# Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale/Text/Act V

Notes originally placed at the bottom of each page appear below, following Act V. Where these notes gloss a word in the text, the gloss can also be found by hovering over the text.
Where these notes refer to an end note (cf. n. = confer notam; "consult note"), a link to the accompanying end note is provided from the Footnotes section. The end notes accompanying Act V begin on page 141 of the original volume.
Layout 2
ACT FIFTH
Scene One
[Alexandria. Cæsar's Camp]
Cæs. Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield; Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks The pauses that he makes.
Dol. Cæsar, I shall. [Exit.]
Enter Dercetas, with the sword of Antony.
Cæs. Wherefore is that? and what art thou that dar'st 4 Appear thus to us?
Der. I am call'd Dercetas; Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy Best to be serv'd; whilst he stood up and spoke He was my master, and I wore my life 8 To spend upon his haters. If thou please To take me to thee, as I was to him I'll be to Cæsar; if thou pleasest not, I yield thee up my life.
Cæs. What is 't thou sayst? 12
Der. I say, O Cæsar, Antony is dead.
Cæs. The breaking of so great a thing should make A greater crack; the round world Should have shook lions into civil streets, 16 And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony Is not a single doom; in the name lay ​A moiety of the world.
Der. He is dead, Cæsar; Not by a public minister of justice, 20 Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand, Which writ his honour in the acts it did, Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, Splitted the heart. This is his sword; 24 I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd With his most noble blood.
Cæs. Look you sad, friends? The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings To wash the eyes of kings.
Agr. And strange it is, 28 That nature must compel us to lament Our most persisted deeds.
Mæc. His taints and honours Wag'd equal with him.
Agr. A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity; but you, gods, will give us 32 Some faults to make us men. Cæsar is touch'd.
Mæc. When such a spacious mirror's set before him, He needs must see himself.
Cæs. O Antony! I have follow'd thee to this; but we do lance 36 Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce Have shown to thee such a declining day, Or look on thine; we could not stall together In the whole world. But yet let me lament, 40 With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, That thou, my brother, my competitor In top of all design, my mate in empire, Friend and companion in the front of war, 44 The arm of mine own body, and the heart ​Where mine his thoughts did kindle, that our stars, Unreconciliable, should divide Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends,— 48
Enter an Egyptian.
But I will tell you at some meeter season: The business of this man looks out of him; We'll hear him what he says. Whence are you?
Egyp. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my mistress, 52 Confin'd in all she has, her monument, Of thy intents desires instruction, That she preparedly may frame herself To the way she's forc'd to.
Cæs. Bid her have good heart; 56 She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, How honourable and how kindly we Determine for her; for Cæsar cannot live To be ungentle.
Egyp. So the gods preserve thee! 60
Exit.
Cæs. Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say, We purpose her no shame; give her what comforts The quality of her passion shall require, Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke 64 She do defeat us; for her life in Rome Would be eternal in our triumph. Go, And with your speediest bring us what she says, And how you find of her.
Pro. Cæsar, I shall. 68
Exit Proculeius.
Cæs. Gallus, go you along. [Exit Gallus.] Where's Dolabella, ​To second Proculeius?
| Agr. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Dolabella! |
| Mæc. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Dolabella! |
Cæs. Let him alone, for I remember now How he's employ'd; he shall in time be ready. 72 Go with me to my tent; where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war; How calm and gentle I proceeded still In all my writings. Go with me, and see 76 What I can show in this. Exeunt.
Scene Two
[The Monument]
Enter [aloft,] Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian.
Cleo. 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 4 To do that thing that ends all other deeds, Which shackles accidents, and bolts up change, Which sleeps, and never palates more the dug, The beggar's nurse and Cæsar's. 8
Enter [below,] Proculeius [Gallus, and Soldiers].
Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt; And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.
Cleo. What's thy name?
Pro. My name is Proculeius.
Cleo. Antony 12 ​Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd, That have no use for trusting. If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, 16 That majesty, to keep decorum, must No less beg than a kingdom: if he please To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son, He gives me so much of mine own as I 20 Will kneel to him with thanks.
Pro. Be of good cheer; You're fall'n into a princely hand, fear nothing. Make your full reference freely to my lord, Who is so full of grace, that it flows over 24 On all that need; let me report to him Your sweet dependancy, and you shall find A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness Where he for grace is kneel'd to.
Cleo. Pray you, tell him 28 I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him The greatness he has got. I hourly learn A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly Look him i' the face.
Pro. This I'll report, dear lady: 32 Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caus'd it.
Gal. You see how easily she may be surpris'd.
[Proculeius and two of the Guard ascend the monument by a ladder, and come behind Cleopatra. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates, discovering the lower room of the monument.]
​[To Proculeius and the Guard.] Guard her till Cæsar come. 36
[Exit.]
Iras. Royal queen!
Char. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen.
Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands.
[Drawing a dagger.]
Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold! [Seizes and disarms her.] Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this 40 Reliev'd, but not betray'd.
Cleo. What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish?
