They petition

You would make haste to head 'em.

Ant. I'm besieged.

Ven. There's but one way shut up :-How came I hither?

Ant. I will not stir.

Ven. They would, perhaps, desire

A better reason.

Ant. I have never used

My soldiers to demand a reason of

My actions. Why did they refuse to march?

Ven. They said, they would not fight for Cleopatra. Ant. What was❜t they said?

Ven. They said they would not fight for Cleopatra. Why should they fight indeed to make her conquer, And make you more a slave?

Ant. Ventidius, I allow your tongue free licence On all my other faults; but, on your life, No word of Cleopatra: She deserves

More worlds than I can lose.

;

Ven. I take the privilege of plain love to speak. Ant. Plain love! plain arrogance! plain insolence! Thy men are cowards; thou, an envious traitor Who, under seeming honesty, hast vented The burden of thy rank o'erflowing gall. Oh! that thou wert my equal; great in arms As the first Cæsar was, that I might kill thee, Without a stain to honour.

Ven. You may kill me;

You have done more already,-call'd me traitor.
Ant. Art thou not one?

Ven. For shewing you yourself,

Which none else durst have done? but had I been
That name, which I disdain to speak again,

I needed not have sought your abject fortunes;
Come to partake your fate, to die with you.
What hinder'd me to've led my conqu'ring eagles
To join with Cæsar's bands? I could have been

A traitor then; a glorious, happy traitor,
And not have been so call'd.

Ant. Forgive me, soldier

I've been too passionate.

;

Why did'st thou tempt my anger, by discovery
Of what I would not hear?

Ven. No prince but you

Could merit that sincerity I used,

Nor durst another man have ventured it :
But you, ere love misled your wand'ring eye,
Were sure the chief, and best of human race,
Framed in the very pride and boast of nature!
Ant. But Cleopatra-

Go on; for I can bear it now.

Ven. No more.

Ant. Thou darest not trust my passion, but thou may'st.

Do with me what thou wilt:

Lead me to victory, thou know'st the way.
Ven. And will you leave this-

Ant. Pr'ythee, do not curse her,

And I will leave her; though, Heaven knows, I love
Beyond life, conquest, empire; all but honour.
But I will leave her.

Ven. That's my royal master!

And shall we fight?

Ant. I warrant thee, old soldier :

Thou shalt behold me once again in iron;
And, at the head of our old troop, that beat
The Parthians, cry aloud-Come follow me!
Ven. O, now, I hear my emperor! in that word
Octavius fell. Gods, let me see that day,
And, if I have ten years behind, take all !
I'll thank you for th' exchange.

Ant. Oh, Cleopatra !

Ven. Again?

Ant. I've done. In that last sigh she went. Cæsar shall know what 'tis to force a lover

From all he holds most dear.

Ven. Methinks you breathe

Another soul: your looks are more divine;
You speak a hero, and you move a god.

Ant. O, thou hast fired me! my soul's up in arms, And mans each part about me: once again That noble eagerness of fight has seized me ;That eagerness, with which I darted upward To Cassius' camp: In vain the steepy hill Opposed my way; in vain a war of spears Sung round my head, and planted all my shield; I won the trenches, while my foremost men Lagg'd on the plain below.

Ven. Ye gods! ye gods!

For such another hour!

Ant. Come on, my soldier!

Our hearts and arms are still the same. I long
Once more to meet our foes; that thou and I,
Like Time and Death, marching before our troops,
May taste fate to 'em; mow 'em out a passage,
And, ent'ring where the foremost squadrons yield,
Begin the noble harvest of the field. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Before Alexandria. CESAR's Camp.

Enter CESAR, with AGRIPPA and PROCULEIUS.

Caes. Go forth, Agrippa, and urge on the fight; Our will is, Antony be ta'en alive;

Make it so known.

Agrip. Cæsar, I shall.

[Exit AGRIPPA.

A traitor then; a glorious, happy traitor,
And not have been so call'd.

Ant. Forgive me, soldier;

I've been too passionate.

Why did'st thou tempt my anger, by discovery
Of what I would not hear?

Ven. No prince but you

Could merit that sincerity I used,

Nor durst another man have ventured it:
But you, ere love misled your wand'ring eye,
Were sure the chief, and best of human race,
Framed in the very pride and boast of nature!
Ant. But Cleopatra-

Go on; for I can bear it now.

Ven. No more.

Ant. Thou darest not trust my passion, but thou may'st.

Do with me what thou wilt:

Lead me to victory, thou know'st the way.
Ven. And will you leave this-

Ant. Pr'ythee, do not curse her,

And I will leave her; though, Heaven knows, I love Beyond life, conquest, empire; all but honour.

But I will leave her.

Ven. That's my royal master!

And shall we fight?

Ant. I warrant thee, old soldier:

Thou shalt behold me once again in iron;
And, at the head of our old troop, that beat
The Parthians, cry aloud-Come follow me!
Ven. O, now, I hear my emperor! in that word
Octavius fell. Gods, let me see that day,
And, if I have ten years behind, take all !
I'll thank you for th' exchange.

Ant. Oh, Cleopatra !

Ven. Again?

Ant. I've done. In that last sigh she went. Cæsar shall know what 'tis to force a lover

From all he holds most dear.

Ven. Methinks you breathe

Another soul: your looks are more divine;
You speak a hero, and you move a god.

Ant. O, thou hast fired me! my soul's up in arms, And mans each part about me: once again That noble eagerness of fight has seized me;That eagerness, with which I darted upward To Cassius' camp: In vain the steepy hill Opposed my way; in vain a war of spears Sung round my head, and planted all my shield; I won the trenches, while my foremost men Lagg'd on the plain below.

Ven. Ye gods! ye gods!

For such another hour!

Ant. Come on, my soldier!

Our hearts and arms are still the same. I long
Once more to meet our foes; that thou and I,
Like Time and Death, marching before our troops,
May taste fate to 'em; mow 'em out a passage,
And, ent'ring where the foremost squadrons yield,
Begin the noble harvest of the field. [Exeunt.

SCENE II.

Before Alexandria. CESAR's Camp.

Enter CESAR, with AGRIPPA and PROCULEIUS.

Cas. Go forth, Agrippa, and urge on the fight; Our will is, Antony be ta'en alive;

Make it SO known.

Agrip. Cæsar, I shall.

[Exit AGRIPPA.