Sweet Heav'n compose it Come come my Lord if I can pardon you Methinks you should accept it Look on these Are they not yours Or stand they thus neglected As they are mine Go to him Children go Kneel to him take him by the hand speak to him For you may speak and he may own you too Without a Blush and so he cannot all His Children go I say and pull him to me And pull him to your selves from that bad Woman You Agrippina hang upon his Arms And you Antonia clasp about his Waste If he will shake you off if he will dash you Against the Pavement you must bear it Children For you are mine and I was born to suffer Here the Children go to him c. Ven. Was ever sight so moving Emperor Dolla Friend Octav. Husband Both Childr Father Ant. I am vanquish'd take me Octavia take me Children share me all Embracing them I 've been a thriftless Debtor to your Loves And run out much in Riot from your Stock But all shall be amended Octav. O blest hour Dolla O happy Change Ven. My joy stops at my tongue But it has found two Channels here for one And Bubbles out above Ant. to Octav. This is thy Triumph lead me where thou wilt Ev'n to thy Brothers Camp Octav. All there are yours Enter Alexas hastily Alex. The Queen my Mistress Sir and yours Ant. 'T is past Octavia you shall stay this night To morrow Caesar and we are one Ex. leading Octavia Doll and the Children follow Ven. There 's News for you run My officious Eunuch Be sure to be the first haste forward Haste my dear Eunuch haste Exit Alex. This downright fighting Fool this thick-scull'd Hero This blunt unthinking Instrument of Death With plain dull Virtue has out-gone my Wit Pleasure forsook my early'st Infancy The Luxury of others robb'd my Cradle And ravish'd thence the Promise of a Man Cast out from Nature disinherited Of what her meanest Children claim by kind Yet Greatness kept me from Contempt that 's gone Had Cleopatra follow'd my advice Then he had been betray'd who now forsakes She dies for love but she has known its joys Gods is this just that I who knows no joys Must die because she loves Enter Cleopatra Charmion Iras Train Oh Madam I have seen what blasts my Eyes Octavia's here Cleop. Peace with that Raven's note I know it too and now am in The Pangs of Death Alex. You are no more a Queen Egypt is lost Cleop. What tell'st thou me of Egypt My Life my Soul is lost Octavia has him O fatal Name to Cleopatra's love My kisses my embraces now are hers While I But thou hast seen my Rival speak Does she deserve this Blessing Is she fair Bright as a Goddess and is all perfection Confin'd to her It is Poor I was made Of that course matter which when she was finish'd The Gods threw by for rubbish Alex. She 's indeed a very Miracle Cleop. Death to my hopes a Miracle Alex. bowing A Miracle I mean of Goodness for in Beauty Madam You make all Wonders cease Cleop. I was too rash Take this in part of recompence But Oh Giving a Ring I fear thou flatter'st me Char. She comes she 's here Iras. Flie Madam Caesar s Sister Cleop. Were she the Sister of the Thund'rer Jove And bore her Brother's Lightning in her Eyes Thus would I face my Rival Meets Octav. with Ventid Octav. bears up to her Their Trains come up on either side Octav. I need not ask if you are Cleopatra Your haughty Carriage Cleop. Shows I am a Queen Nor need I ask you who you are Octav. A Roman A Name that makes and can unmake a Queen Cleop. Your Lord the Man who serves me is a Roman Octav. He was a Roman till he lost that Name To be a Slave in Egypt but I come To free him thence Cleop. Peace peace my Lover's Juno When he grew weary of that Houshold-Clog He chose my easier Bonds Octav. I wonder not Your Bonds are easie you have long been practis'd In that lascivious Art he 's not the first For whom you spread your snares let Caesar witness Cleop. I lov'd not Caesar 't was but gratitude I paid his Love the worst your Malice can Is but to say the greatest of Mankind Has been my Slave The next but far above him In my Esteem is he whom Law calls yours But whom his Love made mine Oct. coming up close to her I would view nearer That Face which has so long usurp'd my right To find th' inevitable Charms that catch Mankind so sure that ruin'd my dear Lord. Cleop. O you do well to search for had you known But half these Charms you had not lost his heart Octav. Far be their knowledge from a Roman Lady Far from a modest Wife Shame of our Sex Dost thou not Blush to own those black Endearments That make sin pleasing Cleop. You may Blush who want 'em if bounteous Nature if indulgent Heav'n Have giv'n me Charms to please the bravest Man Should I not thank ' em should I be asham'd And not be Proud I am that he has lov'd me And when I love not him Heav'n change this Face For one like that Octav. Thou lov'st him not so well Cleop. I Love him better and deserve him more Octav. You do not cannot you have been his ruine Wâ—…o made him cheap at Rome but Cleopatra Who made him scorn'd abroad but Cleopatra At Actium who betray'd him Cleopatra Who made his Children Orphans and poor me A wretched Widow only Cleopatra Cleop. Yet she who loves him best is Cleopatra If you have suffer'd I have suffer'd more You bear the specious Title of a Wife To gild your Cause and draw the pitying World To favour it the World contemns poor me For I have lost my Honour lost my Fame And stain'd the Glory of my Royal House And all to bear the branded Name of Mistress There wants but Life and that too I would lose For him I love Octav. Be 't so then take thy Wish Exit cum suis. Cleop. And 't is my Wish Now he is lost for whom alone I liv'd My sight grows dim and every Object dances And swims before me in the maze of Death My Spirits while they were oppos'd kept up They could not sink beneath a Rivals scorn But now she 's gone they faint Alex. Mine have had leisure To recollect their Strength and furnish Counsel To ruine her who else must ruine you Cleop. Vain Promiser Lead me my Charmion nay your hand too Iras My Grief has weight enough to sink you both Conduct me to some Solitary Chamber And draw the Curtains round Then leave me to my self to take alone My fill of Grief There I till Death will his unkindness weep As harmless Infants moan themselves asleep Exeunt ACT IV. Antony Dollabella Dolla WHy would you shift it from your self on me Can you not tell her you must part Ant. I cannot I could pull out
'T is a hard word but stay Ven. See now th' effects of her so boasted love She strives to drag you down to ruine with her But could she 'scape without you oh how soon Would she let go her hold and haste to shore And never look behind Cleo. Then judge my love by this Giving Antony a Writing Could I have born A life or death a happiness or woe From yours divided this had giv'n me means Ant. By Hercules the Writing of Octavius I know it well 't is that prescribing hand Young as it was that led the way to mine And left me but the second place in Murder See see Ventidius here he offers Aegypt And joyns all Syria to it as a present So in requital she forsake my fortunes And joyn her Arms with his Cleo. And yet you leave me You leave me Antony and yet I love you Indeed I do I have refus'd a Kingdom That 's a Trifle For I could part with life with any thing But only you O let me die but with you Is that a hard request Ant. Next living with you 'T is all that Heav'n can give Alex. aside He melts We conquer Cleo. No you shall go your Int'rest calls you hence Yes your dear interest pulls too strong for these Weak Arms to hold you here Takes his hand Go leave me Soldier For you 're no more a Lover leave me dying Push me all pale and panting from your Bosome And when your March begins let one run after Breathless almost for Joy and cry she 's dead The Soldiers shout you then perhaps may sigh And muster all your Roman Gravity Ventidius chides and strait your Brow clears up As I had never been Ant. Gods 't is too much too much for Man to bear Cleo. What is' t for