feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/shmoop/The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra/section_41_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.act v.scene ii
feat_summary_id: act v, scene ii
feat_summary: {"name": "Act V, Scene ii", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210116191009/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/antony-cleopatra/summary/act-v-scene-ii", "summary": "Cleopatra curses Caesar for being a knave of Fortune, and thus no better than anybody else . Just then, Proculeius enters. He asks what she wants from Caesar. She remembers this was the man Antony said she could trust, though she doesn't really care to trust anyone just now. She tells Proculeius that she'd like to have Egypt remain her kingdom for her son to rule. Proculeius promises Caesar will take care of Cleopatra, and as he's leaving, Roman soldiers sneak in behind him to guard her. Cleopatra's women, Iras and Charmian, alert her immediately of the infiltration, and she quickly draws a dagger to kill herself. She is even more quickly stopped by Proculeius. He says she's not being betrayed, but relieved. She resents this with a fury-- she promises to starve or thirst herself to death, rather than be gawked at in Caesar's court, or be a thing for Octavia to look down on. She says she would rather die in a ditch in Egypt, or be laid out naked on the Nile where the water-flies can plant maggots in her that will burst her body at its seams , or even be hanged from chains at the pyramids, than go to Rome. She feels pretty strongly, then. Just as Proculeius is promising that this is all pretty unnecessary, Dolabella arrives to take over the guard. Proculeius bids him to be kind to Cleopatra. Cleopatra tells Dolabella all about this dream she had, where Antony was noble and beautiful, holding the world in his raised hands, all full of natural and supernatural beauty. As the Queen grieves and Dolabella watches, he's moved to tell her the truth about what Caesar really plans to do with her. She guesses Caesar means to lead her in triumph and Dolabella confirms her suspicions. Caesar enters with his men. He is full of words and grace for her, and promises to spare her and her children if she does not choose Antony's course of suicide. Still saucy, she retorts that she'll be as the other signs of his conquest, that he might hang where he pleases. Caesar is then given a scroll that supposedly lists all the goods Cleopatra possesses. Cleopatra calls on her treasurer, Seleucus, to confirm that these are all her worldly possessions. The treasurer denies it, which is the exact opposite of what he was supposed to do. Cleopatra rages against the treasurer for revealing her to be a liar, though Caesar says he doesn't mind, and understands her holding back a little. Cleopatra claims what she's held back are just a few lady's trifles, presents for Octavia and friends. Eventually, she breaks down and says people are misjudged in their lives for the ills of others, and are called to account for the ills of others also. Caesar is \"merciful\" and tells her she doesn't need to worry about it, he won't take any of her things, listed or unlisted, as part of his conquest. He's not a merchant, and he claims he'll treat her as she wants to be treated. Cleopatra, seemingly calmed, calls Caesar her master and her lord. After Caesar leaves, Cleopatra tells her women that she knows Caesar's charming words have something else at the bottom of them. Charmian and Iras, her faithful ladies, encourage her to continue on the course they set. In hushed tones, Cleopatra hears that what she's asked for is being provided. Though we don't know the specifics, we can guess what's up. Dolabella comes in, and since he has so nobly sworn devotion to her, he admits that Caesar will call for her and her children within three days, with the intentions of adding them to the victory march. Then he leaves. Cleopatra says \"thanks\" and then confers with her women. She can't bear the idea of being shown amid all the common people of Rome, with their plain occupations and rank breath surrounding her as she's played the fool. Cleopatra knows there will be mockeries of the Egyptian lifestyle and they'll have some drunk fool acting as Antony and some young boy acting as her, probably making her look like a whore. She won't stand it, and she's figured a way to beat them. She bids Charmian and Iras to go bring her crown and finest garments. A guard comes in, telling of a rural visitor who's brought Cleopatra a gift of figs. The guard leaves, and Cleopatra mysteriously states that this \"poor instrument\" brings her liberty. The rural man enters and is left with the Queen. She asks if he's brought her the worm of Nilus, and he confirms that he has. It brings death to anyone who touches it, he warns, and she asks for stories of people it's killed. Satisfied, she sends him off, and he wishes her \"joy of the worm.\" Iras dresses her in all her fine things, and Cleopatra says she hears Antony calling her, praising the deed she's about to do. She claims she is now fire and air--all else of her she leaves on Earth. She bids her women kiss her lips for their last warmth--in doing so, Iras falls and dies. Cleopatra asks if death comes so easy, as a lover's pinch, and moves quickly to die herself, lest Iras find Antony first in death and steal his kisses. She thus applies an asp to her breast, and as Charmian weeps she bids her maid peace, saying, \"Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, that sucks the nurse asleep.\" She applies another asp to her arm, and dies mid-sentence, saying, \"What should I stay--.\" A guard enters as Charmian finishes her lady's sentence, saying there's no reason to stay in this vile world. Charmian applies an asp to herself. Amid the confusion of the soldiers, Charmian says this was work well done, \"and fitting for a princess / Descended of so many royal kings.\" Dolabella, Caesar, and more men trickle in. Caesar wearily announces she must've guessed his intentions, and being royal and such, took her own way rather than suffer humiliation. The men guess at the means by which the women died and, finding a wound on Cleopatra's breast and the figs slimy with the trail of some serpent, realize the ladies had the rural visitor smuggle in snakes to do the deed. Caesar bids Cleopatra be buried next to Antony and states that their love engenders as much pity as Antony's glory, which led them to all of their troubles in the first place. He and the army will attend the funeral and then head back to Rome. He bids Dolabella organize the funeral with great and befitting solemnity. The end.", "analysis": ""}
text: SCENE II.
                  Alexandria. The monument
  
        Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN
  
    CLEOPATRA. My desolation does begin to make
      A better life. 'Tis paltry to be Caesar:
      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 dug,
      The beggar's nurse and Caesar's.
  
         Enter, to the gates of the monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS,
                            and soldiers
  
    PROCULEIUS. Caesar sends greetings to the Queen of Egypt,
      And bids thee study on what fair demands
      Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.
    CLEOPATRA. What's thy name?
    PROCULEIUS. My name is Proculeius.
    CLEOPATRA. Antony
      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
      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
      Will kneel to him with thanks.
    PROCULEIUS. Be of good cheer;
      Y'are 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
      On all that need. Let me report to him
      Your sweet dependency, and you shall find
      A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness
      Where he for grace is kneel'd to.
    CLEOPATRA. Pray you tell him
      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' th' face.
    PROCULEIUS. This I'll report, dear lady.
      Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
      Of him that caus'd it.
    GALLUS. You see how easily she may be surpris'd.
  
        Here PROCULEIUS and two of the guard ascend the
         monument by a ladder placed against a window,
         and come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the guard
                  unbar and open the gates
  
      Guard her till Caesar come.                             Exit
    IRAS. Royal Queen!
    CHARMIAN. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, Queen!
    CLEOPATRA. Quick, quick, good hands.        [Drawing a dagger]
    PROCULEIUS. Hold, worthy lady, hold,             [Disarms her]
      Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
      Reliev'd, but not betray'd.
    CLEOPATRA. What, of death too,
      That rids our dogs of languish?
    PROCULEIUS. Cleopatra,
      Do not abuse my master's bounty by
      Th' undoing of yourself. Let the world see
      His nobleness well acted, which your death
      Will never let come forth.
    CLEOPATRA. Where art thou, death?
      Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen
      Worth many babes and beggars!
    PROCULEIUS. O, temperance, lady!
    CLEOPATRA. 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 Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
      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
      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
      My country's high pyramides my gibbet,
      And hang me up in chains!
    PROCULEIUS. You do extend
      These thoughts of horror further than you shall
      Find cause in Caesar.
  
                        Enter DOLABELLA
  
    DOLABELLA. Proculeius,
      What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
      And he hath sent for thee. For the Queen,
      I'll take her to my guard.
    PROCULEIUS. So, Dolabella,
      It shall content me best. Be gentle to her.
      [To CLEOPATRA] To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,
      If you'll employ me to him.
    CLEOPATRA. Say I would die.
                                    Exeunt PROCULEIUS and soldiers
    DOLABELLA. Most noble Empress, you have heard of me?
    CLEOPATRA. I cannot tell.
    DOLABELLA. Assuredly you know me.
    CLEOPATRA. No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
      You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
      Is't not your trick?
    DOLABELLA. I understand not, madam.
    CLEOPATRA. I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony-
      O, such another sleep, that I might see
      But such another man!
    DOLABELLA. If it might please ye-
    CLEOPATRA. His face was as the heav'ns, and therein stuck
      A sun and moon, which kept their course and lighted
      The little O, the earth.
    DOLABELLA. Most sovereign creature-
    CLEOPATRA. 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;
      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
      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.
    DOLABELLA. Cleopatra-
    CLEOPATRA. Think you there was or might be such a man
      As this I dreamt of?
    DOLABELLA. Gentle madam, no.
    CLEOPATRA. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods.
      But if there be nor ever were one such,
      It's past the size of drearning. Nature wants stuff
      To vie strange forms with fancy; yet t' imagine
      An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,
      Condemning shadows quite.
    DOLABELLA. Hear me, good madam.
      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
      My very heart at root.
    CLEOPATRA. I thank you, sir.
      Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
    DOLABELLA. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
    CLEOPATRA. Nay, pray you, sir.
    DOLABELLA. Though he be honourable-
    CLEOPATRA. He'll lead me, then, in triumph?
    DOLABELLA. Madam, he will. I know't.                [Flourish]
                                [Within: 'Make way there-Caesar!']
  
