Antony and Cleopatra
Text Circles Dramatis Personae Synopsis All Definitions

Share
All
text
First folio
Modern text
Definitions
Key line
Enter Cleopatra, and her Maides aloft, with Charmian Enter Cleopatra and her maids, aloft, with Charmian AC IV.xv.1.1
& Iras.and Iras AC IV.xv.1.2
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
Oh Charmian, I will neuer go from hence.O, Charmian, I will never go from hence. AC IV.xv.1
Char. CHARMIAN 
Be comforted deere Madam.Be comforted, dear madam. AC IV.xv.2.1
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
No, I will not:No, I will not. AC IV.xv.2.2
All strange and terrible euents are welcome,All strange and terrible events are welcome, AC IV.xv.3
But comforts we dispise; our size of sorrowBut comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow, AC IV.xv.4
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as greatProportioned to our cause, must be as great AC IV.xv.5
As that which makes it.As that which makes it. AC IV.xv.6.1
Enter Diomed.Enter Diomedes below AC IV.xv.6
How now? is he dead?How now? Is he dead? AC IV.xv.6.2
Diom. DIOMEDES 
His death's vpon him, but not dead.His death's upon him, but not dead. AC IV.xv.7
Looke out o'th other side your Monument,Look out o'th' other side your monument; AC IV.xv.8
His Guard haue brought him thither.His guard have brought him thither. AC IV.xv.9.1
Enter Anthony, and the Guard.Enter, below, the Guard, bearing Antony AC IV.xv.9
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
Oh Sunne,O sun, AC IV.xv.9.2
Burne the great Sphere thou mou'st in, darkling standBurn the great sphere thou mov'st in; darkling standsphere (n.)
celestial globe in which a heavenly body was thought to move, orbit		AC IV.xv.10
darkling (adv.)
in the dark, in darkness
The varrying shore o'th'world. O Antony, The varying shore o'th' world! O Antony, AC IV.xv.11
Antony, Antony / Helpe Charmian, helpe Iras helpe:Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help! AC IV.xv.12
helpe Friends / Below, let's draw him hither.Help, friends below! Let's draw him hither. AC IV.xv.13.1
Ant. ANTONY 
Peace,Peace! AC IV.xv.13.2
Not Casars Valour hath o'rethrowne Anthony,Not Caesar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony, AC IV.xv.14
But Anthonie's hath Triumpht on it selfe.But Antony's hath triumphed on itself. AC IV.xv.15
Cleo.CLEOPATRA 
So it should be, / That none but Anthony So it should be, that none but Antony AC IV.xv.16
should conquer Anthony, / But woe 'tis so.Should conquer Antony, but woe 'tis so! AC IV.xv.17
Ant. ANTONY 
I am dying Egypt, dying; onelyI am dying, Egypt, dying; only AC IV.xv.18
I heere importune death a-while, vntillI here importune death awhile, untilimportune (v.)
urge, press		AC IV.xv.19
Of many thousand kisses, the poore lastOf many thousand kisses the poor last AC IV.xv.20
I lay vpon thy lippes.I lay up thy lips. AC IV.xv.21.1
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
I dare not Deere,I dare not, dear; AC IV.xv.21.2
Deere my Lord pardon: I dare not,Dear my lord, pardon. I dare not, AC IV.xv.22
Least I be taken: not th'Imperious shewLest I be taken. Not th' imperious showimperious, emperious (adj.)
imperial, majestic, sovereign		AC IV.xv.23
Of the full-Fortun'd Casar, euer shallOf the full-fortuned Caesar ever shallfull-fortuned (adj.)

old form: full-Fortun'd
replete with good fortune, full of success		AC IV.xv.24
Be brooch'd with me, if Knife, Drugges, Serpents haueBe brooched with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, havebrooch (v.)

old form: brooch'd
adorn, beautify, display as an ornament		AC IV.xv.25
Edge, sting, or operation. I am safe:Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe.operation (n.)
effect, force, influence, power		AC IV.xv.26
Your Wife Octauia, with her modest eyes,Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes AC IV.xv.27
And still Conclusion, shall acquire no HonourAnd still conclusion, shall acquire no honourstill (adj.)
impassive, inscrutable		AC IV.xv.28
conclusion (n.)
judgement, opinion, power of appraisal
Demuring vpon me: but come, come Anthony,Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony – demure (v.)
look demurely, gaze decorously		AC IV.xv.29
Helpe me my women, we must draw thee vp:Help me, my women – we must draw thee up. AC IV.xv.30
Assist good Friends.Assist, good friends. AC IV.xv.31.1
Ant. ANTONY 
Oh quicke, or I am gone.O, quick, or I am gone. AC IV.xv.31.2
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
Heere's sport indeede: / How heauy weighes my Lord?Here's sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!sport (n.)
exercise, athletic pastime		AC IV.xv.32
Our strength is all gone into heauinesse,Our strength is all gone into heaviness,heaviness (n.)

