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Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with CHARMIAN and IRAS
Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with CHARMIAN and IRAS

CLEOPATRA

O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

CLEOPATRA

O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

CHARMIAN

Be comforted, dear madam.

CHARMIAN

Be comforted, dear madam.

CLEOPATRA

No, I will not.
All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,
5 Proportioned to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it.

CLEOPATRA

No, I will not.
All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,
Proportioned to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it.
Enter below DIOMEDES
Enter below DIOMEDES
How now? Is he dead?
How now? Is he dead?

DIOMEDES

His death’s upon him, but not dead.
Look out o’ th’ other side your monument.
His guard have brought him thither.

DIOMEDES

His death’s upon him, but not dead.
Look out o’ th’ other side your monument.
His guard have brought him thither.
Enter below ANTONY , and the guard bearing him
Enter below ANTONY , and the guard bearing him

CLEOPATRA

O sun,
Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in. Darkling stand
The varying shore o’ th’ world! O Antony,
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help!
Help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.

CLEOPATRA

O sun,
Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in. Darkling stand
The varying shore o’ th’ world! O Antony,
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help!
Help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.

ANTONY

Peace!
Not Caesar’s valor hath o’erthrown Antony,
15 But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself.

ANTONY

Peace!
Not Caesar’s valor hath o’erthrown Antony,
But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself.

CLEOPATRA

So it should be, that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony, but woe ’tis so!

CLEOPATRA

So it should be, that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony, but woe ’tis so!

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only
I here importune death awhile, until
20 Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only
I here importune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.

CLEOPATRA

I dare not, dear,
Dear my lord, pardon, I dare not,
Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious show
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
Be brooched with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe.
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honor
Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—
30 Help me, my women—We must draw thee up.
Assist, good friends.

CLEOPATRA

I dare not, dear,
Dear my lord, pardon, I dare not,
Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious show
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
Be brooched with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe.
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honor
Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—
Help me, my women—We must draw thee up.
Assist, good friends.
They begin lifting him
They begin lifting him

ANTONY

Oh, quick, or I am gone.

ANTONY

Oh, quick, or I am gone.

CLEOPATRA

Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
Our strength is all gone into heaviness,
That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,
35 The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up
And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little.
Wishers were ever fools. Oh, come, come, come!

CLEOPATRA

Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
Our strength is all gone into heaviness,
That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,
The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up
And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little.
Wishers were ever fools. Oh, come, come, come!
They heave ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA
They heave ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA
And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived.
Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,
40 Thus would I wear them out.
And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived.
Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out.
She kisses him
She kisses him

ALL

A heavy sight!

ALL

A heavy sight!

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying.
Give me some wine and let me speak a little.

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying.
Give me some wine and let me speak a little.

CLEOPATRA

No, let me speak, and let me rail so high
That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,
Provoked by my offense.

CLEOPATRA

No, let me speak, and let me rail so high
That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,
Provoked by my offense.

ANTONY

One word, sweet Queen:
Of Caesar seek your honor, with your safety—Oh!

ANTONY

One word, sweet Queen:
Of Caesar seek your honor, with your safety—Oh!

CLEOPATRA

They do not go together.

CLEOPATRA

They do not go together.

ANTONY

Gentle, hear me.
None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

ANTONY

Gentle, hear me.
None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

CLEOPATRA

50 My resolution and my hands I’ll trust,
None about Caesar.

CLEOPATRA

My resolution and my hands I’ll trust,
None about Caesar.

ANTONY

The miserable change now at my end
Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts
In feeding them with those my former fortunes,
Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’ th’ world,
The noblest, and do now not basely die,
Not cowardly put off my helmet to
My countryman—a Roman by a Roman
Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going.
60 I can no more.

ANTONY

The miserable change now at my end
Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts
In feeding them with those my former fortunes,
Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’ th’ world,
The noblest, and do now not basely die,
Not cowardly put off my helmet to
My countryman—a Roman by a Roman
Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going.
I can no more.

CLEOPATRA

Noblest of men, woo’t die?
Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty? O see, my women,
The crown o’ th’ earth doth melt. My lord!

CLEOPATRA

Noblest of men, woo’t die?
Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty? O see, my women,
The crown o’ th’ earth doth melt. My lord!
ANTONY dies
ANTONY dies
65 Oh, withered is the garland of the war.
The soldier’s pole is fall’n! Young boys and girls
Are level now with men. The odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon.
Oh, withered is the garland of the war.
The soldier’s pole is fall’n! Young boys and girls
Are level now with men. The odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon.

