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:
 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]




 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA


ACT III