Sometime we see a cloud that 's dragonish;

A vapour sometime like a bear or lion,

A tower'd citadel, a pendent rock,

A forked mountain, or blue promontory

With trees upon 't, that nod unto the world,

And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper's pageants.

EROS

Ay, my lord.

ANTONY

That which is now a horse, even with a thought.

The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct,

As water is in water.

EROS

It does, my lord.

ANTONY

My good knave Eros, now thy captain is

Even such 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 whilst it was mine had annex'd unto 't

A million more, now lost, she, Eros, has

Pack'd cards with Cæsar, and false-play'd my glory Unto an enemy's triumph.

Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us

Ourselves to end ourselves.

Enter MARDIAN.

O, thy vile lady!

She has robb'd me of my sword.

MARDIAN

No, Antony;

My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled

With thine entirely.

ANTONY

Hence, saucy eunuch; peace!

She hath betray'd me and shall die the death.

MARDIAN

Death of one person can be paid but once,
And that she has discharg'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: she render'd life,
Thy name so buried in her.

ANTONY

Dead, then?

MARDIAN

ANTONY

Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done,

And we must sleep.

Dead.

To Mardian.

That thou depart'st hence safe,

Does pay thy labour richly; go.

Exit Mardian.

Off, pluck off:

The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep

The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,
Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace.
No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go;
You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.

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 :
Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand,

Eros! Stay for me:

And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze :
Dido and her Æneas shall want troops,

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

I have liv'd in such dishonour, that the gods
Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back
With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack
The courage of a woman; less noble mind
Than she which by her death our Cæsar tells

་

<< I am conqueror of myself ». Thou art sworn, Eros,

That, when the exigent should come, which now
Is come indeed, when I should see behind me

The inevitable prosecution of

Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,

Thou then wouldst kill me: do 't; the time is come: Thou strik'st not me, 't is Cæsar thou defeat'st.

Put colour in thy cheek.

EROS

The gods withhold me!

Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,

Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?

ANTONY

Eros,

Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome and see Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down His corrigible neck, his face subdu'd

To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat.

Of fortunate Cæsar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued?

EROS

I would not see 't.

ANTONY

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, sir, pardon me!

ANTONY

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 services 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.

Lo thee!

ANTONY

Turning from him.

EROS

My sword is drawn.

ANTONY

Then let it do at once

The thing why thou hast drawn it.

EROS

My dear master,

My captain, and my emperor, let me say,
Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.