Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/131

Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii [To Proculeius and the Guard.] Guard her till Cæsar come.

[Exit.]

Iras. Royal queen!

Char. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen.

Cleo. Quick, quick, good hands.

[Drawing a dagger.]

Pro. Hold, worthy lady, hold!

Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this

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

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.

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

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

 56 varletry: rabble