old form: heauinesse
sadness, grief, sorrow		AC IV.xv.33
That makes the waight. Had I great Iuno's power,That makes the weight. Had I great Juno's power,Juno (n.)
Roman supreme goddess, wife of Jupiter, associated with the Moon, childbirth, marriage, and female identity		AC IV.xv.34
The strong wing'd Mercury should fetch thee vp,The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee upMercury (n.)
messenger of the Roman gods; also, god of commerce 		AC IV.xv.35
And set thee by Ioues side. Yet come a little,And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little;Jove (n.)
[pron: johv] alternative name for Jupiter, the Roman supreme god		AC IV.xv.36
Wishers were euer Fooles. Oh come, come, come,Wishers were ever fools. O, come, come, come. AC IV.xv.37
They heaue Anthony aloft to Cleopatra.They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra AC IV.xv.38
And welcome, welcome. Dye when thou hast liu'd,And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived; AC IV.xv.38
Quicken with kissing: had my lippes that power,Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,quicken (v.)
revive, rejuvenate, give life [to]		AC IV.xv.39
Thus would I weare them out.Thus would I wear them out. AC IV.xv.40.1
All. ALL THE GUARDS 
A heauy sight.A heavy sight!heavy (adj.)

old form: heauy
sorrowful, sad, gloomy		AC IV.xv.40.2
Ant. ANTONY 
I am dying Egypt, dying.I am dying, Egypt, dying. AC IV.xv.41
Giue me some Wine, and let me speake a little.Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. AC IV.xv.42
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
No, let me speake, and let me rayle so hye,No, let me speak, and let me rail so highrail (v.)

old form: rayle
rant, rave, be abusive [about]		AC IV.xv.43
That the false Huswife Fortune, breake her Wheele,That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel,housewife, huswife (n.)

old form: Huswife
[pron: 'huzif] hussy, wanton, minx		AC IV.xv.44
false (adj.)
disloyal, faithless, inconstant, unfaithful
Fortune (n.)
Roman goddess, shown as a woman at a spinning-wheel, or controlling a rudder, and as blind
Prouok'd by my offence.Provoked by my offence.offence (n.)
opposition, hostility, antagonism		AC IV.xv.45.1
Ant. ANTONY 
One word (sweet Queene)One word, sweet queen. AC IV.xv.45.2
Of Casar seeke your Honour, with your safety. Oh.Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O! AC IV.xv.46
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
They do not go together.They do not go together. AC IV.xv.47.1
Ant. ANTONY 
Gentle heare me, Gentle, hear me:gentle (n.)
[polite intimate address] dear one		AC IV.xv.47.2
None about Casar trust, but Proculeius.None about Caesar trust but Proculeius. AC IV.xv.48
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
My Resolution, and my hands, Ile trust,My resolution and my hands I'll trust, AC IV.xv.49
None about Casar.None about Caesar. AC IV.xv.50
Ant. ANTONY 
The miserable change now at my end,The miserable change now at my end AC IV.xv.51
Lament nor sorrow at: but please your thoughtsLament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts AC IV.xv.52
In feeding them with those my former FortunesIn feeding them with those my former fortunes, AC IV.xv.53
Wherein I liued. The greatest Prince o'th'world,Wherein I lived; the greatest prince o'th' world, AC IV.xv.54
The Noblest: and do now not basely dye,The noblest; and do now not basely die,basely (adv.)
dishonourably, shamefully, ignominiously		AC IV.xv.55
Not Cowardly put off my Helmet toNot cowardly put off my helmet to AC IV.xv.56
My Countreyman. A Roman, by a RomanMy countryman; a Roman, by a Roman AC IV.xv.57
Valiantly vanquish'd. Now my Spirit is going,Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going; AC IV.xv.58
I can no more.I can no more. AC IV.xv.59.1
Cleo. CLEOPATRA 
Noblest of men, woo't dye?Noblest of men, woo't die? AC IV.xv.59.2
Hast thou no care of me, shall I abideHast thou no care of me? Shall I abide AC IV.xv.60
In this dull world, which in thy absence isIn this dull world, which in thy absence is AC IV.xv.61
No better then a Stye? Oh see my women:No better than a sty? O, see, my women, AC IV.xv.62
Antony dies AC IV.xv.63
The Crowne o'th'earth doth melt. My Lord?The crown o'th' earth doth melt. My lord! AC IV.xv.63
Oh wither'd is the Garland of the Warre,O, withered is the garland of the war,garland (n.)
pride, glory, hero		AC IV.xv.64
The Souldiers pole is falne: young Boyes and GyrlesThe soldier's pole is fall'n; young boys and girlspole (n.)
[unclear meaning] polestar, guiding star		AC IV.xv.65
Are leuell now with men: The oddes is gone,Are level now with men. The odds is gone,odds (n. plural)

