[Prospero mounts his throne, on the steps of which Caliban squats below him, watching and listening with growing curiosity. At the centre, before the Cloudy Curtains, Ariel speaks.]
ARIEL From Egypt, by our Master’s art, Behold now, when these curtains part, A scene of fleeting pageantry: Behold where pale Mark Antony Hath fled his sore defeated ships In quest of Cleopatra’s lips, And turned the tides of war amiss To pawn a kingdom for a kiss.— So, by my Spirits’ acting, see Of what strange stuff these humans be!
[Ariel retires within through the curtains, which then—to the melodic dirge of flutes within—draw apart, disclosing the inner stage, which depicts a scene of vivid Egyptian coloring.]
FIRST INNER SCENE
Against a background of deep blue sky, the barge[14] of Cleopatra lies moored at an ancient wharf:
From the left, along the wharf, enters Mark Antony, attended by Soldiers and Populace in Roman and Egyptian garb.
ANTONY Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon ’t; It is ashamed to bear me! Friends, come hither. I am so hated in the world, that I Have lost my way forever. I have a ship Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly, And make your peace with Cæsar.
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.... Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command....