Since death sweeps all distinctions； farewell； friend！ That's all I will not make a business of a trifle； And yet I cannot look on you； and kill you； Pray turn your face。
ANTONY。 I do： strike home； be sure。
VENTIDIUS。 Home as my sword will reach。 ＇Kills himself。＇
ANTONY。 Oh； thou mistak'st； That wound was not of thine； give it me back： Thou robb'st me of my death。
VENTIDIUS。 I do indeed； But think 'tis the first time I e'er deceived you； If that may plead my pardon。And you； gods； Forgive me； if you will； for I die perjured； Rather than kill my friend。 ＇Dies。＇
ANTONY。 Farewell！ Ever my leader； even in death！ My queen and thou have got the start of me； And I'm the lag of honour。Gone so soon？ Is Death no more？ he used him carelessly； With a familiar kindness： ere he knocked； Ran to the door； and took him in his arms； As who should sayYou're welcome at all hours； A friend need give no warning。 Books had spoiled him； For all the learned are cowards by profession。 'Tis not worth My further thought； for death； for aught I know； Is but to think no more。 Here's to be satisfied。 ＇Falls on his sword。＇ I've missed my heart。 O unperforming hand！ Thou never couldst have erred in a worse time。 My fortune jades me to the last； and death； Like a great man； takes state； and makes me wait For my admittance。 ＇Trampling within。＇ Some； perhaps； from Caesar： If he should find me living； and suspect That I played booty with my life！ I'll mend My work； ere they can reach me。 ＇Rises upon his knees。＇
Enter CLEOPATRA； CHARMION； and IRAS
CLEOPATRA。 Where is my lord？ where is he？
CHARMION。 There he lies； And dead Ventidius by him。
CLEOPATRA。 My tears were prophets； I am come too late。 O that accursed Alexas！ ＇Runs to him。＇
ANTONY。 Art thou living？ Or am I dead before I knew； and thou The first kind ghost that meets me？
CLEOPATRA。 Help me seat him。 Send quickly； send for help！ ＇They place him in a chair。＇
ANTONY。 I am answered。 We live both。 Sit thee down； my Cleopatra： I'll make the most I can of life； to stay A moment more with thee。
CLEOPATRA。 How is it with you？
ANTONY。 'Tis as with a man Removing in a hurry； all packed up； But one dear jewel that his haste forgot； And he； for that； returns upon the spur： So I come back for thee。
CLEOPATRA。 Too long； ye heavens； you have been cruel to me： Now show your mended faith； and give me back His fleeting life！
ANTONY。 It will not be； my love； I keep my soul by force。 Say but； thou art not false。
CLEOPATRA。 'Tis now too late To say I'm true： I'll prove it； and die with you。 Unknown to me； Alexas feigned my death： Which； when I knew； I hasted to prevent This fatal consequence。 My fleet betrayed Both you and me。
ANTONY。 And Dolabella
CLEOPATRA。 Scarce Esteemed before he loved； but hated now。
ANTONY。 Enough： my life's not long enough for more。 Thou say'st； thou wilt come after： I believe thee； For I can now believe whate'er thou sayest； That we may part more kindly。
CLEOPATRA。 I will come： Doubt not； my life； I'll come； and quickly too： Caesar shall triumph o'er no part of thee。
ANTONY。 But grieve not； while thou stayest； My last disastrous times： Think we have had a clear and glorious day And Heaven did kindly to delay the storm； Just till our close of evening。 Ten years' love； And not a moment lost； but all improved To the utmost joys；what ages have we lived？ And now to die each other's； and； so dying； While hand in hand we walk in groves below； Whole troops of lovers' ghosts shall flock about us； And all the train be ours。
CLEOPATRA。 Your words are like the notes of dying swans； Too sweet to last。 Were there so many hours For your unkindness； and not one for love？
ANTONY。 No； not a minute。This one kissmore worth Than all I leave to Caesar。 ＇Dies。＇
CLEOPATRA。 O tell me so again； And take ten thousand kisses for that word。 My lord； my lord！ speak； if you yet have being； Sign to me； if you cannot speak； or cast One look！ Do anything that shows you live。
IRAS。 He's gone too far to hear you； And this you see； a lump of senseless clay； The leavings of a soul。
CHARMION。 Remember； madam； He charged you not to grieve。
CLEOPATRA。 And I'll obey him。 I have not loved a Roman； not to know What should become his wife； his wife； my Charmion！ For 'tis to that high title I aspire； And now I'll not die less。 Let dull Octavia Survive； to mourn him dead： My nobler fate Shall knit our spousals with a tie； too strong For Roman laws to break。
IRAS。 Will you then die？
CLEOPATRA。 Why shouldst thou make that question？
IRAS。 Caesar is merciful。
CLEOPATRA。 Let him be so To those that want his mercy： My poor lord Made no such covenant with him； to spare me When he was dead。 Yield me to Caesar's pride？ What！ to be led in triumph through the streets； A spectacle to base plebeian eyes； While some dejected friend of Antony's； Close in a corner； shakes his head； and mutters A secret curse on her who ruined him！ I'll none of that。
CHARMION。 Whatever you resolve； I'll follow； even to death。
