Ant. He has more ways than one, But he would chuse them all before that one. He would live like a lamp to the last wink, Vent. You conquered for him; Millions of sighs and tears she sends you too, And would have sent As many embraces to your arms, As many dear parting kisses to your lips, Alex. And yet she begs not now, you would not leave her; That were a wish too mighty for her hopes, And too presuming (for her low fortune and your ebbing love); That were a wish for her most prosperous days, Her blooming beauty, and your growing kindness. Ant. [Aside.] Well, I must man it out--What would the queen? Alex. First to these noble warriors, who attend Your daring courage in the chase of fame, (Too daring and too dangerous for her quiet) She humbly recommends all she holds dear, All her own cares and fears, the care of you. Vent. Yes, witness Actium. Ant. Let him speak, Ventidius. Alex. You, when his matchless valour bears With ardour, too heroic, on his foes; With all the wealth of Egypt. Vent. Tell her I'll none of it; I am not ashamed of honest poverty: Ant. You might have spared that word. Ant. But have I no remembrance? Your slave, the queen Ant. My mistress. Alex. Then your mistress. Your mistress would, she says, have sent her soul, But that you had long since; she humbly begs This ruby bracelet, set with bleeding hearts, (The emblems of her own) may bind your arm. [Presenting a bracelet. Vent. Now, my best lord, in honour's name I ask you, For manhood's sake, and for your own dear safety, Touch not these poisoned gifts, Infected by the sender! touch them not! Myriads of bluest plagues lie underneath them, And more than aconite has dipt the silk. Ant. Nay, now you grow too. cynical, Ventidius; A lady's favours may be worn with honour. "Twill pass Alex. None, none, my lord, But what's to her, that now 'tis past for ever. Ant. [Going to tie it.] We soldiers are so aukward-help me tie it. Alex. In faith, my lord, we courtiers too are In these affairs; so are all men indeed; Ant. Yes, freely. Alex. Then, my lord, fair hands alone Are fit to tie it; she, who sent it, can. Vent. Hell ! death ! this eunuch pandar ruins | From you alone Cleo. Oh, heavens! I ruin you! Ant. You promised me your silence, and you break it, Ere I have scarce begun. Cleo. Well, I obey you. Ant. When I beheld you first, it was in Egypt, Ere Cæsar saw your eyes: you gave me love, And were too young to know it. That I settled Your father in his throne was for your sake; I left the acknowledgment for time to ripen. Caesar stepped in, and, with a greedy hand, Plucked the green fruit, ere the first blush of red, Yet cleaving to the bough. He was my lord, And was beside too great for me to rival: But I deserved you first, though he enjoyed you. When after I beheld you in Cilicia, An enemy to Rome, I pardoned you. Cleo. I cleared myself Ant. Again you break your promise! I loved you still, and took your weak excuses, Took you into my bosom, stained by Cæsar, And not half mine: I went to Egypt with you, And hid me from the business of the world, Shut out inquiring nations from my sight, To give whole years to you. Vent. Yes, to your shame be it spoken! [Aside, Witness ye days and nights, and all ye hours, I saw you every day, and all the day, Ant. Fulvia, my wife, grew jealous, Vent. But yet You went not. Ant. While within your arms I lay, The world fell mouldering from my hands each hour, And left me scarce a grasp; I thank your love for't. Vent. Well pushed: that last was home. Ant. If I have urged a falsehood, yes; else not. You called; my love obeyed the fatal summons: Vent. What haste she made to hoist her purple And to appear magnificent in flight, Ant. All this you caused: And would you multiply more ruins on me? eyes To scize them too. If you have aught to answer, Now speak, you have free leave. Alex. She stands confounded: Despair is in her eyes. [Aside. Vent. Now lay a sigh in the way to stop his passage; Prepare a tear, and bid it for his legions: Cleo. How shall I plead my cause, when you, my judge, Already have condemned me? Shall I bring That you would pry with narrow searching eyes Vent. After this, I think she'll blush at nothing. Cleo. You seem grieved (And therein you are kind) that Cæsar first Vent. Oh, siren! siren! Yet grant that all the love she boasts were true, Cleo. The consequence indeed, Yes; but he'll say you left Octavia for me: Cleo. Ev'n there I dare his malice. True, I counselled To fight at sea; but I betrayed you not: I fled, but not to the enemy. 