Shakespeare Plays and Sonnets

Antony and Cleopatra

Players:

• Mark Antony, Triumvir
• Octavius Caesar, Triumvir
• M. Aemilius Lepidus, Triumvir
• Sextus Pompeius - Pompey
• Enobarbus, friend of Antony
• Ventidius, friend of Antony
• Eros, friend of Antony
• Scarus, friend of Antony
• Dercetas, friend of Antony
• Demetrius, friend of Antony
• Philo, friend of Antony
• Maecenas, friend of Caesar
• Agrippa, friend of Caesar
• Dolabella, friend of Caesar
• Proculeius, friend of Caesar
• Thyreus, friend of Caesar
• Gallus, friend of Caesar
• Menas, friend of Pompey
• Menecrates, friend of Pompey
• Varrius, friend of Pompey
• Taurus, a lieutenant-general
• Canidius, a lieutenant-general
• Silius, an officer
• Euphronius, an ambassador
• Alexas, attendant to Cleopatra
• Mardian, attendant to Cleopatra
• Seleucus, attendant to Cleopatra
• Diomedes, attendant to Cleopatra
• A Soothsayer
• A Clown
• Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt
• Octavia, Antony's wife; sister of Caesar
• Charmian, attendant to Cleopatra
• Iras, attendant to Cleopatra
• Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants

ACT I, SCENE I.

Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA's palace.

[Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO]

• PHILO:

  
  Nay, but this dotage of our general's
• O'erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes,
• That o'er the files and musters of the war
• Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
• The office and devotion of their view
• Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,
• Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
• The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper,
• And is become the bellows and the fan
• To cool a gipsy's lust.

• [Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her Ladies, the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her]

• Look, where they come:
• Take but good note, and you shall see in him.
• The triple pillar of the world transform'd
• Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I'll set a bourn how far to be beloved.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

• [Enter an Attendant]

• Attendant:

  
  News, my good lord, from Rome.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Grates me: the sum.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Nay, hear them, Antony:
• Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows
• If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent
• His powerful mandate to you, 'Do this, or this;
• Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;
• Perform 't, or else we damn thee.'

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  How, my love!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Perchance! nay, and most like:
• You must not stay here longer, your dismission
• Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony.
• Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? both?
• Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen,
• Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine
• Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame
• When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
• Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.
• Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike
• Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
• Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair

• [Embracing]

• And such a twain can do't, in which I bind,
• On pain of punishment, the world to weet
• We stand up peerless.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Excellent falsehood!
• Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?
• I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
• Will be himself.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  But stirr'd by Cleopatra.
• Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,
• Let's not confound the time with conference harsh:
• There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
• Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Hear the ambassadors.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Fie, wrangling queen!
• Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
• To weep; whose every passion fully strives
• To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!
• No messenger, but thine; and all alone
• To-night we'll wander through the streets and note
• The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
• Last night you did desire it: speak not to us.

• [Exeunt MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with their train]

• DEMETRIUS:

  
  Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?

• PHILO:

  
  Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
• He comes too short of that great property
• Which still should go with Antony.

• DEMETRIUS:

  
  I am full sorry
• That he approves the common liar, who
• Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope
• Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!

• [Exeunt]

ACT I, SCENE II.

Another room in the palace.

[Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Soothsayer]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas,
• almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer
• that you praised so to the queen? O, that I knew
• this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns
• with garlands!

• ALEXAS:

  
  Soothsayer!

• Soothsayer:

  
  Your will?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know things?

• Soothsayer:

  
  In nature's infinite book of secrecy
• A little I can read.

• ALEXAS:

  
  Show him your hand.

• [Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough
• Cleopatra's health to drink.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Good sir, give me good fortune.

• Soothsayer:

  
  I make not, but foresee.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Pray, then, foresee me one.

• Soothsayer:

  
  You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  He means in flesh.

• IRAS:

  
  No, you shall paint when you are old.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Wrinkles forbid!

• ALEXAS:

  
  Vex not his prescience; be attentive.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Hush!

• Soothsayer:

  
  You shall be more beloving than beloved.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  I had rather heat my liver with drinking.

• ALEXAS:

  
  Nay, hear him.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married
• to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all:
• let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry
• may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius
• Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.

• Soothsayer:

  
  You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  O excellent! I love long life better than figs.

• Soothsayer:

  
  You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune
• Than that which is to approach.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Then belike my children shall have no names:
• prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

• Soothsayer:

  
  If every of your wishes had a womb.
• And fertile every wish, a million.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.

• ALEXAS:

  
  You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Nay, come, tell Iras hers.

• ALEXAS:

  
  We'll know all our fortunes.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, shall
• be--drunk to bed.

• IRAS:

  
  There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.

• IRAS:

  
  Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful
• prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee,
• tell her but a worky-day fortune.

• Soothsayer:

  
  Your fortunes are alike.

• IRAS:

  
  But how, but how? give me particulars.

• Soothsayer:

  
  I have said.

• IRAS:

  
  Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than
• I, where would you choose it?

• IRAS:

  
  Not in my husband's nose.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas,--come,
• his fortune, his fortune! O, let him marry a woman
• that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee! and let
• her die too, and give him a worse! and let worst
• follow worse, till the worst of all follow him
• laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good
• Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a
• matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!

• IRAS:

  
  Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people!
• for, as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man
• loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a
• foul knave uncuckolded: therefore, dear Isis, keep
• decorum, and fortune him accordingly!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Amen.

• ALEXAS:

  
  Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to make me a
• cuckold, they would make themselves whores, but
• they'ld do't!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Hush! here comes Antony.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Not he; the queen.

• [Enter CLEOPATRA]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Saw you my lord?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  No, lady.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Was he not here?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  No, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  He was disposed to mirth; but on the sudden
• A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Madam?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Seek him, and bring him hither.
• Where's Alexas?

• ALEXAS:

  
  Here, at your service. My lord approaches.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  We will not look upon him: go with us.

• [Exeunt Enter MARK ANTONY with a Messenger and Attendants]

• Messenger:

  
  Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Against my brother Lucius?

• Messenger:

  
  Ay:
• But soon that war had end, and the time's state
• Made friends of them, joining their force 'gainst Caesar;
• Whose better issue in the war, from Italy,
• Upon the first encounter, drave them.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Well, what worst?

• Messenger:

  
  The nature of bad news infects the teller.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  When it concerns the fool or coward. On:
• Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis thus:
• Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
• I hear him as he flatter'd.

• Messenger:

  
  Labienus--
• This is stiff news--hath, with his Parthian force,
• Extended Asia from Euphrates;
• His conquering banner shook from Syria
• To Lydia and to Ionia; Whilst--

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Antony, thou wouldst say,--

• Messenger:

  
  O, my lord!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue:
• Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome;
• Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults
• With such full licence as both truth and malice
• Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds,
• When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us
• Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.

• Messenger:

  
  At your noble pleasure.

• [Exit]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there!

• First Attendant:

  
  The man from Sicyon,--is there such an one?

• Second Attendant:

  
  He stays upon your will.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Let him appear.
• These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,
• Or lose myself in dotage.

• [Enter another Messenger]

• What are you?

• Second Messenger:

  
  Fulvia thy wife is dead.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Where died she?

• Second Messenger:

  
  In Sicyon:
• Her length of sickness, with what else more serious
• Importeth thee to know, this bears.
• Gives a letter

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Forbear me.

• [Exit Second Messenger]

• There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it:
• What our contempt doth often hurl from us,
• We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,
• By revolution lowering, does become
• The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone;
• The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on.
• I must from this enchanting queen break off:
• Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,
• My idleness doth hatch. How now! Enobarbus!

• [Re-enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  What's your pleasure, sir?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I must with haste from hence.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Why, then, we kill all our women:
• we see how mortal an unkindness is to them;
• if they suffer our departure, death's the word.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I must be gone.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Under a compelling occasion, let women die; it were
• pity to cast them away for nothing; though, between
• them and a great cause, they should be esteemed
• nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the least noise of
• this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty
• times upon far poorer moment: I do think there is
• mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon
• her, she hath such a celerity in dying.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  She is cunning past man's thought.

• [Exit ALEXAS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Alack, sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but
• the finest part of pure love: we cannot call her
• winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater
• storms and tempests than almanacs can report: this
• cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a
• shower of rain as well as Jove.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Would I had never seen her.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece
• of work; which not to have been blest withal would
• have discredited your travel.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Fulvia is dead.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Sir?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Fulvia is dead.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Fulvia!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Dead.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When
• it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man
• from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth;
• comforting therein, that when old robes are worn
• out, there are members to make new. If there were
• no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut,
• and the case to be lamented: this grief is crowned
• with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new
• petticoat: and indeed the tears live in an onion
• that should water this sorrow.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  The business she hath broached in the state
• Cannot endure my absence.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  And the business you have broached here cannot be
• without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which
• wholly depends on your abode.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  No more light answers. Let our officers
• Have notice what we purpose. I shall break
• The cause of our expedience to the queen,
• And get her leave to part. For not alone
• The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
• Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too
• Of many our contriving friends in Rome
• Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius
• Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands
• The empire of the sea: our slippery people,
• Whose love is never link'd to the deserver
• Till his deserts are past, begin to throw
• Pompey the Great and all his dignities
• Upon his son; who, high in name and power,
• Higher than both in blood and life, stands up
• For the main soldier: whose quality, going on,
• The sides o' the world may danger: much is breeding,
• Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life,
• And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure,
• To such whose place is under us, requires
• Our quick remove from hence.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I shall do't.

• [Exeunt]

ACT I, SCENE III.

Another room in the palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Where is he?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  I did not see him since.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  See where he is, who's with him, what he does:
• I did not send you: if you find him sad,
• Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
• That I am sudden sick: quick, and return.

• [Exit ALEXAS]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
• You do not hold the method to enforce
• The like from him.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What should I do, I do not?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  In each thing give him way, cross him nothing.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose him.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear:
• In time we hate that which we often fear.
• But here comes Antony.

• [Enter MARK ANTONY]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I am sick and sullen.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall fall:
• It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature
• Will not sustain it.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Now, my dearest queen,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Pray you, stand further from me.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  What's the matter?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I know, by that same eye, there's some good news.
• What says the married woman? You may go:
• Would she had never given you leave to come!
• Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here:
• I have no power upon you; hers you are.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  The gods best know,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O, never was there queen
• So mightily betray'd! yet at the first
• I saw the treasons planted.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Cleopatra,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Why should I think you can be mine and true,
• Though you in swearing shake the throned gods,
• Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
• To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,
• Which break themselves in swearing!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Most sweet queen,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,
• But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying,
• Then was the time for words: no going then;
• Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
• Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor,
• But was a race of heaven: they are so still,
• Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
• Art turn'd the greatest liar.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  How now, lady!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst know
• There were a heart in Egypt.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Hear me, queen:
• The strong necessity of time commands
• Our services awhile; but my full heart
• Remains in use with you. Our Italy
• Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius
• Makes his approaches to the port of Rome:
• Equality of two domestic powers
• Breed scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to strength,
• Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd Pompey,
• Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace,
• Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
• Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
• And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
• By any desperate change: my more particular,
• And that which most with you should safe my going,
• Is Fulvia's death.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
• It does from childishness: can Fulvia die?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  She's dead, my queen:
• Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
• The garboils she awaked; at the last, best:
• See when and where she died.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O most false love!
• Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
• With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
• In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
• The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
• As you shall give the advice. By the fire
• That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence
• Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war
• As thou affect'st.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Cut my lace, Charmian, come;
• But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well,
• So Antony loves.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  My precious queen, forbear;
• And give true evidence to his love, which stands
• An honourable trial.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  So Fulvia told me.
• I prithee, turn aside and weep for her,
• Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
• Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene
• Of excellent dissembling; and let it look
• Life perfect honour.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  You'll heat my blood: no more.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  You can do better yet; but this is meetly.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Now, by my sword,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  And target. Still he mends;
• But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,
• How this Herculean Roman does become
• The carriage of his chafe.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I'll leave you, lady.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Courteous lord, one word.
• Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:
• Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it;
• That you know well: something it is I would,
• O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
• And I am all forgotten.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  But that your royalty
• Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
• For idleness itself.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  'Tis sweating labour
• To bear such idleness so near the heart
• As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me;
• Since my becomings kill me, when they do not
• Eye well to you: your honour calls you hence;
• Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly.
• And all the gods go with you! upon your sword
• Sit laurel victory! and smooth success
• Be strew'd before your feet!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Let us go. Come;
• Our separation so abides, and flies,
• That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me,
• And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Away!

• [Exeunt]

ACT I, SCENE IV.

Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, reading a letter, LEPIDUS, and their Train]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know,
• It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate
• Our great competitor: from Alexandria
• This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes
• The lamps of night in revel; is not more man-like
• Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy
• More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or
• Vouchsafed to think he had partners: you shall find there
• A man who is the abstract of all faults
• That all men follow.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  I must not think there are
• Evils enow to darken all his goodness:
• His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven,
• More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary,
• Rather than purchased; what he cannot change,
• Than what he chooses.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  You are too indulgent. Let us grant, it is not
• Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy;
• To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit
• And keep the turn of tippling with a slave;
• To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet
• With knaves that smell of sweat: say this
• becomes him,--
• As his composure must be rare indeed
• Whom these things cannot blemish,--yet must Antony
• No way excuse his soils, when we do bear
• So great weight in his lightness. If he fill'd
• His vacancy with his voluptuousness,
• Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones,
• Call on him for't: but to confound such time,
• That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud
• As his own state and ours,--'tis to be chid
• As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge,
• Pawn their experience to their present pleasure,
• And so rebel to judgment.

