John Dryden

All for Love





Source text for this digital edition:
Dryden, John. All for Love. 1677. In: Lawrence, Robert G. (ed.) Restoration Plays. London and Melbourne: J. M. Dent and Sons, 1976, pp. 1-80, Everyman’s Library.
Digital text encoding for EMOTHE:
  • Sumillera, Rocío G. (Grupo de investigación ARTELOPE, Universitat de València, http://artelope.uv.es)

Note on this digital edition

Reproduced with kind permission by Joan Lawrence.

With the support of research project GVAICO2016-094, funded by Generalitat Valenciana.

N.B.: In Lawrence’s 1976 edition, the Prologue is printed before the Dramatis Personae; and medial and final parts of shared lines are not indented.


EPISTLE

ALL FOR LOVE
OR THE WORLD WELL LOST
A TRAGEDY

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
THOMAS, EARL OF DANBY

Viscount Latimer, and Baron Osborne of Kiveton, in Yorkshire; Lord High Treasurer of England, one of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, and Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter.

MY LORD, –The gratitude of poets is so troublesome a virtue to great men, that you are often in danger of your own benefits: for you are threatened with some epistle, and not suffered to do good in quiet, or to compound for their silence whom you have obliged. Yet, I confess, I neither am nor ought to be surprised at this indulgence; for your lordship has the same right to favour poetry, which the great and noble have ever had –
Carmen amat, quisquis carmine digna gerit.
There is somewhat of a tie in nature betwixt those who are born for worthy actions, and those who can transmit them to posterity; and though ours be much the inferior part, it comes at least within the verge of alliance; nor are we unprofitable members of the commonwealth, when we animate others to those virtues, which we copy and describe from you.
It is indeed their interest, who endeavour the subversion of governments, to discourage poets and historians; for the best which can happen to them, is to be forgotten. But such who, under kings, are the fathers of their country, and by a just and prudent ordering of affairs preserve it, have the same reason to cherish the chroniclers of their actions, as they have to lay up in safety the deeds and evidences of their estates; for such records are their undoubted titles to the love and reverence of after ages. Your lordship's administration has already taken up a considerable part of the English annals; and many of its most happy years are owing to it. His Majesty, the most knowing judge of men, and the best master, has acknowledged the ease and benefit he receives in the incomes of his treasury, which you found not only disordered, but exhausted. All things were in the confusion of a chaos, without form or method, if not reduced beyond it, even to annihilation; so that you had not only to separate the jarring elements, but (if that boldness of expression might be allowed me) to create them. Your enemies had so embroiled the management of your office, that they looked on your advancement as the instrument of your ruin. And as if the clogging of the revenue, and the confusion of accounts, which you found in your entrance, were not sufficient, they added their own weight of malice to the public calamity, by forestalling the credit which should cure it. Your friends on the other side were only capable of pitying, but not for aiding you; no further help or counsel was remaining to you, but what was founded on yourself; and that indeed was your security; for your diligence, your constancy, and your prudence, wrought more surely within, when they were not disturbed by any outward motion. The highest virtue is best to be trusted with itself; for assistance only can be given by a genius superior to that which it assists; and it is the noblest kind of debt, when we are only obliged to God and nature. This then, my lord, is your just commendation, that you have wrought out yourself a way to glory, by those very means that were designed for your destruction. You have not only restored but advanced the revenues of your master, without grievance to the subject; and, as if that were little yet, the debts of the exchequer, which lay heaviest both on the crown, and on private persons, have by your conduct been established in a certainty of satisfaction. An action so much the more great and honourable, because the case was without the ordinary relief of laws; above the hopes of the afflicted and beyond the narrowness of the treasury to redress, had it been managed by a less able hand. It is certainly the happiest, and most unenvied part of all your fortune, to do good to many, while you do injury to none; to receive at once the prayers of the subject, and the praises of the prince; and, by the care of your conduct, to give him means of exerting the chiefest (if any be the chiefest) of his royal virtues, his distributive justice to the deserving, and his bounty and compassion to the wanting. The disposition of princes towards their people cannot better be discovered than in the choice of their ministers; who, like the animal spirits betwixt the soul and body, participate somewhat of both natures, and make the communication which is betwixt them. A king, who is just and moderate in his nature, who rules according to the laws, whom God made happy by forming the temper of his soul to the constitution of his government, and who makes us happy, by assuming over us no other sovereignty than that wherein our welfare and liberty consists; a prince, I say, of so excellent a character, and so suitable to the wishes of all good men, could not better have conveyed himself into his people's apprehensions, than in your lordship's person; who so lively express the same virtues, that you seem not so much a copy, as an emanation of him. Moderation is doubtless an establishment of greatness; but there is a steadiness of temper which is likewise requisite in a minister of state; so equal a mixture of both virtues, that he may stand like an isthmus betwixt the two encroaching seas of arbitrary power, and lawless anarchy. The undertaking would be difficult to any but an extraordinary genius, to stand at the line, and to divide the limits; to pay what is due to the great representative of the nation, and neither to enhance, nor to yield up, the undoubted prerogatives of the crown. These, my lord, are the proper virtues of a noble Englishman, as indeed they are properly English virtues; no people in the world being capable of using them, but we who have the happiness to be born under so equal, and so well-poised a government; –a government which has all the advantages of liberty beyond a commonwealth, and all the
marks of kingly sovereignty, without the danger of a tyranny. Both my nature, as I am an Englishman, and my reason, as I am a man, have bred in me a loathing to that specious name of a republic; that mock appearance of a liberty, where all who have not part in the government, are slaves; and slaves they are of a viler note, than such as are subjects to an absolute dominion. For no Christian monarchy is so absolute, but it is circumscribed with laws; but when the executive power is in the law-makers, there is no further check upon them; and the people must suffer without a remedy, because they are oppressed by their representatives. If I must serve, the number of my masters, who were born my equals, would but add to the ignominy of my bondage. The nature of our government, above all others, is exactly suited both to the situation of our country, and the temper of the natives; an island being more proper for commerce and for defence, than for extending its dominions on the Continent; for what the valour of its inhabitants might gain, by reason of its remoteness, and the casualties of the seas, it could not so easily preserve. And, therefore, neither the arbitrary power of One, in a monarchy, nor of Many, in a commonwealth, could make us greater than we are. It is true, that vaster and more frequent taxes might be gathered, when the consent of the people was not asked or needed; but this were only by conquering abroad, to be poor at home; and the examples of our neighbours teach us, that they are not always the happiest subjects, whose kings extend their dominions farthest. Since therefore we cannot win by an offensive war, at least a land war, the model of our government seems naturally contrived for the defensive part; and the consent of a people is easily obtained to contribute to that power which must protect it. Felices nimium, bona si sua nôrint, Angligenœ ! And yet there are not wanting malcontents amongst us, who, surfeiting
themselves on too much happiness, would persuade the people that they might be happier by a change. It was indeed the policy of their old forefather, when himself was fallen from the station of glory, to seduce mankind into the same rebellion with him, by telling him he might yet be freer than he was; that is, more free than his nature would allow, or, if I may so say, than God could make him. We have already all the liberty which freeborn subjects can enjoy, and all beyond it is but licence. But if it be liberty of conscience which they pretend, the moderation of our church is such, that its practice extends not to the severity of persecution; and its discipline is withal so easy, that it allows more freedom to dissenters than any of the sects would allow to it. In the meantime, what right can be pretended by these men to attempt innovations in church or state? Who made them the trustees, or to speak a little nearer their own language, the keepers of the liberty of England? If their call be extraordinary, let them convince us by working miracles; for ordinary vocation they can have none, to disturb the government under which they were born, and which protects them. He who has often changed his party, and always has made his interest the rule of it, gives little evidence of his sincerity for the public good; it is manifest he changes but for himself, and takes the people for tools to work his fortune. Yet the experience of all ages might let him know, that they who trouble the waters first, have seldom the benefit of the fishing; as they who began the late rebellion enjoyed not the fruit of their undertaking, but were crushed themselves by the usurpation of their own instrument. Neither is it enough for them to answer, that they only intend a reformation of the government, but not the subversion of it; on such pretences all insurrections have been founded; it is striking at the root of power, which is obedience. Every remonstrance of private men has the seed of treason in it; and discourses, which are couched in ambiguous terms, are therefore the more dangerous, because they do all the mischief of open sedition, yet are safe from the punishment of the laws. These, my lord, are considerations, which I should not pass so lightly over, had I room to manage them as they deserve; for no man can be so inconsiderable in a nation, as not to have a share in the welfare of it; and if he be a true Englishman, he must at the same time be fired with indignation, and revenge himself as he can on the disturbers of his country. And to whom could I more fitly apply myself than to your lordship, who have not only an inborn, but an hereditary loyalty? The memorable constancy and sufferings of your father, almost to the ruin of his estate, for the royal cause, were an earnest of that which such a parent and such an institution would produce in the person of a son. But so unhappy an occasion of manifesting your own zeal, in suffering for his present majesty, the providence of God, and the prudence of your administration, will, I hope, prevent; that, as your father's fortune waited on the unhappiness of his sovereign, so your own may participate of the better fate which attends his son. The relation which you have by alliance to the noble family of your lady, serves to confirm to you both this happy augury. For what can deserve a greater place in the English chronicle, than the loyalty and courage, the actions and death, of the general of an army, fighting for his prince and country? The honour and gallantry of the Earl of Lindsey is so illustrious a subject, that it is fit to adorn an heroic poem; for he was the proto-martyr of the cause, and the type of his unfortunate royal master.
Yet after all, my lord, if I may speak my thoughts, you are happy rather to us than to yourself; for the multiplicity, the cares, and the vexations of your employment, have betrayed you from yourself, and given you up into the possession of the public. You are robbed of your privacy and friends, and scarce any hour of your life you can call your own. Those who envy your fortune, if they wanted not good-nature, might more justly
pity it; and when they see you watched by a crowd of suitors, whose importunity it is impossible to avoid, would conclude, with reason, that you have lost much more in true content, than you have gained by dignity; and that a private gentleman is better attended by a single servant, than your lordship with so clamorous a train. Pardon me, my lord, if I speak like a philosopher on this subject; the fortune which makes a man uneasy, cannot make him happy; and a wise man must think himself uneasy, when few of his actions are in his choice.
This last consideration has brought me to another, and a very seasonable one for your relief; which is, that while I pity your want of leisure, I have impertinently detained you so long a time. I have put off my own business, which was my dedication, till it is so late, that I am now ashamed to begin it; and therefore I will say nothing of the poem, which I present to you, because I know not if you are like to have an hour, which, with a good conscience, you may throw away in perusing it; and for the author, I have only to beg the continuance of your protection to him, who is, my lord, your lordship's most obliged, most humble, and most obedient servant,

JOHN DRYDEN.



DRAMATIS PERSONÆ 

MARK ANTONY
VENTIDIUS, his General
DOLABELLA, his Friend
ALEXAS, the Queen's Eunuch
SERAPION, Priest of Isis
MYRIS, another Priest
Servants to Antony
CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt
OCTAVIA, Antony's Wife
CHARMION, Cleopatra's Maid
IRAS, Cleopatra's Maid
Antony's two little Daughters
Gentleman
Gentleman 1
Gentleman 2
Priest

SCENE

– ALEXANDRIA.


PROLOGUE

1
What flocks of critics hover here to-day,
2
As vultures wait on armies for their prey,
3
All gaping for the carcase of a play!
4
With croaking notes they bode some dire event,
5
And follow dying poets by the scent.
6
Ours gives himself for one; y' have watched your time:
7
He fights this day unarmed, –without his rhyme; –
8
And brings a tale which often has been told;
9
As sad as Dido's; and almost as old.
10
His hero, whom you wits his bully call,
11
Bates of his mettle, and scarce rants at all:
12
He's somewhat lewd; but a well-meaning mind;
13
Weeps much; fights little; but is wond'rous kind.
14
In short, a pattern, and companion fit,
15
For all the keeping Tonies of the pit.
16
I could name more: a wife, and mistress too;
17
Both (to be plain) too good for most of you:
18
The wife well-natured, and the mistress true.
19
Now, poets, if your fame has been his care,
20
Allow him all the candour you can spare.
21
A brave man scorns to quarrel once a day;
22
Like Hectors, in at every petty fray.
23
Let those find fault whose wit's so very small,
24
They've need to show that they can think at all;
25
Errors, like straws, upon the surface flow;
26
He who would search for pearls, must dive below.
27
Fops may have leave to level all they can;
28
As pigmies would be glad to lop a man.
29
Half-wits are fleas; so little and so light,
30
We scarce could know the live, but that they bite.
31
But, as the rich, when tired with daily feasts,
32
For change, become their next poor tenant's guests;
33
Drink hearty draughts of ale from plain brown bowls,
34
And snatch the homely rasher from the coals:
35
So you, retiring from much better cheer,
36
For once, may venture to do penance here.
37
And since that plenteous autumn now is past,
38
Whose grapes and peaches have indulged your taste,
39
Take in good part, from our poor poet's board,
40
Such rivelled fruits as winter can afford.


ACT I

SCENE I. –

The Temple of Isis
Enter SERAPION, MYRIS, Priests of Isis.

Serapion.
41
Portents and prodigies are grown so frequent,
42
That they have lost their name. Our fruitful Nile
43
Flowed are the wonted season, with a torrent
44
So unexpected, and so wondrous fierce,
45
That the wild deluge overtook the haste
46
Even of the hinds that watched it: Men and beasts
47
Were borne above the tops of trees, that grew
48
On the utmost margin of the water-mark.
49
Then, with so swift an ebb the flood drove backward,
50
It slipt from underneath the scaly herd:
51
Here monstrous phocæ panted on the shore;
52
Forsaken dolphins there with their broad tails,
53
Lay lashing the departing waves: hard by them,
54
Sea horses floundering in the slimy mud,
55
Tossed up their heads, and dashed the ooze about them.

Enter ALEXAS behind them.

Myris.
56
Avert these omens, Heaven!

Serapion.
57
Last night, between the hours of twelve and one,
58
In a lone aisle of the temple while I walked,
59
A whirlwind rose, that, with a violent blast,
60
Shook all the dome: the doors around me clapt;
61
The iron wicket that defends the vault,
62
Where the long race of Ptolemies is laid,
63
Burst open, and disclosed the mighty dead.
64
From out each monument, in order placed,
65
An armed ghost starts up: the boy-king last
66
Reared his inglorious head. A peal of groans
67
Then followed, and a lamentable voice
68
Cried, Egypt is no more! My blood ran back,
69
My shaking knees against each other knocked;
70
On the cold pavement down I fell entranced,
71
And so unfinished left the horrid scene.

Alexas.
72
And dreamed you this? or did invent the story,
[Showing himself.]
73
To frighten our Egyptian boys withal,
74
And train them up, betimes, in fear of priesthood?

Serapion.
75
My lord, I saw you not,
76
Nor meant my words should reach your ears; but what
77
I uttered was most true.

Alexas.
A foolish dream,
78
Bred from the fumes of indigested feasts,
79
And holy luxury.

Serapion.
I know my duty:
80
This goes no further.

Alexas.
'Tis not fit it should;
81
Nor would the times now bear it, were it true.
82
All southern, from yon hills, the Roman camp
83
Hangs o'er us black and threatening, like a storm
84
Just breaking on our heads.

Serapion.
85
Our faint Egyptians pray for Antony;
86
But in their servile hearts they own Octavius.

Myris.
87
Why then does Antony dream out his hours,
88
And tempts not fortune for a noble day,
89
Which might redeem what Actium lost?

Alexas.
90
He thinks 'tis past recovery.

Serapion.
Yet the foe
91
Seems not to press the siege.

Alexas.
Oh, there's the wonder.
92
Mæcenas and Agrippa, who can most
93
With Cæsar, are his foes. His wife Octavia,
94
Driven from his house, solicits her revenge;
95
And Dolabella, who was once his friend,
96
Upon some private grudge, now seeks his ruin;
97
Yet still war seems on either side to sleep.

Serapion.
98
'Tis strange that Antony, for some days past,
99
Has not beheld the face of Cleopatra;
100
But here, in Isis' temple, lives retired,
101
And makes his heart a prey to black despair.

Alexas.
102
'Tis true; and we much fear he hopes by absence
103
To cure his mind of love.

Serapion.
If he be vanquished,
104
Or make his peace, Egypt is doomed to be
105
A Roman province; and our plenteous harvests
106
Must then redeem the scarceness of their soil.
107
While Antony stood firm, our Alexandria
108
Rivalled proud Rome (dominion's other seat),
109
And Fortune striding, like a vast Colossus,
110
Could fix an equal foot of empire here.

Alexas.
111
Had I my wish, these tyrants of all nature,
112
Who lord it o'er mankind, should perish. –perish,
113
Each by the other's sword; but, since our will
114
Is lamely followed by our power, we must
115
Depend on one; with him to rise or fall.

Serapion.
116
How stands the queen affected?

Alexas.
Oh, she dotes,
117
She dotes, Serapion, on this vanquished man,
118
And winds herself about his mighty ruins;
119
Whom would see yet forsake, yet yield him up,
120
This hunted prey, to his pursuer's hands,
121
She might preserve us all: but 'tis in vain –
122
This changes my designs, this blasts my counsels,
123
And makes me use all means to keep him here,
124
Whom I could wish divided from her arms,
125
Far as the earth's deep centre. Well, you know
126
The state of things; no more of your ill omens
127
And black prognostics; labour to confirm
128
The people's hearts.

Enter VENTIDIUS, talking aside with a Gentleman of ANTONY'S.

Serapion.
These Romans will o'erhear us.
129
But, who's that stranger? By his warlike port,
130
His fierce demeanour, and erected look
131
He's of no vulgar note.

Alexas.
Oh 'tis Ventidius,
132
Our emperor's great lieutenant in the East,
133
Who first showed Rome that Parthia could be conquered.
134
When Antony returned from Syria last,
135
He left this man to guard the Roman frontiers.

Serapion.
136
You seem to know him well.

Alexas.
137
Too well. I saw him at Cilicia first,
138
When Cleopatra there met Antony:
139
A mortal foe he was to us, and Egypt.
140
But, –let me witness to the worth I hate, –
141
A braver Roman never drew a sword;
142
Firm to his prince, but as a friend, not slave.
143
He ne'er was of his pleasures; but presides
144
O'er all his cooler hours, and morning counsels:
145
In short the plainness, fierceness, rugged virtue,
146
Of an old true-stampt Roman lives in him.
147
His coming bodes I know not what of ill
148
To our affairs. Withdraw to mark him better;
149
And I'll acquaint you why I sought you here,
150
And what's our present work.

[They withdraw to a corner of the stage; and VENTIDIUS, with the other, comes forward to the front.]

