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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Anthony and Cleopatra.
363
Enter a Guard.
1. Guard. What's the noise?
Ant. I haue done my worke ill Friends:
2950Oh make an end of what I haue begun.
2 The Starre is falne.
1 And time is at his Period.
All. Alas, and woe.
Ant. Let him that loues me, strike me dead.
29551 Not I.
2 Nor I.
3 Nor any one.
exeunt
Dercetus. Thy death and fortunes bid thy folowers fly
This sword but shewne to Cæsar with this tydings,
2960Shall enter me with him.
Enter Diomedes.
Dio. Where's Anthony?
Decre. There Diomed there.
Diom. Liues he: wilt thou not answer man?
2965Ant. Art thou there Diomed?
Draw thy sword, and giue mee,
Suffising strokes for death.
Diom. Most absolute Lord:
My Mistris Cleopatra sent me to thee.
2970Ant. When did shee send thee?
Diom. Now my Lord.
Anth. Where is she?
Diom. Lockt in her Monument: she had a Prophesying
Of what hath come to passe: for when she saw
2975(Which neuer shall be found) you did suspect
She had dispos'd with Cæsar, and that your rage
Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was dead:
But fearing since how it might worke, hath sent
Me to proclaime the truth, and I am come
2980I dread, too late.
Ant. Too late good Diomed: call my Guard I prythee.
Dio. What hoa: the Emperors Guard,
The Guard, what hoa? Come, your Lord calles.
Enter 4. or 5. of the Guard of Anthony.
2985Ant. Beare me good Friends where Cleopatra bides,
'Tis the last seruice that I shall command you.
1 Woe, woe are we sir, you may not liue to weare
All your true Followers out.
All. Most heauy day.
2990Ant. Nay good my Fellowes, do not please sharp fate
To grace it with your sorrowes. Bid that welcome
Which comes to punish vs, and we punish it
Seeming to beare it lightly. Take me vp,
I haue led you oft, carry me now good Friends,
2995And haue my thankes for all.
Exit bearing Anthony

Enter Cleopatra, and her Maides aloft, with
Charmian & Iras.

Cleo. Oh Charmian, I will neuer go from hence.
Char. Be comforted deere Madam.
3000Cleo. No, I will not:
All strange and terrible euents are welcome,
But comforts we dispise; our size of sorrow
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it.
3005
Enter Diomed.
How now? is he dead?
Diom. His death's vpon him, but not dead.
Looke out o'th other side your Monument,
His Guard haue brought him thither.
3010
Enter Anthony, and the Guard.

Cleo. Oh Sunne,
Burne the great Sphere thou mou'st in, darkling stand
The varrying shore o'th'world. O Antony, Antony, Antony
Helpe Charmian, helpe Iras helpe: helpe Friends
3015Below, let's draw him hither.
Ant. Peace,
Not Cæsars Valour hath o'rethrowne Anthony,
But Anthonie's hath Triumpht on it selfe.
Cleo. So it should be,
3020That none but Anthony should conquer Anthony,
But woe 'tis so.
Ant. I am dying Egypt, dying; onely
I heere importune death a-while, vntill
Of many thousand kisses, the poore last
3025I lay vpon thy lippes.
Cleo. I dare not Deere,
Deere my Lord pardon: I dare not,
Least I be taken: not th'Imperious shew
Of the full-Fortun'd Cæsar, euer shall
3030Be brooch'd with me, if Knife, Drugges, Serpents haue
Edge, sting, or operation. I am safe:
Your Wife Octauia, with her modest eyes,
And still Conclusion, shall acquire no Honour
Demuring vpon me: but come, come Anthony,
3035Helpe me my women, we must draw thee vp:
Assist good Friends.
Ant. Oh quicke, or I am gone.
Cleo. Heere's sport indeede:
How heauy weighes my Lord?
3040Our strength is all gone into heauinesse,
That makes the waight. Had I great Iuno's power,
The strong wing'd Mercury should fetch thee vp,
And set thee by Ioues side. Yet come a little,
Wishers were euer Fooles. Oh come, come, come,
3045
They heaue Anthony aloft to Cleopatra.
And welcome, welcome. Dye when thou hast liu'd,
Quicken with kissing: had my lippes that power,
Thus would I weare them out.
All. A heauy sight.
3050Ant. I am dying Egypt, dying.
Giue me some Wine, and let me speake a little.
Cleo. No, let me speake, and let me rayle so hye,
That the false Huswife Fortune, breake her Wheele,
Prouok'd by my offence.
3055Ant. One word (sweet Queene)
Of Cæsar seeke your Honour, with your safety. Oh.
Cleo. They do not go together.
Ant. Gentle heare me,
None about Cæsar trust, but Proculeius.
3060Cleo. My Resolution, and my hands, Ile 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
3065Wherein I liued. The greatest Prince o'th'world,
The Noblest: and do now not basely dye,
Not Cowardly put off my Helmet to
My Countreyman. A Roman, by a Roman
Valiantly vanquish'd. Now my Spirit is going,
3070I can no more.
Cleo. Noblest of men, woo't dye?
Hast thou no care of me, shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better then a Stye? Oh see my women:
3075The Crowne o'th'earth doth melt. My Lord?
Oh wither'd is the Garland of the Warre,
The