Her length of sickness, with what else, more serious, Eno. What's your pleasure, sir? Ant. I must hence; hence with haste. Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women. If they suffer our departure, death's the word. Ant. I must be gone. Eno. Under a compelling occasion, let women die. It were pity to cast them away for nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly. I have seen her die twenty times, upon a far poorer occasion. Ant. She is cunning, past man's thought. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Fulvia! Ant. Dead. Eno. Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then were the case to be lamented :—the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow. Ant. No more light answers. Let our officers Have notice what we purpose: I shall break To such whose place is under us, requires Eno. I shall do't. [Exeunt. SCENE III. A Room in CLEOPATRA's Palace. CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, IRAS, and ALEXAS, discovered. Cle. Where is he? Char. I did not see him since.! Cle. [To ALEXAS.] See where he is, who's with him, what he does, I did not send you. If you find him sad, (Exit ALEXAS. Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him. Cle. What should I do I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. Cle. Thou teachest like a fool;-the way to lose him. Char. Tempt him not so too far. Enter ANTONY. But here comes Antony. Cle. I am sick and sullen. [To CHARMION aside. Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose. Cle. Help me away, dear Charmion, I shall fall; It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature Will not sustain it. Ant. Now, my dearest queen Cle. Pray you, stand farther from me. Cle. I know, by that same eye, there's some good news; What says the married woman? You may go: Cle. O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! Yet, at the first, Ant. Cleopatra Cle. Why should I think you can be mine, and true, Though you, in swearing, shake the throned gods, Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, Which break themselves in swearing! Ant. Most sweet queen! Cle. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going; But, bid farewell, and go; when you sued staying, Then was the time for words. No going then ; Eternity was in our lips and eyes; Bliss in our brows, and none our parts so poor, Ant. Hear me, queen; The strong necessity of time commands Shines o'er with civil swords; my more particular, Cle. Her death!-Can Fulvia die? Ant. She's dead, my queen. Cle. O, most false love! Where be the sacred vials thou should'st fill Ant. Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know The purposes I bear; which are, or cease, As you shall give advice. Now, by the fire That quickens Nilus' slime, I go out hence Thy soldier, servant; making peace, or war, As thou affect'st. Cle. Cut my lace, Charmion; come; But let it be; I am quickly ill and well, So Antony loves. Ant. My precious queen, forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands Cle. So was Fulvia told : I pr'ythee, turn aside, and weep for her, Ant. You'll heat my blood; no more. Cle. You can do better yet; but this is meetly. Ant. Now, by my sword Cle. And target,-still he mends; But this is not the best. Look, pr'ythee, Charmion, How this Herculian Roman does become The carriage of his chafe. Ant. I'll leave you, lady. Cle. Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part; but that's not it; Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it; That you know well. Something it is, I would, O, my oblivion is a very Antony, And I am all forgotten. Ant. But that your majesty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you Cle. Your honour calls you hence: Sit laurell'd victory; and smooth success Ant. Let us go:-Come on; Our separation so abides and flies, That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, [Exeunt severally. SCENE IV. Rome. A Room in CÆSAR's Palace. Enter OCTAVIUS CESAR, LEPIDUS, and their Cas. You may see Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate Our great competitor. From Alexandria This is the news; he fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel: is not more man-like Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy : More womanly than he hardly gave audience, or Vouchafed to think he had partners. You shall find there A man, who is the abstract of all faults, That all men follow. Lep. I must not think there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness. Rather than purchased; what he cannot change, Cas. You are too indulgent. Grant it not amiss To give a kingdom for a mirth, to sit And keep the turn of tipling with a slave; B |