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ACT III
Sc. X

SCAR. The greater cantle of the World is lost
With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away
Kingdoms and provinces.

of Egypt

ENO.
How appears the fight?
SCAR. On our side like the token'd' pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag
Whom leprosy o'ertake!-i' the midst o' the fight,
When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as the same, or rather our's the elder-
The brize upon her, like a cow in June-
Hoists sails and flies.

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Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not
Endure a further view.

SCAR.

She once being loof'd,

The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,

Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doating mallard,
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her.

I never saw an action of such shame:
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
Did violate so itself.

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CAN. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,
And sinks most lamentably. Had our General
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well:
O, he has given example for our flight
Most grossly by his own!

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The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
Sits in the wind against me.

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[exeunt.

1 broken out in spots.

SCENE XI. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's Palace.

Enter ANTONY with Attendants.

ANT. Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon

It is asham'd to bear me! Friends, come hither:
I am so lated in the World, that I
Have lost my way for ever: I have a ship
Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly,
And make your peace with Cæsar.

ALL.

't;

Fly! not we.

ANT. I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards
To run and shew their shoulders. Friends, be gone;
I have myself resolv'd upon a course

Which has no need of you; be

gone:

shall

My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,
I follow'd that I blush to look upon!
My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doating. Friends, be gone: you
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of lothness: take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway;
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little; pray you now:
Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command,
Therefore I pray you: I'll see you by-and-by.

ΙΟ

20

[sits down.

Enter CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN and IRAS; EROS

following.

EROS. Nay, gentle Madam, to him, comfort him.

IRAS. Do, most dear Queen.

CHAR. DO! why, what else?

CLEO. Let me sit down. O Juno!

ANT. No, no, no, no, no.

EROS. See you here, Sir?

ANT. O fie, fie, fie!

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ACT III
Sc. XI

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ANT. Yes, my Lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
His sword e'en like a dancer, while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry,1 and no practice had
In the brave squares of war: yet now-
CLEO. Ah, stand by.

EROS. The Queen, my Lord, the Queen!

IRAS. Go to him, Madam, speak to him:

He is unqualitied with very shame.

CLEO. Well then, sustain me. O!

No matter.

EROS. Most noble Sir, arise; the Queen approaches:
Her head's declin'd, and Death will seize her, but
Your comfort makes the rescue.

ANT. I have offended reputation

A most unnoble swerving.

EROS.

Sir, the Queen.

ANT. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes

By looking back what I have left behind
'Stroy'd in dishonour.

CLEO.

Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought

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50

O my Lord, my Lord,

Egypt, thou knew'st too well

You would have follow'd.

ANT.
My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings,
And thou should'st tow me after; o'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the Gods
Command me.

CLEO.

ANT.

O, my pardon!

Now I must

60

To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness; who
With half the bulk o' the World play'd as I pleas'd,
Making and marring fortunes. You did know
How much you were my conqueror; and that

1 made war by his lieutenants.

My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.

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ANT. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates

All that is won and lost: give me a kiss;

Even this repays me.

We sent our Schoolmaster;

Is he come back? Love, I am full of lead.

70

Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune knows

We scorn her most when most she offers blows.

[exeunt.

SCENE XII. Egypt. CESAR's Camp.

Enter CESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others. CAS. Let him appear that's come from Antony. Know you him?

DOL.

Cæsar, 'tis his Schoolmaster:

An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,

Which had superfluous Kings for messengers
Not many moons gone by.

CES.

Enter EUPHRONIUS, Ambassador from ANTONY.

Approach, and speak.

EUPH. Such as I am, I come from Antony:

I was of late as petty to his ends

As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf
To his grand Sea.

CES.
Be't so declare thine office.
EUPH. Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,
He lessons his requests; and to thee sues

To let him breathe between the Heavens and Earth,
A private man in Athens: this for him.

Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness;
Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,

Now hazarded to thy Grace.

ΤΟ

ACT III

Sc. XI

ACT III
Sc. XII

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I have no ears to his request. The Queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there: this if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
EUPH. Fortune pursue thee!

CÆS.

20

Bring him through the bands. [Exit EUPHRONIUS.

[to THYREUS.] To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: dispatch;

From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,

And in our name, what she requires; add more,

From thine invention, offers: women are not

In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure 30
The ne'er-touch'd vestal. Try thy cunning, Thyreus ;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we

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CAS. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,1
And what thou think'st his very action speaks
In every power that moves.

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ENO. Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges
Frighted each other? why should he follow?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
When half to half the world oppos'd, he being
The meered question: 'twas a shame no less

1 i.e. how he bears himself in his reverses.

ΙΟ

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