Antony and Cleopatra

Act 4, Scene 9

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.

SENTRY

If we be not relieved within this hour,
We must return to th’ court of guard. The night
Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle
By th’ second hour i’ th’ morn.

FIRST WATCH

This last day was a shrewd one to’s.

ENOBARBUS

O, bear me witness, night.—

SECOND WATCH

What man is this?

FIRST WATCH

Stand close and list him.

ENOBARBUS

Be witness to me, O blessed moon,
When men revolted shall upon record
Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
Before face repent.

SENTRY

Enobarbus?

SECOND WATCH

Peace! Hark further.

ENOBARBUS

O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,
That life, a very rebel to my will,
May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart
Against the flint and hardness of my fault,
Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder
And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
Nobler than my revolt is infamous,
Forgive me in own particular,
But let the world rank me in register
A master-leaver and a fugitive.
O Antony! O Antony!

FIRST WATCH

Let’s speak to him.

SENTRY

Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks may concern Caesar.

SECOND WATCH

Let’s do so. But he sleeps.

SENTRY

Swoons rather, for so bad a prayer as his
Was never yet for sleep.

FIRST WATCH

Go we to him.

SECOND WATCH

Awake, sir, awake! Speak to us.

FIRST WATCH

Hear you, sir?

SENTRY

The hand of death raught him.

SENTRY

Hark! The drums
Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
To th’ court of guard; he is of note. Our hour
Is fully out.

SECOND WATCH

Come on, then. He may recover yet.

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.