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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Anthony, and Eros.
Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'st me?
2825Eros. I Noble Lord.
Ant. Sometime we see a clowd that's Dragonish,
A vapour sometime, like a Beare, or Lyon,
A toward Cittadell, a pendant Rocke,
A forked Mountaine, or blew Promontorie
2830With Trees vpon't, that nodde vnto the world,
And mocke our eyes with Ayre.
Thou hast seene these Signes,
They are blacke Vespers Pageants.
Eros. I my Lord.
2835Ant. That which is now a Horse, euen with a thoght
the Racke dislimes, and makes it indistinct
As water is in water.
Eros. It does my Lord.
Ant. My good Knaue Eros, now thy Captaine is
2840Euen such a body: Heere I am Anthony,
Yet cannot hold this visible shape (my Knaue)
I made these warres for Egypt, and the Queene,
Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine:
Which whil'st it was mine, had annext vntoo't
2845A Million moe, (now lost:) shee Eros has
Packt Cards with Cæsars, and false plaid my Glory
Vnto an Enemies triumph.
Nay, weepe not gentle Eros, there is left vs
Our selues to end our selues.
2850
Enter Mardian.
Oh thy vilde Lady, she has rob'd me of my Sword.
Mar. No Anthony,
My Mistris lou'd thee, and her Fortunes mingled
With thine intirely.
2855Ant. Hence sawcy Eunuch peace, she hath betraid me,
And shall dye the death.
Mar. Death of one person, can be paide but once,
And that she ha's discharg'd. What thou would'st do
Is done vnto thy hand: the last she spake
2860Was Anthony, most Noble Anthony.
Then in the midd'st a tearing grone did breake
The name of Anthony: it was diuided
Betweene her heart, and lips: she rendred life
Thy name so buried in her.
2865Ant. Dead then?
Mar. Dead.
Ant. Vnarme Eros, the long dayes taske is done,
And we must sleepe: That thou depart'st hence safe
Does pay thy labour richly: Go.
exit Mardian.
2870Off, plucke off,
The seuen-fold shield of Aiax cannot keepe
The battery from my heart. Oh cleaue my sides.
Heart, once be stronger then thy Continent,
Cracke thy fraile Case. Apace Eros, apace;
2875No more a Soldier: bruised peeces go,
You haue bin Nobly borne. From me awhile.
exit Eros
I will o're-take thee Cleopatra, and
Weepe for my pardon. So it must be, for now
All length is Torture: since the Torch is out,
2880Lye downe and stray no farther. Now all labour
Marres what it does: yea, very force entangles
It selfe with strength: Seale then and all is done.
Eros? I come my Queene. Eros? Stay for me,
Where Soules do couch on Flowers, wee'l hand in hand,
2885And with our sprightly Port make the Ghostes gaze:
Dido, and her Aeneas shall want Troopes,
And all the haunt be ours. Come Eros, Eros.
Enter Eros.
Eros. What would my Lord?
2890Ant. Since Cleopatra dyed,
I haue liu'd in such dishonour, that the Gods
Detest my basenesse. I, that with my Sword,
Quarter'd the World, and o're greene Neptunes backe
With Ships, made Cities; condemne my selfe, to lacke
2895The Courage of a Woman, lesse Noble minde
Then she which by her death, our Cæsar telles
I am Conqueror of my selfe. Thou art sworne Eros,
That when the exigent should come, which now
Is come indeed: When I should see behinde me
2900Th'ineuitable prosecution of disgrace and horror,
That on my command, thou then would'st kill me.
Doo't, the time is come: Thou strik'st not me,
'Tis Cæsar thou defeat'st. Put colour in thy Cheeke.
Eros. The Gods with-hold me,
2905Shall I do that which all the Parthian Darts,
(Though Enemy) lost ayme, and could not.
Ant. Eros,
Would'st thou be window'd in great Rome, and see
Thy Master thus with pleacht Armes, bending downe
2910His corrigible necke, his face subdu'de
To penetratiue shame; whil'st the wheel'd seate
Of Fortunate Cæsar drawne before him, branded
His Basenesse that ensued.
Eros. I would not see't.
2915Ant. Come then: for with a wound I must be cur'd.
Draw that thy honest Sword, which thou hast worne
Most vsefull for thy Country.
Eros. Oh sir, pardon me.
Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st yu not then
2920To do this when I bad thee? Do it at once,
Or thy precedent Seruices are all
But accidents vnpurpos'd. Draw, and come.
Eros. Turne from me then that Noble countenance,
Wherein the worship of the whole world lyes.
2925Ant. Loe thee.
Eros. My sword is drawne.
Ant. Then let it do at once
The thing why thou hast drawne it.
Eros. My deere Master,
2930My Captaine, and my Emperor. Let me say
Before I strike this bloody stroke, Farwell.
Ant. 'Tis said man, and farewell.
Eros. Farewell great Chiefe. Shall I strike now?
Ant. Now Eros.
Killes himselfe.
2935Eros. Why there then:
Thus I do escape the sorrow of Anthonies death.
Ant. Thrice-Nobler then my selfe,
Thou teachest me: Oh valiant Eros, what
I should, and thou could'st not, my Queene and Eros
2940Haue by their braue instruction got vpon me
A Noblenesse in Record. But I will bee
A Bride-groome in my death, and run intoo't
As to a Louers bed. Come then, and Eros,
Thy Master dies thy Scholler; to do thus
2945I learnt of thee. How, not dead? Not dead?
The Guard, how? Oh dispatch me.
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