Eros. It does, my lord.

Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is Even fuch a body: here I am Antony;

Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.
I made these wars for Egypt; and the queen,-
Whose heart, I thought, I had, for she had mine;
Which, whilft it was mine, had annex'd unto't
A million more, now loft,-fhe, Eros, has
Pack'd cards with Cæfar, and falfe play'd my glory
Unto an enemy's triumph.-

Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us
Ourfelves to end ourselves.-O, thy vile lady!
Enter MARDIAN.

She has robb'd me of my fword.

Mar. No, Antony;

My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled
With thine entirely.

Ant. Hence, faucy eunuch; peace;

She hath betray'd me, and fhall die the death.

Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once; And that she has difcharg'd: What thou wouldst do, Is done unto thy hand; the last she spake

Was, Antony! most noble Antony!

Then in the midst a tearing groan did break
The name of Antony; it was divided

Between her heart and lips: fhe render'd life,

Thy name fo buried in her.

Ant. Dead then?

Mar. Dead.

Ant. Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done, And we must fleep :-That thou départ'it hence fafe, Does pay thy labour richly; Go.-Off, pluck off ;—

I 2

[Exit MARDIAN.

The

The feven-fold fhield of Ajax cannot keep
The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my fides!
Heart, once be ftronger than thy continent,
Crack thy frail cafe !-Apace, Eros, apace.—
No more a foldier :-Bruifed pieces, go;
You have been nobly borne.-From me a while.-
[Exit EROS.

I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now
All length is torture:-Since the torch is out,
Lie down, and stray no farther: Now all labour
Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles

Itself with strength: Seal then, and all is done.--
Eros!-I come, my queen :-Eros!-Stay for me:
Where fouls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand,
And with our fprightly port make the ghofts gaze:
Dido and her Æneas fhall want troops,

And all the haunt be ours.-Come, Eros, Eros!

Re-enter EROS.

Eros. What would my

lord?

Ant. Since Cleopatra dy'd,

I have liv'd in fuch dishonour, that the gods
Detects my basenefs. I, that with my fword
Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back
With fhips made cities, condemn myself, to lack
The courage of a woman, less noble mind
Than fhe, which, by her death, our Cæfar tells,
I am conqueror of myself. Thou art fworn, Eros,
That when the exigent fhould come (which now
Is come indeed), when I fhould fee behind me
The inevitable profecution of

Difgrace and horror, that, on my command,

Thou then wouldst kill me: do't, the time is come:

Thou

Thou ftrik'st not me, 'tis Cæfar thou defeat'st.
Put colour in thy cheek.

Eros. The gods withhold me!

Shall I do that, which all the Parthian darts,
Though enemy, loft aim, and could not?

Ant. Eros,

Would't thou be window'd in great Rome, and fee Thy mafter thus with pleach'd arms, bending down His corrigible neck, his face fubdu'd

Το

penetrative fhame; whilst the wheel'd feat Of fortunate Cæfar, drawn before him, branded His bafenefs that enfued?

Eros. I would not fee't.

Ant. Come, then; for with a wound I must be cur'd. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country.

Eros. O, fir, pardon me.

Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not then

To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once;
Or thy precedent fervices are all

But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come.

Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

Ant. Lo thee.

Eros. My fword is drawn.

[Turning from him.

Ant. Then let it do at once
The thing why thou haft drawn it.
Eros. My dear master,

My captain, and my emperor! let me fay,
Before I ftrike this bloody ftroke, farewel.
Ant. 'Tis faid, man ;—and farewel.

Eros. Farewel, great chief. Shall I strike now?
Ant. Now, Eros.

13

Eros.

Eros. Why, there then-[falls on his fword.] Thus I do escape the forrow

Of Antony's death.

Ant. Thrice nobler than myself!

Thou teacheft me, O valiant Eros, what

[Dies

I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros
Have, by their brave inftruction, got upon me
A nobleness in record: But I will be
A bridegroom in my death, and run into't
As to a lover's bed. Come then; and, Eros,
Thy mafter dies thy fcholar; to do thus

[Falling on bis fword. I learn'd of thee. How! not dead? not dead?— The guard!-how!-O, difpatch me.

Enter DERCETAS, and Guard.

1 Guard. What's the noife?

Ant. I have done my work ill, friends; O, make

Of what I have begun.

2 Guard. The Aar is fallen.

1 Guard. And time is at his period.

All. Alas, and woe!

[an end

Ant. Let him that loves me, strike me dead.

1 Guard. Not I.

2 Guard. Nor I.

3 Guard. Nor any one.

[Exeunt Guard.

Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. This fword but fhewn to Cæfar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him.

Enter DIOMEDES.

Dio. Where's Antony?

Der. There, Diomed, there.

Dio. Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?

[Exit DERCETAS.

Ant

Ant. Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy fword,

and give me

Sufficing ftrokes for death.

Dio. Moft abfolute lord,

My miftrefs Cleopatra fent me to thee.

Ant. When did fhe fend thee?

Dio. Now, my lord.

Ant. Where is the?

Dio. Lock'd in her monument. She had a prophefying fear

Of what hath come to pafs: for when she saw
(Which never shall be found) you did fufpect
She had difpos'd with Cæfar, and that your rage
Would not be purg'd, the fent you word fhe was dead;
But, fearing fince how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
I dread, too late.

Ant. Too late, good Diomed :-Call my guard, I pr'ythee.

Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, Come, your lord calls.

Enter fome of the Guard.

[what, ho!

Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides; 'Tis the laft fervice that I fhall command you.

All

1 Guard. Woe, woe are we, fir, you may not live your true followers out.

All. Moft heavy day!

[to wear

Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate Το grace it with your forrows: bid that welcome Which comes to punifh us, and we punifh it Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up: I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends, And have my thanks for all.

[Exeunt, bearing ANT. SCENE