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  • William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act IV, Scene Xiv. The same. Another room.

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Scene Xiv. The same. Another room.Enter Mark Antony and ErosMark AntonyEros, thou yet behold’st me?ErosAy, noble lord.Mark AntonySometimes we see a cloud that’s dragonish; A vapour sometime like a bear or lion, A tower’d citadel, a pendent rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon’t, that nod unto the world, And mock our eyes with air. Thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper’s pageants.ErosAy, my lord,Mark AntonyThat which is now a horse, even with a thought The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct, As water is in water.ErosIt does, my lord.Mark AntonyMy good knave Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body: here I am Antony: Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. I made these wars for Egypt: and the queen,— Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine; Which whilst it was mine had annex’d unto’t A million more, now lost,—she, Eros, has Pack’d cards with Caesar, and false-play’d my glory Unto an enemy’s triumph. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Ourselves to end ourselves.Enter MardianO! thy vile lady! She has robb’d me of my sword.MardianNo, Antony; My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled With thine entirely.Mark AntonyHence, saucy eunuch; peace! She hath betray’d me and shall die the death.MardianDeath of one person can be paid but once, And that she has discharged: what thou wouldst do Is done unto thy hand: the last she spake Was ‘Antony! most noble Antony!’ Then in the midst a tearing groan did break The name of Antony; it was divided Between her heart and lips: she render’d life, Thy name so buried in her.Mark AntonyDead, then?MardianDead.Mark AntonyUnarm, Eros; the long day’s task is done, And we must sleep.To MardianThat thou depart’st hence safe, Does pay thy labour richly; go.Exit MardianOff, pluck off: The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides! Heart, once be stronger than thy continent, Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace. No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go; You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.Exit ErosI will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now All length is torture: since the torch is out, Lie down, and stray no farther: now all labour Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done. Eros!—I come, my queen:—Eros!—Stay for me: Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand, And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze: Dido and her AEneas shall want troops, And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros!Re-enter ErosErosWhat would my lord?Mark AntonySince Cleopatra died, I have lived in such dishonour, that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Quarter’d the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack The courage of a woman; less noble mind Than she which by her death our Caesar tells ‘I am conqueror of myself.’ Thou art sworn, Eros, That, when the exigent should come, which now Is come indeed, when I should see behind me The inevitable prosecution of Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, Thou then wouldst kill me: do’t; the time is come: Thou strikest not me, ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st. Put colour in thy cheek.ErosThe gods withhold me! Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?Mark AntonyEros, Wouldst thou be window’d in great Rome and see Thy master thus with pleach’d arms, bending down His corrigible neck, his face subdued To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel’d seat Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded His baseness that ensued?ErosI would not see’t.Mark AntonyCome, then; for with a wound I must be cured. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country.ErosO, sir, pardon me!Mark AntonyWhen I did make thee free, sworest thou not then To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once; Or thy precedent services are all But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.ErosTurn from me, then, that noble countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.Mark AntonyLo thee!Turning from himErosMy sword is drawn.Mark AntonyThen let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it.ErosMy dear master, My captain, and my emperor, let me say, Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.Mark Antony’Tis said, man; and farewell.ErosFarewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?Mark AntonyNow, Eros.ErosWhy, there then: thus I do escape the sorrow Of Antony’s death.Kills himselfMark AntonyThrice-nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros Have by their brave instruction got upon me A nobleness in record: but I will be A bridegroom in my death, and run into’t As to a lover’s bed. Come, then; and, Eros, Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thusFalling on his swordI learn’d of thee. How! not dead? not dead? The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!Enter Dercetas and GuardFirst GuardWhat’s the noise?Mark AntonyI have done my work in, friends: O, make an end Of what I have begun.Second GuardThe star is fall’n.First GuardAnd time is at his period.AllAlas, and woe!Mark AntonyLet him that loves me strike me dead.First GuardNot I.Second GuardNor I.Third GuardNor any one.Exeunt GuardDercetasThy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him.Enter DiomedesDiomedesWhere’s Antony?DercetasThere, Diomed there.DiomedesLives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?Exit DercetasMark AntonyArt thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me Sufficing strokes for death.DiomedesMost absolute lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.Mark AntonyWhen did she send thee?DiomedesNow, my lord.Mark AntonyWhere is she?DiomedesLock’d in her monument. She had a prophesying fear Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw— Which never shall be found—you did suspect She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead; But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, I dread, too late.Mark AntonyToo late, good Diomed: call my guard, I prithee.DiomedesWhat, ho, the emperor’s guard! The guard, what, ho! Come, your lord calls!Enter four or five of the Guard of Mark AntonyMark AntonyBear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides; ‘Tis the last service that I shall command you.First GuardWoe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear All your true followers out.AllMost heavy day!Mark AntonyNay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome Which comes to punish us, and we punish it Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up: I have led you oft: carry me now, good friends, And have my thanks for all.Exeunt, bearing Mark Antony

William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act IV

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William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act III, Scene Xiii. Alexandria. Cleopatra’s palace.

  • William Shakespeare: Antony and Cleopatra, Act III, Scene Xiii. Alexandria. Cleopatra’s palace.

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