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;
I am so lated 1 in the world, that I

Have lost my way for ever :—I have a ship
Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly,
And make your peace with Cæsar.

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,
Which has no need of you; be gone:
My treasure's in the harbor; take it. O,
I follow'd that I blush to look upon :

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.
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little pray you now :—
Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command;
Therefore I pray you :-I'll see you by and by.

[sits down.

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 !
Eros. Sir, sir,-

Ant. Yes, my lord, yes: he,1 at Philippi, kept
His sword ev'n like a dancer, while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I,
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry,2 and no practice had
In the brave squares of war: yet Low-

matter.

Cle. Ah, stand by.

Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen.

1 i. e. Cæsar.

-No

2 Fought by his officers.

Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him; He is unqualitied1 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, You would have follow'd.

Ant.

Egypt, thou knew'st too well,

My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings,
And thou shouldst tow me after. O'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st; and that

Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
Command me.

Cle.

Ant.

O, my pardon!

Now I 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.