All For Love [38]
lies, And dead Ventidius by him.
CLEOPATRA. My tears were prophets; I am come too late. O that accursed Alexas! [Runs to him.]
ANTONY. Art thou living? Or am I dead before I knew, and thou The first kind ghost that meets me?
CLEOPATRA. Help me seat him. Send quickly, send for help! [They place him in a chair.]
ANTONY. I am answered. We live both. Sit thee down, my Cleopatra: I'll make the most I can of life, to stay A moment more with thee.
CLEOPATRA. How is it with you?
ANTONY. 'Tis as with a man Removing in a hurry; all packed up, But one dear jewel that his haste forgot; And he, for that, returns upon the spur: So I come back for thee.
CLEOPATRA. Too long, ye heavens, you have been cruel to me: Now show your mended faith, and give me back His fleeting life!
ANTONY. It will not be, my love; I keep my soul by force. Say but, thou art not false.
CLEOPATRA. 'Tis now too late To say I'm true: I'll prove it, and die with you. Unknown to me, Alexas feigned my death: Which, when I knew, I hasted to prevent This fatal consequence. My fleet betrayed Both you and me.
ANTONY. And Dolabella--
CLEOPATRA. Scarce Esteemed before he loved; but hated now.
ANTONY. Enough: my life's not long enough for more. Thou say'st, thou wilt come after: I believe thee; For I can now believe whate'er thou sayest, That we may part more kindly.
CLEOPATRA. I will come: Doubt not, my life, I'll come, and quickly too: Caesar shall triumph o'er no part of thee.
ANTONY. But grieve not, while thou stayest, My last disastrous times: Think we have had a clear and glorious day And Heaven did kindly to delay the storm, Just till our close of evening. Ten years' love, And not a moment lost, but all improved To the utmost joys,--what ages have we lived? And now to die each other's; and, so dying, While hand in hand we walk in groves below, Whole troops of lovers' ghosts shall flock about us, And all the train be ours.
CLEOPATRA. Your words are like the notes of dying swans, Too sweet to last. Were there so many hours For your unkindness, and not one for love?
ANTONY. No, not a minute.--This one kiss--more worth Than all I leave to Caesar. [Dies.]
CLEOPATRA. O tell me so again, And take ten thousand kisses for that word. My lord, my lord! speak, if you yet have being; Sign to me, if you cannot speak; or cast One look! Do anything that shows you live.
IRAS. He's gone too far to hear you; And this you see, a lump of senseless clay, The leavings of a soul.
CHARMION. Remember, madam, He charged you not to grieve.
CLEOPATRA. And I'll obey him. I have not loved a Roman, not to know What should become his wife; his wife, my Charmion! For 'tis to that high title I aspire; And now I'll not die less. Let dull Octavia Survive, to mourn him dead: My nobler fate Shall knit our spousals with a tie, too strong For Roman laws to break.
IRAS. Will you then die?
CLEOPATRA. Why shouldst thou make that question?
IRAS. Caesar is merciful.
CLEOPATRA. Let him be so To those that want his mercy: My poor lord Made no such covenant with him, to spare me When he was dead. Yield me to Caesar's pride? What! to be led in triumph through the streets, A spectacle to base plebeian eyes; While some dejected friend of Antony's, Close in a corner, shakes his head, and mutters A secret curse on her who ruined him! I'll none of that.
CHARMION. Whatever you resolve, I'll follow, even to death.
IRAS. I only feared For you; but more should fear to live without you.
CLEOPATRA. Why, now, 'tis as it should be. Quick, my friends, Despatch; ere this, the town's in Caesar's hands: My lord looks down concerned, and fears my stay, Lest I should be surprised; Keep him not waiting for his love too long. You, Charmion, bring my crown and richest jewels; With them, the wreath of victory I made (Vain augury!) for him, who now lies dead: You, Iras, bring the cure of all our ills.
IRAS. The aspics, madam?