         Enter CAESAR; GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MAECENAS, SELEUCUS,
                       and others of his train
  
    CAESAR. Which is the Queen of Egypt?
    DOLABELLA. It is the Emperor, madam.        [CLEOPATPA kneels]
    CAESAR. Arise, you shall not kneel.
      I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
    CLEOPATRA. Sir, the gods
      Will have it thus; my master and my lord
      I must obey.
    CAESAR. Take to you no hard thoughts.
      The record of what injuries you did us,
      Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
      As things but done by chance.
    CLEOPATRA. Sole sir o' th' world,
      I cannot project mine own cause so well
      To make it clear, but do confess I have
      Been laden with like frailties which before
      Have often sham'd our sex.
    CAESAR. Cleopatra, know
      We will extenuate rather than enforce.
      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
      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.
    CLEOPATRA. 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.
    CAESAR. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
    CLEOPATRA. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
      I am possess'd of. 'Tis exactly valued,
      Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?
    SELEUCUS. Here, madam.
    CLEOPATRA. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord,
      Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd
      To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
    SELEUCUS. Madam,
      I had rather seal my lips than to my peril
      Speak that which is not.
    CLEOPATRA. What have I kept back?
    SELEUCUS. Enough to purchase what you have made known.
    CAESAR. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
      Your wisdom in the deed.
    CLEOPATRA. See, Caesar! O, behold,
      How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours;
      And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
      The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
      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!
      O rarely base!
    CAESAR. Good Queen, let us entreat you.
    CLEOPATRA. O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
      That thou vouchsafing here to visit me,
      Doing the honour of thy lordliness
      To one so meek, that mine own servant should
      Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
      Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
      That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
      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
      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
      Through th' ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man,
      Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
    CAESAR. Forbear, Seleucus.                       Exit SELEUCUS
    CLEOPATRA. 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.
    CAESAR. Cleopatra,
      Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
      Put we i' th' roll of conquest. Still be't yours,
      Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe
      Caesar'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;
      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.
    CLEOPATRA. My master and my lord!
    CAESAR. Not so. Adieu.
                             Flourish. Exeunt CAESAR and his train
    CLEOPATRA. 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.
    CLEOPATRA. Hie thee again.
      I have spoke already, and it is provided;
      Go put it to the haste.
    CHARMIAN. Madam, I will.
  
                        Re-enter DOLABELLA
  
    DOLABELLA. Where's the Queen?
    CHARMIAN. Behold, sir.                                    Exit
    CLEOPATRA. Dolabella!
    DOLABELLA. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
      Which my love makes religion to obey,
      I tell you this: Caesar 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.
    CLEOPATRA. Dolabella,
      I shall remain your debtor.
    DOLABELLA. I your servant.
      Adieu, good Queen; I must attend on Caesar.
    CLEOPATRA. Farewell, and thanks.                Exit DOLABELLA
      Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
      Thou an Egyptian puppet shall be shown
      In Rome as well as I. Mechanic 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!
    CLEOPATRA. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors
      Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers
      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
      I' th' posture of a whore.
    IRAS. O the good gods!
    CLEOPATRA. Nay, that's certain.
    IRAS. I'll never see't, for I am sure mine nails
      Are stronger than mine eyes.
    CLEOPATRA. Why, that's the way
      To fool their preparation and to conquer
      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.
      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
  
    GUARDSMAN. Here is a rural fellow
      That will not be denied your Highness' presence.
      He brings you figs.
    CLEOPATRA. Let him come in.                     Exit GUARDSMAN
      What 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 GUARDSMAN and CLOWN, with a basket
  
