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,

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 despatch. O, couldst thou speak!
That I might hear thee call great Cæsar, ass
Unpolicied!

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;-

What should I stay

[Applying another asp to her arm. [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 unparalleled.-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.

1 Guard. Where's the queen? Char.

1 Guard. Cæsar hath sentChar.

Speak softly, wake her not.

Too slow a messenger. [Applies the asp.

O, come apace, despatch; I partly feel thee.

1 Guard. Approach, ho! All's not well; Cæsar's beguiled. 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!

Dol. How goes it here?

2 Guard.

Dol.

[Dies.

Enter DOLABELLA.

All dead.

Cæsar, thy thoughts

Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming
To see performed the dreaded act, which thou
So sought'st to hinder.

Within.

A way there! a way for Cæsar!

Enter CESAR and Attendants.

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

Cæs.

Bravest at the last.

She levelled 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? 1 Guard. A simple countryman, that brought her figs; This was his basket.

Cæs.

1 Guard.

Poisoned, then.

O Cæsar,

This Charmian lived but now; she stood, and spake.
I found her trimming up the diadem

On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,

And on the sudden dropped.

Cæs.

O noble weakness!

If they had swallowed poison, 'twould appear
By external swelling; but she looks like sleep,
As she would catch another Antony

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

1 Guard. This is an aspic's trail; and these fig-leaves 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 pursued 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

CYMBELINE.

95

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CYMBELINE, King of Britain.

CLOTEN, Son to the Queen by a former Husband.

LEONATUS POSTHUMUS, a Gentleman, Husband to Imogen

BELARIUS, a banished Lord, disguised under the name of Morgan

under names of

GUIDERIUS, Sons to Cymbeline, disguised under the names of ARVIRAGUS, Polydore and Cadwal, supposed Sons to Belarius. PHILARIO, Friend to Posthumus,} Italians.

IACHIMO, Friend to Philario,

A French Gentleman, Friend to Philario.
CAIUS LUCIUS, General of the Roman Forces.

A Roman Captain. Two British Captains.

PISANIO, Servant to Posthumus.

CORNELIUS, a Physician.

Two Gentlemen

Two Jailers.

Queen, Wife to Cymbeline.

IMOGEN, Daughter to Cymbeline by a former Queen.
HELEN, Woman to Imogen.

Lords, Ladies, Roman Senators, Tribunes, Apparitions, a Sooth

sayer, a Dutch Gentleman, a Spanish Gentleman, Musicians, Officers, Captains, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, sometimes in Britain; sometimes in Italy.

96