If it be well to live: But better 'twere [Exit. Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body: here I am Antony; Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Ant. Eros, unarm; the long day's task is done, The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Eros. What would my lord? Since Cleopatra died, Now, Eros. Eros. Why, there then :-[Falls on his sword.] Thus do I escape the sorrow of Antony's death. [Dies. Ant. I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros A nobleness in record: But I will be A bridegroom in my death, and run into't As to a lover's bed. Come then; and, Eros, Thy master dies thy scholar; to do thus [Falling on his sword. I learn'd of thee. How! not yet dead? not dead?The guard!-ho!-O, despatch me. Enter Dercetas and Guard. sying fear Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw Ant. Too late, good Diomed: Call my guard, I pr'ythee. Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, what, ho! Come, your lord calls. Enter some of the Guard. Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides; 'Tis the last service that I shall command you. 1 Guard. Woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear All your true followers out. All. Most heavy day! Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome Which 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, bearing Ant. Cleo. Enter Antony, borne by the Guard. Peace. Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in!-darkling stand O, quick, or I am gone. Cleo. 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, A heavy sight! Ant. I am dying, Égypt, dying : Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, Provok'd by my offence. Ant. One word, sweet queen: Of Cresar seek your honour, with your safety.-O! Cleo. They do not go together. Ant. Gentle, hear me: None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius. Cleo. My resolution, and my hands, I'll trust; None about Cæsar. Ant. The miserable change now at my end, Lament nor sorrow at: but please your thoughts, In feeding them with those my former fortunes Wherein I liv'd, the greatest prince o'the world, The noblest: and do now not basely die, Nor cowardly; put off my helmet to My countryman, a Roman, by a Roman Valiantly vanquish'd. Now, my spirit is going; I can no more. Cleo. Noblest of men, woo't die? Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide [Dies. The soldier's pole is fallen: young boys, and girls, [She faints. Char. O, quietness, lady! Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign. Char. Lady, Iras. Madam, Royal Egypt! Cleo. No more but e'en a woman; and commanded By such poor passion as the maid that milks, And does the meanest chares.-It were for me To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; To tell them, that this world did equal theirs, Till they had stolen our jewel. All's but naught; Patience is sottish; and impatience does Become a dog that's mad: Then is it sin, Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend [Exeunt; those above bearing off Antony's body. Enter Dercetas, with the sword of Antony. Der. To spend upon his haters: If thou please Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce Where mine his thoughts did kindle,-that our stars, Our equalness to this.-Hear me, good friends,- So the gods preserve thee! [Exit. Cæs. Come hither, Proculeius; Go, and say, We purpose ber no shame: give her what comforts The quality of her passion shall require; Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke She do defeat us: for her life in Rome Would be eternal in our triumph: Go, And, with your speediest, bring us what she says, Pro. Agr. Mec. Dolabella! [Exit Gallus. Cæs. Let him alone, for I remember now How he's employed; he shall in time be ready. Go with me to my tent; where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war; How calm and gentle I proceeded still In all my writings: Go with me, and see What I can show in this. SCENE II-Alexandria. A Room in the Monu ment. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras. Enter, to the Gutes of the Monument, Proculeius, Gallus, and Soldiers. Pro. Cæsar sends greeting to the queen of Egypt; And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. Cleo. [Within.] Pray you, tell him I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him This I'll report, dear lady. Gal. You see how easily she may be surpris'd; [Here Proculeius, and two of the Guard, ascend the Monument by a ladder placed against a window, and having descended, come behind Cleopatra. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates. Guard her till Cæsar come. Iras. [To Proculeius and the Guard. Exit Gallus Char. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen!-- Hold, worthy lady, bold: [Seizes and disarma her. Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Reliev'd, but not betray'd. Cleo. What, of death too, Cleopatra, That rids our dogs of languish? Do not abuse my master's bounty, by Cleo. Pro. O, temperance, lady! Cleo. Sir, I will eat no meat; I'll not drink, sir: If idle talk will once be necessary, I'll not sleep neither: This mortal house I'll ruin, Do Cæsar what he can. Know, sir, that I Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court; Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up, And show me to the shouting varletry Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Be gentle grave to me! rather on Nilus' mud Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies Blow me into abhorring! rather make My country's high pyramides my gibbet, And bang me up in chains! Pro. You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Cæsar. Dol. Enter Dolabella. Proculeius, What thou hast done thy master Cæsar knows, And he hath sent for thee: as for the queen, I'll take her to my guard. Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm Walk'd crowns, and crownets; realms and islands were Cleopatra, Hear me, good madam : I thank you, sir. Cleo. Dol. I am loath to tell you what I would you knew. Dol. Though he be honourable,- I know it. Within. Make way there,-Cæsar. Madam, he will; We will extenuate rather than enforce: Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; Your 'scutcheons, and your signs of conquest, shall Cleo. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord, To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. I had rather scel my lips, than, to my peril, Cleo. Cæs. Good I queen, let us entreat you. To one so meek, that mine own servant should Enter Cæsar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mecenas, Seleucus, For Livia, and Octavia, to induce and Attendants. |