled at our purposes and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? 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. CAESAR. Poisoned, then. FIRST GUARD. 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 dropped. CAESAR. O, noble weakness! If they had swallowed poison, 'twould appear By external swelling; but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony In her strong toil of grace. DOLABELLA. 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 th'aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. 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, 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