Ventidius.
Not see him, say you?
151
I say, I must, and will.

Gentleman.
He has commanded,
152
On pain of death, none should approach his presence.

Ventidius.
153
I bring him news will raise his drooping spirits,
154
Give him new life.

Gentleman.
He sees not Cleopatra.

Ventidius.
155
Would he had never seen her!

Gentleman.
156
He eats not, drinks not, sleeps not, has no use
157
Of anything, but thought; or if he talks,
158
'Tis to himself, and then 'tis perfect raving:
159
Then he defies the world, and bids it pass;
160
Sometimes he gnaws his lip, and curses loud
161
The boy Octavius; then he draws his mouth
162
Into a scornful smile, and cries, "Take all,
163
The world's not worth my care."

Ventidius.
164
Just, just his nature.
165
Virtue's his path; but sometimes 'tis too narrow
166
For his vast soul; and then he starts out wide,
167
And bounds into a vice, that bears him far
168
From his first course, and plunges him in ills:
169
But, when his danger makes him find his fault,
170
Quick to observe, and full of sharp remorse,
171
He censures eagerly his own misdeeds,
172
Judging himself with malice to himself,
173
And not forgiving what as man he did,
174
Because his other parts are more than man. –
175
He must not thus be lost.

[ALEXAS and the Priests come forward.]

Alexas.
176
You have your full instructions, now advance:
177
Proclaim your orders loudly.

Serapion.
178
Romans, Egyptians, hear the queen's command.
179
Thus Cleopatra bids: Let labour cease;
180
To pomp and triumphs give this happy day,
181
That gave the world a lord: 'tis Antony's.
182
Live, Antony; and Cleopatra live!
183
Be this the general voice sent up to heaven,
184
An every public place repeat this echo.

Ventidius.
185
[Aside.]
Fine pageantry!

Serapion.
Set out before your doors
186
The images of all your sleeping fathers,
187
With laurels crowned; with laurels wreathe your posts,
188
And strew with flowers the pavement; let the priests
189
Do present sacrifice; pour out the wine,
190
And call the gods to join with you in gladness.

Ventidius.
191
Curse on the tongue that bids this general joy!
192
Can they be friends of Antony, who revel
193
When Antony's in danger? Hide, for shame,
194
You Romans, your great grandsires' images,
195
For fear their souls should animate their marbles,
196
To blush at their degenerate progeny.

Alexas.
197
A love, which knows no bounds, to Antony,
198
Would mark the day with honours, when all heaven
199
Laboured for him, when each propitious star
200
Stood wakeful in his orb, to watch that hour,
201
And shed his better influence. Her own birthday
202
Our queen neglected like a vulgar fate,
203
That passed obscurely by.

Ventidius.
Would it had slept,
204
Divided far from this; till some remote
205
And future age had called it out, to ruin
206
Some other prince, not him!

Alexas.
Your emperor,
207
Though grown unkind, would be more gentle, than
208
To upbraid my queen for loving him too well.

Ventidius.
209
Does the mute sacrifice upbraid the priest?
210
He knows him not his executioner.
211
Oh, she has decked his ruin with her love,
212
Led him in golden bands to gaudy slaughter,
213
And made perdition pleasing: She has left him
214
The blank of what he was.
215
I tell thee, eunuch, she has quite unmanned him.
216
Can any Roman see, and know him now,
217
Thus altered from the lord of half mankind,
218
Unbent, unsinewed, made a woman's toy,
219
Shrunk from the vast extent of all his honours,
220
And crampt within a corner of the world?
221
O Antony!
222
Thou bravest soldier, and thou best of friends!
223
Bounteous as nature; next to nature's God!
224
Couldst thou but make new worlds, so wouldst thou give them,
225
As bounty were thy being! rough in battle,
226
As the first Romans when they went to war;
227
Yet after victory more pitiful
228
Than all their praying virgins left at home!

Alexas.
229
Would you could add, to those more shining virtues,
230
His truth to her who loves him.

Ventidius.
Would I could not!
231
But wherefore waste I precious hours with thee!
232
Thou art her darling mischief, her chief engine,
233
Antony's other fate. Go, tell thy queen,
234
Ventidius is arrived, to end her charms.
235
Let your Egyptian timbrels play alone,
236
Nor mix effeminate sounds with Roman trumpets.
237
You dare not fight for Antony; go pray,
238
And keep your cowards' holiday in temples.

[Exeunt ALEXAS, SERAPION.]
Enter a second Gentleman of M. ANTONY.

Gentleman 2.
239
The emperor approaches, and commands,
240
On pain of death, that none presume to stay.

Gentleman 1.
241
I dare not disobey him.

[Going out with the other.]

Ventidius.
Well, I dare.
242
But I'll observe him first unseen, and find
243
Which way his humour drives: The rest I'll venture.

[Withdraws.]
Enter ANTONY, walking with a disturbed motion before he speaks.

Antony.
244
They tell me, 'tis my birthday, and I'll keep it
245
With double pomp of sadness.
246
'Tis what the day deserves, which gave me breath.
247
Why was I raised the meteor of the world,
248
Hung in the skies, and blazing as I travelled,
249
Till all my fires were spent; and then cast downward,
250
To be trod out by Cæsar?

Ventidius.
[aside.]
On my soul,
251
'Tis mournful, wondrous mournful!

Antony.
Count thy gains.
252
Now, Antony, wouldst thou be born for this?
253
Glutton of fortune, thy devouring youth
254
Has starved thy wanting age.

Ventidius.
[Aside.]
How sorrow shakes him!
255
So, now the tempest tears him up by the roots,
256
And on the ground extends the noble ruin.
[ANTONY having thrown himself down.]
257
Lie there, thou shadow of an emperor;
258
The place thou pressest on thy mother earth
259
Is all thy empire now: now it contains thee;
260
Some few days hence, and then 'twill be too large,
261
When thou'rt contracted in thy narrow urn,
262
Shrunk to a few cold ashes; then Octavia
263
(For Cleopatra will not live to see it),
264
Octavia then will have thee all her own,
265
And bear thee in her widowed hand to Cæsar;
266
Cæsar will weep, the crocodile will weep,
267
To see his rival of the universe
268
Lie still and peaceful there. I'll think no more on't.

Antony.
269
Give me some music: look that it be sad:
270
I'll soothe my melancholy, till I swell,
271
And burst myself with sighing. –
[Soft music.]
272
'Tis somewhat to my humour: stay, I fancy
273
I'm now turned wild, a commoner of nature;
274
Of all forsaken, and forsaking all;
275
Live in a shady forest's sylvan scene,
276
Stretched at my length beneath some blasted oak,
277
I lean my head upon the mossy bark,
278
And look just of a piece as I grew from it;
279
My uncombed locks, matted like mistletoe,
280
Hang o'er my hoary face; a murmuring brook
281
Runs at my foot.

Ventidius.
Methinks I fancy
282
Myself there too.

Antony.
The herd come jumping by me,
283
And, fearless, quench their thirst, while I look on,
284
And take me for their fellow-citizen.
285
More of this image, more; it lulls my thoughts.

[Soft music again.]

Ventidius.
286
I must disturb him; I can hold no longer.

[Stands before him.]

Antony.
287
[starting up.]
Art thou Ventidius?

Ventidius.
Are you Antony?
288
I'm liker what I was, than you to him
289
I left you last.

Antony.
I'm angry.

Ventidius.
So am I.

Antony.
290
I would be private: leave me.

Ventidius.
Sir, I love you,
291
And therefore will not leave you.

Antony.
Will not leave me!
292
Where have you learnt that answer? Who am I?

Ventidius.
293
My emperor; the man I love next Heaven:
294
If I said more, I think 'twere scarce a sin:
295
You're all that's good, and god-like.

Antony.
All that's wretched.
296
You will not leave me then?

Ventidius.
'Twas too presuming
297
To say I would not; but I dare not leave you:
298
And, 'tis unkind in you to chide me hence
299
So soon, when I so far have come to see you.

Antony.
300
Now thou hast seen me, art thou satisfied?
301
For, if a friend, thou hast beheld enough;
302
And, if a foe, too much.

Ventidius.
303
[Weeping]
Look, emperor, this is no common dew.
304
I have not wept this forty years; but now
305
My mother comes afresh into my eyes;
306
I cannot help her softness.

Antony.
307
By heaven, he weeps! poor good old man, he weeps!
308
The big round drops course one another down
309
The furrows of his cheeks. –Stop them, Ventidius,
310
Or I shall blush to death; they set my shame,
311
That caused them, full before me.

Ventidius.
I'll do my best.

Antony.
312
Sure there's contagion in the tears of friends:
313
See, I have caught it too. Believe me, 'tis not
314
For my own griefs, but thine. –Nay, father!

Ventidius.
Emperor.

Antony.
315
Emperor! Why, that's the style of victory;
316
The conqu'ring soldier, red with unfelt wounds,
317
Salutes his general so: but never more
318
Shall that sound reach my ears.

Ventidius.
I warrant you.

Antony.
319
Actium, Actium! Oh! –

Ventidius.
It sits too near you.

Antony.
320
Here, here it lies; a lump of lead by day,
321
And, in my short, distracted, nightly slumbers,
322
The hag that rides my dreams. –

Ventidius.
323
Out with it; give it vent.

Antony.
Urge not my shame.
324
I lost a battle, –

Ventidius.
So has Julius done.

Antony.
325
Thou favour'st me, and speak'st not half thou think'st;
326
For Julius fought it out, and lost it fairly:
327
But Antony –

Ventidius.
Nay, stop not.

Antony.
Antony, –
328
Well, thou wilt have it - like a coward, fled,
329
Fled while his soldiers fought; fled first, Ventidius.
330
Thou long'st to curse me, and I give thee leave.
331
I know thou cam'st prepared to rail.

Ventidius.
I did.

Antony.
332
I'll help thee. – I have been a man, Ventidius.

Ventidius.
333
Yes, and a brave one; but –

Antony.
I know thy meaning.
334
But I have lost my reason, have disgraced
335
The name of soldier, with inglorious ease.
336
In the full vintage of my flowing honours,
337
Sat still, and saw it prest by other hands.
338
Fortune came smiling to my youth, and wooed it,
339
And purple greatness met my ripened years.
340
When first I came to empire, I was borne
341
On tides of people, crowding to my triumphs;
342
The wish of nations, and the willing world
343
Received me as its pledge of future peace;
344
I was so great, so happy, so beloved,
345
Fate could not ruin me; till I took pains,
346
And worked against my fortune, chid her from me,
347
And turned her loose; yet still she came again.
348
My careless days, and my luxurious nights,
349
At length have wearied her, and now she's gone,
350
Gone, gone, divorced for ever. Help me, soldier,
351
To curse this madman, this industrious fool,
352
Who laboured to be wretched: Pr'ythee, curse me.

Ventidius.
353
No.

Antony.
Why?

Ventidius.
You are too sensible already
354
Of what you've done, too conscious of your failings;
355
And, like a scorpion, whipt by others first
356
To fury, sting yourself in mad revenge.
357
I would bring balm, and pour it in your wounds,
358
Cure your distempered mind, and heal your fortunes.

Antony.
359
I know thou would'st.

Ventidius.
I will.

Antony.
Ha, ha, ha, ha!

Ventidius.
360
You laugh.

Antony.
I do, to see officious love
361
Give cordials to the dead.

Ventidius.
You would be lost, then?

Antony.
362
I am.

Ventidius.
I say you are not. Try your fortune.

Antony.
363
I have, to the utmost. Dost thou think me desperate,
364
Without just cause? No, when I found all lost
365
Beyond repair, I hid me from the world,
366
And learnt to scorn it here; which now I do
367
So heartily, I think it is not worth
368
The cost of keeping.

Ventidius.
Cæsar thinks not so;
369
He'll thank you for the gift he could not take.
370
You would be killed like Tully, would you? do,
371
Hold out your throat to Cæsar, and die tamely.

Antony.
372
No, I can kill myself; and so resolve.

Ventidius.
373
I can die with you too, when time shall serve;
374
But fortune calls upon us now to live,
375
To fight, to conquer.

Antony.
Sure thou dream'st, Ventidius.

Ventidius.
376
No; 'tis you dream; you sleep away your hours
377
In desperate sloth, miscalled philosophy.
378
Up, up, for honour's sake; twelve legions wait you,
379
And long to call you chief: By painful journeys
380
I led them, patient both of heat and hunger,
381
Down from the Parthian marches to the Nile.
382
'Twill do you good to see their sunburnt faces,
383
They scarred cheeks, and chopt hands: there's virtue in them
384
They'll sell those mangled limbs at dearer rates
385
Than yon trim bands can buy.

Antony.
Where left you them?

Ventidius.
386
I said in Lower Syria.

Antony.
Bring them hither;
387
There may be life in these.

Ventidius.
They will not come.

Antony.
388
Why didst thou mock my hopes with promised aids,
389
To double my despair? They're mutinous.

Ventidius.
390
Most firm and loyal.

Antony.
Yet they will not march
391
To succour me. O trifler!

Ventidius.
They petition
392
You would make haste to head them.

Antony.
I'm besieged.

Ventidius.
393
There's but one way shut up: How came I hither?

Antony.
394
I will not stir.

Ventidius.
They would perhaps desire
395
A better reason.

Antony.
I have never used
396
My soldiers to demand a reason of
397
My actions. Why did they refuse to march?

Ventidius.
398
They said they would not fight for Cleopatra.

Antony.
399
What was't they said?

Ventidius.
400
They said they would not fight for Cleopatra.
401
Why should they fight indeed, to make her conquer,
402
And make you more a slave? to gain you kingdoms,
403
Which, for a kiss, at your next midnight feast,
404
You'll sell to her? Then she new-names her jewels,
405
And calls this diamonds such or such a tax;
406
Each pendant in her ear shall be a province.

Antony.
407
Ventidious, I allow your tongue free licence
408
On all my other faults; but, on your life,
409
No word of Cleopatra: she deserves
410
More worlds than I can lose.

Ventidius.
Behold, you Powers,
411
To whom you have intrusted humankind!
412
See Europe, Afric, Asia, put in balance,
413
And all weighed down by one light, worthless woman!
414
I think the gods are Antonies, and give,
415
Like prodigals, this nether world away
416
To none but wasteful hands.

Antony.
You grow presumptuous.

Ventidius.
417
I take the privilege of plain love to speak.

Antony.
418
Plain love! plain arrogance, plain insolence!
419
Thy men are cowards; thou, an envious traitor;
420
Who, under seeming honesty, hast vented
421
The burden of thy rank, o'erflowing gall.
422
O that thou wert my equal; great in arms
423
As the first Cæsar was, that I might kill thee
424
Without a stain to honour!

Ventidius.
You may kill me;
425
You have done more already, - called me traitor.

Antony.
426
Art thou not one?

Ventidius.
For showing you yourself,
427
Which none else durst have done? but had I been
428
That name, which I disdain to speak again,
429
I needed not have sought your abject fortunes,
430
Come to partake you fate, to die with you.
431
What hindered me to have led my conquering eagles
432
To fill Octavius' bands? I could have been
433
A traitor then, a glorious, happy traitor,
434
And not have been so called.

Antony.
Forgive me, soldier;
435
I've been too passionate.

Ventidius.
You thought me false;
436
Thought my old age betrayed you: Kill me, sir,
437
Pray, kill me; yet you need not, your unkindness
438
Has left your sword no work.

Antony.
I did not think so;
439
I said it in my rage: Pr'ythee, forgive me.
440
Why didst thou tempt my anger, by discovery
441
Of what I would not hear?

Ventidius.
No prince but you
442
Could merit that sincerity I used,
443
Nor durst another man have ventured it;
444
But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes,
445
Were sure the chief and best of human race,
446
Framed in the very pride and boast of nature;
447
So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered
448
At their own skill, and cried – A lucky hit
449
Has mended our design. Their envy hindered,
450
Else you had been immortal, and a pattern,
451
When Heaven would work for ostentation's sake
452
To copy out again.

Antony.
But Cleopatra –
453
Go on; for I can bear it now.

Ventidius.
No more.

Antony.
454
Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st:
455
Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.

Ventidius.
456
Heaven's blessing on your heart for that kind word!
457
May I believe you love me? Speak again.

Antony.
458
Indeed I do. Speak this, and this, and this.
[Hugging him.]
459
Thy praises were unjust; but, I'll deserve them,
460
And yet mend all. Do with me what thou wilt;
461
Lead me to victory! thou know'st the way.

Ventidius.
462
And, will you leave this –

Antony.
Pr'ythee, do not curse her,
463
And I will leave her; though, Heaven knows, I love
464
Beyond life, conquest, empire, all, but hour;
465
But I will leave her.

Ventidius.
That's my royal master;
466
And, shall we fight?

Antony.
I warrant thee, old soldier.
467
Thou shalt behold me once again in iron;
468
And at the head of our old troops, that beat
469
The Parthians, cry aloud –Come, follow me!

Ventidius.
470
Oh, now I hear my emperor! in that word
471
Octavius fell. Gods, let me see that day,
472
And, if I have ten years behind, take all:
473
I'll take you for the exchange.

Antony.
O Cleopatra!

Ventidius.
474
Again?

Antony.
I've done: In that last sigh she went.
475
Cæsar shall know what 'tis to force a lover
476
From all he holds most dear.

Ventidius.
Methinks, you breathe
477
Another soul: Your looks are more divine;
478
You speak a hero, and you move a god.

Antony.
479
Oh, thou hast fired me; my soul's up in arms,
480
And mans each part about me: Once again,
481
That noble eagerness of fight has seized me;
482
That eagerness with which I darted upward
483
To Cassius' camp: In vain the steepy hill
484
Opposed my way; in vain a war of spears
485
Sung round my head, and planted all my shield;
486
I won the trenches, while my foremost men
487
Lagged on the plain below.

Ventidius.
Ye gods, ye gods,
488
For such another hour!
Come on, my soldier!
489
Our hearts and arms are still the same: I long
490
Once more to meet our foes; that thou and I,
491
Like Time and Death, marching before our troops,
492
May taste fate to them; mow them out a passage,
493
And, entering where the foremost squadrons yield,
494
Begin the noble harvest of the field.

[Exeunt.]

ACT II

SCENE I

Enter CLEOPATRA, IRAS and ALEXAS.

Cleopatra.
495
What shall I do, or whither shall I turn?
496
Ventidius has o'ercome, and he will go.

Alexas.
497
He goes to fight for you.

Cleopatra.
498
Then he would see me, ere he went to fight:
499
Flatter me not: If once he goes, he's lost,
500
And all my hopes destroyed.
501
Alexas. Does this weak passion
502
Become a mighty queen?
503
Cleopatra. I am no queen:
504
Is this to be a queen, to be besieged
505
By yon insulting Roman, and to wait
506
Each hour the victor's chain? These ills are small:
507
For Antony is lost, and I can mourn
508
For nothing else but him. Now come, Octavius,
509
I have no more to lose! prepare thy bands;
510
I'm fit to be a captive: Antony
511
Has taught my mind the fortune of a slave.

