Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare
Act 4 - Scene 14
The same. Another room.
Eros : What would my lord?
Eros : The gods withhold me!
[p]Shall I do that which all the Parthian
darts,
[p]Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?
Eros : I would not see't.
Eros : O, sir, pardon me!
Eros : Turn from me, then, that noble countenance,
[p]Wherein the worship of
the whole world lies.
Eros : My sword is drawn.
Eros : My dear master,
[p]My captain, and my emperor, let me say,
[p]Before I
strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
Eros : Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
Eros : Why, there then: thus I do escape the sorrow
[p]Of Antony's death.
First Guard : What's the noise?
Second Guard : The star is fall'n.
First Guard : And time is at his period.
All : Alas, and woe!
First Guard : Not I.
Second Guard : Nor I.
Third Guard : Nor any one.
Dercetas : Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.
[p]This sword but shown
to Caesar, with this tidings,
[p]Shall enter me with him.
Diomedes : Where's Antony?
Dercetas : There, Diomed there.
Diomedes : Lives he?
[p]Wilt thou not answer, man?
Eros : Ay, noble lord.
Eros : Ay, my lord,
Eros : It does, my lord.
Mardian : No, Antony;
[p]My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes
mingled
[p]With thine entirely.
Mardian : Death of one person can be paid but once,
[p]And that she has
discharged: what thou wouldst do
[p]Is done unto thy hand: the last
she spake
[p]Was 'Antony! most noble Antony!'
[p]Then in the midst a
tearing groan did break
[p]The name of Antony; it was
divided
[p]Between her heart and lips: she render'd life,
[p]Thy name
so buried in her.
Mardian : Dead.
Diomedes : Most absolute lord,
[p]My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.
Diomedes : Now, my lord.
Diomedes : Lock'd in her monument. She had a prophesying fear
[p]Of what hath
come to pass: for when she saw--
[p]Which never shall be found--you
did suspect
[p]She had disposed with Caesar, and that your
rage
[p]Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead;
[p]But,
fearing since how it might work, hath sent
[p]Me to proclaim the
truth; and I am come,
[p]I dread, too late.
Diomedes : What, ho, the emperor's guard! The guard, what, ho!
[p]Come, your lord
calls!
First Guard : Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear
[p]All your true
followers out.
All : Most heavy day!
Previous: Act 4 - Scene 13
Next: Act 4 - Scene 15
