This riveting tragedy presents one of Shakespeare's greatest female characters—the seductive, cunning Egyptian queen, Cleopatra. Mark Antony, a virtual prisoner of his passion for her, is torn between pleasure and virtue, between sensual indolence and duty...
作者：William Shakespeare，1564-1616，英国文艺复兴时期最伟大的剧作家、诗人、文学家；朗读：苑溪仙；播出时间：晚9点。
本集文本如下：
ACT IV SCENE IV The same. A room in the palace.
[ Enter MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and others attending ]
MARK ANTONY Eros! mine armour, Eros!
CLEOPATRASleep a little.
MARK ANTONYNo, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armour, Eros!
[Enter EROS with armour]
Come good fellow, put mine iron on:
If fortune be not ours to-day, it is5
Because we brave her: come.
CLEOPATRANay, I'll help too.
What's this for?
MARK ANTONYAh, let be, let be! thou art
The armourer of my heart: false, false; this, this.10
CLEOPATRASooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be.
MARK ANTONYWell, well;
We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?
Go put on thy defences.
EROSBriefly, sir.15
CLEOPATRAIs not this buckled well?
MARK ANTONYRarely, rarely:
He that unbuckles this, till we do please
To daff't for our repose, shall hear a storm.
Thou fumblest, Eros; and my queen's a squire20
More tight at this than thou: dispatch. O love,
That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew'st
The royal occupation! thou shouldst see
A workman in't.
[Enter an armed Soldier]
Good morrow to thee; welcome:25
Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge:
To business that we love we rise betime,
And go to't with delight.
SoldierA thousand, sir,
Early though't be, have on their riveted trim,30
And at the port expect you.
[Shout. Trumpets flourish]
[Enter Captains and Soldiers]
CaptainThe morn is fair. Good morrow, general.
AllGood morrow, general.
MARK ANTONY'Tis well blown, lads:
This morning, like the spirit of a youth35
That means to be of note, begins betimes.
So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.
Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me:
This is a soldier's kiss: rebukeable
[Kisses her]
And worthy shameful cheque it were, to stand40
On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee
Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight,
Follow me close; I'll bring you to't. Adieu.
[Exeunt MARK ANTONY, EROS, Captains, and Soldiers]
CHARMIANPlease you, retire to your chamber.
CLEOPATRALead me.45
He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might
Determine this great war in single fight!
Then Antony,--but now--Well, on.
[Exeunt]
