feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/shmoop/The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra/section_22_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.act iii.scene xi
feat_summary_id: act iii, scene xi
feat_summary: {"name": "Act III, Scene xi", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210116191009/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/antony-cleopatra/summary/act-iii-scene-xi", "summary": "Antony, back at Cleopatra's palace in Alexandria, cries out in shame. He laments that he's lost to the world forever, and insists that his friends go to a ship he has left full of gold, divide up the spoils, and follow his example by fleeing. He says his lesser parts have defeated his nobler intuitions, and he has lost command . Overall, he's kind of a wreck. Cleopatra enters. Antony is busy recounting what a noble soldier he used to be, like that time he oversaw the death of Brutus and Cassius. These victories are mitigated by his present shame. Cleopatra goes to comfort him, with her head hung and looking the very picture of shame. He asks her how she could lead him to this, and she is full of apologies--she ran away because she was frightened, and never thought he would follow her. He responds in despair. His heart was tied to her rudder; he had to follow because his love for her rules his spirit. She's really sorry, it seems, but Antony now has to worry about seeking pardon from Caesar, which is sad since not too long ago he ruled half the world. Still, Cleopatra has power over him; he asks her for a kiss, as this will repay him for all the wrongs. He calls for wine and is determined to make merry. Antony chooses to deliberately ignore all the signs that the entire endeavor against Caesar is cursed.", "analysis": ""}
text: SCENE XI.
                Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace
  
                 Enter ANTONY With attendants
  
    ANTONY. Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;
      It is asham'd to bear me. Friends, come hither.
      I am so lated in the world that I
      Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship
      Laden with gold; take that; divide it. Fly,
      And make your peace with Caesar.
    ALL. Fly? Not we!
    ANTONY. I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
      To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;
      I have myself resolv'd upon a course
      Which has no need of you; be gone.
      My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,
      I follow'd that I blush to look upon.
      My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
      Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
      For fear and doting. Friends, be gone; you shall
      Have letters from me to some friends that will
      Sweep your way for you. Pray you look not sad,
      Nor make replies of loathness; take the hint
      Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
      Which leaves itself. To the sea-side straight way.
      I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
      Leave me, I pray, a little; pray you now;
      Nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command;
      Therefore I pray you. I'll see you by and by.    [Sits down]
  
              Enter CLEOPATRA, led by CHARMIAN and IRAS,
                           EROS following
  
    EROS. Nay, gentle madam, to him! Comfort him.
    IRAS. Do, most dear Queen.
    CHARMIAN. Do? Why, what else?
    CLEOPATRA. Let me sit down. O Juno!
    ANTONY. No, no, no, no, no.
    EROS. See you here, sir?
    ANTONY. O, fie, fie, fie!
    CHARMIAN. Madam!
    IRAS. Madam, O good Empress!
    EROS. Sir, sir!
    ANTONY. Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
      His sword e'en like a dancer, while I struck
      The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
      That the mad Brutus ended; he alone
      Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
      In the brave squares of war. Yet now- no matter.
    CLEOPATRA. Ah, stand by!
    EROS. The Queen, my lord, the Queen!
    IRAS. Go to him, madam, speak to him.
      He is unqualitied with very shame.
    CLEOPATRA. Well then, sustain me. O!
   EROS. Most noble sir, arise; the Queen approaches.
      Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her but
      Your comfort makes the rescue.
    ANTONY. I have offended reputation-
      A most unnoble swerving.
    EROS. Sir, the Queen.
    ANTONY. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
      How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
      By looking back what I have left behind
      'Stroy'd in dishonour.
    CLEOPATRA. O my lord, my lord,
      Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
      You would have followed.
    ANTONY. Egypt, thou knew'st too well
      My heart was to thy rudder tied by th' strings,
      And thou shouldst tow me after. O'er my spirit
      Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
      Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
      Command me.
    CLEOPATRA. O, my pardon!
    ANTONY. Now I must
      To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
      And palter in the shifts of lowness, who
      With half the bulk o' th' world play'd as I pleas'd,
      Making and marring fortunes. You did know
      How much you were my conqueror, and that
      My sword, made weak by my affection, would
      Obey it on all cause.
    CLEOPATRA. Pardon, pardon!
    ANTONY. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
      All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss;
      Even this repays me.
      We sent our schoolmaster; is 'a come back?
      Love, I am full of lead. Some wine,
      Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
      We scorn her most when most she offers blows.         Exeunt
  
  ACT_3|SC_12
  
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Act III, Scene xi
target: Antony, back at Cleopatra's palace in Alexandria, cries out in shame. He laments that he's lost to the world forever, and insists that his friends go to a ship he has left full of gold, divide up the spoils, and follow his example by fleeing. He says his lesser parts have defeated his nobler intuitions, and he has lost command . Overall, he's kind of a wreck. Cleopatra enters. Antony is busy recounting what a noble soldier he used to be, like that time he oversaw the death of Brutus and Cassius. These victories are mitigated by his present shame. Cleopatra goes to comfort him, with her head hung and looking the very picture of shame. He asks her how she could lead him to this, and she is full of apologies--she ran away because she was frightened, and never thought he would follow her. He responds in despair. His heart was tied to her rudder; he had to follow because his love for her rules his spirit. She's really sorry, it seems, but Antony now has to worry about seeking pardon from Caesar, which is sad since not too long ago he ruled half the world. Still, Cleopatra has power over him; he asks her for a kiss, as this will repay him for all the wrongs. He calls for wine and is determined to make merry. Antony chooses to deliberately ignore all the signs that the entire endeavor against Caesar is cursed.