ACT IVSCENE I. Caesar’s Camp at Alexandria.EnterCaesar, Agrippa,andMaecenas,with his army.Caesarreading a letter.CAESAR.He calls me boy, and chides as he had powerTo beat me out of Egypt. My messengerHe hath whipped with rods; dares me to personal combat,Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian knowI have many other ways to die; meantimeLaugh at his challenge.MAECENAS.Caesar must think,When one so great begins to rage, he’s huntedEven to falling. Give him no breath, but nowMake boot of his distraction. Never angerMade good guard for itself.CAESAR.Let our best headsKnow that tomorrow the last of many battlesWe mean to fight. Within our files there are,Of those that served Mark Antony but late,Enough to fetch him in. See it done,And feast the army; we have store to do’t,And they have earned the waste. Poor Antony![Exeunt.]SCENE II. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.EnterAntony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexaswith others.ANTONY.He will not fight with me, Domitius?ENOBARBUS.No.ANTONY.Why should he not?ENOBARBUS.He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,He is twenty men to one.ANTONY.Tomorrow, soldier,By sea and land I’ll fight. Or I will live,Or bathe my dying honour in the bloodShall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well?ENOBARBUS.I’ll strike, and cry “Take all.”ANTONY.Well said. Come on.Call forth my household servants. Let’s tonightBe bounteous at our meal.—EnterServants.Give me thy hand.Thou has been rightly honest; so hast thou,Thou, and thou, and thou. You have served me well,And kings have been your fellows.CLEOPATRA.[Aside to Enobarbus.] What means this?ENOBARBUS.[Aside to Cleopatra.] ’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shootsOut of the mind.ANTONY.And thou art honest too.I wish I could be made so many men,And all of you clapped up together inAn Antony, that I might do you serviceSo good as you have done.ALL THE SERVANTS.The gods forbid!ANTONY.Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight.Scant not my cups, and make as much of meAs when mine empire was your fellow tooAnd suffered my command.CLEOPATRA.[Aside to Enobarbus.] What does he mean?ENOBARBUS.[Aside to Cleopatra.] To make his followers weep.ANTONY.Tend me tonight;May be it is the period of your duty.Haply you shall not see me more, or if,A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrowYou’ll serve another master. I look on youAs one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,I turn you not away, but, like a masterMarried to your good service, stay till death.Tend me tonight two hours, I ask no more,And the gods yield you for’t!ENOBARBUS.What mean you, sir,To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep,And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame,Transform us not to women.ANTONY.Ho, ho, ho!Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends,You take me in too dolorous a sense,For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire youTo burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts,I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead youWhere rather I’ll expect victorious lifeThan death and honour. Let’s to supper, come,And drown consideration.[Exeunt.]SCENE III. Alexandria. Before the Palace.Enter a Company ofSoldiers.FIRST SOLDIER.Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.SECOND SOLDIER.It will determine one way. Fare you well.Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?FIRST SOLDIER.Nothing. What news?SECOND SOLDIER.Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you.FIRST SOLDIER.Well, sir, good night.Enter two otherSoldiers.SECOND SOLDIER.Soldiers, have careful watch.THIRD SOLDIER.And you. Good night, good night.[They place themselves in every corner of the stage.]SECOND SOLDIER.Here we. And if tomorrowOur navy thrive, I have an absolute hopeOur landmen will stand up.FIRST SOLDIER.’Tis a brave army, and full of purpose.[Music of the hautboys under the stage.]SECOND SOLDIER.Peace, what noise?FIRST SOLDIER.List, list!SECOND SOLDIER.Hark!FIRST SOLDIER.Music i’ th’ air.THIRD SOLDIER.Under the earth.FOURTH SOLDIER.It signs well, does it not?THIRD SOLDIER.No.FIRST SOLDIER.Peace, I say! What should this mean?SECOND SOLDIER.’Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,Now leaves him.FIRST SOLDIER.Walk. Let’s see if other watchmenDo hear what we do.[They advance to another post.]SECOND SOLDIER.How now, masters!ALL.How now! How now! Do you hear this?FIRST SOLDIER.Ay. Is’t not strange?THIRD SOLDIER.Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?FIRST SOLDIER.Follow the noise so far as we have quarter.Let’s see how it will give off.ALL.Content. ’Tis strange.[Exeunt.]SCENE IV. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.EnterAntonyandCleopatrawith others.ANTONY.Eros! Mine armour, Eros!CLEOPATRA.Sleep a little.ANTONY.No, my chuck.—Eros! Come, mine armour, Eros!EnterEroswith armour.Come, good fellow, put thine iron on.If fortune be not ours today, it isBecause we brave her. Come.CLEOPATRA.Nay, I’ll help too.What’s this for?ANTONY.Ah, let be, let be! Thou artThe armourer of my heart. False, false. This, this!CLEOPATRA.Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be.ANTONY.Well, well,We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?Go put on thy defences.EROS.Briefly, sir.CLEOPATRA.Is not this buckled well?ANTONY.Rarely, rarely.He that unbuckles this, till we do pleaseTo daff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.Thou fumblest, Eros, and my queen’s a squireMore tight at this than thou. Dispatch. O love,That thou couldst see my wars today, and knew’stThe royal occupation, thou shouldst seeA workman in’t.Enter anOfficer,armed.Good morrow to thee. Welcome.Thou look’st like him that knows a warlike charge.To business that we love we rise betimeAnd go to’t with delight.OFFICER.A thousand, sir,Early though’t be, have on their riveted trimAnd at the port expect you.[Shout. Trumpets flourish.]Enter otherCaptainsand Soldiers.CAPTAIN.The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.ALL.Good morrow, general.ANTONY.’Tis well blown, lads.This morning, like the spirit of a youthThat means to be of note, begins betimes.So, so. Come, give me that. This way. Well said.Fare thee well, dame.Whate’er becomes of me,This is a soldier’s kiss. [Kisses her.] RebukeableAnd worthy shameful check it were, to standOn more mechanic compliment. I’ll leave theeNow like a man of steel.—You that will fight,Follow me close, I’ll bring you to’t. Adieu.[ExeuntAntony, Eros,Captains and Soldiers.]CHARMIAN.Please you, retire to your chamber.CLEOPATRA.Lead me.He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar mightDetermine this great war in single fight!Then Antony—but now—. Well, on.[Exeunt.]SCENE V. Antony’s camp near Alexandria.Trumpets sound. EnterAntonyandEros,aSoldiermeeting them.SOLDIER.The gods make this a happy day to Antony!ANTONY.Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailedTo make me fight at land!SOLDIER.Hadst thou done so,The kings that have revolted and the soldierThat has this morning left thee would have stillFollowed thy heels.ANTONY.Who’s gone this morning?SOLDIER.Who?One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus,He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s campSay “I am none of thine.”ANTONY.What sayest thou?SOLDIER.Sir,He is with Caesar.EROS.Sir, his chests and treasureHe has not with him.ANTONY.Is he gone?SOLDIER.Most certain.ANTONY.Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him—I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings.Say that I wish he never find more causeTo change a master. O, my fortunes haveCorrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus![Exeunt.]SCENE VI. Alexandria. Caesar’s camp.Flourish. EnterAgrippa, CaesarwithEnobarbusandDolabella.CAESAR.Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.Our will is Antony be took alive;Make it so known.AGRIPPA.Caesar, I shall.[Exit.]CAESAR.The time of universal peace is near.Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked worldShall bear the olive freely.Enter aMessenger.MESSENGER.AntonyIs come into the field.CAESAR.Go charge AgrippaPlant those that have revolted in the vanThat Antony may seem to spend his furyUpon himself.[ExeuntCaesarand his Train.]ENOBARBUS.Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry onAffairs of Antony; there did dissuadeGreat Herod to incline himself to CaesarAnd leave his master Antony. For this painsCaesar hath hanged him. Canidius and the restThat fell away have entertainment butNo honourable trust. I have done ill,Of which I do accuse myself so sorelyThat I will joy no more.Enter aSoldierof Caesar’s.SOLDIER.Enobarbus, AntonyHath after thee sent all thy treasure, withHis bounty overplus. The messengerCame on my guard, and at thy tent is nowUnloading of his mules.ENOBARBUS.I give it you.SOLDIER.Mock not, Enobarbus.I tell you true. Best you safed the bringerOut of the host. I must attend mine office,Or would have done’t myself. Your emperorContinues still a Jove.[Exit.]ENOBARBUS.I am alone the villain of the earth,And feel I am so most. O Antony,Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paidMy better service, when my turpitudeThou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart.If swift thought break it not, a swifter meanShall outstrike thought, but thought will do’t, I feel.I fight against thee! No, I will go seekSome ditch wherein to die; the foul’st best fitsMy latter part of life.[Exit.]SCENE VII. Field of battle between the Camps.Alarum. Drums and Trumpets. EnterAgrippaand others.AGRIPPA.Retire! We have engaged ourselves too far.Caesar himself has work, and our oppressionExceeds what we expected.[Exeunt.]Alarums. EnterAntonyandScaruswounded.SCARUS.O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!Had we done so at first, we had droven them homeWith clouts about their heads.ANTONY.Thou bleed’st apace.SCARUS.I had a wound here that was like a T,But now ’tis made an H.Sounds retreat far off.ANTONY.They do retire.SCARUS.We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have yetRoom for six scotches more.EnterEros.EROS.They are beaten, sir, and our advantage servesFor a fair victory.SCARUS.Let us score their backsAnd snatch ’em up as we take hares, behind.’Tis sport to maul a runner.ANTONY.I will reward theeOnce for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfoldFor thy good valour. Come thee on.SCARUS.I’ll halt after.[Exeunt.]SCENE VIII. Under the Walls of Alexandria.Alarum. EnterAntonyagain in a march;Scaruswith others.ANTONY.We have beat him to his camp. Run one beforeAnd let the Queen know of our gests.Tomorrow,Before the sun shall see’s, we’ll spill the bloodThat has today escaped. I thank you all,For doughty-handed are you, and have foughtNot as you served the cause, but as’t had beenEach man’s like mine. You have shown all Hectors.Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tearsWash the congealment from your wounds and kissThe honoured gashes whole.EnterCleopatra.[To Scarus.] Give me thy hand.To this great fairy I’ll commend thy acts,Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o’ th’ world,Chain mine armed neck. Leap thou, attire and all,Through proof of harness to my heart, and thereRide on the pants triumphing.CLEOPATRA.Lord of lords!O infinite virtue, com’st thou smiling fromThe world’s great snare uncaught?ANTONY.Mine nightingale,We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! Though greyDo something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha’ weA brain that nourishes our nerves and canGet goal for goal of youth. Behold this man.Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand.—Kiss it, my warrior. He hath fought todayAs if a god, in hate of mankind, hadDestroyed in such a shape.CLEOPATRA.I’ll give thee, friend,An armour all of gold. It was a king’s.ANTONY.He has deserved it, were it carbuncledLike holy Phœbus’ car. Give me thy hand.Through Alexandria make a jolly march;Bear our hacked targets like the men that owe them.Had our great palace the capacityTo camp this host, we all would sup togetherAnd drink carouses to the next day’s fate,Which promises royal peril.—Trumpeters,With brazen din blast you the city’s ear;Make mingle with our rattling tabourines,That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,Applauding our approach.[Exeunt.]SCENE IX. Caesar’s camp.Enter aSentryand his company.Enobarbusfollows.SENTRY.If we be not relieved within this hour,We must return to th’ court of guard. The nightIs shiny, and they say we shall embattleBy th’ second hour i’ th’ morn.FIRST WATCH.This last day was a shrewd one to’s.ENOBARBUS.O, bear me witness, night.—SECOND WATCH.What man is this?FIRST WATCH.Stand close and list him.ENOBARBUS.Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,When men revolted shall upon recordBear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus didBefore thy face repent.SENTRY.Enobarbus?SECOND WATCH.Peace! Hark further.ENOBARBUS.O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,That life, a very rebel to my will,May hang no longer on me. Throw my heartAgainst the flint and hardness of my fault,Which, being dried with grief, will break to powderAnd finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,Nobler than my revolt is infamous,Forgive me in thine own particular,But let the world rank me in registerA master-leaver and a fugitive.O Antony! O Antony![Dies.]FIRST WATCH.Let’s speak to him.SENTRY.Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks may concern Caesar.SECOND WATCH.Let’s do so. But he sleeps.SENTRY.Swoons rather, for so bad a prayer as hisWas never yet for sleep.FIRST WATCH.Go we to him.SECOND WATCH.Awake, sir, awake! Speak to us.FIRST WATCH.Hear you, sir?SENTRY.The hand of death hath raught him.[Drums afar off.]Hark! The drumsDemurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear himTo th’ court of guard; he is of note. Our hourIs fully out.SECOND WATCH.Come on, then. He may recover yet.[Exeunt with the body.]SCENE X. Ground between the two Camps.EnterAntonyandScaruswith their army.ANTONY.Their preparation is today by sea;We please them not by land.SCARUS.For both, my lord.ANTONY.I would they’d fight i’ th’ fire or i’ th’ air;We’d fight there too. But this it is: our footUpon the hills adjoining to the cityShall stay with us—order for sea is given;They have put forth the haven—Where their appointment we may best discoverAnd look on their endeavour.[Exeunt.]SCENE XI. Another part of the Ground.EnterCaesarand his army.CAESAR.But being charged, we will be still by land,Which, as I take’t, we shall, for his best forceIs forth to man his galleys. To the vales,And hold our best advantage.