Iras.
512
Call reason to assist you.

Cleopatra.
I have none,
513
And none would have: My love's a noble madness,
514
Which shows the cause deserved it. Moderate sorrow
515
Fits vulgar love, and for a vulgar man:
516
But I have loved with such transcendent passion,
517
I soared, at first, quite out of reason's view,
518
And now am lost above it. No, I'm proud
519
'Tis thus: Would Antony could see me now
520
Think you he would not sigh, though he must leave me?
521
Sure he would sigh; for he is noble-natured,
522
And bears a tender heart: I know him well.
523
Ah, no, I know him not; I knew him once,
524
But now 'tis past.

Iras.
Let it be past with you:
525
Forget him, madam.

Cleopatra.
Never, never, Iras.
526
He once was mine; and once, though now 'tis gone,
527
Leaves a faint image of possession still.

Alexas.
528
Think him inconstant, cruel, and ungrateful.

Cleopatra.
529
I cannot: If I could, those thoughts were vain.
530
Faithless, ungrateful, cruel, though he be,
531
I still must love him.
Enter CHARMION.
532
Now, what news, my Charmion?
533
Will he be kind? and will he not forsake me?
534
Am I to live, or die? –nay, do I live?
535
Or am I dead? for when he gave his answer,
536
Fate took the word, and then I lived or died.

Charmion.
537
I found him, madam –

Cleopatra.
A long speech preparing?
538
If thou bring'st comfort, haste, and give it me,
539
For never was more need.

Iras.
I know he loves you.

Cleopatra.
540
Had he been kind, her eyes had told me so,
541
Before her tongue could speak it: Now she studies,
542
To soften what he said; but give me death,
543
Just as he sent it, Charmion, undisguised,
544
And in the words he spoke.

Charmion.
I found him, then,
545
Encompassed round, I think, with iron statues;
546
So mute, so motionless his soldiers stood,
547
While awfully he cast his eyes about,
548
And every leader's hopes or fears surveyed:
549
Methought he looked resolved, and yet not pleased.
550
When he beheld me struggling in the crowd,
551
He blushed, and bade make way.

Alexas.
There's comfort yet.

Charmion.
552
Ventidius fixed his eyes upon my passage
553
Severely, as he meant to frown me back,
554
And sullenly gave place: I told my message,
555
Just as you gave it, broken and disordered;
556
I numbered in it all your sighs and tears,
557
And while I moved your pitiful request,
558
That you but only begged a last farewell,
559
He fetched an inward groan; and every time
560
I named you, sighed, as if his heart were breaking,
561
But shunned my eyes, and guiltily looked down;
562
He seemed not now that awful Antony,
563
Who shook an armed assembly with his nod;
564
But, making show as he would rub his eyes,
565
Disguised and blotted out a falling tear.

Cleopatra.
566
Did he then weep? And was I worth a tear?
567
If what thou hast to say be not as pleasing,
568
Tell me no more, but let me die contented.

Charmion.
569
He bid me say, –He knew himself so well,
570
He could deny you nothing, if he saw you;
571
And therefore –

Cleopatra.
Thou wouldst say, he would not see me?

Charmion.
572
And therefore begged you not to use a power,
573
Which he could ill resist; yet he should ever
574
Respect you, as he ought.

Cleopatra.
Is that a word
575
For Antony to use to Cleopatra?
576
O that faint word, respect! how I disdain it!
577
Disdain myself, for loving after it!
578
He should have kept that word for cold Octavia.
579
Respect is for a wife: Am I that thing,
580
That dull, insipid lump, without desires,
581
And without power to give them?

Alexas.
You misjudge;
582
You see through love, and that deludes your sight;
583
As, what is straight, seems crooked through the water:
584
But I, who bear my reason undisturbed,
585
Can see this Antony, this dreaded man,
586
A fearful slave, who fain would run away,
587
And shuns his master's eyes: If you pursue him,
588
My life on't, he still drags a chain along
589
That needs must clog his flight.

Cleopatra.
Could I believe thee! –

Alexas.
590
By every circumstance I know he loves.
591
True, he's hard prest, by interest and by honour;
592
Yet he but doubts, and parleys, and casts out
593
Many a long look for succour.

Cleopatra.
He sends word,
594
He fears to see my face.

Alexas.
And would you more?
595
He shows his weakness who declines the combat,
596
And you must urge your fortune. Could he speak
597
More plainly? To my ears, the message sounds –
598
Come to my rescue, Cleopatra, come;
599
Come, free me from Ventidius; from my tyrant:
600
See me, and give me a pretence to leave him! –
601
I hear his trumpets. This way he must pass.
602
Please you, retire a while; I'll work him first,
603
That he may bend more easy.

Cleopatra.
You shall rule me;
604
But all, I fear, in vain.

[Exit with CHARMION and IRAS.]

Alexas.
I fear so too;
605
Though I concealed my thoughts, to make her bold;
606
But 'tis our utmost means, and fate befriend it!

[Withdraws.]
[Enter Lictors with Fasces; one bearing the Eagle; then enter ANTONY with VENTIDIUS, followed by other Commanders.]

Antony.
607
Octavius is the minion of blind chance,
608
But holds from virtue nothing.

Ventidius.
Has he courage?

Antony.
609
But just enough to season him from coward.
610
Oh, 'tis the coldest youth upon a charge,
611
The most deliberate fighter! if he ventures
612
(As in Illyria once, they say, he did,
613
To storm a town), 'tis when he cannot choose;
614
When all the world have fixt their eyes upon him;
615
And then he lives on that for seven tears after;
616
But, at a close revenge he never fails.

Ventidius.
617
I heard you challenged him.

Antony.
I did, Ventidius.
618
What think'st thou was his answer? 'Twas so tame! –
619
He said, he had more ways than one to die;
620
I had not.

Ventidius.
Poor!

Antony.
He has more ways than one;
621
But he would choose them all before that one.

Ventidius.
622
He first would choose an ague, or a fever.

Antony.
623
No; it must be an ague, not a fever;
624
He has not warmth enough to die by that.

Ventidius.
625
Or old age and a bed.

Antony.
Ay, there's his choice,
626
He would live, like a lamp, to the last wink,
627
And crawl upon the utmost verge of life.
628
O Hercules! Why should a man like this,
629
Who dares not trust his fate for one great action,
630
Be all the care of Heaven? Why should he lord it
631
O'er fourscore thousand men, of whom each one
632
Is braver than himself?

Ventidius.
You conquered for him:
633
Philippi knows it; there you shared with him
634
That empire, which your sword made all your own.

Antony.
635
Fool that I was, upon my eagle's wings
636
I bore this wren, till I was tired with soaring,
637
And now he mounts above me.
638
Good heavens, is this –is this the man who braves me?
639
Who bids my age make way? Drives me before him,
640
To the world's ridge, and sweeps me off like rubbish?

Ventidius.
641
Sir, we lose time; the troops are mounted all.

Antony.
642
Then give the word to march:
643
I long to leave this prison of a town,
644
To join thy legions; and, in open field,
645
Once more to show my face. Lead, my deliverer.

Enter ALEXAS.

Alexas.
646
Great emperor,
647
In mighty arms renowned above mankind,
648
But, in soft pity to the opprest, a god;
649
This message sends the mournful Cleopatra
650
To her departing lord.

Ventidius.
Smooth sycophant!

Alexas.
651
A thousand wishes, and ten thousand prayers,
652
Millions of blessings wait you to the wars;
653
Millions of sighs and tears she sends you too,
654
And would have sent
655
As many dear embraces to your arms,
656
As many parting kisses to your lips;
657
But those, she fears, have wearied you already.

Ventidius.
658
[aside.]
False crocodile!

Alexas.
659
And yet she begs not now, you would not leave her;
660
That were a wish too mighty for her hopes,
661
Too presuming
662
For her low fortune, and your ebbing love;
663
That were a wish for her more prosperous days,
664
Her blooming beauty, and your growing kindness.

Antony.
665
[aside.]
Well, I must man it out: –What would the queen?

Alexas.
666
First, to these noble warriors, who attend
667
Your daring courage in the chase of fame, –
668
Too daring, and too dangerous for her quiet, –
669
She humbly recommends all she holds dear,
670
All her own cares and fears, –the care of you.

Ventidius.
671
Yes, witness Actium.

Antony.
Let him speak, Ventidius.

Alexas.
672
You, when his matchless valour bears him forward,
673
With ardour too heroic, on his foes,
674
Fall down, as she would do, before his feet;
675
Lie in his way, and stop the paths of death:
676
Tell him, this god is not invulnerable;
677
That absent Cleopatra bleeds in him;
678
And, that you may remember her petition,
679
She begs you wear these trifles, as a pawn,
680
Which, at your wished return, she will redeem
[Gives jewels to the Commanders.]
681
With all the wealth of Egypt:
682
This to the great Ventidius she presents,
683
Whom she can never count her enemy,
684
Because he loves her lord.

Ventidius.
Tell her, I'll none on't;
685
I'm not ashamed of honest poverty;
686
Not all the diamonds of the east can bribe
687
Ventidius from his faith. I hope to see
688
These and the rest of all her sparkling store,
689
Where they shall more deservingly be placed.

Antony.
690
And who must wear them then?

Ventidius.
The wronged Octavia.

Antony.
691
You might have spared that word.

Ventidius.
And he that bribe.

Antony.
692
But have I no remembrance?

Alexas.
Yes, a dear one;
693
Your slave the queen –

Antony.
My mistress.

Alexas.
Then your mistress;
694
Your mistress would, she says, have sent her soul,
695
But that you had long since; she humbly begs
696
This ruby bracelet, set with bleeding hearts,
697
The emblems of her own, may bind your arm.

[Presenting a bracelet.]

Ventidius.
698
Now, my best lord, –in honour's name, I ask you,
699
For manhood's sake, and for your own dear safety, –
700
Touch not these poisoned gifts,
701
Infected by the sender; touch them not;
702
Myriads of bluest plagues lie underneath them,
703
And more than aconite has dipt the silk.

Antony.
704
Nay, now you grow too cynical, Ventidius:
705
A lady's favours may be worn with honour.
706
What, to refuse her bracelet! On my soul,
707
When I lie pensive in my tent alone,
708
'Twill pass the wakeful hours of winter nights,
709
To tell these pretty beads upon my arm,
710
To count for every one a soft embrace,
711
A melting kiss at such and such a time:
712
And now and then the fury of her love,
713
When – And what harm's in this?

Alexas.
None, none, my lord,
714
But what's to her, that now 'tis past for ever.

Antony.
715
[going to tie it]
We soldiers are so awkward –help me tie it.

Alexas.
716
In faith, my lord, we courtiers too are awkward
717
In these affairs: so are all men indeed:
718
Even I, who am not one. But shall I speak?

Antony.
719
Yes, freely.

Alexas.
Then, my lord, fair hands alone
720
Are fit to tie it; she who sent it can.

Ventidius.
721
Hell, death! this eunuch pander ruins you.
722
You will not see her?

[ALEXAS whispers an Attendant, who goes out.]

Antony.
But to take my leave.

Ventidius.
723
Then I have washed an Æthiop. You're undone;
724
Y' are in the toils; y' are taken; y' are destroyed:
725
Her eyes do Cæsar's work.

Antony.
726
You fear too soon.
727
I'm constant to myself: I know my strength;
728
And yet she shall not think me barbarous neither,
729
Born in the depths of Afric: I am a Roman,
730
Bred to the rules of soft humanity.
731
A guest, and kindly used, should bid farewell.

Ventidius.
732
You do not know
733
How weak you are to her, how much an infant:
734
You are not proof against a smile, or glance;
735
A sigh will quite disarm you.

Antony.
See, she comes!
736
Now you shall find your error. –Gods, I thank you:
737
I formed the danger greater than it was,
738
And now 'tis near, 'tis lessened.

Ventidius.
Mark the end yet.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, and IRAS.]

Antony.
739
Well, madam, we are met.

Cleopatra.
Is this a meeting?
740
Then, we must part?

Antony.
We must.

Cleopatra.
Who says we must?

Antony.
741
Our own hard fates.

Cleopatra.
We make those fates ourselves.

Antony.
742
Yes, we have made them; we have loved each other,
743
Into our mutual ruin.

Cleopatra.
744
The gods have seen my joys with envious eyes;
745
I have no friends in heaven; and all the world,
746
As 'twere the business of mankind to part us,
747
Is armed against my love: even you yourself
748
Join with the rest; you, you are armed against me.

Antony.
749
I will be justified in all I do
750
To late posterity, and therefore hear me.
751
If I mix a lie
752
With any truth, reproach me freely with it;
753
Else, favour me with silence.

Cleopatra.
You command me,
754
And I am dumb.

Ventidius.
I like this well; he shows authority.

Antony.
755
That I derive my ruin
756
From you alone –

Cleopatra.
757
O heavens! I ruin you!

Antony.
758
You promised me your silence, and you break it
759
Ere I have scarce begun.

Cleopatra.
Well, I obey you.

Antony.
760
When I beheld you first, it was in Egypt,
761
Ere Cæsar saw your eyes; you gave me love
762
And were too young to know it; that I settled
763
Your father in his throne, was for your sake;
764
I left the acknowledgment for time to ripen.
765
Cæsar stept in, and, with a greedy hand,
766
Plucked the green fruit, ere the first blush of red,
767
Yet cleaving to the bough. He was my lord,
768
And was, beside, too great for me to rival;
769
But, I deserved you first, though he enjoyed you.
770
When, after, I beheld you in Cilicia,
771
An enemy to Rome, I pardoned you.

Cleopatra.
772
I cleared myself –

Antony.
Again you break your promise.
773
I loved you still, and took your weak excuses,
774
Took you into my bosom, stained by Cæsar,
775
And not half mine: I went to Egypt with you,
776
And hid me from the business of the world,
777
Shut out inquiring nations from my sight,
778
To give whole years to you.

Ventidius.
779
[Aside.]
Yes, to your shame be't spoken.

Antony.
How I loved.
780
Witness, ye days and nights, and all yours hours,
781
That danced away with down upon your feet,
782
As all your business were to count my passion!
783
One day passed by, and nothing saw but love;
784
Another came, and still 'twas only love:
785
The suns were wearied out with looking on,
786
And I untired with loving.
787
I saw you every day, and all the day;
788
And every day was still but as the first,
789
So eager was I still to see you more.

Ventidius.
790
'Tis all too true.

Antony.
Fulvia, my wife, grew jealous
791
(As she indeed had reason), raised a war
792
In Italy, to call me back.

Ventidius.
But yet
793
You went not.

Antony.
While within your arms I lay,
794
The world fell mouldering from my hands each hour,
795
And left me scarce a grasp –I thank your love for't.

Ventidius.
796
Well pushed: that last was home.

Cleopatra.
Yet may I speak?

Antony.
797
If I have urged a falsehood, yes; else, not.
798
Your silence says, I have not. Fulvia died
799
(Pardon, you gods, with my unkindness died);
800
To set the world at peace, I took Octavia,
801
This Cæsar's sister; in her pride of youth,
802
And flower of beauty, did I wed that lady,
803
Whom blushing I must praise, because I left her.
804
You called; my love obeyed the fatal summons:
805
This raised the Romans arms; the cause was yours.
806
I would have fought by land, where I was stronger;
807
You hindered it: yet, when I fought at sea,
808
Forsook me fighting; and (O stain to honour!
809
O lasting shame!) I knew not that I fled;
810
But fled to follow you.

Ventidius.
811
What haste she made to hoist her purple sails!
812
And, to appear magnificent in flight,
813
Drew half our strength away.

Antony.
All this you caused.
814
And, would you multiply more ruins on me?
815
This honest man, my best, my only friend,
816
Has gathered up the shipwreck of my fortunes;
817
Twelve legions I have left, my last recruits.
818
And you have watched the news, and bring your eyes
819
To seize them too. If you have aught to answer,
820
Now speak, you have free leave.

Alex.
821
[aside]
She stands confounded:
822
Despair is in her eyes.

Ventidius.
823
Now lay a sigh in the way to stop his passage:
824
Prepare a tear, and bid it for his legions;
825
'Tis like they shall be sold.

Cleopatra.
826
How shall I plead my cause, when you, my judge,
827
Already have condemned me? Shall I bring
828
The love you bore me for my advocate?
829
That now is turned against me, that destroys me;
830
For love, once past, is, at the best, forgotten;
831
But oftener sours to hate: 'twill please my lord
832
To ruin me, and therefore I'll be guilty.
833
But, could I once have thought it would have pleased you,
834
That you would pry, with narrow searching eyes,
835
Into my faults, severe to my destruction,
836
And watching all advantages with care,
837
That serve to make me wretched? Speak, my lord,
838
For I end here. Though I deserved this usage,
839
Was it like you to give it?

Antony.
Oh, you wrong me,
840
To think I sought this parting, or desired
841
To accuse you more than what will clear myself,
842
And justify this breach.

Cleopatra.
Thus low I thank you;
843
And, since my innocence will not offend,
844
I shall not blush to own it.

Ventidius.
After this,
845
I think she'll blush at nothing.

Cleopatra.
You seemed grieved
846
(And therein you are kind), that Cæsar first
847
Enjoyed my love, though you deserved it better:
848
I grieve for that, my lord, much more than you;
849
For, had I first been yours, it would have saved
850
My second choice: I never had been his,
851
And ne'er had been but yours. But Cæsar first,
852
You say, possessed my love. Not so, my lord:
853
He first possessed my person; you, my love:
854
Cæsar loved me; but I loved Antony.
855
If I endured him after, 'twas because
856
I judged it due to the first name of men;
857
And, half constrained, I gave, as to a tyrant,
858
What he would take by force.

Ventidius.
O Siren! Siren!
859
Yet grant that all the love she boasts were true,
860
Has she not ruined you? I still urge that,
861
The fatal consequence.

Cleopatra.
862
The consequence indeed,
863
For I dare challenge him, my greatest foe,
864
To say it was designed: 'tis true, I loved you,
865
And kept you far from an uneasy wife, -
866
Such Fluvia was.
867
Yes, but he'll say, you left Octavia for me:-
868
And, can you blame me to receive that love,
869
Which quitted such desert, for worthless me?
870
How often have I wished some other Cæsar,
871
Great as the first, and as the second young,
872
Would court my love, to be refused for you!

Ventidius.
873
Words, words; but Actium, sir; remember Actium.

