Antony and Cleopatra

by: William Shakespeare

Act 4 Scene 9

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Original Text	Modern Text
Enter a SENTRY and his company. ENOBARBUS follows	A SENTRY and his company enter, followed by ENOBARBUS.
SENTRY If we be not relieved within this hour, We must return to th’ court of guard. The night Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle By th’ second hour i’ th’ morn.	SENTRY If we aren’t relieved in an hour, we have to return to our barracks. The night is bright, and they say we’ll be forming for battle by two a.m.
FIRST WATCH 5This last day was a shrewd one to ’s.	FIRST WATCH That last day was a hard one for us.
ENOBARBUS O bear me witness, night—	ENOBARBUS Oh, listen to me, night—
SECOND WATCH What man is this?	SECOND WATCH Who is this?
FIRST WATCH Stand close and list him.	FIRST WATCH Stay hidden and listen.
ENOBARBUS Be witness to me, O thou blessèd moon, 10When men revolted shall upon record Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did Before thy face repent.	ENOBARBUS Be my witness, oh you blessed moon. The men who revolted against Antony will be remembered scornfully in the history books. But poor Enobarbus repented.
SENTRY Enobarbus?	SENTRY That’s Enobarbus?
SECOND WATCH Peace! Hark further.	SECOND WATCH Quiet! Keep listening.
ENOBARBUS 15O 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, 20Which, 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 25A master-leaver and a fugitive. O Antony! O Antony!	ENOBARBUS Oh, moon, you queen of sadness, drop poisonous dew on me so that my life, which continues against my wishes, will end. Take my heart and throw it against my hard, stony sin. My heart, which dried out with grief, will surely break apart into a powder, and that will be the end of my disgusting mind. Oh, Antony! You are more noble than my revolt is dishonorable. Forgive my crimes against you, but let history record me as a fugitive traitor. Oh, Antony! Oh, Antony!

Read the Summary of Act IV, scenes ix–xv

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