all for love-第11节
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swelled with hatred; thou beheld'st her first; As accessary to thy brother's death?
DOLABELLA。 Spare my remembrance; 'twas a guilty day; And still the blush hangs here。
ANTONY。 To clear herself; For sending him no aid; she came from Egypt。 Her galley down the silver Cydnus rowed; The tackling silk; the streamers waved with gold; The gentle winds were lodged in purple sails: Her nymphs; like Nereids; round her couch were placed; Where she; another sea…born Venus; lay。
DOLABELLA。 No more; I would not hear it。
ANTONY。 Oh; you must! She lay; and leant her cheek upon her hand; And cast a look so languishingly sweet; As if; secure of all beholders' hearts; Neglecting; she could take them: boys; like Cupids; Stood fanning; with their painted wings; the winds。 That played about her face。 But if she smiled A darting glory seemed to blaze abroad; That men's desiring eyes were never wearied; But hung upon the object: To soft flutes The silver oars kept time; and while they played; The hearing gave new pleasure to the sight; And both to thought。 'Twas heaven; or somewhat more; For she so charmed all hearts; that gazing crowds Stood panting on the shore; and wanted breath To give their welcome voice。 Then; Dolabella; where was then thy soul? Was not thy fury quite disarmed with wonder? Didst thou not shrink behind me from those eyes And whisper in my earOh; tell her not That I accused her with my brother's death?
DOLABELLA。 And should my weakness be a plea for yours? Mine was an age when love might be excused; When kindly warmth; and when my springing youth Made it a debt to nature。 Yours
VENTIDIUS。 Speak boldly。 Yours; he would say; in your declining age; When no more heat was left but what you forced; When all the sap was needful for the trunk; When it went down; then you constrained the course; And robbed from nature; to supply desire; In you (I would not use so harsh a word) 'Tis but plain dotage。
ANTONY。 Ha!
DOLABELLA。 'Twas urged too home。 But yet the loss was private; that I made; 'Twas but myself I lost: I lost no legions; I had no world to lose; no people's love。
ANTONY。 This from a friend?
DOLABELLA。 Yes; Antony; a true one; A friend so tender; that each word I speak Stabs my own heart; before it reach your ear。 Oh; judge me not less kind; because I chide! To Caesar I excuse you。
ANTONY。 O ye gods! Have I then lived to be excused to Caesar?
DOLABELLA。 As to your equal。
ANTONY。 Well; he's but my equal: While I wear this he never shall be more。
DOLABELLA。 I bring conditions from him。
ANTONY。 Are they noble? Methinks thou shouldst not bring them else; yet he Is full of deep dissembling; knows no honour Divided from his interest。 Fate mistook him; For nature meant him for an usurer: He's fit indeed to buy; not conquer kingdoms。
VENTIDIUS。 Then; granting this; What power was theirs; who wrought so hard a temper To honourable terms?
ANTONY。 I was my Dolabella; or some god。
DOLABELLA。 Nor I; nor yet Maecenas; nor Agrippa: They were your enemies; and I; a friend; Too weak alone; yet 'twas a Roman's deed。
ANTONY。 'Twas like a Roman done: show me that man; Who has preserved my life; my love; my honour; Let me but see his face。
VENTIDIUS。 That task is mine; And; Heaven; thou know'st how pleasing。 'Exit VENTIDIUS。'
DOLABELLA。 You'll remember To whom you stand obliged?
ANTONY。 When I forget it Be thou unkind; and that's my greatest curse。 My queen shall thank him too;
DOLABELLA。 I fear she will not。
ANTONY。 But she shall do it: The queen; my Dolabella! Hast thou not still some grudgings of thy fever?
DOLABELLA。 I would not see her lost。
ANTONY。 When I forsake her; Leave me my better stars! for she has truth Beyond her beauty。 Caesar tempted her; At no less price than kingdoms; to betray me; But she resisted all: and yet thou chidest me For loving her too well。 Could I do so?
DOLABELLA。 Yes; there's my reason。
Re…enter VENTIDIUS; with OCTAVIA; leading ANTONY'S two little DAUGHTERS
ANTONY。 Where?Octavia there! 'Starting back。'
VENTIDIUS。 What; is she poison to you?a disease? Look on her; view her well; and those she brings: Are they all strangers to your eyes? has nature No secret call; no whisper they are yours?
DOLABELLA。 For shame; my lord; if not for love; receive them With kinder eyes。 If you confess a man; Meet them; embrace them; bid them welcome to you。 Your arms should open; even without your knowledge; To clasp them in; your feet should turn to wings; To bear you to them; and your eyes dart out And aim a kiss; ere you could reach the lips。
ANTONY。 I stood amazed; to think how they came hither。
VENTIDIUS。 I sent for them; I brought them in unknown To Cleopatra's guards。
DOLABELLA。 Yet; are you cold?