me then A weak forsaken Woman and a Lover Here let me breath my last envy me not This minute in your Arms I 'll die apace As fast as e'er I can and end your trouble Ant. Dye Rather let me perish loos'nd Nature Leap from its hinges Sink the props of Heav'n And fall the Skies to crush the neather World My Eyes my Soul my all Embraces her Ven. And what 's this Toy In ballance with your Fortune Honor Fame Ant. What is' t Ventidius it out-weighs 'em all Why we have more than Conquer'd Caesar now My Queen 's not only Innocent but Loves me This this is she who drags me down to ruin ' But could she 'scape without me with what haste Would she let slip her hold and make to shore And never look behind Down on thy knees Blasphemer as thou art And ask forgiveness of wrong'd Innocence Ven. I 'll rather die than take it Will you go Ant. Go Whither go from all that 's excellent Faith Honour Virtue all good things forbid That I should go from her who sets my love Above the price of Kingdoms Give you Gods Give to your Boy your Caesar This Rattle of a Globe to play withal This Gu-gau World and put him cheaply off I 'll not be pleas'd with less than Cleopatra Cleo. She wholly yours My heart 's so full of joy That I shall do some wild extravagance Of Love in publick and the foolish World Which knows not tenderness will think me Mad. Ven. O Women Women Women all the Gods Have not such pow'r of doing good to Man As you of doing harm Exit Ant. Our Men are Arm'd Unbar the Gate that looks to Caesar's Camp I would revenge the Treachery he meaâ—… me And long security makes Conquest easie I 'm eager to return before I go For all the pleasures I have known beat thick On my remembrance how I long for Night That both the sweets of mutual love may try And once Triumph o'er Caesar e're we die Exeunt ACT III. At one door Enter Cleopatra Charmion Iras and Alexas a Train of Aegyptians at the other Antony and Romans The entrance on both sides is prepar'd by Musick the Trumpets first sounding on Antony's part then answer'd by Timbrels c. on Cleopatra's Charmion and Iras hold a Laurel Wreath betwixt them A Dance of Aegyptians After the Ceremony Cleopatra Crowns Antony Ant. I Thought how those white arms would fold me in And strain me close and melt me into love So pleas'd with that sweet Image I sprung forwards And added all my strength to every blow Cleo. Come to me come my Soldier to my Arms You 've been too long away from my embraces But when I have you fast and all my own With broken murmurs and with amorous sighs I 'll say you were unkind and punish you And mark you red with many an eager kiss Ant. My Brighter Venus Cleo. O my greater Mars Ant. Thou joinst us well my Love Suppose me come from the Phlegraean Plains Where gasping Gyants lay cleft by my Sword And Mountain tops par'd off each other blow To bury those I slew receive me Goddess Let Caesar spread his subtle Nets like Vulcan In thy embraces I would be beheld By Heav'n and Earth at once And make their envy what they meant their sport Let those who took us blush I would love on With awful State regardless of their frowns As their superior God There 's no satiety of Love in thee Enjoy'd thou still art new perpetual Spring Is in thy arms the ripen'd fruit but falls And blossoms rise to fill its empty place And I grow rich by giving Enter Ventidius and stands apart Alex. O now the danger 's past your General 〈◊〉 He joyns not in your joys nor minds your Triumphs But with contracted brows looks frowning on As envying your Success Ant. Now on my Soul he loves me truly loves me He never flatter'd me in any vice But awes me with his virtue ev'n this minute Methinks he has a right of chiding me Lead to the Temple I 'll avoid his presence It checks too strong upon me Exeunt the rest As Antony is going Ventidius pulls him by the Robe Ven. Emperor Ant. looking back 'T is the old argument I pr'ythee spare me Ven. But this one hearing Emperor Ant. Let go My Robe or by my Father Hercules Ven. By Hercules his Father that 's yet greater I bring you somewhat you would wish to know Ant. Thou see'st we are observ'd attend me here And I 'll return Exit Ven. I 'm waining in his favour yet I love him I love this Man who runs to meet his ruin And sure the Gods like me are fond of him His Virtues lye so mingled with his Crimes As would confound their choice to punish one And not reward the other Enter Antony Ant. We can conquer You see without your aid We have dislodg'd their Troops They look on us at distance and like Curs Scap'd from the Lions paws they bay far off And lick their wounds and saintly threaten War Five thousand Romans with their faces upward â—…ye breathless on the Plain Ven. 'T is well and he Who lost 'em could have spar'd Ten thousand
lov'd you know how yet I love My only Comfort is I know my self I love you more ev'n now you are unkind Than when you lov'd me most so well so truly I 'll never strive against it but die pleas'd To think you once were mine Ant. Good Heav'n they weep at parting Must I weep too that calls 'em innocent I must not weep and yet I must to think That I must not forgive Live but live wretched 't is but just you shou'd Who made me so Live from each others sight Let me not hear you meet Set all the Earth And all the Seas betwixt your sunder'd Loves View nothing common but the Sun and Skys Now all take several ways And each your own sad fate with mine deplore That you were false and I could trust no more Exeunt severally ACT V. Cleopatra Charmion Iras. Char. BE juster Heav'n such Virtue punish'd thus Will make us think that Chance rules all above And shuffles with a Random hand the Lots Which Man is forc'd to draw Cleop. I cou'd tear out these Eyes that gain'd his Heart And had not pow'r to keep it O the Curse Of doting on ev'n when I find it Dotage Bear witness Gods you heard him bid me go You whom he mock'd with imprecating Vows Of promis'd Faith I 'll die I will not bear it You may hold me She pulls out her Dagger and they hold her But I can keep my Breath I can die inward And choak this Love Enter Alexas Iras. Help O Alexas help The Queen grows desperate her Soul struggles in her With all the Agonies of Love and Rage And strives to sorce its Passage Cleop. Let me go Art thou there Traitor O O for a little Breath to vent my Rage Give give me way and let me loose upon him Alex. Yes I deserve it for my ill-tim'd truth Was it for me to prop The Ruins of a falling Majesty To place my self beneath the mighty flaw Thus to be crush'd and pounded into Atoms By its o'erwhelming weight 'T is too presuming For Subjects to preserve that wilful pow'r Which Courts its own Destruction Cleop. I wou'd reason More calmly with you Did not you o'er-rule And force my plain direct and open Love Into these crooked paths of Jealousie Now what 's th' event Octavia is remov'd But Cleopatra's banish'd Thou thou Villain Has push'd my Boat to open Sea to prove At my sad Cost if thou canst steer it back It cannot be I 'm lost too far I 'm ruin'd Hence thou Impostor Traitor Monster Devil I can no more thou and my Griefs have sunk Me down so low that I want voice to Cuâ—…e thee Alex. Suppose from Shipwrack'd Seaman near the shore Dropping and faint wiâ—…h climbing up the Cliff If from above some Charitable hand Pull him to safety hazarding himself To draw the others weight wou'd he look back And Curse him for his Pains The Case is yours But one step more and you have gain'd the heighth Cleop. Sunk never more to rise Alex. Octavia's gone and Dollabella banish'd Believe me Madam Antony is yours His Heart was never lost but started off To Jealousie Love's last retreat and covert Where it lies hâ—…d in Shades watchful in silence And list'ning for the Sound that calls it back Some other any Man 't is so advanc'd May perfect this unfinish'd work which I Unhappy only to my self have lest So easie to his hand Cleop. Look well thou do 't else Alex. Else what your silence threatens Antony Is mounted up the Pharos from whose Turret He stands surveying our Egyptian Gallies Engag'd with Caesar's Fleet now Death or Conquest If the first happen Fate acquits my Promise If we o'ercome the Conqueror is yours A distant shout within Char. Have comfort Madam did you mark that Shout Second Shout nearer Iras. Hark they redouble it Alex. 