Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

Act 5 - Scene 2

Alexandria. A room in the monument.

Cleopatra : My desolation does begin to make [p]A better life. 'Tis paltry to be
Caesar; [p]Not being Fortune, he's but Fortune's knave, [p]A minister
of her will: and it is great [p]To do that thing that ends all other
deeds; [p]Which shackles accidents and bolts up change; [p]Which
sleeps, and never palates more the dug, [p]The beggar's nurse and
Caesar's. [p][Enter, to the gates of the monument,
PROCULEIUS,] [p]GALLUS and Soldiers]

Proculeius : Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt; [p]And bids thee study on
what fair demands [p]Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.

Cleopatra : What's thy name?

Proculeius : My name is Proculeius.

Cleopatra : Antony [p]Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but [p]I do not
greatly care to be deceived, [p]That have no use for trusting. If your
master [p]Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, [p]That
majesty, to keep decorum, must [p]No less beg than a kingdom: if he
please [p]To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son, [p]He gives me so
much of mine own, as I [p]Will kneel to him with thanks.

Proculeius : Be of good cheer; [p]You're fall'n into a princely hand, fear
nothing: [p]Make your full reference freely to my lord, [p]Who is so
full of grace, that it flows over [p]On all that need: let me report
to him [p]Your sweet dependency; and you shall find [p]A conqueror
that will pray in aid for kindness, [p]Where he for grace is kneel'd
to.

Cleopatra : Pray you, tell him [p]I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him [p]The
greatness he has got. I hourly learn [p]A doctrine of obedience; and
would gladly [p]Look him i' the face.

Proculeius : This I'll report, dear lady. [p]Have comfort, for I know your plight
is pitied [p]Of him that caused it.

Gallus : You see how easily she may be surprised: [p][Here PROCULEIUS and two
of the Guard ascend the] [p]monument by a ladder placed against a
window, and, [p]having descended, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some
of [p]the Guard unbar and open the gates] [p][To PROCULEIUS and the
Guard] [p]Guard her till Caesar come.

Iras : Royal queen!

Charmian : O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen:

Cleopatra : Quick, quick, good hands.

Proculeius : Hold, worthy lady, hold: [p][Seizes and disarms her] [p]Do not
yourself such wrong, who are in this [p]Relieved, but not betray'd.

Cleopatra : What, of death too, [p]That rids our dogs of languish?

Proculeius : Cleopatra, [p]Do not abuse my master's bounty by [p]The undoing of
yourself: let the world see [p]His nobleness well acted, which your
death [p]Will never let come forth.

Cleopatra : Where art thou, death? [p]Come hither, come! come, come, and take a
queen [p]Worthy many babes and beggars!

Proculeius : O, temperance, lady!

Cleopatra : Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir; [p]If idle talk will
once be necessary, [p]I'll not sleep neither: this mortal house I'll
ruin, [p]Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I [p]Will not wait
pinion'd at your master's court; [p]Nor once be chastised with the
sober eye [p]Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up [p]And show me to
the shouting varletry [p]Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in
Egypt [p]Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud [p]Lay me stark
naked, and let the water-flies [p]Blow me into abhorring! rather
make [p]My country's high pyramides my gibbet, [p]And hang me up in
chains!

Proculeius : You do extend [p]These thoughts of horror further than you
shall [p]Find cause in Caesar.

Dolabella : Proculeius, [p]What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, [p]And he
hath sent for thee: for the queen, [p]I'll take her to my guard.

Proculeius : So, Dolabella, [p]It shall content me best: be gentle to her. [p][To
CLEOPATRA] [p]To Caesar I will speak what you shall please, [p]If
you'll employ me to him.

Cleopatra : Say, I would die.

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. [p]You laugh when boys or
women tell their dreams; [p]Is't not your trick?

Dolabella : I understand not, madam.

Cleopatra : I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony: [p]O, such another sleep, that
I might see [p]But such another man!

Dolabella : If it might please ye,--

Cleopatra : His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck [p]A sun and moon,
which kept their course, [p]and lighted [p]The little O, the earth.

Dolabella : Most sovereign creature,--

Cleopatra : His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm [p]Crested the world: his
voice was propertied [p]As all the tuned spheres, and that to
friends; [p]But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, [p]He was as
rattling thunder. For his bounty, [p]There was no winter in't; an
autumn 'twas [p]That grew the more by reaping: his delights [p]Were
dolphin-like; they show'd his back above [p]The element they lived in:
in his livery [p]Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands
were [p]As plates dropp'd from his pocket.

Dolabella : Cleopatra!

Cleopatra : Think you there was, or might be, such a man [p]As this I dream'd of?

Dolabella : Gentle madam, no.

