William Shakespeare. The Tragedy Of Antony And Cleopatra

1607

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

      MARK ANTONY, Triumvirs
      OCTAVIUS CAESAR, "
      M. AEMILIUS LEPIDUS, "
      SEXTUS POMPEIUS, "
      DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, friend to Antony
      VENTIDIUS, " " "
      EROS, " " "
      SCARUS, " " "
      DERCETAS, " " "
      DEMETRIUS, " " "
      PHILO, " " "
      MAECENAS, friend to Caesar
      AGRIPPA, " " "
      DOLABELLA, " " "
      PROCULEIUS, " " "
      THYREUS, " " "
      GALLUS, " " "
      MENAS, friend to Pompey
      MENECRATES, " " "
      VARRIUS, " " "
      TAURUS, Lieutenant-General to Caesar
      CANIDIUS, Lieutenant-General to Antony
      SILIUS, an Officer in Ventidius's army
      EUPHRONIUS, an Ambassador from Antony to Caesar
      ALEXAS, attendant on Cleopatra
      MARDIAN, " " "
      SELEUCUS, " " "
      DIOMEDES, " " "
      A SOOTHSAYER
      A CLOWN

      CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt
      OCTAVIA, sister to Caesar and wife to Antony
      CHARMIAN, lady attending on Cleopatra
      IRAS, " " " "



      Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and Attendants



SCENE: The Roman Empire
ACT I. SCENE I. Alexandria. 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.
      ANTONY. There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.
      CLEOPATRA. I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd.
      ANTONY. Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

      Enter a MESSENGER

      MESSENGER. News, my good lord, from Rome.
      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 pow'rful mandate to you: 'Do this or this;
      Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that;
      Perform't, or else we damn thee.'
      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-tongu'd Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
      ANTONY. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
      Of the rang'd 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 [emhracing], when such a mutual pair
      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.
      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 to-night?
      CLEOPATRA. Hear the ambassadors.
      ANTONY. Fie, wrangling queen!
      Whom everything becomes- to chide, to laugh,
      To weep; whose every passion fully strives
      To make itself in thee fair and admir'd.
      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 ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with the train
      DEMETRIUS. Is Caesar with Antonius priz'd 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



SCENE II. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace
Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a SOOTHSAYER

      CHARMIAN. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost
      most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you prais'd so
      to th' 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 ENOBARBUS

      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 prov'd 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.
      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 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 worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow
      him laughing to his grave, fiftyfold 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-wiv'd, 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!

      Enter CLEOPATRA

      ENOBARBUS. Hush! Here comes Antony.
      CHARMIAN. Not he; the Queen.
      CLEOPATRA. Saw you my lord?
      ENOBARBUS. No, lady.
      CLEOPATRA. Was he not here?
      CHARMIAN. No, madam.
      CLEOPATRA. He was dispos'd to mirth; but on the sudden
      A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!
      ENOBARBUS. Madam?
      CLEOPATRA. Seek him, and bring him hither. Where's Alexas?
      ALEXAS. Here, at your service. My lord approaches.

      Enter ANTONY, with a MESSENGER and attendants

      CLEOPATRA. We will not look upon him. Go with us.
      Exeunt CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, and the rest
      MESSENGER. Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.
      ANTONY. Against my brother Lucius?
      MESSENGER. Ay.
      But soon that war had end, and the time's state
      Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst Caesar,
      Whose better issue in the war from Italy
      Upon the first encounter drave them.
      ANTONY. Well, what worst?
      MESSENGER. The nature of bad news infects the teller.
      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-
      ANTONY. Antony, thou wouldst say.
      MESSENGER. O, my lord!
      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
      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.
      ANTONY. Let him appear.
      These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,
      Or lose myself in dotage.

      Enter another MESSENGER with a letter

      What are you?
      SECOND MESSENGER. Fulvia thy wife is dead.
      ANTONY. Where died she?
      SECOND MESSENGER. In Sicyon.
      Her length of sickness, with what else more serious
      Importeth thee to know, this bears. [Gives the letter]
      ANTONY. Forbear me. Exit MESSENGER
      There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it.
      What our contempts doth often hurl from us
      We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,
      By revolution low'ring, does become
      The opposite of itself. She's good, being gone;
      The hand could pluck her back that shov'd 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 ENOBARBUS

      ENOBARBUS. What's your pleasure, sir?
      ANTONY. I must with haste from hence.
      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.
      ANTONY. I must be gone.
      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.
      ANTONY. She is cunning past man's thought.
      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 show'r of rain as well as Jove.
      ANTONY. Would I had never seen her!
      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.
      ANTONY. Fulvia is dead.
      ENOBARBUS. Sir?
      ANTONY. Fulvia is dead.
      ENOBARBUS. Fulvia?
      ANTONY. Dead.
      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 crown'd with
      consolation: your old smock brings forth a new petticoat; and
      indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.
      ANTONY. The business she hath broached in the state
      Cannot endure my absence.
      ENOBARBUS. And the business you have broach'd here cannot be
      without you; especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends
      on your abode.
      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 to
      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' th' 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.
      ENOBARBUS. I shall do't. Exeunt



SCENE III. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S 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 in 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.