[Exeunt.]SCENE XII. Another part of the Ground.Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight. EnterAntonyandScarus.ANTONY.Yet they are not joined. Where yond pine does standI shall discover all. I’ll bring thee wordStraight how ’tis like to go.[Exit.]SCARUS.Swallows have builtIn Cleopatra’s sails their nests. The augursSay they know not, they cannot tell; look grimly,And dare not speak their knowledge. AntonyIs valiant and dejected, and by startsHis fretted fortunes give him hope and fearOf what he has and has not.EnterAntony.ANTONY.All is lost!This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me.My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonderThey cast their caps up and carouse togetherLike friends long lost. Triple-turned whore! ’Tis thouHast sold me to this novice, and my heartMakes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly;For when I am revenged upon my charm,I have done all. Bid them all fly! Be gone![ExitScarus.]O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more.Fortune and Antony part here; even hereDo we shake hands. All come to this! The heartsThat spanieled me at heels, to whom I gaveTheir wishes, do discandy, melt their sweetsOn blossoming Caesar, and this pine is barkedThat overtopped them all. Betray’d I am:O this false soul of Egypt! This grave charm,Whose eye becked forth my wars and called them home,Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,Like a right gypsy hath at fast and looseBeguiled me to the very heart of loss.What, Eros, Eros!EnterCleopatra.Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!CLEOPATRA.Why is my lord enraged against his love?ANTONY.Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deservingAnd blemish Caesar’s triumph. Let him take theeAnd hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians!Follow his chariot, like the greatest spotOf all thy sex; most monster-like be shownFor poor’st diminutives, for dolts, and letPatient Octavia plough thy visage upWith her prepared nails.[ExitCleopatra.]’Tis well thou’rt gone,If it be well to live; but better ’twereThou fell’st into my fury, for one deathMight have prevented many.—Eros, ho!—The shirt of Nessus is upon me. Teach me,Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage.Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o’ th’ moon,And with those hands that grasped the heaviest clubSubdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die.To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fallUnder this plot. She dies for’t.—Eros, ho![Exit.]SCENE XIII. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.EnterCleopatra, Charmian, IrasandMardian.CLEOPATRA.Help me, my women! O, he is more madThan Telamon for his shield; the boar of ThessalyWas never so embossed.CHARMIAN.To th’ monument!There lock yourself and send him word you are dead.The soul and body rive not more in partingThan greatness going off.CLEOPATRA.To th’ monument!Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself.Say that the last I spoke was “Antony”,And word it, prithee, piteously. Hence, Mardian,And bring me how he takes my death.—To th’ monument![Exeunt.]SCENE XIV. Alexandria. Another Room.EnterAntonyandEros.ANTONY.Eros, thou yet behold’st me?EROS.Ay, noble lord.ANTONY.Sometime we see a cloud that’s dragonish,A vapour sometime like a bear or lion,A towered citadel, a pendant rock,A forked mountain, or blue promontoryWith trees upon’t, that nod unto the worldAnd mock our eyes with air. Thou hast seen these signs.They are black vesper’s pageants.EROS.Ay, my lord.ANTONY.That which is now a horse, even with a thoughtThe rack dislimns and makes it indistinctAs water is in water.EROS.It does, my lord.ANTONY.My good knave Eros, now thy captain isEven such a body. Here I am Antony,Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.I made these wars for Egypt, and the Queen,Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine,Which, whilst it was mine, had annexed unto’tA million more, now lost—she, Eros, hasPacked cards with Caesar, and false-played my gloryUnto an enemy’s triumph.Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left usOurselves to end ourselves.EnterMardian.O, thy vile lady!She has robbed me of my sword.MARDIAN.No, Antony,My mistress loved thee and her fortunes mingledWith thine entirely.ANTONY.Hence, saucy eunuch! Peace!She hath betrayed me and shall die the death.MARDIAN.Death of one person can be paid but once,And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst doIs done unto thy hand. The last she spakeWas “Antony! Most noble Antony!”Then in the midst a tearing groan did breakThe name of Antony; it was dividedBetween her heart and lips. She rendered life,Thy name so buried in her.ANTONY.Dead, then?MARDIAN.Dead.ANTONY.Unarm, Eros. The long day’s task is done,And we must sleep.—That thou depart’st hence safeDoes pay thy labour richly. Go.[ExitMardian.]Off, pluck off!The sevenfold shield of Ajax cannot keepThe battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!Heart, once be stronger than thy continent;Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace!No more a soldier. Bruised pieces, go;You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.[ExitEros.]I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, andWeep for my pardon. So it must be, for nowAll length is torture. Since the torch is out,Lie down, and stray no farther. Now all labourMars what it does; yea, very force entanglesItself with strength. Seal then, and all is done.Eros!—I come, my queen.—Eros!—Stay for me.Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand,And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze.Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops,And all the haunt be ours.—Come, Eros, Eros!EnterEros.EROS.What would my lord?ANTONY.Since Cleopatra died,I have lived in such dishonour that the godsDetest my baseness. I, that with my swordQuartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s backWith ships made cities, condemn myself to lackThe courage of a woman; less noble mindThan she which, by her death, our Caesar tells“I am conqueror of myself.” Thou art sworn, Eros,That when the exigent should come, which nowIs come indeed, when I should see behind meTh’ inevitable prosecution ofDisgrace and horror, that on my commandThou then wouldst kill me. Do’t. The time is come.Thou strik’st not me; ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st.Put colour in thy cheek.EROS.The gods withhold me!Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,Though enemy, lost aim and could not?ANTONY.Eros,Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and seeThy master thus with pleached arms, bending downHis corrigible neck, his face subduedTo penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seatOf fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, brandedHis baseness that ensued?EROS.I would not see’t.ANTONY.Come, then, for with a wound I must be cured.Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast wornMost useful for thy country.EROS.O, sir, pardon me!ANTONY.When I did make thee free, swor’st thou not thenTo do this when I bade thee? Do it at once,Or thy precedent services are allBut accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.EROS.Turn from me then that noble countenanceWherein the worship of the whole world lies.ANTONY.Lo thee![Turning from him.]EROS.My sword is drawn.ANTONY.Then let it do at onceThe thing why thou hast drawn it.EROS.My dear master,My captain and my emperor, let me say,Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.ANTONY.’Tis said, man, and farewell.EROS.Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?ANTONY.Now, Eros.EROS.Why, there then! [kills himself]Thus do I escape the sorrowOf Antony’s death.[Dies.]ANTONY.Thrice nobler than myself!Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, whatI should and thou couldst not. My queen and ErosHave by their brave instruction got upon meA nobleness in record. But I will beA bridegroom in my death and run into’tAs to a lover’s bed. Come then, and, Eros,Thy master dies thy scholar. To do thus[Falling on his sword.]I learned of thee. How? Not dead? Not dead?The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!Enter a company of theGuard,one of themDercetus.FIRST GUARD.What’s the noise?ANTONY.I have done my work ill, friends. O, make an endOf what I have begun.SECOND GUARD.The star is fallen.FIRST GUARD.And time is at his period.ALL.Alas, and woe!ANTONY.Let him that loves me strike me dead.FIRST GUARD.Not I.SECOND GUARD.Nor I.THIRD GUARD.Nor anyone.[Exeunt guard.]DERCETUS.Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.This sword but shown to Caesar with this tidings,Shall enter me with him.EnterDiomedes.DIOMEDES.Where’s Antony?DERCETUS.There, Diomed, there.DIOMEDES.Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?[ExitDercetus.]ANTONY.Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword and give meSufficing strokes for death.DIOMEDES.Most absolute lord,My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.ANTONY.When did she send thee?DIOMEDES.Now, my lord.ANTONY.Where is she?DIOMEDES.Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fearOf what hath come to pass. For when she saw—Which never shall be found—you did suspectShe had disposed with Caesar, and that your rageWould not be purged, she sent you word she was dead;But fearing since how it might work, hath sentMe to proclaim the truth, and I am come,I dread, too late.ANTONY.Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.DIOMEDES.What, ho! The emperor’s guard! The guard, what ho!Come, your lord calls!Enter four or five of theGuardof Antony.ANTONY.Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides.’Tis the last service that I shall command you.FIRST GUARD.Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wearAll your true followers out.ALL.Most heavy day!ANTONY.Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fateTo grace it with your sorrows. Bid that welcomeWhich comes to punish us, and we punish it,Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up.I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,And have my thanks for all.[Exeunt, bearingAntony.]SCENE XV. Alexandria. A monument.EnterCleopatraand her maids aloft, withCharmianandIras.CLEOPATRA.O Charmian, I will never go from hence.CHARMIAN.Be comforted, dear madam.CLEOPATRA.No, I will not.All strange and terrible events are welcome,But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,Proportioned to our cause, must be as greatAs that which makes it.Enter, belowDiomedes.How now! Is he dead?DIOMEDES.His death’s upon him, but not dead.Look out o’ th’ other side your monument;His guard have brought him thither.Enter, belowAntonyborne by the Guard.CLEOPATRA.O sun,Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in! Darkling standThe varying shore o’ th’ world. O Antony,Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian! Help, Iras, help!Help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.ANTONY.Peace!Not Caesar’s valour hath o’erthrown Antony,But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself.CLEOPATRA.So it should be, that none but AntonyShould conquer Antony, but woe ’tis so!ANTONY.I am dying, Egypt, dying. OnlyI here importune death awhile untilOf many thousand kisses the poor lastI lay upon thy lips.CLEOPATRA.I dare not, dearDear my lord, pardon. I dare not,Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious showOf the full-fortuned Caesar ever shallBe brooched with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, haveEdge, sting, or operation, I am safe.Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyesAnd still conclusion, shall acquire no honourDemuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—Help me, my women—we must draw thee up.Assist, good friends.ANTONY.O, quick, or I am gone.CLEOPATRA.Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!Our strength is all gone into heaviness;That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee upAnd set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little;Wishers were ever fools. O come, come come,[They heaveAntonyaloft toCleopatra.]And welcome, welcome! Die where thou hast lived;Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,Thus would I wear them out.ALL.A heavy sight!ANTONY.I am dying, Egypt, dying.Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.CLEOPATRA.No, let me speak, and let me rail so highThat the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,Provoked by my offence.ANTONY.One word, sweet queen:Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!CLEOPATRA.They do not go together.ANTONY.Gentle, hear me.None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.CLEOPATRA.My resolution and my hands I’ll trust;None about Caesar.ANTONY.The miserable change now at my endLament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughtsIn feeding them with those my former fortunesWherein I lived the greatest prince o’ th’ world,The noblest; and do now not basely die,Not cowardly put off my helmet toMy countryman; a Roman by a RomanValiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going;I can no more.CLEOPATRA.Noblest of men, woo’t die?Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abideIn this dull world, which in thy absence isNo better than a sty? O, see, my women,[Antonydies.]The crown o’ th’ earth doth melt.—My lord!O, withered is the garland of the war,The soldier’s pole is fallen; young boys and girlsAre level now with men. The odds is gone,And there is nothing left remarkableBeneath the visiting moon.[Faints.]CHARMIAN.O, quietness, lady!IRAS.She is dead too, our sovereign.CHARMIAN.Lady!IRAS.Madam!CHARMIAN.O madam, madam, madam!IRAS.Royal Egypt, Empress!CHARMIAN.Peace, peace, Iras!CLEOPATRA.No more but e’en a woman, and commandedBy such poor passion as the maid that milksAnd does the meanest chares. It were for meTo throw my sceptre at the injurious gods,To tell them that this world did equal theirsTill they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught;Patience is sottish, and impatience doesBecome a dog that’s mad. Then is it sinTo rush into the secret house of deathEre death dare come to us? How do you, women?What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look,Our lamp is spent, it’s out! Good sirs, take heart.We’ll bury him; and then, what’s brave, what’s noble,Let’s do it after the high Roman fashionAnd make death proud to take us. Come, away.This case of that huge spirit now is cold.Ah, women, women! Come, we have no friendBut resolution and the briefest end.[Exeunt, bearing offAntony’sbody.]
EnterCaesar, Agrippa,andMaecenas,with his army.Caesarreading a letter.
