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Act IV, Scene 1

Before Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s camp.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECAENAS, with] [p]his Army; OCTAVIUS CAESAR reading a letter]

• Octavius. He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power
  To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger
  He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
  Caesar to Antony: let the old ruffian know
  I have many other ways to die; meantime 2500
  Laugh at his challenge.

• Mecaenas. Caesar must think,
  When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted
  Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now
  Make boot of his distraction: never anger 2505
  Made good guard for itself.

• Octavius. Let our best heads
  Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles
  We mean to fight: within our files there are,
  Of those that served Mark Antony but late, 2510
  Enough to fetch him in. See it done:
  And feast the army; we have store to do't,
  And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 2

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace.

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

• Antony. He will not fight with me, Domitius.

• Domitius Enobarus. No.

• Antony. Why should he not?

• 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

• Domitius Enobarus. I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'

• 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?

• Domitius Enobarus. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep. 2550

• 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]

Act IV, Scene 3

The same. Before the palace.

[Enter two Soldiers to their guard]

• First Soldier. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day.

• Second Soldier. It will determine one way: fare you well.
  Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? 2580

• First Soldier. Nothing. What news?

• Second Soldier. Belike 'tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

• First Soldier. Well, sir, good night.

[Enter two other Soldiers]

• Second Soldier. Soldiers, have careful watch. 2585

• Third Soldier. And you. Good night, good night.

[They place themselves in every corner of the stage]

• Fourth Soldier. Here we: and if to-morrow
  Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope
  Our landmen will stand up. 2590

• Third Soldier. 'Tis a brave army,
  And full of purpose.

[Music of the hautboys as under the stage]

• Fourth Soldier. Peace! what noise?

• First Soldier. List, list! 2595

• Second Soldier. Hark!

• First Soldier. Music i' the air.

• Third Soldier. Under the earth.

• Fourth Soldier. It signs well, does it not?

• Third Soldier. No. 2600

• First Soldier. Peace, I say!
  What should this mean?

• Second Soldier. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,
  Now leaves him.

• First Soldier. Walk; let's see if other watchmen 2605
  Do hear what we do?

[They advance to another post]

• Second Soldier. How now, masters!

• All. [Speaking together] How now!
  How now! do you hear this? 2610

• First Soldier. Ay; is't not strange?

• Third Soldier. Do you hear, masters? do you hear?

• First Soldier. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;
  Let's see how it will give off.

• All. Content. 'Tis strange. 2615

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 4

The same. A room in the palace.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and] [p]others attending]

• Antony. Eros! mine armour, Eros!

• Cleopatra. Sleep a little. 2620

• Antony. No, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armour, Eros!
  [Enter EROS with armour]
  Come good fellow, put mine iron on:
  If fortune be not ours to-day, it is
  Because we brave her: come. 2625

• Cleopatra. Nay, I'll help too.
  What's this for?

• Antony. Ah, let be, let be! thou art
  The armourer of my heart: false, false; this, this.

• Cleopatra. Sooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be. 2630

• Antony. Well, well;
  We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?
  Go put on thy defences.

• Eros. Briefly, sir.

• Cleopatra. Is not this buckled well? 2635

• Antony. Rarely, rarely:
  He that unbuckles this, till we do please
  To daff't for our repose, shall hear a storm.
  Thou fumblest, Eros; and my queen's a squire
  More tight at this than thou: dispatch. O love, 2640
  That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew'st
  The royal occupation! thou shouldst see
  A workman in't.
  [Enter an armed Soldier]
  Good morrow to thee; welcome: 2645
  Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge:
  To business that we love we rise betime,
  And go to't with delight.

• Soldier. A thousand, sir,
  Early though't be, have on their riveted trim, 2650
  And at the port expect you.

[Shout. Trumpets flourish]

[Enter Captains and Soldiers]

• Captain. The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.

• All. Good morrow, general. 2655

• Antony. 'Tis well blown, lads:
  This morning, like the spirit of a youth
  That means to be of note, begins betimes.
  So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.
  Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me: 2660
  This is a soldier's kiss: rebukeable
  [Kisses her]
  And worthy shameful cheque it were, to stand
  On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee
  Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight, 2665
  Follow me close; I'll bring you to't. Adieu.