'T is from the Port. The loudness shows it near good News kind Heavens Cleop. Osiris make it so Enter Serapion Serap Where where 's the Queen Alex. How frightfully the holy Coward stares As if not yet recover'd of th' Assault When all his Gods and what 's more dear to him His Offerings were at stake Serap O horror horror Egypt has been our latest hour is come The Queen of Nations from her ancient Seat Is Sunk for ever in the dark Abyss Time has unrowl'd her Glories to the last And now clos'd up the Volume Cleop. Be more plain Say whence thon com'st though Fate is in thy Face Which from thy haggard Eyes looks wildly out And threatens ere thou speak'st Serap I came from Pharos From viewing spare me and imagine it Our Lands last hope your Navy Cleop. Vanquish'd Serap No. They fought not Cleop. Then they fled Serap Nor that I saw With Antony your well appointed Fleet Row out and thrice he wav'd his hand on high And thrice with cheerful Crys they shouted back 'T was then false Fortune like a fawning Strumpet â—…out to leave the Bankrupt Prodigal With a dissembling Smile would kiss at parting And flatter to the last the well-tim'd Oars Now dipt from every Bank now smoothly run To meet the Foe and soon indeed they met But not as Foes In few we saw their Caps On either side thrown up the Egpptian Gallies Receiv'd like Friends past through and fell behind The Roman rear and now they all come forward And ride within the Poâ—…t Cleop. Enough Serapion I 've heard my doom This needed not you Gods When I lost Antony your work was done 'T is but 〈◊〉 malice Where 's my Lord How bears he this last â—…low Serap His fury cannot be express'd by words Thrice he Attempted headlong to have faln Full on his Foes and aim'd at Caesar's Galley With-held he raves on you Crys He 's betray'd Should he now find you Alex. Shun him ' seek your safety Till you can clear your Innocence Cleop. I 'll stay Alex. You must not haste you to your Monument While I make speed to Caesar. Cleop. Caesar No I have no business with him Alex. I can work him To spare your Life and let this Madman perish Cleop. Base fawning Wretch wouldst thou betray him too Hence from my sight I will not hear a Traytor 'T was thy Design brought all this ruine on us Serapion thou art honest Counsel me But haste each moment's precious Serap Retire you must not yet see Antony He who began this mischief 'T is just he tempt the Danger let him clear you And since he offer'd you his servile tongue To gain a poor precarious Life from Caesar Let him expose that fawning Eloquence And speak to Antony Alex. O Heavens I dare not I meet my certain Death Cleop. Slave thou deserv'st it Not that I fear my Lord will I avoid him I know him Noble when he banish'd me And thought me false he scorn'd to take my Life But I 'll be justifi'd and then die with him Alex. O pity me and let me follow you Cleop. To Death if thou stir hence Speak if
thou canst Now for thy Life which basely thou wou'dst save While mine I prize at this Come good Serapion Exeunt Clop Serap Char. Iras. Alex. O that I less cou'd fear to lose this Being Which like a Snow-ball in my Coward hand The more 't is grasp'd the faster melts away Poor Reason what a wretched Aid art thou For still in spight of thee These two long Lovers Soul and Body dread Their final Separation Let me think What can I say to save my self from Death No matter what becomes of Cleopatra Ant. within Which way where Ven. within This leads to th' Monument Alex. Ah me I hear him yet I 'm unprepar'd My gift of lying's gone And this Court-Devil which I so oft have rais'd Forsakes me at my need I dare not stay Yet cannot far go hence Enter Antony and Ventidius Exit Ant. O happy Caesar Thou hast Men to lead Think not 't is thou hast conquer'd Antony Bâ—…t Rome has conquer'd Egypt I 'm betray'd Ven. Curse on this treach'rous Train Their Soâ—…l and Heav'n infect 'em all with Baseness And their young Souls come tainted to the World With the first breath they draw Ant. Th' Original Villain sure no God created He was a Bastard of the Sun by Nile Ap'd into Man with all his Mother's Mud Crusted about his Soul Ven. The Nation is One Universal Traitor and their Queen The very Spirit and Extract of 'em all Ant. Is there yet left A possibility of Aid from Valour Is there one God unsworn to my Destruction The least unmortgag'd hope for if there be Methinks I cannot fall beneath the Fate Of such a Boy as Caesar. The World 's one half is yet in Antony And from each Limb of it that 's hew'd away The Soul comes back to me Ven. There yet remain Three Legions in the Town The last Assault Lopt off the rest if Death be your Design As I must wish it now these are sufficient To make a heap about us of dead Foes An honest Pile for burial Ant. They 're enough We 'll not divide our-Stars but side by side Fight emâ—…lous and with malicious Eyes Survey each other's Acts so every Death Thou giv'st I 'll take on me as a just Debt And pay thee back a Soul Ven. Now you shall see I love you Not a word Of chiding more By my few hours of Life I am so pleas'd with this brave Roman Fate That I wou'd not be Caesar to out-live you When we put off this Flesh and mount together I shall be shown to all th' Etherial crowd Lo this is he who dy'd with Antony Ant. Who knows but we may pierce through all their Troops And reach my Veterans yet 'T is worth the tempting T' o'er-leap this Gulph of Fate And leave our wand'ring Destinies behind Enter Alexas trombling Ven. See see that Villain See Cleopatra stampt upon that Face With all her cunning all her Arts of Falshood How she looks out through those dissembling Eyes How he sets his Count'nance for deceit And promises a Lye before he speaks Let me dispatch him first Drawing Alex. O spare me spare me Ant. Hold he 's not worth your killing On thy Life Which thou mayst keep because I scorn to take it No Syllable to justifie thy Queen Save thy base tongue its Office Alex. Sir she 's gone Where she shall never be molested more By Love or you Ant. Fled to her Dollabella Die Traitor I revoke my Promise die Going to kill him Alex. O hold she is not fled Ant. She is my Eyes Are open to her Falshood my whole Life Has been a Golden dream of Love and Friendship But now I wake I 'm like a Merchant rows'd From soft repose to see his Vessel sinking And all his Wealth cast o'er Ingrateful Woman Who follow'd me but as the Swallow Summer Hatching her young ones in my kindly Beams Singing her flatt'ries to my morning wake But now my Winter comes she spread her wings And seeks the Spring of Caesar. Alex. Think not so Her Fortunes have in all things mixt with yours Had she betray'd her Naval force to Rome How easily might she have gone to Caesar Secure by such a Bride Ven. She sent it first To be more welcome after Ant. 