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Enter ANTONY and EROS
ANTONY and EROS enter.

ANTONY

Eros, thou yet behold’st me?

ANTONY

Eros, can you still see me?

EROS

Ay, noble lord.

EROS

Yes, noble lord.

ANTONY

Sometimes we see a cloud that’s dragonish,
A vapor sometime like a bear or lion,
A towered citadel, a pendant rock,
5 A forkèd 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.

ANTONY

Sometimes we see a cloud that looks like a dragon. Sometimes there’s a cloud like a bear or a lion, a castle, a floating rock, a craggy mountain. Or it might look like a blue cliff with trees on it that bow to the ground. These things fool our eyes by seeming solid, when they are actually only air. You’ve seen these illusions. They’re spectacles that appear at sunset.

EROS

Ay, my lord.

EROS

Yes, my lord.

ANTONY

That which is now a horse, even with a thought
10 The rack dislimns and makes it indistinct
As water is in water.

ANTONY

What looks like a horse is quick as thought disfigured by the wind, made as difficult to distinguish as water poured into water.

EROS

It does, my lord.

EROS

That’s true, 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.
15 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 annexed unto ’t
A million more, now lost—she, Eros, has
Packed cards with Caesar and false-played my glory
20 Unto an enemy’s triumph.
Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left us
Ourselves to end ourselves.

ANTONY

Eros, my young friend, your captain is now just like that cloud. Here and now I seem like Antony, but I can’t keep myself in this form, my boy. I went to war to save Cleopatra, whose love I thought I had, since she had mine—and mine carried with it a million others, those of my soldiers, now lost. The Queen conspired with Caesar to undermine my success and assure his victory. No, don’t cry, kind Eros. We still have the option of killing ourselves.
Enter MARDIAN
MARDIAN enters.
Oh, thy vile lady!
She has robbed me of my sword.
Oh, your contemptible lady! She has disarmed me.

MARDIAN

No, Antony,
My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled
25 With thine entirely.

MARDIAN

No, Antony. My mistress loved you, and her destiny was completely joined with yours.

ANTONY

Hence, saucy eunuch! Peace!
She hath betrayed me and shall die the death.

ANTONY

Get out, insolent eunuch! Silence! She has betrayed me and shall die.

MARDIAN

Death of one person can be paid but once,
And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst do
Is done unto thy hand. The last she spake
30 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 rendered life,
Thy name so buried in her.

MARDIAN

A person can only pay with their life once, and she has paid in full. What you wanted is yours. Her last words were “Antony! Most noble Antony!” Then, as she was speaking your name, a strangled groan split her words. “Antony” was divided between her heart and lips. She gave up her life with your name still within her.

ANTONY

Dead, then?

ANTONY

Is she dead, then?

MARDIAN

Dead.

MARDIAN

Dead.

ANTONY

35 Unarm, Eros. The long day’s task is done,
And we must sleep. (to MARDIAN) That thou depart’st hence safe
Does pay thy labor richly. Go.

ANTONY

Remove your armor, Eros. The long day’s work is over, and it is time to sleep. (to MARDIAN) Permission to leave unharmed is abundant payment for your news. Go!
Exit MARDIAN MARDIAN exits.
Off, pluck off!
The sevenfold shield of Ajax cannot keep
The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
40 Heart, once be stronger than thy continent.
Crack thy frail case!—Apace, Eros, apace.
No more a soldier. Bruisèd pieces, go.
You have been nobly borne. (to EROS) From me awhile.
Off! Take off my armor. Not even Ajax’s famous shield, made of seven layers of oxhide and covered in bronze, could protect my heart from this attack. Oh, chest, obey me! Heart, for once be stronger than all the rest of the body combined. Break out of my ribcage! Faster, Eros, faster. I won’t be a soldier anymore. Battered armor, be off. You were worn with honor. (to EROS) Leave me awhile.
Exit EROS EROS exits.
I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
45 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 labor
Mars what it does. Yea, very force entangles
Itself with strength. Seal then, and all is done.—
50 Eros!—I come, my Queen.—Eros!—Stay for me.
Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand,
And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze.
Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops,
And all the haunt be ours.—Come, Eros, Eros!
I will catch up with you, Cleopatra, and weep for your forgiveness. It’s the only way left, because now any extension of my life would be torture. Since the light of my life has gone out, I’ll stop here. Now any effort ruins what it attempts. Yes, even power gets in its own way. End it, then, and everything is over.—Eros!—I’m coming, my Queen!—Eros!—Wait for me. In the place where souls recline on beds of flowers we’ll walk hand in hand and amaze the other ghosts with our spirited demeanor. Those famous lovers, Dido and Aeneas, will lose their admirers, and the whole place will be devoted to us.—Come, Eros. Eros!
Enter EROS
EROS enters.

