Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/97

Antony and Cleopatra, III. xi

Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike

My speech and what is done, tell him he has

Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom

He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,

As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou:

Hence with thy stripes; be gone!

Exit Thyreus.

Cleo. Have you done yet?

Ant. Alack! our terrene moon

Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone

The fall of Antony.

Cleo. I must stay his time.

Ant. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle eyes

With one that ties his points?

Cleo. Not know me yet?

Ant. Cold-hearted toward me?

Cleo. Ah! dear, if I be so,

From my cold heart let heaven engender hail,

And poison it in the source; and the first stone

Drop in my neck: as it determines, so

Dissolve my life. The next Cæsarion smite,

Till by degrees the memory of my womb,

Together with my brave Egyptians all,

By the discandying of this pelleted storm,

Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile

Have buried them for prey!

Ant. I am satisfied.

Cæsar sits down in Alexandria, where

I will oppose his fate. Our force by land

Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too

Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sea-like.

 149 enfranched: enfranchised

151 quit: be even with

153 terrene: terrestrial

157 points: laces

161 determines: comes to an end

165 discandying: dissolving

171 fleet: are afloat