Cleopatra.
874
Even there, I dare his malice. True, I counselled
875
To fight at sea; but I betrayed you not.
876
I fled, but not to the enemy. 'Twas fear;
877
Would I had been a man, not to have feared!
878
For none would then have envied me your friendship,
879
Who envy me your love.

Antony.
We are both unhappy:
880
If nothing else, yet our ill fortune parts us.
881
Speak: would you have me perish by my stay?

Cleopatra.
882
If, as a friend, you ask my judgment, go;
883
If, as a lover, stay. If you must perish –
884
'Tis a hard word –but stay.

Ventidius.
885
See now the effects of her so boasted love!
886
She strives to drag you down to ruin with her;
887
But, could she 'scape without you, oh, how soon
888
Would she let go her hold, and haste to shore,
889
And never look behind!

Cleopatra.
Then judge my love by this.
[Giving ANTONY a writing.]
890
Could I have borne
891
A life or death, a happiness or woe,
892
From yours divided, this had given me means.

Antony.
893
By Hercules, the writing of Octavius!
894
I know it well: 'tis that proscribing hand,
895
Young as it was, that led the way to mine,
896
And left me but the second place in murder. –
897
See, see, Ventidius! here he offers Egypt,
898
And joins all Syria to it, as a present;
899
So, in requital, she forsake my fortunes,
900
And join her arms with his.

Cleopatra.
And yet you leave me!
901
You leave me, Antony; and yet I love you,
902
Indeed I do: I have refused a kingdom;
903
That is a trifle;
904
For I could part with life, with anything,
905
But only you. Oh, let me die but with you!
906
Is that a hard request?

Antony.
Next living with you,
907
'Tis all that Heaven can give.

Alexas.
908
[Aside.]
He melts; we conquer.

Cleopatra.
909
No; you shall go: your interest calls you hence;
910
Yes; your dear interest pulls too strong, for these
911
Weak arms to hold you here.
[Takes his hand.]
912
Go; leave me, soldier
913
(For you're no more a lover): leave me dying;
914
Push me, all pale and panting, from your bosom,
915
And, when your march begins, let one run after,
916
Breathless almost for joy, and cry –She's dead.
917
The soldiers shout; you then, perhaps, may sigh,
918
And muster all your Roman gravity:
919
Ventidius chides; and straight your brow clears up,
920
As I had never been.

Antony.
921
Gods, 'tis too much; too much for man to bear.

Cleopatra.
922
What is't for me then,
923
A weak, forsaken woman, and a lover? –
924
Here let me breathe my last: envy me not
925
This minute in your arms: I'll die apace,
926
As fast as e'er I can, and end your trouble.

Antony.
927
Die! rather let me perish; loosened nature
928
Leap from its hinges, sink the props of heaven,
929
And fall the skies, to crush the nether world!
930
My eyes, my soul, my all!

[Embraces her.]

Ventidius.
And what's this toy,
931
In balance with your fortune, honour, fame?

Antony.
932
What is't, Ventidius? –it outweighs them all;
933
Why, we have more than conquered Cæsar now:
934
My queen's not only innocent, but loves me.
935
This, this is she, who drags me down to ruin!
936
"But, could she 'scape without me, with what haste
937
Would she let slip her hold, and make to shore,
938
And never look behind!"
939
Down on thy knees, blasphemer as thou art,
940
And ask forgiveness of wronged innocence.

Ventidius.
941
I'll rather die, than take it. Will you go?

Antony.
942
Go! whither? Go from all that's excellent?
943
Faith, honour, virtue, all good things forbid,
944
That I should go from her, who sets my love
945
Above the price of kingdoms! Give, you gods,
946
Give to your boy, your Cæsar,
947
This rattle of a globe to play withal,
948
This gewgaw world, and put him cheaply off:
949
I'll not be pleased with less than Cleopatra.

Cleopatra.
950
She's wholly yours. My heart's so full of joy,
951
That I shall do some wild extravagance
952
Of love, in public; and the foolish world,
953
Which knows not tenderness, will think me mad.

Ventidius.
954
O women! women! women! all the gods
955
Have not such power of doing good to man,
956
As you of doing harm.

[Exit.]

Antony.
Our men are armed: –
957
Unbar the gate that looks to Cæsar's camp:
958
I would revenge the treachery he meant me;
959
And long security makes conquest easy.
960
I'm eager to return before I go;
961
For, all the pleasures I have known beat thick
962
On my remembrance. –How I long for night!
963
That both the sweets of mutual love may try,
964
And triumph one o'er Cæsar ere we die.

[Exeunt.]

ACT III

SCENE I

At one door enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, IRAS, and ALEXAS, a Train of Egyptians: at the other ANTONY and Romans. The entrance on both sides is prepared by music; the trumpets first sounding on ANTONY's part: then answered by timbrels, etc., on CLEOPATRA's. CHARMION and IRAS hold a laurel wreath betwixt them. A Dance of Egyptians. After the ceremony, CLEOPATRA crowns ANTONY.

Antony.
965
I thought how those white arms would fold me in,
966
And strain me close, and melt me into love;
967
So pleased with that sweet image, I sprung forwards,
968
And added all my strength to every blow.

Cleopatra.
969
Come to me, come, my soldier, to my arms!
970
You've been too long away from my embraces;
971
But, when I have you fast, and all my own,
972
With broken murmurs, and with amorous sighs,
973
I'll say, you were unkind, and punish you,
974
And mark you red with many an eager kiss.

Antony.
975
My brighter Venus!

Cleopatra.
O my greater Mars!

Antony.
976
Thou join'st us well, my love!
977
Suppose me come from the Phlegræan plains,
978
Where gasping giants lay, cleft by my sword,
979
And mountain-tops pared off each other blow,
980
To bury those I slew. Receive me, goddess!
981
Let Cæsar spread his subtle nets, like Vulcan;
982
In thy embraces I would be beheld
983
By heaven and earth at once;
984
And make their envy what they meant their sport.
985
Let those, who took us, blush; I would love on,
986
With awful state, regardless of their frowns,
987
As their superior god.
988
There's no satiety of love in thee:
989
Enjoyed, thou still art new; perpetual spring
990
Is in thy arms; the ripened fruit but falls,
991
And blossoms rise to fill its empty place;
992
And I grow rich by giving.

Enter VENTIDIUS, and stands apart.

Alexas.
993
Oh, now the danger's past, your general comes!
994
He joins not in your joys, nor minds your triumphs;
995
But, with contracted brows, looks frowning on,
996
As envying your success.

Antony.
997
Now, on my soul, he loves me; truly loves me:
998
He never flattered me in any vice,
999
But awes me with his virtue: even this minute,
1000
Methinks, he has a right of chiding me.
1001
Lead to the temple: I'll avoid his presence;
1002
It checks too strong upon me.

[Exeunt the rest.]
[As ANTONY is going, VENTIDIUS pulls him by the robe.]

Ventidius.
1003
Emperor!

Antony.
1004
'Tis the old argument; I pr'ythee, spare me.

[Looking back.]

Ventidius.
1005
But this one hearing, emperor.

Antony.
Let go
1006
My robe; or, by my father Hercules –

Ventidius.
1007
By Hercules' father, that's yet greater,
1008
I bring you somewhat you would wish to know.

Antony.
1009
Thou see'st we are observed; attend me here,
1010
And I'll return.

[Exit.]

Ventidius.
1011
I am waning in his favour, yet I love him;
1012
I love this man, who runs to meet his ruin;
1013
And sure the gods, like me, are fond of him:
1014
His virtues lie so mingled with his crimes,
1015
As would confound their choice to punish one,
1016
And not reward the other.

Enter ANTONY.

Antony.
We can conquer,
1017
You see, without your aid.
1018
We have dislodged their troops;
1019
They look on us at distance, and, like curs
1020
'Scaped from the lion's paws, they bay far off.
1021
And lick their wounds, and faintly threaten war.
1022
Five thousand Romans, with their faces upward,
1023
Lie breathless on the plain.

Ventidius.
'Tis well; and he,
1024
Who lost them, could have spared ten thousand more.
1025
Yet if, by this advantage, you could gain
1026
An easier peace, while Cæsar doubts the chance
1027
Of arms –

Antony.
Oh, think not on't, Ventidius!
1028
The boy pursues my ruin, he'll no peace;
1029
His malice is considerate in advantage.
1030
Oh, he's the coolest murderer! so staunch,
1031
He kills, and keeps his temper.

Ventidius.
Have you no friend
1032
In all his army, who has power to move him?
1033
Mæcenas, or Agrippa, might do much.

Antony.
1034
They're both too deep in Cæsar's interests.
1035
We'll work it out by dint of sword, or perish.

Ventidius.
1036
Fain I would find some other.

Antony.
Thank thy love.
1037
Some four or five such victories as this
1038
Will save thy further pains.

Ventidius.
1039
Expect no more; Cæsar is on his guard:
1040
I know, sir, you have conquered against odds;
1041
But still you draw supplies from one poor town,
1042
And of Egyptians: he has all the world,
1043
And, at his beck, nations come pouring in,
1044
To fill the gaps you make. Pray, think again.

Antony.
1045
Why dost thou drive me from myself, to search
1046
For foreign aids? –to hunt my memory,
1047
And range all o'er a waste and barren place,
1048
To find a friend? The wretched have no friends.
1049
Yet I had one, the bravest youth of Rome,
1050
Whom Cæsar loves beyond the love of women:
1051
He could resolve his mind, as fire does wax,
1052
From that hard rugged image melt him down,
1053
And mould him in what softer form he pleased.

Ventidius.
1054
Him would I see; that man, of all the world;
1055
Just such a one we want.

Antony.
He loved me too;
1056
I was his soul; he lived not but in me:
1057
We were so closed within each other's breasts,
1058
The rivets were not found, that joined us first.
1059
That does not reach us yet: we were so mixt,
1060
As meeting streams, both to ourselves were lost;
1061
We were one mass; we could not give or take,
1062
But from the same; for he was I, I he.

Ventidius.
1063
[Aside.]
He moves as I would wish him.

Antony.
1064
After this,
1065
I need not tell his name; –'twas Dolabella.

Ventidius.
1066
He's now in Cæsar's camp.

Antony.
No matter where,
1067
Since he's no longer mine. He took unkindly,
1068
That I forbade him Cleopatra's sight,
1069
Because I feared he loved her: he confessed,
1070
He had a warmth, which, for my sake, he stifled;
1071
For 'twere impossible that two, so one,
1072
Should not have loved the same. When he departed,
1073
He took no leave; and that confirmed my thoughts.

Ventidius.
1074
It argues, that he loved you more than her,
1075
Else he had stayed; but he perceived you jealous,
1076
And would not grieve his friend: I know he loves you.

Antony.
1077
I should have seen him, then, ere now.

Ventidius.
Perhaps
1078
He has thus long been labouring for your peace.

Antony.
1079
Would he were here!

Ventidius.
Would you believe he loved you?
1080
I read your answer in your eyes, you would.
1081
Not to conceal it longer, he has sent
1082
A messenger from Cæsar's camp, with letters.

Antony.
1083
Let him appear.

Ventidius.
I'll bring him instantly.

[Exit VENTIDIUS, and re-enters immediately with DOLABELLA.]

Antony.
1084
'Tis he himself! himself, by holy friendship!
[Runs to embrace him.]
1085
Art thou returned at last, my better half?
1086
Come, give me all myself!
1087
Let me not live,
1088
If the young bridegroom, longing for his night,
1089
Was ever half so fond.

Dolabella.
1090
I must be silent, for my soul is busy
1091
About a nobler work: she's new come home,
1092
Like a long-absent man, and wanders o'er
1093
Each room, a stranger to her own, to look
1094
If all be safe.

Antony.
Thou hast what's left of me;
1095
For I am now so sunk from what I was,
1096
Thou find'st me at my lowest water-mark.
1097
The rivers that ran in, and raised my fortunes,
1098
Are all dried up, or take another course:
1099
What I have left is from my native spring;
1100
I've still a heart that swells, in scorn of fate,
1101
And lifts me to my banks.

Dolabella.
1102
Still you are lord of all the world to me.

Antony.
1103
Why, then I yet am so; for thou art all.
1104
If I had any joy when thou wert absent,
1105
I grudged it to myself; methought I robbed
1106
Thee of thy part. But, O my Dolabella!
1107
Thou hast beheld me other than I am.
1108
Hast thou not seen my morning chambers filled
1109
With sceptred slaves, who waited to salute me?
1110
With eastern monarchs, who forgot the sun,
1111
To worship my uprising? –menial kings
1112
Ran coursing up and down my palace-yard,
1113
Stood silent in my presence, watched my eyes,
1114
And, at my least command, all started out,
1115
Like racers to the goal.

Dolabella.
Slaves to your fortune.

Antony.
1116
Fortune is Cæsar's now; and what am I?

Ventidius.
1117
What you have made yourself; I will not flatter.

Antony.
1118
Is this friendly done?

Dolabella.
1119
Yes; when his end is so, I must join with him;
1120
Indeed I must, and yet you must not chide;
1121
Why am I else your friend?

Antony.
Take heed, young man,
1122
How thou upbraid'st my love: The queen has eyes,
1123
And thou too hast a soul. Canst thou remember,
1124
When, swelled with hatred, thou beheld'st her first,
1125
As accessory to thy brother's death?

Dolabella.
1126
Spare my remembrance; 'twas a guilty day,
1127
And still the blush hangs here.

Antony.
To clear herself,
1128
For sending him no aid, she came from Egypt.
1129
Her galley down the silver Cydnus rowed,
1130
The tackling silk, the streamers waved with gold;
1131
The gentle winds were lodged in purple sails:
1132
Her nymphs, like Nereids, round her couch were placed;
1133
Where she, another sea-born Venus, lay.

Dolabella.
1134
No more; I would not hear it.

Antony.
Oh, you must!
1135
She lay, and leant her cheek upon her hand,
1136
And cast a look so languishingly sweet,
1137
As if, secure of all beholders' hearts,
1138
Neglecting, she could take them: boys, like Cupids,
1139
Stood fanning, with their painted wings, the winds,
1140
That played about her face. But if she smiled,
1141
A darting glory seemed to blaze abroad,
1142
That men's desiring eyes were never wearied,
1143
But hung upon the object: To soft flutes
1144
The silver oars kept time; and while they played,
1145
The hearing gave new pleasure to the sight;
1146
And both to thought. 'Twas heaven, or somewhat more:
1147
For she so charmed all hearts, that gazing crowds
1148
Stood panting on the shore, and wanted breath
1149
To give their welcome voice.
1150
Then, Dolabella, where was then thy soul?
1151
Was not thy fury quite disarmed with wonder?
1152
Didst thou not shrink behind me from those eyes
1153
And whisper in my ear –Oh, tell her not
1154
That I accused her of my brother's death?

Dolabella.
1155
And should my weakness be a plea for yours?
1156
Mine was an age when love might be excused,
1157
When kindly warmth, and when my springing youth
1158
Made it a debt to nature. Yours –

Ventidius.
Speak boldly.
1159
Yours, he would say, in your declining age,
1160
When no more heat was left but what you forced,
1161
When all the sap was needful for the trunk,
1162
When it went down, then you constrained the course,
1163
And robbed from nature, to supply desire;
1164
In you (I would not use so harsh a word)
1165
'Tis but plain dotage.

Antony.
Ha !

Dolabella.
'Twas urged too home. –
1166
But yet the loss was private, that I made;
1167
'Twas but myself I lost: I lost no legions;
1168
I had no world to lose, no people's love.

Antony.
1169
This from a friend?

Dolabella.
Yes, Antony, a true one;
1170
A friend so tender, that each word I speak
1171
Stabs my own heart, before it reach your ear.
1172
Oh, judge me not less kind, because I chide!
1173
To Cæsar I excuse you.

Antony.
O ye gods!
1174
Have I then lived to be excused to Cæsar?

Dolabella.
1175
As to your equal.

Antony.
Well, he's but my equal:
1176
While I wear this he never shall be more.

Dolabella.
1177
I bring conditions from him.

Antony.
Are they noble?
1178
Methinks thou shouldst not bring them else; yet he
1179
Is full of deep dissembling; knows no honour
1180
Divided from his interest. Fate mistook him;
1181
For nature meant him for an usurer:
1182
He's fit indeed to buy, not conquer kingdoms.

Ventidius.
1183
Then, granting this,
1184
What power was theirs, who wrought so hard a temper
1185
To honourable terms?

Antony.
1186
It was my Dolabella, or some god.

Dolabella.
1187
Nor I, nor yet Mæcenas, nor Agrippa:
1188
They were your enemies; and I, a friend,
1189
Too weak alone; yet 'twas a Roman's deed,

Antony.
1190
'Twas like a Roman done: show me that man,
1191
Who has preserved my life, my love, my honour;
1192
Let me but see his face.

Ventidius.
That task is mine,
1193
And, Heaven, thou know'st how pleasing.

[Exit Ventidius.]

Dolabella.
1194
You'll remember
1195
To whom you stand obliged?

Antony.
1196
When I forget it,
1197
Be thou unkind, and that's my greatest curse.
1198
My queen shall thank him too.

Dolabella.
I fear she will not.

Antony.
1199
But she shall do it: The queen, my Dolabella!
1200
Hast thou not still some grudgings of thy fever?

Dolabella.
1201
I would not see her lost.

Antony.
When I forsake her,
1202
Leave me, my better stars! for she has truth
1203
Beyond her beauty. Cæsar tempted her,
1204
At no less price than kingdoms, to betray me;
1205
But she resisted all: and yet though chidest me
1206
For loving her too well. Could I do so?

Dolabella.
1207
Yes; there's my reason.

Re-enter VENTIDIUS, with OCTAVIA, leading ANTONY'S two little Daughters.

Antony.
[Starting back.]
Where? –Octavia there!

Ventidius.
1208
What, is she poison to you? –a disease?
1209
Look on her, view her well, and those she brings:
1210
Are they all strangers to your eyes? has nature
1211
No secret call, no whisper they are yours?

Dolabella.
1212
For shame, my lord, if not for love, receive them
1213
With kinder eyes. If you confess a man,
1214
Meet them, embrace them, bid them welcome to you.
1215
Your arms should open, even without your knowledge,
1216
To clasp them in; your feet should turn to wings,
1217
To bear you to them; and your eyes dart out
1218
And aim a kiss, ere you could reach the lips.

Antony.
1219
I stood amazed, to think how they came hither.

Ventidius.
1220
I sent for them; I brought them in unknown
1221
To Cleopatra's guards.

Dolabella.
Yet, are you cold?

Octavia.
1222
Thus long I have attended for my welcome;
1223
Which, as a stranger, sure I might expect.
1224
Who am I?

Antony.
Cæsar's sister.