'Twas fear: Would I had been a man not to have feared! For none would then have envied me your friendship,, Who envy me your love. Ant. We are both unhappy: If nothing else, yet our ill fortune parts us. Speak! would you have me perish by my stay? Cleo. If, as a friend, you ask my judgment, go; If, as a lover, stay. If you must perish'Tis a hard word-but stay. Vent. See now the effects of her so boasted love! She strives to drag you down to ruin with her; But could she 'scape without you, oh, how soon Would she let go her hold, and haste to shore, That serve to make me wretched! Speak, my And never look behind! lord, For I end here. Though I deserve this usage, Was it like you to give it? Ant. Oh, you wrong me, To think I sought this parting, or desired To accuse you more than what will clear myself, Cleo. Thus low I thank you, Cleo. Then judge my love by this. Could I have borne [Giving Antony a writing. A life or death, a happiness or woe, Ant. By Hercules the writing of Octavius! And joins all Syria to it as a present, Cleo. And yet you leave me! You leave me, Antony; and yet I love you! Indeed I do! I have refused a kingdom, That's a trifle; For I could part with life, with any thing, But only you. Oh let me die but with you! Is that a hard request? Ant. Next living with you 'Tis all, that heaven can give. Alex. He melts; we conquer. [Aside. Cleo. No, you shall go; your interest call you hence: Yes, your dear interest pulls to strong for these Weak arms to hold you here [Takes his hand. Go, leave me, soldier, (For you're no more a lover) leave me dying; Push me all pale and panting from your bosom, And, when your march begins, let one run after, Breathless almost for joy, and cry, She's dead!' The soldiers shout. You then perhaps may sigh, And muster all your Roman gravity; Ventidius chides, and straight your brow clears Ant. What is it, Ventidius? it outweighs them all. Why, we have more than conquered Cæsar now; Would she let slip her hold, and make to shore, Down on thy knees, blasphemer as thou art, Ant. Go! whither? go from all that's excellent! Faith, honour, virtue, all good things, forbid Cleo. She's wholly yours. My heart's so full of joy, That I shall do some wild extravagance ACT III, Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a train of Egyptians, ANTONY and Romans; CLEOPATRA Crowns ANTONY. Ant. I THOUGHT how those white arms would fold me in, And strain me close and melt me into love : So pleased with that sweet image I sprung forwards, And added all my strength to every blow. Cleo. Come to me, come, my soldier, to my arms! You have been too long away from my embraces; Ant: My brighter Venus! Ant. Thou joinest us well, my love. And make their envy what they meant their sport, Let those, who took us, blush; I would love on, There's no satiety of love in thee; And blossoms rise to fill its empty place, Enter VENTIDIUS, and stands apart. comes; He joins not in your joys, nor minds your triumphs, Ant. Now, on my soul, he loves me, truly loves me; He never flattered me in any vice, But awes me with his virtue: even this minute, Methinks, he has a right of chiding me. Lead to the temple; I'll avoid his presence; It checks too strong upon me. [Exeunt the rest. [As Antony is going, Ventidius pulls him by the robe. Vent. Emperor! Ant. 'Tis the old argument; I prithee spare Vent. Fain I would find some other. Some four or five such victories as this Vent. Expect no more; Cæsar is on his guard. For foreign aids, to hunt my memory, Yet I have one, the bravest youth of Rome, Just such a one we want. Ant. He loved me too; I was his soul; he lived not but in me : Vent. He moves as I would wish him. [Aside. I need not tell his name: 'twas Dolabella. Ant. No matter where, Since he is no longer mine. He took unkindly, He took no leave, and that confirmed my thoughts. her, |