EROS

55 What would my lord?

EROS

What can I do for my lord?

ANTONY

Since Cleopatra died
I have lived in such dishonor that the gods
Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
Quartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back
With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack
60 The courage of a woman—less noble mind
Than she which by her death our Caesar 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
65 Th’ 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, ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st.
Put color in thy cheek.

ANTONY

Since Cleopatra died, I have lived in such dishonor that the gods despise my disgrace. Though I have made conquests throughout the four corners of the world and sailed with fleets so large they looked like floating cities, I don’t have as much courage as a woman. I have less nobility than the lady who, by killing herself, says to Caesar, “Only Cleopatra can defeat Cleopatra.” You promised me, Eros, that should the ultimate moment arrive—which it has—when dishonor and disgust are inevitable, that upon my command, you would kill me. Do it. This is that time. You won’t be striking me down, but defeating Caesar. Call up your courage.

EROS

The gods withhold me!
70 Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,
Though enemy, lost aim and could not?

EROS

The gods forbid! Can I do what all the Parthian arrows, though shot by enemies, could not?

ANTONY

Eros,
Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and see
Thy master thus with pleached arms, bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdued
75 To penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seat
Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued?

ANTONY

Eros, would you like to look through a window in Rome and watch your master marching in Caesar’s victory parade, his arms crossed and tied, his head bowed in submission, his face red from shame, while the chariot of triumphant Caesar precedes him, putting the final stamp to his humiliation?

EROS

I would not see ’t.

EROS

I would not.

ANTONY

Come, then, for with a wound I must be cured.
Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn
80 Most useful for thy country.

ANTONY

Then come on. I must be restored to health by an injury. Draw your trustworthy sword, which you have used in such service to your country.

EROS

O sir, pardon me!

EROS

Oh, 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 unpurposed. Draw and come.

ANTONY

When I freed you from slavery, didn’t you swear to do this when I asked you? Do it immediately, or all your previous services to me were accidental, without purpose. Take out your sword and come on.

EROS

85 Turn from me then that noble countenance
Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

EROS

Then turn your noble face away from me, that face that the whole world adores.

ANTONY

Lo thee!

ANTONY

Look!
He turns away
He turns away.

EROS

My sword is drawn.

EROS

I have drawn my sword.

ANTONY

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

ANTONY

Now let it carry out its purpose immediately.

EROS

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

EROS

My dear master, my captain, my sovereign, let me say before I strike this fatal blow: farewell.

ANTONY

’Tis said, man, and farewell.

ANTONY

You’ve said it, friend, and farewell to you.

EROS

Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

EROS

Good-bye, great commander. Should I do it now?

ANTONY

Now, Eros.

ANTONY

Now, Eros.

EROS

Why, there then!

EROS

Well, then, there!
Stabs himself
He stabs himself.
Thus I do escape the sorrow
95 Of Antony’s death.
With this I avoid the grief of Antony’s death.
He dies
He dies.

ANTONY

Thrice nobler than myself,
Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what
I should and thou couldst not. My Queen and Eros
Have by their brave instruction got upon me
A nobleness in record. But I will be
100 A bridegroom in my death, and run into ’t
As to a lover’s bed. Come then, and Eros,
Thy master dies thy scholar. To do thus
I learned of thee.

