The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, It is not worth leave-taking. Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say, The gods themselves do weep. Cleo. This proves me base: If she first meet the curled Antony, He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss, Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal wretch, [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. Q! could'st thou speak, Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle. O Antony! - Nay, I will take thee too. 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. Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry; Enter the Guard, rushing in. 1 Guard. Char. Where is the queen? Speak softly; wake her not. 1 Guard. Cæsar hath sent Char. Too slow a messenger. [Applies the Asp. O! come; apace; despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæsar 's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Cæsar: call him. 1 Guard. What work is here?-Charmian, is this well done? Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier! Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard. Dol. [Dies. Enter DOLabella. All dead. Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming Within. A way there! a way for Cæsar! Enter CESAR, and all his Train. Dol. 0, Sir! you are too sure an augurer: That you did fear, is done. Cæs. Bravest at the last: She levell❜d at our purposes, and, being royal, The manner of their deaths? Took her own way. Dol. Who was last with them? 1 Guard. A simple countryman that brought her figs : This was his basket. Cæs. 1 Guard. Poison'd, then. O Cæsar! This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake. I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress: tremblingly she stood, And on the sudden dropp'd. Cœs. O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison, 't would appear By external swelling; but she looks like sleep, In her strong toil of grace. Dol. Here, on her breast, There is a vent of blood, and something blown : The like is on her arm. 1 Guard. This is an aspick's trail; and these fig-leaves Have slime upon them, such as the aspick leaves Most probable, Upon the caves of Nile. Cæs. A pair so famous. High events as these Our army shall, [Exeunt. CYMBELINE. DRAMATIS CYMBELINE, King of Britain. PERSONE. A French Gentleman, Friend to CAIUS LUCIUS, General of the Roman Forces. A Roman Captain. Two British Captains. PISANIO, Servant to Posthumus. CORNELIUS, a Physician. Two Gentlemen. names ofPolydore and Two Jailors. ARVIRAGUS, Cadwal, supposed Sons to Belarius. PHILARIO, Friend to Post-) bumus, Ita IACHIMO, Friend to Phila- lians. rio, QUEEN, Wife to Cymbeline. Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Soothsayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, sometimes in Britain, sometimes in Italy. ACT I. SCENE I. Britain. The Garden behind CYMBELINE'S Palace. Enter Two Gentlemen. 1 Gent. You do not meet a man, but frowns: our bloods No more obey the heavens, than our courtiers Still seem as does the king. |