Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 9
OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s camp.
First Soldier : If we be not relieved within this hour,
[p]We must return to the court
of guard: the night
[p]Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle
[p]By
the second hour i' the morn.
Second Soldier : This last day was
[p]A shrewd one to's.
Domitius Enobarus : O, bear me witness, night,--
Third Soldier : What man is this?
Second Soldier : Stand close, and list him.
Domitius Enobarus : Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,
[p]When men revolted shall upon
record
[p]Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
[p]Before thy face
repent!
First Soldier : Enobarbus!
Third Soldier : Peace!
[p]Hark further.
Domitius Enobarus : O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
[p]The poisonous damp of
night disponge upon me,
[p]That life, a very rebel to my will,
[p]May
hang no longer on me: throw my heart
[p]Against the flint and hardness
of my fault:
[p]Which, being dried with grief, will break to
powder,
[p]And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
[p]Nobler than my
revolt is infamous,
[p]Forgive me in thine own particular;
[p]But let
the world rank me in register
[p]A master-leaver and a fugitive:
[p]O
Antony! O Antony!
Second Soldier : Let's speak To him.
First Soldier : Let's hear him, for the things he speaks
[p]May concern Caesar.
Third Soldier : Let's do so. But he sleeps.
First Soldier : Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his
[p]Was never yet for sleep.
Second Soldier : Go we to him.
Third Soldier : Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.
Second Soldier : Hear you, sir?
First Soldier : The hand of death hath raught him.
[p][Drums afar off]
[p]Hark! the
drums
[p]Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
[p]To the court
of guard; he is of note: our hour
[p]Is fully out.
Third Soldier : Come on, then;
[p]He may recover yet.
Previous: Act 4 - Scene 8
Next: Act 4 - Scene 10