ANTONY

Brave Eros, three times more honorable than I am! You teach me what I should do but could not. My Queen and Eros have by their brave examples beaten me to the history books. But I will embrace death as a bridegroom does his bride, and rush to it as to a lover’s bed. Come then. Eros, your master dies your student. I learned to do this from you.
He falls on his sword
He falls on his sword.
                                  How! Not dead? Not dead?
The guard, ho! Oh, dispatch me!
What! I’m not dead? Not dead?—Guard, here! Oh, kill me!
Enter DERCETUS and others of a GUARD
DERCETUS enters with three GUARDS .

FIRST GUARD

105 What’s the noise?

FIRST GUARD

What’s the trouble?

ANTONY

I have done my work ill, friends. Oh, make an end
Of what I have begun!

ANTONY

I’ve botched the job, friends. Oh, finish what I’ve begun.

SECOND GUARD

                                             The star is fall’n.

SECOND GUARD

Our guiding light is out.

FIRST GUARD

And time is at his period.

FIRST GUARD

And time itself is ended.

ALL

Alas, and woe!

ALL

Sadness and despair!

ANTONY

Let him that loves me strike me dead.

ANTONY

Whoever’s a real friend should strike me dead.

FIRST GUARD

110 Not I.

FIRST GUARD

Not me.

SECOND GUARD

Nor I.

SECOND GUARD

Me neither.

THIRD GUARD

Nor anyone.

THIRD GUARD

None of us.
Exeunt GUARD The GUARDS exit.

DERCETUS

Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.

DERCETAS

Your death and destiny advise your followers to escape.
He takes up ANTONY ’s sword
He takes up ANTONY ’s sword
This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings,
115 Shall enter me with him.
I only need to show your sword to Caesar and tell him about your death to get into his good favor.
Enter DIOMEDES
DIOMEDES enters.

DIOMEDES

Where’s Antony?

DIOMEDES

Where’s Antony?

DERCETUS

There, Diomed, there.

DERCETAS

There, Diomedes, there.

DIOMEDES

Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?

DIOMEDES

Is he still alive? Why don’t you answer me, man?
Exit DERCETUS DERCETAS exits.

ANTONY

Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword and give me
120 Sufficing strokes for death.

ANTONY

Is that you, Diomedes? Draw your sword and give me enough blows to kill me.

DIOMEDES

Most absolute lord,
My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.

DIOMEDES

Most powerful lord, my mistress Cleopatra sent me to you.

ANTONY

When did she send thee?

ANTONY

When did she send you?

DIOMEDES

Now, my lord.

DIOMEDES

Just now, my lord.

ANTONY

Where is she?

ANTONY

Where is she?

DIOMEDES

Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fear
Of what hath come to pass. For when she saw—
125 Which never shall be found—you did suspect
She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage
Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead.
But fearing since how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth, and I am come,
130 I dread, too late.

DIOMEDES

Locked in her tomb. She had a premonition of what has actually happened. She saw that you suspected her of negotiating a treaty with Caesar—which never will be true. Afraid that your anger would not subside, she sent you word she was dead. But later, fearing how that news might affect you, she sent me to tell you the truth. I’m afraid I’ve come too late.

ANTONY

Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.

ANTONY

Too late, good Diomedes. Call my guard, please.

DIOMEDES

What ho, the Emperor’s guard! The guard, what ho!
Come, your lord calls!

DIOMEDES

Hey out there! Emperor’s guards! Guards, hey! Come! Your lord calls for you!
Enter four or five of the GUARD of Antony
Four or five of Antony’s GUARDS enter.

ANTONY

Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides.
’Tis the last service that I shall command you.

ANTONY

Carry me, good friends, to where Cleopatra is. It’s the last command I shall ever give you.

FIRST GUARD

Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear
All your true followers out.

FIRST GUARD

We’re very sorry, sir, that you may not live to wear us out with your commands.

ALL

Most heavy day!

ALL

It’s a very sad day.

ANTONY

Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate
To grace it with your sorrows. Bid that welcome
140 Which comes to punish us, and we punish it,
Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up.
I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,
And have my thanks for all.

ANTONY

No, my friends, don’t please fate by giving it your sorrow as well. If we welcome our punishment, we punish it right back by seeming to take it lightly. Pick me up. I have often led you, now you must carry me, my good friends—and take my thanks for everything.
Exeunt, bearing ANTONY and the body of EROS They exit, carrying ANTONY and EROS ’ body.

