How honourable and how kindly we
Determine for her. For Caesar cannot lean68
To be ungentle69.
EGYPTIAN So the gods preserve thee!
Exit
CAESAR Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say
We purpose72 her no shame: give her what comforts
The quality of her passion73 shall require,
Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke
She do defeat us. For her life in Rome
Would be eternal in our triumph75. Go,
And with your speediest77 bring us what she says
And how you find of her78.
PROCULEIUS Caesar, I shall.
Exit Proculeius
CAESAR Gallus, go you along.—[Exit Gallus]
Where’s Dolabella
To second Proculeius?
ALL Dolabella!
CAESAR Let him alone, for I remember now
How he’s employed: he shall in time be ready.
Go with me to my tent, where you shall see
How hardly86 I was drawn into this war,
How calm and gentle I proceeded still87
In all my writings88. Go with me and see
What I can show in this.
Exeunt
[Act 5 Scene 2]
running scene 30
Location: inside Cleopatra’s monument, Alexandria
* * *
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Mardian
CLEOPATRA My desolation1 does begin to make
A better life2: ’tis paltry to be Caesar:
Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave3,
A minister of her will: and it is great
To do that thing5 that ends all other deeds,
Which shackles accidents and bolts up change6,
Which sleeps, and never palates7 more the dung,
The beggar’s nurse and Caesar’s8.
Enter Proculeius
PROCULEIUS Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt,
And bids thee study on10 what fair demands
Thou mean’st11 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 trusting16. 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:
You’re fall’n into a princely hand, fear nothing.
Make your full reference26 freely to my lord,
Who is so full of grace27 that it flows over
On all that need. Let me report to him
Your sweet dependency29, and you shall find
A conqueror that will pray in aid30 for kindness
Where he for grace is kneeled to.
CLEOPATRA Pray you, tell him
I am his fortune’s vassal33 and I send him
The greatness he has got. I hourly learn
A doctrine35 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.—
[Enter Gallus and Roman Soldiers]
You see how easily she may be surprised40:
To the Soldiers
Guard her till Caesar come.
[Exit Gallus and Soldiers]
IRAS Royal queen!
CHARMIAN O Cleopatra, thou art taken, queen!
CLEOPATRA Quick, quick, good hands!
Draws a dagger
PROCULEIUS Hold, worthy lady, hold!
Disarms her
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
Relieved47, but not betrayed.
CLEOPATRA What, of death too,
That rids our dogs of anguish?
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 forth54.
CLEOPATRA Where art thou, death?
Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen
Worthy many babes and beggars!
PROCULEIUS O, temperance, lady!
CLEOPATRA Sir, I will eat no meat59, I’ll not drink, sir:
If idle talk will once be necessary60,
I’ll not sleep neither. This mortal house61 I’ll ruin,
Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Will not wait pinioned63 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 varletry66
Of censuring67 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 abhorring70! Rather make
My country’s high pyramids71 my gibbet
And hang me up in chains!
PROCULEIUS You do extend73
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 for78 thee. For the queen,
I’ll take her to my guard.
To Cleopatra
PROCULEIUS So, Dolabella,
It shall content me best: be gentle to her.—
To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,
If you’ll employ me to him.
Exit Proculeius [with Gallus and Soldiers]
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.
You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams:
Is’t not your trick90?
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 it might please ye—
CLEOPATRA His face was as the heavens, and therein stuck96
A sun and moon which kept their course and lighted
The little98 o’th’earth.
DOLABELLA Most sovereign creature—
CLEOPATRA His legs bestrid100 the ocean, his reared arm
Crested101 the world: his voice was propertied
As all the tunèd spheres, and that to friends102:
But when he meant to quail103 and shake the orb,
He was as rattling thunder. For104 his bounty,
There was no winter in’t: an autumn it was
That grew the more by reaping. His delights
Were dolphin-like: they showed his back above
The element they lived in106. In his livery108
Walked crowns and crownets109, realms and islands were
As plates110 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 size117 of dreaming. Nature wants stuff
To vie strange forms with fancy: yet t’imagine
An Antony were nature’s piece gainst fancy,
Condemning shadows quite118.
DOLABELLA Hear me, good madam:
Your loss is as yourself, great, and you bear it
As answering to the weight123. 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 loath129 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 his 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.
She stands
CAESAR Take to you no hard thoughts142.
Though written in our flesh144, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.