'T is too plain Else wou'd she have appear'd to clear her self Alex. Too fatally she has she could not bear To be accus'd by you but shut her self Within her Monument look'd down and sigh'd While from her unchang'd face the silent tears Dropt as they had not leave but stole their parting Some undistinguish'd words she inly murmur'd At last she rais'd her Eyes and with such Looks As dying Lucrece cast Ant. My heart forbodes Ven. All for the best go on Alex. She snatch'd her Ponyard And ere we cou'd prevent the fatal Blow Plung'd it within her Breast then turn'd to me Go bear my Lord said she my last Farewel And ask him if he yet suspect my Faith More she was saying but Death rush'd betwixt She half pronounc'd your Name with her last Breath And bury'd half within her Ven. Heav'n be prais'd Ant. Then art thou innocent my poor dear Love And art thou dead O those two words their Sound shou'd be divided Hadst thou been false and dy'd or hadst thou liv'd And hadst been true But Innocence and Death This shows not well above Then what am I The Murderer of this Truth this Innocence Thoughts cannot form themselves in words so horrid As can express my Guilt Ven. Is' t come to this The Gods have been too graciou And thus you thank 'em for 't Ant. to Alex. Why stay'st thou here Is 〈◊〉 â—…or thee to spy upon my Soul And see its inward mourning Get thee hence Thou art not worthy to behold what now Becomes a Roman Emperor to perform Alex. Aside He loves her still His grief betrays it Good The joy to find She 's yet alive compleats the Reconcilement I 've sav'd my self and her But Oh! the Romans Fate comes too fast upon my Wit Hunts me too hard and meets me at each double Exit Ven. Wou'd she had dy'd a little sooner tho Before Octavia went you might have treated Now 't will look tame and wou'd not be receiv'd Come rouze your self and le ts die warm together Ant. I will not fight there 's no more work for War The bus'ness of my angry hours is done Vâ—…n Caesar is at your Gates Ant. Why let him enter 〈◊〉 welcome now Ven. What Lethargy has crept into your Soul Ant. 'T is but a scorn of Life and just desire To free my self from Bondage Ven. Do it bravely Ant. I will but not by fighting O Ventidius What shou'd I fight for now My Queen is dead I was but great for her my Pow'r my Empire Were but my Merchandise to buy her Love And conquer'd Kings my Factors Now she 's dead Let Caesar take the World An Empty Circle since the Jewel 's gone Which made it worth my strife my Being's nauseous For
all the Bribes of Life are gone away Ven. Wou'd you be taken Ant. Yes I wou'd be taken But as a Roman ought dead my Ventidius For I 'll convey my Soul from Caesar's reach And lay down life my self 'T is time the World Shou'd have a Lord and know whom to obey We two have kept its Homage in suspence And bent the Globe on whose each side we trod Tell it was dinted inwards Let him walk Alone upon 't I 'm weary of my part My Torch is out and the World stands before me Like a black Desart at the approach of Night I 'll lay me down and stray no â—…arther on Ven. I cou'd be griev'd But that I 'll not out-live you choose your Death For I have seen him in such various shapes I care not which I take I 'm only troubled The Life I bear is worn to such a Rag 'T is scarce worth giving I cou'd wish indeed We threw it from us with a better Grace That like two Lyons taken in the Toils We might at last thrust out our paws and wound The Hunters that inclose us Ant. I have thought on 't Ventidius you must live Ven. I must not Sir Ant. Wilt thou not live to speak some good of me To stand by my fair Fame and guard th' approaches From the ill Tongues of Men Ven. Who shall guard mine For living after you Ant. Say I command it Ven. If we die well our Deaths wâ—…ll speak themselves And need no living Witness Ant. Thou hast lov'd me And â—…ain I wou'd reward thee I must die Kill me and take the Merit of my Death To make thee Friends with Câ—…sar Ven. Thank your kindness You said I lov'd you and in recompence You bid me turn a Traitor did I think You wou'd have us'd me thus that I shou'd die With a hard thought of you Ant. Forgive me Roman Since I have heard of Cleopatra's Death My Reason bears no rule upon my Tongue But lets my thoughts break all at Random out I 've thought better do not deny me twice Ven. By Heav'n I will not Let it not be t' out-live you Ant. Kill me first And then die thou for 't is but just thou serve Thy Friend before thy self Ven. Give me your haâ—…d We soon shall meet again Now farewel Emperor Embrace Methinks that word 's too cold to be my last Since Death sweeps dsstinctions Farewel Friend That 's all I will not make a bus'ness of a trifle And yet I cannot look on you and kill you Pray turn your Face Ant. I do strike home sure Ven. Home as my Sword will reach Kills himself Ant. O thou mistak'st That wound was none of thine give it me back Thou robb'st me of my Death Ven. I do indeed But think 't is the first time I e'er deceiv'd you Iâ—… that may plead my Pardon And you Gods Forgive me if you will for I die perjur'd Rather then kill my Friend Dies Ant. Farewel Ever my Leader ev'n in Death My Queen and thou have got the start of me And I 'm the lag of Honour Gone so soon Is Death no more He us'd him carelesly With a familiar kindness ere he knock'd Ran to the Door and took him in his Arms As who shou'd say Y' are welcome at all hours A Friend need give no warning Books had spoil'd him â—…or all the Learn'd are Cowards by profession 'T is not worth My farther thought for Death for ought I know Is but to think no more Here 's to be satisfi'd Falls on his Sword I 've mist my heart O unperforming hand Thou never cou'dst have err'd in a worse time My Fortune jades me to the last and Death Like a great Man takes state and makes me wait For my Admittance Trampling within Some perhaps from Caesar If he shou'd find me living and suspect That I plaid booty with my Life I 'll mend My work ere they can reach me Rises upon his Knees Enter Cleopatra Charmion Iras. Cleop. Where is my Lord where is he Char. There he lies And dead Venâ—…idius by him Cleop. My sears were Prophets I am come too late O that accurs'd Alexas Runs to him Ant. Art thou living Or am I dead before I knew and thou Tâ—…e first kind Ghost that meets me Cleop. Help me Seat him Send quickly send for help They place him in a Chair Ant. I am answer'd We live both Sit thee down my Cleopatrâ—… I 'll make the most I can of Life to stay A moment more with thee Cleop. How is it with you Ant. T is as with a Man Removing in a hurry all pack'd up But one dear Jewel that his haste forgot And he for that returns upon the spur So I come back for thee Cleop. Too long you Heav'ns you have been cruel to me Now show your mended Faith and give me back His fleeting Life Ant. It will not be my Love I keep my Soul by force Say but thou art not false Cleop. 'T is now too late To say I 'm true I 'll prove it and die with you Unknown to me Alexas feign'd my Death Which when I knew I hasted to prevent This â—…atal consequence My Fleet betray'd Both you and me Ant. And Dollabella Cleop. Scarce esteem'd before he lov'd but hated now Ant. Enough my Life 's not long enough for more Thou sayst thou wilt come after I believe thee For I can now believe whate'er thou sayst That we may part more kindly Cleop. I will come Doubt not my Life I 'll come and quickly too Caesar shall triumph o'er no part of thee Ant. But grieve not while thou stay'st My last disastrous Times Think we have had a clear and glorious day And Heav'n did kindly to delay the Storm Just till our close of Ev'ning Ten years love And not a moment lost but all improv'd To th' utmost Joys What Ages have we liv'd And now to die each others and so dying While hand in hand we walk in Groves below Whole Troops of Lovers Ghosts shall flock about uâ—… And all the Train be ours Cleop. Your words are like the Notes of dying Swans Too sweet to last Were there so many hours For your unkindness and not one for Love Ant. No not a minute This one kiss more worth Than all I leave to Caesar. Dies Cleop. O tell me so again And take Ten thousand kisses for that word My Lord my Lord speak if you yet have being Sigh to me if you cannot speak or cast Oâ—…e look Do any thing that shows you live Iras. He 's gone too far to hear you And this you see a Lump of sensless â—…lay The leavings of a Soul Câ—…ar Remember Madam He charg'd you not to grieve Cleop. And I 'll obey him I have not lov'd a Roman not to know What should become of his Wife his Wife my Charmionâ—… For 't is to that high Title I aspire And now I 'll not die less Let dull Octavia Survive to mourn him dead my Nobler Fate Shall knit our