• [Enter a Messenger]

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Here's more news.

• Messenger:

  
  Thy biddings have been done; and every hour,
• Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report
• How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea;
• And it appears he is beloved of those
• That only have fear'd Caesar: to the ports
• The discontents repair, and men's reports
• Give him much wrong'd.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I should have known no less.
• It hath been taught us from the primal state,
• That he which is was wish'd until he were;
• And the ebb'd man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love,
• Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body,
• Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,
• Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide,
• To rot itself with motion.

• Messenger:

  
  Caesar, I bring thee word,
• Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates,
• Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound
• With keels of every kind: many hot inroads
• They make in Italy; the borders maritime
• Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt:
• No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon
• Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more
• Than could his war resisted.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Antony,
• Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once
• Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st
• Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel
• Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against,
• Though daintily brought up, with patience more
• Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink
• The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle
• Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign
• The roughest berry on the rudest hedge;
• Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets,
• The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the Alps
• It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh,
• Which some did die to look on: and all this--
• It wounds thine honour that I speak it now--
• Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek
• So much as lank'd not.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  'Tis pity of him.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Let his shames quickly
• Drive him to Rome: 'tis time we twain
• Did show ourselves i' the field; and to that end
• Assemble we immediate council: Pompey
• Thrives in our idleness.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  To-morrow, Caesar,
• I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly
• Both what by sea and land I can be able
• To front this present time.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Till which encounter,
• It is my business too. Farewell.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Farewell, my lord: what you shall know meantime
• Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir,
• To let me be partaker.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Doubt not, sir;
• I knew it for my bond.

• [Exeunt]

ACT I, SCENE V.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Charmian!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Madam?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Ha, ha!
• Give me to drink mandragora.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Why, madam?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  That I might sleep out this great gap of time
• My Antony is away.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  You think of him too much.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O, 'tis treason!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Madam, I trust, not so.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Thou, eunuch Mardian!

• MARDIAN:

  
  What's your highness' pleasure?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Not now to hear thee sing; I take no pleasure
• In aught an eunuch has: 'tis well for thee,
• That, being unseminar'd, thy freer thoughts
• May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?

• MARDIAN:

  
  Yes, gracious madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Indeed!

• MARDIAN:

  
  Not in deed, madam; for I can do nothing
• But what indeed is honest to be done:
• Yet have I fierce affections, and think
• What Venus did with Mars.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O Charmian,
• Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits he?
• Or does he walk? or is he on his horse?
• O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
• Do bravely, horse! for wot'st thou whom thou movest?
• The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
• And burgonet of men. He's speaking now,
• Or murmuring 'Where's my serpent of old Nile?'
• For so he calls me: now I feed myself
• With most delicious poison. Think on me,
• That am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black,
• And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar,
• When thou wast here above the ground, I was
• A morsel for a monarch: and great Pompey
• Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow;
• There would he anchor his aspect and die
• With looking on his life.

• [Enter ALEXAS, from OCTAVIUS CAESAR]

• ALEXAS:

  
  Sovereign of Egypt, hail!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
• Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath
• With his tinct gilded thee.
• How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?

• ALEXAS:

  
  Last thing he did, dear queen,
• He kiss'd,--the last of many doubled kisses,--
• This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Mine ear must pluck it thence.

• ALEXAS:

  
  'Good friend,' quoth he,
• 'Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
• This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot,
• To mend the petty present, I will piece
• Her opulent throne with kingdoms; all the east,
• Say thou, shall call her mistress.' So he nodded,
• And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed,
• Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke
• Was beastly dumb'd by him.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What, was he sad or merry?

• ALEXAS:

  
  Like to the time o' the year between the extremes
• Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O well-divided disposition! Note him,
• Note him good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note him:
• He was not sad, for he would shine on those
• That make their looks by his; he was not merry,
• Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay
• In Egypt with his joy; but between both:
• O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry,
• The violence of either thee becomes,
• So does it no man else. Met'st thou my posts?

• ALEXAS:

  
  Ay, madam, twenty several messengers:
• Why do you send so thick?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Who's born that day
• When I forget to send to Antony,
• Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
• Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
• Ever love Caesar so?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  O that brave Caesar!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Be choked with such another emphasis!
• Say, the brave Antony.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  The valiant Caesar!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth,
• If thou with Caesar paragon again
• My man of men.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  By your most gracious pardon,
• I sing but after you.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  My salad days,
• When I was green in judgment: cold in blood,
• To say as I said then! But, come, away;
• Get me ink and paper:
• He shall have every day a several greeting,
• Or I'll unpeople Egypt.

• [Exeunt]

ACT II, SCENE I.

Messina. POMPEY's house.

[Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in warlike manner]

• POMPEY:

  
  If the great gods be just, they shall assist
• The deeds of justest men.

• MENECRATES:

  
  Know, worthy Pompey,
• That what they do delay, they not deny.

• POMPEY:

  
  Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
• The thing we sue for.

• MENECRATES:

  
  We, ignorant of ourselves,
• Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
• Deny us for our good; so find we profit
• By losing of our prayers.

• POMPEY:

  
  I shall do well:
• The people love me, and the sea is mine;
• My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope
• Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
• In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
• No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where
• He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
• Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves,
• Nor either cares for him.

• MENAS:

  
  Caesar and Lepidus
• Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.

• POMPEY:

  
  Where have you this? 'tis false.

• MENAS:

  
  From Silvius, sir.

• POMPEY:

  
  He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
• Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
• Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!
• Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
• Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
• Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
• Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
• That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
• Even till a Lethe'd dulness!

• [Enter VARRIUS]

• How now, Varrius!

• VARRIUS:

  
  This is most certain that I shall deliver:
• Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
• Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
• A space for further travel.

• POMPEY:

  
  I could have given less matter
• A better ear. Menas, I did not think
• This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
• For such a petty war: his soldiership
• Is twice the other twain: but let us rear
• The higher our opinion, that our stirring
• Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
• The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.

• MENAS:

  
  I cannot hope
• Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
• His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
• His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,
• Not moved by Antony.

• POMPEY:

  
  I know not, Menas,
• How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
• Were't not that we stand up against them all,
• 'Twere pregnant they should square between
• themselves;
• For they have entertained cause enough
• To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
• May cement their divisions and bind up
• The petty difference, we yet not know.
• Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
• Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
• Come, Menas.

• [Exeunt]

ACT II, SCENE II.

Rome. The house of LEPIDUS.

[Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS]

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
• And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
• To soft and gentle speech.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I shall entreat him
• To answer like himself: if Caesar move him,
• Let Antony look over Caesar's head
• And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
• Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,
• I would not shave't to-day.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  'Tis not a time
• For private stomaching.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Every time
• Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  But small to greater matters must give way.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Not if the small come first.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Your speech is passion:
• But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
• The noble Antony.

• [Enter MARK ANTONY and VENTIDIUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  And yonder, Caesar.

• [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  If we compose well here, to Parthia:
• Hark, Ventidius.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I do not know,
• Mecaenas; ask Agrippa.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Noble friends,
• That which combined us was most great, and let not
• A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,
• May it be gently heard: when we debate
• Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
• Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners,
• The rather, for I earnestly beseech,
• Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
• Nor curstness grow to the matter.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  'Tis spoken well.
• Were we before our armies, and to fight.
• I should do thus.

• [Flourish]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Welcome to Rome.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Thank you.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Sit.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Sit, sir.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Nay, then.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I learn, you take things ill which are not so,
• Or being, concern you not.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I must be laugh'd at,
• If, or for nothing or a little, I
• Should say myself offended, and with you
• Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at, that I should
• Once name you derogately, when to sound your name
• It not concern'd me.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  My being in Egypt, Caesar,
• What was't to you?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  No more than my residing here at Rome
• Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there
• Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt
• Might be my question.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  How intend you, practised?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  You may be pleased to catch at mine intent
• By what did here befal me. Your wife and brother
• Made wars upon me; and their contestation
• Was theme for you, you were the word of war.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  You do mistake your business; my brother never
• Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;
• And have my learning from some true reports,
• That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
• Discredit my authority with yours;
• And make the wars alike against my stomach,
• Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
• Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
• As matter whole you have not to make it with,
• It must not be with this.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  You praise yourself
• By laying defects of judgment to me; but
• You patch'd up your excuses.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Not so, not so;
• I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
• Very necessity of this thought, that I,
• Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
• Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
• Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
• I would you had her spirit in such another:
• The third o' the world is yours; which with a snaffle
• You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Would we had all such wives, that the men might go
• to wars with the women!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar
• Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
• Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant
• Did you too much disquiet: for that you must
• But say, I could not help it.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I wrote to you
• When rioting in Alexandria; you
• Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
• Did gibe my missive out of audience.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Sir,
• He fell upon me ere admitted: then
• Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
• Of what I was i' the morning: but next day
• I told him of myself; which was as much
• As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow
• Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
• Out of our question wipe him.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  You have broken
• The article of your oath; which you shall never
• Have tongue to charge me with.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Soft, Caesar!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  No,
• Lepidus, let him speak:
• The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
• Supposing that I lack'd it. But, on, Caesar;
• The article of my oath.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  To lend me arms and aid when I required them;
• The which you both denied.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Neglected, rather;
• And then when poison'd hours had bound me up
• From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
• I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
• Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
• Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,
• To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
• For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
• So far ask pardon as befits mine honour
• To stoop in such a case.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  'Tis noble spoken.

• MECAENAS:

  
  If it might please you, to enforce no further
• The griefs between ye: to forget them quite
• Were to remember that the present need
• Speaks to atone you.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Worthily spoken, Mecaenas.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Or, if you borrow one another's love for the
• instant, you may, when you hear no more words of
• Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to
• wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Thou art a soldier only: speak no more.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Go to, then; your considerate stone.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I do not much dislike the matter, but
• The manner of his speech; for't cannot be
• We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
• So differing in their acts. Yet if I knew
• What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge
• O' the world I would pursue it.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Give me leave, Caesar,--

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Speak, Agrippa.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
• Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony
• Is now a widower.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Say not so, Agrippa:
• If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
• Were well deserved of rashness.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I am not married, Caesar: let me hear
• Agrippa further speak.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  To hold you in perpetual amity,
• To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
• With an unslipping knot, take Antony
• Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims
• No worse a husband than the best of men;
• Whose virtue and whose general graces speak
• That which none else can utter. By this marriage,
• All little jealousies, which now seem great,
• And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
• Would then be nothing: truths would be tales,
• Where now half tales be truths: her love to both
• Would, each to other and all loves to both,
• Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;
• For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,
• By duty ruminated.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Will Caesar speak?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd
• With what is spoke already.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  What power is in Agrippa,
• If I would say, 'Agrippa, be it so,'
• To make this good?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  The power of Caesar, and
• His power unto Octavia.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  May I never
• To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
• Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand:
• Further this act of grace: and from this hour
• The heart of brothers govern in our loves
• And sway our great designs!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  There is my hand.
• A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother
• Did ever love so dearly: let her live
• To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never
• Fly off our loves again!

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Happily, amen!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey;
• For he hath laid strange courtesies and great
• Of late upon me: I must thank him only,
• Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
• At heel of that, defy him.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Time calls upon's:
• Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
• Or else he seeks out us.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Where lies he?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  About the mount Misenum.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  What is his strength by land?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Great and increasing: but by sea
• He is an absolute master.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  So is the fame.
• Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it:
• Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we
• The business we have talk'd of.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  With most gladness:
• And do invite you to my sister's view,
• Whither straight I'll lead you.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Let us, Lepidus,
• Not lack your company.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Noble Antony,
• Not sickness should detain me.

• [Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, and LEPIDUS]

• MECAENAS:

  
  Welcome from Egypt, sir.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecaenas! My
• honourable friend, Agrippa!

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Good Enobarbus!

• MECAENAS:

  
  We have cause to be glad that matters are so well
• digested. You stayed well by 't in Egypt.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and
• made the night light with drinking.

• MECAENAS:

  
  Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and
• but twelve persons there; is this true?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more
• monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

• MECAENAS:

  
  She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to
• her.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up
• his heart, upon the river of Cydnus.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised
• well for her.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I will tell you.
• The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,
• Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold;
• Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
• The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were silver,
• Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
• The water which they beat to follow faster,
• As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
• It beggar'd all description: she did lie
• In her pavilion--cloth-of-gold of tissue--
• O'er-picturing that Venus where we see
• The fancy outwork nature: on each side her
• Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
• With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
• To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
• And what they undid did.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  O, rare for Antony!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
• So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes,
• And made their bends adornings: at the helm
• A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle
• Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands,
• That yarely frame the office. From the barge
• A strange invisible perfume hits the sense
• Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
• Her people out upon her; and Antony,
• Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone,
• Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,
• Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
• And made a gap in nature.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Rare Egyptian!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
• Invited her to supper: she replied,
• It should be better he became her guest;
• Which she entreated: our courteous Antony,
• Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak,
• Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast,
• And for his ordinary pays his heart
• For what his eyes eat only.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Royal wench!
• She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed:
• He plough'd her, and she cropp'd.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I saw her once
• Hop forty paces through the public street;
• And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
• That she did make defect perfection,
• And, breathless, power breathe forth.

• MECAENAS:

  
  Now Antony must leave her utterly.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Never; he will not:
• Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
• Her infinite variety: other women cloy
• The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry
• Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
• Become themselves in her: that the holy priests
• Bless her when she is riggish.

