Ant.
Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon't,
It is asham'd to bear me.—Friends, come hither;
I am so lated in the world, 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 shew their shoulders. Friends, begone:
I have myself resolv'd upon a course
Which has no need of you; be gone, be gone:
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 doating.—Friends, be gone; you shall
Have letters from me to some friends, that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of lothness: take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straight away;
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 command,
Therefore I pray you: I'll see you by and by* ^note. [Exeunt. Attendants. Throws himself on a Couch. Enter Eros, with Cleopatra, led by Iras and Charmian.

Ero.
Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

Ira.
Do, most dear queen.

Cha.
Do! why, what else?

Cle.
Let me sit down. O Juno!

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

Ero.
See you here, sir?

Ant.
O fie, fie, fie.

Cha.
Madam,—

Ira.
Madam, good empress,—

Ero.
Sir, sir,—

Ant.
Yes, my lord, yes;—he, at Philippi, kept
His sword even like a dancer; while I strook
The lean and wrinkl'd Cassius: and 'twas I,
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
† ^noteIn the brave squares of war: yet now—No matter.

Cle.
Ah me!—Stand by.

Ero.
The queen, my lord, the queen.

Ira.
Go to him, madam, speak to him; he is unquality'd
With very shame.

Cle.
Well then,—Sustain me:—O!

Ero.
Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches;
Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her; but
Your comfort makes the rescue.

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

Ero.
Sir, the queen.

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

Cle.
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 ty'd by the strings,
And thou should'st tow me after: O'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st; and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
Command me.

Cle.
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 causes.

Cle.
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 school-master,
Is he come back?—Love, I am full of lead:

Some wine, there, and our viands:—Fortune knows,
We scorn her most, when most she offers blows† ^note.

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