Cleopatra : You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. [p]But, if there be, or ever
were, one such, [p]It's past the size of dreaming: nature wants
stuff [p]To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine [p]And
Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, [p]Condemning shadows
quite.

Dolabella : Hear me, good madam. [p]Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear
it [p]As answering to the weight: would I might never [p]O'ertake
pursued success, but I do feel, [p]By the rebound of yours, a grief
that smites [p]My very heart at root.

Cleopatra : I thank you, sir, [p]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. [p][Flourish, and shout within, 'Make way
there:] [p]Octavius Caesar!'] [p][Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, GALLUS,
PROCULEIUS,] [p]MECAENAS, SELEUCUS, and others of his Train]

Dolabella : It is the emperor, madam.

Cleopatra : Sir, the gods [p]Will have it thus; my master and my lord [p]I must
obey.

Cleopatra : Sole sir o' the world, [p]I cannot project mine own cause so
well [p]To make it clear; but do confess I have [p]Been laden with
like frailties which before [p]Have often shamed our sex.

Cleopatra : And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we, [p]Your scutcheons
and your signs of conquest, shall [p]Hang in what place you please.
Here, my good lord.

Cleopatra : This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, [p]I am possess'd of:
'tis exactly valued; [p]Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?

Seleucus : Here, madam.

Cleopatra : This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord, [p]Upon his peril, that
I have reserved [p]To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

Seleucus : Madam, [p]I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, [p]Speak that
which is not.

Cleopatra : What have I kept back?

Seleucus : Enough to purchase what you have made known.

Cleopatra : See, Caesar! O, behold, [p]How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be
yours; [p]And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. [p]The
ingratitude of this Seleucus does [p]Even make me wild: O slave, of no
more trust [p]Than love that's hired! What, goest thou back? thou
shalt [p]Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, [p]Though
they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog! [p]O rarely base!

Cleopatra : O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this, [p]That thou, vouchsafing
here to visit me, [p]Doing the honour of thy lordliness [p]To one so
meek, that mine own servant should [p]Parcel the sum of my disgraces
by [p]Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar, [p]That I some lady
trifles have reserved, [p]Immoment toys, things of such dignity [p]As
we greet modern friends withal; and say, [p]Some nobler token I have
kept apart [p]For Livia and Octavia, to induce [p]Their mediation;
must I be unfolded [p]With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites
me [p]Beneath the fall I have. [p][To SELEUCUS] [p]Prithee, go
hence; [p]Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits [p]Through the
ashes of my chance: wert thou a man, [p]Thou wouldst have mercy on
me.

Cleopatra : Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought [p]For things that
others do; and, when we fall, [p]We answer others' merits in our
name, [p]Are therefore to be pitied.

Cleopatra : My master, and my lord!

Cleopatra : He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not [p]Be noble to
myself: but, hark thee, Charmian.

Iras : Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, [p]And we are for the
dark.

Cleopatra : Hie thee again: [p]I have spoke already, and it is provided; [p]Go put
it to the haste.

Charmian : Madam, I will.

Dolabella : Where is the queen?

Charmian : Behold, sir.

Cleopatra : Dolabella!

Dolabella : Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, [p]Which my love makes
religion to obey, [p]I tell you this: Caesar through Syria [p]Intends
his journey; and within three days [p]You with your children will he
send before: [p]Make your best use of this: I have perform'd [p]Your
pleasure and my promise.

Cleopatra : Dolabella, [p]I shall remain your debtor.

Dolabella : I your servant, [p]Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.

Cleopatra : Farewell, and thanks. [p][Exit DOLABELLA] [p]Now, Iras, what think'st
thou? [p]Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown [p]In Rome, as well
as I. mechanic slaves [p]With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers,
shall [p]Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths, [p]Rank of
gross diet, shall be enclouded, [p]And forced to drink their vapour.

Iras : The gods forbid!

Cleopatra : Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: saucy lictors [p]Will catch at us, like
strumpets; and scald rhymers [p]Ballad us out o' tune: the quick
comedians [p]Extemporally will stage us, and present [p]Our
Alexandrian revels; Antony [p]Shall be brought drunken forth, and I
shall see [p]Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness [p]I' the
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 [p]Are stronger than mine
eyes.

Cleopatra : Why, that's the way [p]To fool their preparation, and to
conquer [p]Their most absurd intents. [p][Re-enter CHARMIAN] [p]Now,
Charmian! [p]Show me, my women, like a queen: go fetch [p]My best
attires: I am again for Cydnus, [p]To meet Mark Antony: sirrah Iras,
go. [p]Now, noble Charmian, we'll dispatch indeed; [p]And, when thou
hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave [p]To play till doomsday.
Bring our crown and all. [p]Wherefore's this noise?

Guard : Here is a rural fellow [p]That will not be denied your highness
presence: [p]He brings you figs.