    GUARDSMAN. This is the man.
    CLEOPATRA. Avoid, and leave him.                Exit GUARDSMAN
      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.
    CLEOPATRA. 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' th' worm. But he that will believe all
  that
      they say shall never be saved by half that they do. But this
  is
      most falliable, the worm's an odd worm.
    CLEOPATRA. Get thee hence; farewell.
    CLOWN. I wish you all joy of the worm.
                                            [Sets down the basket]
    CLEOPATRA. Farewell.
    CLOWN. You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his
      kind.
    CLEOPATRA. 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.
    CLEOPATRA. Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
    CLOWN. Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not
  worth
      the feeding.
    CLEOPATRA. 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.
    CLEOPATRA. Well, get thee gone; farewell.
    CLOWN. Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o' th' worm.         Exit
  
               Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c.
  
    CLEOPATRA. 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 Caesar, 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 thus 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 thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
      It is not worth leave-taking.
    CHARMIAN. Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say
      The gods themselves do weep.
    CLEOPATRA. 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, thou mortal wretch,
                      [To an 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,
      That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
      Unpolicied!
    CHARMIAN. O Eastern star!
    CLEOPATRA. Peace, peace!
      Dost thou not see my baby at my breast
      That sucks the nurse asleep?
    CHARMIAN. O, break! O, break!
    CLEOPATRA. 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]
    CHARMIAN. In this vile world? So, fare thee well.
      Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies
      A lass unparallel'd. Downy windows, close;
      And golden Phoebus never be beheld
      Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
      I'll mend it and then play-
  
                    Enter the guard, rushing in
  
    FIRST GUARD. Where's the Queen?
    CHARMIAN. Speak softly, wake her not.
    FIRST GUARD. Caesar hath sent-
    CHARMIAN. Too slow a messenger.               [Applies an asp]
      O, come apace, dispatch. I partly feel thee.
    FIRST GUARD. Approach, ho! All's not well: Caesar's beguil'd.
    SECOND GUARD. There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him.
    FIRST GUARD. What work is here! Charmian, is this well done?
    CHARMIAN. It is well done, and fitting for a princes
      Descended of so many royal kings.
      Ah, soldier!                                 [CHARMIAN dies]
  
                        Re-enter DOLABELLA
  
    DOLABELLA. How goes it here?
    SECOND GUARD. All dead.
    DOLABELLA. Caesar, 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, a way for Caesar!']
  
                Re-enter CAESAR and all his train
  
    DOLABELLA. O sir, you are too sure an augurer:
      That you did fear is done.
    CAESAR. 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.
    DOLABELLA. Who was last with them?
    FIRST GUARD. A simple countryman that brought her figs.
      This was his basket.
    CAESAR. Poison'd then.
    FIRST GUARD. O Caesar,
      This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood and spake.
      I found her trimming up the diadem
      On her dead mistress. Tremblingly she stood,
      And on the sudden dropp'd.
    CAESAR. 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
      In her strong toil of grace.
    DOLABELLA. 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
      Have slime upon them, such as th' aspic leaves
      Upon the caves of Nile.
    CAESAR. Most probable
      That so she died; for her physician tells me
      She hath pursu'd conclusions 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 clip 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
      In solemn show attend this funeral,
      And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see
      High order in this great solemnity.                   Exeunt
  
