Page:Antony and Cleopatra (1921) Yale.djvu/20

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8
The Tragedy of

To Lydia and to Ionia: whilst—

Ant. Antony, thou wouldst say,— 112

Mess. O! my lord.

Ant. Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue;
Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome;
Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults 116
With such full licence as both truth and malice
Have power to utter. O! then we bring forth weeds
When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us
Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile. 120

Mess. At your noble pleasure. Exit Messenger.

Ant. From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there!

[First Att.] The man from Sicyon, is there such an one?

[Sec. Att.] He stays upon your will.

Ant. Let him appear. 124
These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,
Or lose myself in dotage.

Enter another Messenger, with a letter.

What are you?

[Sec. Mess.] Fulvia thy wife is dead.

Ant. Where died she?

[Sec. Mess.] In Sicyon: 128
Her length of sickness, with what else more serious
Importeth thee to know, this bears.

[Giving a letter.]

Ant. Forbear me.
[Exit Second Messenger.]
There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it:
What our contempts do often hurl from us 132
We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,

120 earing: ploughing
133–135 the present pleasure . . . itself; cf. n.