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- $Unique_ID{SSP01473}
- $Title{Antony and Cleopatra: Act III, Scene XI}
- $Author{Shakespeare, William}
- $Subject{}
- $Log{Dramatis Personae*01450.txt}
-
- Portions copyright (c) CMC ReSearch, Inc., 1989
-
- The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
-
- ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
-
-
- ACT III
- ................................................................................
-
-
- SCENE XI: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.
- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
-
- {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: 10
- My treasure's in the harbor, 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: 20
- 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? 30
-
- 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 practice had
- In the brave squares of war: yet now--No matter. 40
-
- 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. 50
-
- 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 dishonor.
-
- 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 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 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. 70
- Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune
- knows
- We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
-
- [Exeunt.]
-