Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/119

Antony and Cleopatra, IV. xii

Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down

His corrigible neck, his face subdu'd

To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat

Of fortunate Cæsar, drawn before him, branded

His baseness that ensu'd?

Eros. I would not see 't.

Ant. Come, then; for with a wound I must be cur'd.

Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn

Most useful for thy country.

Eros. O, sir! pardon me.

Ant. 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 unpurpos'd. Draw, and come.

Eros. Turn from me then that noble countenance,

Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

Ant. Lo thee!

Eros. My sword is drawn.

Ant. Then let it do at once

The thing why thou hast drawn it.

Eros. My dear master,

My captain, and my emperor, let me say,

Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.

Ant. 'Tis said, man; and farewell.

Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

Ant. Now, Eros.

Eros. Why, there then; thus do I escape the sorrow

Of Antony's death.

Ant. Thrice-nobler than myself!

Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what

 73 pleach'd: folded

74 corrigible: submissive

86 worship: dignity

