Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Enter MARDIAN. She has robb'd me of my sword. No, Antony; Mar. My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled With thine entirely. 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 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! Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,* I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and And all the haunt be ours.-Come, Eros, Eros! Re-enter EROS. Eros. What would my lord? Since Cleopatra died, Ant. Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Than she, which, by her death, our Cæsar tells, Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, thy continent,] i. e. the thing that contains thee. Seal then, and all is done.] Metaphor taken from civil contracts, where, when all is agreed on, the sealing compleats the contract; so he hath determined to die, and nothing remained but to give the stroke. Thou strik'st not me, 'tis Cæsar thou defeat'st. Ant. Eros, Would'st thou be window'd in great Rome, and see 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; But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come. Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance, Eros. My sword is drawn. [Turning from him. Then let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it. My dear master, pleach'd arms,] Arms folded in each other. His corrigible neck,] Corrigible for corrected, and afterwards penetrative for penetrating. 6 His baseness that ensued?] The poor conquered wretch that followed. JOHNSON. 7- the worship of the whole world-] The worship, is the dignity, the authority. My captain, and my emperor! let me say, Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? 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 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. Wilt thou not answer, man? Exit DERCETAS. and give me Ant. Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, Sufficing strokes for death. Dio. Most absolute lord, phesying fear 8 Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw Ant. Too late, good Diomed:-Call my guard, 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. • She had dispos'd with Casar,] To dispose, in this instance, perhaps signifies to make terms, to settle matters. |