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Enter ANTONY with attendants
ANTONY enters with attendants.

ANTONY

Hark. The land bids me tread no more upon ’t.
It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither.
I am so lated in the world that I
Have lost my way forever. I have a ship
5 Laden with gold. Take that, divide it. Fly
And make your peace with Caesar.

ANTONY

Listen. The earth tells me to stop walking upon it, as it’s ashamed to carry me. Friends, come here. I’m completely lost. I have a ship full of treasure. Take that. Divide it. Escape and make peace with Caesar.

ALL

Fly? Not we.

ALL

Flee? Not us.

ANTONY

I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, begone.
I have myself resolved upon a course
10 Which has no need of you. Begone.
My treasure’s in the harbor. Take it. Oh,
I followed that I blush to look upon!
My very hairs do mutiny, for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting. Friends, begone. You shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness. Take the hint
Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
Which leaves itself. To the seaside straightway!
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little. Pray you now,
Nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command.
Therefore I pray you. I’ll see you by and by.

ANTONY

I have already fled from my true self. I’ve told cowards to turn their backs on me and run. Friends, go. I’ve decided on a plan that doesn’t require your assistance. Leave. My treasure’s in the harbor; take it. Oh, I followed something I’m ashamed to look at now! Even my hair revolts. The white hairs blame the brown hairs for being irresponsible, and the brown ones blame the white ones for being spineless and foolish. Friends, go. I’ll give you letters of introduction to some friends of mine who will help you. Please, don’t be sad, and don’t tell me how reluctant you are. Take your cues from my own despair. Abandon the person that has abandoned himself. Go to the harbor immediately! I’ll give you the title to that ship and its treasure. Just give me a moment, please—only a moment. I’ve relinquished my authority, so please—I’ll see you all before long.
Exeunt attendants. ANTONY sits down The attendants exit. ANTONY sits.
Enter CLEOPATRA , led by CHARMIAN , IRAS , and EROS
CHARMIAN , IRAS , and EROS enter, supporting CLEOPATRA .

EROS

25 Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

EROS

No, gentle madam, go. Comfort him.

IRAS

Do, most dear Queen.

IRAS

Yes, do, dearest Queen.

CHARMIAN

Do. Why, what else?

CHARMIAN

Of course you must comfort him! What else?

CLEOPATRA

Let me sit down. O Juno!

CLEOPATRA

She sits
She sits.

ANTONY

(seeing CLEOPATRA) No, no, no, no, no.

ANTONY

(seeing CLEOPATRA) No, no, no, no, no.

EROS

30 See you here, sir?

EROS

Do you see her, sir?

ANTONY

Oh, fie, fie, fie!

ANTONY

Oh, damn, damn, damn!

CHARMIAN

Madam!

CHARMIAN

Madam!

IRAS

Madam, O good Empress!

IRAS

Madam, oh, good Empress!

EROS

Sir, sir—

EROS

Sir . . . sir . . .

ANTONY

(aside) Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
His sword e’en like a dancer, while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius, and ’twas I
That the mad Brutus ended. He alone
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
In the brave squares of war, yet now—no matter.

ANTONY

(to himself) Yes, my lord, that’s true. At Philippi, Caesar kept his sword in its sheath, like a dancer, while I commanded the armies that conquered Cassius and Brutus. Caesar fought only through lieutenants. He had no experience with the brave contests of war. But now . . . never mind.

CLEOPATRA

Ah, stand by.

CLEOPATRA

Ah, give us some privacy.

EROS

The Queen, my lord, the Queen.

EROS

The Queen is here, my lord.

IRAS

Go to him, madam, speak to him.
He is unqualitied with very shame.

IRAS

Go to him, madam, speak to him. He’s not himself because he feels so ashamed.

CLEOPATRA

Well then, sustain me. Oh!

CLEOPATRA

Well, then, help me.
She rises
Her attendants help her to stand.

EROS

45 Most noble sir, arise. The Queen approaches.
Her head’s declined, and death will seize her but
Your comfort makes the rescue.

EROS

Most noble sir, stand up. The Queen is coming. She’s weak and will die unless you comfort her.

ANTONY

I have offended reputation,
A most unnoble swerving.