Spousals with a tie too strong For Roman Laws to break Iras. Will you then die Cleop. Why shou'dst thou make that Question Iras. Caesar is most merciful Cleop. Let him be soâ—… To â—…hose that want his Mercy my poor Lord Made no such Cov'nant with him to spare me When he was dead Yield me to Caesar's pride What to be led in Triumph through the Streets A Spectacle to base Plebeian Eyes While some dejected Friend of Antony's Close in a Corner shakes his Head and mutters A Secret Curse on her who ruin'd him I 'll none of that Char. Whatever you resolve I 'll follow ev'n to Death Iras. I only fear'd For you but more shou'd fear to live without you Cleop. Why now 't is as it shou'd be Quick my Friends Dispatch ere this the Town 's in Caesar's hands My Lord looks down concern'd and fears my stay Lest I shou'd be surpriz'd Keep him not waiting for his Love too long You Charmion bring my Crown and richest Jewels With 'em the Wreath of Victory I made Vain Augury for him who now lies dead You Iras bring the Cure of all our Ills. Iras. The Aspicks Madam Cleop. Must I bid you twice Exeunt Char. and Iâ—…as 'T is sweet to die when they wou'd force life on me To rush into the dark aboad of Death And seize him first if he be like my Love He is not frightful sure We 're now alone in secresie and silence And is not this like Lovers I may kiss These pale cold Lips Octavia does not see me And Oh! 't is better far to have him thus Than see him in her Arms. O welcome welcome Enter Charmion Iras. Char. What must be done Cleop. Short Ceremony Friends But yet it must be decent First this Laurel Shall Crown my Hero's Head he fell not basely Nor left his Shield behind him Only thou Cou'dst triumph o'er thy self and thou alone Wert worthy so to triumph Char. To what end These Ensigns of your Pomp and Royalty Cleop. Dull that thou art why 't is to meet my Love As when I saw him first on Cydnos bank All sparkling like a Goddess so adorn'd I 'll find him once again my second Spousals Shall match my first in Glory Haste haste both And dress the Bride of Antony Char. 'T is done Cleop. Now seat me by my Lord. I claim this place For I must Conquer Caesar too like him And win my share o' th' World Hail you dear Relicks Of my Immortal Love O let no Impious hand remove you hence But rest for ever here let Egypt give His Death that Peace which it deny'd his Life Reach me the Casket Iâ—…s Underneath the fruit the Aspick lies Cleop. putting aside the leaves Welcom thou kind Deceiver Thou best of Thieves who with an easie key Do'st open Life and unperceiv'd by us Ev'n steal us from our selves discharging so Death's dreadful Office better than himself Touching our Limbs so gently into slumber That Death stands by deceiv'd by his own Image And thinks himself but Sleep Serap within The Queen where is she The Town is yielded Caesar's at the Gates Cleop. He comes too late to invade the Rights of Death Haste bare my Arm and rouze the Serpents fury Holds out her Arm and draws it back Coward Flesh Woud'st thou conspire with Caesar to betray me As thou wert none of mine I 'll force thee to 't And not be sent by him But bring my Self my Soul to Antony Turns aside and then shows her Arm bloody Take hence the work is done Serap within Break ope the Door And guard the Traitor well Char. The next is ours Iras. Now Charmion to be worthy Of your great Queen and Mistress They apply the Aspicks Cleop. Already Death I feel thee in my Veins I go with such a will to find my Lord That we shall quickly meet A heavy numness creeps through every Limb And now 't is at my Head my Eye-lids fall And my dear Love is vanish'd in a Mist. Where shall I find him where O turn me to him And lay me on his Breast Caesar thy worst Now part us if thou caust Dies Iras sinks down at her feet and dies Charmion stands behind her Chair as dressing her Head Enter Sâ—…on two Priests Alexas bound Egyptians 2. Prâ—… 〈◊〉 Serapion what havock Death has made Serap 'T was 〈◊〉 â—…ar'd Charmion is this well done Char. Yes 't is well done and like a Queen the last Of her great Race I follow her Sinks down Dies Alexas 'T is true She has done well much better thus to die Than live to make a Holy-day in Rome Serap See see how the Lovers sit in State together As they were giving Laws to half Mankind Th' impression of a Smile left in her Face Shows she dy'd pleas'd with him for whom she liv'd And went to Charm him in another World Caesars's just entring grief has now no leisure Secure that Villain as our pledge of safety To grace th' Imperial Triumph Sleep blest Pair Secure from humane Chance long Ages out While all the Storms of Fate fly o'er your Tomb And Fame to late Posterity shall tell No Lovers liv'd so great or dy'd so well Epilogue POets like Disputants when Reasons fail Have one sure Refurge left and that 's to rail Fop Coxcomb Fool are thunder'd through the Pit And this is all their Equipage of Wit We wonder how the Devil this diff'rence grows Betwixt our Fools in Verse and yours in Prose For 'Faith the quarrel rightly understood 'T is Civil War with their own Flesh and Blood The Thread-bare Author hates the gawdy Coat And swears at the Gilt Coach but swears a foot For 't is observ'd of every Scribling Man He grows a Fop as fast as e'er he can Prunes up and asks his Oracle the Glass If Pink or Purple best become his Face For our poor Wretch he neither rails nor prays Nor likes your Wit just as you like his Plays He has not yet so much of Mr. Bays He does his best and if he cannot please Wou'd quietly sue out his Writ of Ease Yet if he might his own Grand Jury call By the Fair Sex he begs to stand or fall Let Caesar's Pow'r the Mens ambition move But grace you him who lost the World for Love Yet if some ' antiquated Lady say The last Age is not Copy'd in his Play Heav'n help the Man who for that Face must drudge Which only has the wrinkles of a Judge Let not the Young and Beauteous joyn with those For shou'd you raise such numerous Hosts of Foes Young Wits and Sparke he to his aid must call 'T is more than one Man's work to please you all FINIS
of Ale from plain brown Bowls And snatch the homely Rasher from the Coals So you retiring from much better Cheer For once may venture to do penance here And since that plenteous Autumn now is past Whose Grapes and Peaches have Indulg'd your taste Take in good part from our poor Poets board Such rivell'd Fruits as Winter can afford Persons Represented  By MArc Anthony Mr. Hart. Ventidius his General Mr. Mohun Dollabella his Friend Mr. Clarke Alexas the Queens Eunuch Mr. Goodman Serapion Priest of Isis Servant to Anthony Mr. Griffin Another Priest Servant to Anthony Mr. Coysh Cleopatra Queen of Egypt Mrs. Boutell Octavia Anthony's Wife Mrs. Corey Charmion Cleopatra 's Maids Iras Anthony's two little Daughters  Scene Alexandria ALL for LOVE OR THE World well Lost. ACT. I. SCENE The Temple of Isis. Enter Serapion Myris Priests of Isis. Serap POrtents and Prodigies are grown so frequent That they have lost their Name Our fruitful Nile Flow'd e're the wonted Season with a Torrent So unexpected and so wondrous fierce That the wild Deluge overtook the haste Ev'n of the Hinds that watch'd it Men and Beasts Were born above the tops of Trees that grew On th' utmost Margin of the Water-mark Then with so swift an Ebb the Floud drove backward It slipt from underneath the Scaly Herd Here monstrous Phocoe panted on the Shore Forsaken Dolphins there with their broad Tails Lay lashing the departing Waves Hard by 'em Sea-Horses floundring in the slimy Mud Toss'd up their heads and dash'd the ooze about ' em Enter Alexas behind them Myr. Avert these Omens Heav'n Serap Last night between the hours of Twelve and One In a lone Isle o' th' Temple while I walk'd A Whirl-wind rose that with a violent blast Shook all the Dome the Doors around me clap The Iron Wicket that defends the Vault Where the long Race of Pâ—…olomies is lay'd Burst open and disclos'd the mighty dead From out each Monument in order plac'd An Armed Ghost start up the Boy-King last Rear'd his inglorious head A peal of groans Then follow'd and a lamentable Voice Cry'd Egypt is no more My blood ran back My shaking Knees against each other knock'd On the cold Pavement down I fell 〈◊〉 And so unfinish'd left the horrid Scene Alexas shewing himself And Dream'd you this or Did invent the Story To frighten our Egyptian Boys withal And train 'em up betimes in fear of Priesthood Serap My Lord I saw you not Nor meant my words should reach your Ears but what I utter'd was most true Alex. A foolish Dream Bred from the fumes of indigested Feasts And holy Luxury Serap I know my duty This goes no farther Alex. 