OCTAVIA。 Thus long I have attended for my welcome; Which; as a stranger; sure I might expect。 Who am I?
ANTONY。 Caesar's sister。
OCTAVIA。 That's unkind。 Had I been nothing more than Caesar's sister; Know; I had still remained in Caesar's camp: But your Octavia; your much injured wife; Though banished from your bed; driven from your house; In spite of Caesar's sister; still is yours。 'Tis true; I have a heart disdains your coldness; And prompts me not to seek what you should offer; But a wife's virtue still surmounts that pride。 I come to claim you as my own; to show My duty first; to ask; nay beg; your kindness: Your hand; my lord; 'tis mine; and I will have it。 'Taking his hand。'
VENTIDIUS。 Do; take it; thou deserv'st it。
DOLABELLA。 On my soul; And so she does: she's neither too submissive; Nor yet too haughty; but so just a mean Shows; as it ought; a wife and Roman too。
ANTONY。 I fear; Octavia; you have begged my life。
OCTAVIA。 Begged it; my lord?
ANTONY。 Yes; begged it; my ambassadress; Poorly and basely begged it of your brother。
OCTAVIA。 Poorly and basely I could never beg: Nor could my brother grant。
ANTONY。 Shall I; who; to my kneeling slave; could say; Rise up; and be a king; shall I fall down And cry;Forgive me; Caesar! Shall I set A man; my equal; in the place of Jove; As he could give me being? No; that word; Forgive; would choke me up; And die upon my tongue。
DOLABELLA。 You shall not need it。
ANTONY。 I will not need it。 Come; you've all betrayed me; My friend too!to receive some vile conditions。 My wife has bought me; with her prayers and tears; And now I must become her branded slave。 In every peevish mood; she will upbraid The life she gave: if I but look awry; She criesI'll tell my brother。
OCTAVIA。 My hard fortune Subjects me still to your unkind mistakes。 But the conditions I have brought are such; Your need not blush to take: I love your honour; Because 'tis mine; it never shall be said; Octavia's husband was her brother's slave。 Sir; you are free; free; even from her you loathe; For; though my brother bargains for your love; Makes me the price and cement of your peace; I have a soul like yours; I cannot take Your love as alms; nor beg what I deserve。 I'll tell my brother we are reconciled; He shall draw back his troops; and you shall march To rule the East: I may be dropt at Athens; No matter where。 I never will complain; But only keep the barren name of wife; And rid you of the trouble。
VENTIDIUS。 Was ever such a strife of sullen honour! 'Apart' Both scorn to be obliged。
DOLABELLA。 Oh; she has touched him in the tenderest part;'Apart' See how he reddens with despite and shame; To be outdone in generosity!
VENTIDIUS。 See how he winks! how he dries up a tear; 'Apart' That fain would fall!
ANTONY。 Octavia; I have heard you; and must praise The greatness of your soul; But cannot yield to what you have proposed: For I can ne'er be conquered but by love; And you do all for duty。 You would free me; And would be dropt at Athens; was't not so?
OCTAVIA。 It was; my lord。
ANTONY。 Then I must be obliged To one who loves me not; who; to herself; May call me thankless and ungrateful man: I'll not endure it; no。
VENTIDIUS。 I am glad it pinches there。 'Aside。'
OCTAVIA。 Would you triumph o'er poor Octavia's virtue? That pride was all I had to bear me up; That you might think you owed me for your life; And owed it to my duty; not my love。 I have been injured; and my haughty soul Could brook but ill the man who slights my bed。
ANTONY。 Therefore you love me not。
OCTAVIA。 Therefore; my lord; I should not love you。
ANTONY。 Therefore you would leave me?
OCTAVIA。 And therefore I should leave youif I could。
DOLABELLA。 Her soul's too great; after such injuries; To say she loves; and yet she lets you see it。 Her modesty and silence plead her cause。
ANTONY。 O Dolabella; which way shall I turn? I find a secret yielding in my soul; But Cleopatra; who would die with me; Must she be left? Pity pleads for Octavia; But does it not plead more for Cleopatra?
VENTIDIUS。 Justice and pity both plead for Octavia; For Cleopatra; neither。 One would be ruined with you; but she first Had ruined you: The other; you have ruined; And yet she would preserve you。 In everything their merits are unequal。
ANTONY。 O my distracted soul!
OCTAVIA。 Sweet Heaven compose it! Come