Act IV. Scene VII. Antony and Cleopatra. Craig, W.J., ed. 1914. The Oxford Shakespeare

William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.

Antony and Cleopatra

Act IV. Scene VII.

Field of Battle between the Camps.

Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA and Others.
Agr. Retire, we have engag’d ourselves too far.
Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression	4
Exceeds what we expected. [Exeunt.

Alarum. Enter ANTONY, and SCARUS wounded.
Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!
Had we done so at first, we had droven them home	8
With clouts about their heads.
Ant. Thou bleed’st apace.
Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T,
But now ’tis made an H.	12
Ant. They do retire.
Scar. We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes: I have yet
Room for six scotches more.

Enter EROS.	16
Eros. They are beaten, sir; and our advantage serves
For a fair victory.
Scar. Let us score their backs,
And snatch ’em up, as we take hares, behind:	20
’Tis sport to maul a runner.
Ant. I will reward thee
Once for thy sprightly comfort, and ten-fold
For thy good valour. Come thee on.	24
Scar. I’ll halt after. [Exeunt.