'T is not fit it should Nor would the times now bear it were it true All Southern from you Hills the Roman Camp Hangs o'er us black and threatning like a Storm Just breaking on our Heads Serap Our faint Aegyptians pray for Antony But in their Servile Hearts they own Octavius Myr. Why then does Antony dream out his hours And tempts not Fortune for a noble Day Which might redeem what Actium lost Alex. He thinks 't is past recovery Serap Yet the Foe Seems not to press the Siege Alex. O there 's the wonder Mecoenas and Agrippa who can most With Caesar are his Foes His Wife Octavia Driv'n from his House solicites her Revenge And Dolabella who was once his Friend Upon some private grudge now seeks his ruine Yet still War seems on either side to sleep Serap 'T is strange that Antony for some days past Has not beheld the face of Cleopatra But here in Isis Temple lives retir'd And makes his Heart a Prey to black despair Alex. 'T is true and we much fear he hopes by absence To cure his mind of Love Serap If he be vanquish'd Or make his peace Egypt is doom'd to be A Roman Province and our plenteous Harvests Must then redeem the scaâ—…eness of their Soil While Antony stood firm our Alexandria Rival'd proud Rome Dominions other Seat And fortune striding like a vasâ—… Colossus Cou'd fix an equal foot of Empire here Alex. Had I my wish these 〈◊〉 of all Nature Who Lord it o'er Mankind should perish perish Each by the others Sword but since our Will Is lamely follow'd by our pow'r we must Depend on one with him to rise or fall Serap How stands the Queen affected Alex. O she dotes She dotes Serapion on this vanquish'd Man And winds her self about his mighty ruins Whom would she yet forsake yet yield him up This hunted Prey to his pursuers hands She might preserve us all but 't is in vain This changes my designs this blasts my Counsels And makes me use all means to keep him here Whom I could wish divided from her Arms Far as the Earth's deep Center Well you know The state of things no more of your ill Omens And black Prognosticks labour to confirm The Peoples Hearts Enter Ventidius talking aside with a Gentleman of Antony's Serap These Romans will o're hear us But Who 's that Stranger By his warlike port His fierce demeanor and erected look He 's of no vulgar note Alex. O 't is Ventidius Our Emp'rors great Lieutenant in the East Who first show'd Rome that Parthia could be Conquer'd When Antony return'd from Syria last He left this Man to guard the Roman Frontiers Serap You seem to know him well Alex. Too well I saw him in Cilicia first When Cleopatra there met Antony A mortal Foe he was to us and Aegypt But let me witness to the worth I hate A braver Roman never drew a Sword Firm to his Prince but as a Friend not Slave He ne'r was of his Pleasures but precides O're all his cooler hours and morning counsels In short the plainness fierceness rugged virtue Of an old true-stampt Roman lives in him His coming bodes I know not what of ill To our affairs Withdraw to mark him better And I 'll acquaint you why I sought you here And what 's our present work They withdraw to a corner of the Stage and Ventidius with the other comes forwards to the front Ventidius Not see him say you I say I must and will Gent. He has commanded On pain of Death none should approach his Presence Ven. I bring him news will raise his drooping Spirits Give him new life Gent. He sees not Cleopatra Ven. Would he had never seen her Gent. He Eats not Drinks not Sieeps not has no use Of any thing but Thought or if he Talks 'T is to himself and then 't is perfect Raving Then he defies the World and bids it pass Sometimes he gnaws his Lip and Curses loud The Boy Octavius then he draws his Mouth Into a scornful Smile and cries Take all The World 's not worth my care Ven. Just just his nature Virtue 's his path but sometimes 't is too narrow For his vast Soul and then he starts out wide And bounds into a Vice that bears him far From his first course
Message sounds Come to my rescue Cleopatra come Come free me â—…rom Ventidius from my Tyrant See me and give me a pretence to leave him I hear his Trumpets This way he must pass Please you retire a while I 'll work him first That he may bend more easie Cleo. You shall rule me But all I fear in vain Exit with Char. and Iras Alex. I fear soo too Though I conceal'd my thoughts to make her bâ—…ld But 't is our utmost means and Fate befriend it Withdraws Enter Lictors with Fasces one bearing the Eagle then Enter Antony with Ventidius follow'd by other Commanders Ant. Octavius is the Minion of blind Chance But holds from Virtue nothing Ven. Has he courage Ant. But just enough to season him from Coward O 't is the coldest youth upon a Charge The most deliberate fighter if he ventures As in Illyria once they say he did To storm a Town 't is when he cannot chuse When all the World have fixt their Eyes upon him And then he lives on that for seven years after But at a close revenge he never fails Ven. I heard you challeng'd him Ant. I did Ventidius What think'st thou was his answer 't was so tame He said he had more ways than one to die I had not Ven. Poor Ant. He has more ways than one But he would chuse 'em all before that one Ven. He first would chuse an Ague or a Fever Ant. No it must be an Ague not a Fever He has not warmth enough to die by that Ven. Or old Age and a Bed Ant. I there 's his choice He would live like a Lamp to the last wink And crawl upon the utmost verge of life O Hercules Why should a Man like this Who dares not trust his fate for one great action Be all the care of Heaven Why should he Lord it O're Fourscore thousand Men of whom each one Is braver than himself Ven. You conquer'd for him Philippi knows it there you shar'd with him That Empire which your Sword made all your own Ant. Fool that I was upon my Eagles Wings I bore this Wren till I was tir'd with soaring And now he mounts above me Good Heav'ns Is this is this the Man who braves me Who bids my age make way drives me before him To the World's ridge and sweeps me off like rubbish Ven. Sir we lose time the Troops are mounted all Ant. Then give the word to March I long to leave this Prison of a Town To joyn thy Legions and in open Field Once more to shew my Face Lead my Deliverer Enter Alex. Alex. Great Emperor In mighty Arms renown'd above Mankind But in soft pity to th' opprest a God This message sends the mournful Cleopatra To her departing Lord. Ven. Smooth Sycophant Alex. A thousand Wishes and ten thousand Prayers Millions of Blessings wait you to the Wars Millions of Sighs and Tears she sends you too And would have sent As many dear embraces to your Arms As many parting Kisses to your Lips But those she fears have weary'd you already Ven. aside False Crocodyle Alex. And yet she begs not now you would not leave her That were a wish too mighty for her hopes Too presuming for her low Fortune and your ebbing Love That were a wish for her more prosperous days Her blooming Beauty and your growing kindness Ant. aside Well I must Man it out What would the Queen Alex. First to these Noble Warriors who attend Your daring Courage in the chase of Fame Too daring and too dang'rous for her Quiet She humbly recommends all she holds dear All her own Cares and Fears the