Pro. Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master's bounty by The undoing of yourself; let the world see 44 His nobleness well acted, which your death Will never let come forth.
Cleo. Where art thou, death? Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen Worth many babes and beggars!
Pro. O! temperance, lady. 48
Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir; If idle talk will once be necessary, I'll not sleep neither. This mortal house I'll ruin, Do Cæsar what he can. Know, sir, that I 52 Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court, Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up And show me to the shouting varletry 56 Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud Lay me stark nak'd, and let the water-flies ​Blow me into abhorring! rather make 60 My country's high pyramides my gibbet, And hang me up in chains!
Pro. You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Cæsar.
Enter Dolabella.
Dol. Proculeius, 64 What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows, And he hath sent for thee; as for the queen, I'll take her to my guard.
Pro. So, Dolabella, It shall content me best; be gentle to her. 68 [To Cleopatra.] To Cæsar I will speak what you shall please, If you'll employ me to him.
Cleo. Say, I would die.
Exit Proculeius.
Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me?
Cleo. I cannot tell.
Dol. Assuredly you know me. 72
Cleo. No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; Is 't not your trick?
Dol. I understand not, madam.
Cleo. I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony: 76 O! such another sleep, that I might see But such another man.
Dol. If it might please ye,—
Cleo. His face was as the heavens, and therein stuck A sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted 80 ​The little O, the earth.
Dol. Most sovereign creature,—
Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm Crested the world; his voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; 84 But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in 't, an autumn 'twas That grew the more by reaping; his delights 88 Were dolphin-like, they show'd his back above The element they liv'd in; in his livery Walk'd crowns and crownets, realms and islands were As plates dropp'd from his pocket.
Dol. Cleopatra,— 92
Cleo. Think you there was, or might be, such a man As this I dreamt of?
Dol. Gentle madam, no.
Cleo. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. But, if there be, or ever were, one such, 96 It's past the size of dreaming; nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy; yet to imagine An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.
Dol. Hear me, good madam. 100 Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it As answering to the weight: would I might never O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites 104 My very heart at root.
Cleo. I thank you, sir. Know you what Cæsar means to do with me?
​Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir,—
Dol. Though he be honourable,— 108
Cleo. He'll lead me then in triumph?
Dol. Madam, he will; I know 't. Flourish. [Within] 'Make way there!—Cæsar!'
Enter Proculeius, Cæsar, Gallus, Mæcenas and Others of his Train.
Cæs. Which is the Queen of Egypt?
Dol. It is the emperor, madam. 112
Cleopatra kneels.
Cæs. Arise, you shall not kneel. I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
Cleo. Sir, the gods Will have it thus; my master and my lord I must obey.
Cæs. Take to you no hard thoughts; 116 The record of what injuries you did us, Though written in our flesh, we shall remember As things but done by chance.
Cleo. Sole sir o' the world, I cannot project mine own cause so well 120 To make it clear; but do confess I have Been laden with like frailties which before Have often sham'd our sex.
Cæs. Cleopatra, know, We will extenuate rather than enforce: 124 If you apply yourself to our intents,— Which towards you are most gentle,—you shall find A benefit in this change; but if you seek To lay on me a cruelty, by taking 128 ​Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself Of my good purposes, and put your children To that destruction which I'll guard them from, If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave. 132
Cleo. And may through all the world: 'tis yours; and we, Your scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.
Cæs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. 136
Cleo. [Giving a Scroll.] This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels, I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued; Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?
Sel. Here, madam. 140
Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam, 144 I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, Speak that which is not.
Cleo. What have I kept back?
Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made known.
Cæs. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve 148 Your wisdom in the deed.
Cleo. See! Cæsar! O, behold, How pomp is follow'd; mine will now be yours; And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does 152 Even make me wild. O slave! of no more trust Than love that's hir'd. What! goest thou back? thou shalt ​Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes, Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog! 156 O rarely base!
Cæs. Good queen, let us entreat you.
Cleo. O Cæsar! what a wounding shame is this, That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, Doing the honour of thy lordliness 160 To one so meek, that mine own servant should Parcel the sum of my disgraces by Addition of his envy. Say, good Cæsar, That I some lady trifles have reserv'd, 164 Immoment toys, things of such dignity As we greet modern friends withal; and say, Some nobler token I have kept apart For Livia and Octavia, to induce 168 Their mediation; must I be unfolded With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me Beneath the fall I have. [To Seleucus.] Prithee, go hence; Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits 172 Through the ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man, Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
Cæs. Forbear, Seleucus.
[Exit Seleucus.]
Cleo. Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and, when we fall, 176 We answer others' merits in our name, Are therefore to be pitied.
Cæs. Cleopatra, ​Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd, Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be 't yours, 180 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 queen; 184 For we intend so to dispose you as 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. 188
Cleo. My master, and my lord!
Cæs. Not so. Adieu.
Flourish. 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, 192 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.
Enter Dolabella.
Dol. Where is the queen?
Char. Behold, sir. [Exit.]
Cleo. Dolabella! 196
Dol. 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 200 ​You with your children will he send before. Make your best use of this; I have perform'd Your pleasure and my promise.