CAESAR.He calls me boy, and chides as he had powerTo beat me out of Egypt. My messengerHe hath whipped with rods; dares me to personal combat,Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian knowI have many other ways to die; meantimeLaugh at his challenge.
MAECENAS.Caesar must think,When one so great begins to rage, he’s huntedEven to falling. Give him no breath, but nowMake boot of his distraction. Never angerMade good guard for itself.
CAESAR.Let our best headsKnow that tomorrow the last of many battlesWe mean to fight. Within our files there are,Of those that served Mark Antony but late,Enough to fetch him in. See it done,And feast the army; we have store to do’t,And they have earned the waste. Poor Antony!
[Exeunt.]
EnterAntony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexaswith others.
ANTONY.He will not fight with me, Domitius?
ENOBARBUS.No.
ANTONY.Why should he not?
ENOBARBUS.He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,He is twenty men to one.
ANTONY.Tomorrow, soldier,By sea and land I’ll fight. Or I will live,Or bathe my dying honour in the bloodShall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well?
ENOBARBUS.I’ll strike, and cry “Take all.”
ANTONY.Well said. Come on.Call forth my household servants. Let’s tonightBe bounteous at our meal.—
EnterServants.
Give me thy hand.Thou has been rightly honest; so hast thou,Thou, and thou, and thou. You have served me well,And kings have been your fellows.
CLEOPATRA.[Aside to Enobarbus.] What means this?
ENOBARBUS.[Aside to Cleopatra.] ’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shootsOut of the mind.
ANTONY.And thou art honest too.I wish I could be made so many men,And all of you clapped up together inAn Antony, that I might do you serviceSo good as you have done.
ALL THE SERVANTS.The gods forbid!
ANTONY.Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight.Scant not my cups, and make as much of meAs when mine empire was your fellow tooAnd suffered my command.
CLEOPATRA.[Aside to Enobarbus.] What does he mean?
ENOBARBUS.[Aside to Cleopatra.] To make his followers weep.
ANTONY.Tend me tonight;May be it is the period of your duty.Haply you shall not see me more, or if,A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrowYou’ll serve another master. I look on youAs one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,I turn you not away, but, like a masterMarried to your good service, stay till death.Tend me tonight two hours, I ask no more,And the gods yield you for’t!
ENOBARBUS.What mean you, sir,To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep,And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame,Transform us not to women.
ANTONY.Ho, ho, ho!Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends,You take me in too dolorous a sense,For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire youTo burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts,I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead youWhere rather I’ll expect victorious lifeThan death and honour. Let’s to supper, come,And drown consideration.
[Exeunt.]
Enter a Company ofSoldiers.
FIRST SOLDIER.Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.
SECOND SOLDIER.It will determine one way. Fare you well.Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?
FIRST SOLDIER.Nothing. What news?
SECOND SOLDIER.Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you.
FIRST SOLDIER.Well, sir, good night.
Enter two otherSoldiers.
SECOND SOLDIER.Soldiers, have careful watch.
THIRD SOLDIER.And you. Good night, good night.
[They place themselves in every corner of the stage.]
SECOND SOLDIER.Here we. And if tomorrowOur navy thrive, I have an absolute hopeOur landmen will stand up.
FIRST SOLDIER.’Tis a brave army, and full of purpose.
[Music of the hautboys under the stage.]
SECOND SOLDIER.Peace, what noise?
FIRST SOLDIER.List, list!
SECOND SOLDIER.Hark!
FIRST SOLDIER.Music i’ th’ air.
THIRD SOLDIER.Under the earth.
FOURTH SOLDIER.It signs well, does it not?
THIRD SOLDIER.No.
FIRST SOLDIER.Peace, I say! What should this mean?
SECOND SOLDIER.’Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,Now leaves him.
FIRST SOLDIER.Walk. Let’s see if other watchmenDo hear what we do.
[They advance to another post.]
SECOND SOLDIER.How now, masters!
ALL.How now! How now! Do you hear this?
FIRST SOLDIER.Ay. Is’t not strange?
THIRD SOLDIER.Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?
FIRST SOLDIER.Follow the noise so far as we have quarter.Let’s see how it will give off.
ALL.Content. ’Tis strange.
[Exeunt.]
EnterAntonyandCleopatrawith others.
ANTONY.Eros! Mine armour, Eros!
CLEOPATRA.Sleep a little.
ANTONY.No, my chuck.—Eros! Come, mine armour, Eros!
EnterEroswith armour.
Come, good fellow, put thine iron on.If fortune be not ours today, it isBecause we brave her. Come.
CLEOPATRA.Nay, I’ll help too.What’s this for?
ANTONY.Ah, let be, let be! Thou artThe armourer of my heart. False, false. This, this!
CLEOPATRA.Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be.
ANTONY.Well, well,We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?Go put on thy defences.
EROS.Briefly, sir.
CLEOPATRA.Is not this buckled well?
ANTONY.Rarely, rarely.He that unbuckles this, till we do pleaseTo daff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.Thou fumblest, Eros, and my queen’s a squireMore tight at this than thou. Dispatch. O love,That thou couldst see my wars today, and knew’stThe royal occupation, thou shouldst seeA workman in’t.
Enter anOfficer,armed.
Good morrow to thee. Welcome.Thou look’st like him that knows a warlike charge.To business that we love we rise betimeAnd go to’t with delight.
OFFICER.A thousand, sir,Early though’t be, have on their riveted trimAnd at the port expect you.
[Shout. Trumpets flourish.]
Enter otherCaptainsand Soldiers.
CAPTAIN.The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.
ALL.Good morrow, general.
ANTONY.’Tis well blown, lads.This morning, like the spirit of a youthThat means to be of note, begins betimes.So, so. Come, give me that. This way. Well said.Fare thee well, dame.Whate’er becomes of me,This is a soldier’s kiss. [Kisses her.] RebukeableAnd worthy shameful check it were, to standOn more mechanic compliment. I’ll leave theeNow like a man of steel.—You that will fight,Follow me close, I’ll bring you to’t. Adieu.
[ExeuntAntony, Eros,Captains and Soldiers.]
CHARMIAN.Please you, retire to your chamber.
CLEOPATRA.Lead me.He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar mightDetermine this great war in single fight!Then Antony—but now—. Well, on.
[Exeunt.]
Trumpets sound. EnterAntonyandEros,aSoldiermeeting them.
SOLDIER.The gods make this a happy day to Antony!
ANTONY.Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailedTo make me fight at land!