Cleopatra : Let him come in. [p][Exit Guardsman] [p]What poor an instrument [p]May
do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. [p]My resolution's placed, and
I have nothing [p]Of woman in me: now from head to foot [p]I am
marble-constant; now the fleeting moon [p]No planet is of mine.

Guard : This is the man.

Cleopatra : Avoid, and leave him. [p][Exit Guardsman] [p]Hast thou the pretty worm
of Nilus there, [p]That kills and pains not?

Clown : Truly, I have him: but I would not be the party [p]that should desire
you to touch him, for his biting [p]is immortal; those that do die of
it do seldom or [p]never recover.

Cleopatra : Rememberest thou any that have died on't?

Clown : Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of [p]them no longer than
yesterday: a very honest woman, [p]but something given to lie; as a
woman should not [p]do, but in the way of honesty: how she died of
the [p]biting of it, what pain she felt: truly, she makes [p]a very
good report o' the worm; but he that will [p]believe all that they
say, shall never be saved by [p]half that they do: but this is most
fallible, the [p]worm's an odd worm.

Cleopatra : Get thee hence; farewell.

Clown : I wish you all joy of the worm.

Cleopatra : Farewell.

Clown : You must think this, look you, that the worm will [p]do his kind.

Cleopatra : Ay, ay; farewell.

Clown : Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the [p]keeping of wise
people; for, indeed, there is no [p]goodness in worm.

Cleopatra : Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.

Clown : Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is [p]not worth the
feeding.

Cleopatra : Will it eat me?

Clown : You must not think I am so simple but I know the [p]devil himself will
not eat a woman: I know that a [p]woman is a dish for the gods, if the
devil dress her [p]not. But, truly, these same whoreson devils do
the [p]gods great harm in their women; for in every ten [p]that they
make, the devils mar five.

Cleopatra : Well, get thee gone; farewell.

Clown : Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o' the worm.

Cleopatra : Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have [p]Immortal longings in me:
now no more [p]The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this
lip: [p]Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear [p]Antony call;
I see him rouse himself [p]To praise my noble act; I hear him
mock [p]The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men [p]To excuse their
after wrath: husband, I come: [p]Now to that name my courage prove my
title! [p]I am fire and air; my other elements [p]I give to baser
life. So; have you done? [p]Come then, and take the last warmth of my
lips. [p]Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell. [p][Kisses
them. IRAS falls and dies] [p]Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost
fall? [p]If thou and nature can so gently part, [p]The stroke of death
is as a lover's pinch, [p]Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie
still? [p]If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world [p]It is not
worth leave-taking.

Charmian : Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say, [p]The gods
themselves do weep!

Cleopatra : This proves me base: [p]If she first meet the curled Antony, [p]He'll
make demand of her, and spend that kiss [p]Which is my heaven to have.
Come, thou [p]mortal wretch, [p][To an asp, which she applies to her
breast] [p]With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate [p]Of life at
once untie: poor venomous fool [p]Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst
thou speak, [p]That I might hear thee call great Caesar
ass [p]Unpolicied!

Charmian : O eastern star!

Cleopatra : Peace, peace! [p]Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, [p]That sucks
the nurse asleep?

Charmian : O, break! O, break!

Cleopatra : As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,-- [p]O Antony!--Nay, I
will take thee too. [p][Applying another asp to her arm] [p]What
should I stay--

Charmian : In this vile world? So, fare thee well. [p]Now boast thee, death, in
thy possession lies [p]A lass unparallel'd. Downy windows,
close; [p]And golden Phoebus never be beheld [p]Of eyes again so
royal! Your crown's awry; [p]I'll mend it, and then play.

First Guard : Where is the queen?

Charmian : Speak softly, wake her not.

First Guard : Caesar hath sent--

Charmian : Too slow a messenger. [p][Applies an asp] [p]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 [p]Descended of so many
royal kings. [p]Ah, soldier!

Dolabella : How goes it here?

Second Guard : All dead.

Dolabella : Caesar, thy thoughts [p]Touch their effects in this: thyself art
coming [p]To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou [p]So sought'st
to hinder.

Dolabella : O sir, you are too sure an augurer; [p]That you did fear is done.

Dolabella : Who was last with them?

First Guard : A simple countryman, that brought her figs: [p]This was his basket.

First Guard : O Caesar, [p]This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake: [p]I
found her trimming up the diadem [p]On her dead mistress; tremblingly
she stood [p]And on the sudden dropp'd.

Dolabella : Here, on her breast, [p]There is a vent of blood and something
blown: [p]The like is on her arm.

First Guard : This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves [p]Have slime upon
them, such as the aspic leaves [p]Upon the caves of Nile.

Previous: Act 5 - Scene 1

Next: Act 5 - Scene 2

Web Standards & Support: