| [Enter MARK ANTONY with Attendants] | |
| MARK ANTONY | Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't; It is ashamed 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 Caesar. |
| All | Fly! not we. |
| MARK ANTONY | I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone; I have myself resolved upon a course Which has no need of you; be gone: 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 doting. Friends, be gone: you shall Have letters from me to some friends that will Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad, Nor make replies of loathness: 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. |
| [Sits down] | |
| [Enter CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN and IRAS; EROS following] |
|
| EROS | Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him. |
| IRAS | Do, most dear queen. |
| CHARMIAN | Do! why: what else? |
| CLEOPATRA | Let me sit down. O Juno! |
| MARK ANTONY | No, no, no, no, no. |
| EROS | See you here, sir? |
| MARK ANTONY | O fie, fie, fie! |
| CHARMIAN | Madam! |
| IRAS | Madam, O good empress! |
| EROS | Sir, sir,-- |
| MARK ANTONY | 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, and no practise had In the brave squares of war: yet now--No matter. |
| CLEOPATRA | Ah, stand by. |
| EROS | The queen, my lord, the queen. |
| IRAS | Go to him, madam, speak to him: He is unqualitied with very shame. |
| CLEOPATRA | Well then, sustain him: O! |
| EROS | Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches: Her head's declined, and death will seize her, but Your comfort makes the rescue. |
| MARK ANTONY | I have offended reputation, A most unnoble swerving. |
| EROS | Sir, the queen. |
| MARK ANTONY | 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. |
| CLEOPATRA | O my lord, my lord, Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought You would have follow'd. |
| MARK ANTONY | Egypt, thou knew'st too well My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings, And thou shouldst 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. |
| CLEOPATRA | O, my pardon! |
| MARK ANTONY | Now I must 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 pleased, Making and marring fortunes. You did know How much you were my conqueror; and that My sword, made weak by my affection, would Obey it on all cause. |
| CLEOPATRA | Pardon, pardon! |
| MARK ANTONY | 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. Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune knows We scorn her most when most she offers blows. |
| [Exeunt] |