SOLDIER.Hadst thou done so,The kings that have revolted and the soldierThat has this morning left thee would have stillFollowed thy heels.
ANTONY.Who’s gone this morning?
SOLDIER.Who?One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus,He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s campSay “I am none of thine.”
ANTONY.What sayest thou?
SOLDIER.Sir,He is with Caesar.
EROS.Sir, his chests and treasureHe has not with him.
ANTONY.Is he gone?
SOLDIER.Most certain.
ANTONY.Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him—I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings.Say that I wish he never find more causeTo change a master. O, my fortunes haveCorrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!
[Exeunt.]
Flourish. EnterAgrippa, CaesarwithEnobarbusandDolabella.
CAESAR.Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.Our will is Antony be took alive;Make it so known.
AGRIPPA.Caesar, I shall.
[Exit.]
CAESAR.The time of universal peace is near.Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked worldShall bear the olive freely.
Enter aMessenger.
MESSENGER.AntonyIs come into the field.
CAESAR.Go charge AgrippaPlant those that have revolted in the vanThat Antony may seem to spend his furyUpon himself.
[ExeuntCaesarand his Train.]
ENOBARBUS.Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry onAffairs of Antony; there did dissuadeGreat Herod to incline himself to CaesarAnd leave his master Antony. For this painsCaesar hath hanged him. Canidius and the restThat fell away have entertainment butNo honourable trust. I have done ill,Of which I do accuse myself so sorelyThat I will joy no more.
Enter aSoldierof Caesar’s.
SOLDIER.Enobarbus, AntonyHath after thee sent all thy treasure, withHis bounty overplus. The messengerCame on my guard, and at thy tent is nowUnloading of his mules.
ENOBARBUS.I give it you.
SOLDIER.Mock not, Enobarbus.I tell you true. Best you safed the bringerOut of the host. I must attend mine office,Or would have done’t myself. Your emperorContinues still a Jove.
[Exit.]
ENOBARBUS.I am alone the villain of the earth,And feel I am so most. O Antony,Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paidMy better service, when my turpitudeThou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart.If swift thought break it not, a swifter meanShall outstrike thought, but thought will do’t, I feel.I fight against thee! No, I will go seekSome ditch wherein to die; the foul’st best fitsMy latter part of life.
[Exit.]
Alarum. Drums and Trumpets. EnterAgrippaand others.
AGRIPPA.Retire! We have engaged ourselves too far.Caesar himself has work, and our oppressionExceeds what we expected.
[Exeunt.]
Alarums. EnterAntonyandScaruswounded.
SCARUS.O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!Had we done so at first, we had droven them homeWith clouts about their heads.
ANTONY.Thou bleed’st apace.
SCARUS.I had a wound here that was like a T,But now ’tis made an H.
Sounds retreat far off.
ANTONY.They do retire.
SCARUS.We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have yetRoom for six scotches more.
EnterEros.
EROS.They are beaten, sir, and our advantage servesFor a fair victory.
SCARUS.Let us score their backsAnd snatch ’em up as we take hares, behind.’Tis sport to maul a runner.
ANTONY.I will reward theeOnce for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfoldFor thy good valour. Come thee on.
SCARUS.I’ll halt after.
[Exeunt.]
Alarum. EnterAntonyagain in a march;Scaruswith others.
ANTONY.We have beat him to his camp. Run one beforeAnd let the Queen know of our gests.Tomorrow,Before the sun shall see’s, we’ll spill the bloodThat has today escaped. I thank you all,For doughty-handed are you, and have foughtNot as you served the cause, but as’t had beenEach man’s like mine. You have shown all Hectors.Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tearsWash the congealment from your wounds and kissThe honoured gashes whole.
EnterCleopatra.
[To Scarus.] Give me thy hand.To this great fairy I’ll commend thy acts,Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o’ th’ world,Chain mine armed neck. Leap thou, attire and all,Through proof of harness to my heart, and thereRide on the pants triumphing.
CLEOPATRA.Lord of lords!O infinite virtue, com’st thou smiling fromThe world’s great snare uncaught?
ANTONY.Mine nightingale,We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! Though greyDo something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha’ weA brain that nourishes our nerves and canGet goal for goal of youth. Behold this man.Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand.—Kiss it, my warrior. He hath fought todayAs if a god, in hate of mankind, hadDestroyed in such a shape.
CLEOPATRA.I’ll give thee, friend,An armour all of gold. It was a king’s.
ANTONY.He has deserved it, were it carbuncledLike holy Phœbus’ car. Give me thy hand.Through Alexandria make a jolly march;Bear our hacked targets like the men that owe them.Had our great palace the capacityTo camp this host, we all would sup togetherAnd drink carouses to the next day’s fate,Which promises royal peril.—Trumpeters,With brazen din blast you the city’s ear;Make mingle with our rattling tabourines,That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,Applauding our approach.
[Exeunt.]
Enter aSentryand his company.Enobarbusfollows.
SENTRY.If we be not relieved within this hour,We must return to th’ court of guard. The nightIs shiny, and they say we shall embattleBy th’ second hour i’ th’ morn.
FIRST WATCH.This last day was a shrewd one to’s.
ENOBARBUS.O, bear me witness, night.—
SECOND WATCH.What man is this?
FIRST WATCH.Stand close and list him.
ENOBARBUS.Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,When men revolted shall upon recordBear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus didBefore thy face repent.
SENTRY.Enobarbus?
SECOND WATCH.Peace! Hark further.
ENOBARBUS.O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,That life, a very rebel to my will,May hang no longer on me. Throw my heartAgainst the flint and hardness of my fault,Which, being dried with grief, will break to powderAnd finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,Nobler than my revolt is infamous,Forgive me in thine own particular,But let the world rank me in registerA master-leaver and a fugitive.O Antony! O Antony!
[Dies.]
FIRST WATCH.Let’s speak to him.
SENTRY.Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks may concern Caesar.
SECOND WATCH.Let’s do so. But he sleeps.
SENTRY.Swoons rather, for so bad a prayer as hisWas never yet for sleep.
FIRST WATCH.Go we to him.
SECOND WATCH.Awake, sir, awake! Speak to us.
FIRST WATCH.Hear you, sir?
SENTRY.The hand of death hath raught him.
[Drums afar off.]
Hark! The drumsDemurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear himTo th’ court of guard; he is of note. Our hourIs fully out.
SECOND WATCH.Come on, then. He may recover yet.
[Exeunt with the body.]
EnterAntonyandScaruswith their army.
