The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra

Act IV

Scene VII.

William Shakespeare


Field of battle between the camps

Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA
and others

    AGRIPPA.
Retire. We have engag’d ourselves too far.
Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression
Exceeds what we expected.[Exeunt

Alarums. Enter ANTONY, and SCARUS wounded

    SCARUS.
O my brave Emperor, this is fought indeed!
Had we done so at first, we had droven them home
With clouts about their heads.

    ANTONY.
                                Thou bleed’st apace.

    SCARUS.
I had a wound here that was like a T,
But now ’tis made an H.

    ANTONY.
                                They do retire.

    SCARUS.
We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have yet
Room for six scotches more.

Enter EROS

    EEROS.
They are beaten, sir, and our advantage serves
For a fair victory.

    SCARUS.
                        Let us score their backs
And snatch ’em up, as we take hares, behind.
’Tis sport to maul a runner.

    ANTONY.
                                        I will reward thee
Once for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfold
For thy good valour. Come thee on.

    SCARUS.
                                I’ll halt after.[Exeunt


The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra - Contents    |     Act IV. Scene VIII.


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