His corrigible neck, his face subdu'd

To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat
Of fortunate Cæsar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued ?

Eros.

Ant.

I would not see 't.

Come, then; for with a wound I must be cur'd.

Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country.

Eros.

O, sir, pardon me.

Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not

then

To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once,

Or thy precedent services are all

But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come.

Eros. Turn from me, then, that noble counte

nance,

Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

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.
My captain, and my emperor, let me say,
Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
Ant. 'Tis said, man; and farewell.

Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

Ant.

Now, Eros. Eros. Why, there then: - [Falls on his sword.]

Thus do I escape the sorrow

Of Antony's death.

Ant.

[Dies.

Thrice nobler than myself!

Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what

I should, and thou could'st not. My Queen and Eros Have, by their brave instruction, got upon me

A nobleness in record: but I will be

A bridegroom in my death, and run into 't
As to a lover's bed. Come then; and, Eros,

Thy master dies thy scholar to do thus

[Falling on his sword.

How! not dead? not dead?

I learn'd of thee.
The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!

Enter DERCETAS and Guard.

1 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 woe!

Not I.

[Exeunt Guard.

Ant. Let him that loves me, strike me dead.

1 Guard.

2 Guard. Nor I.

3 Guard. Nor any one.

Dercetas. Thy death and fortunes bid thy fol

lowers fly.

This sword but shewn to Cæsar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him.

My mistress, Cleopatra, sent me to thee.

Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw (Which never shall be found) you did suspect

She had dispos'd with Cæsar, and that your rage Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was

dead;

But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,

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

1o grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome
Which comes to punish us; and we punish it,
Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:

I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,
And have my thanks for all.

[Exeunt, bearing ANTONY.

SCENE XIII.

The Same. A Monument.

Enter above, in a gallery, CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS.

Cleo. O Charmian, I will never go from hence. Char. Be comforted, dear madam.

No, I will not.

Cleo.
All strange and terrible events are welcome;
But comforts we despise: our size of sorrow,
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
As that which makes it.

Enter, below, DIOMEDES.

How now! is he dead?

Dio. His death's upon him, but not dead. Look out o' th' other side your monument,

His guard have brought him thither.

Enter, below, ANTONY, borne by the Guard.

Cleo. O Sun,

Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in! darkling

stand

The varying shore o' th' world. O Antony, Antony,

Antony !

Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help help, friends

Below; let's draw him hither.

Ant.

Peace!

Not Cæsar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,

But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself.

Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony

Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only

I here importune death a while, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.

Cleo.

I dare not, dear,

(Dear my lord, pardon,) I dare not,

Lest I be taken not the imperious shew

Of the full-fortun'd Cæsar ever shall

Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, have Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe:

Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes,

And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour
Demuring upon me. - But come, come, Antony,

my lord!

Our strength is all gone into heaviness,

That makes the weight: had I great Juno's power,
The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up,
And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little,
Wishers were ever fools. O, come, come, come;
[They draw ANTONY up.

And welcome, welcome! die, where thou hast liv'd:
Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out.

All.

A heavy sight.

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying.

Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, Provok'd by my offence.

Ant.

One word, sweet Queen. Of Cæsar seek your honour with your safety. — O! Cleo. They do not go together.