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Eros, thou yet behold’st me?
Eros, do you still see me?
Ay, noble lord.
Yes, noble lord.
Sometimes we see a cloud that’s dragonish; A vapour sometime like a bear or lion, A tower’d citadel, a pendent rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon’t, that nod unto the world, And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper’s pageants.
Sometimes we see a cloud that looks like a dragon; A vapor that sometimes looks like a bear or lion, A tall fortress, a hanging rock, A forked mountain, or a blue cliff With trees on it, that sway in the wind, And deceive our eyes with illusions: you’ve seen these shapes; They are the fading illusions of the evening.
Ay, my lord,
Yes, my lord,
That which is now a horse, even with a thought The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct, As water is in water.
What is now a horse can, with just a thought, Disappear like a blur, and become unclear, Just like water dissolves in water.
It does, my lord.
It does, my lord.
My good knave Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body: here I am Antony: Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. I made these wars for Egypt: and the queen,-- Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine; Which whilst it was mine had annex’d unto’t A million more, now lost,--she, Eros, has Pack’d cards with Caesar, and false-play’d my glory Unto an enemy’s triumph. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us Ourselves to end ourselves.
My good servant Eros, now your captain is Just like that: here I am, Antony: Yet I cannot hold onto this visible shape, my servant. I fought these wars for Egypt: and the queen,-- Whose heart I thought I had, because she had mine; When it was mine, it was joined to a million more, now lost,-- she, Eros, has Betrayed me with Caesar, and dishonored my glory For an enemy’s victory. Don’t cry, dear Eros; we still have Ourselves to bring an end to this.
O! thy vile lady! She has robb’d me of my sword.
Oh! your wicked lady! She has stolen my sword.
No, Antony; My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled With thine entirely.
No, Antony; My mistress loved you, and her fate was completely Tied to yours.
Hence, saucy eunuch; peace! She hath betray’d me and shall die the death.
Get out, insolent eunuch; be quiet! She betrayed me and will die for it.
Death of one person can be paid but once, And that she has discharged: what thou wouldst do Is done unto thy hand: the last she spake Was ’Antony! most noble Antony!’ Then in the midst a tearing groan did break The name of Antony; it was divided Between her heart and lips: she render’d life, Thy name so buried in her.
One person’s death can only be paid for once, And she has done that: what you would do Has already been done to you: the last thing she said Was ’Antony! most noble Antony!’ Then, in the middle of it, a painful groan broke Her saying of your name; it was torn Between her heart and her lips: she gave up her life, And your name was buried in her.
Dead, then?
She’s dead, then?
Dead.
Dead.
Unarm, Eros; the long day’s task is done, And we must sleep.
Take off your armor, Eros; the long day’s work is over, And we must sleep.
That thou depart’st hence safe, Does pay thy labour richly; go.
That you leave here safely, Makes your effort worthwhile; go.
Off, pluck off: The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides! Heart, once be stronger than thy continent, Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace. No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go; You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.
Off, take it off: Even Ajax’s seven-layered shield can’t protect My heart from this attack. Oh, tear, my sides! Heart, be stronger than your container, Break open your fragile case! Quickly, Eros, quickly. No more soldiering: broken pieces, go; You’ve been carried nobly. Leave me for a while.
I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now All length is torture: since the torch is out, Lie down, and stray no farther: now all labour Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done. Eros!--I come, my queen:--Eros!--Stay for me: Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand, And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze: Dido and her AEneas shall want troops, And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros!
I will catch up to you, Cleopatra, and Cry for my forgiveness. It must be, for now Every moment is torture: since the light is gone, Lie down, and don’t wander further: now all effort Ruins what it’s meant to achieve; yes, even strength gets caught In its own force: seal it now, and everything’s finished. Eros!--I’m coming, my queen:--Eros!--Wait for me: Where souls rest on flowers, we’ll walk hand in hand, And with our lively step, make the ghosts watch: Dido and her Aeneas will lack followers, And all the place will be ours. Come, Eros, Eros!
What would my lord?
What do you want, my lord?
Since Cleopatra died, I have lived in such dishonour, that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Quarter’d the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack The courage of a woman; less noble mind Than she which by her death our Caesar tells ’I am conqueror of myself.’ Thou art sworn, Eros, That, when the exigent should come, which now Is come indeed, when I should see behind me The inevitable prosecution of Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, Thou then wouldst kill me: do’t; the time is come: Thou strikest not me, ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st. Put colour in thy cheek.
Since Cleopatra died, I’ve lived in such dishonor that the gods Hate my meanness. I, who with my sword Divided the world, and with ships built cities Over the seas, now condemn myself to lack The courage of a woman; a weaker mind Than hers, who by her death our Caesar declares, ’I’ve conquered myself.’ You swore, Eros, That, when the time came, which has now arrived, When I should see behind me The certain pursuit of Shame and horror, that, at my command, You would kill me: do it; the time is here: You’re not killing me, you’re defeating Caesar. Put some color in your face.
