Antony and Cleopatra - Act 3 - Scene 11

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