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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 3, scene 1
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Antony and Cleopatra - Act 3, scene 1Act 3, scene 1
⌜Scene 1⌝
Synopsis:
Having won a victory for Antony, Ventidius explains why it would be politically unwise to achieve further success. We learn that Antony is on his way to Athens.
Enter Ventidius as it were in triumph, the dead body ofPacorus borne before him; ⌜with Silius and Soldiers.⌝
VENTIDIUS
1494 Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck, and now
1495 Pleased Fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death
1496 Make me revenger. Bear the King’s son’s body
1497 Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
1498 5 Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
⌜SILIUS⌝ 1499 Noble Ventidius,
1500 Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
1501 The fugitive Parthians follow. Spur through Media,
1502 Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
1503 10 The routed fly. So thy grand captain, Antony,
1504 Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and
1505 Put garlands on thy head.
VENTIDIUS 1506 O, Silius, Silius,
1507 I have done enough. A lower place, note well,
1508 15 May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius:
1509 Better to leave undone than by our deed
1510 Acquire too high a fame when him we serve ’s away.
1511 Caesar and Antony have ever won
1512 More in their officer than person. Sossius,
1513 20 One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
1514 For quick accumulation of renown,
1515 Which he achieved by th’ minute, lost his favor.
p.
117
1516
Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can1517 Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,
1518 25 The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss
1519 Than gain which darkens him.
1520 I could do more to do Antonius good,
1521 But ’twould offend him. And in his offense
1522 Should my performance perish.
⌜SILIUS⌝ 1523 30Thou hast, Ventidius, that
1524 Without the which a soldier and his sword
1525 Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to
1526 Antony?
VENTIDIUS
1527 I’ll humbly signify what in his name,
1528 35 That magical word of war, we have effected;
1529 How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,
1530 The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
1531 We have jaded out o’ th’ field.
⌜SILIUS⌝ 1532 Where is he now?
VENTIDIUS
1533 40 He purposeth to Athens, whither, with what haste
1534 The weight we must convey with ’s will permit,
1535 We shall appear before him.—On there, pass along!
They exit.