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Antony and Cleopatra

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Act IV, Scene 2

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace.

       
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[Enter MARK ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS,] [p]CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, with others]

  • Antony. He will not fight with me, Domitius.
  • Domitius Enobarus. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, 2520
    He is twenty men to one.
  • Antony. To-morrow, soldier,
    By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live,
    Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
    Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well? 2525
  • Antony. Well said; come on.
    Call forth my household servants: let's to-night
    Be bounteous at our meal.
    [Enter three or four Servitors] 2530
    Give me thy hand,
    Thou hast been rightly honest;—so hast thou;—
    Thou,—and thou,—and thou:—you have served me well,
    And kings have been your fellows.
  • Cleopatra. [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What means this? 2535
  • Domitius Enobarus. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] 'Tis one of those odd
    tricks which sorrow shoots
    Out of the mind.
  • Antony. And thou art honest too.
    I wish I could be made so many men, 2540
    And all of you clapp'd up together in
    An Antony, that I might do you service
    So good as you have done.
  • All. The gods forbid!
  • Antony. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night: 2545
    Scant not my cups; and make as much of me
    As when mine empire was your fellow too,
    And suffer'd my command.
  • Cleopatra. [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?
  • Antony. Tend me to-night;
    May be it is the period of your duty:
    Haply you shall not see me more; or if,
    A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow
    You'll serve another master. I look on you 2555
    As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,
    I turn you not away; but, like a master
    Married to your good service, stay till death:
    Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more,
    And the gods yield you for't! 2560
  • Domitius Enobarus. What mean you, sir,
    To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep;
    And I, an ass, am onion-eyed: for shame,
    Transform us not to women.
  • Antony. Ho, ho, ho! 2565
    Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus!
    Grace grow where those drops fall!
    My hearty friends,
    You take me in too dolorous a sense;
    For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you 2570
    To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts,
    I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you
    Where rather I'll expect victorious life
    Than death and honour. Let's to supper, come,
    And drown consideration. 2575

[Exeunt]