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ld have saved My second choice： I never had been his； And ne'er had been but yours。 But Caesar first； You say； possessed my love。 Not so； my lord： He first possessed my person； you； my love： Caesar loved me； but I loved Antony。 If I endured him after； 'twas because I judged it due to the first name of men； And； half constrained； I gave； as to a tyrant； What he would take by force。
VENTIDIUS。 O Syren！ Syren！ Yet grant that all the love she boasts were true； Has she not ruined you？ I still urge that； The fatal consequence。
CLEOPATRA。 The consequence indeed For I dare challenge him； my greatest foe； To say it was designed： 'tis true； I loved you； And kept you far from an uneasy wife； Such Fulvia was。 Yes； but he'll say； you left Octavia for me； And； can you blame me to receive that love； Which quitted such desert； for worthless me？ How often have I wished some other Caesar； Great as the first； and as the second young； Would court my love； to be refused for you！
VENTIDIUS。 Words； words； but Actium； sir； remember Actium。
CLEOPATRA。 Even there； I dare his malice。 True； I counselled To fight at sea； but I betrayed you not。 I fled； but not to the enemy。 'Twas fear； Would I had been a man； not to have feared！ For none would then have envied me your friendship； Who envy me your love。
ANTONY。 We are both unhappy： If nothing else； yet our ill fortune parts us。 Speak； would you have me perish by my stay？
CLEOPATRA。 If； as a friend； you ask my judgment； go； If； as a lover； stay。 If you must perish 'Tis a hard wordbut stay。
VENTIDIUS。 See now the effects of her so boasted love！ She strives to drag you down to ruin with her； But； could she 'scape without you； oh； how soon Would she let go her hold； and haste to shore； And never look behind！
CLEOPATRA。 Then judge my love by this。 ＇Giving ANTONY a writing。＇ Could I have borne A life or death； a happiness or woe； 》From yours divided； this had given me means。
ANTONY。 By Hercules； the writing of Octavius！ I know it well： 'tis that proscribing hand； Young as it was； that led the way to mine； And left me but the second place in murder。 See； see； Ventidius！ here he offers Egypt； And joins all Syria to it； as a present； So； in requital； she forsake my fortunes； And join her arms with his。
CLEOPATRA。 And yet you leave me！ You leave me； Antony； and yet I love you； Indeed I do： I have refused a kingdom； That is a trifle； For I could part with life； with anything； But only you。 Oh； let me die but with you！ Is that a hard request？
ANTONY。 Next living with you； 'Tis all that Heaven can give。
ALEXAS。 He melts； we conquer。 ＇Aside。＇
CLEOPATRA。 No； you shall go： your interest calls you hence； Yes； your dear interest pulls too strong； for these Weak arms to hold you here。 ＇Takes his hand。＇ Go； leave me； soldier （For you're no more a lover）： leave me dying： Push me； all pale and panting； from your bosom； And； when your march begins； let one run after； Breathless almost for joy； and cryShe's dead。 The soldiers shout； you then； perhaps； may sigh； And muster all your Roman gravity： Ventidius chides； and straight your brow clears up； As I had never been。
ANTONY。 Gods； 'tis too much； too much for man to bear。
CLEOPATRA。 What is't for me then； A weak； forsaken woman； and a lover？ Here let me breathe my last： envy me not This minute in your arms： I'll die apace； As fast as e'er I can； and end your trouble。
ANTONY。 Die！ rather let me perish； loosened nature Leap from its hinges； sink the props of heaven； And fall the skies； to crush the nether world！ My eyes； my soul； my all！ ＇Embraces her。＇
VENTIDIUS。 And what's this toy； In balance with your fortune； honour； fame？
ANTONY。 What is't； Ventidius？it outweighs them all； Why； we have more than conquered Caesar now： My queen's not only innocent； but loves me。 This； this is she； who drags me down to ruin！ 〃But； could she 'scape without me； with what haste Would she let slip her hold； and make to shore； And never look behind！〃 Down on thy knees； blasphemer as thou art； And ask forgiveness of wronged innocence。
VENTIDIUS。 I'll rather die； than take it。 Will you go？
ANTONY。 Go！ whither？ Go from all that's excellent？ Faith； honour； virtue； all good things forbid； That I should go from her； who sets my love Above the price of kingdoms！ Give； you gods； Give to your boy； your Caesar； This rattle of a globe to play withal； This gewgaw world； and put him cheaply off： I'll not be pleased with less than Cleopatra。
CLEOPATRA。 She's wholly yours。 My heart's so full of joy； That I shall do some wild extravagance Of love； in public； and the foolish world； Which knows not tenderness； will think me mad。
VENTIDIUS。 O women！ women！ women！ all the gods Have not such power of doing good to man； As you of doing harm。 ＇Exit。＇
ANTONY。 Our men are armed： Unbar the gate that looks to Caesar's camp： I would revenge the treachery he meant me； And long security makes conquest easy。 I'm eager to return before I go； For； all the pleasures I have known beat thick On my remembrance。How I long for night！ That both the sweets of mutual love may try； And triumph once o'er Caesar ere we die。 ＇Exeunt。＇
Act III
Scene I
At one door enter CLEOPATRA； CHARMION； IRAS； and ALEXAS； a Train of EGYPTIANS： at the other ANTONY and ROMANS。 The entrance on both sides is prepared by music； the trumpets first sounding on Antony's part： then answered by timbrels； etc。； on CLEOPATRA'S。 CHARMION and IRAS hold a laurel wreath betwixt them。 A Dance of EGYPTIANS。 After the ceremony； CLEOPATRA crowns ANTONY。
ANTONY。 I thought how those white arms would fold me in； And strain me close； and melt me into love； So pleased with that sweet image； I sprung forwards； And added all my strength to every blow。
CLEOPATRA。 Come to me； come； my soldier； to my arms！ You've been too long away from my embraces； But； when I have you fast； and all my own； With broken murmurs； and with amorous sighs； I'll say； you were unkind； and punish you； And mark you red with many an eager kiss。
ANTONY。 My brighter Venus！
CLEOPATRA。 O my greater Mars！
ANTONY。 Thou join'st us well； my love！ Suppose me come from the Phlegraean plains； Where gasping giants lay； cleft by my sword； And mountain…tops paired off each other blow； To bury those I slew。 Receive me； goddess！ Let Caesar spread his subtle nets； like Vulcan； In thy embraces I would be beheld By heaven and earth at once； And make their envy what they meant their sport Let those； who took us； blush； I would love on； With awful state； regardless of their frowns； As their superior gods。 There's no satiety of love in thee： Enjoyed； thou still art new； perpetual spring Is in thy arms； the ripened fruit but falls； And blossoms rise to fill its empty place； And I grow rich by giving。
Enter VENTIDIUS； and stands apart
ALEXAS。 Oh； now the danger's past； your general comes！ He joins not in your joys； nor minds your triumphs； But； with contracted brows； looks frowning on； As envying your success。
ANTONY。 Now； on my soul； he loves me； truly loves me： He never flattered me in any vice； But awes m