Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed

Anthony and Cleopatra (Modern)

[4.13]
Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight. Enter Antony and Scarrus.
Antony
Yet they are not joined. 2755Where yond pine does stand,
I shall discover all. I'll bring thee word
Straight how 'tis like to go.
Exit.
Scarrus
Swallows have built
In Cleopatra's sails their nests. The augurers
Say they know not, they cannot tell, look grimly,
2760And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony
Is valiant and dejected, and by starts
His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear
Of what he has and has not.
Enter Antony.
2765Antony
All is lost.
This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me:
My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonder
They cast their caps up and carouse together
Like friends long lost. Triple-turned whore, 'tis thou
2770Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart
Makes 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!
[Exit Scarrus].
Oh sun, thy uprise shall I see no more.
2775Fortune and Antony part here, even here.
Do we shake hands? All come to this? The hearts
That spanieled me at heels, to whom I gave
Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets
On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is barked
2780That over-topped them all. Betrayed I am.
Oh 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 gipsy hath at fast and loose
2785Beguiled me to the very heart of loss.
What, Eros, Eros!
Enter Cleopatra.
Ah, thou spell, avaunt!
Cleopatra
Why is my lord enraged against his love?
Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving,
And blemish Caesar's triumph. Let him take thee
And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians.
Follow his chariot like the greatest spot
Of all thy sex. Most monster-like be shown
2795For poor'st diminutives, for dolts, and let
Patient Octavia plough thy visage up
With her preparèd nails.
Exit Cleopatra.
'Tis well th'art gone,
If it be well to live. But better 'twere
2800Thou fell'st into my fury, for one death
Might 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,
2805And with those hands that grasped the heaviest club
Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die.
To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall
Under this plot. She dies for't. Eros, ho!
Exit.