ANTONY

I’ve destroyed my reputation, a most shameful error.

EROS

Sir, the Queen.

EROS

Sir, here’s the Queen.

ANTONY

50 Oh, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
By looking back what I have left behind
’Stroyed in dishonor.

ANTONY

Oh, where have you led me, Egypt? See how I hide my shame from you by turning around? I look behind me to see my past, destroyed by dishonor.

CLEOPATRA

O my lord, my lord,
Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
55 You would have followed.

CLEOPATRA

Oh, my lord, my lord, forgive my panic! I didn’t think you would follow me.

ANTONY

Egypt, thou knew’st too well
My heart was to thy rudder tied by th’ strings,
And thou shouldst tow me after. O’er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew’st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
60 Command me.

ANTONY

Queen, you knew very well that my heart was tied to your ship and that you would pull me along with you. You knew that my spirit was completely under your control and that I would ignore the gods’ orders in favor of yours.

CLEOPATRA

Oh, my pardon!

CLEOPATRA

Oh, forgive me!

ANTONY

Now I must
To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness, who
With half the bulk o’ th’ world played as I pleased,
Making and marring fortunes. You did know
65 How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.

ANTONY

Now I will have to send my humble proposal of peace to that young man. I’ve done as I pleased with half the world, making and losing fortunes, but now I negotiate from a position of weakness. You knew how far you had conquered my spirit. You knew that my sword, weakened by my love for you, would obey that love no matter what.

CLEOPATRA

Pardon, pardon!

CLEOPATRA

Forgive me! Forgive me!

ANTONY

Fall not a tear, I say. One of them rates
All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss.

ANTONY

Don’t shed even one tear. One of your tears is worth everything that was won and lost. Give me a kiss.
They kiss
They kiss.
70 Even this repays me.—
We sent our schoolmaster. Is he come back?—
Love, I am full of lead.—(calling) Some wine,
Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
This repays me. I sent our children’s schoolmaster to Caesar with our offer. Has he returned? Love, I am full of heaviness. (calling) Servants, bring some wine and food! We have the most contempt for fortune when it goes against us.
Exeunt They exit.

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter ANTONY with attendants
ANTONY enters with attendants.

ANTONY

Hark. The land bids me tread no more upon ’t.
It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither.
I am so lated in the world that I
Have lost my way forever. I have a ship
5 Laden with gold. Take that, divide it. Fly
And make your peace with Caesar.

ANTONY

Listen. The earth tells me to stop walking upon it, as it’s ashamed to carry me. Friends, come here. I’m completely lost. I have a ship full of treasure. Take that. Divide it. Escape and make peace with Caesar.

ALL

Fly? Not we.

ALL

Flee? Not us.

ANTONY

I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, begone.
I have myself resolved upon a course
10 Which has no need of you. Begone.
My treasure’s in the harbor. Take it. Oh,
I followed that I blush to look upon!
My very hairs do mutiny, for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting. Friends, begone. You shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness. Take the hint
Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
Which leaves itself. To the seaside straightway!
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little. Pray you now,
Nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command.
Therefore I pray you. I’ll see you by and by.

ANTONY

I have already fled from my true self. I’ve told cowards to turn their backs on me and run. Friends, go. I’ve decided on a plan that doesn’t require your assistance. Leave. My treasure’s in the harbor; take it. Oh, I followed something I’m ashamed to look at now! Even my hair revolts. The white hairs blame the brown hairs for being irresponsible, and the brown ones blame the white ones for being spineless and foolish. Friends, go. I’ll give you letters of introduction to some friends of mine who will help you. Please, don’t be sad, and don’t tell me how reluctant you are. Take your cues from my own despair. Abandon the person that has abandoned himself. Go to the harbor immediately! I’ll give you the title to that ship and its treasure. Just give me a moment, please—only a moment. I’ve relinquished my authority, so please—I’ll see you all before long.
Exeunt attendants. ANTONY sits down The attendants exit. ANTONY sits.
Enter CLEOPATRA , led by CHARMIAN , IRAS , and EROS
CHARMIAN , IRAS , and EROS enter, supporting CLEOPATRA .

EROS

25 Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

EROS

No, gentle madam, go. Comfort him.