[Exeunt MARK ANTONY, EROS, Captains, and Soldiers]

• Charmian. Please you, retire to your chamber.

• Cleopatra. Lead me.
  He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might 2670
  Determine this great war in single fight!
  Then Antony,—but now—Well, on.

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 5

Alexandria. MARK ANTONY’s camp.

[Trumpets sound. Enter MARK ANTONY and EROS; a] [p]Soldier meeting them]

• Soldier. The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

• Antony. Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd
  To make me fight at land!

• Soldier. Hadst thou done so,
  The kings that have revolted, and the soldier 2680
  That has this morning left thee, would have still
  Follow'd thy heels.

• Antony. Who's gone this morning?

• Soldier. Who!
  One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus, 2685
  He shall not hear thee; or from Caesar's camp
  Say 'I am none of thine.'

• Antony. What say'st thou?

• Soldier. Sir,
  He is with Caesar. 2690

• Eros. Sir, his chests and treasure
  He has not with him.

• Antony. Is he gone?

• Soldier. Most certain.

• Antony. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it; 2695
  Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him—
  I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings;
  Say that I wish he never find more cause
  To change a master. O, my fortunes have
  Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus! 2700

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 6

Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s camp.

[Flourish. Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, with] [p]DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, and others]

• Octavius. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight:
  Our will is Antony be took alive; 2705
  Make it so known.

• Agrippa. Caesar, I shall.

[Exit]

• Octavius. The time of universal peace is near:
  Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world 2710
  Shall bear the olive freely.

[Enter a Messenger]

• Messenger. Antony
  Is come into the field.

• Octavius. Go charge Agrippa 2715
  Plant those that have revolted in the van,
  That Antony may seem to spend his fury
  Upon himself.

[Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• Domitius Enobarus. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry on 2720
  Affairs of Antony; there did persuade
  Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar,
  And leave his master Antony: for this pains
  Caesar hath hang'd him. Canidius and the rest
  That fell away have entertainment, but 2725
  No honourable trust. I have done ill;
  Of which I do accuse myself so sorely,
  That I will joy no more.

[Enter a Soldier of CAESAR's]

• Soldier. Enobarbus, Antony 2730
  Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
  His bounty overplus: the messenger
  Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now
  Unloading of his mules.

• Domitius Enobarus. I give it you. 2735

• Soldier. Mock not, Enobarbus.
  I tell you true: best you safed the bringer
  Out of the host; I must attend mine office,
  Or would have done't myself. Your emperor
  Continues still a Jove. 2740

[Exit]

• Domitius Enobarus. I am alone the villain of the earth,
  And feel I am so most. O Antony,
  Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
  My better service, when my turpitude 2745
  Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart:
  If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean
  Shall outstrike thought: but thought will do't, I feel.
  I fight against thee! No: I will go seek
  Some ditch wherein to die; the foul'st best fits 2750
  My latter part of life.

[Exit]

Act IV, Scene 7

Field of battle between the camps.

[Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA] [p]and others]

• Agrippa. Retire, we have engaged ourselves too far: 2755
  Caesar himself has work, and our oppression
  Exceeds what we expected.

[Exeunt]

[Alarums. Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS wounded]

• Scarus. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed! 2760
  Had we done so at first, we had droven them home
  With clouts about their heads.

• Antony. Thou bleed'st apace.

• Scarus. I had a wound here that was like a T,
  But now 'tis made an H. 2765

• Antony. They do retire.

• Scarus. We'll beat 'em into bench-holes: I have yet
  Room for six scotches more.

[Enter EROS]

• Eros. They are beaten, sir, and our advantage serves 2770
  For a fair victory.

• Scarus. Let us score their backs,
  And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind:
  'Tis sport to maul a runner.

• Antony. I will reward thee 2775
  Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold
  For thy good valour. Come thee on.

• Scarus. I'll halt after.

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 8

Under the walls of Alexandria.

