 | Antony and Cleopatra |  |
420
SCENE IX.
Changes to the Monument.Cleopatra, Iras.
Cleo.
No, Iras, death is what I wish for—either
To fall into the nothing whence I rose,
Or take my future lot among immortals.—
Dying—'tis that I dread!—
I stand, I tremble, as upon the brink
Of some unfathom'd flood, and wish to plunge,
But dare not!—
Iras.
Yet, take comfort, sweetest mistress!
Cleo.
No, Iras, no—all comforts we detest;
Our size of grief is infinite as our loss,
Stretching the sides of thought!
Now, Mardian, saw you my lord?
[Mardian enters.
Is he yet informed of my innocence?
Mard.
Madam, he is; and if he thrives, you shall hear from him.
I met him at the head of a small band of daring
Followers, bent to win his way by the western portal—
That is not the worst tidings.
Cleo.
Ha!—sayst thou?—what?—perhaps my children—dead?
Are they murder'd?
Mard.
The traitor, Alexas, madam, forced
them from the eunuchs, and has carried them to
the camp, to make his peace with Cæsar.
421
O, they have made a wreck of me already;
And, ere I sink unto the peaceful bottom,
They do dismember me.—O, my sweet lambs,
My babes of gentleness and beauty!—how,
How will ye bear with the unkindly frost
Of strange and hostile brows?—Who, now, will lay
Your nightly pillow soft; or, in the day,
Delight to see and share your playfulness?
O, ye will miss a mother's tenderness;
Your hearts will think upon your native Egypt,
And break with the remembrance!
Mard.
Fear not, madam,
The very aspect of the royal little ones
Shall smooth the rugged face of war, and tygers
Shall caress them.
Cleo.
Go, Mardian, haste—bear this to Cæsar's sister—
[Gives a casket.
It holds the purchase of five provinces.
Tell her it is my dying legacy,
And let it mediate for the little innocents,
Who know of no offences.
Mard.
I will, madam.
[Exit.
| Antony and Cleopatra | |