Antony and Cleopatra - Act 4 - Scene 9

SCENE IX. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.

    Sentinels at their post

First Soldier

    If we be not relieved within this hour,
    We must return to the court of guard: the night
    Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle
    By the second hour i' the morn.

Second Soldier

    This last day was
    A shrewd one to's.

    Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

    O, bear me witness, night,--

Third Soldier

    What man is this?

Second Soldier

    Stand close, and list him.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

    Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,
    When men revolted shall upon record
    Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
    Before thy face repent!

First Soldier

    Enobarbus!

Third Soldier

    Peace!
    Hark further.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS

    O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
    The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,
    That life, a very rebel to my will,
    May hang no longer on me: throw my heart
    Against the flint and hardness of my fault:
    Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder,
    And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
    Nobler than my revolt is infamous,
    Forgive me in thine own particular;
    But let the world rank me in register
    A master-leaver and a fugitive:
    O Antony! O Antony!

    Dies

Second Soldier

    Let's speak To him.

First Soldier

    Let's hear him, for the things he speaks
    May concern Caesar.

Third Soldier

    Let's do so. But he sleeps.

First Soldier

    Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his
    Was never yet for sleep.

Second Soldier

    Go we to him.

Third Soldier

    Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.

Second Soldier

    Hear you, sir?

First Soldier

    The hand of death hath raught him.

    Drums afar off
    Hark! the drums
    Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
    To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour
    Is fully out.

Third Soldier

    Come on, then;
    He may recover yet.

    Exeunt with the body