  
  THE END
  
  
feat_summary_name: Act V, Scene ii
target: Cleopatra curses Caesar for being a knave of Fortune, and thus no better than anybody else . Just then, Proculeius enters. He asks what she wants from Caesar. She remembers this was the man Antony said she could trust, though she doesn't really care to trust anyone just now. She tells Proculeius that she'd like to have Egypt remain her kingdom for her son to rule. Proculeius promises Caesar will take care of Cleopatra, and as he's leaving, Roman soldiers sneak in behind him to guard her. Cleopatra's women, Iras and Charmian, alert her immediately of the infiltration, and she quickly draws a dagger to kill herself. She is even more quickly stopped by Proculeius. He says she's not being betrayed, but relieved. She resents this with a fury-- she promises to starve or thirst herself to death, rather than be gawked at in Caesar's court, or be a thing for Octavia to look down on. She says she would rather die in a ditch in Egypt, or be laid out naked on the Nile where the water-flies can plant maggots in her that will burst her body at its seams , or even be hanged from chains at the pyramids, than go to Rome. She feels pretty strongly, then. Just as Proculeius is promising that this is all pretty unnecessary, Dolabella arrives to take over the guard. Proculeius bids him to be kind to Cleopatra. Cleopatra tells Dolabella all about this dream she had, where Antony was noble and beautiful, holding the world in his raised hands, all full of natural and supernatural beauty. As the Queen grieves and Dolabella watches, he's moved to tell her the truth about what Caesar really plans to do with her. She guesses Caesar means to lead her in triumph and Dolabella confirms her suspicions. Caesar enters with his men. He is full of words and grace for her, and promises to spare her and her children if she does not choose Antony's course of suicide. Still saucy, she retorts that she'll be as the other signs of his conquest, that he might hang where he pleases. Caesar is then given a scroll that supposedly lists all the goods Cleopatra possesses. Cleopatra calls on her treasurer, Seleucus, to confirm that these are all her worldly possessions. The treasurer denies it, which is the exact opposite of what he was supposed to do. Cleopatra rages against the treasurer for revealing her to be a liar, though Caesar says he doesn't mind, and understands her holding back a little. Cleopatra claims what she's held back are just a few lady's trifles, presents for Octavia and friends. Eventually, she breaks down and says people are misjudged in their lives for the ills of others, and are called to account for the ills of others also. Caesar is "merciful" and tells her she doesn't need to worry about it, he won't take any of her things, listed or unlisted, as part of his conquest. He's not a merchant, and he claims he'll treat her as she wants to be treated. Cleopatra, seemingly calmed, calls Caesar her master and her lord. After Caesar leaves, Cleopatra tells her women that she knows Caesar's charming words have something else at the bottom of them. Charmian and Iras, her faithful ladies, encourage her to continue on the course they set. In hushed tones, Cleopatra hears that what she's asked for is being provided. Though we don't know the specifics, we can guess what's up. Dolabella comes in, and since he has so nobly sworn devotion to her, he admits that Caesar will call for her and her children within three days, with the intentions of adding them to the victory march. Then he leaves. Cleopatra says "thanks" and then confers with her women. She can't bear the idea of being shown amid all the common people of Rome, with their plain occupations and rank breath surrounding her as she's played the fool. Cleopatra knows there will be mockeries of the Egyptian lifestyle and they'll have some drunk fool acting as Antony and some young boy acting as her, probably making her look like a whore. She won't stand it, and she's figured a way to beat them. She bids Charmian and Iras to go bring her crown and finest garments. A guard comes in, telling of a rural visitor who's brought Cleopatra a gift of figs. The guard leaves, and Cleopatra mysteriously states that this "poor instrument" brings her liberty. The rural man enters and is left with the Queen. She asks if he's brought her the worm of Nilus, and he confirms that he has. It brings death to anyone who touches it, he warns, and she asks for stories of people it's killed. Satisfied, she sends him off, and he wishes her "joy of the worm." Iras dresses her in all her fine things, and Cleopatra says she hears Antony calling her, praising the deed she's about to do. She claims she is now fire and air--all else of her she leaves on Earth. She bids her women kiss her lips for their last warmth--in doing so, Iras falls and dies. Cleopatra asks if death comes so easy, as a lover's pinch, and moves quickly to die herself, lest Iras find Antony first in death and steal his kisses. She thus applies an asp to her breast, and as Charmian weeps she bids her maid peace, saying, "Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, that sucks the nurse asleep." She applies another asp to her arm, and dies mid-sentence, saying, "What should I stay--." A guard enters as Charmian finishes her lady's sentence, saying there's no reason to stay in this vile world. Charmian applies an asp to herself. Amid the confusion of the soldiers, Charmian says this was work well done, "and fitting for a princess / Descended of so many royal kings." Dolabella, Caesar, and more men trickle in. Caesar wearily announces she must've guessed his intentions, and being royal and such, took her own way rather than suffer humiliation. The men guess at the means by which the women died and, finding a wound on Cleopatra's breast and the figs slimy with the trail of some serpent, realize the ladies had the rural visitor smuggle in snakes to do the deed. Caesar bids Cleopatra be buried next to Antony and states that their love engenders as much pity as Antony's glory, which led them to all of their troubles in the first place. He and the army will attend the funeral and then head back to Rome. He bids Dolabella organize the funeral with great and befitting solemnity. The end.