CLEOPATRA Sole sir146 o’th’world,
I cannot project147 mine own cause so well
To make it clear, but do confess I have
Been laden with like frailties149 which before
Have often shamed our sex.
CAESAR Cleopatra, know,
We will extenuate rather than enforce152:
If you apply yourself to our intents153,
Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find
A benefit in this change: but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty156 by taking
Antony’s course, you shall bereave157 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 scutcheons162 and your signs of conquest, shall
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.
Gives him a paper
CAESAR You shall advise me in all for164 Cleopatra.
CLEOPATRA This is the brief165 of money, plate, and jewels
I am possessed of. ’Tis exactly valued,
Not petty things admitted167.—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 seal 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.
Seleucus backs away
CLEOPATRA See, Caesar! O, behold,
How pomp is followed180! Mine will now be yours
And should we shift estates181, yours would be mine.
The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
Even make me wild.—O slave, of no more trust
Than love that’s hired184! What, go’st thou back?
Thou shalt
Go back, I warrant thee: but I’ll catch thine eyes
Though186 they had wings. Slave, soulless villain, dog!
O rarely187 base!
CAESAR Good queen, let us entreat you.
CLEOPATRA O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
That thou, vouchsafing190 here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness
To one so meek, that mine own servant should
Parcel193 the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy. Say, good Caesar,
That I some lady195 trifles have reserved,
Immoment toys196, things of such dignity
As we greet modern197 friends withal, and say
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia199 and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation: must I be unfolded
With200 one that I have bred201? The gods! It smites me
Beneath the fall I have.—Prithee go hence,
To Seleucus
Or I shall show the cinders203 of my spirits
Through th’ashes of my chance204. Wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
CAESAR Forbear206, Seleucus.
[Exit Seleucus]
CLEOPATRA Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought207
For things that others do, and when we fall,
We answer others’ merits209 in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.
CAESAR Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged
Put we i’th’roll of conquest213. Still be’t yours,
Bestow214 it at your pleasure, and believe
Caesar’s no merchant to make prize215 with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered:
Make not your thoughts your prisons217. No, dear queen,
For we intend so to dispose218 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 me224, girls, he words me, that I should
not Be noble to myself.—But, hark thee, Charmian.
Whispers to Charmian
IRAS Finish, good lady, the bright day is done
And we are for the dark.
I have spoke229 already and it is provided.
Go put it to the haste230.
CHARMIAN Madam, I will.
Enter Dolabella
DOLABELLA Where’s 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 before239.
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.
Exit
CLEOPATRA Farewell, and thanks.—Now, Iras, what
think’st thou?
Thou an Egyptian puppet247 shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I. Mechanic slaves248
With greasy aprons, rules249 and hammers shall
Uplift us to the view. In their thick250 breaths,
Rank of251 gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forced to drink252 their vapour.
IRAS The gods forbid!
CLEOPATRA Nay, ’tis most certain, Iras. Saucy254 lictors
Will catch at us like strumpets255, and scald rhymers
Ballad us256 out o’tune. The quick comedians
Extemporally257 will stage us and present
Our Alexandrian revels: Antony
Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness260
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 me269, my women, like a queen: go fetch
My best attires270. I am again for Cydnus
To meet Mark Antony.—Sirrah271 Iras, go.—
Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch272 indeed,
And when thou hast done this chare273, 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 be denied your highness’ presence.
He brings you figs.
CLEOPATRA Let him come in.—
Exit Guardsman
What poor an280 instrument
May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty.
My resolution’s placed282, and I have nothing
Of woman in me: now from head to foot
I am marble-constant284: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.
Enter Guardsman and Clown
With a basket
GUARDSMAN This is the man.
CLEOPATRA Avoid287, and leave him.—
Exit Guardsman
Hast thou the pretty worm288 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 immortal291:
those that do die of it do seldom or never recover.
CLEOPATRA Remember’st thou any that have died on’t293?
CLOWN Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of
them no longer than yesterday: a very honest295 woman, but
something given to lie296, as a woman should not do but in the
way of honesty. How she died297 of the biting of it, what pain
she felt: truly, she makes a very good report o’th’worm298. But
he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by
half that they do. But this is most falliable300, the worm’s an
odd worm.
CLEOPATRA Get thee hence. Farewell.
CLOWN I wish you all joy of the worm.
Sets down his basket
CLEOPATRA Farewell.