Octavia.
That's unkind.
1225
Had I been nothing more than Cæsar's sister,
1226
Know, I had still remained in Cæsar's camp:
1227
But your Octavia, your much injured wife,
1228
Though banished from your bed, driven from your house,
1229
In spite of Cæsar's sister, still is yours.
1230
'Tis true, I have a heart disdains your coldness,
1231
And prompts me not to seek what you should offer;
1232
But a wife's virtue still surmounts that pride.
1233
I come to claim you as my own; to show
1234
My duty first; to ask, nay beg, your kindness:
1235
Your hand, my lord; 'tis mine, and I will have it.

[Taking his hand.]

Ventidius.
1236
Do, take it; thou deserv'st it.

Dolabella.
On my soul,
1237
And so she does: she's neither too submissive,
1238
Nor yet too haughty; but so just a mean
1239
Shows, as it ought, a wife and Roman too.

Antony.
1240
I fear, Octavia, you have begged my life.

Octavia.
1241
Begged it, my lord?

Antony.
1242
Yes, begged it, my ambassadress!
1243
Poorly and basely begged it of your brother.

Octavia.
1244
Poorly and basely I could never beg:
1245
Nor could my brother grant.

Antony.
1246
Shall I, who, to my kneeling slave, could say,
1247
Rise up, and be a king; shall I fall down
1248
And cry. – Forgive me, Cæsar! Shall I set
1249
A man, my equal, in the place of Jove,
1250
As he could give me being? No; that word,
1251
Forgive, would choke me up,
1252
And die upon my tongue.

Dolabella.
You shall not need it.

Antony.
1253
I will not need it. Come, you've all betrayed me, –
1254
My friend too! –to receive some vile conditions.
1255
My wife has bought me, with her prayers and tears;
1256
And now I must become her branded slave.
1257
I every peevish mood, she will upbraid
1258
The life she gave: if I but look awry,
1259
She cries –I'll tell my brother.

Octavia.
My hard fortune
1260
Subjects me still to your unkind mistakes.
1261
But the conditions I have brought are such,
1262
You need not blush to take: I love your honour,
1263
Because 'tis mine; it never shall be said,
1264
Octavia's husband was her brother's slave.
1265
Sir, you are free; free, even from her you loathe;
1266
For, though my brother bargains for your love,
1267
Makes me the price and cement of your peace,
1268
I have a soul like yours; I cannot take
1269
Your love as alms, nor beg what I deserve.
1270
I'll tell my brother we are reconciled;
1271
He shall draw back his troops, and you shall march
1272
To rule the East: I may be dropt at Athens;
1273
No matter where. I never will complain,
1274
But only keep the barren name of wife,
1275
And rid you of the trouble.

Ventidius.
1276
[Apart.]
Was ever such a strife of sullen honour!
1277
Both scorn to be obliged.

Dolabella.
1278
[Apart.]
Oh, she has touched him in the tenderest part;
1279
See how he reddens with despite and shame,
1280
To be outdone in generosity!

Ventidius.
1281
[Apart.]
See how he winks! how he dries up a tear,
1282
That fain would fall!

Antony.
1283
Octavia, I have heard you, and must praise
1284
The greatness of your soul;
1285
But cannot yield to what you have proposed:
1286
For I can ne'er be conquered but by love;
1287
And you do all for duty. You would free me,
1288
And would be dropt at Athens; was't not so?

Octavia.
1289
It was, my lord.

Antony.
Then I must be obliged
1290
To one who loves me not; who, to herself,
1291
May call me thankless and ungrateful man: –
1292
I'll not endure it; no.

Ventidius.
1293
[Aside.]
I am glad it pinches there.

Octavia.
1294
Would you triumph o'er poor Octavia's virtue?
1295
That pride was all I had to bear me up;
1296
That you might think you owed me for your life,
1297
And owed it to my duty, not my love.
1298
I have been injured, and my haughty soul
1299
Could brook but ill the man who slights my bed.

Antony.
1300
Therefore you love me not.

Octavia.
Therefore, my lord,
1301
I should not love you

Antony.
Therefore you would leave me?

Octavia.
1302
And therefore I should leave you –if I could.

Dolabella.
1303
Her soul's too great, after such injuries,
1304
To say she loves; and yet she lets you see it.
1305
Her modesty and silence plead her cause.

Antony.
1306
O Dolabella, which way shall I turn?
1307
I find a secret yielding in my soul;
1308
But Cleopatra, who would die with me,
1309
Must she be left? Pity pleads for Octavia;
1310
But does it not plead more for Cleopatra?

Ventidius.
1311
Justice and pity both plead for Octavia;
1312
For Cleopatra, neither.
1313
One would be ruined with you; but she first
1314
Had ruined you: The other, you have ruined,
1315
And yet she would preserve you.
1316
In everything their merits are unequal.

Antony.
1317
O my distracted soul!

Octavia.
Sweet Heaven compose it! –
1318
Come, come, my lord, if I can pardon you,
1319
Methinks you should accept it. Look on these;
1320
Are they not yours? or stand they thus neglected,
1321
As they are mine? Go to him, children, go;
1322
Kneel to him, take him by the hand, speak to him;
1323
For you may speak, and he may own you too,
1324
Without a blush; and so he cannot all
1325
His children: go, I say, and pull him to me,
1326
And pull him to yourselves, from that bad woman.
1327
You, Agrippina, hang upon his arms;
1328
And you, Antonia, clasp about his waist:
1329
If he will shake you off, if he will dash you
1330
Against the pavement, you must bear it, children;
1331
For you are mine, and I was born to suffer.

[Here the Children go to him, etc.]

Ventidius.
1332
Was ever sight so moving? –Emperor!

Dolabella.
1333
Friend!

Octavia.
Husband!

Both Children.
Father!

Antony.
I am vanquished: take me,
1334
Octavia; take me, children; share me all.
[Embracing them.]
1335
I've been a thriftless debtor to your loves,
1336
And run out much, in riot, from your stock;
1337
But all shall be amended.

Octavia.
O blest hour!

Dolabella.
1338
O happy change!

Ventidius.
My joy stops at my tongue;
1339
But it has found two channels here for one,
1340
And bubbles out above.

Antony.
1341
[to OCTAVIA.]
This is thy triumph; lead me where thou wilt;
1342
Even to thy brother's camp.

Octavia.
All there are yours.

Enter ALEXAS hastily.

Alexas.
1343
The queen, my mistress, sir, and yours –

Antony.
'Tis past. –
1344
Octavia, you shall stay this night: To-morrow,
1345
Cæsar and we are one.

[Exit leading OCTAVIA; DOLABELLA and the Children follow.]

Ventidius.
1346
There's news for you; run, my officious eunuch,
1347
Be sure to be the first; haste forward:
1348
Haste, my dear eunuch, haste.

[Exit.]

Alexas.
1349
This downright fighting fool, this thick-skulled hero,
1350
This blunt, unthinking instrument of death,
1351
With plain dull virtue has outgone my wit.
1352
Pleasure forsook my earliest infancy;
1353
The luxury of others robbed my cradle,
1354
And ravished thence the promise of a man.
1355
Cast out from nature, disinherited
1356
Of what her meanest children claim by kind,
1357
Yet greatness kept me from contempt: that's gone.
1358
Had Cleopatra followed my advice,
1359
Then he had been betrayed who now forsakes.
1360
She dies for love; but she has known its joys:
1361
Gods, is this just, that I, who know no joys,
1362
Must die, because she loves?
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, IRAS, and Train.
1363
O madam, I have seen what blasts my eyes!
1364
Octavia's here.

Cleopatra.
Peace with that raven's note.
1365
I know it too; and now am in
1366
The pangs of death.

Alexas.
You are no more a queen;
1367
Egypt is lost.

Cleopatra.
What tell'st thou me of Egypt?
1368
My life, my soul is lost! Octavia has him! –
1369
O fatal name to Cleopatra's love!
1370
My kisses, my embraces now are hers;
1371
While I –But thou hast seen my rival; speak,
1372
Does she deserve this blessing? Is she fair?
1373
Bright as a goddess? and is all perfection
1374
Confined to her? It is. Poor I was made
1375
Of that coarse matter, which, when she was finished,
1376
The gods threw by for rubbish.

Alexas.
1377
She is indeed a very miracle.

Cleopatra.
1378
Death to my hopes, a miracle!

Alexas.
1379
[Bowing.]
A miracle;
1380
I mean of goodness; for in beauty, madam,
1381
You make all wonders cease.

Cleopatra.
I was too rash:
1382
Take this in part of recompense. But, oh!
[Giving a ring.]
1383
I fear thou flatterest me.

Charmion.
She comes! she's here!

Iras.
1384
Fly, madam, Cæsar's sister!

Cleopatra.
1385
Were she the sister of the thunderer Jove,
1386
And bore her brother's lightning in her eyes,
1387
Thus would I face my rival.

[Meets OCTAVIA with VENTIDIUS. OCTAVIA bears up to her. Their Trains come up on either side.]

Octavia.
1388
I need not ask if you are Cleopatra;
1389
Your haughty carriage –

Cleopatra.
Shows I am a queen:
1390
Nor need I ask you, who you are.

Octavia.
A Roman:
1391
A name that makes and can unmake a queen.

Cleopatra.
1392
Your lord, the man who serves me, is a Roman.

Octavia.
1393
He was a Roman, till he lost that name,
1394
To be a slave in Egypt; but I come
1395
To free him thence.

Cleopatra.
Peace, peace, my lover's Juno.
1396
When he grew weary of that household clog,
1397
He chose my easier bonds.

Octavia.
I wonder not
1398
Your bonds are easy: you have long been practised
1399
In that lascivious art: He's not the first
1400
For whom you spread your snares: Let Cæsar witness.

Cleopatra.
1401
I loved not Cæsar; 'twas but gratitude
1402
I paid his love: The worst your malice can,
1403
Is but to say the greatest of mankind
1404
Has been my slave. The next, but far above him
1405
In my esteem , is he whom law calls yours,
1406
But whom his love made mine.

Octavia.
[Coming up close to her.]
I would view nearer
1407
That face, which has so long usurped my right,
1408
To find the inevitable charms, that catch
1409
Mankind so sure, that ruined my dear lord.

Cleopatra.
1410
Oh, you do well to search; for had you known
1411
But half these charms, you had not lost his heart.

Octavia.
1412
Far be their knowledge from a Roman lady,
1413
Far from a modest wife! Shame of our sex,
1414
Dost thou not blush to own those black endearments,
1415
That make sin pleasing?

Cleopatra.
1416
You may blush, who want them.
1417
If bounteous nature, if indulgent Heaven
1418
Have given me charms to please the bravest man,
1419
Should I not thank them? Should I be ashamed,
1420
And not be proud? I am, that he has loved me;
1421
And, when I love not him, Heaven change this face
1422
For one like that.

Octavia.
Thou lov'st him not so well.

Cleopatra.
1423
I love him better, and deserve him more.

Octavia.
1424
You do not; cannot: You have been his ruin.
1425
Who made him cheap at Rome, but Cleopatra?
1426
Who made him scorned abroad, but Cleopatra?
1427
At Actium, who betrayed him? Cleopatra.
1428
Who made his children orphans, and poor me
1429
A wretched widow? only Cleopatra.

Cleopatra.
1430
Yet she, who loves him best, is Cleopatra.
1431
If you have suffered, I have suffered more.
1432
You bear the specious title of a wife,
1433
To gild your cause, and draw the pitying world
1434
To favour it: the world condemns poor me.
1435
For I have lost my honour, lost my fame,
1436
And stained the glory of my royal house,
1437
And all to bear the branded name of mistress.
1438
There wants but life, and that too I would lose
1439
For him I love.

Octavia.
Be't so, then; take thy wish.

[Exit with her Train.]

Cleopatra.
1440
And 'tis my wish,
1441
Now he is lost for whom alone I lived.
1442
My sight grows dim, and every object dances,
1443
And swims before me, in the maze of death.
1444
My spirits, while they were opposed, kept up;
1445
They could not sink beneath a rival's scorn!
1446
But now she's gone, they faint.

Alexas.
Mine have had leisure
1447
To recollect their strength, and furnish counsel,
1448
To ruin her, who else must ruin you.

Cleopatra.
1449
Vain promiser!
1450
Lead me, my Charmion; nay, your hand too, Iras.
1451
My grief has weight enough to sink you both.
1452
Conduct me to some solitary chamber,
1453
And draw the curtains round;
1454
Then leave me to myself, to take alone
1455
My fill of grief:
1456
There I till death will his unkindness weep;
1457
As harmless infants moan themselves asleep.

[Exeunt.]

Act IV

SCENE I

Enter ANTONY and DOLABELLA.

Dolabella.
1458
Why would you shift it from yourself on me?
1459
Can you not tell her, you must part?

Antony.
I cannot.
1460
I could pull out an eye, and bid it go,
1461
And t'other should not weep. O Dolabella,
1462
How many deaths are in this word, Depart!
1463
I dare not trust my tongue to tell her so:
1464
One look of hers would thaw me into tears,
1465
And I should melt, till I were lost again.

Dolabella.
1466
Then let Ventidius;
1467
He's rough by nature.

Antony.
1468
Oh, he'll speak too harshly;
1469
He'll kill her with the news: Thou, only thou.

Dolabella.
1470
Nature has cast me in so soft a mould,
1471
That but to hear a story, feigned for pleasure,
1472
Of some sad lover's death, moistens my eyes,
1473
And robs me of my manhood. I should speak
1474
So faintly, with such fear to grieve her heart,
1475
She'd not believe it earnest.

Antony.
Therefore, –therefore
1476
Thou only, thou art fit: Think thyself me;
1477
And when thou speak'st (but let it first be long),
1478
Take off the edge from every sharper sound,
1479
And let our parting be as gently made,
1480
As other loves begin: Wilt thou do this?

Dolabella.
1481
What you have said so sinks into my soul,
1482
That, if I must speak, I shall speak just so.

Antony.
1483
I leave you then to your sad task: Farewell.
1484
I sent her word to meet you.
[Goes to the door, and comes back.]
I forgot;
1485
Let her be told, I'll make her peace with mine:
1486
Her crown and dignity shall be preserved,
1487
If I have power with Cæsar. –Oh, be sure
1488
To think on that.

Dolabella.
Fear not, I will remember.

[ANTONY goes again to the door, and comes back.]

Antony.
1489
And tell her, too, how much I was constrained;
1490
I did not this, but with extremest force:
1491
Desire her not to hate my memory,
1492
For I still cherish hers: –insist on that.

Dolabella.
1493
Trust me, I'll not forget it.

Antony.
Then that's all.
[Goes out, and returns again.]
1494
Wilt thou forgive my fondness this once more?
1495
Tell her, though we shall never meet again,
1496
If I should hear she took another love,
1497
The news would break my heart. – Now I must go;
1498
For every time I have returned, I feel
1499
My soul more tender; and my next command
1500
Would be, to bid her stay, and ruin both.

[Exit.]

Dolabella.
1501
Men are but children of a larger growth;
1502
Our appetites as apt to change as theirs,
1503
And full as craving too, and full as vain;
1504
And yet the soul, shut up in her dark room,
1505
Viewing so clear abroad, at home sees nothing;
1506
But, like a mole in earth, busy and blind,
1507
Works all her folly up, and casts it outward
1508
To the world's open view: Thus I discovered,
1509
And blamed the love of ruined Antony;
1510
Yet wish that I were he, to be so ruined.

Enter VENTIDIUS above.

Ventidius.
1511
Alone, and talking to himself? concerned too?
1512
Perhaps my guess is right; he loved her once,
1513
And may pursue it still.

Dolabella.
O friendship! friendship!
1514
Ill canst thou answer this; and reason, worse;
1515
Unfaithful in the attempt; hopeless to win;
1516
And if I win, undone: mere madness all.
1517
And yet the occasion's fair. What injury
1518
To him, to wear the robe which he throws by!

Ventidius.
1519
None, none at all. This happens as I wish,
1520
To ruin her yet more with Antony.

Enter CLEOPATRA, talking with ALEXAS; CHARMION, IRAS on the other side.

Dolabella.
1521
She comes! What charms have sorrow on that face!
1522
Sorrow seems pleased to dwell with so much sweetness;
1523
Yet, now and then, a melancholy smile
1524
Breaks loose, like lightning in a winter's night,
1525
And shows a moment's day.

Ventidius.
1526
If she should love him too! her eunuch there?
1527
That porc'pisce bodes ill weather. Draw, draw nearer,
1528
Sweet devil, that I may hear.

Alexas.
Believe me; try
[DOLABELLA goes over to CHARMION and IRAS; seems to talk with them.]
1529
To make him jealous; jealousy is like
1530
A polished glass held to the lips when life's in doubt;
1531
If there be breath, 'twill catch the damp, and show it.

Cleopatra.
1532
I grant you, jealousy's a proof of love,
1533
But 'tis a weak and unavailing medicine;
1534
It puts out the disease, and makes it show,
1535
But has no power to cure.

Alexas.
1536
'Tis your last remedy, and strongest too:
1537
And then this Dolabella, who so fit
1538
To practise on? He's handsome, valiant, young,
1539
And looks as he were laid for nature's bait,
1540
To catch weak women's eyes.
1541
He stands already more than half suspected
1542
Of loving you: the least kind word or glance
1543
You give this youth, will kindle him with love:
1544
Then, like a burning vessel set adrift,
1545
You'll send him down amain before the wind,
1546
To fire the heart of jealous Antony.

Cleopatra.
1547
Can I do this? Ah, no; my love's so true,
1548
That I can neither hide it where it is,
1549
Nor show it where it is not. Nature meant me
1550
A wife; a silly, harmless, household dove,
1551
Fond without art, and kind without deceit;
1552
But Fortune, that has made a mistress of me,
1553
Has thrust me out to the wide world, unfurnished
1554
Of falsehood to be happy.

Alexas.
Force yourself.
1555
The event will be, your lover will return,
1556
Doubly desirous to possess the good
1557
Which once he feared to lose.

Cleopatra.
I must attempt it;
1558
But oh, with what regret!

[Exit ALEXAS. She comes up to DOLABELLA.]

Ventidius.
1559
So, now the scene draws near; they're in my reach.

Cleopatra.
1560
[to DOLABELLA.]
Discoursing with my women! might not I
1561
Share in your entertainment?

Charmion.
You have been
1562
The subject of it, madam.

Cleopatra.
How! and how?

Iras.
1563
Such praises of your beauty!

Cleopatra.
Mere poetry.
1564
Your Roman wits, your Gallus and Tibullus,
1565
Have taught you this from Cytheris and Delia.

Dolabella.
1566
Those Roman wits have never been in Egypt;
1567
Cytheris and Delia else had been unsung:
1568
I, who have seen – had I been born a poet,
1569
Should choose a nobler name.

