Ant. I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards

To run, and show their shoulders.-Friends, be gone,; I have myself resolv'd upon a course,

Which has no need of you; be gone:

My treasure's in the harbour, take it.-0,
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
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?

Cleo. Let me sit down. Ο Juno!

Ant. No, no, no, no, no.

Eros. See you here, sir?

Ant. O fye, fye, fye.

Char. Madam,

Iras. Madam; O good empress!

Eros. Sir, sir,

Ant. Yes, my lord, yes;-He, at Philippi, kept

His sword even 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.

Cleo. Ah, stand by.

Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen.

Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him;

He is unqualitied with very shame.

Cleo. Well then, -- Sustain me:-O!

Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches;

Her head's declin'd, and death will seize 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 dishonour.

Cleo.

O my lord, my lord!

Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought,

You would have follow'd.

Ant.

1

Egypt, thou knew'st too well,

My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings,

And thou should'st 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.

Cleo.

O, my pardon.

Ant.

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 pleas'd,
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.

Cleo.

O pardon, pardon.

Ant. 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 he 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.

Enter CESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, and Others.

Cæs. Let him appear that's come from Antony.Know you him?

Dol.

Cæsar, 'tis his schoolmaster:

An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
Which had superfluous kings for messengers,
Not many moons gone by.

Cæs.

Enter Ambassador from Antony.

Approach, and speak.

Amb. Such as I am, I come from Antony:

I was of late as petty to his ends,

As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf

To his grand sea 39.
Cæs.

Be it so; Declare thine office.

Amb. Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted, He lessens his requests; and to thee sues To let him breathe between the heavens and earth, A private man in Athens: This for him. Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness; Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves 40 The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs, Now hazarded to thy grace.

Cæs.

For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen
Of audience, nor desire, shall fail; so she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there: This if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
Amb. Fortune pursue thee!

Cæs.

Bring him through the bands.
[Exit Ambassador.

To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Despatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise, [To Thyreus.
And in our name, what she requires; add more,
From thine invention, offers: women are not,
In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjure
The ne'er-touch'd vestal: Try thy cunning, Thyreus;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we

Will answer as a law.

Thyr.

Cæsar, I go.

Cæs. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw;

And what thou think'st his very action speaks

In every power that moves.

Thyr.

Cæsar, I shall. [Exeunt.

SCENE XI.

Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.

Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and
IRAS.

Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus ?
Eno.

Think, and die.

Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this?
Eno. Antony only, that would make his will

Lord of his reason. What although you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges
Frighted each other? why should he follow?