They'll sell those mangled limbs at dearer rates

Than yon' trim bands can buy.
Ant. Where left you them?

Vent. I said in Lower Syria.
Ant. Bring 'em hither;
There may be life in these.

Vent. They will not come.

Ant. Why didst thou mock my hopes with promis'd aids

To double my despair? they're mutinous.

Vent. Most firm and loyal.

"Ant. Yet they will not march

"To succour me. Oh trifler!

"Vent. They petition

"You would make haste to head 'em.

"Ant. I'm besieg'd.

"Vent. There's but one way shut up-How came

I hither?

"Ant. I will not stir.

"Vent. They would perhaps desire

"A better reason.

"Ant. I have never us'd

"My soldiers to demand a reason of

My actions." Why did they refuse to march? Vent. They said they would not fight for Cleopatra. Ant. What was't they said?

Vent. 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." Ant. 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.

Vent. Behold, you Pow'rs!

To whom you have entrusted humankind;

See Europe, Afric, Asia, put

in balance,

And all weigh'd 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."

Ant. You grow presumptuous.

Vent. I take the privilege of plain love to speak. Ant. Plain love! plain arrogance, plain insolence! Thy men are cowards, thou an envious traitor, Who under seeming honesty hath vented The burden of thy rank o'erflowing gall. Oh that thou wert my equal, great in arms As the first Cæsar was, that I might kill thee Without stain to my honour!

Vent. You may kill me:

You have done more already, call'd me traitor.

Ant. Art thou not one ?

Vent. For shewing you yourself,

Which none else durst have done? But had I beer 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 hinder'd me t' 'ave led my conq'ring Eagles
To fill Octavia's bands? I could have been
A traitor then, a glorious happy traitor,
And not have been so call'd.

Ant. Forgive me, soldier;
I'ave been too passionate.

Vent. You thought me false,

Thought my old age betray'd you. Kill me, sir,
Pray kill me yet you need not; your unkindness
Has left your sword no work.

Ant. I did not think so;

I said it in my rage: pr'ythee forgive me.
Why didst thou tempt my anger by discov'ry
Of what I would not hear?

Vent. No prince, but you
Could merit that sincerity I us'd,

Nor durst another man have ventur'd it:
"But you, ere love misled your wand'ring eyes,
"Were sure the chief and best of human race,
"Fram'd in the very pride and boast of nature;
"So perfect, that the gods who form'd you wonder'
"At their own skill, and cry'd, A lucky hit
"Has mended our design. Their envy hinder'd,
"Else you had been immortal, and a pattern,
"When Heav'n would work for ostentation sake,
To copy out again."

Ant. But Cleopatra-
Go on, for I can bear it now.

Vent. No more.

Ant. Thou dar'st not trust my passion, but thou

may'st:

Thou only lov'st, the rest have flatter'd me.

Vent. Heav'n's blessing on your heart for that kind word!

May I believe you love me? Speak again.

Ant. Indeed I do. Speak this, and this, and this.

[Hugging him. Thy praises were unjust; but I'll deserve 'em,

And yet mend all. Do with me what thou wilt:
Lead me to victory, thou know'st the way.

Vent. And will you leave this
Ant. Pr'ythee do not curse her,

And I will leave her, tho' Heav'n knows I love
Beyond life, conquest, empire, all but honour
But I will leave her.

Vent. That's my royal master.

And shall we fight?

Ant. 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.
Vent. 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 th' exchange.

"Ant. Oh, Cleopatra !

"Vent. Again!

"Ant. I 'ave done; in that last sigh she went.

"Cæsar shall know what 'tis to force a lover

"From all he holds most dear.

"Vent. Methinks you breathe

"Another soul; your looks are most divine; "You speak a hero, and you move a god." Ant. Oh, thou hast fir'd me!

my soul's up in arms, Once again

And mans each part about me.
That noble eagerness of fight has seiz'd me,
That eagerness with which I darted upward
To Cassius' camp: in vain the steepy hill
Oppos'd my way, in vain a war of spears
Sung round my head, and planted all my shield;
I won the trenches, while my foremost men
Lagg'd on the plain below.

Vent. Ye gods, ye gods,

For such another honour!

Ant. 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 'em, mow 'em out a passage,
And, ent'ring where the foremost squadrons yield,
Begin the noble harvest of the field.

[Exeunt.