Faculty of English

CW: suicidal ideation   CLEOPATRA               It were for me To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods, To tell them that this world did equal theirs Till they had stol’n our jewel. All’s but naught. Patience is sottish, and impatience does Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin To rush into the secret […]

CHARMIAN                 O, quietness, lady! IRAS    She’s dead, too, our sovereign. CHARMIAN Lady! IRAS Madam! CHARMIAN O, madam, madam, madam! IRAS Royal Egypt, Empress! CHARMIAN Peace, peace, Iras! CLEOPATRA   No more but e’en a woman, and commanded By such poor passion as the maid that milks And does the meanest chores.         (4.16.71-77)     As with […]

CLEOPATRA   Noblest of men, woot die? Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide In this dull world, which in thy absence is No better than a sty? O see, my women, The crown o’th’ earth doth melt. My lord! O, withered is the garland of the war. The soldier’s pole is fall’n. Young […]

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 […]

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, […]

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 […]

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 […]

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   […]

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 […]

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 […]