Antony and Cleopatra

by William Shakespeare

Act IV, Scene VII

Field of battle between the camps.

Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA and others

Retire, we have engaged ourselves too far:
Caesar himself has work, and our oppression
Exceeds what we expected.

Exeunt

Alarums. Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS wounded

O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!
Had we done so at first, we had droven them home
With clouts about their heads.

Thou bleed'st apace.

I had a wound here that was like a T,
But now 'tis made an H.

They do retire.

We'll beat 'em into bench-holes: I have yet
Room for six scotches more.

Enter EROS

They are beaten, sir, and our advantage serves
For a fair victory.

Let us score their backs,
And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind:
'Tis sport to maul a runner.

I will reward thee
Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold
For thy good valour. Come thee on.

I'll halt after.

Exeunt

Next Scene

Monadnock Valley Press > Shakespeare > Antony and Cleopatra