University of Virginia Library

SCENE X.

Eros enters.
[Ant.]
My faithful Eros!
Thou comest on the point—Come hither, Eros!

Eros.
What would my gracious master?

Ant.
Canst thou be secret?

Eros.
As the catacombs.

Ant.
And do a deed—

Eros.
A deed!

Ant.
Of justice, Eros?

Eros.
What my lord bids, is justice.

Ant.
Wouldst thou believe it?—

Eros.
What?

Ant.
Nay, by yon blushing sun,
I saw it.

Eros.
Saw it, my master?—What, whom, when?—
I fly to execute!

Ant.
Thou hast heard what Julius said—
The wife of Cæsar should not be suspected.

Eros.
Wife, my lord, wife!—Is it possible?

Ant.
Fact, Eros, fact—
These eyes beheld them intermingling breaths,
And loose embracements.

Eros.
I was present when she dismiss'd her attendants,
To give audience, in private, to the prince of Armenia.

Ant.
'Tis so.—He, he!—
One of the quondam servants of her lusts,
Whom thus she recognizes.—Eros!

Eros.
My lord!

Ant.
I would she were at rest—

Eros.
With her forefathers—is it not?

Ant.
Ay, Eros.

Eros.
She shall not see to-morrow's sun.

Ant.
The manner, fearful!—
My hate is now extreme, even as my fondness—
Blood, blood!—

Eros.
It shall be so.

Ant.
The guards are all Pretorian—take my signet—
[Gives his signet,
And this my present!

Gives a dagger.
Eros.
I will give it truely.

Ant.
To her false heart!

Eros.
I will.—The Armenian too—

Ant.
A dungeon for the slave,
Till his adulterous flesh rot, piece meal, from him!

Eros.
Enough.

Ant.
I must aboard.—About it, Eros!—
[Exit Eros.
Accursed land, I leave thee now for ever.
Sink, Egypt! Nile o'erwhelm it, in a flow
That never shall have ebb!—
Gods, what have I to act!—how hard the part,
Chear in the face, with anguish at the heart!

[Exit Antony.