Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/123

Antony and Cleopatra, IV. xiii

Not Cæsar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,

But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself.

Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony

Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only

I here importune death awhile, until

Of many thousand kisses the poor last

I lay upon thy lips.

Cleo. I dare not, dear,—

Dear my lord, pardon,—I dare not,

Lest I be taken: not the imperious show

Of the full-fortun'd Cæsar ever shall

Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, have

Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe:

Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes

And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour

Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony,—

Help me, my women,—we must draw thee up.

Assist, good friends.

Ant. O! quick, or I am gone.

Cleo. Here's sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!

Our strength is all gone into heaviness,

That makes the weight. Had I great Juno's power,

The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up,

And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little,

Wishers were ever fools. O! come, come, come;

And welcome, welcome! die where thou hast liv'd;

Quicken with kissing; had my lips that power,

Thus would I wear them out.

All. A heavy sight!

Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying:

 25 brooch'd: adorned

28 still conclusion: quiet inference

29 Demuring: looking demurely

39 Quicken: come to life

