ABSTRACT
The Tragedy of Cleopatra Wonder it was to see how soone she went, She went with such a will, and did so haste it, That sure I thinke shee did her paine prevent, Fore-going paine, or staying not to taste it. And sencelesse, in her sinking downe she wries The Diademe which on her head shee wore, Which Charmion (poore weake feeble maid) espies, And hastes to right it as it was before. For Eras now was dead, and Charmion too Even at the poynt, for both would immitate Their Mistresse glorie, striving like to doo. But Charmion would in this exceedc her mate, For she would have this honour to be last, That should adorne that head that must be seene To weare a Crowne in death, that life held fast, That all the world may know she dide a Queene. And as she stoode setting it fitly on, Loe, in rush CtEsars messengers in haste, Thinking to have prevented what was done, But yet they came too late, for all was past. For there they found stretcht on a bed of golde, Dead Cleopatra, and that prowdly dead, In all the rich attire procure she could, And dying Charmion trimming of her head, And Eras at her feete, dead in like case. Chm-mion, is this well done? saide one of them. Yea, well saide she, and her that from the race Of so great Kings descends, doth best become. And with that word, yeelds to her faith full breath, To passe th'assurance of her love with death.