• MECAENAS:

  
  If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
• The heart of Antony, Octavia is
• A blessed lottery to him.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Let us go.
• Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest
• Whilst you abide here.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Humbly, sir, I thank you.

• [Exeunt]

ACT II, SCENE III.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.

[Enter MARK ANTONY, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, OCTAVIA between them, and Attendants]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  The world and my great office will sometimes
• Divide me from your bosom.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  All which time
• Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
• To them for you.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Good night, sir. My Octavia,
• Read not my blemishes in the world's report:
• I have not kept my square; but that to come
• Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.
• Good night, sir.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Good night.

• [Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and OCTAVIA Enter Soothsayer]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in Egypt?

• Soothsayer:

  
  Would I had never come from thence, nor you Thither!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  If you can, your reason?

• Soothsayer:

  
  I see it in
• My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet
• Hie you to Egypt again.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Say to me,
• Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine?

• Soothsayer:

  
  Caesar's.
• Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
• Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
• Noble, courageous high, unmatchable,
• Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
• Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore
• Make space enough between you.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Speak this no more.

• Soothsayer:

  
  To none but thee; no more, but when to thee.
• If thou dost play with him at any game,
• Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
• He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,
• When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
• Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
• But, he away, 'tis noble.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Get thee gone:
• Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:

• [Exit Soothsayer]

• He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap,
• He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;
• And in our sports my better cunning faints
• Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;
• His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
• When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
• Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
• And though I make this marriage for my peace,
• I' the east my pleasure lies.

• [Enter VENTIDIUS]

• O, come, Ventidius,
• You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;
• Follow me, and receive't.

• [Exeunt]

ACT II, SCENE IV.

A street.

[Enter LEPIDUS, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA]

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten
• Your generals after.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Sir, Mark Antony
• Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,
• Which will become you both, farewell.

• MECAENAS:

  
  We shall,
• As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount
• Before you, Lepidus.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Your way is shorter;
• My purposes do draw me much about:
• You'll win two days upon me.

• MECAENAS and AGRIPPA:

  
  Sir, good success!

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Farewell.

• [Exeunt]

ACT II, SCENE V.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Give me some music; music, moody food
• Of us that trade in love.

• Attendants:

  
  The music, ho!

• [Enter MARDIAN]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Let it alone; let's to billiards: come, Charmian.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  As well a woman with an eunuch play'd
• As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir?

• MARDIAN:

  
  As well as I can, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  And when good will is show'd, though't come
• too short,
• The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:
• Give me mine angle; we'll to the river: there,
• My music playing far off, I will betray
• Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
• Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
• I'll think them every one an Antony,
• And say 'Ah, ha! you're caught.'

• CHARMIAN:

  
  'Twas merry when
• You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
• Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
• With fervency drew up.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  That time,--O times!--
• I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
• I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn,
• Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
• Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
• I wore his sword Philippan.

• [Enter a Messenger]

• O, from Italy
• Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
• That long time have been barren.

• Messenger:

  
  Madam, madam,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Antonius dead!--If thou say so, villain,
• Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free,
• If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
• My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings
• Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

• Messenger:

  
  First, madam, he is well.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Why, there's more gold.
• But, sirrah, mark, we use
• To say the dead are well: bring it to that,
• The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
• Down thy ill-uttering throat.

• Messenger:

  
  Good madam, hear me.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Well, go to, I will;
• But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
• Be free and healthful,--so tart a favour
• To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
• Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes,
• Not like a formal man.

• Messenger:

  
  Will't please you hear me?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
• Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well,
• Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
• I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
• Rich pearls upon thee.

• Messenger:

  
  Madam, he's well.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Well said.

• Messenger:

  
  And friends with Caesar.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Thou'rt an honest man.

• Messenger:

  
  Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Make thee a fortune from me.

• Messenger:

  
  But yet, madam,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I do not like 'But yet,' it does allay
• The good precedence; fie upon 'But yet'!
• 'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth
• Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
• Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
• The good and bad together: he's friends with Caesar:
• In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free.

• Messenger:

  
  Free, madam! no; I made no such report:
• He's bound unto Octavia.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  For what good turn?

• Messenger:

  
  For the best turn i' the bed.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I am pale, Charmian.

• Messenger:

  
  Madam, he's married to Octavia.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
• Strikes him down

• Messenger:

  
  Good madam, patience.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What say you? Hence,
• Strikes him again
• Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
• Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:
• She hales him up and down
• Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
• Smarting in lingering pickle.

• Messenger:

  
  Gracious madam,
• I that do bring the news made not the match.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
• And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
• Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
• And I will boot thee with what gift beside
• Thy modesty can beg.

• Messenger:

  
  He's married, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
• Draws a knife

• Messenger:

  
  Nay, then I'll run.
• What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

• [Exit]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
• The man is innocent.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.
• Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
• Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:
• Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  He is afeard to come.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I will not hurt him.

• [Exit CHARMIAN]

• These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
• A meaner than myself; since I myself
• Have given myself the cause.

• [Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger]

• Come hither, sir.
• Though it be honest, it is never good
• To bring bad news: give to a gracious message.
• An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
• Themselves when they be felt.

• Messenger:

  
  I have done my duty.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Is he married?
• I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
• If thou again say 'Yes.'

• Messenger:

  
  He's married, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still?

• Messenger:

  
  Should I lie, madam?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O, I would thou didst,
• So half my Egypt were submerged and made
• A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:
• Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
• Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

• Messenger:

  
  I crave your highness' pardon.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  He is married?

• Messenger:

  
  Take no offence that I would not offend you:
• To punish me for what you make me do.
• Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O, that his fault should make a knave of thee,
• That art not what thou'rt sure of! Get thee hence:
• The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
• Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
• And be undone by 'em!

• [Exit Messenger]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Good your highness, patience.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  In praising Antony, I have dispraised Caesar.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Many times, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I am paid for't now.
• Lead me from hence:
• I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter.
• Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
• Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
• Her inclination, let him not leave out
• The colour of her hair: bring me word quickly.

• [Exit ALEXAS]

• Let him for ever go:--let him not--Charmian,
• Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
• The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas

• [To MARDIAN]

• Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
• But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

• [Exeunt]

ACT II, SCENE VI.

Near Misenum.

[Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one door, with drum and trumpet: at another, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, MECAENAS, with Soldiers marching]

• POMPEY:

  
  Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
• And we shall talk before we fight.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Most meet
• That first we come to words; and therefore have we
• Our written purposes before us sent;
• Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know
• If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,
• And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
• That else must perish here.

• POMPEY:

  
  To you all three,
• The senators alone of this great world,
• Chief factors for the gods, I do not know
• Wherefore my father should revengers want,
• Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar,
• Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
• There saw you labouring for him. What was't
• That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what
• Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus,
• With the arm'd rest, courtiers and beauteous freedom,
• To drench the Capitol; but that they would
• Have one man but a man? And that is it
• Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen
• The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
• To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
• Cast on my noble father.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Take your time.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;
• We'll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know'st
• How much we do o'er-count thee.

• POMPEY:

  
  At land, indeed,
• Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house:
• But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
• Remain in't as thou mayst.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Be pleased to tell us--
• For this is from the present--how you take
• The offers we have sent you.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  There's the point.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
• What it is worth embraced.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  And what may follow,
• To try a larger fortune.

• POMPEY:

  
  You have made me offer
• Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must
• Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send
• Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon
• To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
• Our targes undinted.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  That's our offer.

• POMPEY:

  
  Know, then,
• I came before you here a man prepared
• To take this offer: but Mark Antony
• Put me to some impatience: though I lose
• The praise of it by telling, you must know,
• When Caesar and your brother were at blows,
• Your mother came to Sicily and did find
• Her welcome friendly.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I have heard it, Pompey;
• And am well studied for a liberal thanks
• Which I do owe you.

• POMPEY:

  
  Let me have your hand:
• I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  The beds i' the east are soft; and thanks to you,
• That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither;
• For I have gain'd by 't.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Since I saw you last,
• There is a change upon you.

• POMPEY:

  
  Well, I know not
• What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;
• But in my bosom shall she never come,
• To make my heart her vassal.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Well met here.

• POMPEY:

  
  I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:
• I crave our composition may be written,
• And seal'd between us.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  That's the next to do.

• POMPEY:

  
  We'll feast each other ere we part; and let's
• Draw lots who shall begin.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  That will I, Pompey.

• POMPEY:

  
  No, Antony, take the lot: but, first
• Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
• Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar
• Grew fat with feasting there.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  You have heard much.

• POMPEY:

  
  I have fair meanings, sir.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  And fair words to them.

• POMPEY:

  
  Then so much have I heard:
• And I have heard, Apollodorus carried--

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  No more of that: he did so.

• POMPEY:

  
  What, I pray you?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

• POMPEY:

  
  I know thee now: how farest thou, soldier?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Well;
• And well am like to do; for, I perceive,
• Four feasts are toward.

• POMPEY:

  
  Let me shake thy hand;
• I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
• When I have envied thy behavior.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Sir,
• I never loved you much; but I ha' praised ye,
• When you have well deserved ten times as much
• As I have said you did.

• POMPEY:

  
  Enjoy thy plainness,
• It nothing ill becomes thee.
• Aboard my galley I invite you all:
• Will you lead, lords?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Show us the way, sir.

• POMPEY:

  
  Come.

• [Exeunt all but MENAS and ENOBARBUS]

• MENAS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have
• made this treaty.--You and I have known, sir.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  At sea, I think.

• MENAS:

  
  We have, sir.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  You have done well by water.

• MENAS:

  
  And you by land.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I will praise any man that will praise me; though it
• cannot be denied what I have done by land.

• MENAS:

  
  Nor what I have done by water.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Yes, something you can deny for your own
• safety: you have been a great thief by sea.

• MENAS:

  
  And you by land.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  There I deny my land service. But give me your
• hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, here they
• might take two thieves kissing.

• MENAS:

  
  All men's faces are true, whatsome'er their hands are.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  But there is never a fair woman has a true face.

• MENAS:

  
  No slander; they steal hearts.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  We came hither to fight with you.

• MENAS:

  
  For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking.
• Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  If he do, sure, he cannot weep't back again.

• MENAS:

  
  You've said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony
• here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Caesar's sister is called Octavia.

• MENAS:

  
  True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.

• MENAS:

  
  Pray ye, sir?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  'Tis true.

• MENAS:

  
  Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would
• not prophesy so.

• MENAS:

  
  I think the policy of that purpose made more in the
• marriage than the love of the parties.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I think so too. But you shall find, the band that
• seems to tie their friendship together will be the
• very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a
• holy, cold, and still conversation.

• MENAS:

  
  Who would not have his wife so?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony.
• He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the
• sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar; and, as
• I said before, that which is the strength of their
• amity shall prove the immediate author of their
• variance. Antony will use his affection where it is:
• he married but his occasion here.

• MENAS:

  
  And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard?
• I have a health for you.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

• MENAS:

  
  Come, let's away.

• [Exeunt]

ACT II, SCENE VII.

On board POMPEY's galley, off Misenum.

[Music plays. Enter two or three Servants with a banquet]

• First Servant:

  
  Here they'll be, man. Some o' their plants are
• ill-rooted already: the least wind i' the world
• will blow them down.

• Second Servant:

  
  Lepidus is high-coloured.

• First Servant:

  
  They have made him drink alms-drink.

• Second Servant:

  
  As they pinch one another by the disposition, he
• cries out 'No more;' reconciles them to his
• entreaty, and himself to the drink.

• First Servant:

  
  But it raises the greater war between him and
• his discretion.

• Second Servant:

  
  Why, this is to have a name in great men's
• fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that will do
• me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

• First Servant:

  
  To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen
• to move in't, are the holes where eyes should be,
• which pitifully disaster the cheeks.

• [A sennet sounded. Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POMPEY, AGRIPPA, MECAENAS, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other captains]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  

  [To OCTAVIUS CAESAR]

• Thus do they, sir: they take
• the flow o' the Nile
• By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
• By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
• Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells,
• The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
• Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
• And shortly comes to harvest.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  You've strange serpents there.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Ay, Lepidus.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the
• operation of your sun: so is your crocodile.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  They are so.

• POMPEY:

  
  Sit,--and some wine! A health to Lepidus!

• LEPIDUS:

  
  I am not so well as I should be, but I'll ne'er out.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll be in till then.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies'
• pyramises are very goodly things; without
• contradiction, I have heard that.

• MENAS:

  
  

  [Aside to POMPEY]

• Pompey, a word.

• POMPEY:

  
  

  [Aside to MENAS]

• Say in mine ear:
• what is't?

• MENAS:

  
  

  [Aside to POMPEY]

• Forsake thy seat, I do beseech
• thee, captain,
• And hear me speak a word.

• POMPEY:

  
  

  [Aside to MENAS]

• Forbear me till anon.
• This wine for Lepidus!

• LEPIDUS:

  
  What manner o' thing is your crocodile?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad
• as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is,
• and moves with its own organs: it lives by that
• which nourisheth it; and the elements once out of
• it, it transmigrates.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  What colour is it of?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Of it own colour too.

• LEPIDUS:

  
  'Tis a strange serpent.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Will this description satisfy him?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a
• very epicure.

• POMPEY:

  
  

  [Aside to MENAS]

• Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of
• that? away!
• Do as I bid you. Where's this cup I call'd for?

• MENAS:

  
  

  [Aside to POMPEY]

• If for the sake of merit thou
• wilt hear me,
• Rise from thy stool.