[Alarum. Enter MARK ANTONY, in a march; SCARUS,] [p]with others]

• Antony. We have beat him to his camp: run one before,
  And let the queen know of our gests. To-morrow,
  Before the sun shall see 's, we'll spill the blood
  That has to-day escaped. I thank you all; 2785
  For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
  Not as you served the cause, but as 't had been
  Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
  Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
  Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears 2790
  Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
  The honour'd gashes whole.
  [To SCARUS]
  Give me thy hand
  [Enter CLEOPATRA, attended] 2795
  To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,
  Make her thanks bless thee.
  [To CLEOPATRA]
  O thou day o' the world,
  Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all, 2800
  Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
  Ride on the pants triumphing!

• Cleopatra. Lord of lords!
  O infinite virtue, comest thou smiling from
  The world's great snare uncaught? 2805

• Antony. My nightingale,
  We have beat them to their beds. What, girl!
  though grey
  Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha' we
  A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can 2810
  Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
  Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand:
  Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day
  As if a god, in hate of mankind, had
  Destroy'd in such a shape. 2815

• Cleopatra. I'll give thee, friend,
  An armour all of gold; it was a king's.

• Antony. He has deserved it, were it carbuncled
  Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand:
  Through Alexandria make a jolly march; 2820
  Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them:
  Had our great palace the capacity
  To camp this host, we all would sup together,
  And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
  Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters, 2825
  With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
  Make mingle with rattling tabourines;
  That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,
  Applauding our approach.

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 9

OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s camp.

[Sentinels at their post]

• First Soldier. If we be not relieved within this hour,
  We must return to the court of guard: the night
  Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle
  By the second hour i' the morn. 2835

• Second Soldier. This last day was
  A shrewd one to's.

[Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• Domitius Enobarus. O, bear me witness, night,—

• Third Soldier. What man is this? 2840

• Second Soldier. Stand close, and list him.

• Domitius Enobarus. Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,
  When men revolted shall upon record
  Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
  Before thy face repent! 2845

• First Soldier. Enobarbus!

• Third Soldier. Peace!
  Hark further.

• Domitius Enobarus. O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
  The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me, 2850
  That life, a very rebel to my will,
  May hang no longer on me: throw my heart
  Against the flint and hardness of my fault:
  Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder,
  And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony, 2855
  Nobler than my revolt is infamous,
  Forgive me in thine own particular;
  But let the world rank me in register
  A master-leaver and a fugitive:
  O Antony! O Antony! 2860

[Dies]

• Second Soldier. Let's speak To him.

• First Soldier. Let's hear him, for the things he speaks
  May concern Caesar.

• Third Soldier. Let's do so. But he sleeps. 2865

• First Soldier. Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his
  Was never yet for sleep.

• Second Soldier. Go we to him.

• Third Soldier. Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.

• Second Soldier. Hear you, sir? 2870

• First Soldier. The hand of death hath raught him.
  [Drums afar off]
  Hark! the drums
  Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
  To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour 2875
  Is fully out.

• Third Soldier. Come on, then;
  He may recover yet.

[Exeunt with the body]

Act IV, Scene 10

Between the two camps.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS, with their Army]

• Antony. Their preparation is to-day by sea;
  We please them not by land.

• Scarus. For both, my lord.

• Antony. I would they'ld fight i' the fire or i' the air;
  We'ld fight there too. But this it is; our foot 2885
  Upon the hills adjoining to the city
  Shall stay with us: order for sea is given;
  They have put forth the haven [—]
  Where their appointment we may best discover,
  And look on their endeavour. 2890

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 11

Another part of the same.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, and his Army]

• Octavius. But being charged, we will be still by land,
  Which, as I take't, we shall; for his best force
  Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, 2895
  And hold our best advantage.

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 12

Another part of the same.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS]

• Antony. Yet they are not join'd: where yond pine
  does stand, 2900
  I shall discover all: I'll bring thee word
  Straight, how 'tis like to go.

