Shakespeare Portal

Act 4, Scene 8

Under the Walls of Alexandria.

  1. [Alarum. Enter ANTONY, marching; SCARUS and Forces.]
  2. Mark Antony
  3. 2564 We have beat him to his camp. Run one before
  4. 2565 And let the queen know of our gests.—To-morrow,
  5. 2566 Before the sun shall see us, we'll spill the blood
  6. 2567 That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;
  7. 2568 For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
  8. 2569 Not as you serv'd the cause, but as't had been
  9. 2570 Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
  10. 2571 Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
  11. 2572 Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
  12. 2573 Wash the congealment from your wounds and kiss
  13. 2574 The honour'd gashes whole.—
  14. [To SCARUS.]
  15. Mark Antony
  16. 2575 Give me thy hand;
  17. [Enter CLEOPATRA, attended.]
  18. Mark Antony
  19. 2576 To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,
  20. 2577 Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o' the world,
  21. 2578 Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all;
  22. 2579 Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
  23. 2580 Ride on the pants triumphing.
  24. Cleopatra
  25. 2581 Lord of lords!
  26. 2582 O infinite virtue, com'st thou smiling from
  27. 2583 The world's great snare uncaught?
  28. Mark Antony
  29. 2584 Mine nightingale,
  30. 2585 We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! though grey
  31. 2586 Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha' we
  32. 2587 A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
  33. 2588 Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
  34. 2589 Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand;—
  35. 2590 Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day
  36. 2591 As if a god, in hate of mankind, had
  37. 2592 Destroyed in such a shape.
  38. Cleopatra
  39. 2593 I'll give thee, friend,
  40. 2594 An armour all of gold; it was a king's.
  41. Mark Antony
  42. 2595 He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled
  43. 2596 Like holy Phoebus' car.—Give me thy hand:
  44. 2597 Through Alexandria make a jolly march;
  45. 2598 Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them:
  46. 2599 Had our great palace the capacity
  47. 2600 To camp this host, we all would sup together,
  48. 2601 And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
  49. 2602 Which promises royal peril.—Trumpeters,
  50. 2603 With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
  51. 2604 Make mingle with our rattling tabourines;
  52. 2605 That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,
  53. 2606 Applauding our approach.
  54. [Exeunt.]