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Home  »  The Oxford Shakespeare  »  Antony and Cleopatra

William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.

Act IV. Scene IX.

Antony and Cleopatra

CÆSAR’S Camp.

Sentinels on their post.

First Sold.If we be not reliev’d within this hour,

We must return to the court of guard: the night

Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle

By the second hour i’ the morn.

Sec. Sold.This last day was

A shrewd one to ’s.

Enter ENOBARBUS.

Eno.O! bear me witness, night,—

Third Sold.What man is this?

Sec. Sold.Stand close and list him.

Eno.Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,

When men revolted shall upon record

Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did

Before thy face repent!

First Sold.Enobarbus!

Third Sold.Peace!

Hark further.

Eno.O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,

The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,

That life, a very rebel to my will,

May hang no longer on me; throw my heart

Against the flint and hardness of my fault,

Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder,

And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony!

Nobler than my revolt is infamous,

Forgive me in thine own particular;

But let the world rank me in register

A master-leaver and a fugitive.

O Antony! O Antony![Dies.

Sec. Sold.Let’s speak to him.

First Sold.Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks

May concern Cæsar.

Third Sold.Let’s do so. But he sleeps.

First Sold.Swounds rather; for so bad a prayer as his

Was never yet for sleep.

Sec. Sold.Go we to him.

Third Sold.Awake, sir, awake! speak to us.

Sec. Sold.Hear you, sir?

First Sold.The Land of death hath raught him.[Drums afar off.

Hark! the drums

Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him

To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour

Is fully out.

Third Sold.Come on, then;

He may recover yet.[Exeunt with the body.