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter ANTONY and EROS
ANTONY and EROS enter.

ANTONY

Eros, thou yet behold’st me?

ANTONY

Eros, can you still see me?

EROS

Ay, noble lord.

EROS

Yes, noble lord.

ANTONY

Sometimes we see a cloud that’s dragonish,
A vapor sometime like a bear or lion,
A towered citadel, a pendant rock,
5 A forkèd 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.

ANTONY

Sometimes we see a cloud that looks like a dragon. Sometimes there’s a cloud like a bear or a lion, a castle, a floating rock, a craggy mountain. Or it might look like a blue cliff with trees on it that bow to the ground. These things fool our eyes by seeming solid, when they are actually only air. You’ve seen these illusions. They’re spectacles that appear at sunset.

EROS

Ay, my lord.

EROS

Yes, my lord.

ANTONY

That which is now a horse, even with a thought
10 The rack dislimns and makes it indistinct
As water is in water.

ANTONY

What looks like a horse is quick as thought disfigured by the wind, made as difficult to distinguish as water poured into water.

EROS

It does, my lord.

EROS

That’s true, 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.
15 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 annexed unto ’t
A million more, now lost—she, Eros, has
Packed cards with Caesar and false-played my glory
20 Unto an enemy’s triumph.
Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left us
Ourselves to end ourselves.

ANTONY

Eros, my young friend, your captain is now just like that cloud. Here and now I seem like Antony, but I can’t keep myself in this form, my boy. I went to war to save Cleopatra, whose love I thought I had, since she had mine—and mine carried with it a million others, those of my soldiers, now lost. The Queen conspired with Caesar to undermine my success and assure his victory. No, don’t cry, kind Eros. We still have the option of killing ourselves.
Enter MARDIAN
MARDIAN enters.
Oh, thy vile lady!
She has robbed me of my sword.
Oh, your contemptible lady! She has disarmed me.

MARDIAN

No, Antony,
My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled
25 With thine entirely.

MARDIAN

No, Antony. My mistress loved you, and her destiny was completely joined with yours.

ANTONY

Hence, saucy eunuch! Peace!
She hath betrayed me and shall die the death.

ANTONY

Get out, insolent eunuch! Silence! She has betrayed me and shall die.

MARDIAN

Death of one person can be paid but once,
And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst do
Is done unto thy hand. The last she spake
30 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 rendered life,
Thy name so buried in her.

MARDIAN

A person can only pay with their life once, and she has paid in full. What you wanted is yours. Her last words were “Antony! Most noble Antony!” Then, as she was speaking your name, a strangled groan split her words. “Antony” was divided between her heart and lips. She gave up her life with your name still within her.

ANTONY

Dead, then?

ANTONY

Is she dead, then?

MARDIAN

Dead.

MARDIAN

Dead.

ANTONY

35 Unarm, Eros. The long day’s task is done,
And we must sleep. (to MARDIAN) That thou depart’st hence safe
Does pay thy labor richly. Go.

ANTONY

Remove your armor, Eros. The long day’s work is over, and it is time to sleep. (to MARDIAN) Permission to leave unharmed is abundant payment for your news. Go!
Exit MARDIAN MARDIAN exits.
Off, pluck off!
The sevenfold shield of Ajax cannot keep
The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
40 Heart, once be stronger than thy continent.
Crack thy frail case!—Apace, Eros, apace.
No more a soldier. Bruisèd pieces, go.
You have been nobly borne. (to EROS) From me awhile.
Off! Take off my armor. Not even Ajax’s famous shield, made of seven layers of oxhide and covered in bronze, could protect my heart from this attack. Oh, chest, obey me! Heart, for once be stronger than all the rest of the body combined. Break out of my ribcage! Faster, Eros, faster. I won’t be a soldier anymore. Battered armor, be off. You were worn with honor. (to EROS) Leave me awhile.
Exit EROS EROS exits.
I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
45 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 labor
Mars what it does. Yea, very force entangles
Itself with strength. Seal then, and all is done.—
50 Eros!—I come, my Queen.—Eros!—Stay for me.
Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand,
And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze.
Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops,
And all the haunt be ours.—Come, Eros, Eros!
I will catch up with you, Cleopatra, and weep for your forgiveness. It’s the only way left, because now any extension of my life would be torture. Since the light of my life has gone out, I’ll stop here. Now any effort ruins what it attempts. Yes, even power gets in its own way. End it, then, and everything is over.—Eros!—I’m coming, my Queen!—Eros!—Wait for me. In the place where souls recline on beds of flowers we’ll walk hand in hand and amaze the other ghosts with our spirited demeanor. Those famous lovers, Dido and Aeneas, will lose their admirers, and the whole place will be devoted to us.—Come, Eros. Eros!
Enter EROS
EROS enters.

