e to them； mow them out a passage； And； entering where the foremost squadrons yield； Begin the noble harvest of the field。 ＇Exeunt。＇
Act II
Scene I
Enter CLEOPATRA； IRAS； and ALEXAS
CLEOPATRA。 What shall I do； or whither shall I turn？ Ventidius has o'ercome； and he will go。
ALEXAS。 He goes to fight for you。
CLEOPATRA。 Then he would see me； ere he went to fight： Flatter me not： If once he goes； he's lost； And all my hopes destroyed。
ALEXAS。 Does this weak passion Become a mighty queen？
CLEOPATRA。 I am no queen： Is this to be a queen； to be besieged By yon insulting Roman； and to wait Each hour the victor's chain？ These ills are small： For Antony is lost； and I can mourn For nothing else but him。 Now come； Octavius； I have no more to lose！ prepare thy bands； I'm fit to be a captive： Antony Has taught my mind the fortune of a slave。
IRAS。 Call reason to assist you。
CLEOPATRA。 I have none； And none would have： My love's a noble madness； Which shows the cause deserved it。 Moderate sorrow Fits vulgar love； and for a vulgar man： But I have loved with such transcendent passion； I soared； at first； quite out of reason's view； And now am lost above it。 No； I'm proud 'Tis thus： Would Antony could see me now Think you he would not sigh； though he must leave me？ Sure he would sigh； for he is noble…natured； And bears a tender heart： I know him well。 Ah； no； I know him not； I knew him once； But now 'tis past。
IRAS。 Let it be past with you： Forget him； madam。
CLEOPATRA。 Never； never； Iras。 He once was mine； and once； though now 'tis gone； Leaves a faint image of possession still。
ALEXAS。 Think him inconstant； cruel； and ungrateful。
CLEOPATRA。 I cannot： If I could； those thoughts were vain。 Faithless； ungrateful； cruel； though he be； I still must love him。
Enter CHARMION
Now； what news； my Charmion？ Will he be kind？ and will he not forsake me？ Am I to live； or die？nay； do I live？ Or am I dead？ for when he gave his answer； Fate took the word； and then I lived or died。
CHARMION。 I found him； madam
CLEOPATRA。 A long speech preparing？ If thou bring'st comfort； haste； and give it me； For never was more need。
IRAS。 I know he loves you。
CLEOPATRA。 Had he been kind； her eyes had told me so； Before her tongue could speak it： Now she studies； To soften what he said； but give me death； Just as he sent it； Charmion； undisguised； And in the words he spoke。
CHARMION。 I found him； then； Encompassed round； I think； with iron statues； So mute； so motionless his soldiers stood； While awfully he cast his eyes about； And every leader's hopes or fears surveyed： Methought he looked resolved； and yet not pleased。 When he beheld me struggling in the crowd； He blushed； and bade make way。
ALEXAS。 There's comfort yet。
CHARMION。 Ventidius fixed his eyes upon my passage Severely； as he meant to frown me back； And sullenly gave place： I told my message； Just as you gave it； broken and disordered； I numbered in it all your sighs and tears； And while I moved your pitiful request； That you but only begged a last farewell； He fetched an inward groan； and every time I named you； sighed； as if his heart were breaking； But； shunned my eyes； and guiltily looked down： He seemed not now that awful Antony； Who shook and armed assembly with his nod； But； making show as he would rub his eyes； Disguised and blotted out a falling tear。
CLEOPATRA。 Did he then weep？ And was I worth a tear？ If what thou hast to say be not as pleasing； Tell me no more； but let me die contented。
CHARMION。 He bid me say；He knew himself so well； He could deny you nothing； if he saw you； And therefore
CLEOPATRA。 Thou wouldst say； he would not see me？
CHARMION。 And therefore begged you not to use a power； Which he could ill resist； yet he should ever Respect you； as he ought。
CLEOPATRA。 Is that a word For Antony to use to Cleopatra？ O that faint word； RESPECT！ how I disdain it！ Disdain myself； for loving after it！ He should have kept that word for cold Octavia。 Respect is for a wife： Am I that thing； That dull； insipid lump； without desires； And without power to give them？
ALEXAS。 You misjudge； You see through love； and that deludes your sight； As； what is straight； seems crooked through the water： But I； who bear my reason undisturbed； Can see this Antony； this dreaded man； A fearful slave； who fain would run away； And shuns his master's eyes： If you pursue him； My life on't； he still drags a chain along。 That needs must clog his flight。
CLEOPATRA。 Could I believe thee！
ALEXAS。 By every circumstance I know he loves。 True； he's hard prest； by interest and by honour； Yet he but doubts； and parleys； and casts out Many a long look for succour。
CLEOPATRA。 He sends word； He fears to see my face。
ALEXAS。 And would you more？ He shows his weakness who declines the combat； And you must urge your fortune。 Could he speak More plainly？ To my ears； the message sounds Come to my rescue； Cleopatra； come； Come； free me from Ventidius； from my tyrant： See me； and give me a pretence to leave him！ I hear his trumpets。 This way he must pass。 Please you； retire a while； I'll work him first； That he may bend more easy。