Cleopatra.
You flatter me.
1570
But, 'tis your nation's vice: All of your country
1571
Are flatterers, and all false. Your friend's like you.
1572
I'm sure he sent you not to speak these words.

Dolabella.
1573
No, madam; yet he sent me –

Cleopatra.
Well, he sent you –

Dolabella.
1574
Of a less pleasing errand.

Cleopatra.
How less pleasing?
1575
Less to yourself, or me?

Dolabella.
Madam, to both;
1576
For you must mourn, and I must grieve to cause it.

Cleopatra.
1577
You, Charmion, and your fellow, stand at distance. –
1578
Hold up, my spirits.
[Aside]
Well, now your mournful matter!
1579
For I'm prepared, perhaps can guess it too.

Dolabella.
1580
I wish you would; for 'tis a thankless office,
1581
To tell ill news; And I, of all your sex,
1582
Most fear displeasing you.

Cleopatra.
Of all your sex.
1583
I soonest could forgive you, if you should.

Ventidius.
1584
Most delicate advances! Woman! woman!
1585
Dear, damned, inconstant sex!

Cleopatra.
In the first place,
1586
I am to be forsaken; it's not so?

Dolabella.
1587
I wish I could not answer to that question.

Cleopatra.
1588
Then pass it o'er, because it troubles you:
1589
I should have been more grieved another time.
1590
Next, I'm to lose my kingdom –Farewell, Egypt!
1591
Yes, is there any more?

Dolabella.
Madam, I fear
1592
Your too deep sense of grief has turned your reason.

Cleopatra.
1593
No, no, I'm not run mad; I can bear fortune:
1594
And love may be expelled by other love,
1595
As poisons are by poisons.

Dolabella.
1596
You o'erjoy me, madam,
1597
To find your griefs so moderately borne.
1598
You've heard the worst; all are not false like him.

Cleopatra.
1599
No; Heaven forbid they should.

Dolabella.
1600
Some men are constant.

Cleopatra.
1601
And constancy deserves reward, that's certain.

Dolabella.
1602
Deserves it not; but give it leave to hope.

Ventidius.
1603
I'll swear, thou hast my leave. I have enough:
1604
But how to manage this! Well, I'll consider.

[Exit.]

Dolabella.
1605
I came prepared
1606
To tell you heavy news; news, which I thought
1607
Would fright the blood from your pale cheeks to hear:
1608
But you have met it with a cheerfulness,
1609
That makes my task more easy; and my tongue,
1610
Which on another's message was employed,
1611
Would gladly speak its own.

Cleopatra.
Hold, Dolabella.
1612
First tell me, were you chosen by my lord?
1613
Or sought you this employment?

Dolabella.
1614
He picked me out; and, as his bosom friend,
1615
He charged me with his words.

Cleopatra.
The message then
1616
I know was tender, and each accent smooth,
1617
To mollify that rugged word, Depart .

Dolabella.
1618
Oh, you mistake: He chose the harshest words;
1619
With fiery eyes, and with contracted brows,
1620
He coined his face in the severest stamp;
1621
And fury shook his fabric, like an earthquake;
1622
He heaved for vent, and burst like bellowing Ætna,
1623
In sounds scarce human – "Hence away for ever,
1624
Let her begone, the blot of my renown,
1625
And bane of all my hopes!"
[All the time of this speech, CLEOPATRA seems more and more concerned, till she sinks quite down.]
1626
"Let her be driven, as far as men can think,
1627
From man's commerce! she'll poison to the centre."

Cleopatra.
1628
Oh, I can bear no more!

Dolabella.
1629
Help, help! –O wretch! O cursed, cursed wretch!
1630
What have I done?

Charmion.
Help, chafe her temples, Iras.

Iras.
1631
Bend, bend her forward quickly.

Charmion.
Heaven be praised,
1632
She comes again.

Cleopatra.
Oh, let him not approach me.
1633
Why have you brought me back to this loathed being,
1634
The abode of falsehood, violated vows,
1635
And injured love? For pity, let me go;
1636
For, if there be a place of long repose,
1637
I'm sure I want it. My disdainful lord
1638
Can never break that quiet; nor awake
1639
The sleeping soul, with hollowing in my tomb
1640
Such words as fright her hence. –Unkind, unkind!

Dolabella.
1641
[Kneeling.]
Believe me, 'tis against myself I speak;
1642
That sure desires belief; I injured him:
1643
My friend ne'er spoke those words. Oh, had you seen
1644
How often he came back, and every time
1645
With something more obliging and more kind,
1646
To add to what he said; what dear farewells;
1647
How almost vanquished by his love he parted,
1648
And leaned to what unwillingly he left!
1649
I, traitor as I was, for love of you
1650
(But what can you not do, who made me false?)
1651
I forged that lie; for whose forgiveness kneels
1652
This self-accused, self-punished criminal.

Cleopatra.
1653
With how much ease believe we what we wish!
1654
Rise, Dolabella; if you have been guilty,
1655
I have contributed, and too much love
1656
Has made me guilty too.
1657
The advance of kindness, which I made, was feigned,
1658
To call back fleeting love by jealousy;
1659
But 'twould not last. Oh, rather let me lose,
1660
Than so ignobly trifle with his heart.

Dolabella.
1661
I find your breast fenced round from human reach,
1662
Transparent as a rock of solid crystal;
1663
Seen through, but never pierced. My friend, my friend,
1664
What endless treasure hast thou thrown away;
1665
And scattered, like an infant, in the ocean,
1666
Vain sums of wealth, which none can gather thence!

Cleopatra.
1667
Could you not beg
1668
An hour's admittance to his private ear?
1669
Like one who wanders through long barren wilds
1670
And yet foreknows no hospitable inn
1671
Is near to succour hunger, eats his fill,
1672
Before his painful march;
1673
So would I feed a while my famished eyes
1674
Before we part; for I have far to go,
1675
If death be far, and never must return.

VENTIDIUS, with OCTAVIA, behind.

Ventidius.
1676
From hence you may discover –oh, sweet, sweet!
1677
Would you indeed? The pretty hand in earnest?

Dolabella.
1678
I will, for this reward.
[Takes her hand.]
Draw it not back.
1679
'Tis all I e'er will beg.

Ventidius.
They turn upon us.

Octavia.
1680
What quick eyes has guilt!

Ventidius.
1681
Seem not to have observed them, and go on.

They enter.

Dolabella.
1682
Saw you the emperor, Ventidius?

Ventidius.
1683
No.
1684
I sought him; but I heard that he was private,
1685
None with him but Hipparchus, his freedman.

Dolabella.
1686
Know you his business?

Ventidius.
Giving him instructions,
1687
And letters to his brother Cæsar.

Dolabella.
Well,
1688
He must be found.

[Exeunt DOLABELLA and CLEOPATRA.]

Octavia.
Most glorious impudence!

Ventidius.
1689
She looked, methought,
1690
As she would say –Take your old man, Octavia;
1691
Thank you, I'm better here. –
1692
Well, but what use
1693
Make we of this discovery?

Octavia.
Let it die.

Ventidius.
1694
I pity Dolabella; but she's dangerous;
1695
Her eyes have power beyond Thessalian charms,
1696
To draw the moon from heaven; for eloquence,
1697
The sea-green sirens taught her voice their flattery;
1698
And, while she speaks, night steals upon the day,
1699
Unmarked of those that hear: Then she's so charming,
1700
Age buds at sight of her, and swells to youth:
1701
The holy priests gaze on her when she smiles;
1702
And with heaved hands, forgetting gravity,
1703
They bless her wanton eyes: Even I, who hate her,
1704
With a malignant joy behold such beauty;
1705
And, while I curse, desire it. Antony
1706
Must needs have some remains of passion still,
1707
Which may ferment into a worse relapse,
1708
If now not fully cured. I know, this minute,
1709
With Cæsar he's endeavouring her peace.

Octavia.
1710
You have prevailed: –But for a further purpose
[Walks off.]
1711
I'll prove how he will relish this discovery.
1712
What, make a strumpet's peace! it swells my heart:
1713
It must not, shall not be.

Ventidius.
His guards appear.
1714
Let me begin, and you shall second me.

Enter ANTONY.

Antony.
1715
Octavia, I was looking you, my love:
1716
What, are your letters ready? I have given
1717
My last instructions.

Octavia.
Mine, my lord, are written.

Antony.
1718
[Drawing him aside.]
Ventidius.

Ventidius.
My lord?

Antony.
A word in private. –
1719
When saw you Dolabella?

Ventidius.
Now, my lord,
1720
He parted hence; and Cleopatra with him.

Antony.
1721
Speak softly. –'Twas by my command he went,
1722
To bear my last farewell.

Ventidius.
[Aloud.]
It looked indeed
1723
Like your farewell.

Antony.
More softly. –My farewell?
1724
What secret meaning have you in those words
1725
Of –My farewell? He did it by my order.

Ventidius.
1726
[Aloud.]
Then he obeyed your order. I suppose
1727
You bid him do it with all gentleness,
1728
All kindness, and all –love.

Antony.
How she mourned,
1729
The poor forsaken creature!

Ventidius.
1730
She took it as she ought; she bore your parting
1731
As she did Cæsar's, as she would another's,
1732
Were a new love to come.

Antony.
[Aloud.]
Thou dost belie her;
1733
Most basely and maliciously belie her.

Ventidius.
1734
I thought not to displease you; I have done.

Octavia.
1735
[Coming up.]
You seemed disturbed, my lord.

Antony.
A very trifle.
1736
Retire, my love.

Ventidius.
It was indeed a trifle.
1737
He sent –

Antony.
[Angrily.]
No more. Look how thou disobey'st me;
1738
Thy life shall answer it.

Octavia.
Then 'tis no trifle.

Ventidius.
1739
[to OCTAVIA.]
'Tis less; a very nothing: You too saw it,
1740
As well as I, and therefore 'tis no secret.

Antony.
1741
She saw it!

Ventidius.
Yes: She saw young Dolabella –

Antony.
1742
Young Dolabella!

Ventidius.
Young, I think him young,
1743
And handsome too; and so do others think him.
1744
But what of that? He went by your command,
1745
Indeed 'tis probable, with some kind message;
1746
For she received it graciously; she smiled;
1747
And then he grew familiar with her hand,
1748
Squeezed it, and worried it with ravenous kisses;
1749
She blushed, and sighed, and smiled, and blushed again;
1750
At last she took occasion to talk softly,
1751
And brought her cheek up close, and leaned on his;
1752
At which, he whispered kisses back on hers;
1753
And then she cried aloud –That constancy
1754
Should be rewarded.

Octavia.
This I saw and heard.

Antony.
1755
What woman was it, whom you heard and saw
1756
So playful with my friend?
1757
Not Cleopatra?

Ventidius.
1758
Even she, my lord.

Antony.
My Cleopatra?

Ventidius.
1759
Your Cleopatra;
1760
Dolabella's Cleopatra; every man's Cleopatra.

Antony.
1761
Thou liest.

Ventidius.
I do not lie, my lord.
1762
Is this so strange? Should mistresses be left,
1763
And not provide against a time of change?
1764
You know she's not much used to lonely nights.

Antony.
1765
I'll think no more on't.
1766
I know 'tis false, and see the plot betwixt you. –
1767
You needed not have gone this way, Octavia.
1768
What harms it you that Cleopatra's just?
1769
She's mine no more. I see, and, I forgive:
1770
Urge it no further, love.

Octavia.
Are you concerned,
1771
That she's found false?

Antony.
I should be, were it so;
1772
For, though 'tis past, I would not that the world
1773
Should tax my former choice, that I loved one
1774
Of so light note; but I forgive you both.

Ventidius.
1775
What has my age deserved, that you should think
1776
I would abuse your ears with perjury?
1777
If Heaven be true, she's false.

Antony.
1778
Though heaven and earth
1779
Should witness it, I'll not believe her tainted.

Ventidius.
1780
I'll bring you, then, a witness
1781
From hell, to prove her so. –Nay, go not back;
[Seeing ALEXAS just entering, and starting back.]
1782
For stay you must and shall.

Alexas.
What means my lord?

Ventidius.
1783
To make you do what most you hate, –speak truth.
1784
You are of Cleopatra's private counsel,
1785
Of her bed-counsel, her lascivious hours;
1786
Are conscious of each nightly change she makes,
1787
And watch her, as Chaldeans do the moon,
1788
Can tell what signs she passes through, what day.

Alexas.
1789
My noble lord!

Ventidius.
My most illustrious pander,
1790
No fine set speech, no cadence, no turned periods,
1791
But a plain homespun truth, is what I ask:
1792
I did, myself, o'erhear your queen make love
1793
To Dolabella. Speak; for I will know,
1794
By your confession, what more passed betwixt them;
1795
How near the business draws to your employment;
1796
And when the happy hour.

Antony.
1797
Speak truth, Alexas; whether it offend
1798
Or please Ventidius, care not: Justify
1799
Thy injured queen from malice: Dare his worst.

Octavia.
1800
[aside]
See how he gives him courage! how he fears
1801
To find her false! and shuts his eyes to truth,
1802
Willing to be misled!

Alexas.
1803
As far as love may plead for woman's frailty,
1804
Urged by desert and greatness of the lover,
1805
So far, divine Octavia, may my queen
1806
Stand even excused to you for loving him
1807
Who is your lord: so far, from brave Ventidius,
1808
May her past actions hope a fair report.

Antony.
1809
'Tis well, and truly spoken: mark, Ventidius.

Alexas.
1810
To you, most noble emperor, her strong passion
1811
Stands not excused, but wholly justified.
1812
Her beauty's charms alone, without her crown,
1813
From Ind and Meroe drew the distant vows
1814
Of sighing kings; and at her feet were laid
1815
The sceptres of the earth, exposed on heaps,
1816
To choose where she would reign:
1817
She thought a Roman only could deserve her,
1818
And, of all Romans, only Antony;
1819
And, to be less than wife to you, disdained
1820
Their lawful passion.

Antony.
'Tis but truth.

Alexas.
1821
And yet, though love, and your unmatched desert,
1822
Have drawn her from the due regard of honour,
1823
At last Heaven opened her unwilling eyes
1824
To see the wrongs she offered fair Octavia,
1825
Whose holy bed she lawlessly usurped.
1826
The sad effects of this improsperous war
1827
Confirmed those pious thoughts.

Ventidius.
[aside]
Oh, wheel you there?
1828
Observe him now; the man begins to mend,
1829
And talk substantial reason. –Fear not, eunuch;
1830
The emperor has given thee leave to speak.

Alexas.
1831
Else had I never dared to offend his ears
1832
With what the last necessity has urged
1833
On my forsaken mistress; yet I must not
1834
Presume to say, her heart is wholly altered.

Antony.
1835
No, dare not for thy life, I charge thee dare not
1836
Pronounce that fatal word!

Octavia.
1837
[Aside.]
Must I bear this? Good Heaven, afford me patience.

Ventidius.
1838
On, sweet eunuch; my dear half-man, proceed.

Alexas.
1839
Yet Dolabella
1840
Has loved her long; he, next my god-like lord,
1841
Deserves her best; and should she meet his passion,
1842
Rejected, as she is, by him she loved –

Antony.
1843
Hence from my sight! for I can bear no more:
1844
Let furies drag thee quick to hell; let all
1845
The longer damned have rest; each torturing hand
1846
Do thou employ, till Cleopatra comes;
1847
Then join thou too, and help to torture her!

[Exit ALEXAS, thrust out by ANTONY.]

Octavia.
1848
'Tis not well,
1849
Indeed, my lord, 'tis much unkind to me,
1850
To show this passion, this extreme concernment,
1851
For an abandoned, faithless prostitute.

Antony.
1852
Octavia, leave me; I am much disordered:
1853
Leave me, I say.

Octavia.
My lord!

Antony.
I bid you leave me.

Ventidius.
1854
Obey him, madam: best withdraw a while,
1855
And see how this will work.

Octavia.
1856
Wherein have I offended you, my lord,
1857
That I am bid to leave you? Am I false,
1858
Or infamous? Am I a Cleopatra?
1859
Were I she,
1860
Base as she is, you would not bid me leave you;
1861
But hang upon my neck, take slight excuses,
1862
And fawn upon my falsehood.

Antony.
'Tis too much.
1863
Too much, Octavia; I am pressed with sorrows
1864
Too heavy to be borne: and you add more:
1865
I would retire, and recollect what's left
1866
Of man within, to aid me.

Octavia.
You would mourn,
1867
In private, for your love, who has betrayed you.
1868
You did but half return to me: your kindness
1869
Lingered behind with her. I hear, my lord,
1870
You make conditions for her,
1871
And would include her treaty. Wondrous proofs
1872
Of love to me!

Antony.
Are you my friend, Ventidius?
1873
Or are you turned a Dolabella too,
1874
And let this fury loose?

Ventidius.
Oh, be advised,
1875
Sweet madam, and retire.

Octavia.
1876
Yes, I will go; but never to return.
1877
You shall no more be haunted with this Fury.
1878
My lord, my lord, love will not always last,
1879
When urged with long unkindness and disdain:
1880
Take her again, whom you prefer to me;
1881
She stays but to be called. Poor cozened man!
1882
Let a feigned parting give her back your heart,
1883
Which a feigned love first got; for injured me,
1884
Though my just sense of wrongs forbid my stay,
1885
My duty shall be yours.
1886
To the dear pledges of our former love
1887
My tenderness and care shall be transferred,
1888
And they shall cheer, by turns, my widowed nights:
1889
So, take my last farewell; for I despair
1890
To have you whole, and scorn to take you half.

[Exit.]

Ventidius.
1891
I combat Heaven, which blasts my best designs:
1892
My last attempt must be to win her back;
1893
But oh! I fear in vain.

[Exit.]

Antony.
1894
Why was I framed with this plain, honest heart,
1895
Which knows not to disguise its griefs and weakness,
1896
But bears its working outward to the world?
1897
I should have kept the mighty anguish in,
1898
And forced a smile at Cleopatra's falsehood:
1899
Octavia had believed it, and had stayed.
1900
But I am made a shallow-forded stream,
1901
Seen to the bottom: all my clearness scorned,
1902
And all my faults exposed. –See where he comes,
Enter DOLABELLA.
1903
Who has profaned the sacred name of friend,
1904
And worn it into vileness!
1905
With how secure a brow, and specious form
1906
He gilds the secret villain! Sure that face
1907
Was meant for honesty; but Heaven mismatched it,
1908
And furnished treason out with nature's pomp,
1909
To make its work more easy.

Dolabella.
O my friend!

Antony.
1910
Well, Dolabella, you performed my message?

Dolabella.
1911
I did, unwillingly.

Antony.
Unwillingly?
1912
Was it so hard for you to bear our parting?
1913
You should have wished it.

Dolabella.
Why?

Antony.
Because you love me.
1914
And she received my message with as true,
1915
With as unfeigned a sorrow as you brought it?

