SSA

Early modern literature
Drama, gender & the body

Antony and Cleopatra

Act 4, Scene 7

Modern spelling. Stage directions omitted.

Listen to Act 4. LibriVox volunteers recorded “Act 4” as one track, so it runs past this scene and includes stage directions this page leaves out. LibriVox catalog.

AGRIPPA

Retire! We have engaged ourselves too far.
Caesar himself has work, and our oppression
Exceeds what we expected.

SCARUS

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

ANTONY

bleed’st apace.

SCARUS

I had a wound here that was like a T,
But now made an H.

ANTONY

They do retire.

SCARUS

We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have yet
Room for six scotches more.

EROS

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

SCARUS

Let us score their backs
And snatch ’em up as we take hares, behind.
sport to maul a runner.

ANTONY

I will reward
Once for sprightly comfort, and tenfold
For good valour. Come on.

SCARUS

I’ll halt after.

All of Antony and Cleopatra

Act 1

Act 1, Scene 1Act 1, Scene 2Act 1, Scene 3Act 1, Scene 4Act 1, Scene 5,

Act 2

Act 2, Scene 1Act 2, Scene 2Act 2, Scene 3Act 2, Scene 4Act 2, Scene 5Act 2, Scene 6Act 2, Scene 7,

Act 3

Act 3, Scene 1Act 3, Scene 2Act 3, Scene 3Act 3, Scene 4Act 3, Scene 5Act 3, Scene 6Act 3, Scene 7Act 3, Scene 8Act 3, Scene 9Act 3, Scene 10Act 3, Scene 11Act 3, Scene 12Act 3, Scene 13,

Act 4

Act 4, Scene 1Act 4, Scene 2Act 4, Scene 3Act 4, Scene 4Act 4, Scene 5Act 4, Scene 6Act 4, Scene 7Act 4, Scene 8Act 4, Scene 9Act 4, Scene 10Act 4, Scene 11Act 4, Scene 12Act 4, Scene 13Act 4, Scene 14Act 4, Scene 15,

Act 5

Act 5, Scene 1Act 5, Scene 2

Open Antony and Cleopatra in the 1623 First Folio. See its words in the cloud.

Modern spelling for reading. The edition is public domain in the United States. Edition source.