And mock our eyes with air: Thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper's pageants. Eros. 8 Ay, my lord. Ant. That, which is now a horse, even with a thought, The rack dislimns"; and makes it indistinct, As water is in water. Ant. My good knave, Eros, now thy captain is I made these wars for Egypt; and the queen, — A million more, now lost, she, Eros, has Pack'd cards with Cæsar, and false play'd my glory Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Ourselves to end ourselves. O, thy vile lady! Enter MARDIAN. She has robb'd me of my sword. Mar. No, Antony; My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace; She hath betray'd me, and shall die the death. Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once; And that she has discharg'd: What thou would'st 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 • They are black vesper's pageants.] The beauty both of the expression and the illusion is lost, unless we recollect the frequency and the nature of these shows in Shakspeare's age. 9 The rack dislimns ;] i. e. the fleeting away of the clouds destroys the picture. Between her heart and lips; she render'd life, Thy name so buried in her. Ant. Mar. Dead then? Dead. Ant. Eros, unarm+; the long day's task is done, The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace. - borne. From me awhile. [Exit EROS. I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Eros! And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros! Re-enter EROS. Since Cleopatra died, Eros. What would my lord? Ant. I have liv'd in such dishonour, that the gods + "Unarm, Eros;" - MALONE. 2 thy continent,] i. e. the thing that contains thee. Seal then, and all is done.] Metaphor taken from civil contracts, where, when all is agreed on, the sealing compleats the contract; so he hath determined to die, and nothing remained but to give the stroke. Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword The courage Disgrace and horror that, on my command, Thou then would'st kill me: do't; the time is come: Thou strik'st not me, 'tis Cæsar thou defeat'st. Put colour in thy cheek. Eros. Shall I do that, which all the Parthian darts, The gods withhold me! Eros, Though enemy, lost aim, and could not? Ant. To penetrative shame; whilst the wheel'd seat Eros. I would not see'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, sir, 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; pleach'd arms,] Arms folded in each other. 5 His corrigible neck.] Corrigible for corrected, and afterwards penetrative for penetrating. • His baseness that ensued?] The poor conquered wretch that followed. JOHNSON. Or thy precedent services are all But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come. Ant. Lo thee ! Eros. My sword is drawn. Ant. [Turning from him. Then let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it. My dear master, Eros. Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? Ant. Eros. Why, there then : Thus do I escape the sorrow Of Antony's death. Ant. Now, Eros. [Falls on his Sword. [Dies. Thrice nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what I should, and thou could'st not. My queen and Eros [Falling on his Sword. I learn'd of thee. How! not yet dead +? not dead? The guard!-ho! - O, despatch me. 1 Guard. Enter DERCETAS and Guard. What's the noise? Ant. I have done my work ill, friends; O, make an end Of what I have begun. 7 2 Guard. The star is fallen. the worship of the whole world-] The worship, is the dignity, the authority. Mr. Malone omits yet. 1 Guard. And time is at his period. All. Ant. Let him that loves me, strike me dead. 1 Guard. 2 Guard. Nor I. 3 Guard. Nor any one. Alas, and woe! Not I. [Exeunt Guard. Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. This sword but shown to Cæsar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him. Ant. Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me Sufficing strokes for death. Dio. Most absolute lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee. Ant. When did she send thee? Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw I dread, too late. Ant. Too late, good Diomed: Call my guard, I pr'ythee. She had dispos'd with Cæsar,] To dispose, in this instance, perhaps signifies to make terms, to settle matters. |