all for love-第10章
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ANTONY。 We must。
CLEOPATRA。 Who says we must?
ANTONY。 Our own hard fates。
CLEOPATRA。 We make those fates ourselves。
ANTONY。 Yes; we have made them; we have loved each other; Into our mutual ruin。
CLEOPATRA。 The gods have seen my joys with envious eyes; I have no friends in heaven; and all the world; As 'twere the business of mankind to part us; Is armed against my love: even you yourself Join with the rest; you; you are armed against me。
ANTONY。 I will be justified in all I do To late posterity; and therefore hear me。 If I mix a lie With any truth; reproach me freely with it; Else; favour me with silence。
CLEOPATRA。 You command me; And I am dumb。
VENTIDIUS。 I like this well; he shows authority。
ANTONY。 That I derive my ruin 》From you alone
CLEOPATRA。 O heavens! I ruin you!
ANTONY。 You promised me your silence; and you break it Ere I have scarce begun。
CLEOPATRA。 Well; I obey you。
ANTONY。 When I beheld you first; it was in Egypt。 Ere Caesar saw your eyes; you gave me love; And were too young to know it; that I settled Your father in his throne; was for your sake; I left the acknowledgment for time to ripen。 Caesar stept in; and; with a greedy hand; Plucked the green fruit; ere the first blush of red; Yet cleaving to the bough。 He was my lord; And was; beside; too great for me to rival; But; I deserved you first; though he enjoyed you。 When; after; I beheld you in Cilicia; An enemy to Rome; I pardoned you。
CLEOPATRA。 I cleared myself
ANTONY。 Again you break your promise。 I loved you still; and took your weak excuses; Took you into my bosom; stained by Caesar; And not half mine: I went to Egypt with you; And hid me from the business of the world; Shut out inquiring nations from my sight; To give whole years to you。
VENTIDIUS。 Yes; to your shame be't spoken。 'Aside。'
ANTONY。 How I loved。 Witness; ye days and nights; and all ye hours; That danced away with down upon your feet; As all your business were to count my passion! One day passed by; and nothing saw but love; Another came; and still 'twas only love: The suns were wearied out with looking on; And I untired with loving。 I saw you every day; and all the day; And every day was still but as the first; So eager was I still to see you more。
VENTIDIUS。 'Tis all too true。
ANTONY。 Fulvia; my wife; grew jealous; (As she indeed had reason) raised a war In Italy; to call me back。
VENTIDIUS。 But yet You went not。
ANTONY。 While within your arms I lay; The world fell mouldering from my hands each hour; And left me scarce a graspI thank your love for't。
VENTIDIUS。 Well pushed: that last was home。
CLEOPATRA。 Yet may I speak?
ANTONY。 If I have urged a falsehood; yes; else; not。 Your silence says; I have not。 Fulvia died; (Pardon; you gods; with my unkindness died); To set the world at peace; I took Octavia; This Caesar's sister; in her pride of youth; And flower of beauty; did I wed that lady; Whom blushing I must praise; because I left her。 You called; my love obeyed the fatal summons: This raised the Roman arms; the cause was yours。 I would have fought by land; where I was stronger; You hindered it: yet; when I fought at sea; Forsook me fighting; and (O stain to honour! O lasting shame!) I knew not that I fled; But fled to follow you。
VENTIDIUS。 What haste she made to hoist her purple sails! And; to appear magnificent in flight; Drew half our strength away。
ANTONY。 All this you caused。 And; would you multiply more ruins on me? This honest man; my best; my only friend; Has gathered up the shipwreck of my fortunes; Twelve legions I have left; my last recruits。 And you have watched the news; and bring your eyes To seize them too。 If you have aught to answer; Now speak; you have free leave。
ALEXAS。 'aside。' She stands confounded: Despair is in her eyes。
VENTIDIUS。 Now lay a sigh in the way to stop his passage: Prepare a tear; and bid it for his legions; 'Tis like they shall be sold。
CLEOPATRA。 How shall I plead my cause; when you; my judge; Already have condemned me? Shall I bring The love you bore me for my advocate? That now is turned against me; that destroys me; For love; once past; is; at the best; forgotten; But oftener sours to hate: 'twill please my lord To ruin me; and therefore I'll be guilty。 But; could I once have thought it would have pleased you; That you would pry; with narrow searching eyes; Into my faults; severe to my destruction; And watching all advantages with care; That serve to make me wretched? Speak; my lord; For I end here。 Though I deserved this usage; Was it like you to give it?