IRAS

Do, most dear Queen.

IRAS

Yes, do, dearest Queen.

CHARMIAN

Do. Why, what else?

CHARMIAN

Of course you must comfort him! What else?

CLEOPATRA

Let me sit down. O Juno!

CLEOPATRA

She sits
She sits.

ANTONY

(seeing CLEOPATRA) No, no, no, no, no.

ANTONY

(seeing CLEOPATRA) No, no, no, no, no.

EROS

30 See you here, sir?

EROS

Do you see her, sir?

ANTONY

Oh, fie, fie, fie!

ANTONY

Oh, damn, damn, damn!

CHARMIAN

Madam!

CHARMIAN

Madam!

IRAS

Madam, O good Empress!

IRAS

Madam, oh, good Empress!

EROS

Sir, sir—

EROS

Sir . . . sir . . .

ANTONY

(aside) Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
His sword e’en like a dancer, while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius, and ’twas I
That the mad Brutus ended. He alone
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
In the brave squares of war, yet now—no matter.

ANTONY

(to himself) Yes, my lord, that’s true. At Philippi, Caesar kept his sword in its sheath, like a dancer, while I commanded the armies that conquered Cassius and Brutus. Caesar fought only through lieutenants. He had no experience with the brave contests of war. But now . . . never mind.

CLEOPATRA

Ah, stand by.

CLEOPATRA

Ah, give us some privacy.

EROS

The Queen, my lord, the Queen.

EROS

The Queen is here, my lord.

IRAS

Go to him, madam, speak to him.
He is unqualitied with very shame.

IRAS

Go to him, madam, speak to him. He’s not himself because he feels so ashamed.

CLEOPATRA

Well then, sustain me. Oh!

CLEOPATRA

Well, then, help me.
She rises
Her attendants help her to stand.

EROS

45 Most noble sir, arise. The Queen approaches.
Her head’s declined, and death will seize her but
Your comfort makes the rescue.

EROS

Most noble sir, stand up. The Queen is coming. She’s weak and will die unless you comfort her.

ANTONY

I have offended reputation,
A most unnoble swerving.

ANTONY

I’ve destroyed my reputation, a most shameful error.

EROS

Sir, the Queen.

EROS

Sir, here’s the Queen.

ANTONY

50 Oh, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
By looking back what I have left behind
’Stroyed in dishonor.

ANTONY

Oh, where have you led me, Egypt? See how I hide my shame from you by turning around? I look behind me to see my past, destroyed by dishonor.

CLEOPATRA

O my lord, my lord,
Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
55 You would have followed.

CLEOPATRA

Oh, my lord, my lord, forgive my panic! I didn’t think you would follow me.

ANTONY

Egypt, thou knew’st too well
My heart was to thy rudder tied by th’ strings,
And thou shouldst tow me after. O’er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew’st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
60 Command me.

ANTONY

Queen, you knew very well that my heart was tied to your ship and that you would pull me along with you. You knew that my spirit was completely under your control and that I would ignore the gods’ orders in favor of yours.

CLEOPATRA

Oh, my pardon!

CLEOPATRA

Oh, forgive me!

ANTONY

Now I must
To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness, who
With half the bulk o’ th’ world played as I pleased,
Making and marring fortunes. You did know
65 How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.

ANTONY

Now I will have to send my humble proposal of peace to that young man. I’ve done as I pleased with half the world, making and losing fortunes, but now I negotiate from a position of weakness. You knew how far you had conquered my spirit. You knew that my sword, weakened by my love for you, would obey that love no matter what.

CLEOPATRA

Pardon, pardon!

CLEOPATRA

Forgive me! Forgive me!

ANTONY

Fall not a tear, I say. One of them rates
All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss.

ANTONY

Don’t shed even one tear. One of your tears is worth everything that was won and lost. Give me a kiss.
They kiss
They kiss.
70 Even this repays me.—
We sent our schoolmaster. Is he come back?—
Love, I am full of lead.—(calling) Some wine,
Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
This repays me. I sent our children’s schoolmaster to Caesar with our offer. Has he returned? Love, I am full of heaviness. (calling) Servants, bring some wine and food! We have the most contempt for fortune when it goes against us.
Exeunt They exit.