VENTIDIUS. They petition You would make haste to head them.
ANTONY. I'm besieged.
VENTIDIUS. There's but one way shut up: How came I hither?
ANTONY. I will not stir.
VENTIDIUS. They would perhaps desire A better reason.
ANTONY. I have never used My soldiers to demand a reason of My actions. Why did they refuse to march?
VENTIDIUS. They said they would not fight for Cleopatra.
ANTONY. What was't they said?
VENTIDIUS. They said they would not fight for Cleopatra.
Why should they fight indeed, to make her conquer, And make you more a slave? to gain you kingdoms, Which, for a kiss, at your next midnight feast, You'll sell to her? Then she new-names her jewels, And calls this diamond such or such a tax;Each pendant in her ear shall be a province.
ANTONY. Ventidius, I allow your tongue free licence On all my other faults; but, on your life, No word of Cleopatra: she deserves More worlds than I can lose.
VENTIDIUS. Behold, you Powers, To whom you have intrusted humankind!
See Europe, Afric, Asia, put in balance, And all weighed down by one light, worthless woman!
I think the gods are Antonies, and give, Like prodigals, this nether world away To none but wasteful hands.
ANTONY. You grow presumptuous.
VENTIDIUS. I take the privilege of plain love to speak.
ANTONY. Plain love! plain arrogance, plain insolence!
Thy men are cowards; thou, an envious traitor;Who, under seeming honesty, hast vented The burden of thy rank, o'erflowing gall.
O that thou wert my equal; great in arms As the first Caesar was, that I might kill thee Without a stain to honour!
VENTIDIUS. You may kill me;
You have done more already,--called me traitor.
ANTONY. Art thou not one?
VENTIDIUS. For showing you yourself, Which none else durst have done? but had I been That name, which I disdain to speak again, I needed not have sought your abject fortunes, Come to partake your fate, to die with you.
What hindered me to have led my conquering eagles To fill Octavius' bands? I could have been A traitor then, a glorious, happy traitor, And not have been so called.
ANTONY. Forgive me, soldier;
I've been too passionate.
VENTIDIUS. You thought me false;
Thought my old age betrayed you: Kill me, sir, Pray, kill me; yet you need not, your unkindness Has left your sword no work.
ANTONY. I did not think so;
I said it in my rage: Pr'ythee, forgive me.
Why didst thou tempt my anger, by discovery Of what I would not hear?
VENTIDIUS. No prince but you Could merit that sincerity I used, Nor durst another man have ventured it;But you, ere love misled your wandering eyes, Were sure the chief and best of human race, Framed in the very pride and boast of nature;So perfect, that the gods, who formed you, wondered At their own skill, and cried--A lucky hit Has mended our design. Their envy hindered, Else you had been immortal, and a pattern, When Heaven would work for ostentation's sake To copy out again.
ANTONY. But Cleopatra--
Go on; for I can bear it now.
VENTIDIUS. No more.
ANTONY. Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou may'st;Thou only lov'st, the rest have flattered me.
VENTIDIUS. Heaven's blessing on your heart for that kind word!
May I believe you love me? Speak again.
ANTONY. Indeed I do. Speak this, and this, and this.
[Hugging him.]
Thy praises were unjust; but, I'll deserve them, And yet mend all. Do with me what thou wilt;Lead me to victory! thou know'st the way.
VENTIDIUS. And, will you leave this--
ANTONY. Pr'ythee, do not curse her, And I will leave her; though, Heaven knows, I love Beyond life, conquest, empire, all, but honour;But I will leave her.
VENTIDIUS. That's my royal master;
And, shall we fight?
ANTONY. I warrant thee, old soldier.
Thou shalt behold me once again in iron;
And at the head of our old troops, that beat The Parthians, cry aloud--Come, follow me!
VENTIDIUS. Oh, now I hear my emperor! in that word Octavius fell. Gods, let me see that day, And, if I have ten years behind, take all:
I'll thank you for the exchange.
ANTONY. O Cleopatra!
VENTIDIUS. Again?
ANTONY. I've done: In that last sigh she went.
Caesar shall know what 'tis to force a lover >From all he holds most dear.
VENTIDIUS. Methinks, you breathe Another soul: Your looks are more divine;You speak a hero, and you move a god.
ANTONY. Oh, thou hast fired me; my soul's up in arms, And mans each part about me: Once again, That noble eagerness of fight has seized me;That eagerness with which I darted upward To Cassius' camp: In vain the steepy hill Opposed my way; in vain a war of spears Sung round my head, and planted on my shield;I won the trenches, while my foremost men Lagged on the plain below.
VENTIDIUS. Ye gods, ye gods, For such another honour!
ANTONY. Come on, my soldier!
Our hearts and arms are still the same: I long Once more to meet our foes; that thou and I, Like Time and Death, marching before our troops, May taste fate to them; mow them out a passage, And, entering where the foremost squadrons yield, Begin the noble harvest of the field.
[Exeunt.]