ANTONY.Their preparation is today by sea;We please them not by land.
SCARUS.For both, my lord.
ANTONY.I would they’d fight i’ th’ fire or i’ th’ air;We’d fight there too. But this it is: our footUpon the hills adjoining to the cityShall stay with us—order for sea is given;They have put forth the haven—Where their appointment we may best discoverAnd look on their endeavour.
[Exeunt.]
EnterCaesarand his army.
CAESAR.But being charged, we will be still by land,Which, as I take’t, we shall, for his best forceIs forth to man his galleys. To the vales,And hold our best advantage.
[Exeunt.]
Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight. EnterAntonyandScarus.
ANTONY.Yet they are not joined. Where yond pine does standI shall discover all. I’ll bring thee wordStraight how ’tis like to go.
[Exit.]
SCARUS.Swallows have builtIn Cleopatra’s sails their nests. The augursSay they know not, they cannot tell; look grimly,And dare not speak their knowledge. AntonyIs valiant and dejected, and by startsHis fretted fortunes give him hope and fearOf what he has and has not.
EnterAntony.
ANTONY.All is lost!This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me.My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonderThey cast their caps up and carouse togetherLike friends long lost. Triple-turned whore! ’Tis thouHast sold me to this novice, and my heartMakes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly;For when I am revenged upon my charm,I have done all. Bid them all fly! Be gone!
[ExitScarus.]
O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more.Fortune and Antony part here; even hereDo we shake hands. All come to this! The heartsThat spanieled me at heels, to whom I gaveTheir wishes, do discandy, melt their sweetsOn blossoming Caesar, and this pine is barkedThat overtopped them all. Betray’d I am:O this false soul of Egypt! This grave charm,Whose eye becked forth my wars and called them home,Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,Like a right gypsy hath at fast and looseBeguiled me to the very heart of loss.What, Eros, Eros!
EnterCleopatra.
Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!
CLEOPATRA.Why is my lord enraged against his love?
ANTONY.Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deservingAnd blemish Caesar’s triumph. Let him take theeAnd hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians!Follow his chariot, like the greatest spotOf all thy sex; most monster-like be shownFor poor’st diminutives, for dolts, and letPatient Octavia plough thy visage upWith her prepared nails.
[ExitCleopatra.]
’Tis well thou’rt gone,If it be well to live; but better ’twereThou fell’st into my fury, for one deathMight have prevented many.—Eros, ho!—The shirt of Nessus is upon me. Teach me,Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage.Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o’ th’ moon,And with those hands that grasped the heaviest clubSubdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die.To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fallUnder this plot. She dies for’t.—Eros, ho!
[Exit.]
EnterCleopatra, Charmian, IrasandMardian.
CLEOPATRA.Help me, my women! O, he is more madThan Telamon for his shield; the boar of ThessalyWas never so embossed.
CHARMIAN.To th’ monument!There lock yourself and send him word you are dead.The soul and body rive not more in partingThan greatness going off.
CLEOPATRA.To th’ monument!Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself.Say that the last I spoke was “Antony”,And word it, prithee, piteously. Hence, Mardian,And bring me how he takes my death.—To th’ monument!
[Exeunt.]
EnterAntonyandEros.
ANTONY.Eros, thou yet behold’st me?
EROS.Ay, noble lord.
ANTONY.Sometime we see a cloud that’s dragonish,A vapour sometime like a bear or lion,A towered citadel, a pendant rock,A forked mountain, or blue promontoryWith trees upon’t, that nod unto the worldAnd mock our eyes with air. Thou hast seen these signs.They are black vesper’s pageants.
EROS.Ay, my lord.
ANTONY.That which is now a horse, even with a thoughtThe rack dislimns and makes it indistinctAs water is in water.
EROS.It does, my lord.
ANTONY.My good knave Eros, now thy captain isEven such a body. Here I am Antony,Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.I made these wars for Egypt, and the Queen,Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine,Which, whilst it was mine, had annexed unto’tA million more, now lost—she, Eros, hasPacked cards with Caesar, and false-played my gloryUnto an enemy’s triumph.Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left usOurselves to end ourselves.
EnterMardian.
O, thy vile lady!She has robbed me of my sword.
MARDIAN.No, Antony,My mistress loved thee and her fortunes mingledWith thine entirely.
ANTONY.Hence, saucy eunuch! Peace!She hath betrayed me and shall die the death.
MARDIAN.Death of one person can be paid but once,And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst doIs done unto thy hand. The last she spakeWas “Antony! Most noble Antony!”Then in the midst a tearing groan did breakThe name of Antony; it was dividedBetween her heart and lips. She rendered life,Thy name so buried in her.
ANTONY.Dead, then?
MARDIAN.Dead.
ANTONY.Unarm, Eros. The long day’s task is done,And we must sleep.—That thou depart’st hence safeDoes pay thy labour richly. Go.
[ExitMardian.]
Off, pluck off!The sevenfold shield of Ajax cannot keepThe battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!Heart, once be stronger than thy continent;Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace!No more a soldier. Bruised pieces, go;You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.
[ExitEros.]
I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, andWeep for my pardon. So it must be, for nowAll length is torture. Since the torch is out,Lie down, and stray no farther. Now all labourMars what it does; yea, very force entanglesItself with strength. Seal then, and all is done.Eros!—I come, my queen.—Eros!—Stay for me.Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand,And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze.Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops,And all the haunt be ours.—Come, Eros, Eros!
EnterEros.
EROS.What would my lord?
ANTONY.Since Cleopatra died,I have lived in such dishonour that the godsDetest my baseness. I, that with my swordQuartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s backWith ships made cities, condemn myself to lackThe courage of a woman; less noble mindThan she which, by her death, our Caesar tells“I am conqueror of myself.” Thou art sworn, Eros,That when the exigent should come, which nowIs come indeed, when I should see behind meTh’ inevitable prosecution ofDisgrace and horror, that on my commandThou then wouldst kill me. Do’t. The time is come.Thou strik’st not me; ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st.Put colour in thy cheek.
EROS.The gods withhold me!Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,Though enemy, lost aim and could not?
ANTONY.Eros,Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and seeThy master thus with pleached arms, bending downHis corrigible neck, his face subduedTo penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seatOf fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, brandedHis baseness that ensued?
EROS.I would not see’t.
ANTONY.Come, then, for with a wound I must be cured.Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast wornMost useful for thy country.
EROS.O, sir, pardon me!
