Antony and Cleopatra

ACT IV
Scene 9

CAESAR'S camp

Enter a CENTURION and his company; ENOBARBUS follows

CENTURION
If we be not reliev'd within this hour,
We must return to th' court of guard. The night
Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle
By th' second hour i' th' morn.

FIRST WATCH
This last day was
A shrewd one to's.

ENOBARBUS
O, bear me witness, night-

SECOND WATCH
What man is this?

FIRST WATCH
Stand close and list him.

ENOBARBUS
Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,
When men revolted shall upon record
Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
Before thy face repent!

CENTURION
Enobarbus?

SECOND WATCH
Peace!
Hark further.

ENOBARBUS
O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,
That life, a very rebel to my will,
May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart
Against the flint and hardness of my fault,
Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder,
And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
Nobler than my revolt is infamous,
Forgive me in thine own particular,
But let the world rank me in register
A master-leaver and a fugitive!
O Antony! O Antony!

[Dies]

FIRST WATCH
Let's speak to him.

CENTURION
Let's hear him, for the things he speaks
May concern Caesar.

SECOND WATCH
Let's do so. But he sleeps.

CENTURION
Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his
Was never yet for sleep.

FIRST WATCH
Go we to him.

SECOND WATCH
Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.

FIRST WATCH
Hear you, sir?

CENTURION
The hand of death hath raught him.
[Drums afar off ] Hark! the drums
Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
To th' court of guard; he is of note. Our hour
Is fully out.

SECOND WATCH
Come on, then;
He may recover yet.

Exeunt with the body