Then in the midst a tearing groan did break Between her heart and lips. Thy name so buried in her. Ant. Mar. She rendered life, Dead, then? Dead. Ant. Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done, And we must sleep.-That thou depart'st hence safe, Does pay thy labor richly; go.-Off, pluck off ;— [Exit MARDIAN. I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Re-enter EROS. Since Cleopatra died, Eros. What would my lord? Ant. I lived in such dishonor, that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword 1 "The battery from my heart," means "the battery proceeding from my heart. 2 i. e. the thing that contains thee. 3 Steevens thinks that the Poet wrote life, and not length. But length may signify extension or protraction of life. Quartered the world, and o'er green Neptune's back Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, Thou then wouldst kill me. Do't; the time is come. Thou strik'st not me; 'tis Cæsar thou defeat'st. Put color in thy cheek. Eros. The gods withhold me! Eros, Shall I do that, which all the Parthian darts, Ant. To penetrative shame; whilst the wheeled seat Eros. I would not see't. Ant. Come, then; for with a wound I must be cured. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Eros. O sir, pardon me. Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not then To do this when I bade thee? Or thy precedent services are all Do it at once; But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come. Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. 1 The termination bly is often written ble by old writers, and is frequently to be found so in Shakspeare. To mind or purpose is a verb extensively used in former times. 2 i. e. arms folded. 3 Corrigible for corrected, and afterwards penetrative for penetrating. 4 "Branded with baseness the poor wretch that followed." Ant. Lo thee. Eros. My sword is drawn. Ant. [Turning from him. Then let it do at once My dear master, The thing why thou hast drawn it. Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? Of Antony's death. Ant. Thrice nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what [Dies. I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros A bridegroom in my death, and run into't [Falling on his sword. I learned of thee. How! not dead? not dead?— The guard!-ho!-O, despatch me. 1 Guard. Enter DERCETAS and Guard. What's the noise? Ant. I have done my work ill, friends; O, make an end Of what I have begun. 2 Guard. 1 Guard. And time is at his period. All. The star is fallen. Alas, and wo! Not I. [Exeunt Guard. Ant. Let him that loves me, strike me dead. 1 Guard. 2 Guard. Nor I. 3 Guard. Nor any one. Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. This sword but shown to Cæsar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him. My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee. Dio. Most absolute lord, Now, my lord. Ant. Where is she? Dio. Locked in her monument. She had a prophe sying fear Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw I dread, too late. Ant. Too late, good Diomed.-Call my guard, I pr'ythee. Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, what, ho! Come, your lord calls. Enter some of the Guard. Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra 'bides; 'Tis the last service that I shall command you. 1 Guard. Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear All your true followers out. All. Most heavy day! Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate 1 i. e. arranged with him, agreed with him. To grace it with your sorrows; bid that welcome [Exeunt, bearing ANTONY. SCENE XIII. The same. A Monument. Enter above, CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAs. Cleo. O Charmian, I will never go from hence. Char. Be comforted, dear madam. Cleo. No, I will not. All strange and terrible events are welcome, Enter DIOMEDES. As that which makes it.-How now? is he dead? Cleo. Enter ANTONY, borne by the Guard. O, thou sun, Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in!'-Darkling stand The varying shore o' the world. O Antony, Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian; help, Iras, help; help, friends 1 It should be remembered that, according to the old philosophy, the sun was accounted a planet, and thought to be whirled round the earth by the motion of a solid sphere in which it was fixed. Supposing this consumed, the sun must wander in endless space, and the earth be involved in endless night. |