O, withered is the garland of the war
Cleopatra
O, 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
O, quietness, lady!
Cleopatra swoons.
Iras
She's dead, too, our sovereign.
Charmian
Lady!
Iras
Madam!
Charmian
O madam, madam, madam!
Iras
Royal Egypt! Empress!
Cleopatra stirs.
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,
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.
They exit, bearing off Antony's body.