EROS

55 What would my lord?

EROS

What can I do for my lord?

ANTONY

Since Cleopatra died
I have lived in such dishonor that the gods
Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
Quartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back
With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack
60 The courage of a woman—less noble mind
Than she which by her death our Caesar 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
65 Th’ 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, ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st.
Put color in thy cheek.

ANTONY

Since Cleopatra died, I have lived in such dishonor that the gods despise my disgrace. Though I have made conquests throughout the four corners of the world and sailed with fleets so large they looked like floating cities, I don’t have as much courage as a woman. I have less nobility than the lady who, by killing herself, says to Caesar, “Only Cleopatra can defeat Cleopatra.” You promised me, Eros, that should the ultimate moment arrive—which it has—when dishonor and disgust are inevitable, that upon my command, you would kill me. Do it. This is that time. You won’t be striking me down, but defeating Caesar. Call up your courage.

EROS

The gods withhold me!
70 Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,
Though enemy, lost aim and could not?

EROS

The gods forbid! Can I do what all the Parthian arrows, though shot by enemies, could not?

ANTONY

Eros,
Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and see
Thy master thus with pleached arms, bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdued
75 To penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seat
Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued?

ANTONY

Eros, would you like to look through a window in Rome and watch your master marching in Caesar’s victory parade, his arms crossed and tied, his head bowed in submission, his face red from shame, while the chariot of triumphant Caesar precedes him, putting the final stamp to his humiliation?

EROS

I would not see ’t.

EROS

I would not.

ANTONY

Come, then, for with a wound I must be cured.
Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn
80 Most useful for thy country.

ANTONY

Then come on. I must be restored to health by an injury. Draw your trustworthy sword, which you have used in such service to your country.

EROS

O sir, pardon me!

EROS

Oh, 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 unpurposed. Draw and come.

ANTONY

When I freed you from slavery, didn’t you swear to do this when I asked you? Do it immediately, or all your previous services to me were accidental, without purpose. Take out your sword and come on.

EROS

85 Turn from me then that noble countenance
Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

EROS

Then turn your noble face away from me, that face that the whole world adores.

ANTONY

Lo thee!

ANTONY

Look!
He turns away
He turns away.

EROS

My sword is drawn.

EROS

I have drawn my sword.

ANTONY

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

ANTONY

Now let it carry out its purpose immediately.

EROS

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

EROS

My dear master, my captain, my sovereign, let me say before I strike this fatal blow: farewell.

ANTONY

’Tis said, man, and farewell.

ANTONY

You’ve said it, friend, and farewell to you.

EROS

Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

EROS

Good-bye, great commander. Should I do it now?

ANTONY

Now, Eros.

ANTONY

Now, Eros.

EROS

Why, there then!

EROS

Well, then, there!
Stabs himself
He stabs himself.
Thus I do escape the sorrow
95 Of Antony’s death.
With this I avoid the grief of Antony’s death.
He dies
He dies.

ANTONY

Thrice nobler than myself,
Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what
I should and thou couldst not. My Queen and Eros
Have by their brave instruction got upon me
A nobleness in record. But I will be
100 A bridegroom in my death, and run into ’t
As to a lover’s bed. Come then, and Eros,
Thy master dies thy scholar. To do thus
I learned of thee.

