CHARMIAN                 O, eastern 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 takes another aspic] What should I stay— [She] dies […]

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. [She takes an aspic from the basket and puts it to her breast] […]

CLEOPATRA   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. [She kisses them] Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell. [Iras falls and dies] Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? If thou and nature can […]

[Enter Iras with a robe, crown, 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. […]

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 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 […]

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; […]

A noise within CLEOPATRA               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 an instrument May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty. My resolution’s placed, and I have […]

Enter Charmian CLEOPATRA               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                            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.              (5.2.217-222)   O, the good gods! Iras expresses horror at the thought, and it’s […]

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.       […]