care of you Ven. Yes witness Actium Ant. Let him speak Ventidius Alex. You when his matchless Valour bears him forward With Ardor too Heroick on his Foes Fall down as she would do before his Feet Lye in his way and stop the paths of Death Tell him this God is not invulnerable That absent Cleopatra bleeds in him And that you may remember her Petition She begs you wear these Trifles as a pawn Which at your wisht return she will redeem Gives Jewels to the Commanders With all the Wealth of Aegypt This to the great Ventidius she presents Whom she can never count her Enemy Because he loves her Lord. Ven. Tell her I 'll none on 't I 'm not asham'd of honest Poverty Not all the Diamonds of the East can bribe Ventidius from his Faith I hope to see These and the rest of all her sparkling store Where they shall more deservingly be plac'd Ant. And who must wear 'em then Ven. The wrong'd Octavia Ant. You might have spar'd that word Ven. And he that Bribe Ant. But have I no remembrance Alex. Yes a dear one Your Slave the Queen Ant. My Mistress Alex. Then your Mistress Your Mistress would she says have sent her Soul But that you had long since she humbly begs This Ruby Bracelet set with bleeding Hearts The emblems of her own may bind your Arm. Presenting a Bracelet Ven. Now my best Lord in Honor's name I ask you For Manhood's sake and for your own dear safety Touch not these poison'd Gifts Infected by the Sender touch 'em not Miriads of bluest Plagues lye underneath 'em And more than Aconite has dipt the Silk Ant. Nay now you grow too Cynical Ventidius A Lady's Favours may be worn with Honor. What to refuse her Bracelet On my Soul When I lye pensive in my Tent alone 'T will pass the wakeful hours of Winter nights To tell these pretty Beads upon my Arm To count for every one a soft embrace A melting Kiss at such and such a time And now and then the fury of her Love When And what harm 's in this Alex. None none my Lord But what 's to her that now 't is past for ever Ant. going to tye it We Soldiers are so awkward help me tye it Alex. In faith my Lord we Courtiers too are awkward In these Affairs so are all Men indeed Ev'n I who am not one But shall I speak Ant. Yes freely Alex. Then my Lord fair hands alone Are fit to tye it She who sent it can Ven. Hell Death this Eunuch Pandar ruins you You will not see her Alexas whispers an Attendant who goes out Ant. But to take my leave Ven. Then I have wash'd an Aethiope Y' are undone Y' are in the Toils y' are taken y' are destroy'd Her Eyes do Caesar's Work Ant. You fear too soon I 'm constant to my self I know my strength And yet she shall not think me barbarous neither Born in the depths of Africk I 'm a Roman Bred to the Rules of soft Humanity A guest and kindly us'd should bid farewel Ven. You do not know How weak you are to her how much an Infant You are not proof against a Smile or Glance A Sigh will quite disarm you Ant. See she comes Now you shall find your error Gods I Thank you I form'd the danger greater than it was And now 't is
and plunges him in ills But when his danger makes him find his fault Quick to observe and full of sharp remorse He censures eagerly his own misdeeds Judging himself with Malice to himself And not forgiving what as Man he did Because his other parts are more than Man He must not thus be lost Alexas and the Priests câ—…e forward Alex. You have your full Instructions now advance Proclaim your Orders loudly Serap Romans Aegyptians hear the Queen's Command Thus Cleopatra bids Let Labor cease To Pomp and Triumphs give this happy day That gave the World a Lord 't is Antony's Live Antony and Cleopatra live Be this the general voice sent up to Heav'n And every publick place repeat this eccho Ven. aside Fine Pageantry Serap Set out before your doors The Images of all your sleeping Fathers With Laurels crown'd with Laurels wreath your posts And strow with Flow'rs the Pavement Let the Priests Do present Sacrifice pour out the Wine And call the Gods to joyn with you in gladness Ven. Curse on the Tongue that bids this general joy Can they be friends of Antony who Revel When Antony's in danger Hide for shame You Romans your Great Grandsires Images For fear their Souls should animate their Marbles To blush at their degenerate Progeny Alex. A Love which knows no bounds to Antony Would mark the Day with Honors when all Heaven Labour'd for him when each propitious Star Stood wakeful in his Orb to watch that Hour And shed his better influence Her own Birth-day Our Queen neglected like a vulgar Fate That pass'd obscurely by Ven. Would it had slept Divided far from his till some remote And future Age had call'd it out to ruin Some other Prince not him Alex. Your Emperor Thô grown unkind would be more gentle than T' upbraid my Queen for loving him too well Ven. Does the mute Sacrifice upbraid the Priest He knows him not his Executioner O she has deck'd his ruin with her Love Led him in Golden Bands to gaudy slaughter And made perdition pleasing She has left him The blank of what he was I tell thee Eunuch she has unmann'd him Can any Roman see and know him now Thus alter'd from the Lord of half Mankind Unbent unsinew'd made a Womans Toy Shrunk from the vast extent of all his Honours And crampt within a corner of the World O Antony Thou bravest Soldier and thou best of Friends Bounteous as Nature next to Nature 's God! Could'st thou but make new Worlds so wouldst thou give 'em As Bounty were thy Being Rough in Battle As the first Romans when they went to War Yet after Victory more pitiful Than all their Praying Virgins left at home Alex. Would you could add to those more shining Virtues His Truth to her who loves him Ven. Would I could not But Wherefore waste I precious hours with thee Thou art her Darling mischief her chief Engin Antony's other Fate Go tell thy Queen Ventidius is arriv'd to end her Charms Let your Aegyptian Timbrels play alone Nor mix Effeminate Sounds with Roman Trumpets You dare not fight for Antony go Pray And keep your Cowards-Holy-day in Temples Exeunt Alex. Serap Re-enter the Gentleman of M. Antony 2 Gent. The Emperor approaches and commands On pain of death that none presume to stay 1 Gent. I dare not disobey him Going out with the other Vent Well I dare But I 'll observe him first unseen and find Which way his humor drives the rest I 'le venture Withdraws Enter Antony walking with a disturb'd Motion before he speaks Antony They tell me 't is my Birth-day and I 'le keep it With double pomp of sadness 'T is what the Day deserves which gave me breath Why was I rais'd the Meteor of the World Hung in the Skies and blazing as I travell'd Till all my fires were spent and then cast downward To be trode out by Caesar Ven. aside On my Soul 'T is mournful wondrous mournful Anto. Count thy Gains Now Antony Wouldst thou be born for this Glutton of Fortune thy devouring youth Has starv'd thy wanting Age. Ven. How Sorrow shakes him aside So now the Tempest tears him â—…p by th' Roots And on the ground extends the noble Ruin Ant. having thrown himself down Lye there thou shadow of an Emperor The place thou pressest on thy Mother-earth Is all thy Empire now now it contains thee Some few days hence and then 't will be too large VVhen thou' rt contracted in thy narrow Urn Shrunk to a few cold Ashes then Octavia For Cleopatra will not live to see it Octavia then will have thee all her own And bear thee in her Widow'd hand to Caesar Caesar will weep the Crocodile will weep To see his Rival of the Universe Lie still and peaceful there I 'le think no more on 't Give me some Musick look that it be sad I 'le sooth my Melancholy till I swell And burst my self with sighing Sofe Musick 'T is somewhat to my humor Stay I fancy I 'm now turn'd wild a Commoner of Nature Of all forsaken and forsaking all Live in a shady Forest's Sylvan Scene Stretch'd at my length beneath some blasted Oke I lean my head upon the Mossy Bark And look just of a piece as I grew from it My uncomb'd Locks matted like Misleto Hang o're my hoary Face a murm'ring Brook Runs at my foot Ven. Methinks I fancy My self there too Ant. The Herd come jumping by me And fearless quench their thirst while I look on And take me for their fellow-Citizen More of this Image more it lulls my thoughts Soft Musick again Ven. I must disturb him I can hold no longer Stands before him Ant. starting up Art thou Ventidius Ven. Are you Antony I 'm liker what I was than you to him I left you last Ant. I 'm angry Ven. So am I. Ant. I would be private leave me Ven. Sir I love you And therefore will not leave you Ant. Will not leave me Where have you learnt that Answer Who am I Ven. My Emperor the Man I love next Heaven If I said more I think 't were scarce a Sin Y' are all that 's good and good-like Ant. All that 's wretched You will not leave me then Ven. 