Dolabella.
1916
She loves you, even to madness.

Antony.
Oh, I know it.
1917
You, Dolabella, do not better know
1918
How much she loves me. And should I
1919
Forsake this beauty? This all-perfect creature?

Dolabella.
1920
I could not, were she mine.

Antony.
And yet you first
1921
Persuaded me: How come you altered since?

Dolabella.
1922
I said at first I was not fit to go:
1923
I could not hear her sighs, and see her tears,
1924
But pity must prevail: And so, perhaps,
1925
It may again with you; for I have promised,
1926
That she should take her last farewell: And, see,
1927
She comes to claim my word.

Enter CLEOPATRA.

Antony.
False Dolabella!

Dolabella.
1928
What's false, my lord?

Antony.
Why, Dolabella's false,
1929
And Cleopatra's false; both false and faithless.
1930
Draw near, you well-joined wickedness, you serpents,
1931
Whom I have in my kindly bosom warmed,
1932
Till I am stung to death.

Dolabella.
My lord, have I
1933
Deserved to be thus used?

Cleopatra.
Can Heaven prepare
1934
A newer torment? Can it find a curse
1935
Beyond our separation?

Antony.
Yes, if fate
1936
Be just, much greater: Heaven should be ingenious
1937
In punishing such crimes. The rolling stone
1938
And gnawing vulture were slight pains, invented
1939
When Jove was young, and no examples known
1940
Of mighty ills; but you have ripened sin,
1941
To such a monstrous growth, 'twill pose the gods
1942
To find an equal torture. Two, two such! –
1943
Oh, there's no further name, –two such! to me,
1944
To me, who locked my soul within your breasts,
1945
Had no desires, no joys, no life, but you;
1946
When half the globe was mine, I gave it you
1947
In dowry with my heart; I had no use,
1948
No fruit of all, but you; A friend and mistress
1949
Was what the world could give. O Cleopatra!
1950
O Dolabella! how could you betray
1951
This tender heart, which with an infant fondness
1952
Lay lulled betwixt your bosoms, and there slept,
1953
Secure of injured faith?

Dolabella.
1954
If she has wronged you,
1955
Heaven, hell, and you revenge it.

Antony.
1956
If she has wronged me!
1957
Thou wouldst evade thy part of guilt; but swear
1958
Thou lov'st not her.

Dolabella.
Not so as I love you.

Antony.
1959
Not so? Swear, swear, I say, thou dost not love her.

Dolabella.
1960
No more than friendship will allow.

Antony.
No more?
1961
Friendship allows thee nothing: Thou art perjured –
1962
And yet thou didst not swear thou lov'st her not;
1963
But not so much, no more. O trifling hypocrite,
1964
Who dar'st not own to her, thou dost not love,
1965
Nor own to me, thou dost! Ventidius heard it;
1966
Octavia saw it.

Cleopatra.
They are enemies.

Antony.
1967
Alexas is not so: He, he confessed it;
1968
He, who, next hell, best knew it, he avowed it.
[To DOLABELLA.]
1969
Why do I seek a proof beyond yourself?
1970
You, whom I sent to bear my last farewell,
1971
Returned, to plead her stay.

Dolabella.
What shall I answer?
1972
If to have loved be guilt, then I have sinned;
1973
But if to have repented of that love
1974
Can wash away my crime, I have repented.
1975
Yet, if I have offended past forgiveness,
1976
Let not her suffer: She is innocent.

Cleopatra.
1977
Ah, what will not a woman do, who loves?
1978
What means will she refuse, to keep that heart,
1979
Where all her joys are placed? 'Twas I encouraged,
1980
'Twas I blew up the fire that scorched his soul,
1981
To make you jealous, and by that regain you.
1982
But all in vain; I could not counterfeit:
1983
In spite of all the dams my love broke o'er,
1984
And drowned my heart again: fate took the occasion;
1985
And thus one minute's feigning has destroyed
1986
My whole life's truth.

Antony.
Thin cobweb arts of falsehood;
1987
Seen, and broke through at first.

Dolabella.
Forgive your mistress.

Cleopatra.
1988
Forgive your friend.

Antony.
You have convinced yourselves.
1989
You plead each other's cause: What witness have you,
1990
That you but meant to raise my jealousy?

Cleopatra.
1991
Ourselves, and Heaven.

Antony.
1992
Guilt witnesses for guilt. Hence, love and friendship!
1993
You have no longer place in human breasts,
1994
These two have driven you out: Avoid my sight!
1995
I would not kill the man whom I have loved,
1996
And cannot hurt the woman; but avoid me:
1997
I do not know how long I can be tame;
1998
For, if I stay one minute more, to think
1999
How I am wronged, my justice and revenge
2000
Will cry so loud within me, that my pity
2001
Will not be heard for either.

Dolabella.
Heaven has but
2002
Our sorrow for our sins; and then delights
2003
To pardon erring man: Sweet mercy seems
2004
Its darling attribute, which limits justice;
2005
As if there were degrees in infinite,
2006
And infinite would rather want perfection
2007
Than punish to extent.

Antony.
I can forgive
2008
A foe; but not a mistress and a friend.
2009
Treason is there in its most horrid shape,
2010
Where trust is greatest; and the soul resigned,
2011
Is stabbed by its own guards: I'll hear no more;
2012
Hence from my sight for ever!

Cleopatra.
How? for ever!
2013
I cannot go one moment from your sight,
2014
And must I go for ever?
2015
My joys, my only joys, are centred here:
2016
What place have I to go to? My own kingdom?
2017
That I have lost for you: Or to the Romans?
2018
They hate me for your sake: Or must I wander
2019
The wide world o'er, a helpless, banished woman,
2020
Banished for love of you; banished from you?
2021
Ay, there's the banishment! Oh, hear me; hear me,
2022
With strictest justice: For I beg no favour;
2023
And if I have offended you, then kill me,
2024
But do not banish me.

Antony.
I must not hear you.
2025
I have a fool within me takes your part;
2026
But honour stops my ears.

Cleopatra.
For pity hear me!
2027
Would you cast off a slave who followed you?
2028
Who crouched beneath your spurn? –He has no pity!
2029
See, if he gives one tear to my departure;
2030
One look, one kind farewell: O iron heart!
2031
Let all the gods look down, and judge betwixt us,
2032
If he did ever love!

Antony.
No more: Alexas!

Dolabella.
2033
A perjured villain!

Antony.
[to Cleopatra.]
Your Alexas; yours.

Cleopatra.
2034
Oh, 'twas his plot; his ruinous design,
2035
To engage you in my love by jealousy.
2036
Hear him; confront him with me; let him speak.

Antony.
2037
I have; I have.

Cleopatra.
And if he clear me not –

Antony.
2038
Your creature! one who hangs upon your smiles!
2039
Watches your eye, to say or to unsay,
2040
Whate'er you please! I am not to be moved.

Cleopatra.
2041
Then must we part? Farewell, my cruel lord!
2042
The appearance is against me; and I go,
2043
Unjustified, for ever from your sight.
2044
How I have loved, you know; how yet I love,
2045
My only comfort is, I know myself:
2046
I love you more, even now you are unkind,
2047
Than when you loved me most; so well, so truly
2048
I'll never strive against it; but die pleased,
2049
To think you once were mine.

Antony.
2050
Good heaven, they weep at parting!
2051
Must I weep too? that calls them innocent.
2052
I must not weep; and yet I must, to think
2053
That I must not forgive. –
2054
Live, but live wretched; 'tis but just you should,
2055
Who made me so: Live from each other's sight:
2056
Let me not hear you meet. Set all the earth,
2057
And all the seas, betwixt your sundered loves:
2058
View nothing common but the sun and skies.
2059
Now, all take several ways;
2060
And each your own sad fate, with mine, deplore;
2061
That you were false, and I could trust no more.

[Exeunt severally.]

ACT V

SCENE I

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, and IRAS.

Charmion.
2062
Be juster, Heaven; such virtue punished thus,
2063
Will make us think that chance rules all above,
2064
And shuffles, with a random hand, the lots
2065
Which man is forced to draw.

Cleopatra.
2066
I could tear out these eyes that gained his heart,
2067
And had not power to keep it. O the curse
2068
Of doting on, even when I find it dotage!
2069
Bear witness, gods, you heard him bid me go;
2070
You, whom he mocked with imprecating vows
2071
Of promised faith! –I'll die; I will not bear it.
2072
You may hold me –
[She pulls out her dagger, and they hold her.]
2073
But I can keep my breath; I can die inward,
2074
And choke this love.

Enter ALEXAS.

Iras.
Help, O Alexas, help!
2075
The queen grows desperate; her soul struggles in her
2076
With all the agonies of love and rage,
2077
And strives to force its passage.

Cleopatra.
Let me go.
2078
Art thou there, traitor! –O,
2079
O for a little breath, to vent my rage,
2080
Give, give me away, and let me loose upon him.

Alexas.
2081
Yes, I deserve it, for my ill-timed truth.
2082
Was it for me to prop
2083
The ruins of a falling majesty?
2084
To place myself beneath the mighty flaw,
2085
Thus to be crushed, and pounded into atoms,
2086
By its o'erwhelming weight? 'Tis too presuming
2087
For subjects to preserve that wilful power,
2088
Which courts its own destruction.

Cleopatra.
I would reason
2089
More calmly with you. Did not you o'errule,
2090
And force my plain, direct, and open love,
2091
Into these crooked paths of jealousy?
2092
Now, what's the event? Octavia is removed;
2093
But Cleopatra's banished. Thou, thou villain,
2094
Hast pushed my boat to open sea; to prove,
2095
At my sad cost, if thou canst steer it back.
2096
It cannot be; I'm lost too far; I'm ruined:
2097
Hence, thou impostor, traitor, monster, devil! –
2098
I can no more: Thou, and my griefs, have sunk
2099
Me down so low, that I want voice to curse thee.

Alexas.
2100
Suppose some shipwrecked seaman near the shore,
2101
Dropping and faint with climbing up the cliff,
2102
If, from above, some charitable hand
2103
Pull him to safety, hazarding himself,
2104
To draw the other's weight; would he look back,
2105
And curse him for his pains? The case is yours;
2106
But one step more, and you have gained the height.

Cleopatra.
2107
Sunk, never more to rise.

Alexas.
2108
Octavia's gone, and Dolabella banished.
2109
Believe me, madam, Antony is yours.
2110
His heart was never lost, but started off
2111
To jealousy, love's last retreat and covert;
2112
Where it lies hid in shades, watchful in silence,
2113
And listening for the sound that calls it back.
2114
Some other, any man ('tis so advanced),
2115
May perfect this unfinished work, which I
2116
(Unhappy only to myself) have left
2117
So easy to his hand.

Cleopatra.
Look well thou do't; else –

Alexas.
2118
Else, what your silence threatens. – Antony
2119
Is mounted up the Pharos; from whose turret,
2120
He stands surveying our Egyptian galleys,
2121
Engaged with Cæsar's fleet. Now death or conquest!
2122
If the first happen, fate acquits my promise;
2123
If we o'ercome, the conqueror is yours.

[A distant shout within.]

Charmion.
2124
Have comfort, madam: Did you mark that shout?

[Second shout nearer.]

Iras.
2125
Hark! they redouble it.

Alexas.
'Tis from the port.
2126
The loudness shows it near: Good news, kind heavens!

Cleopatra.
2127
Osiris make it so!

Enter SERAPION.

Serapion.
Where, where's the queen?

Alexas.
2128
How frightfully the holy coward stares
2129
As if not yet recovered of the assault,
2130
When all his gods, and, what's more dear to him,
2131
His offerings, were at stake.

Serapion.
O horror, horror!
2132
Egypt has been; our latest hour has come:
2133
The queen of nations, from her ancient seat,
2134
Is sunk for ever in the dark abyss:
2135
Time has unrolled her glories to the last,
2136
And now closed up the volume.

Cleopatra.
Be more plain:
2137
Say, whence thou comest; though fate is in thy face,
2138
Which from thy haggard eyes looks wildly out,
2139
And threatens ere thou speakest.

Serapion.
I came from Pharos;
2140
From viewing (spare me, and imagine it)
2141
Our land's last hope, your navy –

Cleopatra.
Vanquished?

Serapion.
No:
2142
They fought not.

Cleopatra.
Then they fled.

Serapion.
Nor that. I saw,
2143
With Antony, your well-appointed fleet
2144
Row out; and thrice he waved his hand on high,
2145
And thrice with cheerful cries they shouted back:
2146
'Twas than false Fortune, like a fawning strumpet,
2147
About to leave the bankrupt prodigal,
2148
With a dissembled smile would kiss at parting,
2149
And flatter to the last; the well-timed oars,
2150
Now dipt from every bank, now smoothly run
2151
To meet the foe; and soon indeed they met,
2152
But not as foes. In few, we say their caps
2153
On either side thrown up; the Egyptians galleys,
2154
Received like friends, passed through, and fell behind
2155
The Roman rear: And now, they all come forward,
2156
And ride within the port.

Cleopatra.
Enough, Serapion:
2157
I've heard my doom. –This needed not, you gods:
2158
When I lost Antony, your work was done;
2159
'Tis but superfluous malice. –Where's my lord?
2160
How bears he this last blow?

Serapion.
2161
His fury cannot be expressed by words:
2162
Thrice he attempted headlong to have fallen
2163
Full on his foes, and aimed at Cæsar's galley:
2164
Withheld, he raves on you; cries, he's betrayed.
2165
Should he now find you –

Alexas.
Shun him; seek your safety,
2166
Till you can clear your innocence.

Cleopatra.
I'll stay.

Alexas.
2167
You must not; haste you to your monument,
2168
While I make speed to Cæsar.

Cleopatra.
Cæsar! No,
2169
I have no business with him.

Alexas.
I can work him
2170
To spare your life, and let this madam perish.

Cleopatra.
2171
Base fawning wretch! wouldst thou betray him too?
2172
Hence from my sight! I will not hear a traitor;
2173
'Twas thy design brought all this ruin on us. –
2174
Serapion, thou art honest; counsel me:
2175
But haste, each moment's precious.

Serapion.
2176
Retire; you must not yet see Antony.
2177
He who began this mischief,
2178
'Tis just he tempt the danger; let him clear you:
2179
And, since he offered you his servile tongue,
2180
To gain a poor precarious life from Cæsar,
2181
Let him expose that fawning eloquence,
2182
And speak to Antony.

Alexas.
O heavens! I dare not;
2183
I meet my certain death.

Cleopatra.
Slave, thou deservest it. –
2184
Not that I fear my lord, will I avoid him;
2185
I know him noble: when he banished me,
2186
And thought me false, he scorned to take my life;
2187
But I'll be justified, and then die with him.

Alexas.
2188
O pity me, and let me follow you.

Cleopatra.
2189
To death, if thou stir hence. Speak, if thou canst,
2190
Now for thy life, which basely thou wouldst save;
2191
While mine I prize at –this! Come, good Serapion.

[Exeunt CLEOPATRA, SERAPION, CHARMION, and IRAS.]

Alexas.
2192
O that I less could fear to lose this being,
2193
Which, like a snowball in my coward hand,
2194
The more 'tis grasped, the faster melts away.
2195
Poor reason! what a wretched aid art thou!
2196
For still, in spite of thee,
2197
These two long lovers, soul and body, dread
2198
Their final separation. Let me think:
2199
What can I say, to save myself from death?
2200
No matter what becomes of Cleopatra.

Antony.
2201
[Within.]
Which way? where?

Ventidius.
[Within.]
This leads to the monument.

Alexas.
2202
Ah me! I hear him; yet I'm unprepared:
2203
My gift of lying's gone;
2204
And this court-devil, which I so oft have raised,
2205
Forsakes me at my need. I dare not stay;
2206
Yet cannot far go hence.

[Exit.]
Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS.

Antony.
2207
O happy Cæsar! thou hast men to lead:
2208
Think not 'tis thou hast conquered Antony;
2209
But Rome has conquered Egypt. I'm betrayed.

Ventidius.
2210
Curse on this treacherous train!
2211
Their soil and heaven infect them all with baseness:
2212
And their young souls come tainted to the world
2213
With the first breath they draw.

Antony.
2214
The original villain sure no god created;
2215
He was a bastard of the sun, by Nile,
2216
Aped into man; with all his mother's mud
2217
Crusted about his soul.

Ventidius.
The nation is
2218
One universal traitor; and their queen
2219
The very spirit and extract of them all.

Antony.
2220
Is there yet left
2221
A possibility of aid from valour?
2222
Is there one god unsworn to my destruction?
2223
The least unmortgaged hope? for, if there be,
2224
Methinks I cannot fall beneath the fate
2225
Of such a boy as Cæsar.
2226
The world's one half is yet in Antony;
2227
And from each limb of it that's hewed away,
2228
The soul comes back to me.

Ventidius.
There yet remain
2229
Three legions in the town. The last assault
2230
Lopt off the rest; if death be your design, –
2231
As I must wish it now, –these are sufficient
2232
To make a heap about us of dead foes,
2233
An honest pile for burial.

Antony.
They are enough.
2234
We'll not divide our stars; but, side by side,
2235
Fight emulous, and with malicious eyes
2236
Survey each other's acts: So every death
2237
Thou giv'st, I'll take on me, as a just debt,
2238
And pay thee back a soul.

Ventidius.
2239
Now you shall see I love you. Not a word
2240
Of chiding more. By my few hours of life,
2241
I am so pleased with this brave Roman fate,
2242
That I would not be Cæsar, to outlive you.
2243
When we put off this flesh, and mount together,
2244
I shall be shown to all the ethereal crowd, –
2245
Lo, this is he who died with Antony!

Antony.
2246
Who knows, but we may pierce through all their troops,
2247
And reach my veterans yet? 'tis worth the 'tempting,
2248
To o'erleap this gulf of fate,
2249
And leave our wond'ring destinies behind.

Enter ALEXAS, trembling.

Ventidius.
2250
See, see, that villain!
2251
See Cleopatra stamped upon that face,
2252
With all her cunning, all her arts of falsehood!
2253
How she looks out through those dissembling eyes!
2254
How he has set his countenance for deceit,
2255
And promises a lie, before he speaks!
2256
Let me despatch him first.

[Drawing.]

Alexas.
O spare me, spare me!

Antony.
2257
Hold; he's not worth your killing. –On thy life,
2258
Which thou may'st keep, because I scorn to take it,
2259
No syllable to justify thy queen;
2260
Save thy base tongue its office.

Alexas.
Sir, she is gone,
2261
Where she shall never be molested more
2262
By love, or you.

Antony.
Fled to her Dolabella!
2263
Die, traitor! I revoke my promise! die!

[Going to kill him.]

Alexas.
2264
O hold! she is not fled.

