Act III, Scene xi:
Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.

[Enter ANTONY and attendants.]

ANTONY:

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

It is asham'd 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 resolv'd upon a course

Which has no need of you; be gone;

My treasure's in the harbour, 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

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 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 is unqualitied with very shame.

CLEOPATRA:

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.

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

'Stroy'd in dishonour.

CLEOPATRA:

O my lord, my lord,

Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought

You would have follow'd.

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 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.

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 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.

[Exeunt.]