ANTONY

Brave Eros, three times more honorable than I am! You teach me what I should do but could not. My Queen and Eros have by their brave examples beaten me to the history books. But I will embrace death as a bridegroom does his bride, and rush to it as to a lover’s bed. Come then. Eros, your master dies your student. I learned to do this from you.
He falls on his sword
He falls on his sword.
                                  How! Not dead? Not dead?
The guard, ho! Oh, dispatch me!
What! I’m not dead? Not dead?—Guard, here! Oh, kill me!
Enter DERCETUS and others of a GUARD
DERCETUS enters with three GUARDS .

FIRST GUARD

105 What’s the noise?

FIRST GUARD

What’s the trouble?

ANTONY

I have done my work ill, friends. Oh, make an end
Of what I have begun!

ANTONY

I’ve botched the job, friends. Oh, finish what I’ve begun.

SECOND GUARD

                                             The star is fall’n.

SECOND GUARD

Our guiding light is out.

FIRST GUARD

And time is at his period.

FIRST GUARD

And time itself is ended.

ALL

Alas, and woe!

ALL

Sadness and despair!

ANTONY

Let him that loves me strike me dead.

ANTONY

Whoever’s a real friend should strike me dead.

FIRST GUARD

110 Not I.

FIRST GUARD

Not me.

SECOND GUARD

Nor I.

SECOND GUARD

Me neither.

THIRD GUARD

Nor anyone.

THIRD GUARD

None of us.
Exeunt GUARD The GUARDS exit.

DERCETUS

Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.

DERCETAS

Your death and destiny advise your followers to escape.
He takes up ANTONY ’s sword
He takes up ANTONY ’s sword
This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings,
115 Shall enter me with him.
I only need to show your sword to Caesar and tell him about your death to get into his good favor.
Enter DIOMEDES
DIOMEDES enters.

DIOMEDES

Where’s Antony?

DIOMEDES

Where’s Antony?

DERCETUS

There, Diomed, there.

DERCETAS

There, Diomedes, there.

DIOMEDES

Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?

DIOMEDES

Is he still alive? Why don’t you answer me, man?
Exit DERCETUS DERCETAS exits.

ANTONY

Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword and give me
120 Sufficing strokes for death.

ANTONY

Is that you, Diomedes? Draw your sword and give me enough blows to kill me.

DIOMEDES

Most absolute lord,
My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.

DIOMEDES

Most powerful lord, my mistress Cleopatra sent me to you.

ANTONY

When did she send thee?

ANTONY

When did she send you?

DIOMEDES

Now, my lord.

DIOMEDES

Just now, my lord.

ANTONY

Where is she?

ANTONY

Where is she?

DIOMEDES

Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fear
Of what hath come to pass. For when she saw—
125 Which never shall be found—you did suspect
She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage
Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead.
But fearing since how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth, and I am come,
130 I dread, too late.

DIOMEDES

Locked in her tomb. She had a premonition of what has actually happened. She saw that you suspected her of negotiating a treaty with Caesar—which never will be true. Afraid that your anger would not subside, she sent you word she was dead. But later, fearing how that news might affect you, she sent me to tell you the truth. I’m afraid I’ve come too late.

ANTONY

Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.

ANTONY

Too late, good Diomedes. Call my guard, please.

DIOMEDES

What ho, the Emperor’s guard! The guard, what ho!
Come, your lord calls!

DIOMEDES

Hey out there! Emperor’s guards! Guards, hey! Come! Your lord calls for you!
Enter four or five of the GUARD of Antony
Four or five of Antony’s GUARDS enter.

ANTONY

Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides.
’Tis the last service that I shall command you.

ANTONY

Carry me, good friends, to where Cleopatra is. It’s the last command I shall ever give you.

FIRST GUARD

Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear
All your true followers out.

FIRST GUARD

We’re very sorry, sir, that you may not live to wear us out with your commands.

ALL

Most heavy day!

ALL

It’s a very sad day.

ANTONY

Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate
To grace it with your sorrows. Bid that welcome
140 Which comes to punish us, and we punish it,
Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up.
I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,
And have my thanks for all.

ANTONY

No, my friends, don’t please fate by giving it your sorrow as well. If we welcome our punishment, we punish it right back by seeming to take it lightly. Pick me up. I have often led you, now you must carry me, my good friends—and take my thanks for everything.
Exeunt, bearing ANTONY and the body of EROS They exit, carrying ANTONY and EROS ’ body.