Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/88

76

Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches:

Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her, but

Your comfort makes the rescue.

Ant. I have offended reputation,

A most unnoble swerving.

Eros. Sir, the queen.

Ant. O! whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See,

How I convey my shame out of thine eyes

By looking back what I have left behind

'Stroy'd in dishonour.

Cleo. O my lord, my lord!

Forgive my fearful sails: I little thought

You would have follow'd.

Ant. Egypt, thou knew'st too well

My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings,

And thou shouldst tow me after; o'er my spirit

Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that

Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods

Command me.

Cleo. O! my pardon.

Ant. Now I must

To the young man send humble treaties, dodge

And palter in the shifts of lowness, who

With half the bulk o' the world play'd as I pleas'd,

Making and marring fortunes. You did know

How much you were my conqueror, and that

My sword, made weak by my affection, would

Obey it on all cause.

Cleo. Pardon, pardon!

Ant. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates

All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss;

Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster;

Is he come back? Love, I am full of lead.

 52–54 How I convey dishonour; cf. n.

63 palter: use tricks

69 rates: is of equal value with 