The gods withhold me! Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?
The gods won’t let me! Should I do what even all the Parthian arrows, Though aimed at an enemy, failed to do?
Eros, Wouldst thou be window’d in great Rome and see Thy master thus with pleach’d arms, bending down His corrigible neck, his face subdued To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel’d seat Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded His baseness that ensued?
Eros, Would you want to stand in great Rome and see Your master like this, with arms tied, bowing down His neck in shame, his face bent low To penetrating dishonor, while Caesar’s throne Is drawn before him, marking The disgrace that followed?
I would not see’t.
I would not want to see that.
Come, then; for with a wound I must be cured. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country.
Then come; for with a wound I must be healed. Draw that honest sword, which you’ve carried So honorably for your country.
O, sir, pardon me!
Oh, sir, forgive me!
When I did make thee free, sworest thou not then To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once; Or thy precedent services are all But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.
When I made you free, didn’t you swear back then To do this when I told you to? Do it now; Or all the things you’ve done for me before Will have been just random, unplanned actions. Draw your sword, and come here.
Turn from me, then, that noble countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.
Turn away from me, then, that noble face, In which the worship of the whole world exists.
Lo thee!
Look at you!
My sword is drawn.
My sword is ready.
Then let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it.
Then let it do right now What you drew it for.
My dear master, My captain, and my emperor, let me say, Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
My dear master, My captain, and my emperor, let me say, Before I strike this deadly blow, goodbye.
’Tis said, man; and farewell.
It’s already been said, man; and goodbye.
Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
Goodbye, great leader. Should I strike now?
Now, Eros.
Now, Eros.
Why, there then: thus I do escape the sorrow Of Antony’s death.
Well, here goes: this is how I avoid the pain Of Antony’s death.
Thrice-nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros Have by their brave instruction got upon me A nobleness in record: but I will be A bridegroom in my death, and run into’t As to a lover’s bed. Come, then; and, Eros, Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus
You’re three times nobler than I am! You’ve taught me, brave Eros, what I should do, and you couldn’t. My queen and Eros Have taught me a nobility worth recording: But I’ll be a bridegroom in my death, and run into it As if it were a lover’s bed. Come, then; and, Eros, Your master dies, and you, my student, do this
I learn’d of thee. How! not dead? not dead? The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!
I learned from you. What! Not dead? Not dead? The guard, help! Oh, hurry and finish me!
What’s the noise?
What’s going on?
I have done my work in, friends: O, make an end Of what I have begun.
I’ve done what I came to do, friends: Oh, finish What I’ve started.
The star is fall’n.
The star has fallen.
And time is at his period.
And time has run out.
Alas, and woe!
Oh, what a disaster!
Let him that loves me strike me dead.
Let the person who loves me kill me.
Not I.
Not me.
Nor I.
Not me either.
Nor any one.
Not any of us.
Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him.
Your death and fate make your followers run away. This sword, just shown to Caesar with this news, Will join me with him.
Where’s Antony?
Where’s Antony?
There, Diomed there.
Over there, Diomed, over there.
Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?
Is he alive? Won’t you answer me, man?
Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me Sufficing strokes for death.
Is that you, Diomed? Draw your sword and give me Enough blows to kill me.
Most absolute lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.
Most honorable lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to you.
When did she send thee?
When did she send you?
Now, my lord.
Just now, my lord.
Where is she?
Where is she?
Lock’d in her monument. She had a prophesying fear Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw-- Which never shall be found--you did suspect She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead; But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, I dread, too late.
Locked in her tomb. She was afraid of what has happened: When she saw—something that will never be found—she thought You suspected she had made a deal with Caesar, and that your anger Would never be calmed. So, she told you she was dead; But, worried about how that might affect things, she sent Me to tell you the truth; and I fear I’m too late.
Too late, good Diomed: call my guard, I prithee.
Too late, good Diomed. Call my guards, please.
What, ho, the emperor’s guard! The guard, what, ho! Come, your lord calls!
What, hey, the emperor’s guards! The guards, what, hey! Come, your lord is calling!
Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides; ’Tis the last service that I shall command you.
Take me, good friends, where Cleopatra is; This is the last thing I’ll ask you to do.
Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear All your true followers out.
Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to see All your loyal followers die.
Most heavy day!
A terrible day!
Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome Which comes to punish us, and we punish it Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up: I have led you oft: carry me now, good friends, And have my thanks for all.
No, my good friends, don’t make sharp fate worse By adding your sadness to it. Welcome what’s coming To punish us, and we’ll punish it By acting like we don’t care. Pick me up: I’ve led you before: carry me now, good friends, And thank you for everything.