CHARMIAN

Oh, quietness, lady!

CHARMIAN

Oh, quietness, lady!
CLEOPATRA swoons
CLEOPATRA swoons

IRAS

70 She’s dead too, our sovereign.

IRAS

She’s dead too, our sovereign.

CHARMIAN

Lady!

CHARMIAN

Lady!

IRAS

Madam!

IRAS

Madam!

CHARMIAN

O madam, madam, madam!

CHARMIAN

O madam, madam, madam!

IRAS

Royal Egypt, Empress!

IRAS

Royal Egypt, Empress!
CLEOPATRA stirs
CLEOPATRA stirs

CHARMIAN

75 Peace, peace, Iras.

CHARMIAN

Peace, peace, Iras.

CLEOPATRA

No more but e’en a woman, and commanded
By such poor passion as the maid that milks
And does the meanest chares. It were for me
To throw my scepter at the injurious gods,
80 To tell them that this world did equal theirs
Till they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught.
Patience is sottish, and impatience does
Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin
To rush into the secret house of death
85 Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?
My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look,
Our lamp is spent, it’s out. Good sirs, take heart.
We’ll bury him, and then, what’s brave, what’s noble,
90 Let’s do ’t after the high Roman fashion
And make death proud to take us. Come, away.
This case of that huge spirit now is cold.
Ah, women, women! Come. We have no friend
But resolution, and the briefest end.

CLEOPATRA

No more but e’en a woman, and commanded
By such poor passion as the maid that milks
And does the meanest chares. It were for me
To throw my scepter at the injurious gods,
To tell them that this world did equal theirs
Till they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught.
Patience is sottish, and impatience does
Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin
To rush into the secret house of death
Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?
My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look,
Our lamp is spent, it’s out. Good sirs, take heart.
We’ll bury him, and then, what’s brave, what’s noble,
Let’s do ’t after the high Roman fashion
And make death proud to take us. Come, away.
This case of that huge spirit now is cold.
Ah, women, women! Come. We have no friend
But resolution, and the briefest end.
Exeunt, those above bearing off ANTONY ’s body Exeunt, those above bearing off ANTONY ’s body

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with CHARMIAN and IRAS
Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with CHARMIAN and IRAS

CLEOPATRA

O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

CLEOPATRA

O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

CHARMIAN

Be comforted, dear madam.

CHARMIAN

Be comforted, dear madam.

CLEOPATRA

No, I will not.
All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,
5 Proportioned to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it.

CLEOPATRA

No, I will not.
All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,
Proportioned to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it.
Enter below DIOMEDES
Enter below DIOMEDES
How now? Is he dead?
How now? Is he dead?

DIOMEDES

His death’s upon him, but not dead.
Look out o’ th’ other side your monument.
His guard have brought him thither.

DIOMEDES

His death’s upon him, but not dead.
Look out o’ th’ other side your monument.
His guard have brought him thither.
Enter below ANTONY , and the guard bearing him
Enter below ANTONY , and the guard bearing him

CLEOPATRA

O sun,
Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in. Darkling stand
The varying shore o’ th’ world! O Antony,
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help!
Help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.

CLEOPATRA

O sun,
Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in. Darkling stand
The varying shore o’ th’ world! O Antony,
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help!
Help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.

ANTONY

Peace!
Not Caesar’s valor hath o’erthrown Antony,
15 But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself.

ANTONY

Peace!
Not Caesar’s valor hath o’erthrown Antony,
But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself.

CLEOPATRA

So it should be, that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony, but woe ’tis so!

CLEOPATRA

So it should be, that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony, but woe ’tis so!

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only
I here importune death awhile, until
20 Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only
I here importune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.

CLEOPATRA

I dare not, dear,
Dear my lord, pardon, I dare not,
Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious show
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
Be brooched with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe.
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honor
Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—
30 Help me, my women—We must draw thee up.
Assist, good friends.

CLEOPATRA

I dare not, dear,
Dear my lord, pardon, I dare not,
Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious show
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
Be brooched with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe.
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honor
Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—
Help me, my women—We must draw thee up.
Assist, good friends.
They begin lifting him
They begin lifting him

ANTONY

Oh, quick, or I am gone.

ANTONY

Oh, quick, or I am gone.

CLEOPATRA

Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
Our strength is all gone into heaviness,
That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,
35 The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up
And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little.
Wishers were ever fools. Oh, come, come, come!

