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 show their shoulders.—Friends, be gone;
I have myself resolv'd upon a course,
Which has no need of you; 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 doting.—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^{2 note}
Which leaves itself: 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 command,
Therefore, I pray you. I'll see you by and by. [Sits down. Enter Eros, and Cleopatra, led by Charmian, and Iras^{3 note}.

Eros.
Nay, gentle madam, to him; comfort him.

Iras.
Do, most dear queen.

Char.
Do! Why, what else?

Cleo.
Let me sit down. O Juno!

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

Eros.
See you here, sir?

Ant.
O fie, fie, fie!

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 dancer, while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry^{4 note}, and no practice had
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 unqualitied with very shame.

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 comfort 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 shame out of thine eyes,
By looking back 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 strings,
And thou should'st tow me after^{5 note}: o'er my spirit
The full supremacy 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.
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, within there, and our viands!—Fortune knows,
We scorn her most when most she offers blows. [Exeunt.

Previous section

Next section