Page:Shakespeare - First Folio Faithfully Reproduced, Methuen, 1910.djvu/878

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362
The Tragedie of

The Soule and Body riue not more in parting,
Then greatnesse going off.

Cleo.
To'th'Monument:
Mardian, go tell him I haue slaine my selfe:
Say, that the last I spoke was Anthony,
And word it (prythee) pitteously. Hence Mardian,
And bring me how he takes my death to'th' Monument.
Exeunt.


Enter Anthony, and Eros.

Ant.
Eros, thou yet behold'st me?

Eros.
I Noble Lord.

Ant.
Sometime we see a clowd that's Dragonish,
A vapour sometime, like a Beare, or Lyon,
A toward Cittadell, a pendant Rocke,
A forked Mountaine, or blew Promontorie
With Trees vpon't, that nodde vnto the world,
And mocke our eyes with Ayre.
Thou hast seene these Signes,
They are blacke Vespers Pageants.

Eros.
I my Lord.

Ant.
That which is now a Horse, euen with a thoght
the Racke dislimes, and makes it indistinct
As water is in water.

Eros.
It does my Lord.

Ant.
My good Knaue Eros, now thy Captaine is
Euen such a body: Heere I am Anthony,
Yet cannot hold this visible shape (my Knaue)
I made these warres for Egypt, and the Queene,
Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine:
Which whil'st it was mine, had annext vntoo't
A Million moe, (now lost:) shee Eros has
Packt Cards with Cæsars, and false plaid my Glory
Vnto an Enemies triumph.
Nay, weepe not gentle Eros, there is left vs
Our selues to end our selues.
Enter Mardian.
Oh thy vilde Lady, she has rob'd me of my Sword.

Mar.
No Anthony,
My Mistris lou'd thee, and her Fortunes mingled
With thine intirely.

Ant.
Hence sawcy Eunuch peace, she hath betraid me,
And shall dye the death.

Mar.
Death of one person, can be paide but once,
And that she ha's discharg'd. What thou would'st do
Is done vnto thy hand: the last she spake
Was Anthony, most Noble Anthony.
Then in the midd'st a tearing grone did breake
The name of Anthony: it was diuided
Betweene her heart, and lips: she rendred life
Thy name so buried in her.

Ant.
Dead then?

Mar.
Dead.

Ant.
Vnarme Eros, the long dayes taske is done,
And we must sleepe: That thou depart'st hence safe
exit Mardian.Does pay thy labour richly: Go.
Off, plucke off,
The seuen-fold shield of Aiax cannot keepe
The battery from my heart. Oh cleaue my sides.
Heart, once be stronger then thy Continent,
Cracke thy fraile Case. Apace Eros, apace;
No more a Soldier: bruised peeces go,
exit ErosYou haue bin Nobly borne. From me awhile.
I will o're-take thee Cleopatra, and
Weepe for my pardon. So it must be, for now
All length is Torture: since the Torch is out,
Lye downe and stray no farther. Now all labour
Marres what it does: yea, very force entangles
It selfe with strength: Seale then, and all is done.
Eros? I come my Queene. Eros? Stay for me,
Where Soules do couch on Flowers, wee'l hand in hand,
And with our sprightly Port make the Ghostes gaze:
Dido, and her Æneas shall want Troopes,
And all the haunt be ours. Come Eros, Eros.

Enter Eros.

Eros.
What would my Lord?

Ant.
Since Cleopatra dyed,
I haue liu'd in such dishonour, that the Gods
Detest my basenesse. I, that with my Sword,
Quarter'd the World, and o're greene Neptunes backe
With Ships, made Cities; condemne my selfe, to lacke
The Courage of a Woman, lesse Noble minde
Then she which by her death, our Cæsar telles
I am Conqueror of my selfe. Thou art sworne Eros,
That when the exigent should come, which now
Is come indeed: When I should see behinde me
Th'ineuitable prosecution of disgrace and horror,
That on my command, thou then would'st kill me.
Doo't, the time is come: Thou strik'st not me,
'Tis Cæsar thou defeat'st. Put colour in thy Cheeke.

Eros.
The Gods with-hold me,
Shall I do that which all the Parthian Darts,
(Though Enemy) lost ayme, and could not.

Ant.
Eros,
Would'st thou be window'd in great Rome, and see
Thy Master thus with pleacht Armes, bending downe
His corrigible necke, his face subdu'de
To penetratiue shame; whil'st the wheel'd seate
Of Fortunate Cæsar drawne before him, branded
His Basenesse that ensued.

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 worne
Most vsefull for thy Country.

Eros.
Oh sir, pardon me.

Ant.
When I did make thee free, swor'st yu not then
To do this when I bad thee? Do it at once,
Or thy precedent Seruices are all
But accidents vnpurpos'd. Draw, and come.

Eros.
Turne from me then that Noble countenance,
Wherein the worship of the whole world lyes.

Ant.
Loe thee.

Eros.
My sword is drawne.

Ant.
Then let it do at once
The thing why thou hast drawne it.

Eros.
My deere Master,
My Captaine, and my Emperor. Let me say
Before I strike this bloody stroke, Farwell.

Ant.
'Tis said man, and farewell.

Eros.
Farewell great Chiefe. Shall I strike now?

Ant.
Killes himselfe.Now Eros.

Eros.
Why there then:
Thus I do escape the sorrow of Anthonies death.

Ant.
Thrice-Nobler then my selfe,
Thou teachest me: Oh valiant Eros, what
I should, and thou could'st not, my Queene and Eros
Haue by their braue instruction got vpon me
A Noblenesse in Record. But I will bee
A Bride-groome in my death, and run intoo't
As to a Louers bed. Come then, and Eros,
Thy Master dies thy Scholler; to do thus
I learnt of thee. How, not dead? Not dead?
The Guard, how? Oh dispatch me.

Enter