 | Antony and Cleopatra |  |
369
SCENE XIII.
Eros enters.[Cleo.]
Eros!—O, welcome, Eros!
Where goes thy lord?
Eros.
To Italy, my lady—
Never again to set his foot in Egypt.
Cleo.
Alas!
[Cleopatra faints.
Eros.
Ha—so sudden!
Breath and complexion gone!—No feigning here!
The swoon of death is on her—what need of steel?
the very touch of grief hath cut her thread of life.
—He is abused. I swear it, by the gods, you
have been abused, my master!
Art.
False, false Roman!
Proud and insensible—my fears foretold it!
Raise her up gently—She revives.
Cleo.
Why have you brought me from the realms of silence,
Into a world of woe?—Come hither, Eros!
Now, as thou art a soldier, tell me truely—
Has thy lord left us?
Eros.
Madam, he has.
Cleo.
Wherefore?
Eros.
He saw you in the arms of this Armenian,
Caressing, and caress'd.
Cleo.
Say'st thou!—Ay, there it is—O fatal error!
He saw—but knew not that he was my brother.
370
Your brother, royal lady?
Cleo.
Ay, Eros, ay; even so, my long lost brother,
The last of the imperial line of Lagos;
All of my kindred that is left on earth,
But newly found on this misdeeming day.
Art.
A woeful brother have I proved to thee,
Thou brightness of thy race! What's to be done?
Cleo.
Good Eros, fly, pursue, o'ertake, arrest him!
My lord, and thine!—reform this sad misprision.
Turn back his truant steps—fall at his feet;
And kiss them, in the name of Cleopatra!
From all my galleys, take the swiftest wing'd.
Wait not for further orders, lest I hold thee
From noon till night, with greetings to my Antony!
A province waits on thy success!—Away,
Away, kind Eros!
Eros.
Doubt not, I bring him on the speediest plumes
Of love and fond impatience!
[Exit Eros.
Cleo.
Alexas, fly thou after—and thou, Mardian,
After Alexas.
Posts upon posts shall overtake my fugitive,
Or I'll unpeople Egypt!
Art.
Sister, I take for ever from your sight,
The source of this day's in-breach on your happiness.
Where such a store of beauty is the tempter,
371
Cleo.
I would not, yet, suspect my Antony,
Of thoughts so devious.
Art.
I will reveal myself in person to him,
And, by my absence, try to heal the wound
My presence gave thy peace.—And O, 'tis time,
'Tis time I go.—
The Ptolemies were wont to wed their sisters;
And every hour I tarry, I shall think
The union less unlawful.
[Exit.
Cleo.
Charmian!
Charm.
My royal mistress.
Cleo.
These ills fall thick—How lost is human nature,
When left of all it loves!—Photinus!
Phot.
Madam!
Cleo.
Stop your appointed revels through the realm;
Triumphs and festivals are not for mourners!
And, dost thou hear?
Phot.
Your pleasure.
Cleo.
Down with the towers, hang every house in black;
And be no more the sound of music heard,
Throughout the land of Egypt!
[Exit Photinus.
Charmian!
Charm.
Madam!
Cleo.
Prepare my couch, within the catacombs;
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With the remains of my great ancestors.
See, that no voices of detested joy
Disturb me in the silence of my sorrows;
Nor any beam break in upon the gloom,
Saving the lamp of midnight!
[Exeunt.
| Antony and Cleopatra | |