Take to you no hard thoughts: Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard, or Cæs. I understand not, madam. Cleo. I dream'd there was an emperor Antony: O, such another sleep, that I might see Dol. Dol. Most sovereign creature,Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm Crested the world his voice was propertied As plates dropp'd from his pocket. Cleopatra, Dol. Dol. To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine Dol. never O'ertake pursued success, but I do feel, Cleo. [ber Sole sir o' the world, Cæs. Cleopatra, know, Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis Cas. You shall advise me in all for Cleo- I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valu'd; I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, Cas. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra ; I approve See, Cæsar! O, behold, [eyes, Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine [knew. Though they had wings: slave, soul-less [villain, dog! Though he be honourable,-O rarely base! Cleo. He'll lead me, then, in triumph? Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you. Dol. Madam, he will; I know it. Cleo. O Cæsar, what a wounding shame is [Within.] Make way there !-Cæsar! That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, [this, Enter Cæsar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mecænas, Doing the honour of thy lordliness Seleucus, and Attendants. To one so meek, that mine own servant should With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me [go hence; Beneath the fall I have. [To Sel.] Pr'ythee, Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou Thou wouldst have mercy on me. [a man, Cæs. Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit Seleucus. Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: saucy lictors (rhymers Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald 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 Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest,I' the posture of a whore. Iras. O, the good gods! Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure, my Are stronger than mine eyes. [nails Cleo. are misthought For things that others do; and, when we fall, Cæs. Cleopatra, Why, that's the way Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknow-To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents. ledg'd, Put we i' the roll of conquest; still be it yours, Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. Madam, I will. Behold, sir. [Exit. Cleo. Dolabella? Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, Which my love makes religion to obey, Dolabella, 1 shall remain your debtor. Iras. The gods forbid ! Re-enter Charmian. 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 despatch indeed; And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave To play till dooms-day. Bring our crown and all. [Exit Iras. A noise heard. Wherefore's this noise? Enter one of the Guard. Guard. Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing in a 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. Remember'st 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, buɛ 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. [Sets down the basket. Cleo. Farewell. Clown. You must think this, look you, that O Antony !-Nay, I will take thee too. the worm will do his kind. [Applying another asp to her arm. Cleo. 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 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? Clown. You must not think I am so simple, 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. : Immortal longings in me now no more Have I the aspic in my lips? What should I stay [Dies. Char. In this wild world?-So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies O, Enter the Guard, rushing in. 1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char. Speak softly, wake her not. 1 Guard. Cæsar hath sent- Too slow a messenger. come apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. Cæsar's beguil'd. 2 Guard. There's Dolabella, sent from Cæ- Char. It is well done, and fitting for a All dead. [Within.] A way there! a way for Cæsar! Brav'st at the last; Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie I do not see them bleed. still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world It is not worth leave-taking. Char. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that [To the asp, which she applies to her breast. That I might hear thee call great Cæsar ass Char. Cleo. O eastern star ! Peace, peace! ACT I. SCENE 1.-A Room of State in King Lear's Palace. Enter Kent, Gloster, and Edmund. Glo. My lord of Kent : remember him hereafter as my honourable friend. Edm. My services to your lordship. [better. Kent. I thought the king had more affected he shall again.-The king is coming. the duke of Albany, than Cornwall. Glo. It did always seem so to us but now, in the division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes he values most; for equalities are so weighed, that curiosity in neither can make choice of either's moiety. Kent. Is not this your son, my lord? Glo. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I have so often blushed to acknowledge him, that now I am brazed to it. Kent. I cannot conceive you. Glo. Sir, this young fellow's mother could; whereupon she grew round-wombed, and had, indeed, sir, a son for her cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a fault? Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it being so proper. [Sennet within. Enter Lear, Cornwall, Albany, Goneril, Regan, Cordelia, and Attendants. Lear. Attend the lords of France and Bur Glo. I shall, my liege. [gundy, Gloster. er purpose. And you, our no less loving son of Albany, Glo. But I have a son, sir, by order of law, some year elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though this knave came some- Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love, what saucily into the world, before he was Long in our court have made their amorous sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was (daughters, good sport at his making, and the whoreson And here are to be answer'd.-Tell me, my must be acknowledged. Do you know this (Since now we will divest us, both of rule, noble gentleman, Edmund ? sojourn, Interest of territory, cares of state,) Edm. No, my lord. Which of you, shall we say, doth love us most? That we our largest bounty may extend [Goneril, Gon. Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter; Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty; Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters, Cor. Lear. But goes thy heart with this? As much as child e'er lov'd, or father found;By all the operation of the orbs A love that makes breath poor, and speech From whom we do exist, and cease to be; unable; Beyond all manner of so much I love you. Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this [rich'd, Here I disclaim all my paternal care, Kent. Good my liege, Or he that makes his generation messes With shadowy forests, and with champains To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads, Be as well neighbour'd, pitied, and relieved, We make thee lady to thine and Albany's As thou my sometime daughter. issue, [daughter, Be this perpetual.-What says our second Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak. Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister, And prize me at her worth. In my true heart Lear. To thee and thine, hereditary ever, A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak. Cor. Nothing. Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again. Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty According to my bond: nor more, nor less. Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little, Lest you may mar your fortunes. Cor. shall carry Half my love with him, half my care, and duty: Lear. Peace, Kent ! Come not between the dragon and his wrath. So be my grave my peace, as here I give Call Burgundy.-Cornwall, and Albany, Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry course, With reservation of a hundred knights, The name, and all th' additions to a king; Revénue, execution of the rest, [Giving the crown. ers, |