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.              (5.2.337-345)

The sense of intrusion can be acute, these men—or Dolabella and the guard at least; Caesar may well remain aloof, he’s squeamish, not least about Cleopatra—close enough to Cleopatra’s body, to her breast(s) to see the bite of the snake: here on her breast there is a vent of blood, just a trickle, and something blown, another discharge of some kind. The like is on her arm; there, too. The first guard confirms it: this is an aspic’s trail, its venom, mingling with the blood, perhaps, beside the wounds. He adds, too, that these fig-leaves have slime upon them such as th’aspic leaves upon the caves of Nile. The state of the leaves suggests that the serpents came in the basket: the first guard knows his Egyptian snakes and their habits. Caesar seems satisfied with these observations and the conclusions that can be drawn with them: most probable that so she died. That all adds up and makes sense. Furthermore, her physician tells me she hath pursued conclusions infinite of easy ways to die. Cleopatra’s been investigating this, through experiments, trial and error, for ages, various poisons and other means of a painless exit such as this appears (easy is not so much easy way out as gentle, tranquil, non-violent). It seems unlikely that he’s been able to summon the doctor on the spot; rather, it’s another indication of the comprehensive nature of Caesar’s intelligence networks—and, perhaps, a suggestion that not only did he fear Cleopatra’s suicide, he expected it, and even gave her the time and allowed the means. Perhaps.