Eros. It does, my lord. Ant. My good knave* Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body: here I am Antony; Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. I made these wars for Egypt; and the queen,— Whose heart, I thought, I had, for she had mine; Which, while it was mine, had annex'd unto't A million more, now lost, she, Eros, has Pack'd cards with Cæsar, and false play'd my glory Unto an enemy's triumph.Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Ourselves to end ourselves. DESCRIPTION OF CLEOPATRA'S SUPPOSED DEATH. Death of one person can be paid but once; And that she has discharg'd: What thou wouldst do, Is done unto thy hand; the last she spake Was Antony! most noble Antony! Then in the midst a tearing groan did break The name of Antony; it was divided Between her heart and lips: she render'd life, Thy name so buried in her. CLEOPATRA'S REFLECTIONS ON THE DEATH OF It were for me ANTONY. To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women? * Servant. Our lamp is spent, it's out:- Good sirs, take heart :-We'll bury him: and then, what's brave, what's Let's do it after the high Roman fashion, [noble, And make death proud to take us. Come away: This case of that huge spirit now is cold. ACT V. DEATH. My desolation does begin to make A better life: 'Tis paltry to be Cæsar; Not being fortune, he's but fortune's knave*, A minister of her will: And it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds; Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change; Which sleeps, and never palates more the dung, The beggar's nurse and Cæsar's. CLEOPATRA'S DREAM, AND DESCRIPTION OF ANTONY. Cleo. I dream'd, there was an emperor Antony;O, such another sleep, that I might see But such another man! Dol. If it might please you, Cleo. His face was as the heavens; and therein A sun, and moon; which kept their course, and Most sovereign creature,- * Servant. + Crush. That grew the more by reaping: His delights As plates* dropp'd from his pocket. FIRM RESOLUTION. How poor an instrument May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. CLEOPATRA'S SPEECH ON APPLYING THE ASP. 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; I hear him mock The luck of Cæsar, which the gods give men To excuse their after wrath: Husband, I come: Now to that name my courage prove my title! 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. Farewell, kind Charmian;-Iras, long farewell. Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? If thou and nature can so gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, Which hurts and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. * Silver money. + Inconstant. + Make haste. 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, [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Char. Cleo. O eastern star! Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, Char. O, break! O, break! Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,— O Antony! Nay, I will take thee too: [Applying another asp to her arm. What, should I stay- [Falls on a bed, and dies. Char. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death! in thy possession lies CORIOLANUS. ACT I. А мов. WHAT would you have, you curs, That like nor peace nor war? the one affrights you, * Unpolitic, to leave me to myself. T The other makes you proud. He that trusts you, AN IMAGINARY DESCRIPTION OF CORIOLANUS Methinks I hear hither your husband's drum; Vir. His bloody brow! O, Jupiter, no blood! Vol. Away, you fool! it more becomes a man, Than gilt his trophy. The breasts of Hecuba, When she did suckle Hector, look'd not lovelier Than Hector's forehead, when it spit forth blood At Grecian swords contending. |