Page 2539 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

DIOMEDES

Lives he?
Wilt thou not answer, man? [115]
(Exit Decretas.)

ANTONY
Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me

Sufficing strokes for death.

DIOMEDES
Most absolute lord,
My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.

ANTONY
When did she send thee?

DIOMEDES
Now, my lord,

ANTONY
Where is she?

DIOMEDES
Lock’d in her monument; she had a prophesying fear [120]

Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw −
Which never shall be found − you did suspect
She had dispos’d with Cæsar, and that your rage

Would not be purg’d, she sent you word she was dead;
But fearing since how it might work, hath sent [125]
Me to proclaim the truth, and I am come,
I dread, too late.

ANTONY
Too late, good Diomed: call my guard, I prithee.

DIOMEDES
What ho; the emperor’s guard, the guard, what ho!