The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1 Enter Antony with attendants.
2 ANTONY.
3 Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon’t.
4 It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither.
5 I am so lated in the world that I
6 Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship
7 Laden with gold. Take that, divide it. Fly,
8 And make your peace with Caesar.
9 ALL.
10 Fly? Not we.
11 ANTONY.
12 I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
13 To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone.
14 I have myself resolved upon a course
15 Which has no need of you. Be gone.
16 My treasure’s in the harbour. Take it. O,
17 I followed that I blush to look upon.
18 My very hairs do mutiny, for the white
19 Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
20 For fear and doting. Friends, be gone. You shall
21 Have letters from me to some friends that will
22 Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
23 Nor make replies of loathness. Take the hint
24 Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
25 Which leaves itself. To the sea-side straightway.
26 I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
27 Leave me, I pray, a little—pray you, now,
28 Nay, do so; for indeed I have lost command.
29 Therefore I pray you. I’ll see you by and by.
30 [_Sits down._]
31 Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian, Iras and Eros.
32 EROS.
33 Nay, gentle madam, to him! Comfort him.
34 IRAS.
35 Do, most dear queen.
36 CHARMIAN.
37 Do! Why, what else?
38 CLEOPATRA.
39 Let me sit down. O Juno!
40 ANTONY.
41 No, no, no, no, no.
42 EROS.
43 See you here, sir?
44 ANTONY.
45 O, fie, fie, fie!
46 CHARMIAN.
47 Madam.
48 IRAS.
49 Madam, O good empress!
50 EROS.
51 Sir, sir!
52 ANTONY.
53 Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
54 His sword e’en like a dancer, while I struck
55 The lean and wrinkled Cassius, and ’twas I
56 That the mad Brutus ended. He alone
57 Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
58 In the brave squares of war. Yet now—no matter.
59 CLEOPATRA.
60 Ah, stand by.
61 EROS.
62 The Queen, my lord, the Queen!
63 IRAS.
64 Go to him, madam; speak to him.
65 He is unqualitied with very shame.
66 CLEOPATRA.
67 Well then, sustain me. O!
68 EROS.
69 Most noble sir, arise. The Queen approaches.
70 Her head’s declined, and death will seize her but
71 Your comfort makes the rescue.
72 ANTONY.
73 I have offended reputation,
74 A most unnoble swerving.
75 EROS.
76 Sir, the Queen.
77 ANTONY.
78 O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
79 How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
80 By looking back what I have left behind
81 ’Stroyed in dishonour.
82 CLEOPATRA.
83 O my lord, my lord,
84 Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
85 You would have followed.
86 ANTONY.
87 Egypt, thou knew’st too well
88 My heart was to thy rudder tied by th’ strings,
89 And thou shouldst tow me after. O’er my spirit
90 Thy full supremacy thou knew’st, and that
91 Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
92 Command me.
93 CLEOPATRA.
94 O, my pardon!
95 ANTONY.
96 Now I must
97 To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
98 And palter in the shifts of lowness, who
99 With half the bulk o’ th’ world played as I pleased,
100 Making and marring fortunes. You did know
101 How much you were my conqueror, and that
102 My sword, made weak by my affection, would
103 Obey it on all cause.
104 CLEOPATRA.
105 Pardon, pardon!
106 ANTONY.
107 Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
108 All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss.
109 Even this repays me.
110 We sent our schoolmaster. Is he come back?
111 Love, I am full of lead. Some wine
112 Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
113 We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
114 [_Exeunt._]