； Infected by the sender； touch them not； Myriads of bluest plagues lie underneath them； And more than aconite has dipt the silk。
ANTONY。 Nay； now you grow too cynical； Ventidius： A lady's favours may be worn with honour。 What； to refuse her bracelet！ On my soul； When I lie pensive in my tent alone； 'Twill pass the wakeful hours of winter nights； To tell these pretty beads upon my arm； To count for every one a soft embrace； A melting kiss at such and such a time： And now and then the fury of her love； WhenAnd what harm's in this？
ALEXAS。 None； none； my lord； But what's to her； that now 'tis past for ever。
ANTONY。 ＇going to tie it。＇ We soldiers are so awkwardhelp me tie it。
ALEXAS。 In faith； my lord； we courtiers too are awkward In these affairs： so are all men indeed： Even I； who am not one。 But shall I speak？
ANTONY。 Yes； freely。
ALEXAS。 Then； my lord； fair hands alone Are fit to tie it； she； who sent it can。
VENTIDIUS。 Hell； death！ this eunuch pander ruins you。 You will not see her？
＇ALEXAS whispers an ATTENDANT； who goes out。＇
ANTONY。 But to take my leave。
VENTIDIUS。 Then I have washed an Aethiop。 You're undone； Y' are in the toils； y' are taken； y' are destroyed： Her eyes do Caesar's work。
ANTONY。 You fear too soon。 I'm constant to myself： I know my strength； And yet she shall not think me barbarous neither； Born in the depths of Afric： I am a Roman； Bred in the rules of soft humanity。 A guest； and kindly used； should bid farewell。
VENTIDIUS。 You do not know How weak you are to her； how much an infant： You are not proof against a smile； or glance： A sigh will quite disarm you。
ANTONY。 See； she comes！ Now you shall find your error。Gods； I thank you： I formed the danger greater than it was； And now 'tis near； 'tis lessened。
VENTIDIUS。 Mark the end yet。
Enter CLEOPATRA； CHARMION； and IRAS
ANTONY。 Well； madam； we are met。
CLEOPATRA。 Is this a meeting？ Then； we must part？
ANTONY。 We must。
CLEOPATRA。 Who says we must？
ANTONY。 Our own hard fates。
CLEOPATRA。 We make those fates ourselves。
ANTONY。 Yes； we have made them； we have loved each other； Into our mutual ruin。
CLEOPATRA。 The gods have seen my joys with envious eyes； I have no friends in heaven； and all the world； As 'twere the business of mankind to part us； Is armed against my love： even you yourself Join with the rest； you； you are armed against me。
ANTONY。 I will be justified in all I do To late posterity； and therefore hear me。 If I mix a lie With any truth； reproach me freely with it； Else； favour me with silence。
CLEOPATRA。 You command me； And I am dumb。
VENTIDIUS。 I like this well； he shows authority。
ANTONY。 That I derive my ruin 》From you alone
CLEOPATRA。 O heavens！ I ruin you！
ANTONY。 You promised me your silence； and you break it Ere I have scarce begun。
CLEOPATRA。 Well； I obey you。
ANTONY。 When I beheld you first； it was in Egypt。 Ere Caesar saw your eyes； you gave me love； And were too young to know it； that I settled Your father in his throne； was for your sake； I left the acknowledgment for time to ripen。 Caesar stept in； and； with a greedy hand； Plucked the green fruit； ere the first blush of red； Yet cleaving to the bough。 He was my lord； And was； beside； too great for me to rival； But； I deserved you first； though he enjoyed you。 When； after； I beheld you in Cilicia； An enemy to Rome； I pardoned you。
CLEOPATRA。 I cleared myself
ANTONY。 Again you break your promise。 I loved you still； and took your weak excuses； Took you into my bosom； stained by Caesar； And not half mine： I went to Egypt with you； And hid me from the business of the world； Shut out inquiring nations from my sight； To give whole years to you。
VENTIDIUS。 Yes； to your shame be't spoken。 ＇Aside。＇
ANTONY。 How I loved。 Witness； ye days and nights； and all ye hours； That danced away with down upon your feet； As all your business were to count my passion！ One day passed by； and nothing saw but love； Another came； and still 'twas only love： The suns were wearied out with looking on； And I untired with loving。 I saw you every day； and all the day； And every day was still but as the first； So eager was I still to see you more。
VENTIDIUS。 'Tis all too true。
ANTONY。 Fulvia； my wife； grew jealous； （As she indeed had reason） raised a war In Italy； to call me back。
VENTIDIUS。 But yet You went not。
ANTONY。 While within your arms I lay； The world fell mouldering from my hands each hour； And left me scarce a graspI thank your love for't。
VENTIDIUS。 Well pushed： that last was home。
CLEOPATRA。 Yet may I speak？
ANTONY。 If I have urged a falsehood； yes； else； not。 Your silence says； I have not。 Fulvia died； （Pardon； you gods； with my unkindness died）； To set the world at peace； I took Octavia； This Caesar's sister； in her pride of youth； And flower of beauty； did I wed that lady； Whom blushing I must praise； because I left her。 You called； my love obeyed the fatal summons： This raised the Roman arms； the cause was yours。 I would have fought by land； where I was stronger； You hindered it： yet； when I fought at sea； Forsook me fighting； and （O stain to honour！ O lasting shame！） I knew not that I fled； But fled to follow you。
