ANTONY The miserable change now at my end Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts In feeding them with those my former fortunes, Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’th’ world, The noblest; and do now not basely die, Not cowardly put off my helmet to My countryman; a Roman by a Roman Valiantly […]
Continue ReadingAuthor: Hester Lees-Jeffries
Cleopatra: I wish I could kiss you back to life… (4.16.39-52) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra CLEOPATRA And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived, Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power, Thus would I wear them out. [She kisses him] ALL OTHERS A heavy sight. ANTONY I am dying, Egypt, dying. Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. CLEOPATRA No, […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: HEAVE! Antony: HURRY! (4.16.30-38) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
CLEOPATRA But come, come, Antony.— Help me, my women.—We must draw thee up. Assist, good friends. [They begin to draw him up] ANTONY O quick, or I am gone! CLEOPATRA Here’s sport indeed. How heavy weighs my lord! Our strength is all gone into heaviness, That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power The […]
Continue ReadingAntony: one last kiss! Cleopatra: I’m not risking giving Caesar (and your wife) the SATISFACTION (4.16.19-30) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
ANTONY I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only I here importune death awhile until Of many thousand kisses the poor last I lay upon thy lips. CLEOPATRA I dare not, dear, Dear, my lord, pardon. I dare not, Lest I be taken. Not th’imperious show Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall Be brooched with me, if […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: darkling stand the varying shore o’th’ world; Antony: I am UNCONQUERED (4.16.9-18) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter [below] Antony, [carried by] the guard CLEOPATRA O, sun, Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in; darkling stand The varying shore o’th’ world. O, Antony, Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, Help, Iras, help, help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither. ANTONY Peace. Not Caesar’s valour Hath o’erthrown Antony, but Antony’s Hath triumphed on itself. CLEOPATRA […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra: nothing can make this better; Diomedes: here’s Antony, come to you (4.16.1-9) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Cleopatra aloft with Charmian and Iras CLEOPATRA O Charmian, I will never go from hence. CHARMIAN Be comforted, dear madam. CLEOPATRA No, I will not. All strange and terrible events are welcome, But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow, Proportioned to our cause, must be as great As that which makes it. Enter […]
Continue ReadingAntony: don’t cry, lads – take me to Cleopatra, now! (4.15.128-137) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter four or five of the guard of Antony ANTONY Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides. ’Tis the last service that I shall command you. FIRST GUARD Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear All your true followers out. ALL THE GUARDS Most heavy day! ANTONY Nay, good my […]
Continue ReadingCleopatra thought something terrible like this might happen! and it has! (4.15.116-127) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
ANTONY Where is she? DIOMEDES Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fear Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw— Which never shall be found—you did suspect She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage Would not be purged, she sent word she was dead; But fearing since how it […]
Continue ReadingI’ve just this minute come from Cleopatra, says Diomedes… (4.15.111-116) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter Diomedes DIOMEDES Where’s Antony? DERCETUS There, Diomed, there. DIOMEDES Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man? [Exit Dercetus] ANTONY Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me Sufficing strokes for death. DIOMEDES Most absolute lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee. ANTONY When did she send thee? DIOMEDES Now, my lord. […]
Continue ReadingAntony: I’ve totally botched this; kill me now! (4.15.103-111) #BurningBarge #SlowShakespeare
Enter a guard [and Dercetus] FIRST GUARD What’s the noise? ANTONY I have done my work ill, friends. O, make an end Of what I have begun! SECOND GUARD The star is fall’n. FIRST GUARD And time is at his period. ALL GUARDS Alas And woe! ANTONY Let him that loves me strike me dead. […]
Continue Reading