ANTONY.When I did make thee free, swor’st thou not thenTo do this when I bade thee? Do it at once,Or thy precedent services are allBut accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.
EROS.Turn from me then that noble countenanceWherein the worship of the whole world lies.
ANTONY.Lo thee!
[Turning from him.]
EROS.My sword is drawn.
ANTONY.Then let it do at onceThe thing why thou hast drawn it.
EROS.My dear master,My captain and my emperor, let me say,Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
ANTONY.’Tis said, man, and farewell.
EROS.Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
ANTONY.Now, Eros.
EROS.Why, there then! [kills himself]Thus do I escape the sorrowOf Antony’s death.
[Dies.]
ANTONY.Thrice nobler than myself!Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, whatI should and thou couldst not. My queen and ErosHave by their brave instruction got upon meA nobleness in record. But I will beA bridegroom in my death and run into’tAs to a lover’s bed. Come then, and, Eros,Thy master dies thy scholar. To do thus
[Falling on his sword.]
I learned of thee. How? Not dead? Not dead?The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!
Enter a company of theGuard,one of themDercetus.
FIRST GUARD.What’s the noise?
ANTONY.I have done my work ill, friends. O, make an endOf what I have begun.
SECOND GUARD.The star is fallen.
FIRST GUARD.And time is at his period.
ALL.Alas, and woe!
ANTONY.Let him that loves me strike me dead.
FIRST GUARD.Not I.
SECOND GUARD.Nor I.
THIRD GUARD.Nor anyone.
[Exeunt guard.]
DERCETUS.Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.This sword but shown to Caesar with this tidings,Shall enter me with him.
EnterDiomedes.
DIOMEDES.Where’s Antony?
DERCETUS.There, Diomed, there.
DIOMEDES.Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?
[ExitDercetus.]
ANTONY.Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword and give meSufficing strokes for death.
DIOMEDES.Most absolute lord,My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.
ANTONY.When did she send thee?
DIOMEDES.Now, my lord.
ANTONY.Where is she?
DIOMEDES.Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fearOf what hath come to pass. For when she saw—Which never shall be found—you did suspectShe had disposed with Caesar, and that your rageWould not be purged, she sent you word she was dead;But fearing since how it might work, hath sentMe to proclaim the truth, and I am come,I dread, too late.
ANTONY.Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.
DIOMEDES.What, ho! The emperor’s guard! The guard, what ho!Come, your lord calls!
Enter four or five of theGuardof Antony.
ANTONY.Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides.’Tis the last service that I shall command you.
FIRST GUARD.Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wearAll your true followers out.
ALL.Most heavy day!
ANTONY.Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fateTo grace it with your sorrows. Bid that welcomeWhich comes to punish us, and we punish it,Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up.I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,And have my thanks for all.
[Exeunt, bearingAntony.]
EnterCleopatraand her maids aloft, withCharmianandIras.
CLEOPATRA.O Charmian, I will never go from hence.
CHARMIAN.Be comforted, dear madam.
CLEOPATRA.No, I will not.All strange and terrible events are welcome,But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,Proportioned to our cause, must be as greatAs that which makes it.
Enter, belowDiomedes.
How now! Is he dead?
DIOMEDES.His death’s upon him, but not dead.Look out o’ th’ other side your monument;His guard have brought him thither.
Enter, belowAntonyborne by the Guard.
CLEOPATRA.O sun,Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in! Darkling standThe varying shore o’ th’ world. O Antony,Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian! Help, Iras, help!Help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.
ANTONY.Peace!Not Caesar’s valour hath o’erthrown Antony,But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself.
CLEOPATRA.So it should be, that none but AntonyShould conquer Antony, but woe ’tis so!
ANTONY.I am dying, Egypt, dying. OnlyI here importune death awhile untilOf many thousand kisses the poor lastI lay upon thy lips.
CLEOPATRA.I dare not, dearDear my lord, pardon. I dare not,Lest I be taken. Not th’ imperious showOf the full-fortuned Caesar ever shallBe brooched with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, haveEdge, sting, or operation, I am safe.Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyesAnd still conclusion, shall acquire no honourDemuring upon me. But come, come, Antony—Help me, my women—we must draw thee up.Assist, good friends.
ANTONY.O, quick, or I am gone.
CLEOPATRA.Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!Our strength is all gone into heaviness;That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee upAnd set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little;Wishers were ever fools. O come, come come,
[They heaveAntonyaloft toCleopatra.]
And welcome, welcome! Die where thou hast lived;Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,Thus would I wear them out.
ALL.A heavy sight!
ANTONY.I am dying, Egypt, dying.Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.
CLEOPATRA.No, let me speak, and let me rail so highThat the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,Provoked by my offence.
ANTONY.One word, sweet queen:Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!
CLEOPATRA.They do not go together.
ANTONY.Gentle, hear me.None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.
CLEOPATRA.My resolution and my hands I’ll trust;None about Caesar.
ANTONY.The miserable change now at my endLament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughtsIn feeding them with those my former fortunesWherein I lived the greatest prince o’ th’ world,The noblest; and do now not basely die,Not cowardly put off my helmet toMy countryman; a Roman by a RomanValiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going;I can no more.
CLEOPATRA.Noblest of men, woo’t die?Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abideIn this dull world, which in thy absence isNo better than a sty? O, see, my women,
[Antonydies.]
The crown o’ th’ earth doth melt.—My lord!O, withered is the garland of the war,The soldier’s pole is fallen; young boys and girlsAre level now with men. The odds is gone,And there is nothing left remarkableBeneath the visiting moon.
[Faints.]
CHARMIAN.O, quietness, lady!
IRAS.She is dead too, our sovereign.
CHARMIAN.Lady!
IRAS.Madam!
CHARMIAN.O madam, madam, madam!
IRAS.Royal Egypt, Empress!
CHARMIAN.Peace, peace, Iras!
CLEOPATRA.No more but e’en a woman, and commandedBy such poor passion as the maid that milksAnd does the meanest chares. It were for meTo throw my sceptre at the injurious gods,To tell them that this world did equal theirsTill they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught;Patience is sottish, and impatience doesBecome a dog that’s mad. Then is it sinTo rush into the secret house of deathEre death dare come to us? How do you, women?What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look,Our lamp is spent, it’s out! Good sirs, take heart.We’ll bury him; and then, what’s brave, what’s noble,Let’s do it after the high Roman fashionAnd make death proud to take us. Come, away.This case of that huge spirit now is cold.Ah, women, women! Come, we have no friendBut resolution and the briefest end.
[Exeunt, bearing offAntony’sbody.]