• POMPEY:

  
  

  [Aside to MENAS]

• I think thou'rt mad.
• The matter?
• Rises, and walks aside

• MENAS:

  
  I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

• POMPEY:

  
  Thou hast served me with much faith. What's else to say?
• Be jolly, lords.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  These quick-sands, Lepidus,
• Keep off them, for you sink.

• MENAS:

  
  Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

• POMPEY:

  
  What say'st thou?

• MENAS:

  
  Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.

• POMPEY:

  
  How should that be?

• MENAS:

  
  But entertain it,
• And, though thou think me poor, I am the man
• Will give thee all the world.

• POMPEY:

  
  Hast thou drunk well?

• MENAS:

  
  Now, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
• Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove:
• Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
• Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.

• POMPEY:

  
  Show me which way.

• MENAS:

  
  These three world-sharers, these competitors,
• Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
• And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
• All there is thine.

• POMPEY:

  
  Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
• And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villany;
• In thee't had been good service. Thou must know,
• 'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour;
• Mine honour, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
• Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
• I should have found it afterwards well done;
• But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

• MENAS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• For this,
• I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
• Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
• Shall never find it more.

• POMPEY:

  
  This health to Lepidus!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Here's to thee, Menas!

• MENAS:

  
  Enobarbus, welcome!

• POMPEY:

  
  Fill till the cup be hid.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  There's a strong fellow, Menas.
• Pointing to the Attendant who carries off LEPIDUS

• MENAS:

  
  Why?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  A' bears the third part of the world, man; see'st
• not?

• MENAS:

  
  The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all,
• That it might go on wheels!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Drink thou; increase the reels.

• MENAS:

  
  Come.

• POMPEY:

  
  This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho?
• Here is to Caesar!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I could well forbear't.
• It's monstrous labour, when I wash my brain,
• And it grows fouler.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Be a child o' the time.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Possess it, I'll make answer:
• But I had rather fast from all four days
• Than drink so much in one.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Ha, my brave emperor!
• To MARK ANTONY
• Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
• And celebrate our drink?

• POMPEY:

  
  Let's ha't, good soldier.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Come, let's all take hands,
• Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
• In soft and delicate Lethe.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  All take hands.
• Make battery to our ears with the loud music:
• The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
• The holding every man shall bear as loud
• As his strong sides can volley.

• [Music plays. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand THE SONG.]

• Come, thou monarch of the vine,
• Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
• In thy fats our cares be drown'd,
• With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
• Cup us, till the world go round,
• Cup us, till the world go round!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother,
• Let me request you off: our graver business
• Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let's part;
• You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
• Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
• Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
• Antick'd us all. What needs more words? Good night.
• Good Antony, your hand.

• POMPEY:

  
  I'll try you on the shore.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  And shall, sir; give's your hand.

• POMPEY:

  
  O Antony,
• You have my father's house,--But, what? we are friends.
• Come, down into the boat.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Take heed you fall not.

• [Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and MENAS]

• Menas, I'll not on shore.

• MENAS:

  
  No, to my cabin.
• These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what!
• Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
• To these great fellows: sound and be hang'd, sound out!

• [Sound a flourish, with drums]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Ho! says a' There's my cap.

• MENAS:

  
  Ho! Noble captain, come.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE I.

A plain in Syria.

[Enter VENTIDIUS as it were in triumph, with SILIUS, and other Romans, Officers, and Soldiers; the dead body of PACORUS borne before him]

• VENTIDIUS:

  
  Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now
• Pleased 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.

• SILIUS:

  
  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.

• VENTIDIUS:

  
  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.
• Caesar 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 achieved 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.

• SILIUS:

  
  Thou hast, Ventidius,
• that
• Without the which a soldier, and his sword,
• Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony!

• VENTIDIUS:

  
  I'll humbly signify what in his name,
• That magical word of war, we have effected;
• How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks,
• The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
• We have jaded out o' the field.

• SILIUS:

  
  Where is he now?

• VENTIDIUS:

  
  He purposeth to Athens: whither, with what haste
• The weight we must convey with's will permit,
• We shall appear before him. On there; pass along!

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE II.

Rome. An ante-chamber in OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.

[Enter AGRIPPA at one door, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS at another]

• AGRIPPA:

  
  What, are the brothers parted?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  They have dispatch'd with Pompey, he is gone;
• The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
• To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus,
• Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
• With the green sickness.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  'Tis a noble Lepidus.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  A very fine one: O, how he loves Caesar!

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Caesar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Spake you of Caesar? How! the non-pareil!

• AGRIPPA:

  
  O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Would you praise Caesar, say 'Caesar:' go no further.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  But he loves Caesar best; yet he loves Antony:
• Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards,
• poets, cannot
• Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho!
• His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
• Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Both he loves.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  They are his shards, and he their beetle.
• Trumpets within
• So;
• This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.

• [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  No further, sir.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  You take from me a great part of myself;
• Use me well in 't. Sister, prove such a wife
• As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band
• Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,
• Let not the piece of virtue, which is set
• Betwixt us as the cement of our love,
• To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
• The fortress of it; for better might we
• Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
• This be not cherish'd.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Make me not offended
• In your distrust.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I have said.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  You shall not find,
• Though you be therein curious, the least cause
• For what you seem to fear: so, the gods keep you,
• And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!
• We will here part.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:
• The elements be kind to thee, and make
• Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  My noble brother!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  The April 's in her eyes: it is love's spring,
• And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  Sir, look well to my husband's house; and--

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  What, Octavia?

• OCTAVIA:

  
  I'll tell you in your ear.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
• Her heart inform her tongue,--the swan's
• down-feather,
• That stands upon the swell at full of tide,
• And neither way inclines.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside to AGRIPPA]

• Will Caesar weep?

• AGRIPPA:

  
  

  [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• He has a cloud in 's face.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside to AGRIPPA]

• He were the worse for that,
• were he a horse;
• So is he, being a man.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  

  [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• Why, Enobarbus,
• When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,
• He cried almost to roaring; and he wept
• When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside to AGRIPPA]

• That year, indeed, he was
• troubled with a rheum;
• What willingly he did confound he wail'd,
• Believe't, till I wept too.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  No, sweet Octavia,
• You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
• Out-go my thinking on you.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Come, sir, come;
• I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love:
• Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
• And give you to the gods.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Adieu; be happy!

• LEPIDUS:

  
  Let all the number of the stars give light
• To thy fair way!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Farewell, farewell!

• [Kisses OCTAVIA]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Farewell!

• [Trumpets sound. Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE III.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Where is the fellow?

• ALEXAS:

  
  Half afeard to come.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Go to, go to.

• [Enter the Messenger as before]

• Come hither, sir.

• ALEXAS:

  
  Good majesty,
• Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
• But when you are well pleased.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  That Herod's head
• I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
• Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.

• Messenger:

  
  Most gracious majesty,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Didst thou behold Octavia?

• Messenger:

  
  Ay, dread queen.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Where?

• Messenger:

  
  Madam, in Rome;
• I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
• Between her brother and Mark Antony.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Is she as tall as me?

• Messenger:

  
  She is not, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low?

• Messenger:

  
  Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  That's not so good: he cannot like her long.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish!
• What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
• If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

• Messenger:

  
  She creeps:
• Her motion and her station are as one;
• She shows a body rather than a life,
• A statue than a breather.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Is this certain?

• Messenger:

  
  Or I have no observance.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Three in Egypt
• Cannot make better note.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  He's very knowing;
• I do perceive't: there's nothing in her yet:
• The fellow has good judgment.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Excellent.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Guess at her years, I prithee.

• Messenger:

  
  Madam,
• She was a widow,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Widow! Charmian, hark.

• Messenger:

  
  And I do think she's thirty.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?

• Messenger:

  
  Round even to faultiness.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
• Her hair, what colour?

• Messenger:

  
  Brown, madam: and her forehead
• As low as she would wish it.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  There's gold for thee.
• Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
• I will employ thee back again; I find thee
• Most fit for business: go make thee ready;
• Our letters are prepared.

• [Exit Messenger]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  A proper man.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
• That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
• This creature's no such thing.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Nothing, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
• And serving you so long!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
• But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
• Where I will write. All may be well enough.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  I warrant you, madam.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE IV.

Athens. A room in MARK ANTONY's house.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and OCTAVIA]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,--
• That were excusable, that, and thousands more
• Of semblable import,--but he hath waged
• New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
• To public ear:
• Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not
• But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
• He vented them; most narrow measure lent me:
• When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
• Or did it from his teeth.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  O my good lord,
• Believe not all; or, if you must believe,
• Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
• If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
• Praying for both parts:
• The good gods me presently,
• When I shall pray, 'O bless my lord and husband!'
• Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,
• 'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,
• Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway
• 'Twixt these extremes at all.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Gentle Octavia,
• Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks
• Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honour,
• I lose myself: better I were not yours
• Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
• Yourself shall go between 's: the mean time, lady,
• I'll raise the preparation of a war
• Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;
• So your desires are yours.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  Thanks to my lord.
• The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak,
• Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
• As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
• Should solder up the rift.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  When it appears to you where this begins,
• Turn your displeasure that way: for our faults
• Can never be so equal, that your love
• Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
• Choose your own company, and command what cost
• Your heart has mind to.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE V.

Another room.

[Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and EROS, meeting]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  How now, friend Eros!

• EROS:

  
  There's strange news come, sir.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  What, man?

• EROS:

  
  Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  This is old: what is the success?

• EROS:

  
  Caesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst
• Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would not let
• him partake in the glory of the action: and not
• resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly
• wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him: so
• the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more;
• And throw between them all the food thou hast,
• They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony?

• EROS:

  
  He's walking in the garden--thus; and spurns
• The rush that lies before him; cries, 'Fool Lepidus!'
• And threats the throat of that his officer
• That murder'd Pompey.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Our great navy's rigg'd.

• EROS:

  
  For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius;
• My lord desires you presently: my news
• I might have told hereafter.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  'Twill be naught:
• But let it be. Bring me to Antony.

• EROS:

  
  Come, sir.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE VI.

Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's house.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECAENAS]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,
• In Alexandria: here's the manner of 't:
• I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
• Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
• Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat
• Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,
• And all the unlawful issue that their lust
• Since then hath made between them. Unto her
• He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
• Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
• Absolute queen.

• MECAENAS:

  
  This in the public eye?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I' the common show-place, where they exercise.
• His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:
• Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia.
• He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
• Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she
• In the habiliments of the goddess Isis
• That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
• As 'tis reported, so.

• MECAENAS:

  
  Let Rome be thus Inform'd.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Who, queasy with his insolence
• Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  The people know it; and have now received
• His accusations.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Who does he accuse?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Caesar: and that, having in Sicily
• Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
• His part o' the isle: then does he say, he lent me
• Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets
• That Lepidus of the triumvirate
• Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain
• All his revenue.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Sir, this should be answer'd.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.
• I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;
• That he his high authority abused,
• And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd,
• I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia,
• And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
• Demand the like.

• MECAENAS:

  
  He'll never yield to that.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

• [Enter OCTAVIA with her train]

• OCTAVIA:

  
  Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  That ever I should call thee castaway!

• OCTAVIA:

  
  You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Why have you stol'n upon us thus! You come not
• Like Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony
• Should have an army for an usher, and
• The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
• Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
• Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
• Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
• Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
• Raised by your populous troops: but you are come
• A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
• The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,
• Is often left unloved; we should have met you
• By sea and land; supplying every stage
• With an augmented greeting.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  Good my lord,
• To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did
• On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
• Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
• My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
• His pardon for return.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Which soon he granted,
• Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  Do not say so, my lord.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  I have eyes upon him,
• And his affairs come to me on the wind.
• Where is he now?

• OCTAVIA:

  
  My lord, in Athens.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
• Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
• Up to a whore; who now are levying
• The kings o' the earth for war; he hath assembled
• Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,
• Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
• Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
• King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
• Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
• Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
• The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
• With a more larger list of sceptres.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  Ay me, most wretched,
• That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
• That do afflict each other!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Welcome hither:
• Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;
• Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led,
• And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart;
• Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
• O'er your content these strong necessities;
• But let determined things to destiny
• Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
• Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
• Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
• To do you justice, make them ministers
• Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;
• And ever welcome to us.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Welcome, lady.

• MECAENAS:

  
  Welcome, dear madam.
• Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
• Only the adulterous Antony, most large
• In his abominations, turns you off;
• And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
• That noises it against us.

• OCTAVIA:

  
  Is it so, sir?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,
• Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister!

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE VII.

Near Actium. MARK ANTONY's camp.

[Enter CLEOPATRA and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  But why, why, why?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,
• And say'st it is not fit.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Well, is it, is it?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  If not denounced against us, why should not we
• Be there in person?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• Well, I could reply:
• If we should serve with horse and mares together,
• The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear
• A soldier and his horse.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What is't you say?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;
• Take from his heart, take from his brain,
• from's time,
• What should not then be spared. He is already
• Traduced for levity; and 'tis said in Rome
• That Photinus an eunuch and your maids
• Manage this war.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Sink Rome, and their tongues rot
• That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war,
• And, as the president of my kingdom, will
• Appear there for a man. Speak not against it:
• I will not stay behind.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Nay, I have done.
• Here comes the emperor.

• [Enter MARK ANTONY and CANIDIUS]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Is it not strange, Canidius,
• That from Tarentum and Brundusium
• He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,
• And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, sweet?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Celerity is never more admired
• Than by the negligent.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  A good rebuke,
• Which might have well becomed the best of men,
• To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we
• Will fight with him by sea.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  By sea! what else?

