Their mediation; must I be unfolded [me
With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites
Beneath the fall I have. Pr'ythee, go hence;
[To Seleucus.
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
Through the ashes of my chance.-Wert thou a
Thou wouldst have mercy on me. [man,
Cæs. Forbear, Seleucus. [Exit Seleucus.
Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are
misthought

For things that others do; and, when we fall,
We answer others' merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.

Cœs.

Cleopatra,

Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,

Put we i'the roll of conquest: still be it yours,
Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
Cæsar'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
For we intend so to dispose you, as [queen;
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep:
Our care and pity is so much upon you,
That we remain your friend; And so, adieu.
Cleo. My master, and my lord!
Cœs.

Not so: Adieu.

[Exeunt Cæsar 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 done,

And we are for the dark.

Cleo.

Hie thee again: I have spoke already, and it is provided; Go, put it to the haste.

Char.

Madam, I will. Re-enter Dolabella.

Dol. Where is the queen?

Char.

Cleo.

Behold, sir. [Exit Charmian.
Dolabella?

D. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this: Cæsar through Syria
Intends his journey; and, within three days,
You with your children will he send before:
Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
Your pleasure and my promise.
Cleo.

I shall remain your debtor.

Dolabella,

I your servant.

Dol.
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. [Exit Dol.] Now,
Iras, what think'st thou?

Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shall be shown
In Rome as well as I: mechanick slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
And forc'd to drink their vapour.

Iras.
The gods forbid!
Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: Saucy lictors
Will catch at us, like wantons: and scald1 rhymers
Ballad us out o' tune: the quick 2 comedians

Extemporally will stage us, and present Our Alexandria revels; Antony

Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra, boy1 my greatness. O the good gods!

Iras.

Cleo. Nay, that is certain. Iras. I'll never see it; for, I am sure my nails Are stronger than mine eyes. Cleo.

Why, that's the way To fool their preparation, and to conquer Their most absurd intents.-Now, Charmian?Enter 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.-
And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give
Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed:

thee leave

To play till doomsday.-Bring our crown and all. Wherefore's this noise?

[Exit Iras. A noise within. Enter one of the Guard.

Guard. Here is a rural fellow, That will not be denied your highness' presence; He brings you figs.

Cleo. Let him come in. [Exit Guard.] How poor an instrument

May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing

Of woman in me: Now from head to foot
I am marble-constant: now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guard, with a Clown bringing a Basket.

Guard.

This is the man.

Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guard. Hast thou the pretty worm 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. [on't?

Cleo. Remember'st thou any that have died 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 pains 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 bis kind. 3

I tell you all her wealth.-[To France.] For you, great king,

I woull not from your love make such a stray, To match you where I hate: therefore beseech To avert your liking a more worthier way, [you Than on a wretch whom nature is asham'd Almost to acknowledge hers.

France.
This is most strange!
That she, that even but now was your best object,
The argument of your praise, balm of your age,
Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of
time

Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle
So many folds of favour! Sure, her offence
Must be of such unnatural degree,

That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection
Fall into taint: which to believe of her,
Must be a faith, that reason without miracle
Could never plant in me.

Cor.
I yet beseech your majesty,
(If for2 I want that glib and oily art, [tend,
To speak and purpose not; since what I well in-
I'll do't before I speak,) that you make known
It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,
No unchaste action or dishonour'd step,
That hath depriv'd me of your grace and favour:
But even for want of that, for which I am richer;
A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue
That I am glad I have not, though not to have it,
Hath lost me in your liking.
1 Owns, is possessed of.

2 Because.

Hadst not been born, than not to have pleas'd me better.

France. Is it but this? a tardiness in nature, Which often leaves the history unspoke, That it intends to do?-My lord of Burgundy, What say you to the lady? Love is not love, When it is mingled with respects, that stand She is herself a dowry. Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her? Royal Lear,

Bur. Give but that portion which yourself propos'd, And here I take Cordelia by the hand, Duchess of Burgundy.

Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm. Bur. I am sorry then, you have so lost a father, That you must lose a husband.

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy! Since that respects of fortune are his love, I shall not be his wife.

France. Fairest Cordelia, thou art most rich, being poor;

Most choice, forsaken: and most lov'd, despis'd!
Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:
Be it lawful, I take up what's cast away.
Gods, gods! 'tis strange, that from their cold'st
neglect

My love should kindle to inflam'd respect.Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:
Not all the dukes of wat'rish Burgundy
Shall buy this unpriz'd precious maid of me.--
Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:
Thou losest here, a better where to find.

Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine;

for we

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see That face of hers again:-Therefore be gone, Without our grace, our love, our benizon.1Come, noble Burgundy.

eyes

[Flourish. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwall, Albany, Gloster, and Attendants. France. Bid farewell to your sisters. Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd Cordelia leaves you; I know you what you are; And, like a sister, am most loath to call Your faults, as they are nam'd. Use well oar father:

To your professed bosoms I commit him:
But yet, alas! stood I within his grace,
I would prefer him to a better place.
So farewell to you both.

Gon. Prescribe not us our duties.
Reg.
Let your study
Be, to content your lord; who hath receiv'd you
At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,
And well are worth the want that you have
wanted.
[hides;

Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited cunning Who cover faults, at last shame them derides Well may you prosper! France.

Come, my fair Cordelia. [Exeunt France and Cordelia. Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say, of what most nearly appertains to us both. think, our father will hence to-night. 1 Blessing.