old form: oddes
differences, distinctions, inequalities		AC IV.xv.66
And there is nothing left remarkeableAnd there is nothing left remarkableremarkable (adj.)

old form: remarkeable
wonderful, extraordinary, exceptional		AC IV.xv.67
Beneath the visiting Moone.Beneath the visiting moon. AC IV.xv.68.1
She faints AC IV.xv.68
Char. CHARMIAN 
Oh quietnesse, Lady.O, quietness, lady! AC IV.xv.68.2
Iras. IRAS 
She's dead too, our Soueraigne.She's dead too, our sovereign. AC IV.xv.69.1
Char. CHARMIAN 
Lady.Lady! AC IV.xv.69.2
Iras. IRAS 
Madam.Madam! AC IV.xv.69.3
Char. CHARMIAN 
Oh Madam, Madam, Madam.O madam, madam, madam! AC IV.xv.70
Iras. IRAS 
Royall Egypt: Empresse.Royal Egypt! Empress! AC IV.xv.71.1
Char. CHARMIAN 
Peace, peace, Iras.Peace, peace, Iras! AC IV.xv.71.2
Cleo.CLEOPATRA 
No more but in a Woman, and commandedNo more but e'en a woman, and commanded AC IV.xv.72
By such poore passion, as the Maid that Milkes,By such poor passion as the maid that milks AC IV.xv.73
And doe's the meanest chares. It were for me,And does the meanest chares. It were for mechare (n.)
chore, task, job		AC IV.xv.74
mean (adj.)
lowly, humble, poor
To throw my Scepter at the iniurious Gods,To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods, AC IV.xv.75
To tell them that this World did equall theyrs,To tell them that this world did equal theirs AC IV.xv.76
Till they had stolne our Iewell. All's but naught:Till they had stolen our jewel. All's but naught.naught, nought (adj.)
worthless, useless, of no value		AC IV.xv.77
Patience is sottish, and impatience doesPatience is sottish, and impatience doessottish (adj.)
stupid, foolish, ludicrous		AC IV.xv.78
Become a Dogge that's mad: Then is it sinne,Become a dog that's mad; then is it sinbecome (v.)
be fitting, befit, be appropriate to		AC IV.xv.79
To rush into the secret house of death,To rush into the secret house of death AC IV.xv.80
Ere death dare come to vs. How do you Women?Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women? AC IV.xv.81
What, what good cheere? Why how now Charmian?What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian? AC IV.xv.82
My Noble Gyrles? Ah Women, women! LookeMy noble girls! Ah, women, women, look, AC IV.xv.83
Our Lampe is spent, it's out. Good sirs, take heart,Our lamp is spent, it's out. Good sirs, take heart. AC IV.xv.84
Wee'l bury him: And then, what's braue, what's Noble,We'll bury him; and then, what's brave, what's noble,brave (adj.)

old form: braue
noble, worthy, excellent		AC IV.xv.85
Let's doo't after the high Roman fashion,Let's do't after the high Roman fashion, AC IV.xv.86
And make death proud to take vs. Come, away,And make death proud to take us. Come, away. AC IV.xv.87
This case of that huge Spirit now is cold.This case of that huge spirit now is cold.case (n.)
holder, covering, receptacle		AC IV.xv.88
Ah Women, Women! Come, we haue no FriendAh, women, women! Come; we have no friend AC IV.xv.89
But Resolution, and the breefest end.But resolution, and the briefest end.brief (adj.)

old form: breefest
quick, speedy, swift, expeditious		AC IV.xv.90
Exeunt, bearing of Anthonies body.Exeunt, bearing off Antony's body AC IV.xv.90
 Previous Act IV, Scene XV Next  
x

Jump directly to