Puslapio vaizdai
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Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm2 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; 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, 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.3

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?

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Re-enter Iras, with a robe, crown, &c. Cleo. 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.

[Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.

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.

(1) Inconstant.

(2) Serpent.

(3) Act according to his nature.

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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, 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. O, could'st thou speak!
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass
Unpolicied!5
Char.
Cleo.

O eastern star!
Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
That sucks the nurse asleep?
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
A lass unparallel'd.-Downy windows, close;
And golden Phœbus never be beheld
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play.

Enter the Guard, rushing in.

1 Guard. Where is the queen? Char.

Speak softly, wake her not.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp.

O, come; apace, despatch: I partly feel thee. 1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well: Cæ

sar'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! [Dies.

Enter Dolabella.

Dol. How goes it here? 2 Guard.

Dol.

All dead.

Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this: Thyself art coming To see perform'd the dreaded act, which thou So sought'st to hinder.

[Within.] A way there, way for Cæsar! Enter Cæsar, and Attendants.

Dol. O, sir, you are too sure an augurer;
That you did fear, is done.
Cas.

Bravest at the last:
She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
Took her own way. -The manner of their deaths?
I do not see them bleed.
Dol.

1 Guard. A simple
figs;

This was his basket.
Cas.

1 Guard.

Who was last with them? countryman, that brought her

Poison'd then.

O Cæsar,

This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake:

I found her trianming up the diadem

(4) Make haste.

(5) Unpolitic, to leave me to myself.

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Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile.

Cas.

Most probable,
That so she died; for her physician tells me,
She hath pursu'd conclusions2 infinite

Of easy ways to die. -Take up her bed;
And bear her women from the monument :-

She shall be buried by her Antony:

No grave upon the earth shall clip3 in it
A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them and their story is
No less in pity, than his glory, which

Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall,

(1) Graceful appearance. (2) Tried experiments.

(3) Enfold.

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This play keeps curiosity always busy, and the passions always interested. The continual hurry of the action, the variety of incidents, and the quick succession of one personage to another, call the

mind forward without intermission, from the first act to the last. But the power of delighting is derived principally from the frequent changes of the scene; for, except the feminine arts, some of which are too low, which distinguish Cleopatra, no character is very strongly discriminated. Upton, who did not easily miss what he desired to find, has discovered that the language of Antony is, with great skill and learning, made pompous and superb, according to his real practice. But I think his diction not distinguishable from that of others: the most tumid speech in the play is that which Cæsar makes to Octavia.

The events, of which the principal are described according to history, are produced without any art of connection or care of disposition.

JOHNSON.

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1 Gent. I do extend him, sir, within himself; Crush him together, rather than unfold

(1) Inclination, natural disposition.

(2) i. e. You praise him extensively.

(3) My praise, however extensive, is within his

merit.

VOL, II

His measure duly.3

2 Gent.

What's his name, and birth? 1 Gent. I cannot delve him to the root: His father

Was call'd Sicilius, who did join his honour,
Against the Romans, with Cassibelan;
But had his titles by Tenantius, whom
He serv'd with glory and admir'd success:
So gain'd the sur-addition, Leonatus:
And had, besides this gentleman in question,
Two other sons, who, in the wars o'the time,
Died with their swords in hand; for which their
father

(Then old and fond of issue,) took such sorrow,
That he quit being; and his gentle lady,
Big of this gentleman, our theme, deceas'd
As he was born. The king, he takes the babe
To his protection; calls him Posthumus;
Breeds him, and makes him of his bed-chamber
Puts him to all the learnings that his time
Could make him the receiver of; which he took,
As we do air, fast as 'twas minister'd; and
In his spring became a harvest: Liv'd in court,
(Which rare it is to do,) most prais'd, most lov'd:
A sample to the youngest; to the more mature,
A glass that feated them; and to the graver,
A child that guided dotards: to his mistress,
For whom he now is banish'd,-her own price
Proclaims how she esteem'd him and his virtue;
By her election may be truly read,

What kind of man he is.

2 Gent.

Even out of your report.

I honour him
But, 'pray you, tell me,

Is she sole child to the king?

1 Gent.

His only child.

He had two sons (if this be worth your hearing, Mark it,) the eldest of them at three years old, I'the swathing clothes the other, from their nursery Werestolen: and to this hour, no guess in knowledge Which way they went.

2 Gent.

How long is this ago?

1 Gent. Some twenty years.

(4) The father of Cymbeline. (5) Formed their manners.

3C

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Cym. Thou basest thing, avoid! hence, from my
sight!
If, after this command, thou fraught the court
With thy unworthiness, thou diest: Away!

Thou art poison to my blood.

The gods protect you!

That should'st repair my youth: thou heapest
A year's age on me!
Imo.

I beseech you, sir,
Harm not yourself with your vexation; I
Am senseless of your wrath; a touch more rare
Subdues all pangs, all fears.
Cym.

Past grace? obedience? Imo. Past hope, and in despair; that way, past grace.

Cym. That might'st have had the soles son of my queen!

Imo. O bless'd, that I might not! I chose an eagle,

And did avoid a puttock.6

Cym. Thou took'st a beggar; would'st have made

It is your fault that I have lov'd Posthumus:

You bred him as my playfellow; and he is

A man, worth any woman; overbuys me
Almost the sum he pays.
Cym.

What!art thou mad!
Imo. Almost, sir: Heaven restore me!-'Would
I were

A neat-herd's daughter! and my Leonatus
Our neighbour shepherd's son!

Thou foolish thing!

[To the Queen.

(1) Close up. (2) Sensation. (4) A more exquisite feeling.

(5) Only.

(8) Consideration.

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