Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/141

Antony and Cleopatra, V. ii

harm in their women, for in every ten that they

make, the devils mar five.

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell.

Clo. Yes, forsooth; I wish you joy of the

worm.

Cleo. 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 Cæsar, 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.

Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?

If 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 thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world

It is not worth leave-taking.

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

 295 aspic: asp