[Exit]

• Scarus. Swallows have built
  In Cleopatra's sails their nests: the augurers 2905
  Say they know not, they cannot tell; look grimly,
  And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony
  Is valiant, and dejected; and, by starts,
  His fretted fortunes give him hope, and fear,
  Of what he has, and has not. 2910

[Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight]

[Re-enter MARK ANTONY]

• Antony. All is lost;
  This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me:
  My fleet hath yielded to the foe; and yonder 2915
  They cast their caps up and carouse together
  Like friends long lost. Triple-turn'd whore!
  'tis thou
  Hast sold me to this novice; and my heart
  Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly; 2920
  For when I am revenged upon my charm,
  I have done all. Bid them all fly; begone.
  [Exit SCARUS]
  O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more:
  Fortune and Antony part here; even here 2925
  Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts
  That spaniel'd me at heels, to whom I gave
  Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets
  On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd,
  That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am: 2930
  O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm,—
  Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd them home;
  Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,—
  Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose,
  Beguiled me to the very heart of loss. 2935
  What, Eros, Eros!
  [Enter CLEOPATRA]
  Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!

• Cleopatra. Why is my lord enraged against his love?

• Antony. Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving, 2940
  And blemish Caesar's triumph. Let him take thee,
  And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians:
  Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot
  Of all thy sex; most monster-like, be shown
  For poor'st diminutives, for doits; and let 2945
  Patient Octavia plough thy visage up
  With her prepared nails.
  [Exit CLEOPATRA]
  'Tis well thou'rt gone,
  If it be well to live; but better 'twere 2950
  Thou fell'st into my fury, for one death
  Might have prevented many. Eros, ho!
  The shirt of Nessus is upon me: teach me,
  Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage:
  Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon; 2955
  And with those hands, that grasp'd the heaviest club,
  Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die:
  To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall
  Under this plot; she dies for't. Eros, ho!

[Exit]

Act IV, Scene 13

Alexandria. Cleopatra’s palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN]

• Cleopatra. Help me, my women! O, he is more mad
  Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly
  Was never so emboss'd.

• Charmian. To the monument! 2965
  There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead.
  The soul and body rive not more in parting
  Than greatness going off.

• Cleopatra. To the monument!
  Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself; 2970
  Say, that the last I spoke was 'Antony,'
  And word it, prithee, piteously: hence, Mardian,
  And bring me how he takes my death.
  To the monument!

[Exeunt]

Act IV, Scene 14

The same. Another room.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and EROS]

• Antony. Eros, thou yet behold'st me?

• Eros. Ay, noble lord.

• Antony. Sometimes we see a cloud that's dragonish;
  A vapour sometime like a bear or lion, 2980
  A tower'd citadel, a pendent rock,
  A forked mountain, or blue promontory
  With trees upon't, that nod unto the world,
  And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen
  these signs; 2985
  They are black vesper's pageants.

• Eros. Ay, my lord,

• Antony. That which is now a horse, even with a thought
  The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct,
  As water is in water. 2990

• Eros. It does, my lord.

• Antony. My good knave Eros, now thy captain is
  Even such a body: here I am Antony:
  Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.
  I made these wars for Egypt: and the queen,— 2995
  Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine;
  Which whilst it was mine had annex'd unto't
  A million more, now lost,—she, Eros, has
  Pack'd cards with Caesar, and false-play'd my glory
  Unto an enemy's triumph. 3000
  Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us
  Ourselves to end ourselves.
  [Enter MARDIAN]
  O! thy vile lady!
  She has robb'd me of my sword. 3005

• Mardian. No, Antony;
  My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled
  With thine entirely.

• Antony. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace!
  She hath betray'd me and shall die the death. 3010

• Mardian. Death of one person can be paid but once,
  And that she has discharged: what thou wouldst do
  Is done unto thy hand: the last she spake
  Was 'Antony! most noble Antony!'
  Then in the midst a tearing groan did break 3015
  The name of Antony; it was divided
  Between her heart and lips: she render'd life,
  Thy name so buried in her.

• Antony. Dead, then?

