ANTONY Egypt, thou knew’st too well My heart was to thy rudder tied by the 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’ the world play’d as I pleased, 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 [Touching his arm, clings to him.] Pardon, pardon!
ANTONY [Overcome at her touch.] Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss. Even this repays me.... Wine! Bring wine, within there: wine! For fortune knows We scorn her most when most she offers blows. [He embraces Cleopatra. From the right slaves enter, bearing chalices and wine-beakers. With them come flutists and harpers, making festal music. Snatching from them a golden cup, Antony raises it aloft with an impassioned gesture, returning the triumphant smile of the Egyptian queen.]
CLOSING, THE CLOUDY CURTAINS SHUT OFF THE SCENE.
[Meantime Caliban, who has risen absorbed and drawn slowly nearer in child-like fascination, stands for an instant, bewildered. Then, with a cry, he leaps forward in the dim-lit space and gropes along the curtains with arms wide.]
CALIBAN Ho, light! All’s smother: ’tis gone! Yo—yo, all gone— Cloud-swallowed, all! Ah, woman, snake-bright queen, Thou wonder-thing, come back! Ah, where—where—where?
PROSPERO So, so! Canst thou, then, taste my vision, slave? [He descends the throne toward Caliban.]
CALIBAN [Staring about him.] O dazzle-blue, gold-shine, hot lotus smell! Blood-root in bloom, and scarlet water-weed!— O silver sight and tinkle-tickling sound!— Spurteth my body with joy—burst in my brain Enormous moons of wonder!—Float, still float, You purpling sails! Blaze, thou flame-woman! Speak Sparkles of kissing fire!