With such full licence, as both truth and malice Is as our earing t. Fare thee well a while. [Exit. Ant. From Sicyon how the news? Speak there. 1 Att. The man from Sicyon.-Is there such an one? 2 Att. He stays upon your will, Ant. Let him appear. These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, Enter another MESSENGER. Or lose myself in dotage.-What are you? 2 Mess. Fulvia thy wife is dead. Ant. Where died she? 2 Mess. In Sicyon : Her length of sickness, with what else more serious The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone; Enter ENOBARBUS. Eno. What's your pleasure, Sir? Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women: we see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suf fer 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; though, between them and a great cause, they should be esteem'd nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment: I do think, there is mettle in death, which com In some editions minds. + Tilling, ploughing: prepares us to produce good Waits. seed. mits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying. Ant. She is cunning past man's thought. Eno. Alack, Sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love: we cannot call her winds and waters, sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove. Ant. 'Would I had never seen her! Eno. O, Sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to have been blessed withal, would have discredited your travel. Ant. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Sir? Ant. Fulvia is dead. Ant. Dead. Eno. Why, Sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shews to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that when old robes are worn out, there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented; this grief is crown'd with consolation; your old smock brings forth a petticoat :-And, indeed, the tears live in an onion, that should water this sorrow. Ant. The business she hath broach'd in the state, Cannot endure my absence. Eno. And the business you have broach'd here cannot be without you; especially that of Cleopa tra's, which wholly depends on your abode. Ant. No more light answers. Let our officers • Expedition. VOL. V. C + Leave. Upon his son; who, high in name and power, Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life, Eno. I shall do't. SCENE III. [Exeunt. Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. Cleo. Where is he? Char. I did not see him since. Cleo. 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. Cleo. What should I do, I do not? Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in nothing. Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose. him. Char. Tempt him not so too far: I wish, forbear; In time we hate that which we often fear. Enter ANTONY. But here comes Antony. Cleo. I am sick, and sullen. Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my pur pose, Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall; I cannot be thus long, the sides of nature, Will not sustain it. Ant. Now my dearest queen, Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me. Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some good news. What says the married woman ?-You may go z 'Would she had never given you leave to come! I have no power upon you; hers you are. Cleo. O, never was there queen So mightily betray'd! Yet, at the first, Ant. Cleopatra, Cleo. Why should I think, you can be mine, and Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Ant. Most sweet queen, Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying, Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Art turn'd the greatest liar. Ant. How now, lady! Cleo. I would, I had thy inches; thou shouldst know, There were a heart in Egypt. Ant. Hear me, queen: The strong necessity of time commands Our services a while; but my full heart Remains in use with you. Our Italy Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeias Breeds scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey, Is Fulvia's death. The arch of our eye-brows. + Smack or flavour. Render my going not dangerous. Gate. Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness:-Can Fulvia die? Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read Cleo. O most false love! Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill As you shall give the advice: Now, by the fire Cleo. Cut my lace, Charmian, come ;- Ant. My precious queen, forbear; And give true evidence to his love, which stands An honourable trial. Cleo. So Fulvia told me. I pr'ythee, turn aside, and weep for her; Then bid adieu to me, and say, the tears Like perfect honour. Ant. You'll heat my blood; no more. Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is meetly. Ant. Now, by my sword, Cleo. And target,-still he mends; But this is not the best: look, pr'ythee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe . Ant. I'll leave you, lady. Cleo. 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. Can Fulvia be dead? + The commotion she occasioned. To me, the queen of Egypt. Oblivious memory. |