VENTIDIUS。 What haste she made to hoist her purple sails！ And； to appear magnificent in flight； Drew half our strength away。
ANTONY。 All this you caused。 And； would you multiply more ruins on me？ This honest man； my best； my only friend； Has gathered up the shipwreck of my fortunes； Twelve legions I have left； my last recruits。 And you have watched the news； and bring your eyes To seize them too。 If you have aught to answer； Now speak； you have free leave。
ALEXAS。 ＇aside。＇ She stands confounded： Despair is in her eyes。
VENTIDIUS。 Now lay a sigh in the way to stop his passage： Prepare a tear； and bid it for his legions； 'Tis like they shall be sold。
CLEOPATRA。 How shall I plead my cause； when you； my judge； Already have condemned me？ Shall I bring The love you bore me for my advocate？ That now is turned against me； that destroys me； For love； once past； is； at the best； forgotten； But oftener sours to hate： 'twill please my lord To ruin me； and therefore I'll be guilty。 But； could I once have thought it would have pleased you； That you would pry； with narrow searching eyes； Into my faults； severe to my destruction； And watching all advantages with care； That serve to make me wretched？ Speak； my lord； For I end here。 Though I deserved this usage； Was it like you to give it？
ANTONY。 Oh； you wrong me； To think I sought this parting； or desired To accuse you more than what will clear myself； And justify this breach。
CLEOPATRA。 Thus low I thank you； And； since my innocence will not offend； I shall not blush to own it。
VENTIDIUS。 After this； I think she'll blush at nothing。
CLEOPATRA。 You seem grieved （And therein you are kind） that Caesar first Enjoyed my love； though you deserved it better： I grieve for that； my lord； much more than you； For； had I first been yours； it would have saved My second choice： I never had been his； And ne'er had been but yours。 But Caesar first； You say； possessed my love。 Not so； my lord： He first possessed my person； you； my love： Caesar loved me； but I loved Antony。 If I endured him after； 'twas because I judged it due to the first name of men； And； half constrained； I gave； as to a tyrant； What he would take by force。
VENTIDIUS。 O Syren！ Syren！ Yet grant that all the love she boasts were true； Has she not ruined you？ I still urge that； The fatal consequence。
CLEOPATRA。 The consequence indeed For I dare challenge him； my greatest foe； To say it was designed： 'tis true； I loved you； And kept you far from an uneasy wife； Such Fulvia was。 Yes； but he'll say； you left Octavia for me； And； can you blame me to receive that love； Which quitted such desert； for worthless me？ How often have I wished some other Caesar； Great as the first； and as the second young； Would court my love； to be refused for you！
VENTIDIUS。 Words； words； but Actium； sir； remember Actium。
CLEOPATRA。 Even there； I dare his malice。 True； I counselled To fight at sea； but I betrayed you not。 I fled； but not to the enemy。 'Twas fear； Would I had been a man； not to have feared！ For none would then have envied me your friendship； Who envy me your love。
ANTONY。 We are both unhappy： If nothing else； yet our ill fortune parts us。 Speak； would you have me perish by my stay？
CLEOPATRA。 If； as a friend； you ask my judgment； go； If； as a lover； stay。 If you must perish 'Tis a hard wordbut stay。
VENTIDIUS。 See now the effects of her so boasted love！ She strives to drag you down to ruin with her； But； could she 'scape without you； oh； how soon Would she let go her hold； and haste to shore； And never look behind！
CLEOPATRA。 Then judge my love by this。 ＇Giving ANTONY a writing。＇ Could I have borne A life or death； a happiness or woe； 》From yours divided； this had given me means。
ANTONY。 By Hercules； the writing of Octavius！ I know it well： 'tis that proscribing hand； Young as it was； that led the way to mine； And left me but the second place in murder。 See； see； Ventidius！ here he offers Egypt； And joins all Syria to it； as a present； So； in requital； she forsake my fortunes； And join her arms with his。
CLEOPATRA。 And yet you leave me！ You leave me； Antony； and yet I love you； Indeed I do： I have refused a kingdom； That is a trifle； For I could part with life； with anything； But only you。 Oh； let me die but with you！ Is that a hard request？
ANTONY。 Next living with you； 'Tis all that Heaven can give。
ALEXAS。 He melts； we conquer。 ＇Aside。＇
CLEOPATRA。 No； you shall go： your interest calls you hence； Yes； your dear interest pulls too strong； for these Weak arms to hold you here。 ＇Takes his hand。＇ Go； leave me； soldier （For you're no more a lover）： leave me dying： Push me； all pale and panting； from your bosom； And； when your march begins； let one run after； Breathless almost for joy； and cryShe's dead。 The soldiers shout； you then； perhaps； may sigh； And muster all your Roman gravity： Ventidius chides； and straight your brow cl