feat_summary_path: finished_summaries/shmoop/The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra/section_32_part_0.txt
feat_book_id: The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra.act iv.scene viii
feat_summary_id: act iv, scene viii
feat_summary: {"name": "Act IV, Scene viii", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20210116191009/https://www.shmoop.com/study-guides/literature/antony-cleopatra/summary/act-iv-scene-viii", "summary": "Antony returns in full force to Alexandria. He praises everyone, and they plan to battle again tomorrow. Cleopatra then enters, and he greets her gaily. He happily presents Scarus and all his wounds to Cleopatra, who praises them all and promises him a suit of golden armor that once belonged to a king. Antony again proclaims his love for \"this fairy,\" claiming she is the only thing that can pierce the armor over his heart. They dedicate the night to celebrating their victory in decadent Egyptian fashion.", "analysis": ""}
text: SCENE VIII.
                 Under the walls of Alexandria
  
          Alarum. Enter ANTONY, again in a march; SCARUS
                          with others
  
    ANTONY. We have beat him to his camp. Run one before
      And let the Queen know of our gests. To-morrow,
      Before the sun shall see's, we'll spill the blood
      That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;
      For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
      Not as you serv'd the cause, but as't had been
      Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
      Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
      Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
      Wash the congealment from your wounds and kiss
      The honour'd gashes whole.
  
                   Enter CLEOPATRA, attended
  
      [To SCARUS] Give me thy hand-
      To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,
      Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o' th' world,
      Chain mine arm'd neck. Leap thou, attire and all,
      Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
      Ride on the pants triumphing.
    CLEOPATRA. Lord of lords!
      O infinite virtue, com'st thou smiling from
      The world's great snare uncaught?
    ANTONY. Mine nightingale,
      We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! though grey
      Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha' we
      A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
      Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
      Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand-
      Kiss it, my warrior- he hath fought to-day
      As if a god in hate of mankind had
      Destroyed in such a shape.
    CLEOPATRA. I'll give thee, friend,
      An armour all of gold; it was a king's.
    ANTONY. He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled
      Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand.
      Through Alexandria make a jolly march;
      Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them.
      Had our great palace the capacity
      To camp this host, we all would sup together,
      And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
      Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters,
      With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
      Make mingle with our rattling tabourines,
      That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together
      Applauding our approach.                              Exeunt
  
  ACT_4|SC_9
  
  
  
  
feat_summary_name: Act IV, Scene viii
target: Antony returns in full force to Alexandria. He praises everyone, and they plan to battle again tomorrow. Cleopatra then enters, and he greets her gaily. He happily presents Scarus and all his wounds to Cleopatra, who praises them all and promises him a suit of golden armor that once belonged to a king. Antony again proclaims his love for "this fairy," claiming she is the only thing that can pierce the armor over his heart. They dedicate the night to celebrating their victory in decadent Egyptian fashion.