Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard,
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her :
I never saw an action of such shame;
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
Did violate so itself.

ENOBARBUS

Alack, alack!

Enter CANIDIUS.

CANIDIUS

Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well:
O, he has given example for our flight,
Most grossly, by his own!

ENOBARBUS

Ay, are you thereabouts?

Why, then, good night indeed.

CANIDIUS

Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.

SCARUS

'Tis easy to 't; and there I will attend

What further comes.

CANIDIUS

To Cæsar will I render

My legions and my horse six kings already

Show me the way of yielding.

ENOBARBUS

I'll yet follow

The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason

Sits in the wind against me.

SCENE XI

ALEXANDRIA. CLEOPATRA'S PALACE

Enter ANTONY with ATTENDANTS.

Exeunt.

ANTONY

Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon 't;
It is asham'd to bear me! Friends, come hither:
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 Cæsar.

I have fled myself: and have instructed cowards

To run and show their shoulders.

Friends, be gone,

I have myself resolv'd upon a course
Which has no need of you; be gone:
My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,
I follow'd that I b'ush 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

Antony and Cleopatra.

14

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.

Sits down.

Enter CLEOPATRA, led by CHARMIAN and IRAS, EROS following.

EROS

Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

Yes, my lord, yes; he at Philippi kept
His sword e'en like a dancer; while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 't was 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.

Ah, stand by.

CLEOPATRA

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 declin'd, 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, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See,

How I convey my shame out of thine eyes.

107

By looking back what I have left behind

'Stroy'd in dishonour.

CLEOPATRA

O my lord, my lord,

Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought

You would have follow'd.

ANTONY

Egypt, thou knew'st too well

My heart was to thy rudder ti'd by th' strings,
And thou shouldst tow me after: o'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
Thy 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 play'd as I pleas'd,
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;