SCENE IX. Alexandria. A room in the palace. Enter ANTONY and ATTENDANTS. Ant. Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon 't; It is ashamed to bear me! Friends, come hither; Have lost my way for ever :-I have a ship Att. Fly! not we. Ant. I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards To run, and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone; I have myself resolved upon a course, My very hairs do mutiny; for the white Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them For fear and doting.-Friends, be gone; you shall Have letters from me to some friends, that will Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad, Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint Which my despair proclaims; let that be left 1 Benighted. Which leaves itself: to the sea side straightway. Enter EROS, and CLEOPATRA, led by CHARMIAN and IRAS. Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him: comfort him. Iras. Do, most dear queen. Char. Do! Why, what else? Cle. Let me sit down. O Juno! Ant. No, no, no, no, no. Eros. See you here, sir? Ant. O fie, fie, fie. Cle. Madam, Iras. Madam; O good empress !- Ant. Yes, my lord, yes: he,1 at Philippi, kept Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had In the brave squares of war: yet Low--No matter. Cle. Ah, stand by. Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen. 1 i. e. Cæsar. 2 Fought by his officers. Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him; He is unqualitied with very shame. Cle. Well then, sustain me.-O! Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches. Her head's declined, and death will seise her; but Your comfort makes the rescue. Ant. I have offended reputation; A most unnoble swerving. Eros. Sir, the queen. Ant. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See, How I convey my shame out of thine eyes, By looking back on what I have left behind 'Stroy'd in dishonor. Cle. O, my lord, my lord! Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought, Ant. Egypt, thou knew'st too well, My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings, Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods Cle. Ant. O, my pardon! Now must To the young man send humble treaties, dodge And palter in the shifts of lowness; who With half the bulk o' the world play'd as I pleased, 1 Bewildered. |