CLEOPATRA. Must I bid you twice? [Exit CHARMION and IRAS.] 'Tis sweet
CLEOPATRA. My tears were prophets; I am come too late. O that accursed Alexas! [Runs to him.]
ANTONY. Art thou living? Or am I dead before I knew, and thou The first kind ghost that meets me?
CLEOPATRA. Help me seat him. Send quickly, send for help! [They place him in a chair.]
ANTONY. I am answered. We live both. Sit thee down, my Cleopatra: I'll make the most I can of life, to stay A moment more with thee.
CLEOPATRA. How is it with you?
ANTONY. 'Tis as with a man Removing in a hurry; all packed up, But one dear jewel that his haste forgot; And he, for that, returns upon the spur: So I come back for thee.
CLEOPATRA. Too long, ye heavens, you have been cruel to me: Now show your mended faith, and give me back His fleeting life!
ANTONY. It will not be, my love; I keep my soul by force. Say but, thou art not false.
CLEOPATRA. 'Tis now too late To say I'm true: I'll prove it, and die with you. Unknown to me, Alexas feigned my death: Which, when I knew, I hasted to prevent This fatal consequence. My fleet betrayed Both you and me.
ANTONY. And Dolabella--
CLEOPATRA. Scarce Esteemed before he loved; but hated now.
ANTONY. Enough: my life's not long enough for more. Thou say'st, thou wilt come after: I believe thee; For I can now believe whate'er thou sayest, That we may part more kindly.
CLEOPATRA. I will come: Doubt not, my life, I'll come, and quickly too: Caesar shall triumph o'er no part of thee.
ANTONY. But grieve not, while thou stayest, My last disastrous times: Think we have had a clear and glorious day And Heaven did kindly to delay the storm, Just till our close of evening. Ten years' love, And not a moment lost, but all improved To the utmost joys,--what ages have we lived? And now to die each other's; and, so dying, While hand in hand we walk in groves below, Whole troops of lovers' ghosts shall flock about us, And all the train be ours.
CLEOPATRA. Your words are like the notes of dying swans, Too sweet to last. Were there so many hours For your unkindness, and not one for love?
ANTONY. No, not a minute.--This one kiss--more worth Than all I leave to Caesar. [Dies.]
CLEOPATRA. O tell me so again, And take ten thousand kisses for that word. My lord, my lord! speak, if you yet have being; Sign to me, if you cannot speak; or cast One look! Do anything that shows you live.
IRAS. He's gone too far to hear you; And this you see, a lump of senseless clay, The leavings of a soul.
CHARMION. Remember, madam, He charged you not to grieve.
CLEOPATRA. And I'll obey him. I have not loved a Roman, not to know What should become his wife; his wife, my Charmion! For 'tis to that high title I aspire; And now I'll not die less. Let dull Octavia Survive, to mourn him dead: My nobler fate Shall knit our spousals with a tie, too strong For Roman laws to break.
IRAS. Will you then die?
CLEOPATRA. Why shouldst thou make that question?
IRAS. Caesar is merciful.
CLEOPATRA. Let him be so To those that want his mercy: My poor lord Made no such covenant with him, to spare me When he was dead. Yield me to Caesar's pride? What! to be led in triumph through the streets, A spectacle to base plebeian eyes; While some dejected friend of Antony's, Close in a corner, shakes his head, and mutters A secret curse on her who ruined him! I'll none of that.
CHARMION. Whatever you resolve, I'll follow, even to death.
IRAS. I only feared For you; but more should fear to live without you.
CLEOPATRA. Why, now, 'tis as it should be. Quick, my friends, Despatch; ere this, the town's in Caesar's hands: My lord looks down concerned, and fears my stay, Lest I should be surprised; Keep him not waiting for his love too long. You, Charmion, bring my crown and richest jewels; With them, the wreath of victory I made (Vain augury!) for him, who now lies dead: You, Iras, bring the cure of all our ills.
IRAS. The aspics, madam?
CLEOPATRA. Must I bid you twice? [Exit CHARMION and IRAS.] 'Tis sweet