• Mardian. Dead. 3020

• Antony. Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done,
  And we must sleep.
  [To MARDIAN]
  That thou depart'st hence safe,
  Does pay thy labour richly; go. 3025
  [Exit MARDIAN]
  Off, pluck off:
  The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep
  The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
  Heart, once be stronger than thy continent, 3030
  Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace.
  No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go;
  You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.
  [Exit EROS]
  I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and 3035
  Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now
  All length is torture: since the torch is out,
  Lie down, and stray no farther: now all labour
  Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles
  Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done. 3040
  Eros!—I come, my queen:—Eros!—Stay for me:
  Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand,
  And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze:
  Dido and her AEneas shall want troops,
  And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros! 3045

[Re-enter EROS]

• Eros. What would my lord?

• Antony. Since Cleopatra died,
  I have lived in such dishonour, that the gods
  Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword 3050
  Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back
  With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack
  The courage of a woman; less noble mind
  Than she which by her death our Caesar tells
  'I am conqueror of myself.' Thou art sworn, Eros, 3055
  That, when the exigent should come, which now
  Is come indeed, when I should see behind me
  The inevitable prosecution of
  Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,
  Thou then wouldst kill me: do't; the time is come: 3060
  Thou strikest not me, 'tis Caesar thou defeat'st.
  Put colour in thy cheek.

• Eros. The gods withhold me!
  Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,
  Though enemy, lost aim, and could not? 3065

• Antony. Eros,
  Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome and see
  Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down
  His corrigible neck, his face subdued
  To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat 3070
  Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
  His baseness that ensued?

• Eros. I would not see't.

• Antony. Come, then; for with a wound I must be cured.
  Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn 3075
  Most useful for thy country.

• Eros. O, sir, pardon me!

• Antony. When I did make thee free, sworest thou not then
  To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once;
  Or thy precedent services are all 3080
  But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.

• Eros. Turn from me, then, that noble countenance,
  Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

• Antony. Lo thee!

[Turning from him]

• Eros. My sword is drawn.

• Antony. Then let it do at once
  The thing why thou hast drawn it.

• Eros. My dear master,
  My captain, and my emperor, let me say, 3090
  Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.

• Antony. 'Tis said, man; and farewell.

• Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

• Antony. Now, Eros.

• Eros. Why, there then: thus I do escape the sorrow 3095
  Of Antony's death.

[Kills himself]

• Antony. Thrice-nobler than myself!
  Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what
  I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros 3100
  Have by their brave instruction got upon me
  A nobleness in record: but I will be
  A bridegroom in my death, and run into't
  As to a lover's bed. Come, then; and, Eros,
  Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus 3105
  [Falling on his sword]
  I learn'd of thee. How! not dead? not dead?
  The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!

[Enter DERCETAS and Guard]

• First Guard. What's the noise? 3110

• Antony. I have done my work in, friends: O, make an end
  Of what I have begun.

• Second Guard. The star is fall'n.

• First Guard. And time is at his period.

• All. Alas, and woe! 3115

• Antony. Let him that loves me strike me dead.

• First Guard. Not I.

• Second Guard. Nor I.

• Third Guard. Nor any one.

[Exeunt Guard]

• Dercetas. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.
  This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings,
  Shall enter me with him.

[Enter DIOMEDES]

• Diomedes. Where's Antony? 3125

• Dercetas. There, Diomed there.

• Diomedes. Lives he?
  Wilt thou not answer, man?

[Exit DERCETAS]

• Antony. Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me 3130
  Sufficing strokes for death.

• Diomedes. Most absolute lord,
  My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.

• Antony. When did she send thee?

• Diomedes. Now, my lord. 3135

• Antony. Where is she?

• Diomedes. Lock'd in her monument. She had a prophesying fear
  Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw—
  Which never shall be found—you did suspect
  She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage 3140
  Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead;
  But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent
  Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
  I dread, too late.

• Antony. Too late, good Diomed: call my guard, I prithee. 3145

• Diomedes. What, ho, the emperor's guard! The guard, what, ho!
  Come, your lord calls!

[Enter four or five of the Guard of MARK ANTONY]

• Antony. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides;
  'Tis the last service that I shall command you. 3150

• First Guard. Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear
  All your true followers out.

• All. Most heavy day!

