Antony

Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;

It is ashamed to bear me! Friends, come hither:

I am so lated 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 Caesar.

All.

Fly! not we.

Antony

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 harbour, take it. O,

I followed 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

Which leaves itself: to the seaside 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 CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN and IRAS; EROS following.

Eros

Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

Iras

Do, most dear queen.

Charmian

Do! why: what else?

Cleopatra

Let me sit down. O Juno!

Antony

No, no, no, no, no.

Eros

See you here, sir?

Antony

O fie, fie, fie!

Charmian

Madam!

Iras

Madam, O good empress!

Eros

Sir, sir,

Antony

Yes, my lord, yes; he at Philippi kept

His sword e'en like a dancer; while I struck

The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I

That the mad Brutus ended: he alone

Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had

In the brave squares of war: yet now — No matter.

Cleopatra

Ah, stand by.

Eros

The queen, my lord, the queen.

Iras

Go to him, madam, speak to him:

He's unqualitied with very shame.

Cleopatra

Well then, sustain me: O!

Eros

Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches:

Her head's declined, and death will seize her, but

Your comfort makes the rescue.

Antony

I have offended reputation,

A most unnoble swerving.

Eros

Sir, the queen.

Antony

O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See,

How I convey my shame out of thine eyes

By looking back what I have left behind

'Stroyed in dishonour.

Cleopatra

O my lord, my lord,

Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought

You would have followed.

Antony

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.

Cleopatra

O, my pardon!

Antony

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 played as I pleased,

Making and marring fortunes. You did know

How much you were my conqueror; and that

My sword, made weak by my affection, would

Obey it on all cause.

Cleopatra

Pardon, pardon!

Antony

Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates

All that is won and lost: give me a kiss;

Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster;

Is 'a come back? Love, I am full of lead.

Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune knows

We scorn her most when most she offers blows. Exeunt.