'T was too presuming To say I would not but I dare not leave you And 't is unkind in you to chide me hence So soon when I so far have come to see you Ant. Now thou hast seen me art thou satisfy'd For if a Friend thou hast beheld enough And if a Foe too much Ven. weeping Look Emperor this is no common Dew I have not wept this Forty years but now My Mother comes afresh into my Eyes I cannot help her softness Ant. By Heav'n he weeps poor good old Man he weeps The big round drops course one another down The furrows of his Cheeks Stop 'em Ventidius Or I shall blush to death they set my shame That caus'd 'em full before me Ven. I 'll do my best Ant. Sure there 's
contagion in the tears of Friends See I have caught it too Believe me 't is not For my own griefs but thine Nay Father Ven. Emperor Ant. Emperor Why that 's the style of victory The Conqu'ring Soldier red with unfelt wounds Salutes his General so but never more Shall that sound reach my Ears Ven. I warrant you Ant. Actium Actium Oh Ven. It sits too near you Ant. Here here it lies a lump of Lead by day And in my short distracted nightly slumbers The Hag that rides my Dreams Vent Out with it give it vent Ant. Urg not my shame I lost a Battel Vent So has Julius done Ant. Thou favour'st me and speak'st not half thou think'st For Julins fought it out and lost it fairly But Antony Ven. Nay stop not Ant. Antony Well thou wilt have it like a Coward fled Fled while his Soldiers fought fled first Ventidius Thou long'st to curse me and I give the leave I know thou com'st prepar'd to rail Ven. I did Ant. I 'll help thee I have been a Man Ventidius Ven. Yes and a brave one but Ant. I know thy meaning But I have lost my Reason have disgrac'd The name of Soldier with inglorious ease In the full Vintage of my flowing honours Sate still and saw it prest by other hands Fortune came smiling to my youth and woo'd it And purple greatness met my ripen'd years When first I came to Empire I was born On Tides of people crouding to my Triumphs The wish of Nations and the willing World Receiv'd me as its pledge of future peace I was so great so happy so belov'd Fate could not ruine me till I took pains And work'd against my Fortune chid her from me And turn'd her loose yet still she came again My careless days and my luxurious nights At length have weary'd her and now she 's gone Gone gone divorc'd for ever Help me Soldier To curse this Madman this industrious Fool Who labour'd to be wretched prithee curse me Ven. No. Ant. Why Ven. You are too sensible already Of what y'have done too conscious of your failings And like a Scorpion whipt by others first To fury sting your self in mad revenge I would bring Balm and pour it in your Wounds Cure your distemper'd mind and heal your fortunes Ant. I know thou would'st Ven. I will Ant. Ha ha ha ha Ven. You Laugh Ant. I do to see officious love Give Cordials to the dead Ven. You would be lost then Ant. I am Ven. I say you are not Try your fortune Ant. I have to th' utmost Dost thou think me desperate Without just cause No when I found all lost Beyond repair I hid me from the World And learnt to scorn it here which now I do So heartily I think it is not worth The cost of keeping Ven. Caesar thinks not so He 'll thank you for the gift he could not take You would be kill'd like Tully would you do Hold out your Throat to Casar and dye tamely Ant. No I can kill my self and so resolve Ven. I can die with you too when time shall serve But Fortune calls upon us now to live To Fight to Conquer Ant. Sure thou Dream'st Ventidius Ven. No 't is you Dream you sleep away your hours In desperate sloth miscall'd Philosophy Up up for Honor's sake twelve Legions wait you And long to call you Chief by painful Journeys I led 'em patient both of heat and hunger Down from the Parthian Marches to the Nile 'T will do you good to see their Sun-burnt Faces Their skar'd Cheeks and chopt hands there 's virtue in 'em They 'll sell those mangled Limbs at dearer Rates Than you trim Bands can buy Ant. Where left you them Ven. I said in lower Syria Ant. Bring 'em hither There may be life in these Ven. They will not come Ant. Why did'st thou mock my hopes with promis'd aids To double my despair They 're mutinous Ven. Most firm and loyal Ant. Yet they will not March To succour me Oh trifler Ven. They petition You would make hast to head ' em Ant. I 'm besiegâ—…d Ven. There 's but one way shut up How came I hither Ant. I will not stir Ven. They would perhaps desire A better reason Ant. I have never us'd My Soldiers to demand a reason of My actions Why did they refuse to March Ven. They said they would not fight for Cleopatra Ant. What was 't they said Ven They said they would not fight for Cleopatra Why should they fight indeed to make her Conquer And make you more a Slave to gain you Kingdoms Which for a Kiss at your next Midnight Feast You 'll sell to her then she new names her Jewels And calls this Diamond such or such a Tax Each Pendant in her ear shall be a Province Ant. Ventidius I allow your Tongue free licence On all my other faults but on your life No word of Cleopatra She deserves More World's than I can lose Ven. Behold you Pow'rs To whom you have intrusted Humankind See Europe Africk Asia put in balance And all weigh'd down by one light worthless Woman I think the Gods are Antony's and give Like Prodigals this neather World away To none but wastful hands Ant. You grow presumptuous Ven. I take the priviledge of plain love to speak Ant Plain love plain arrogance plain insolence Thy Men are Cowards thou an envious Traitor Who under seeming honesty hast vented The burden of thy rank o'reflowing Gall. O that thou wert my equal great in Arms. As the first Caesar was that I might kill thee Without a Stain to Honour Ven. You may kâ—…e You have done more already call'd me Traytor Ant. Art thou not one Ven. For showing you your self Which none else durst have done but had I been That name which I disdain to speak again I needed not have sought your abject fortunes Come to partake your fate to dye with you What hindred me t' have led my Conqu'ring Eagles To fill Octavius's Bands I could have been A Traytor then a glorious happy Traytor And not have been so call'd Ant. Forgive me Soldier I 've been too passionate Ven. You thought me false Thought my old Age betray'd you kill me Sir Pray kill me yet you need not your unkindness Has left your Sword no work Ant. I did not think so I said it in my rage prithee forgive me Why did'st thou tempt my Anger by discovery Of what I would not hear Ven. No Prince but you Could merit that sincerity I us'd Nor durst another Man have ventur'd it But you e're Love misled your wandring Eyes Were sure the chief and best of Human Race Fram'd in the very pride and boast of Nature So perfect that the Gods who form'd you wonder'd At their own skill and cry'd A lucky hit Has mended our design Their envy hindred Else you had been Immortal and a pattern When Heav'n would work for ostentation sake To copy out again Ant. But Cleopatra Go on for I can bear it now Ven.