IRAS。 I only feared For you； but more should fear to live without you。
CLEOPATRA。 Why； now； 'tis as it should be。 Quick； my friends； Despatch； ere this； the town's in Caesar's hands： My lord looks down concerned； and fears my stay； Lest I should be surprised； Keep him not waiting for his love too long。 You； Charmion； bring my crown and richest jewels； With them； the wreath of victory I made （Vain augury！） for him； who now lies dead： You； Iras； bring the cure of all our ills。
IRAS。 The aspics； madam？
CLEOPATRA。 Must I bid you twice？ ＇Exit CHARMION and IRAS。＇ 'Tis sweet to die； when they would force life on me； To rush into the dark abode of death； And seize him first； if he be like my love； He is not frightful； sure。 We're now alone； in secrecy and silence； And is not this like lovers？ I may kiss These pale； cold lips； Octavia does not see me： And； oh！ 'tis better far to have him thus； Than see him in her arms。Oh； welcome； welcome！
Enter CHARMION and IRAS
CHARMION。 What must be done？
CLEOPATRA。 Short ceremony； friends； But yet it must be decent。 First； this laurel Shall crown my hero's head： he fell not basely； Nor left his shield behind him。Only thou Couldst triumph o'er thyself； and thou alone Wert worthy so to triumph。
CHARMION。 To what end These ensigns of your pomp and royalty？
CLEOPATRA。 Dull； that thou art！ why 'tis to meet my love； As when I saw him first； on Cydnus' bank； All sparkling； like a goddess： so adorned； I'll find him once again； my second spousals Shall match my first in glory。 Haste； haste； both； And dress the bride of Antony。
CHARMION。 'Tis done。
CLEOPATRA。 Now seat me by my lord。 I claim this place； For I must conquer Caesar too； like him； And win my share of the world。Hail； you dear relics Of my immortal love！ O let no impious hand remove you hence： But rest for ever here！ Let Egypt give His death that peace； which it denied his life。 Reach me the casket。
IRAS。 Underneath the fruit The aspic lies。
CLEOPATRA。 Welcome； thou kind deceiver！ ＇Putting aside the leaves。＇ Thou best of thieves： who； with an easy key； Dost open life； and； unperceived by us； Even steal us from ourselves； discharging so Death's dreadful office； better than himself； Touching our limbs so gently into slumber； That Death stands by； deceived by his own image； And thinks himself but sleep。
SERAPION。 The queen； where is she？ ＇Within。＇ The town is yielded； Caesar's at the gates。
CLEOPATRA。 He comes too late to invade the rights of death！ Haste； bare my arm； and rouse the serpent's fury。 ＇Holds out her arm； and draws it back。＇ Coward flesh； Wouldst thou conspire with Caesar to betray me； As thou wert none of mine？ I'll force thee to it； And not be sent by him； But bring； myself； my soul to Antony。 ＇Turns aside； and then shows her arm bloody。＇ Take hence； the work is done。
SERAPION。 Break ope the door； ＇Within。＇ And guard the traitor well。
CHARMION。 The next is ours。
IRAS。 Now； Charmion； to be worthy Of our great queen and mistress。 ＇They apply the aspics。＇
CLEOPATRA。 Already； death； I feel thee in my veins： I go with such a will to find my lord； That we shall quickly meet。 A heavy numbness creeps through every limb； And now 'tis at my head： My eyelids fall； And my dear love is vanquished in a mist。 Where shall I find him； where？ O turn me to him； And lay me on his breast！Caesar； thy worst； Now part us； if thou canst。 ＇Dies。＇ ＇IRAS sinks down at her feet； and dies； CHARMION stands behind her chair； as dressing her head。＇
Enter SERAPION； two PRIESTS； ALEXAS bound； EGYPTIANS
PRIEST。 Behold； Serapion； What havoc death has made！
SERAPION。 'Twas what I feared。 Charmion； is this well done？
CHARMION。 Yes； 'tis well done； and like a queen； the last Of her great race： I follow her。 ＇Sinks down： dies。＇
ALEXAS。 'Tis true； She has done well： Much better thus to die； Than live to make a holiday in Rome。
SERAPION。 See how the lovers sit in state together； As they were giving laws to half mankind！ The impression of a smile； left in her face； Shows she died pleased with him for whom she lived； And went to charm him in another world。 Caesar's just entering： grief has now no leisure。 Secure that villain； as our pledge of safety； To grace the imperial triumph。Sleep； blest pair； Secure from human chance； long ages out； While all the storms of fate fly o'er your tomb； And fame to late posterity shall tell； No lovers lived so great； or died so well。 ＇Exeunt。＇
EPILOGUE
Poets； like disputants； when reasons fail； Have one sure refuge leftand that's to rail。 Fop； coxcomb； fool； are thundered through the pit； And this is all their equipage of wit。 We wonder how the devil this difference grows Betwixt our fools in verse； and yours in prose： For； 'faith； the quarrel rightly understood； 'Tis civil war with their own flesh and blood。 The threadbare author hates the gaudy coat； And swears at the gilt coach； but swears afoot： For 'tis observed of every scribbling man； He grows a fop as fast as e'er he can； Prunes up； and asks his oracle；