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Some ditch, wherein to die; the foul'st best fits

My latter part of life.

SCENE VII.

[Exit.

Field of Battle between the Camps,

Alarum. Drums and Trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA, and Others.

Agr. Retire, we have engag'd ourselves too far: Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression Exceeds what we expected.

[Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter ANTONY and SCARUS, wounded. Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed! Had we done so at first, we had driven them home With clouts about their heads.

Ant.

Thou bleed'st apace.

Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T, But now 'tis made an H.

Ant.

They do retire.

Scar. We'll beat 'em into bench-holes; I have yet Room for six scotches' more.

Enter EROS.

Eros. They are beaten, sir; and our advantage

serves

For a fair victory.

Scar.

Let us score their backs,

And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind;

'Tis sport to maul a runner.

5 Cuts.

Ant.

I will reward thee

Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold
For thy good valour. Come thee on.

Scar.

I'll halt after. [Exeunt.

SCENE VIII.

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Under the Walls of Alexandria.

Alarum. Enter ANTONY, marching; SCARUS, and

Forces.

Ant. We have beat him to his camp; Run one be

fore,

And let the queen know of our guests.-To-morrow Before the sun shall see us, we'll spill the blood

That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;

For doughty-handed are you; and have fought
Not as you serv'd the cause, but as it had been
Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
The honour'd gashes whole.-Give me thy hand;
[To SCARUS.

Enter CLEOPATRA, attended.

To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,

Make her thanks bless thee.-O thou day o'the world, Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all,

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8 Beauty united with power, was the popular characteristick

of fairies.

Through proof of harness? to my heart, and there
Ride on the pants triumphing.

Cleo.

Lord of lords!

O infinite virtue! com'st thou smiling from
The world's great snare uncaught?

Ant.

My nightingale,

We have beat them to their beds. What, girl?

though grey

Do something mingle with our brown; yet have we
A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand;-
Kiss it, my warrior :-He hath fought to-day,
As if a god, in hate of mankind, had
Destroy'd in such a shape.

Cleo.

I'll give thee, friend, An armour all of gold; it was a king's.

Ant. He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled Like holy Phœbus' car.-Give me thy hand; Through Alexandria make a jolly march;

Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them :'
Had our great palace the capacity

To camp this host, we all would sup together;
And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
Which promises royal peril.-Trumpeters,
With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
Make mingle with our rattling tabourines; 2
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds toge-

ther,

Applauding our approach.

9 Armour of proof.

[Exeunt.

■ As becomes the brave warriors that own them.

2 Small drums.

SCENE IX.

Cæsar's Camp.

Sentinels on their Post. Enter ENOBARBUS.

1 Sold. If we be not reliev'd within this hour, We must return to the court of guard: The night Is shiny; and, they say, we shall embattle

By the second hour i' the morn.

2 Sold.

A shrewd one to us.

Eno.

This last day was

O, bear me witness, night,

3 Sold. What man is this?

2 Sold.

Stand close, and list to him.

Eno. Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,

When men revolted shall upon record

Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did

Before thy face repent!

1 Sold.

3 Sold.

Hark further.

Enobarbus !

Peace;

Eno. O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, The poisonous damp of night disponge3 upon me; That life, a very rebel to my will,

May hang no longer on me : Throw my heart

Against the flint and hardness of my fault;

Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder, And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,

Nobler than my revolt is infamous,

Forgive me in thine own particular;

3 Discharge, as a sponge when squeezed discharges the moisture it had imbibed.

But let the world rank me in register

A master-leaver, and a fugitive:

O Antony! O Antony !

2 Sold.

To him.

Let's speak

[Dies.

1 Sold. Let's hear him, for the things he speaks May concern Cæsar.

3 Sold.

Let's do so. But he sleeps..

1 Sold. Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his Was never yet for sleeping.

2 Sold.

Go we to him.

3 Sold. Awake, awake, sir; speak to us.

2 Sold.

Hear you, sir?

1 Sold. The hand of death hath raught 4 him. Hark,

the drums

[Drums afar off. Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour Is fully out.

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Enter ANTONY and SCARUS, with Forces, marching.

Ant. Their preparation is to-day by sea;

We please them not by land.

Scar.

For both, my lord.

Ant. I would, they'd fight i' the fire, or in the air; We'd fight there too. But this it is; Our foot

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