A tower'd citadel, a pendant rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon't, that nod unto the world, And mock our eyes with air: Thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper's pageants. Eros. Ay, my lord. Ant. That, which is now a horse, even with a thought, 51 The rack dislimns 51; and makes it indistinct, As water is in water. Eros. It does, my lord. Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body: here I am Antony; Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. I made these wars for Egypt; and the queen,- 52 Pack'd cards with Cæsar, and false play'd my glory Unto an enemy's triumph. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace; She hath betray'd me, and shall die the death. Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once; And that she has discharg'd: What thou would'st do, Is done unto thy hand; the last she spake Was, Antony! most noble Antony ! Then in the midst a tearing groan did break Between her heart and lips: she render'd life, Ant. Mar. Dead then? Dead. Ant. Eros, unarm; the long day's task is done, And we must sleep:-That thou depart'st hence safe, Does pay thy labour richly; Go.-Off, pluck off; [Exit Mardian. The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides! You have been nobly borne.-From me a while.— I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Itself with strength: Seal then, and all is done, And all the haunt be ours.-Come, Eros, Eros! Re-enter EROS. Eros. What would my lord? Ant. Since Cleopatra died, I have liv'd in such dishonour, that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Than she, which, by her death, our Cæsar tells, Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, Thou then would'st kill me: do't; the time is come: Thou strik'st not me, 'tis Cæsar thou defeat'st. Put colour in thy cheek. Eros. The gods withhold me! Shall I do that, which all the Parthian darts, Eros, Ant. Would'st thou be window'd in great Rome, and see Thy master thus with pleach'd arms 53, bending down His corrigible neck, his face subdued To penetrative shame; whilst the wheel'd seat Eros. I would not see't. Ant. 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 countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. Ant. Lo thee. Eros. My sword is drawn. The thing why thou hast drawn it. Eros. [turning from him. Then let it do at once My dear master, My captain, and my emperor! let me say, Ant. 'Tis said, man;-and farewell. Now, Eros. Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? I do escape the sorrow Of Antony's death. [dies. Ant. 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 [Falling on his sword. I learn'd of thee. How! not yet 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. Ant. Let him that loves me, strike me dead. 1 Guard. 2 Guard. Nor I. 3 Guard. Nor any one. The star is fallen. Alas, and woe! Not I. [Exeunt Guard. Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly, This sword but shown to Cæsar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him. Enter DIOMEDES. Dio. Where's Antony? |