That I shall do some wild extravagance
Of love in publick; and the foolish world,
Which knows not tenderness, will think me

mad.

Ven. O women! women! women! all the

gods

Have not such pow'r of doing good to man,
As you of doing harm.

Exit.

Ant.
Our men are arm'd.
Unbar the gate that looks to Cæsar's camp;
I would revenge the treachery he meant me;
And long security makes conquest easie.
I'm eager to return before I go;
For all the pleasures I have known beat thick
On my remembrance; how I long for night!

That both the sweets of mutual love may try,
And once triumph o're Cæsar [ere] we die.

462 once triumph. Sb, triumph once.

Exeunt.

ere. Omitted in QI.

450

455

ACT III.

At one door enter Cleopatra, Charmion, Iras, and
Alexas, a train of Ægyptians: at the other,
Antony and Romans. The entrance on both sides
is prepar'd by musick; the trumpets first sounding
on Antony's part: then answer' d by timbrels, &c.,
on Cleopatra's. Charmion and Iras hold a laurel
wreath betwixt them. A dance of Egyptians.
After the
ceremony, Cleopatra crowns Antony.
Antony. I thought how those white arms
would fold me in,

And strain me close, and melt me into love;
So pleas'd with that sweet image, I sprung for-
wards,

And added all my strength to every blow.

Cleopatra. Come to me, come, my soldier, to
my arms!

You've been too long away from my embraces;
But when I have you fast and all my own,
With broken murmurs, and with amorous sighs,
I'll say, you were unkind, and punish you,
And mark you red with many an eager kiss.
Ant. My brighter Venus!

Cleop.

O my greater Mars!

5

ΤΟ

part. 23, parts.

Ant. Thou joinst us well, my love!
Suppose me come from the Phlegræan plains,
Where gasping gyants lay, cleft by my sword,
And mountain tops par'd off each other blow,
To bury those I slew; receive me, goddess!
Let Cæsar spread his subtile nets like Vulcan;
In thy embraces I would be beheld
By Heav'n and earth at once,

And make their envy what they meant their

sport.

Let those who took us blush; I would love on
With awful state, regardless of their frowns,
As their superior god.

There's no satiety of love in thee:

Enjoy'd, thou still art new; perpetual spring
Is in thy armes; the ripen'd fruit but falls,
And blossoms rise to fill its empty place;
And I grow rich by giving.

Enter Ventidius, and stands apart.

Alexas. O, now the danger's past, your general comes !

He joyns not in your joys, nor minds your tri

umphs;

But with contracted brows looks frowning on,
As envying your success.

Ant. Now, on my soul, he loves me; truely
loves me :

15 par'd. Sb, paired.

15

20

25

30

He never flatter'd me in any vice,

But awes me with his virtue: ev'n this minute, 35 Methinks, he has a right of chiding me.

Lead to the temple; I'll avoid his presence;

It checks too strong upon me.

Exeunt the rest. As Antony is going, Ven-
tidius pulls him by the robe.

Ventidius.

Emperor!

Ant. (looking back). 'Tis the old argument; I pr'ythee, spare me.

Ven. But this one hearing, emperor.

Ant.

Let go 40 My robe; or, by my father Hercules

Ven. By Hercules his father, that's yet

greater,

I bring you somewhat you would wish to know.
Ant. Thou see'st we are observ'd, attend me

here,

And I'll return.

Exit. 45

Ven. I'm waining in his favor, yet I love

him;

I love this man, who runs to meet his ruine;
And sure the gods, like me, are fond of him;
His virtues lye so mingled with his crimes,

As would confound their choice to punish one, 50
And not reward the other.

Enter Antony.

Ant.

We can conquer,

You see, without your aid.

We have dislodg'd their troops;

They look on us at distance, and, like curs
Scap'd from the lions paws, they bay far off.
And lick their wounds and faintly threaten war.
Five thousand Romans, with their faces upward,
Lye breathless on the plain.

Ven.

'Tis well; and he Who lost 'em, could have spar'd ten thousand

more.

Yet if by this advantage you could gain

An easier peace, while Cæsar doubts the chance
Of arms
Ant. O, think not on't, Ventidius!
The boy pursues my ruin, he'll no peace;
His malice is considerate in advantage.
O, he's the coolest murderer so stanch,
He kills and keeps his temper.

Ven.
Have you no friend
In all his army, who has power to move him?
Mecanas or Agrippa might do much.

Ant. They're both too deep in Cæsar's inter

ests.

We'll work it out by dint of sword, or perish.
Ven. Fain I would find some other.

Ant.
Thank thy love.
Some four or five such victories as this
Will save thy farther pains.

55

60

65