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Antony and Cleopatra
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-BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD
William Shakespeare (1564–1616). The Oxford Shakespeare. 1914.
Act III. Scene I.
Antony and Cleopatra
A Plain in Syria.
Enter VENTIDIUS, in triumph, with SILIUS and other Romans, Officers, and Soldiers; the dead body of PACORUS borne before him.
Ven.Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now
Pleas’d fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death
Make me revenger. Bear the king’s son’s body
Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
Sil.Noble Ventidius,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
The routed fly; so thy grand captain Antony
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and
Put garlands on thy head.
Ven.O Silius, Silius!
I have done enough; a lower place, note well,
May make too great an act; for learn this, Silius,
Better to leave undone than by our deed
Acquire too high a fame when him we serve’s away.
Cæsar and Antony have ever won
More in their officer than person; Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achiev’d by the minute, lost his favour.
Who does i’ the wars more than his captain can
Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,
The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss
Than gain which darkens him.
I could do more to do Antonius good,
But ’twould offend him; and in his offence
Should my performance perish.
Sil.Thou hast, Ventidius, that
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?
We have jaded out o’ the field.
We shall appear before him. On, there; pass along.[Exeunt.