I had a wound here that was like a T,

But now 't is made an H.

ANTONY

They do retire.

SCARUS

We'll beat 'em into bench-holes : I have yet

Room for six scotches more.

Enter EROS.

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 :

'T is sport to maul a runner.

ANTONY

I will reward thee

Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold

Alarum.

SCENE VIII

UNDER THE WALLS OF ALEXANDRIA

Enter ANTONY, in a march; SCARUS, with others.

ANTONY

We have beat him to his camp: run one before,
And let the Queen know of our gests. To-morrow,
Before the sun shall see 's, we 'll spill the blood
That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;
For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
Not as you serv'd the cause, but as 't had been
Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
The honour'd gashes whole.

To Scarus.

Give me thy hand;

Enter CLEOPATRA, attended.

To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,

Make her thanks bless thee.

To Cleopatra.

O thou day o' th' world,

Chain mine arm'd neck leap thou, attire and all,
Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
Ride on the pants triumphing!

CLEOPATRA

Lord of lords!

O infinite virtue, com'st thou smiling from

The world's great snare uncaught?

ANTONY

We have beat them to their beds.

My nightingale,

What, girl! though grey

Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha' we

A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can

Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand:
Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day
As if a god, in hate of mankind, had

Destroy'd in such a shape.

CLEOPATRA

I'll give thee, friend,

An armour all of gold; it was a king's.

ANTONY

He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled

Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand:

Through Alexandria make a jolly march;

Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them :

Had our great palace the capacity

To camp this host, we all would sup together,
And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters,
With brazen din blast you the city's ear;

Make mingle with our rattling tabourines;

That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,

Applauding our approach.

Exeunt.

SCENE IX

CESAR'S CAMP

SENTINELS at their post.

FIRST SOLDIER

If we be not reliev'd within this hour,

We must return to th' court of guard the night Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle

By the second hour i' th' morn.

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

FIRST SOLDIER

Enobarbus!

Hark further.

THIRD SOLDIER

Peace!

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 thine own particular;

But let the world rank me in register
A master-leaver and a fugitive:

O Antony! O Antony!

Dies.

SECOND SOLDIER

Let's speak

To him.

FIRST SOLDIER

Let's hear him, for the things he speaks

May concern Cæsar.

THIRD SOLDIER

Let's do so. But he sleeps.

FIRST SOLDIER

Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his

Was never yet for sleep.

SECOND SOLDIER

Go we to him.