My last attempt must be to win her back;
But oh! I fear in vain.
Ant. Why was I fram'd with this plain honest heart,
Which knows not to disguise its griefs and weakness,
But bears its workings outward to the world?
I should have kept the mighty anguish in,
And forc'd a smile at Cleopatra's falsehood;
Octavia had believ'd it and had staid.
But I am made a shallow-forded stream,
Seen to the bottom, all my clearness scorn'd,
And all my faults expos'd.—See where he comes
Enter DOLABELLA.
Who has profan'd the sacred name of friend,
And worn it into vileness!
With how secure a brow and specious form
He gilds the secret villain! Sure that face
Was meant for honesty, but heav'n mismatch'd it,
And furnish'd treason out with nature's pomp
To make its work more easy.
Well, Dolabella, you perform'd my message?
Dol. I did unwillingly.
Was it so hard for you to bear our parting?
You should have wish'd it.
Ant. Because you love me;
And she receiv'd my message with as true,
With as unfeign'd a sorrow as you brought it?
Dol. She loves you ev'n to madness.
Ant. Oh! I know it.
You, Dolabella, do not better know
How much she loves me.
Forsake this beauty, this all perfect creature?
Dol. I could not, were she mine.
Persuaded me. How come you alter'd since?
Dol. I said at first I was not fit to go:
I could not hear her sighs and see her tears
But pity must prevail; and so perhaps
It may again with you; for I have promis'd
That she should take her last farewell; and see
She comes to claim my word.
Ant. False Dolabella!
Dol. What's false, my lord?
Ant. Why, Dolabella's false,
And Cleopatra's false; both false and faithless.
Draw near, you well-join'd wickedness, you serpents,
Whom I have in my kindly bosom warm'd
Till I am stung to death.
Dol. My lord, have I Deserv'd to be thus us'd?
Cleo. Can heav'n prepare
A newer torment? can it find a curse
Beyond our separation?
Be just, much greater. Two, two such!
Oh, there's no farther name; two such-to me,
To me, who lock'd my soul within your breasts,
Had no desires, no joys, no life, but you;
Was what the world could give. O Cleopatra!
Oh, Dolabella! how could you betray
This tender heart, which with an infant fondness
Lay lull'd betwixt your bosoms, and there slept
Secure of injur'd faith?
Dol. If she has wrong'd you,
Heav'n, hell, and you, revenge it.
Ant. If she has wrong'd me! Ventidius heard it,
Octavia saw it.
Cleo. They are enemies.
Ant. Alexas is not so; he, he confess'd it; He who next hell best knew it, he avow'd it. Why do I seek a proof beyond yourself? You whom I sent to bear my last farewell Return'd to plead her stay.
Dol. What shall I answer?
If to have lov'd be guilt, then I have sinn'd ;
But if to have repented of that love
Can wash away my crime, I have repented;
Yet if I have offended past forgiveness,
Let her not suffer: she is innocent.
Ant. Thin cobweb arts of falsehood,
Seen and broke through at first.
Dol. Forgive your mistress.
Cleo. Forgive your friend.
Ant. I can forgive
A foe, but not a mistress and a friend :
Treason is there in its most horrid shape
Where trust is greatest; I'll hear no more:
Hence from my sight for ever.
Cleo. How? for ever!
I cannot go one moment from your sight,
And must I go for ever?
My joys, my only joys, are centred here:
What place have I to go to? my own kingdom?
That I have lost for you; or to the Romans?
They hate me for your sake: or must I wander
The wide world o'er, a helpless banish'd woman,
Banish'd for love of you, banish'd from you;
Ay, there's the banishment! Oh, hear me, hear me,
With strictest justice, for I beg no favour,
And if I have offended then kill me,
Ant. I must not hear you;
I have a fool within me takes your part,
But honour stops my ears.
Cleo. For pity hear me!
Ant. [To Cleo.] Your Alexas! yours!
I am not to be mov'd.
Cleo. Then must we part? farewell, my cruel lord. Th' appearance is against me; and I go
Unjustify'd for ever from your sight.
How I have lov'd you know; bow yet I love,
My only comfort is 1 know myself:
I love you more, ev'n now you are unkind,
Than when you lov'd me most; so well, so truly,
I'll never strive against it, but die pleas'd
To think you once were mine.
Ant. Good heav'n! they weep at parting,
Must I weep too? that calls 'em innocent.
I must not weep; and yet must, to think
That I must not forgive-
Live, but live wretched; 'tis but just you should
Who made me so: live from each other's sight;
Let me not hear you meet. Set all the earth
And all the seas betwixt your sunder'd loves;
View nothing common but the sun and skies.
Now all take several ways,
And each your own sad fate with mine deplore,
That you were false, and I could trust no more.
[Exeunt severally.
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMION, and IRAS.
Cleo. I could tear out these eyes that gain'd his heart,
And had not pow'r to keep it. Oh the curse
Of doting on, ev'n when I find it dotage!
Bear witness, gods! you heard him bid me go;
You whom he mock'd with imprecating vows
Of promis'd faith-I'll die, I will not bear it.
Oh for a little breath to vent my rage!
Alex. Yes, I deserve it for my ill-tim'd truth.
Cleo. I would reason
More calmly with you. Did you not o'errule
And force my plain, direct, and open love
Into these crooked paths of jealousy?
Now, what's th' event? Octavia is remov'd,
But Cleopatra banish'd.
Alex. Believe me, madam, Antony is yours:
His heart was never lost, but started off
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