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Why will my lord do so?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  For that he dares us to't.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  So hath my lord dared him to single fight.

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia.
• Where Caesar fought with Pompey: but these offers,
• Which serve not for his vantage, be shakes off;
• And so should you.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Your ships are not well mann'd;
• Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people
• Ingross'd by swift impress; in Caesar's fleet
• Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought:
• Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: no disgrace
• Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
• Being prepared for land.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  By sea, by sea.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Most worthy sir, you therein throw away
• The absolute soldiership you have by land;
• Distract your army, which doth most consist
• Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted
• Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego
• The way which promises assurance; and
• Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard,
• From firm security.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I'll fight at sea.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Our overplus of shipping will we burn;
• And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium
• Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail,
• We then can do't at land.

• [Enter a Messenger]

• Thy business?

• Messenger:

  
  The news is true, my lord; he is descried;
• Caesar has taken Toryne.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;
• Strange that power should be. Canidius,
• Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
• And our twelve thousand horse. We'll to our ship:
• Away, my Thetis!

• [Enter a Soldier]

• How now, worthy soldier?

• Soldier:

  
  O noble emperor, do not fight by sea;
• Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt
• This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians
• And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we
• Have used to conquer, standing on the earth,
• And fighting foot to foot.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Well, well: away!

• [Exeunt MARK ANTONY, QUEEN CLEOPATRA, and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• Soldier:

  
  By Hercules, I think I am i' the right.

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Soldier, thou art: but his whole action grows
• Not in the power on't: so our leader's led,
• And we are women's men.

• Soldier:

  
  You keep by land
• The legions and the horse whole, do you not?

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,
• Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea:
• But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's
• Carries beyond belief.

• Soldier:

  
  While he was yet in Rome,
• His power went out in such distractions as
• Beguiled all spies.

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Who's his lieutenant, hear you?

• Soldier:

  
  They say, one Taurus.

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Well I know the man.

• [Enter a Messenger]

• Messenger:

  
  The emperor calls Canidius.

• CANIDIUS:

  
  With news the time's with labour, and throes forth,
• Each minute, some.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE VIII.

A plain near Actium.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, and TAURUS, with his army, marching]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Taurus!

• TAURUS:

  
  My lord?

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Strike not by land; keep whole: provoke not battle,
• Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed
• The prescript of this scroll: our fortune lies
• Upon this jump.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE IX. Another part of the plain.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Set we our squadrons on yond side o' the hill,
• In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place
• We may the number of the ships behold,
• And so proceed accordingly.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE X. Another part of the plain.

[CANIDIUS marcheth with his land army one way over the stage; and TAURUS, the lieutenant of OCTAVIUS CAESAR, the other way. After their going in, is heard the noise of a sea-fight Alarum. Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Naught, naught all, naught! I can behold no longer:
• The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral,
• With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder:
• To see't mine eyes are blasted.

• [Enter SCARUS]

• SCARUS:

  
  Gods and goddesses,
• All the whole synod of them!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  What's thy passion!

• SCARUS:

  
  The greater cantle of the world is lost
• With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away
• Kingdoms and provinces.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  How appears the fight?

• SCARUS:

  
  On our side like the token'd pestilence,
• Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt,--
• Whom leprosy o'ertake!--i' the midst o' the fight,
• When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
• Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,
• The breese upon her, like a cow in June,
• Hoists sails and flies.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  That I beheld:
• Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not
• Endure a further view.

• SCARUS:

  
  She once being loof'd,
• The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,
• Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard,
• Leaving the fight in height, flies after her:
• I never saw an action of such shame;
• Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
• Did violate so itself.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Alack, alack!

• [Enter CANIDIUS]

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,
• And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
• Been what he knew himself, it had gone well:
• O, he has given example for our flight,
• Most grossly, by his own!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Ay, are you thereabouts?
• Why, then, good night indeed.

• CANIDIUS:

  
  Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.

• SCARUS:

  
  'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend
• What further comes.

• CANIDIUS:

  
  To Caesar will I render
• My legions and my horse: six kings already
• Show me the way of yielding.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I'll yet follow
• The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
• Sits in the wind against me.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE XI. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.

[Enter MARK ANTONY with Attendants]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;
• It is ashamed to bear me! Friends, come hither:
• I am so lated in the world, that I
• Have lost my way for ever: I have a ship
• Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly,
• And make your peace with Caesar.

• All:

  
  Fly! not we.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards
• To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;
• I have myself resolved upon a course
• Which has no need of you; be gone:
• My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,
• I follow'd that I blush to look upon:
• My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
• Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
• For fear and doting. Friends, be gone: you shall
• Have letters from me to some friends that will
• Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
• Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint
• Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
• Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway:
• I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
• Leave me, I pray, a little: pray you now:
• Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command,
• Therefore I pray you: I'll see you by and by.

• [Sits down]

• [Enter CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN and IRAS; EROS following]

• EROS:

  
  Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

• IRAS:

  
  Do, most dear queen.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Do! why: what else?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Let me sit down. O Juno!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  No, no, no, no, no.

• EROS:

  
  See you here, sir?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  O fie, fie, fie!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Madam!

• IRAS:

  
  Madam, O good empress!

• EROS:

  
  Sir, sir,--

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Yes, my lord, yes; he at Philippi kept
• His sword e'en like a dancer; while I struck
• The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
• That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
• Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practise had
• In the brave squares of war: yet now--No matter.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Ah, stand by.

• EROS:

  
  The queen, my lord, the queen.

• IRAS:

  
  Go to him, madam, speak to him:
• He is unqualitied with very shame.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Well then, sustain him: O!

• EROS:

  
  Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches:
• Her head's declined, and death will seize her, but
• Your comfort makes the rescue.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I have offended reputation,
• A most unnoble swerving.

• EROS:

  
  Sir, the queen.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See,
• How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
• By looking back what I have left behind
• 'Stroy'd in dishonour.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O my lord, my lord,
• Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
• You would have follow'd.

• MARK 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!

• MARK 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:

  
  Pardon, pardon!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
• All that is won and lost: give me a kiss;
• Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster;
• Is he come back? Love, I am full of lead.
• Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
• We scorn her most when most she offers blows.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE XII. Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Let him appear that's come from Antony.
• Know you him?

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster:
• An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
• He sends so poor a pinion off his wing,
• Which had superfluous kings for messengers
• Not many moons gone by.

• [Enter EUPHRONIUS, ambassador from MARK ANTONY]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Approach, and speak.

• EUPHRONIUS:

  
  Such as I am, I come from Antony:
• I was of late as petty to his ends
• As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf
• To his grand sea.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Be't so: declare thine office.

• EUPHRONIUS:

  
  Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
• Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,
• He lessens his requests; and to thee sues
• To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
• A private man in Athens: this for him.
• Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness;
• Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves
• The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
• Now hazarded to thy grace.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  For Antony,
• I have no ears to his request. The queen
• Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
• From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
• Or take his life there: this if she perform,
• She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.

• EUPHRONIUS:

  
  Fortune pursue thee!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Bring him through the bands.

• [Exit EUPHRONIUS]

• [To THYREUS]

• From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,
• And in our name, what she requires; add more,
• From thine invention, offers: women are not
• In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure
• The ne'er touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus;
• Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
• Will answer as a law.

• THYREUS:

  
  Caesar, I go.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
• And what thou think'st his very action speaks
• In every power that moves.

• THYREUS:

  
  Caesar, I shall.

• [Exeunt]

ACT III, SCENE XIII. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and IRAS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What shall we do, Enobarbus?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Think, and die.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Is Antony or we in fault for this?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Antony only, that would make his will
• Lord of his reason. What though you fled
• From that great face of war, whose several ranges
• Frighted each other? why should he follow?
• The itch of his affection should not then
• Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
• When half to half the world opposed, he being
• The meered question: 'twas a shame no less
• Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
• And leave his navy gazing.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Prithee, peace.

• [Enter MARK ANTONY with EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Is that his answer?

• EUPHRONIUS:

  
  Ay, my lord.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  The queen shall then have courtesy, so she
• Will yield us up.

• EUPHRONIUS:

  
  He says so.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Let her know't.
• To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,
• And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
• With principalities.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  That head, my lord?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  To him again: tell him he wears the rose
• Of youth upon him; from which the world should note
• Something particular: his coin, ships, legions,
• May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail
• Under the service of a child as soon
• As i' the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore
• To lay his gay comparisons apart,
• And answer me declined, sword against sword,
• Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me.

• [Exeunt MARK ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will
• Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show,
• Against a sworder! I see men's judgments are
• A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward
• Do draw the inward quality after them,
• To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
• Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will
• Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued
• His judgment too.

• [Enter an Attendant]

• Attendant:

  
  A messenger from Caesar.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What, no more ceremony? See, my women!
• Against the blown rose may they stop their nose
• That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir.

• [Exit Attendant]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• Mine honesty and I begin to square.
• The loyalty well held to fools does make
• Our faith mere folly: yet he that can endure
• To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord
• Does conquer him that did his master conquer
• And earns a place i' the story.

• [Enter THYREUS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Caesar's will?

• THYREUS:

  
  Hear it apart.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  None but friends: say boldly.

• THYREUS:

  
  So, haply, are they friends to Antony.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has;
• Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master
• Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know,
• Whose he is we are, and that is, Caesar's.

• THYREUS:

  
  So.
• Thus then, thou most renown'd: Caesar entreats,
• Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,
• Further than he is Caesar.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Go on: right royal.

• THYREUS:

  
  He knows that you embrace not Antony
• As you did love, but as you fear'd him.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O!

• THYREUS:

  
  The scars upon your honour, therefore, he
• Does pity, as constrained blemishes,
• Not as deserved.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  He is a god, and knows
• What is most right: mine honour was not yielded,
• But conquer'd merely.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• To be sure of that,
• I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky,
• That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
• Thy dearest quit thee.

• [Exit]

• THYREUS:

  
  Shall I say to Caesar
• What you require of him? for he partly begs
• To be desired to give. It much would please him,
• That of his fortunes you should make a staff
• To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits,
• To hear from me you had left Antony,
• And put yourself under his shrowd,
• The universal landlord.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What's your name?

• THYREUS:

  
  My name is Thyreus.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Most kind messenger,
• Say to great Caesar this: in deputation
• I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt
• To lay my crown at 's feet, and there to kneel:
• Tell him from his all-obeying breath I hear
• The doom of Egypt.

• THYREUS:

  
  'Tis your noblest course.
• Wisdom and fortune combating together,
• If that the former dare but what it can,
• No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
• My duty on your hand.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Your Caesar's father oft,
• When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in,
• Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,
• As it rain'd kisses.

• [Re-enter MARK ANTONY and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Favours, by Jove that thunders!
• What art thou, fellow?

• THYREUS:

  
  One that but performs
• The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
• To have command obey'd.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• You will be whipp'd.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Approach, there! Ah, you kite! Now, gods
• and devils!
• Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried 'Ho!'
• Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth,
• And cry 'Your will?' Have you no ears? I am
• Antony yet.

• [Enter Attendants]

• Take hence this Jack, and whip him.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside]

• 'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp
• Than with an old one dying.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Moon and stars!
• Whip him. Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries
• That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them
• So saucy with the hand of she here,--what's her name,
• Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows,
• Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face,
• And whine aloud for mercy: take him hence.

• THYREUS:

  
  Mark Antony!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Tug him away: being whipp'd,
• Bring him again: this Jack of Caesar's shall
• Bear us an errand to him.

• [Exeunt Attendants with THYREUS]

• You were half blasted ere I knew you: ha!
• Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome,
• Forborne the getting of a lawful race,
• And by a gem of women, to be abused
• By one that looks on feeders?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Good my lord,--

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  You have been a boggler ever:
• But when we in our viciousness grow hard--
• O misery on't!--the wise gods seel our eyes;
• In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us
• Adore our errors; laugh at's, while we strut
• To our confusion.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O, is't come to this?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I found you as a morsel cold upon
• Dead Caesar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment
• Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours,
• Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have
• Luxuriously pick'd out: for, I am sure,
• Though you can guess what temperance should be,
• You know not what it is.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Wherefore is this?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  To let a fellow that will take rewards
• And say 'God quit you!' be familiar with
• My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal
• And plighter of high hearts! O, that I were
• Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar
• The horned herd! for I have savage cause;
• And to proclaim it civilly, were like
• A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank
• For being yare about him.

• [Re-enter Attendants with THYREUS]

• Is he whipp'd?

• First Attendant:

  
  Soundly, my lord.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Cried he? and begg'd a' pardon?

• First Attendant:

  
  He did ask favour.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  If that thy father live, let him repent
• Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry
• To follow Caesar in his triumph, since
• Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: henceforth
• The white hand of a lady fever thee,
• Shake thou to look on 't. Get thee back to Caesar,
• Tell him thy entertainment: look, thou say
• He makes me angry with him; for he seems
• Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am,
• Not what he knew I was: he makes me angry;
• And at this time most easy 'tis to do't,
• When my good stars, that were my former guides,
• Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires
• Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike
• My speech and what is done, tell him he has
• Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom
• He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
• As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou:
• Hence with thy stripes, begone!

