ANTONY
Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon’t.
It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come .
I am so lated in the world that I
Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship
Laden with gold. Take that, divide it. Fly,
And make your peace with Caesar.
ALL
Fly? Not we.
ANTONY
I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone.
I have myself resolved upon a course
Which has no need of you. Be gone.
My treasure’s in the harbour. Take it. O,
I followed that I blush to look upon.
My very hairs do mutiny, for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting. Friends, be gone. You shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness. Take the hint
Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
Which leaves itself. To the sea-side straightway.
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little—pray you, now,
Nay, do so; for indeed I have lost command.
Therefore I pray you. I’ll see you by and by.
EROS
Nay, gentle madam, to him! Comfort him.
IRAS
Do, most dear queen.
CHARMIAN
Do! Why, what else?
CLEOPATRA
Let me sit down. O Juno!
ANTONY
No, no, no, no, no.
EROS
See you here, sir?
ANTONY
O, fie, fie, fie!
CHARMIAN
Madam.
IRAS
Madam, O good empress!
EROS
Sir, sir!
ANTONY
Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
His sword like a dancer, while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius, and I
That the mad Brutus ended. He alone
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
In the brave squares of war. Yet now—no matter.
CLEOPATRA
Ah, stand by.
EROS
The Queen, my lord, the Queen!
IRAS
Go to him, madam; speak to him.
He is unqualitied with very shame.
CLEOPATRA
Well then, sustain me. O!
EROS
Most noble sir, arise. The Queen approaches.
Her head’s declined, and death will seize her but
Your comfort makes the rescue.
ANTONY
I have offended reputation,
A most unnoble swerving.
EROS
Sir, the Queen.
ANTONY
O, led me, Egypt? See
How I convey my shame out of eyes
By looking back what I have left behind
’Stroyed in dishonour.
CLEOPATRA
O my lord, my lord,
Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
You would have followed.
ANTONY
Egypt, knew’st too well
My heart was to rudder tied by th’ strings,
And tow me after. my spirit
full supremacy knew’st, and that
beck might from the bidding of the gods
Command me.
CLEOPATRA
O, my pardon!
ANTONY
Now I must
To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness, who
With half the bulk o’ th’ world played as I pleased,
Making and marring fortunes. You did know
How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.
CLEOPATRA
Pardon, pardon!
ANTONY
Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss.
Even this repays me.
We sent our schoolmaster. Is he come back?
Love, I am full of lead. Some wine
Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
We scorn her most when most she offers blows.