A benefit in this change; but if you seek If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave. Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall [lord. Hang in what place yon please. Here, my good Ces. You shall advise me in all for Cleopa tra. Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued; Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. Sel. Madam, I had rather seel my lips, that, to my peril, Speak that which is not. Cleo. What have I kept back? Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known. Ces. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve Your wisdom in the deed. Cleo. See, Cesar! O, behold, yours; How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be [mine. And, should we shift estates, yours would be The ingratitude of this Seleucus does [trust Even make me wild:-O slave, of no more Than love that's hir'd-What, goest thou [eyes, Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine Though they had wings: Slave, soulless villian, dog! back? thou shalt O rarely base! Ces. Good queen, let us entreat you. We answer others' merits in our name, Are therefore to be pitied. Ces. Cleopatra, [ledg'd, Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknow Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it yours, Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, Cesar's no merchant, to make prize with you Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd; Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen; For we intend so to dispose you, as [sleep: [Exeunt CESAR, and his Train. Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian. [Whispers CHARMIAN. Iras. Finish, good lady; the bright day is And we are for the dark. [done, Cleo. Hie thee again: I have spoke already, and it is provided; Re-enter DOLABELLA. Dol. Where is the queen? [Exit CHARMIAN, Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your com. mand, Which my love makes religion to obey, Cleo. Dolabella, I shall remain your debtor. Cleo. O Cesar, what a wounding shame is With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall this; That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, To one so meek, that mine own servant should Addition of his envy! Say, good Cesar, That I some lady trifles have reserv'd, Immoment toys, things of such dignity Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictorst [rhymers Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald Ballad us out o'tune: the quick‡ comedians As we greet moderns friends withal; and say, Extemporally will stage us, and present For things that others do; and, when we fall, Show me, my women, like a queen ;—Go fetch My best attires;-I am again for Cydnus, To play till doomsday.-Bring our crown and Guard. Here is a rural fellow, That will not be denied your highness' presence; He brings you figs. ment Cleo. Let him come in. How poor an instru- Re-enter GUARD, with a CLOWN bringing a Guard. This is the man. 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. Cleo. Remembers't 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'the worm: But he that will believe all that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do: But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm. Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell. Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. Cleo. Farewell. [CLOWN sets down the Basket. Clown. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.§ Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. Clown. Look you, the worm is not to be trusted, but in the keeping of wise people; for, 'ndeed, there is no goodness in the worm. Cleo. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. Clown. Very good: give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding. Cleo. Will it eat me? 748 To praise my noble act; I hear him mock Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I The gods themselves do weep! Cleo. This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, [To the Asp, which she applies to her Breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie : poor venomous fool, Be angry, and despatch. O, could'st thou That I might hear thee call great Cesar, ass speak! Unpolicied!* Char. O eastern star! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, Char. O, break! O, break! Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too :gentle,What should I stay[Applying another Asp to her Arm. [Falls on a Bed, and dies. Char. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry; Enter the GUARD, rushing in. [Applies the Asp Clown. You must not think I am so simple, O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee 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. worm. Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell. have Immortal longings in me: Now no more The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:[hear Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.-Methinks, I Autony call; I see him rouse himself Job of work. + Inconstant. 4 Act according to his nature. ↑ Serpent. I Make haste. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cesar's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cesar;-call him. 1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is Char. It is well done, and fitting for a prin- Enter DOLABELLA Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. All dead. Dol. Cesar, thy thoughts [cess [Dies. Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming Within. A way there, way for Cegar! Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown : The like is on her arm. A Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile. Ces. Most probable, She had pursu'd conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die.-Take up her bed; And then to Rome.-Come, Dolabella, see * Tried experiments. House. Enter POET, PAINTER, JEWELLER, MERCHANT, and others, at several Doors. Poet. Good day, Sir. Pain. I am glad you are well. Pain. You are rapt, Sir, in some work, some dedication To the great lord. [flint Poet. A thing slipp'd idly from me. Poet. I have not seen you long; How goes Each bound it chafes. What have you there? the world? Pain. It wears, Sir, as it grows. But what particular rarity? what strange, Jew. Nay, that's most fix'd. Mer. A most incomparable man; breath'd, To an untirable and continuate goodness: Jew. I have a jewel here. Mer. O, pray, let's see't: For the lord Timon, Sir? Jew. If he will touch the estimate: But, for that Poet. When we for recompense have prais'd It stains the glory in that happy verse Mer. "Tis a good form. [Looking at the Jewel. Jew. And rich: here is a water, look you. Pain. A picture, Sir.-And when comes your book forth? Poet. Upon the heels of my presentment,' Let's see your piece. Pain. 'Tis a good piece. [Sir Poet. So 'tis: this comes off well and excel- Poet. Admirable: How this grace [ture Pain. It is a pretty mocking of the life." Here is a touch; Is't good? Poet. I'll say of it, It tutors nature: artificial strifet Enter certain SENATORS, and pass over. Poet. You see this confluence, this great flood of visitors. I have, in this rough work, shap'd out a mau, As soon as my book has been presented to Timon, + I. e. The contest of art with nature. Whom this beneath world doth embrace and [ With amplest entertainment: My free drift Pain. How shall I understand you? You see how all conditions, how all minds, o'the mount Is rank'd with all deserts, all kind of natures, Pain. 'Tis conceiv'd to scope. [thinks, Poet. Nay, Sir, but hear me on: ance, Rain sacrificial whisperings|| in his ear, Ven. Serv. Ay, my good lord: five talents is His means most short, his creditors most strait: [him Tim. Noble Ventidius! Well; Ven. Serv. Your lordship ever binds him. Enter an old ATHENIAN. Old Ath. Lord Timon, hear me speak. Old Ath. Thou hast a servant nam'd Lu- Tim. I have so: What of him? Tim. Attends he here, or no?-Lucilius! Enter LUCILIUS. Luc. Here, at your lordship's service. By night frequents my house. I am a man Tim. Well; what further? Old Ath. One only daughter have I, no kin On whom I may confer what I have got: Make sacred even his stirrup, and through him Myself have spoke in vain. Drink the free air. of mood, Pain. Ay, marry, what of these? Not one accompanying his declining foot. A thousand moral paintings I can show More pregnantly than words. Yet you do well, Tim. The man is honest. Old Ath. Therefore he will be, Timon: Tim. Does she love him? Tim. [To LUCILIUS.] Love you the maid? Old Ath. If in her marriage my consent be Mine heir from forth the beggars of the world, Tim. How shall she be endow'd, Tim. This gentleman of mine hath serv'd me long; To build his fortune, I will strain a little, |