Antony.
She is: my eyes
2265
Are open to her falsehood; my whole life
2266
Has been a golden dream of love and friendship;
2267
But, now I wake, I'm like a merchant, roused
2268
From soft repose, to see his vessel sinking,
2269
And all his wealth cast over. Ungrateful woman!
2270
Who followed me, but as the swallow summer,
2271
Hatching her young ones in my kindly beams,
2272
Singing her flatteries to my morning wake:
2273
But, now my winter comes, she spreads her wings,
2274
And seeks the spring of Cæsar.

Alexas.
Think not so:
2275
Her fortunes have, in all things, mixed with yours.
2276
Had she betrayed her naval force to Rome,
2277
How easily might she have gone to Cæsar,
2278
Secure by such a bribe!

Ventidius.
She sent it first,
2279
To be more welcome after.

Antony.
'Tis too plain;
2280
Else would she have appeared, to clear herself.

Alexas.
2281
Too fatally she has: she could not bear
2282
To be accused by you; but shut herself
2283
Within her monument; looked down and sighed;
2284
While, from her unchanged face, the silent tears
2285
Dropt, as they had not leave, but stole their parting.
2286
Some undistinguished words she inly murmured;
2287
Al last, she raised her eyes; and, with such looks
2288
As dying Lucrece cast –

Antony.
My heart forebodes –

Ventidius.
2289
All for the best: –Go on.

Alexas.
She snatched her poniard,
2290
And, ere we could prevent the fatal blow,
2291
Plunged it within her breast; then turned to me:
2292
Go, bear my lord, said she, my last farewell;
2293
And ask him, if he yet suspect my faith.
2294
More she was saying, but death rushed betwixt.
2295
She half pronounced your name with her last breath,
2296
And buried half within her.

Ventidius.
Heaven be praised!

Antony.
2297
Then art thou innocent, my poor dear love,
2298
And art thou dead?
2299
O those two words! their sound should be divided:
2300
Hadst thou been false, and died; or hadst thou lived,
2301
And hadst been true –But innocence and death!
2302
This shows not well above. Then what am I,
2303
The murderer of this truth, this innocence!
2304
Thoughts cannot form themselves in words so horrid
2305
As can express my guilt!

Ventidius.
2306
Is't come to this? The gods have been too gracious;
2307
And thus you thank them for it!

Antony.
2308
[to ALEXAS.]
Why stayest thou here?
2309
Is it for thee to spy upon my soul,
2310
And see its inward mourning? Get thee hence;
2311
Thou art not worthy to behold, what now
2312
Becomes a Roman emperor to perform.

Alexas.
2313
He loves her still:
2314
His grief betrays it. Good! the joy to find
2315
She's yet alive, completes the reconcilement.
2316
I've saved myself, and her. But, oh! the Romans!
2317
Fate comes too fast upon my wit,
2318
Hunts me too hard, and meets me at each double.

[Exit.]

Ventidius.
2319
[Aside.]
Would she had died a little sooner, though!
2320
Before Octavia went, you might have treated:
2321
Now 'twill look tame, and would not be received.
2322
Come, rouse yourself, and let's die warm together.

Antony.
2323
I will not fight: there's no more work for war.
2324
The business of my angry hours is done.

Ventidius.
2325
Cæsar is at your gates.

Antony.
Why, let him enter;
2326
He's welcome now.

Ventidius.
What lethargy has crept into your soul?

Antony.
2327
'Tis but a scorn of life, and just desire
2328
To free myself from bondage.

Ventidius.
2329
Do it bravely.

Antony.
2330
I will; but not by fighting. O Ventidius!
2331
What should I fight for now? –my queen is dead.
2332
I was but great for her; my power, my empire,
2333
Were but my merchandise to buy her love;
2334
And conquered kings, my factors. Now she's dead,
2335
Let Cæsar take the world, –
2336
An empty circle, since the jewel's gone
2337
Which made it worth my strife: my being's nauseous;
2338
For all the bribes of life are gone away.

Ventidius.
2339
Would you be taken?

Antony.
Yes, I would be taken;
2340
But, as a Roman ought, –dead, my Ventidius:
2341
For I'll convey my soul from Cæsar's reach,
2342
And lay down life myself. 'Tis time the world
2343
Should have a lord, and know whom to obey.
2344
We two have kept its homage in suspense,
2345
And bent the globe, on whose each side we trod,
2346
Till it was dented inwards. Let him walk
2347
Alone upon't: I'm weary of my part.
2348
My torch is out; and the world stands before me,
2349
Like a black desert at the approach of night:
2350
I'll lay me down, and stray no farther on.

Ventidius.
2351
I could be grieved,
2352
But that I'll not outlive you: choose your death;
2353
For, I have seen him in such various shapes,
2354
I care not which I take: I'm only troubled,
2355
The life I bear is worn to such a rag,
2356
'Tis scarce worth giving. I could wish, indeed,
2357
We threw it from us with a better grace;
2358
That, like two lions taken in the toils,
2359
We might at least thrust out our paws, and wound
2360
The hunters that enclose us.

Antony.
2361
I have thought on it.
2362
Ventidius, you must live.

Ventidius.
I must not, sir.

Antony.
2363
Wilt thou not live, to speak some good of me?
2364
To stand by my fair fame, and guard the approaches
2365
From the ill tongues of men?

Ventidius.
Who shall guard mine,
2366
For living after you?

Antony.
Say, I command it.

Ventidius.
2367
If we die well, our deaths will speak themselves
2368
And need no living witness.

Antony.
Thou hast loved me,
2369
And fain I would reward thee. I must die;
2370
Kill me, and take the merit of my death,
2371
To make thee friends with Cæsar.

Ventidius.
Thank your kindness.
2372
You said I loved you; and in recompense,
2373
You bid me turn a traitor: Did I think
2374
You would have used me thus? –that I should die
2375
With a hard thought of you?

Antony.
Forgive me, Roman.
2376
Since I have heard of Cleopatra's death,
2377
My reason bears no rule upon my tongue,
2378
But lets my thoughts break all at random out.
2379
I've thought better; do not deny me twice.

Ventidius.
2380
By Heaven I will not.
2381
Let it not be to outlive you.

Antony.
2382
Kill me first,
2383
And then die thou; for 'tis but just thou serve
2384
Thy friend before thyself.

Ventidius.
Give me your hand.
2385
We soon shall meet again. Now, farewell, emperor! –
[Embrace.]
2386
Methinks that word's too cold to be my last:
2387
Since death sweeps all distinctions, farewell, friend!
2388
That's all –
2389
I will not make a business of a trifle;
2390
And yet I cannot look on you, and kill you;
2391
Pray turn your face.

Antony.
I do: strike home, be sure.

Ventidius.
2392
Home as my sword will reach.

[Kills himself.]

Antony.
Oh, thou mistak'st;
2393
That wound was none of thine; give it me back;
2394
Thou robb'st me of my death.

Ventidius.
I do indeed;
2395
But think 'tis the first time I e'er deceived you,
2396
If that may plead my pardon. –And you, gods,
2397
Forgive me, if you will; for I die perjured,
2398
Rather than kill my friend.

[Dies.]

Antony.
2399
Farewell! Ever my leader, even in death!
2400
My queen and thou have got the start of me,
2401
And I'm the lag of honour. –Gone so soon?
2402
Is Death no more? he used him carelessly,
2403
With a familiar kindness: ere he knocked,
2404
Ran to the door, and took him in his arms,
2405
As who should say –You're welcome at all hours,
2406
A friend need give no warning. Books had spoiled him;
2407
For all the learned are cowards by profession.
2408
'Tis not worth
2409
My further thought; for death, for aught I know,
2410
Is but to think no more. Here's to be satisfied.
[Falls on his sword.]
2411
I've missed my heart. O unperforming hand!
2412
Thou never couldst have erred in a worse time.
2413
My fortune jades me to the last; and death,
2414
Like a great man, takes state, and makes me wait
2415
For my admittance. –
[Trampling within.]
2416
Some, perhaps, from Cæsar:
2417
If he should find me living, and suspect
2418
That I played booty with my life! I'll mend
2419
My work, ere they can reach me.

[Rises upon his knees.]
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, and IRAS.

Cleopatra.
2420
Where is my lord? where is he?

Charmion.
There he lies,
2421
And dead Ventidius by him.

Cleopatra.
2422
My fears were prophets; I am come too late.
2423
O that accursed Alexas!

[Runs to him.]

Antony.
Art thou living?
2424
Or am I dead before I knew, and thou
2425
The first kind ghost that meets me?

Cleopatra.
Help me seat him.
2426
Send quickly, send for help!

[They place him in a chair.]

Antony.
I am answered.
2427
We live both. Sit thee down, my Cleopatra:
2428
I'll make the most I can of life, to stay
2429
A moment more with thee.

Cleopatra.
How is it with you?

Antony.
2430
'Tis as with a man
2431
Removing in a hurry; all packed up,
2432
But one dear jewel that his haste forgot;
2433
And he, for that, returns upon the spur:
2434
So I come back for thee.

Cleopatra.
2435
Too long, ye heavens, you have been cruel to me:
2436
Now show your mended faith, and give me back
2437
His fleeting life!

Antony.
It will not be, my love;
2438
I keep my soul by force.
2439
Say but, thou art not false.

Cleopatra.
'Tis now too late
2440
To say I'm true: I'll prove it, and die with you.
2441
Unknown to me, Alexas feigned my death:
2442
Which, when I knew, I hasted to prevent
2443
This fatal consequence. My fleet betrayed
2444
Both you and me.

Antony.
And Dolabella –

Cleopatra.
Scarce
2445
Esteemed before he loved; but hated now.

Antony.
2446
Enough: my life's not long enough for more.
2447
Thou say'st, thou wilt come after: I believe thee;
2448
For I can now believe whate'er thou sayest,
2449
That we may part more kindly.

Cleopatra.
I will come:
2450
Doubt not, my life, I'll come, and quickly too:
2451
Cæsar shall triumph o'er no part of thee.

Antony.
2452
But grieve not, while thou stayest,
2453
My last disastrous times:
2454
Think we have had a clear and glorious day
2455
And Heaven did kindly to delay the storm,
2456
Just till our close of evening. Ten years' love,
2457
And not a moment lost, but all improved
2458
To the utmost joys, –what ages have we lived?
2459
And now to die each other's; and, so dying,
2460
While hand in hand we walk in groves below,
2461
Whole troops of lovers' ghosts shall flock about us,
2462
And all the train be ours.

Cleopatra.
2463
Your words are like the notes of dying swans,
2464
Too sweet to last. Were there so many hours
2465
For your unkindness, and not one for love?

Antony.
2466
No, not a minute. –This one kiss –more worth
2467
Than all I leave to Cæsar.

Cleopatra.
2468
O tell me so again,
2469
And take ten thousand kisses for that word.
2470
My lord, my lord! speak, if you yet have being;
2471
Sign to me, if you cannot speak; or cast
2472
One look! Do anything that shows you live.

Iras.
2473
He's gone too far to hear you;
2474
And this you see, a lump of senseless clay,
2475
The leavings of a soul.

Charmion.
Remember, madam,
2476
He charged you not to grieve.

Cleopatra.
And I'll obey him.
2477
I have not loved a Roman, not to know
2478
What should become his wife; his wife, my Charmion!
2479
For 'tis to that high title I aspire;
2480
And now I'll not die less. Let dull Octavia
2481
Survive, to mourn him dead: My nobler fate
2482
Shall knit our spousals with a tie too strong
2483
For Roman laws to break.

Iras.
Will you then die?

Cleopatra.
2484
Why shouldst thou make that question?

Iras.
Cæsar is merciful.

Cleopatra.
2485
Let him be so
2486
To those that want his mercy: My poor lord
2487
Made no such covenant with him, to spare me
2488
When he was dead. Yield me to Cæsar's pride?
2489
What! to be led in triumph through the streets,
2490
A spectacle to base plebeian eyes;
2491
While some dejected friend of Antony's,
2492
Close in a corner, shakes his head, and mutters
2493
A secret curse on her who ruined him!
2494
I'll none of that.

Charmion.
Whatever you resolve,
2495
I'll follow, even to death.

Iras.
I only feared
2496
For you; but more should fear to live without you.

Cleopatra.
2497
Why, now, 'tis as it should be. Quick, my friends,
2498
Despatch; ere this, the town's in Cæsar's hands:
2499
My lord looks down concerned, and fears my stay,
2500
Lest I should be surprising;
2501
Keep him not waiting for his love too long.
2502
You, Charmion, bring my crown and richest jewels;
2503
With them, the wreath of victory I made
2504
(Vain augury!) for him, who now lies dead:
2505
You, Iras, bring the cure of all our ills.

Iras.
2506
The aspics, madam?

Cleopatra.
Must I bid you twice?
[Exit CHARMION and IRAS.]
2507
'Tis sweet to die, when they would force life on me,
2508
To rush into the dark abode of death,
2509
And seize him first; if he be like my love,
2510
He is not frightful, sure.
2511
We're now alone, in secrecy and silence;
2512
And is not this like lovers? I may kiss
2513
These pale, cold lips; Octavia does not see me:
2514
And, oh! 'tis better far to have him thus,
2515
Than see him in her arms. –Oh, welcome, welcome!

Enter CHARMION and IRAS.

Charmion.
2516
What must be done?

Cleopatra.
Short ceremony, friends;
2517
But yet it must be decent. First, this laurel
2518
Shall crown my hero's head: he fell not basely,
2519
Nor left his shield behind him. –Only thou
2520
Couldst triumph o'er thyself; and thou alone
2521
Wert worthy so to triumph.

Charmion.
To what end
2522
These ensigns of your pomp and royalty?

Cleopatra.
2523
Dull, that thou art! why 'tis to meet my love;
2524
As when I saw him first, on Cydnus' bank,
2525
All sparkling, like a goddess: so adorned,
2526
I'll find him once again; my second spousals
2527
Shall match my first in glory. Haste, haste, both,
2528
And dress the bride of Antony.

Charmion.
'Tis done.

Cleopatra.
2529
Now seat me by my lord. I claim this place;
2530
For I must conquer Cæsar too, like him,
2531
And win my share of the world. –Hail, you dear relics
2532
Of my immortal love!
2533
O let no impious hand remove you hence:
2534
But rest for ever here! Let Egypt give
2535
His death that peace, which it denied his life. –
2536
Reach me the casket.

Iras.
Underneath the fruit
2537
The aspic lies.

Cleopatra.
Welcome, thou kind deceiver!
[Putting aside the leaves.]
2538
Thou best of thieves; who, with an easy key,
2539
Dost open life, and, unperceived by us,
2540
Even steal us from ourselves; discharging so
2541
Death's dreadful office, better than himself;
2542
Touching our limbs so gently into slumber,
2543
That Death stands by, deceived by his own image,
2544
And thinks himself but sleep.

Serapion.
[Within.]
The queen, where is she?
2545
The town is yielded, Cæsar's at the gates.

Cleopatra.
2546
He comes too late to invade the rights of death.
2547
Haste, bare my arm, and rouse the serpent's fury.
[Holds out her arm, and draws it back.]
2548
Coward flesh,
2549
Wouldst thou conspire with Cæsar to betray me,
2550
As thou wert none of mine? I'll force thee to it,
2551
And not be sent by him.
2552
But bring, myself, my soul to Antony.
[Turns aside, and then shows her arm bloody.]
2553
Take hence; the work is done.

Serapion.
[Within.]
Break ope the door,
2554
And guard the traitor well.

Charmion.
The next is ours.

Iras.
2555
Now, Charmion, to be worthy
2556
Of our great queen and mistress.

[They apply the aspics.]

Cleopatra.
2557
Already, death, I feel thee in my veins:
2558
I go with such a will to find my lord,
2559
That we shall quickly meet.
2560
A heavy numbness creeps through every limb,
2561
And now 'tis at my head: My eyelids fall
2562
And my dear love is vanish'd in a mist.
2563
Where shall I find him, where? O turn me to him,
2564
And lay me on his breast! – Cæsar, thy worst;
2565
Now part us, if thou canst.

[Dies.]
[IRAS sinks down at her feet, and dies; CHARMION stands behind her chair, as dressing her head.]
Enter SERAPION, two Priests, ALEXAS bound, Egyptians.

Priest.
Behold, Serapion,
2566
What havoc death has made!

Serapion.
'Twas what I feared. –
2567
Charmion, is this well done?

Charmion.
2568
Yes, 'tis well done, and like a queen, the last
2569
Of her great race: I follow her.

[Sinks down: dies.]

Alexas.
'Tis true,
2570
She has done well: Much better thus to die,
2571
Than live to make a holiday in Rome.

Serapion.
2572
See, see how the lovers sit in state together,
2573
As they were giving laws to half mankind!
2574
The impression of a smile, left in her face,
2575
Shows she died pleased with him for whom she lived,
2576
And went to charm him in another world.
2577
Cæsar's just entering: grief has now no leisure.
2578
Secure that villain, as our pledge of safety,
2579
To grace the imperial triumph. –Sleep, blest pair,
2580
Secure from human chance, long ages out,
2581
While all the storms of fate fly o'er your tomb;
2582
And fame to late posterity shall tell,
2583
No lovers lived so great, or died so well.

[Exeunt.]

EPILOGUE

2584
Poets, like disputants, when reasons fail,
2585
Have one sure refuge left – and that's to rail.
2586
Fop, coxcomb, fool, are thundered through the pit;
2587
And this is all their equipage of wit.
2588
We wonder how the devil this difference grows,
2589
Betwixt our fools in verse, and yours in prose:
2590
For, 'faith, the quarrel rightly understood,
2591
'Tis civil war with their own flesh and blood.
2592
The threadbare author hates the gaudy coat;
2593
And swears at the gilt coach, but swears afoot:
2594
For 'tis observed of every scribbling man,
2595
He grows a fop as fast as e'er he can;
2596
Prunes up, and asks his oracle, the glass,
2597
If pink or purple best become his face.
2598
For our poor wretch, he neither rails nor prays;
2599
Nor likes your with just as you like his plays;
2600
He has not yet so much of Mr. Bayes.
2601
He does his best; and if he cannot please,
2602
Would quietly sue out his writ of ease.
2603
Yet, if he might his own grand jury call,
2604
By the fair sex he begs to stand or fall.
2605
Let Cæsar's power the men's ambition move,
2606
But grace you him who lost the world for love!
2607
Yet if some antiquated lady say,
2608
The last age is not copied in his play;
2609
Heaven help the man who for that face must drudge,
2610
Which only has the wrinkles of a judge.
2611
Let not the young and beauteous join with those;
2612
For should you raise such numerous hosts of foes,
2613
Young wits and sparks he to his aid must call;
2614
'Tis more than one man's work to please you all.