ANTONY。 Oh; you wrong me; To think I sought this parting; or desired To accuse you more than what will clear myself; And justify this breach。
CLEOPATRA。 Thus low I thank you; And; since my innocence will not offend; I shall not blush to own it。
VENTIDIUS。 After this; I think she'll blush at nothing。
CLEOPATRA。 You seem grieved (And therein you are kind) that Caesar first Enjoyed my love; though you deserved it better: I grieve for that; my lord; much more than you; For; had I first been yours; it would have saved My second choice: I never had been his; And ne'er had been but yours。 But Caesar first; You say; possessed my love。 Not so; my lord: He first possessed my person; you; my love: Caesar loved me; but I loved Antony。 If I endured him after; 'twas because I judged it due to the first name of men; And; half constrained; I gave; as to a tyrant; What he would take by force。
VENTIDIUS。 O Syren! Syren! Yet grant that all the love she boasts were true; Has she not ruined you? I still urge that; The fatal consequence。
CLEOPATRA。 The consequence indeed For I dare challenge him; my greatest foe; To say it was designed: 'tis true; I loved you; And kept you far from an uneasy wife; Such Fulvia was。 Yes; but he'll say; you left Octavia for me; And; can you blame me to receive that love; Which quitted such desert; for worthless me? How often have I wished some other Caesar; Great as the first; and as the second young; Would court my love; to be refused for you!
VENTIDIUS。 Words; words; but Actium; sir; remember Actium。
CLEOPATRA。 Even there; I dare his malice。 True; I counselled To fight at sea; but I betrayed you not。 I fled; but not to the enemy。 'Twas fear; Would I had been a man; not to have feared! For none would then have envied me your friendship; Who envy me your love。
ANTONY。 We are both unhappy: If nothing else; yet our ill fortune parts us。 Speak; would you have me perish by my stay?
CLEOPATRA。 If; as a friend; you ask my judgment; go; If; as a lover; stay。 If you must perish 'Tis a hard wordbut stay。
VENTIDIUS。 See now the effects of her so boasted love! She strives to drag you down to ruin with her; But; could she 'scape without you; oh; how soon Would she let go her hold; and haste to shore; And never look behind!
CLEOPATRA。 Then judge my love by this。 'Giving ANTONY a writing。' Could I have borne A life or death; a happiness or woe; 》From yours divided; this had given me means。
ANTONY。 By Hercules; the writing of Octavius! I know it well: 'tis that proscribing hand; Young as it was; that led the way to mine; And left me but the second place in murder。 See; see; Ventidius! here he offers Egypt; And joins all Syria to it; as a present; So; in requital; she forsake my fortunes; And join her arms with his。
CLEOPATRA。 And yet you leave me! You leave me; Antony; and yet I love you; Indeed I do: I have refused a kingdom; That is a trifle; For I could part with life; with anything; But only you。 Oh; let me die but with you! Is that a hard request?
ANTONY。 Next living with you; 'Tis all that Heaven can give。
ALEXAS。 He melts; we conquer。 'Aside。'
CLEOPATRA。 No; you shall go: your interest calls you hence; Yes; your dear interest pulls too strong; for these Weak arms to hold you here。 'Takes his hand。' Go; leave me; soldier (For you're no more a lover): leave me dying: Push me; all pale and panting; from your bosom; And; when your march begins; let one run after; Breathless almost for joy; and cryShe's dead。 The soldiers shout; you then; perhaps; may sigh; And muster all yo