Welcome to PhiloLogic  
   home |  the ARTFL project |  download |  documentation |  sample databases |   
James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
To look up a word in a dictionary, select the word with your mouse and press 'd' on your keyboard.

Previous section

Next section

SCENE IX. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter Antony, and Attendants.

Ant.
Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon't,
It is asham'd to bear me!—Friends, come hither,

-- 309 --


I am so lated in the world2 note


, that I
Have lost my way for ever:—I have a ship
Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly,
And make your peace with Cæsar.

Att.
Fly! not we.

Ant.
I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards
To run, and show their shoulders.—Friends, be gone;
I have myself resolv'd upon a course,
Which has no need of you; be gone3 note
:
My treasure's in the harbour, take it.—O,
I follow'd that I blush to look upon:
My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting.—Friends, be gone; you shall
Have letters from me to some friends, that will
Sweep your way for you4 note

. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself5 note
: to the sea side straightway:
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little: 'pray you now:—
Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command6 note


,

-- 310 --


Therefore I pray you:—I'll see you by and by. [Sits down. Enter Eros, and Cleopatra, led by Charmian and Iras.

Eros.
Nay, gentle madam, to him:—Comfort him.

Iras.
Do, most dear queen.

Char.
Do! Why, what else7 note?

Cleo.
Let me sit down. O Juno!

Ant.
No, no, no, no, no.

Eros.
See you here, sir?

Ant.
O fye, fye, fye.

Char.
Madam,—

Iras.
Madam; O good empress!—

Eros.
Sir, sir,—

Ant.
Yes, my lord, yes;—He, at Philippi, kept
His sword e'en like a dancer8 note









; while I struck

-- 311 --


The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I,
That the mad Brutus ended9 note
: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry1 note















, and no practice had

-- 312 --


In the brave squares of war: Yet now—No matter.

Cleo.
Ah, stand by.

Eros.
The queen, my lord, the queen.

Iras.
Go to him, madam, speak to him;
He is unqualitied2 note



with very shame.

-- 313 --

Cleo.
Well then,—Sustain me:—O!

Eros.
Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches;
Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her; but
Your comfort3 note

makes the rescue.

Ant.
I have offended reputation;
A most unnoble swerving.

Eros.
Sir, the queen.

Ant.
O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See,
How I convey my shame4 note out of thine eyes
By looking back on what I have left behind
'Stroy'd in dishonour.

Cleo.
O my lord, my lord!
Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought,
You would have follow'd.

Ant.
Egypt, thou knew'st too well,
My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings5 note




,
And thou should'st tow6 note me after: O'er my spirit

-- 314 --


Thy full supremacy7 note thou knew'st; and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
Command me.

Cleo.
O, my pardon.

Ant.
Now I must
To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness; who
With half the bulk o' the world play'd as I pleas'd,
Making, and marring fortunes. You did know,
How much you were my conqueror; and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.

Cleo.
O pardon, pardon.

Ant.
Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
All that is won and lost: Give me a kiss;
Even this repays me.—We sent our schoolmaster,
Is he come back?—Love, I am full of lead:
Some wine, within8 note there, and our viands:—Fortune knows,
We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
[Exeunt.
Previous section

Next section


James Boswell [1821], The plays and poems of William Shakspeare, with the corrections and illustrations of various commentators: comprehending A Life of the Poet, and an enlarged history of the stage, by the late Edmond Malone. With a new glossarial index (J. Deighton and Sons, Cambridge) [word count] [S10201].
Powered by PhiloLogic