Cleo. Dolabella, I shall remain your debtor.
Dol. I your servant. 204 Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Cæsar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. Exit [Dolabella]. Now, Iras, what think'st thou? Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown In Rome, as well as I; mechanic slaves 208 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! 212
Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors Will catch at us, like strumpets, and scald rimers Ballad us out o' tune; the quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present 216 Our Alexandrian revels. Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness I' the posture of a whore.
Iras. O, the good gods! 220
Cleo. Nay, that's 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 224 Their most absurd intents.
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. 228 Now, noble Charmian, we'll dispatch indeed; And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all. [Exit Iras.] A noise within. Wherefore's this noise?
Enter a Guardsman.
Guard. Here is a rural fellow 232 That will not be denied your highness' presence: He brings you figs.
Cleo. Let him come in. Exit Guardsman. What poor an instrument May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. 236 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.
Enter Guardsman and Clown [bringing in a basket].
Guard. This is the man. 240
Cleo. Avoid, and leave him. [Exit Guardsman.] Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, That kills and pains not?
Clo. Truly, I have him; but I would not 244 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? 248
Clo. 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 252 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 256 they do. But this is most fallible, the worm's an odd worm.
Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.
Clo. I wish you all joy of the worm. 260
[Sets down the basket.]
Cleo. Farewell.
Clo. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
Cleo. Ay, ay; farewell. 264
Clo. 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. 268
Clo. Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.
Cleo. Will it eat me?
Clo. You must not think I am so simple 272 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 276 ​harm in their women, for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five.
Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell.
Clo. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the 280 worm. Exit.
[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. 284 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 288 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? 292 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, 296 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. 300
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 304 ​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 dispatch. O! couldst thou speak, 308 That I might hear thee call great Cæsar ass Unpolicied.
Char. O eastern star!
Cleo. Peace, peace! Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep?
Char. O, break! O, break! 312
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— Dies.
Char. In this vile world? So, fare thee well. 316 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; 320 I'll mend it, and then play.
Enter the Guard, rushing in.
First Guard. Where is the queen?
Char. Speak softly, wake her not.
First Guard. Cæsar hath sent—
Char. Too slow a messenger. [Applies an asp.] O! come apace, dispatch; I partly feel thee. 324
First Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well; Cæsar's beguil'd.
​Sec. Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him.
First Guard. What work is here! Charmian, is this well done?
Char. It is well done, and fitting for a princess 328 Descended of so many royal kings. Ah! soldier. Charmian dies.
Enter Dolabella.
Dol. How goes it here?
Sec. Guard. All dead.
Dol. Cæsar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this; thyself art coming 332 To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou So sought'st to hinder.
[Within,] 'A way there!—a way for Cæsar!'
Enter Cæsar and all his Train marching.
Dol. O! sir, you are too sure an augurer; That you did fear is done.
Cæs. Bravest at the last, 336 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. Who was last with them?
First Guard. A simple countryman that brought her figs: 340 This was his basket.
Cæs. Poison'd then.
First Guard. O Cæsar! This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood, and spake: I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood, 344 ​And on the sudden dropp'd.
Cæs. O noble weakness! If they had swallow'd poison 'twould appear By external swelling; but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony 348 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.
First Guard. This is an aspic's trail; and these fig-leaves 352 Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves Upon the caves of Nile.
Cæs. Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite 356 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 clip in it 360 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, 364 In solemn show, attend this funeral, And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity. Exeunt omnes.
FINIS.
Footnotes to Act V
Scene One
​2, 3 Being so frustrate . . . makes; cf. n. 16 civil: orderly ​19 moiety: half 43 top of all design: in all high ambitions ​63 passion: feelings, state of mind
Scene Two
​6–8 Which shackles accidents . . . Cæsar's; cf. n. ​23 Make . . . reference: refer the whole matter 27, 28 A conqueror . . . kneel'd to; cf. n. ​56 varletry: rabble ​85 quail: overpower 88–90 his delights . . . in; cf. n. 92 plates: pieces of money 97–99 nature wants stuff . . . fancy; cf. n. ​120 project: exhibit ​134 scutcheons: shields of armorial bearings 139 Not petty things admitted: except for trifles ​162 Parcel the sum: sum up 164 lady: feminine 165 Immoment toys: trifles of no importance 166 modern: ordinary 168 Livia; cf. n. 169 unfolded: betrayed 170 With: by 173 chance: fortune 176–178 and, when we fall . . . pitied; cf. n. ​182 prize: appraisement 190 words: flatters; cf. n. ​213 lictors: officials attendant on Roman magistrates 214 scald: mean 218, 219 and I shall see . . . greatness; cf. n. 220 posture: behavior ​241 Avoid: withdraw ​257 fallible: mistake for 'infallible' 263 do his kind: act according to his nature ​295 aspic: asp ​306 intrinsicate: intricate ​332 effects: fulfilment 337 levell'd: guessed ​349 toil: net 350 vent: effusion blown: swollen 356 conclusions: experiments 360 clip: enfold