• Antony. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate
  To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome 3155
  Which comes to punish us, and we punish it
  Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:
  I have led you oft: carry me now, good friends,
  And have my thanks for all.

[Exeunt, bearing MARK ANTONY]

Act IV, Scene 15

The same. A monument.

[Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with] [p]CHARMIAN and IRAS]

• Cleopatra. O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

• Charmian. Be comforted, dear madam.

• Cleopatra. No, I will not: 3165
  All strange and terrible events are welcome,
  But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
  Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
  As that which makes it.
  [Enter, below, DIOMEDES] 3170
  How now! is he dead?

• Diomedes. His death's upon him, but not dead.
  Look out o' the other side your monument;
  His guard have brought him thither.

[Enter, below, MARK ANTONY, borne by the Guard]

• Cleopatra. O sun,
  Burn the great sphere thou movest in!
  darkling stand
  The varying shore o' the world. O Antony,
  Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help; 3180
  Help, friends below; let's draw him hither.

• Antony. Peace!
  Not Caesar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,
  But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself.

• Cleopatra. So it should be, that none but Antony 3185
  Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!

• Antony. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
  I here importune death awhile, until
  Of many thousand kisses the poor last
  I lay up thy lips. 3190

• Cleopatra. I dare not, dear,—
  Dear my lord, pardon,—I dare not,
  Lest I be taken: not the imperious show
  Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
  Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, 3195
  serpents, have
  Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe:
  Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
  And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour
  Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony,— 3200
  Help me, my women,—we must draw thee up:
  Assist, good friends.

• Antony. O, quick, or I am gone.

• Cleopatra. Here's sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
  Our strength is all gone into heaviness, 3205
  That makes the weight: had I great Juno's power,
  The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up,
  And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little,—
  Wishes were ever fools,—O, come, come, come;
  [They heave MARK ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA] 3210
  And welcome, welcome! die where thou hast lived:
  Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
  Thus would I wear them out.

• All. A heavy sight!

• Antony. I am dying, Egypt, dying: 3215
  Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

• Cleopatra. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high,
  That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel,
  Provoked by my offence.

• Antony. One word, sweet queen: 3220
  Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!

• Cleopatra. They do not go together.

• Antony. Gentle, hear me:
  None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

• Cleopatra. My resolution and my hands I'll trust; 3225
  None about Caesar.

• Antony. The miserable change now at my end
  Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts
  In feeding them with those my former fortunes
  Wherein I lived, the greatest prince o' the world, 3230
  The noblest; and do now not basely die,
  Not cowardly put off my helmet to
  My countryman,—a Roman by a Roman
  Valiantly vanquish'd. Now my spirit is going;
  I can no more. 3235

• Cleopatra. Noblest of men, woo't die?
  Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide
  In this dull world, which in thy absence is
  No better than a sty? O, see, my women,
  [MARK ANTONY dies] 3240
  The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord!
  O, wither'd is the garland of the war,
  The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys and girls
  Are level now with men; the odds is gone,
  And there is nothing left remarkable 3245
  Beneath the visiting moon.

[Faints]

• Charmian. O, quietness, lady!

• Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign.

• Charmian. Lady! 3250

• Iras. Madam!

• Charmian. O madam, madam, madam!

• Iras. Royal Egypt, Empress!

• Charmian. Peace, peace, Iras!

• Cleopatra. No more, but e'en a woman, and commanded 3255
  By such poor passion as the maid that milks
  And does the meanest chares. It were for me
  To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods;
  To tell them that this world did equal theirs
  Till they had stol'n our jewel. All's but naught; 3260
  Patience is scottish, and impatience does
  Become a dog that's mad: then is it sin
  To rush into the secret house of death,
  Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
  What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian! 3265
  My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look,
  Our lamp is spent, it's out! Good sirs, take heart:
  We'll bury him; and then, what's brave,
  what's noble,
  Let's do it after the high Roman fashion, 3270
  And make death proud to take us. Come, away:
  This case of that huge spirit now is cold:
  Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend
  But resolution, and the briefest end.

[Exeunt; those above bearing off MARK ANTONY's body]