 | Antony and Cleopatra |  |
SCENE VII.
While Cleopatra and Artuasdes embrace, Antony enters, and stands in mute astonishment till they go out.Ant.
Mine eyes are false!—Is that the Queen of Egypt?—
So close, and kind, in secret?—
Gape hell, and swallow all affiance up,
All faith, and trust, and fabled truth, in woman!—
Though all the synod of the gods had sworn,
I had not believed it.—
Alexas!
[Alexas passing.
Alexas.
Sir.
Ant.
Where is thy mistress?
Alexas.
I left her here, some time since, with
the royal captive of Armenia.
Ant.
And why didst thou leave her?
Alexas.
It was her order.
Ant.
Oh!—
362
Is any thing the matter, my lord?
Ant.
No—nothing—
A slight pain—Leave me!
Alexas.
Sir!
Ant.
Hence!
[Alexas goes out.
Is it then so?—or is existence but a doubt
Of something, or of nothing, to disturb
And turn the brain?—
O world, then, world, bid thou adieu to truth,
As I to happiness!—Why,—
With what a transport of repeated appetence,
The strumpet clasp'd her sturdy paramour,
Mindful of former lusts!—Out on her!—
Hot, hot, and craving, as the gulph of hell,
Is woman's appetite!—
She dies!—and I live wretched!—Be it so,
She dies, tho' female nature should expire,
And human race have ending.
Who waits?—Scarus! ho, Scarus!
| Antony and Cleopatra | |