CLEOPATRA。 You shall rule me； But all； I fear； in vain。 ＇Exit with CHARMION and IRAS。＇
ALEXAS。 I fear so too； Though I concealed my thoughts； to make her bold； But 'tis our utmost means； and fate befriend it！ ＇Withdraws。＇
Enter Lictors with Fasces； one bearing the Eagle； then enter ANTONY with VENTIDIUS； followed by other Commanders
ANTONY。 Octavius is the minion of blind chance； But holds from virtue nothing。
VENTIDIUS。 Has he courage？
ANTONY。 But just enough to season him from coward。 Oh； 'tis the coldest youth upon a charge； The most deliberate fighter！ if he ventures （As in Illyria once； they say； he did； To storm a town）； 'tis when he cannot choose； When all the world have fixt their eyes upon him； And then he lives on that for seven years after； But； at a close revenge he never fails。
VENTIDIUS。 I heard you challenged him。
ANTONY。 I did； Ventidius。 What think'st thou was his answer？ 'Twas so tame！ He said； he had more ways than one to die； I had not。
VENTIDIUS。 Poor！
ANTONY。 He has more ways than one； But he would choose them all before that one。
VENTIDIUS。 He first would choose an ague； or a fever。
ANTONY。 No； it must be an ague； not a fever； He Has not warmth enough to die by that。
VENTIDIUS。 Or old age and a bed。
ANTONY。 Ay； there's his choice； He would live； like a lamp； to the last wink； And crawl the utmost verge of life。 O Hercules！ Why should a man like this； Who dares not trust his fate for one great action； Be all the care of Heaven？ Why should he lord it O'er fourscore thousand men； of whom each one Is braver than himself？
VENTIDIUS。 You conquered for him： Philippi knows it； there you shared with him That empire； which your sword made all your own。
ANTONY。 Fool that I was； upon my eagle's wings I bore this wren； till I was tired with soaring； And now he mounts above me。 Good heavens； is this；is this the man who braves me？ Who bids my age make way？ Drives me before him； To the world's ridge； and sweeps me off like rubbish？
VENTIDIUS。 Sir； we lose time； the troops are mounted all。
ANTONY。 Then give the word to march： I long to leave this prison of a town； To join thy legions； and； in open field； Once more to show my face。 Lead； my deliverer。
Enter ALEXAS
ALEXAS。 Great emperor； In mighty arms renowned above mankind； But； in soft pity to the opprest； a god； This message sends the mournful Cleopatra To her departing lord。
VENTIDIUS。 Smooth sycophant！
ALEXAS。 A thousand wishes； and ten thousand prayers； Millions of blessings wait you to the wars； Millions of sighs and tears she sends you too； And would have sent As many dear embraces to your arms； As many parting kisses to your lips； But those； she fears； have wearied you already。
VENTIDIUS。 ＇aside。＇ False crocodile！
ALEXAS。 And yet she begs not now； you would not leave her； That were a wish too mighty for her hopes； Too presuming For her low fortune； and your ebbing love； That were a wish for her more prosperous days； Her blooming beauty； and your growing kindness。
ANTONY。 ＇aside。＇ Well； I must man it out：What would the queen？
ALEXAS。 First； to these noble warriors； who attend Your daring courage in the chase of fame； Too daring； and too dangerous for her quiet； She humbly recommends all she holds dear； All her own cares and fears；the care of you。
VENTIDIUS。 Yes； witness Actium。
ANTONY。 Let him speak； Ventidius。
ALEXAS。 You； when his matchless valour bears him forward； With ardour too heroic； on his foes； Fall down； as she would do； before his feet； Lie in his way； and stop the paths of death： Tell him； this god is not invulnerable； That absent Cleopatra bleeds in him； And； that you may remember her petition； She begs you wear these trifles； as a pawn； Which； at your wished return； she will redeem ＇Gives jewels to the Commanders。＇ With all the wealth of Egypt： This to the great Ventidius she presents； Whom she can never count her enemy； Because he loves her lord。
VENTIDIUS。 Tell her； I'll none on't； I'm not ashamed of honest poverty； Not all the diamonds of the east can bribe Ventidius from his faith。 I hope to see These and the rest of all her sparkling store； Where they shall more deservingly be placed。
ANTONY。 And who must wear them then？
VENTIDIUS。 The wronged Octavia。
ANTONY。 You might have spared that word。
VENTIDIUS。 And he that bribe。
ANTONY。 But have I no remembrance？
ALEXAS。 Yes； a dear one； Your slave the queen
ANTONY。 My mistress。
ALEXAS。 Then your mistress； Your mistress would； she says； have sent her soul； But that you had long since； she humbly begs This ruby bracelet； set with bleeding hearts； The emblems of her own； may bind your arm。 ＇Presenting a bracelet。＇
VENTIDIUS。 Now； my best lord；in honour's name； I ask you； For manhood's sake； and for your own dear safety； Touch not these poisoned gifts； Infected by the sender； touch them not； Myriads of bluest plagues lie underneath them； And more th