All For Love [25]
VENTIDIUS. Was ever sight so moving?--Emperor!
DOLABELLA. Friend!
OCTAVIA. Husband!
BOTH CHILDREN. Father!
ANTONY. I am vanquished: take me, Octavia; take me, children; share me all. [Embracing them.]
I've been a thriftless debtor to your loves, And run out much, in riot, from your stock; But all shall be amended.
OCTAVIA. O blest hour!
DOLABELLA. O happy change!
VENTIDIUS. My joy stops at my tongue; But it has found two channels here for one, And bubbles out above.
ANTONY. [to OCTAVIA] This is thy triumph; lead me where thou wilt; Even to thy brother's camp.
OCTAVIA. All there are yours.
Enter ALEXAS hastily
ALEXAS. The queen, my mistress, sir, and yours--
ANTONY. 'Tis past.-- Octavia, you shall stay this night: To-morrow, Caesar and we are one. [Exit leading OCTAVIA; DOLABELLA and the CHILDREN follow.]
VENTIDIUS. There's news for you; run, my officious eunuch, Be sure to be the first; haste forward: Haste, my dear eunuch, haste. [Exit.]
ALEXAS. This downright fighting fool, this thick-skulled hero, This blunt, unthinking instrument of death, With plain dull virtue has outgone my wit. Pleasure forsook my earliest infancy; The luxury of others robbed my cradle, And ravished thence the promise of a man. Cast out from nature, disinherited Of what her meanest children claim by kind, Yet greatness kept me from contempt: that's gone. Had Cleopatra followed my advice, Then he had been betrayed who now forsakes. She dies for love; but she has known its joys: Gods, is this just, that I, who know no joys, Must die, because she loves?
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, IRAS, and Train
O madam, I have seen what blasts my eyes! Octavia's here.
CLEOPATRA. Peace with that raven's note. I know it too; and now am in The pangs of death.
ALEXAS. You are no more a queen; Egypt is lost.
CLEOPATRA. What tell'st thou me of Egypt? My life, my soul is lost! Octavia has him!-- O fatal name to Cleopatra's love! My kisses, my embraces now are hers; While I--But thou hast seen my rival; speak, Does she deserve this blessing? Is she fair? Bright as a goddess? and is all perfection Confined to her? It is. Poor I was made Of that coarse matter, which, when she was finished, The gods threw by for rubbish.
ALEXAS. She is indeed a very miracle.
CLEOPATRA. Death to my hopes, a miracle!
ALEXAS. A miracle; [Bowing.] I mean of goodness; for in beauty, madam, You make all wonders cease.
CLEOPATRA. I was too rash: Take this in part of recompense. But, oh! [Giving a ring.] I fear thou flatterest me.
CHARMION. She comes! she's here!
IRAS. Fly, madam, Caesar's sister!
CLEOPATRA. Were she the sister of the thunderer Jove, And bore her brother's lightning in her eyes, Thus would I face my rival. [Meets OCTAVIA with VENTIDIUS. OCTAVIA bears up to her. Their Trains come up on either side.]
OCTAVIA. I need not ask if you are Cleopatra; Your haughty carriage--
CLEOPATRA. Shows I am a queen: Nor need I ask you, who you are.
OCTAVIA. A Roman: A name, that makes and can unmake a queen.
CLEOPATRA. Your lord, the man who serves me, is a Roman.
OCTAVIA. He was a Roman, till he lost that name, To be a slave in Egypt; but I come To free him thence.
CLEOPATRA. Peace, peace, my lover's Juno. When he grew weary of that household clog, He chose my easier bonds.
OCTAVIA. I wonder not Your bonds are easy: you have long been practised In that lascivious art: He's not the first For whom you spread your snares: Let Caesar witness.
CLEOPATRA. I loved not Caesar; 'twas but gratitude I paid his love: The worst your malice can, Is but to say the greatest of mankind Has been my slave. The next, but far above him In my esteem, is he whom law calls yours, But whom his love made mine.
OCTAVIA. I would view nearer. [Coming up close to her.] That face, which has so long usurped my right, To find the inevitable charms, that catch Mankind so sure, that ruined my dear lord.
CLEOPATRA. Oh, you do