• [Exit THYREUS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Have you done yet?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Alack, our terrene moon
• Is now eclipsed; and it portends alone
• The fall of Antony!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I must stay his time.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes
• With one that ties his points?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Not know me yet?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Cold-hearted toward me?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Ah, dear, if I be so,
• From my cold heart let heaven engender hail,
• And poison it in the source; and the first stone
• Drop in my neck: as it determines, so
• Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite!
• Till by degrees the memory of my womb,
• Together with my brave Egyptians all,
• By the discandying of this pelleted storm,
• Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile
• Have buried them for prey!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I am satisfied.
• Caesar sits down in Alexandria; where
• I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
• Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too
• Have knit again, and fleet, threatening most sea-like.
• Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear, lady?
• If from the field I shall return once more
• To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood;
• I and my sword will earn our chronicle:
• There's hope in't yet.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  That's my brave lord!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breathed,
• And fight maliciously: for when mine hours
• Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives
• Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth,
• And send to darkness all that stop me. Come,
• Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me
• All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more;
• Let's mock the midnight bell.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  It is my birth-day:
• I had thought to have held it poor: but, since my lord
• Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  We will yet do well.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Call all his noble captains to my lord.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Do so, we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll force
• The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my queen;
• There's sap in't yet. The next time I do fight,
• I'll make death love me; for I will contend
• Even with his pestilent scythe.

• [Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious,
• Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood
• The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still,
• A diminution in our captain's brain
• Restores his heart: when valour preys on reason,
• It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
• Some way to leave him.

• [Exit]

ACT IV, SCENE I.

Before Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECAENAS, with his Army; OCTAVIUS CAESAR reading a letter]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power
• To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger
• He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
• Caesar to Antony: let the old ruffian know
• I have many other ways to die; meantime
• Laugh at his challenge.

• MECAENAS:

  
  Caesar must think,
• When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted
• Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now
• Make boot of his distraction: never anger
• Made good guard for itself.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Let our best heads
• Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles
• We mean to fight: within our files there are,
• Of those that served Mark Antony but late,
• Enough to fetch him in. See it done:
• And feast the army; we have store to do't,
• And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE II.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace.

[Enter MARK ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, with others]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  He will not fight with me, Domitius.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  No.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Why should he not?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,
• He is twenty men to one.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  To-morrow, soldier,
• By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live,
• Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
• Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Well said; come on.
• Call forth my household servants: let's to-night
• Be bounteous at our meal.

• [Enter three or four Servitors]

• Give me thy hand,
• Thou hast been rightly honest;--so hast thou;--
• Thou,--and thou,--and thou:--you have served me well,
• And kings have been your fellows.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  

  [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• What means this?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside to CLEOPATRA]

• 'Tis one of those odd
• tricks which sorrow shoots
• Out of the mind.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  And thou art honest too.
• I wish I could be made so many men,
• And all of you clapp'd up together in
• An Antony, that I might do you service
• So good as you have done.

• All:

  
  The gods forbid!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night:
• Scant not my cups; and make as much of me
• As when mine empire was your fellow too,
• And suffer'd my command.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  

  [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• What does he mean?

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  

  [Aside to CLEOPATRA]

• To make his followers weep.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Tend me to-night;
• May be it is the period of your duty:
• Haply you shall not see me more; or if,
• A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow
• You'll serve another master. I look on you
• As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,
• I turn you not away; but, like a master
• Married to your good service, stay till death:
• Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more,
• And the gods yield you for't!

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  What mean you, sir,
• To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep;
• And I, an ass, am onion-eyed: for shame,
• Transform us not to women.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Ho, ho, ho!
• Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus!
• Grace grow where those drops fall!
• My hearty friends,
• You take me in too dolorous a sense;
• For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you
• To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts,
• I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you
• Where rather I'll expect victorious life
• Than death and honour. Let's to supper, come,
• And drown consideration.

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE III.

Before the palace.

[Enter two Soldiers to their guard]

• First Soldier:

  
  Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day.

• Second Soldier:

  
  It will determine one way: fare you well.
• Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

• First Soldier:

  
  Nothing. What news?

• Second Soldier:

  
  Belike 'tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

• First Soldier:

  
  Well, sir, good night.

• [Enter two other Soldiers]

• Second Soldier:

  
  Soldiers, have careful watch.

• Third Soldier:

  
  And you. Good night, good night.

• [They place themselves in every corner of the stage]

• Fourth Soldier:

  
  Here we: and if to-morrow
• Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope
• Our landmen will stand up.

• Third Soldier:

  
  'Tis a brave army,
• And full of purpose.

• [Music of the hautboys as under the stage]

• Fourth Soldier:

  
  Peace! what noise?

• First Soldier:

  
  List, list!

• Second Soldier:

  
  Hark!

• First Soldier:

  
  Music i' the air.

• Third Soldier:

  
  Under the earth.

• Fourth Soldier:

  
  It signs well, does it not?

• Third Soldier:

  
  No.

• First Soldier:

  
  Peace, I say!
• What should this mean?

• Second Soldier:

  
  'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved,
• Now leaves him.

• First Soldier:

  
  Walk; let's see if other watchmen
• Do hear what we do?

• [They advance to another post]

• Second Soldier:

  
  How now, masters!

• All:

  
  

  [Speaking together]

• How now!
• How now! do you hear this?

• First Soldier:

  
  Ay; is't not strange?

• Third Soldier:

  
  Do you hear, masters? do you hear?

• First Soldier:

  
  Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;
• Let's see how it will give off.

• All:

  
  Content. 'Tis strange.

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE IV.

A room in the palace.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and others attending]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Eros! mine armour, Eros!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Sleep a little.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  No, 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 is
• Because we brave her: come.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Nay, I'll help too.
• What's this for?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Ah, let be, let be! thou art
• The armourer of my heart: false, false; this, this.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Sooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Well, well;
• We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?
• Go put on thy defences.

• EROS:

  
  Briefly, sir.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Is not this buckled well?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Rarely, 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 squire
• 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:
• Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge:
• To business that we love we rise betime,
• And go to't with delight.

• Soldier:

  
  A thousand, sir,
• Early though't be, have on their riveted trim,
• And at the port expect you.

• [Shout. Trumpets flourish]

• [Enter Captains and Soldiers]

• Captain:

  
  The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.

• All:

  
  Good morrow, general.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  'Tis well blown, lads:
• This morning, like the spirit of a youth
• 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 stand
• 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]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Please you, retire to your chamber.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Lead me.
• He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might
• Determine this great war in single fight!
• Then Antony,--but now--Well, on.

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE V.

Alexandria. MARK ANTONY's camp.

[Trumpets sound. Enter MARK ANTONY and EROS; a Soldier meeting them]

• Soldier:

  
  The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd
• To make me fight at land!

• Soldier:

  
  Hadst thou done so,
• The kings that have revolted, and the soldier
• That has this morning left thee, would have still
• Follow'd thy heels.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Who's gone this morning?

• Soldier:

  
  Who!
• One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus,
• He shall not hear thee; or from Caesar's camp
• Say 'I am none of thine.'

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  What say'st thou?

• Soldier:

  
  Sir,
• He is with Caesar.

• EROS:

  
  Sir, his chests and treasure
• He has not with him.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Is he gone?

• Soldier:

  
  Most certain.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it;
• Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him--
• I will subscribe--gentle adieus and greetings;
• Say that I wish he never find more cause
• To change a master. O, my fortunes have
• Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.--Enobarbus!

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE VI.

Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.

[Flourish. Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, with DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, and others]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight:
• Our will is Antony be took alive;
• Make it so known.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  Caesar, I shall.

• [Exit]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  The time of universal peace is near:
• Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world
• Shall bear the olive freely.

• [Enter a Messenger]

• Messenger:

  
  Antony
• Is come into the field.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Go charge Agrippa
• Plant those that have revolted in the van,
• That Antony may seem to spend his fury
• Upon himself.

• [Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry on
• Affairs of Antony; there did persuade
• Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar,
• And leave his master Antony: for this pains
• Caesar hath hang'd him. Canidius and the rest
• That fell away have entertainment, but
• No honourable trust. I have done ill;
• Of which I do accuse myself so sorely,
• That I will joy no more.

• [Enter a Soldier of CAESAR's]

• Soldier:

  
  Enobarbus, Antony
• Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
• His bounty overplus: the messenger
• Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now
• Unloading of his mules.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I give it you.

• Soldier:

  
  Mock not, Enobarbus.
• I tell you true: best you safed the bringer
• Out of the host; I must attend mine office,
• Or would have done't myself. Your emperor
• Continues still a Jove.

• [Exit]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  I am alone the villain of the earth,
• And feel I am so most. O Antony,
• Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
• My better service, when my turpitude
• Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart:
• If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean
• Shall outstrike thought: but thought will do't, I feel.
• I fight against thee! No: I will go seek
• Some ditch wherein to die; the foul'st best fits
• My latter part of life.

• [Exit]

ACT IV, SCENE VII.

Field of battle between the camps.

[Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA and others]

• AGRIPPA:

  
  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]

• SCARUS:

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

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Thou bleed'st apace.

• SCARUS:

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

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  They do retire.

• SCARUS:

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

• [Enter EROS]

• EROS:

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

• SCARUS:

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

• MARK ANTONY:

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

• SCARUS:

  
  I'll halt after.

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE VIII.

Under the walls of Alexandria.

[Alarum. Enter MARK ANTONY, in a march; SCARUS, with others]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  We have beat him to his camp: run one before,
• And let the queen know of our gests. To-morrow,
• Before the sun shall see 's, we'll spill the blood
• That has to-day escaped. I thank you all;
• For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
• Not as you served the cause, but as 't had been
• Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
• Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
• Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
• Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
• The honour'd gashes whole.

• [To SCARUS]

• Give me thy hand

• [Enter CLEOPATRA, attended]

• To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,
• Make her thanks bless thee.

• [To CLEOPATRA]

• O thou day o' the world,
• Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all,
• Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
• Ride on the pants triumphing!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Lord of lords!
• O infinite virtue, comest thou smiling from
• The world's great snare uncaught?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  My nightingale,
• We have beat them to their beds. What, girl!
• though grey
• Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha' we
• A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
• Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
• Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand:
• Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day
• As if a god, in hate of mankind, had
• Destroy'd in such a shape.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I'll give thee, friend,
• An armour all of gold; it was a king's.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  He has deserved it, were it carbuncled
• Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand:
• Through Alexandria make a jolly march;
• Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them:
• Had our great palace the capacity
• To camp this host, we all would sup together,
• And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
• Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters,
• With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
• Make mingle with rattling tabourines;
• That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,
• Applauding our approach.

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE IX. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.

[Sentinels at their post]

• First Soldier:

  
  If we be not relieved within this hour,
• We must return to the court of guard: the night
• Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle
• By the second hour i' the morn.

• Second Soldier:

  
  This last day was
• A shrewd one to's.

• [Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS]

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  O, bear me witness, night,--

• Third Soldier:

  
  What man is this?

• Second Soldier:

  
  Stand close, and list him.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,
• When men revolted shall upon record
• Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
• Before thy face repent!

• First Soldier:

  
  Enobarbus!

• Third Soldier:

  
  Peace!
• Hark further.

• DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS:

  
  O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
• The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,
• That life, a very rebel to my will,
• May hang no longer on me: throw my heart
• Against the flint and hardness of my fault:
• Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder,
• And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
• Nobler than my revolt is infamous,
• Forgive me in thine own particular;
• But let the world rank me in register
• A master-leaver and a fugitive:
• O Antony! O Antony!

• [Dies]

• Second Soldier:

  
  Let's speak To him.

• First Soldier:

  
  Let's hear him, for the things he speaks
• May concern Caesar.

• Third Soldier:

  
  Let's do so. But he sleeps.

• First Soldier:

  
  Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his
• Was never yet for sleep.

• Second Soldier:

  
  Go we to him.

• Third Soldier:

  
  Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.

• Second Soldier:

  
  Hear you, sir?

• First Soldier:

  
  The hand of death hath raught him.

• [Drums afar off]

• Hark! the drums
• Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
• To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour
• Is fully out.

• Third Soldier:

  
  Come on, then;
• He may recover yet.

• [Exeunt with the body]

ACT IV, SCENE X. Between the two camps.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS, with their Army]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Their preparation is to-day by sea;
• We please them not by land.

• SCARUS:

  
  For both, my lord.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I would they'ld fight i' the fire or i' the air;
• We'ld fight there too. But this it is; our foot
• Upon the hills adjoining to the city
• Shall stay with us: order for sea is given;
• They have put forth the haven
• Where their appointment we may best discover,
• And look on their endeavour.

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE XI. Another part of the camp.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, and his Army]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  But being charged, we will be still by land,
• Which, as I take't, we shall; for his best force
• Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales,
• And hold our best advantage.

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE XII. Another part of the camp.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Yet they are not join'd: where yond pine
• does stand,
• I shall discover all: I'll bring thee word
• Straight, how 'tis like to go.

• [Exit]

• SCARUS:

  
  Swallows have built
• In Cleopatra's sails their nests: the augurers
• Say they know not, they cannot tell; look grimly,
• And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony
• Is valiant, and dejected; and, by starts,
• His fretted fortunes give him hope, and fear,
• Of what he has, and has not.

• [Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight Re-enter MARK ANTONY]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  All is lost;
• This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me:
• My fleet hath yielded to the foe; and yonder
• They cast their caps up and carouse together
• Like friends long lost. Triple-turn'd whore!
• 'tis thou
• Hast sold me to this novice; and my heart
• Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly;
• For when I am revenged upon my charm,
• I have done all. Bid them all fly; begone.

• [Exit SCARUS]

• O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more:
• Fortune and Antony part here; even here
• Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts
• That spaniel'd me at heels, to whom I gave
• Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets
• On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd,
• That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am:
• O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm,--
• Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd them home;
• Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,--
• Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose,
• Beguiled me to the very heart of loss.
• What, Eros, Eros!

