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ANTONY。 Now； on my soul； he loves me； truly loves me： He never flattered me in any vice； But awes me with his virtue： even this minute； Methinks； he has a right of chiding me。 Lead to the temple： I'll avoid his presence； It checks too strong upon me。 ＇Exeunt the rest。＇ ＇As ANTONY is going； VENTIDIUS pulls him by the robe。＇
VENTIDIUS。 Emperor！
ANTONY。 'Tis the old argument； I pr'ythee； spare me。 ＇Looking back。＇
VENTIDIUS。 But this one hearing； emperor。
ANTONY。 Let go My robe； or； by my father Hercules
VENTIDIUS。 By Hercules' father； that's yet greater； I bring you somewhat you would wish to know。
ANTONY。 Thou see'st we are observed； attend me here； And I'll return。 ＇Exit。＇
VENTIDIUS。 I am waning in his favour； yet I love him； I love this man； who runs to meet his ruin； And sure the gods； like me； are fond of him： His virtues lie so mingled with his crimes； As would confound their choice to punish one； And not reward the other。
Enter ANTONY
ANTONY。 We can conquer； You see； without your aid。 We have dislodged their troops； They look on us at distance； and； like curs Scaped from the lion's paws； they bay far off； And lick their wounds； and faintly threaten war。 Five thousand Romans； with their faces upward； Lie breathless on the plain。
VENTIDIUS。 'Tis well； and he； Who lost them； could have spared ten thousand more。 Yet if； by this advantage； you could gain An easier peace； while Caesar doubts the chance Of arms
ANTONY。 Oh； think not on't； Ventidius！ The boy pursues my ruin； he'll no peace； His malice is considerable in advantage。 Oh； he's the coolest murderer！ so staunch； He kills； and keeps his temper。
VENTIDIUS。 Have you no friend In all his army； who has power to move him？ Maecenas； or Agrippa； might do much。
ANTONY。 They're both too deep in Caesar's interests。 We'll work it out by dint of sword； or perish。
VENTIDIUS。 Fain I would find some other。
ANTONY。 Thank thy love。 Some four or five such victories as this Will save thy further pains。
VENTIDIUS。 Expect no more； Caesar is on his guard： I know； sir； you have conquered against odds； But still you draw supplies from one poor town； And of Egyptians： he has all the world； And； at his beck； nations come pouring in； To fill the gaps you make。 Pray； think again。
ANTONY。 Why dost thou drive me from myself； to search For foreign aids？to hunt my memory； And range all o'er a waste and barren place； To find a friend？ The wretched have no friends。 Yet I had one； the bravest youth of Rome； Whom Caesar loves beyond the love of women： He could resolve his mind； as fire does wax； 》From that hard rugged image melt him down； And mould him in what softer form he pleased。
VENTIDIUS。 Him would I see； that man； of all the world； Just such a one we want。
ANTONY。 He loved me too； I was his soul； he lived not but in me： We were so closed within each other's breasts； The rivets were not found； that joined us first。 That does not reach us yet： we were so mixt； As meeting streams； both to ourselves were lost； We were one mass； we could not give or take； But from the same； for he was I； I he。
VENTIDIUS。 He moves as I would wish him。 ＇Aside。＇
ANTONY。 After this； I need not tell his name；'twas Dolabella。
VENTIDIUS。 He's now in Caesar's camp。
ANTONY。 No matter where； Since he's no longer mine。 He took unkindly； That I forbade him Cleopatra's sight； Because I feared he loved her： he confessed； He had a warmth； which； for my sake； he stifled； For 'twere impossible that two； so one； Should not have loved the same。 When he departed； He took no leave； and that confirmed my thoughts。
VENTIDIUS。 It argues； that he loved you more than her； Else he had stayed； but he perceived you jealous； And would not grieve his friend： I know he loves you。
ANTONY。 I should have seen him； then； ere now。
VENTIDIUS。 Perhaps He has thus long been labouring for your peace。
ANTONY。 Would he were here！
VENTIDIUS。 Would you believe he loved you？ I read your answer in your eyes； you would。 Not to conceal it longer； he has sent A messenger from Caesar's camp； with letters。
ANTONY。 Let him appear。
VENTIDIUS。 I'll bring him instantly。 ＇Exit VENTIDIUS； and re…enters immediately with DOLABELLA。＇
ANTONY。 'Tis he himself！ himself； by holy friendship！ ＇Runs to embrace him。＇ Art thou returned at last； my better half？ Come； give me all myself！ Let me not live； If the young bridegroom； longing for his night； Was ever half so fond。
DOLABELLA。 I must be silent； for my soul is busy About a nobler work； she's new come home； Like a long…absent man； and wanders o'er Each room； a stranger to her own； to look If all be safe。
ANTONY。 Thou hast what's left of me； For I am now so sunk from what I was； Thou find'st me at my lowest water…mark。 The rivers that ran in； and raised my fortunes； Are all dried up； or take another course： What I have left is from my native spring； I've still a heart that swells； in scorn of fate； And lifts me to my banks。
DOLABELLA。 Still you are lord of all the world to me。
ANTONY。 Why； then I yet am so； for thou art all。 If I had any joy when thou wert absent； I grudged it to myself； methought I robbed Thee of thy part。 But； O my Dolabella！ Thou has beheld me other than I am。 Hast thou not seen my morning chambers filled With sceptred slaves； who waited to salute me？ With eastern monarchs； who forgot the sun； To worship my uprising？menial kings Ran coursing up and down my palace…yard； Stood silent in my presence； watched my eyes； And； at my least command； all started out； Like racers to the goal。
DOLABELLA。 Slaves to your fortune。
ANTONY。 Fortune is Caesar's now； and what am I？
VENTIDIUS。 What you have made yourself； I will not flatter。
ANTONY。 Is this friendly done？
DOLABELLA。 Yes； when his end is so； I must join with him； Indeed I must； and yet you must not chide； Why am I else your friend？
ANTONY。 Take heed； young man； How thou upbraid'st my love： The queen has eyes； And thou too hast a soul。 Canst thou remember； When； swelled with hatred； thou beheld'st her first； As accessary to thy brother's death？
DOLABELLA。 Spare my remembrance； 'twas a guilty day； And still the blush hangs here。
ANTONY。 To clear herself； For sending him no aid； she came from Egypt。 Her galley down the silver Cydnus rowed； The tackling silk； the streamers waved with gold； The gentle winds were lodged in purple sails： Her nymphs； like Nereids； round her couch were placed； Where she； another sea…born Venus； lay。
DOLABELLA。 No more； I would not hear it。
ANTONY。 Oh； you must！ She lay； and leant her cheek upon her hand； And cast a look so languishingly sweet； As if； secure of all beholders' hearts； Neglecting； she could take them： boys； like Cupids； Stood fanning； with their painted wings； the winds。 That played about her face。 But if she smiled A darting glory seemed to blaze abroad； That men's desiring eyes were never wearied； But hung upon the object： To soft flutes The silver oars kept time； and while they played； The hearing gave new pleasure to the sight； And both to thought。 'Twas heaven； or somewhat more； For she so charmed