Alexandria. A Room in Cleopatra's Palace.
 Enter ANTONY with ATTENDANTS.

Antony	Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon't;
	It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither.
	I am so lated in the world that I
	Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship
	Laden with gold: - take that, divide it; fly,
	And make your peace with Caesar.

All										Fly! Not we.

Antony	I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
	To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone.
	I have myself resolved upon a course
	Which has no need of you. Be gone.
	My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,
	I followed that I blush to look upon!
	My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
	Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
	For fear and doting. Friends, be gone. You shall
	Have letters from me to some friends that will
	Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
	Nor make replies of loathness; take the hint
	Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
	Which leaves itself. To the seaside straightway;
	I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
	Leave me, I pray, a little. Pray you now;
	Nay, do so; for indeed I have lost command;
	Therefore I pray you. I'll see you by and by.
													[Sits down.
													[Exeunt ATTENDANTS.

             Enter CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN, IRAS, and EROS.

Eros	Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

Iras	Do, most dear queen.

Charmian	Do? Why, what else?

Cleopatra	Let me sit down. O Juno!

Antony	No, no, no, no, no.

Eros	See you here, sir?

Antony	O fie, fie, fie!

Charmian	Madam!

Iras	Madam, O good empress!

Eros	Sir, sir!

Antony	Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
	His sword e'en like a dancer, while I struck
	The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
	That the mad Brutus ended. He alone
	Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
	In the brave squares of war. Yet now - no matter.

Cleopatra	Ah, stand by!

Eros	The queen, my lord, the queen.

Iras	Go to him, madam, speak to him.
	He's unqualitied with very shame.

Cleopatra	Well then, sustain me. O!

Eros	Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches.
	Her head's declined, and death will seize her but
	Your comfort makes the rescue.

Antony	I have offended reputation;
	A most unnoble swerving.

Eros								Sir, the queen.

Antony	O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
	How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
	By looking back what I have left behind
	'Stroyed in dishonour.

Cleopatra							O my lord, my lord,
	Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
	You would have followed.

Antony								Egypt, thou knew'st too well,
	My heart was to thy rudder tied by th' strings,
	And thou shouldst tow me after. O'er my spirit
	Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
	Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
	Command me.

Cleopatra				O, my pardon!

Antony								Now I must
	To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
	And palter in the shifts of lowness, who
	With half the bulk o'th' world played as I pleased,
	Making and marring fortunes. You did know
	How much you were my conqueror, and that
	My sword, made weak by my affection, would
	Obey it on all cause.

Cleopatra							Pardon, pardon!

Antony	Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
	All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss;
	Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster;
	Is a' come back? Love, I am full of lead.
	Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
	We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
													[Exeunt.