• [Enter CLEOPATRA]

• Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Why is my lord enraged against his love?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving,
• And blemish Caesar's triumph. Let him take thee,
• And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians:
• Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot
• Of all thy sex; most monster-like, be shown
• For poor'st diminutives, for doits; and let
• Patient Octavia plough thy visage up
• With her prepared nails.

• [Exit CLEOPATRA]

• 'Tis well thou'rt gone,
• If it be well to live; but better 'twere
• Thou fell'st into my fury, for one death
• Might have prevented many. Eros, ho!
• The shirt of Nessus is upon me: teach me,
• Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage:
• Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon;
• And with those hands, that grasp'd the heaviest club,
• Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die:
• To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall
• Under this plot; she dies for't. Eros, ho!

• [Exit]

ACT IV, SCENE XIII. Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Help me, my women! O, he is more mad
• Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly
• Was never so emboss'd.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  To the monument!
• There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead.
• The soul and body rive not more in parting
• Than greatness going off.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  To the monument!
• Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself;
• Say, that the last I spoke was 'Antony,'
• And word it, prithee, piteously: hence, Mardian,
• And bring me how he takes my death.
• To the monument!

• [Exeunt]

ACT IV, SCENE XIV. Another room.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and EROS]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Eros, thou yet behold'st me?

• EROS:

  
  Ay, noble lord.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Sometimes we see a cloud that's dragonish;
• A vapour sometime like a bear or lion,
• A tower'd citadel, a pendent rock,
• A forked mountain, or blue promontory
• With trees upon't, that nod unto the world,
• And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen
• these signs;
• They are black vesper's pageants.

• EROS:

  
  Ay, my lord,

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  That which is now a horse, even with a thought
• The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct,
• As water is in water.

• EROS:

  
  It does, my lord.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  My good knave Eros, now thy captain is
• Even such a body: here I am Antony:
• Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.
• I made these wars for Egypt: and the queen,--
• Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine;
• Which whilst it was mine had annex'd unto't
• A million more, now lost,--she, Eros, has
• Pack'd cards with Caesar, and false-play'd my glory
• Unto an enemy's triumph.
• Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us
• Ourselves to end ourselves.

• [Enter MARDIAN]

• O! thy vile lady!
• She has robb'd me of my sword.

• MARDIAN:

  
  No, Antony;
• My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled
• With thine entirely.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Hence, saucy eunuch; peace!
• She hath betray'd me and shall die the death.

• MARDIAN:

  
  Death of one person can be paid but once,
• And that she has discharged: what thou wouldst do
• Is done unto thy hand: the last she spake
• Was 'Antony! most noble Antony!'
• Then in the midst a tearing groan did break
• The name of Antony; it was divided
• Between her heart and lips: she render'd life,
• Thy name so buried in her.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Dead, then?

• MARDIAN:

  
  Dead.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done,
• And we must sleep.

• [To MARDIAN]

• That thou depart'st hence safe,
• Does pay thy labour richly; go.

• [Exit MARDIAN]

• Off, pluck off:
• The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep
• The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
• Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,
• Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace.
• No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go;
• You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.

• [Exit EROS]

• I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
• Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now
• All length is torture: since the torch is out,
• Lie down, and stray no farther: now all labour
• Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles
• Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done.
• Eros!--I come, my queen:--Eros!--Stay for me:
• Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand,
• And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze:
• Dido and her AEneas shall want troops,
• And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros!

• [Re-enter EROS]

• EROS:

  
  What would my lord?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Since Cleopatra died,
• I have lived in such dishonour, that the gods
• Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
• Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back
• With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack
• The courage of a woman; less noble mind
• Than she which by her death our Caesar tells
• 'I am conqueror of myself.' Thou art sworn, Eros,
• That, when the exigent should come, which now
• Is come indeed, when I should see behind me
• The inevitable prosecution of
• Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,
• Thou then wouldst kill me: do't; the time is come:
• Thou strikest not me, 'tis Caesar thou defeat'st.
• Put colour in thy cheek.

• EROS:

  
  The gods withhold me!
• Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,
• Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Eros,
• Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome and see
• Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down
• His corrigible neck, his face subdued
• To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat
• Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
• His baseness that ensued?

• EROS:

  
  I would not see't.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Come, then; for with a wound I must be cured.
• Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn
• Most useful for thy country.

• EROS:

  
  O, sir, pardon me!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  When I did make thee free, sworest thou not then
• To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once;
• Or thy precedent services are all
• But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.

• EROS:

  
  Turn from me, then, that noble countenance,
• Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Lo thee!
• Turning from him

• EROS:

  
  My sword is drawn.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Then let it do at once
• The thing why thou hast drawn it.

• EROS:

  
  My dear master,
• My captain, and my emperor, let me say,
• Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  'Tis said, man; and farewell.

• EROS:

  
  Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Now, Eros.

• EROS:

  
  Why, there then: thus I do escape the sorrow
• Of Antony's death.

• [Kills himself]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Thrice-nobler than myself!
• Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what
• I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros
• Have by their brave instruction got upon me
• A nobleness in record: but I will be
• A bridegroom in my death, and run into't
• As to a lover's bed. Come, then; and, Eros,
• Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus

• [Falling on his sword]

• I learn'd of thee. How! not dead? not dead?
• The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!

• [Enter DERCETAS and Guard]

• First Guard:

  
  What's the noise?

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I have done my work in, friends: O, make an end
• Of what I have begun.

• Second Guard:

  
  The star is fall'n.

• First Guard:

  
  And time is at his period.

• All:

  
  Alas, and woe!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Let him that loves me strike me dead.

• First Guard:

  
  Not I.

• Second Guard:

  
  Nor I.

• Third Guard:

  
  Nor any one.

• [Exeunt Guard]

• DERCETAS:

  
  Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.
• This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings,
• Shall enter me with him.

• [Enter DIOMEDES]

• DIOMEDES:

  
  Where's Antony?

• DERCETAS:

  
  There, Diomed there.

• DIOMEDES:

  
  Lives he?
• Wilt thou not answer, man?

• [Exit DERCETAS]

• MARK 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.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  When did she send thee?

• DIOMEDES:

  
  Now, my lord.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Where is she?

• DIOMEDES:

  
  Lock'd in her monument. She had a prophesying fear
• Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw--
• Which never shall be found--you did suspect
• She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage
• Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead;
• But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent
• Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
• I dread, too late.

• MARK ANTONY:

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

• DIOMEDES:

  
  What, ho, the emperor's guard! The guard, what, ho!
• Come, your lord calls!

• [Enter four or five of the Guard of MARK ANTONY]

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides;
• 'Tis the last service that I shall command you.

• First Guard:

  
  Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear
• All your true followers out.

• All:

  
  Most heavy day!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate
• To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome
• Which comes to punish us, and we punish it
• Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:
• I have led you oft: carry me now, good friends,
• And have my thanks for all.

• [Exeunt, bearing MARK ANTONY]

ACT IV, SCENE XV. A monument.

[Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with CHARMIAN and IRAS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Be comforted, dear madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  No, I will not:
• All strange and terrible events are welcome,
• But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
• Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
• As that which makes it.

• [Enter, below, DIOMEDES]

• How now! is he dead?

• DIOMEDES:

  
  His death's upon him, but not dead.
• Look out o' the other side your monument;
• His guard have brought him thither.

• [Enter, below, MARK ANTONY, borne by the Guard]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O sun,
• Burn the great sphere thou movest in!
• darkling stand
• The varying shore o' the world. O Antony,
• Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help;
• Help, friends below; let's draw him hither.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Peace!
• Not Caesar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,
• But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  So it should be, that none but Antony
• Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
• I here importune death awhile, until
• Of many thousand kisses the poor last
• I lay up thy lips.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I dare not, dear,--
• Dear my lord, pardon,--I dare not,
• Lest I be taken: not the imperious show
• Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
• Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs,
• serpents, have
• Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe:
• Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
• And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour
• Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony,--
• Help me, my women,--we must draw thee up:
• Assist, good friends.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  O, quick, or I am gone.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Here's sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
• Our strength is all gone into heaviness,
• That makes the weight: had I great Juno's power,
• The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up,
• And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little,--
• Wishes were ever fools,--O, come, come, come;
• They heave MARK ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA
• And welcome, welcome! die where thou hast lived:
• Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
• Thus would I wear them out.

• All:

  
  A heavy sight!

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  I am dying, Egypt, dying:
• Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  No, let me speak; and let me rail so high,
• That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel,
• Provoked by my offence.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  One word, sweet queen:
• Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  They do not go together.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  Gentle, hear me:
• None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  My resolution and my hands I'll trust;
• None about Caesar.

• MARK ANTONY:

  
  The miserable change now at my end
• Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts
• In feeding them with those my former fortunes
• Wherein I lived, the greatest prince o' the world,
• The noblest; and do now not basely die,
• Not cowardly put off my helmet to
• My countryman,--a Roman by a Roman
• Valiantly vanquish'd. Now my spirit is going;
• I can no more.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Noblest of men, woo't die?
• Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide
• In this dull world, which in thy absence is
• No better than a sty? O, see, my women,

• [MARK ANTONY dies]

• The crown o' the earth doth melt. My lord!
• O, wither'd is the garland of the war,
• The soldier's pole is fall'n: young boys and girls
• Are level now with men; the odds is gone,
• And there is nothing left remarkable
• Beneath the visiting moon.

• [Faints]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  O, quietness, lady!

• IRAS:

  
  She is dead too, our sovereign.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Lady!

• IRAS:

  
  Madam!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  O madam, madam, madam!

• IRAS:

  
  Royal Egypt, Empress!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Peace, peace, Iras!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  No more, but e'en a woman, and commanded
• By such poor passion as the maid that milks
• And does the meanest chares. It were for me
• To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods;
• To tell them that this world did equal theirs
• Till they had stol'n our jewel. All's but naught;
• Patience is scottish, and impatience does
• Become a dog that's mad: then is it sin
• To rush into the secret house of death,
• Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
• What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian!
• My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look,
• Our lamp is spent, it's out! Good sirs, take heart:
• We'll bury him; and then, what's brave,
• what's noble,
• Let's do it after the high Roman fashion,
• And make death proud to take us. Come, away:
• This case of that huge spirit now is cold:
• Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend
• But resolution, and the briefest end.

• [Exeunt; those above bearing off MARK ANTONY's body]

ACT V, SCENE I.

Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR's camp.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MECAENAS, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, and others, his council of war]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield;
• Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks
• The pauses that he makes.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Caesar, I shall.

• [Exit]

• [Enter DERCETAS, with the sword of MARK ANTONY]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Wherefore is that? and what art thou that darest
• Appear thus to us?

• DERCETAS:

  
  I am call'd Dercetas;
• Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy
• Best to be served: whilst he stood up and spoke,
• He was my master; and I wore my life
• To spend upon his haters. If thou please
• To take me to thee, as I was to him
• I'll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not,
• I yield thee up my life.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  What is't thou say'st?

• DERCETAS:

  
  I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  The breaking of so great a thing should make
• A greater crack: the round world
• Should have shook lions into civil streets,
• And citizens to their dens: the death of Antony
• Is not a single doom; in the name lay
• A moiety of the world.

• DERCETAS:

  
  He is dead, Caesar:
• Not by a public minister of justice,
• Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand,
• Which writ his honour in the acts it did,
• Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,
• Splitted the heart. This is his sword;
• I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd
• With his most noble blood.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Look you sad, friends?
• The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings
• To wash the eyes of kings.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  And strange it is,
• That nature must compel us to lament
• Our most persisted deeds.

• MECAENAS:

  
  His taints and honours
• Waged equal with him.

• AGRIPPA:

  
  A rarer spirit never
• Did steer humanity: but you, gods, will give us
• Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch'd.

• MECAENAS:

  
  When such a spacious mirror's set before him,
• He needs must see himself.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  O Antony!
• I have follow'd thee to this; but we do lance
• Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce
• Have shown to thee such a declining day,
• Or look on thine; we could not stall together
• In the whole world: but yet let me lament,
• With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts,
• That thou, my brother, my competitor
• In top of all design, my mate in empire,
• Friend and companion in the front of war,
• The arm of mine own body, and the heart
• Where mine his thoughts did kindle,--that our stars,
• Unreconciliable, should divide
• Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends--
• But I will tell you at some meeter season:

• [Enter an Egyptian]

• The business of this man looks out of him;
• We'll hear him what he says. Whence are you?

• Egyptian:

  
  A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my mistress,
• Confined in all she has, her monument,
• Of thy intents desires instruction,
• That she preparedly may frame herself
• To the way she's forced to.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Bid her have good heart:
• She soon shall know of us, by some of ours,
• How honourable and how kindly we
• Determine for her; for Caesar cannot live
• To be ungentle.

• Egyptian:

  
  So the gods preserve thee!

• [Exit]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say,
• We purpose her no shame: give her what comforts
• The quality of her passion shall require,
• Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke
• She do defeat us; for her life in Rome
• Would be eternal in our triumph: go,
• And with your speediest bring us what she says,
• And how you find of her.

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  Caesar, I shall.

• [Exit]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Gallus, go you along.

• [Exit GALLUS]

• Where's Dolabella,
• To second Proculeius?

• All:

  
  Dolabella!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Let him alone, for I remember now
• How he's employ'd: he shall in time be ready.
• Go with me to my tent; where you shall see
• How hardly I was drawn into this war;
• How calm and gentle I proceeded still
• In all my writings: go with me, and see
• What I can show in this.