CLEOPATRA

Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
Our strength is all gone into heaviness,
That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,
The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up
And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little.
Wishers were ever fools. Oh, come, come, come!
They heave ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA
They heave ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA
And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived.
Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,
40 Thus would I wear them out.
And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived.
Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out.
She kisses him
She kisses him

ALL

A heavy sight!

ALL

A heavy sight!

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying.
Give me some wine and let me speak a little.

ANTONY

I am dying, Egypt, dying.
Give me some wine and let me speak a little.

CLEOPATRA

No, let me speak, and let me rail so high
That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,
Provoked by my offense.

CLEOPATRA

No, let me speak, and let me rail so high
That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,
Provoked by my offense.

ANTONY

One word, sweet Queen:
Of Caesar seek your honor, with your safety—Oh!

ANTONY

One word, sweet Queen:
Of Caesar seek your honor, with your safety—Oh!

CLEOPATRA

They do not go together.

CLEOPATRA

They do not go together.

ANTONY

Gentle, hear me.
None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

ANTONY

Gentle, hear me.
None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

CLEOPATRA

50 My resolution and my hands I’ll trust,
None about Caesar.

CLEOPATRA

My resolution and my hands I’ll trust,
None about Caesar.

ANTONY

The miserable change now at my end
Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts
In feeding them with those my former fortunes,
Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’ th’ world,
The noblest, and do now not basely die,
Not cowardly put off my helmet to
My countryman—a Roman by a Roman
Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going.
60 I can no more.

ANTONY

The miserable change now at my end
Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts
In feeding them with those my former fortunes,
Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’ th’ world,
The noblest, and do now not basely die,
Not cowardly put off my helmet to
My countryman—a Roman by a Roman
Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going.
I can no more.

CLEOPATRA

Noblest of men, woo’t die?
Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty? O see, my women,
The crown o’ th’ earth doth melt. My lord!

CLEOPATRA

Noblest of men, woo’t die?
Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty? O see, my women,
The crown o’ th’ earth doth melt. My lord!
ANTONY dies
ANTONY dies
65 Oh, withered is the garland of the war.
The soldier’s pole is fall’n! Young boys and girls
Are level now with men. The odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon.
Oh, withered is the garland of the war.
The soldier’s pole is fall’n! Young boys and girls
Are level now with men. The odds is gone,
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon.

CHARMIAN

Oh, quietness, lady!

CHARMIAN

Oh, quietness, lady!
CLEOPATRA swoons
CLEOPATRA swoons

IRAS

70 She’s dead too, our sovereign.

IRAS

She’s dead too, our sovereign.

CHARMIAN

Lady!

CHARMIAN

Lady!

IRAS

Madam!

IRAS

Madam!

CHARMIAN

O madam, madam, madam!

CHARMIAN

O madam, madam, madam!

IRAS

Royal Egypt, Empress!

IRAS

Royal Egypt, Empress!
CLEOPATRA stirs
CLEOPATRA stirs

CHARMIAN

75 Peace, peace, Iras.

CHARMIAN

Peace, peace, Iras.

CLEOPATRA

No more but e’en a woman, and commanded
By such poor passion as the maid that milks
And does the meanest chares. It were for me
To throw my scepter at the injurious gods,
80 To tell them that this world did equal theirs
Till they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught.
Patience is sottish, and impatience does
Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin
To rush into the secret house of death
85 Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?
My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look,
Our lamp is spent, it’s out. Good sirs, take heart.
We’ll bury him, and then, what’s brave, what’s noble,
90 Let’s do ’t after the high Roman fashion
And make death proud to take us. Come, away.
This case of that huge spirit now is cold.
Ah, women, women! Come. We have no friend
But resolution, and the briefest end.

CLEOPATRA

No more but e’en a woman, and commanded
By such poor passion as the maid that milks
And does the meanest chares. It were for me
To throw my scepter at the injurious gods,
To tell them that this world did equal theirs
Till they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught.
Patience is sottish, and impatience does
Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin
To rush into the secret house of death
Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?
My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look,
Our lamp is spent, it’s out. Good sirs, take heart.
We’ll bury him, and then, what’s brave, what’s noble,
Let’s do ’t after the high Roman fashion
And make death proud to take us. Come, away.
This case of that huge spirit now is cold.
Ah, women, women! Come. We have no friend
But resolution, and the briefest end.
Exeunt, those above bearing off ANTONY ’s body Exeunt, those above bearing off ANTONY ’s body