ACT IV - Scene VIII Antony and Cleopatra


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Under the walls of Alexandria.

Alarum. Enter Antony, in a march; Scarus, with others.
Antony

We have beat him to his camp: run one before,
And let the queen know of our gests. To-morrow,
Before the sun shall seeโ€™s, weโ€™ll spill the blood
That has to-day escaped. I thank you all;
For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
Not as you served the cause, but asโ€™t had been
Each manโ€™s like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
The honourโ€™d gashes whole. To Scarus. Give me thy hand;

Enter Cleopatra, attended.

To this great fairy Iโ€™ll commend thy acts,
Make her thanks bless thee. To Cleopatra. O thou day oโ€™ the world,
Chain mine armโ€™d neck; leap thou, attire and all,
Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
Ride on the pants triumphing!

Cleopatra

Lord of lords!
O infinite virtue, comest thou smiling from
The worldโ€™s great snare uncaught?

Antony

My nightingale,
We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! though grey
Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet haโ€™ we
A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand:
Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day
As if a god, in hate of mankind, had
Destroyโ€™d in such a shape.

Cleopatra

Iโ€™ll give thee, friend,
An armour all of gold; it was a kingโ€™s.

Antony

He has deserved it, were it carbuncled
Like holy Phoebusโ€™ car. Give me thy hand:
Through Alexandria make a jolly march;
Bear our hackโ€™d targets like the men that owe them:
Had our great palace the capacity
To camp this host, we all would sup together,
And drink carouses to the next dayโ€™s fate,
Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters,
With brazen din blast you the cityโ€™s ear;
Make mingle with rattling tabourines;
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,
Applauding our approach. Exeunt.

 

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