O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm, Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd them home; Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end, Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose, Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss. What, Eros, Eros ! Enter CLEOPATRA. Ah, thou spell! Avaunt. Cleo. Why is my lord enrag'd against his love? Of all thy sex: most monster-like, be shown With her prepared nails. [Exit CLEO.] T is well thou 'rt gone, If it be well to live: But better 't were Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon; fall Under this plot: she dies for 't.-Eros, hoa! [Exit. We follow the original. We believe that the " poor'st diminutives" are the lowest of the populace, as the "dolts" are the most stupid. We must therefore understand for to mean for the gratification of. SCENE XI.-Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAs, and MARDIAN. Cleo. Help me, my women! O, he is more mad Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly Was never so emboss'd. Char. To the monument; There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead. The soul and body rive not more in parting, Than greatness going off. Cleo. To the monument : Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself; And word it, prithee, piteously: Hence, Mardian, To the monument. [Exeunt. SCENE XII.-The same. Another Room. Enter ANTONY and EROS. Ay, noble lord. Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'st me? Eros. Ant. Sometime we see a cloud that 's dragonish : A vapour, sometime, like a bear, or lion, A tower'd citadel, a pendant rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon 't, that nod unto the world, And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper's pageants. Eros. Ay, my lord. Ant. That which is now a horse, even with a thought The rack dislimbs; and makes it indistinct, As water is in water. Eros. It does, my lord. Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body; here I am Antony; Pack'd cards with Cæsar, and false-play'd my glory Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Enter MARDIAN. She has robb'd me of my sword. Mar. No, Antony; My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace; She hath betray'd me, and shall die the death. Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once; And that she has discharg'd: What thou wouldst do Is done unto thy hand; the last she spake Was, Antony! most noble Antony! Then in the midst a tearing groan did break Between her heart and lips; she render'd life, Ant. Dead then? Dead. Ant. Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done, And we must sleep:-That thou depart'st hence safe, Does pay thy labour richly; Go.-Off, pluck off;— Exit MARDIAN. The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep You have been nobly borne.-From me a while.- I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and And all the haunt be ours.-Come, Eros, Eros! Re-enter EROS. Eros. What would my lord? Ant. Since Cleopatra died, I have liv'd in such dishonour, that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword And horror, that, on my command, thou then Eros. The gods withhold me! Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, "The passage may be illustrated by a corresponding image in King Henry V.: "And so espous'd to death, with blood he seal'd A testament of noble-ending love." Though enemy, lost aim, and could not? Ant. To penetrative shame; whilst the wheel'd seat I would not see 't. Eros. Ant. Come then; for with a wound I must be cur'd. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country. Eros. O, sir, pardon me. Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not then To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once; But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come. Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. Ant. Lo thee. Eros. My sword is drawn. [Turning from him. Then let it do at once My dear master, The thing why thou hast drawn it. My captain and my emperor; let me say, Ant. T is said, man ;—and farewell. Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? Ant. Now, Eros. Eros. Why, there then :-[Falls on his sword.] Thus I do escape the sorrow Of Antony's death. Ant. Thrice nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what [Dies. I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros a Pleach'd-folded. |