• [Exeunt]

ACT V, SCENE II.

Alexandria. A room in the monument.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  My desolation does begin to make
• A better life. 'Tis paltry to be Caesar;
• Not being Fortune, he's but Fortune's knave,
• A minister of her will: and it is great
• To do that thing that ends all other deeds;
• Which shackles accidents and bolts up change;
• Which sleeps, and never palates more the dug,
• The beggar's nurse and Caesar's.

• [Enter, to the gates of the monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS and Soldiers]

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt;
• And bids thee study on what fair demands
• Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What's thy name?

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  My name is Proculeius.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Antony
• Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but
• I do not greatly care to be deceived,
• That have no use for trusting. If your master
• Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him,
• That majesty, to keep decorum, must
• No less beg than a kingdom: if he please
• To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son,
• He gives me so much of mine own, as I
• Will kneel to him with thanks.

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  Be of good cheer;
• You're fall'n into a princely hand, fear nothing:
• Make your full reference freely to my lord,
• Who is so full of grace, that it flows over
• On all that need: let me report to him
• Your sweet dependency; and you shall find
• A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness,
• Where he for grace is kneel'd to.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Pray you, tell him
• I am his fortune's vassal, and I send him
• The greatness he has got. I hourly learn
• A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly
• Look him i' the face.

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  This I'll report, dear lady.
• Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
• Of him that caused it.

• GALLUS:

  
  You see how easily she may be surprised:

• [Here PROCULEIUS and two of the Guard ascend the monument by a ladder placed against a window, and, having descended, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates]

• [To PROCULEIUS and the Guard]

• Guard her till Caesar come.

• [Exit]

• IRAS:

  
  Royal queen!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen:

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Quick, quick, good hands.

• [Drawing a dagger]

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  Hold, worthy lady, hold:

• [Seizes and disarms her]

• Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
• Relieved, but not betray'd.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What, of death too,
• That rids our dogs of languish?

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  Cleopatra,
• Do not abuse my master's bounty by
• The undoing of yourself: let the world see
• His nobleness well acted, which your death
• Will never let come forth.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Where art thou, death?
• Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen
• Worthy many babes and beggars!

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  O, temperance, lady!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink, sir;
• If idle talk will once be necessary,
• I'll not sleep neither: this mortal house I'll ruin,
• Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
• Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court;
• Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
• Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up
• And show me to the shouting varletry
• Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
• Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud
• Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
• Blow me into abhorring! rather make
• My country's high pyramides my gibbet,
• And hang me up in chains!

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  You do extend
• These thoughts of horror further than you shall
• Find cause in Caesar.

• [Enter DOLABELLA]

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Proculeius,
• What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
• And he hath sent for thee: for the queen,
• I'll take her to my guard.

• PROCULEIUS:

  
  So, Dolabella,
• It shall content me best: be gentle to her.

• [To CLEOPATRA]

• To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,
• If you'll employ me to him.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Say, I would die.

• [Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers]

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Most noble empress, you have heard of me?

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I cannot tell.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Assuredly you know me.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
• You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
• Is't not your trick?

• DOLABELLA:

  
  I understand not, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony:
• O, such another sleep, that I might see
• But such another man!

• DOLABELLA:

  
  If it might please ye,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck
• A sun and moon, which kept their course,
• and lighted
• The little O, the earth.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Most sovereign creature,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear'd arm
• Crested the world: his voice was propertied
• As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;
• But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
• He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,
• There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas
• That grew the more by reaping: his delights
• Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above
• The element they lived in: in his livery
• Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were
• As plates dropp'd from his pocket.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Cleopatra!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Think you there was, or might be, such a man
• As this I dream'd of?

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Gentle madam, no.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  You lie, up to the hearing of the gods.
• But, if there be, or ever were, one such,
• It's past the size of dreaming: nature wants stuff
• To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine
• And Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,
• Condemning shadows quite.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Hear me, good madam.
• Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it
• As answering to the weight: would I might never
• O'ertake pursued success, but I do feel,
• By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
• My very heart at root.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  I thank you, sir,
• Know you what Caesar means to do with me?

• DOLABELLA:

  
  I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Nay, pray you, sir,--

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Though he be honourable,--

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  He'll lead me, then, in triumph?

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Madam, he will; I know't.

• [Flourish, and shout within, 'Make way there: Octavius Caesar!' Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MECAENAS, SELEUCUS, and others of his Train]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Which is the Queen of Egypt?

• DOLABELLA:

  
  It is the emperor, madam.

• [CLEOPATRA kneels]

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Arise, you shall not kneel:
• I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Sir, the gods
• Will have it thus; my master and my lord
• I must obey.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Take to you no hard thoughts:
• The record of what injuries you did us,
• Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
• As things but done by chance.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Sole sir o' the world,
• I cannot project mine own cause so well
• To make it clear; but do confess I have
• Been laden with like frailties which before
• Have often shamed our sex.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Cleopatra, know,
• We will extenuate rather than enforce:
• If you apply yourself to our intents,
• Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find
• A benefit in this change; but if you seek
• To lay on me a cruelty, by taking
• Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
• Of my good purposes, and put your children
• To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
• If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  And may, through all the world: 'tis yours; and we,
• Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall
• Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
• I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
• Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?

• SELEUCUS:

  
  Here, madam.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord,
• Upon his peril, that I have reserved
• To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

• SELEUCUS:

  
  Madam,
• I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril,
• Speak that which is not.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  What have I kept back?

• SELEUCUS:

  
  Enough to purchase what you have made known.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
• Your wisdom in the deed.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  See, Caesar! O, behold,
• How pomp is follow'd! mine will now be yours;
• And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
• The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
• Even make me wild: O slave, of no more trust
• Than love that's hired! What, goest thou back? thou shalt
• Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes,
• Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog!
• O rarely base!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Good queen, let us entreat you.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
• That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me,
• Doing the honour of thy lordliness
• To one so meek, that mine own servant should
• Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
• Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
• That I some lady trifles have reserved,
• Immoment toys, things of such dignity
• As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
• Some nobler token I have kept apart
• For Livia and Octavia, to induce
• Their mediation; must I be unfolded
• With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me
• Beneath the fall I have.

• [To SELEUCUS]

• Prithee, go hence;
• Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
• Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man,
• Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Forbear, Seleucus.

• [Exit SELEUCUS]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Be it known, that we, the greatest, are misthought
• For things that others do; and, when we fall,
• We answer others' merits in our name,
• Are therefore to be pitied.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Cleopatra,
• Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged,
• Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be't yours,
• Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe,
• Caesar's no merchant, to make prize with you
• Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd;
• Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen;
• For we intend so to dispose you as
• Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep:
• Our care and pity is so much upon you,
• That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  My master, and my lord!

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Not so. Adieu.

• [Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and his train]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
• Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian.

• [Whispers CHARMIAN]

• IRAS:

  
  Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,
• And we are for the dark.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Hie thee again:
• I have spoke already, and it is provided;
• Go put it to the haste.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Madam, I will.

• [Re-enter DOLABELLA]

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Where is the queen?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Behold, sir.

• [Exit]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Dolabella!

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
• Which my love makes religion to obey,
• I tell you this: Caesar through Syria
• Intends his journey; and within three days
• You with your children will he send before:
• Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
• Your pleasure and my promise.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Dolabella,
• I shall remain your debtor.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  I your servant,
• Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Farewell, and thanks.

• [Exit DOLABELLA]

• Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
• Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
• In Rome, as well as I mechanic slaves
• With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
• Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
• Rank of gross diet, shall be enclouded,
• And forced to drink their vapour.

• IRAS:

  
  The gods forbid!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras: saucy lictors
• Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers
• Ballad us out o' tune: the quick comedians
• Extemporally will stage us, and present
• Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
• Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
• Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
• I' the posture of a whore.

• IRAS:

  
  O the good gods!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Nay, that's certain.

• IRAS:

  
  I'll never see 't; for, I am sure, my nails
• Are stronger than mine eyes.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Why, that's the way
• To fool their preparation, and to conquer
• Their most absurd intents.

• [Re-enter CHARMIAN]

• Now, Charmian!
• Show me, my women, like a queen: go fetch
• My best attires: I am again for Cydnus,
• To meet Mark Antony: sirrah Iras, go.
• Now, noble Charmian, we'll dispatch indeed;
• And, when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave
• To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all.
• Wherefore's this noise?

• [Exit IRAS. A noise within Enter a Guardsman]

• Guard:

  
  Here is a rural fellow
• That will not be denied your highness presence:
• He brings you figs.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Let him come in.

• [Exit Guardsman]

• What poor an instrument
• May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
• My resolution's placed, and I have nothing
• Of woman in me: now from head to foot
• I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon
• No planet is of mine.

• [Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in a basket]

• Guard:

  
  This is the man.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Avoid, and leave him.

• [Exit Guardsman]

• Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there,
• That kills and pains not?

• CLOWN:

  
  Truly, I have him: but I would not be the party
• that should desire you to touch him, for his biting
• is immortal; those that do die of it do seldom or
• never recover.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Rememberest thou any that have died on't?

• CLOWN:

  
  Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of
• them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman,
• but something given to lie; as a woman should not
• do, but in the way of honesty: how she died of the
• biting of it, what pain she felt: truly, she makes
• a very good report o' the worm; but he that will
• believe all that they say, shall never be saved by
• half that they do: but this is most fallible, the
• worm's an odd worm.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Get thee hence; farewell.

• CLOWN:

  
  I wish you all joy of the worm.

• [Setting down his basket]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Farewell.

• CLOWN:

  
  You must think this, look you, that the worm will
• do his kind.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Ay, ay; farewell.

• CLOWN:

  
  Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the
• keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no
• goodness in worm.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.

• CLOWN:

  
  Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is
• not worth the feeding.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Will it eat me?

• CLOWN:

  
  You must not think I am so simple but I know the
• devil himself will not eat a woman: I know that a
• woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her
• not. But, truly, these same whoreson devils do the
• gods great harm in their women; for in every ten
• that they make, the devils mar five.

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Well, get thee gone; farewell.

• CLOWN:

  
  Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o' the worm.

• [Exit]

• [Re-enter IRAS with a robe, crown, & c]

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
• Immortal longings in me: now no more
• The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:
• Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear
• Antony call; I see him rouse himself
• To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
• The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
• To excuse their after wrath: husband, I come:
• Now to that name my courage prove my title!
• I am fire and air; my other elements
• I give to baser life. So; have you done?
• Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
• Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell.

• [Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies]

• Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
• If thou and nature can so gently part,
• The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
• Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie still?
• If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
• It is not worth leave-taking.

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say,
• The gods themselves do weep!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  This proves me base:
• If she first meet the curled Antony,
• He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss
• Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou
• mortal wretch,

• [To an asp, which she applies to her breast]

• With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
• Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool
• Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak,
• That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
• Unpolicied!

• CHARMIAN:

  
  O eastern star!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  Peace, peace!
• Dost thou not see my baby at my breast,
• That sucks the nurse asleep?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  O, break! O, break!

• CLEOPATRA:

  
  As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,--
• O Antony!--Nay, I will take thee too.

• [Applying another asp to her arm]

• What should I stay--

• [Dies]

• CHARMIAN:

  
  In this vile world? So, fare thee well.
• Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies
• A lass unparallel'd. Downy windows, close;
• And golden Phoebus never be beheld
• Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
• I'll mend it, and then play.

• [Enter the Guard, rushing in]

• First Guard:

  
  Where is the queen?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Speak softly, wake her not.

• First Guard:

  
  Caesar hath sent--

• CHARMIAN:

  
  Too slow a messenger.

• [Applies an asp]

• O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.

• First Guard:

  
  Approach, ho! All's not well: Caesar's beguiled.

• Second Guard:

  
  There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him.

• First Guard:

  
  What work is here! Charmian, is this well done?

• CHARMIAN:

  
  It is well done, and fitting for a princess
• Descended of so many royal kings.
• Ah, soldier!

• [Dies]

• [Re-enter DOLABELLA]

• DOLABELLA:

  
  How goes it here?

• Second Guard:

  
  All dead.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Caesar, thy thoughts
• Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming
• To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou
• So sought'st to hinder.

• [Within]

• 'A way there, a way for Caesar!'

• [Re-enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR and all his train marching]

• DOLABELLA:

  
  O sir, you are too sure an augurer;
• That you did fear is done.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Bravest at the last,
• She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal,
• Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?
• I do not see them bleed.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Who was last with them?

• First Guard:

  
  A simple countryman, that brought her figs:
• This was his basket.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Poison'd, then.

• First Guard:

  
  O Caesar,
• This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake:
• I found her trimming up the diadem
• On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood
• And on the sudden dropp'd.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  O noble weakness!
• If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
• By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,
• As she would catch another Antony
• In her strong toil of grace.

• DOLABELLA:

  
  Here, on her breast,
• There is a vent of blood and something blown:
• The like is on her arm.

• First Guard:

  
  This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves
• Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves
• Upon the caves of Nile.

• OCTAVIUS CAESAR:

  
  Most probable
• That so she died; for her physician tells me
• She hath pursued conclusions infinite
• Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed;
• And bear her women from the monument:
• She shall be buried by her Antony:
• No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
• A pair so famous. High events as these
• Strike those that make them; and their story is
• No less in pity than his glory which
• Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall
• In solemn show attend this funeral;
• And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see
• High order in this great solemnity.

• [Exeunt]