      Enter ANTONY

      But here comes Antony.
      CLEOPATRA. I am sick and sullen.
      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.
      ANTONY. Now, my dearest queen-
      CLEOPATRA. Pray you, stand farther from me.
      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.
      ANTONY. The gods best know-
      CLEOPATRA. O, never was there queen
      So mightily betray'd! Yet at the first
      I saw the treasons planted.
      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!
      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.
      ANTONY. How now, lady!
      CLEOPATRA. I would I had thy inches. Thou shouldst know
      There were a heart in Egypt.
      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?
      ANTONY. She's dead, my Queen.
      Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read
      The garboils she awak'd. 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 receiv'd shall be.
      ANTONY. Quarrel no more, but be prepar'd to know
      The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
      As you shall give th' advice. By the fire
      That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence
      Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war
      As thou affects.
      CLEOPATRA. Cut my lace, Charmian, come!
      But let it be; I am quickly ill and well-
      So Antony loves.
      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
      Like perfect honour.
      ANTONY. You'll heat my blood; no more.
      CLEOPATRA. You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
      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.
      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 lov'd- 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!
      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!
      ANTONY. Let us go. Come.
      Our separation so abides and flies
      That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,
      And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
      Away! Exeunt



SCENE IV. Rome. CAESAR'S house
Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, reading a letter; LEPIDUS, and their train

      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 manlike
      Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy
      More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or
      Vouchsaf'd 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 purchas'd; what he cannot change
      Than what he chooses.
      CAESAR. You are too indulgent. Let's 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 foils 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 belov'd of those
      That only have fear'd Caesar. To the ports
      The discontents repair, and men's reports
      Give him much wrong'd.
      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 lov'd 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.
      CAESAR. Antony,
      Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once
      Was 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 brows'd. 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.
      CAESAR. Let his shames quickly
      Drive him to Rome. 'Tis time we twain
      Did show ourselves i' th' 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.
      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.
      CAESAR. Doubt not, sir;
      I knew it for my bond. Exeunt



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 mov'st?
      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

      ALEXAS. Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
      CLEOPATRA. How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
      Yet, coming from him, that great med'cine 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' th' 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 chok'd 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 pow'rs
      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 th' 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 wan'd 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 dullness-

      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 farther 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 mov'd 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



SCENE II. Rome. The house of LEPIDUS
Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS

      LEPIDUS. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
      And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
      To soft and gentle speech.
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. Every time
      Serves for the matter that is then born in't.
      LEPIDUS. But small to greater matters must give way.
      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 ANTONY and VENTIDIUS

      ENOBARBUS. And yonder, Caesar.

      Enter CAESAR, MAECENAS, and AGRIPPA

      ANTONY. If we compose well here, to Parthia.
      Hark, Ventidius.
      CAESAR. I do not know, Maecenas. Ask Agrippa.
      LEPIDUS. Noble friends,
      That which combin'd 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 th' matter.
      ANTONY. 'Tis spoken well.
      Were we before our arinies, and to fight,
      I should do thus. [Flourish]
      CAESAR. Welcome to Rome.
      ANTONY. Thank you.
      CAESAR. Sit.
      ANTONY. Sit, sir.
      CAESAR. Nay, then. [They sit]
      ANTONY. I learn you take things ill which are not so,
      Or being, concern you not.
      CAESAR. I must be laugh'd at
      If, or for nothing or a little,
      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.
      ANTONY. My being in Egypt, Caesar,
      What was't to you?
      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.
      ANTONY. How intend you- practis'd?
      CAESAR. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent
      By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
      Made wars upon me, and their contestation
      Was theme for you; you were the word of war.
      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.
      CAESAR. You praise yourself
      By laying defects of judgment to me; but
      You patch'd up your excuses.
      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' th' world is yours, which with a snaffle
      You may pace easy, but not such a wife.
      ENOBARBUS. Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to
      wars with the women!
      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.
      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.
      ANTONY. Sir,
      He fell upon me ere admitted. Then
      Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
      Of what I was i' th' 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.
      CAESAR. You have broken
      The article of your oath, which you shall never
      Have tongue to charge me with.
      LEPIDUS. Soft, Caesar!
      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-
      CAESAR. To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd them,
      The which you both denied.
      ANTONY. Neglected, rather;
      And then when poisoned 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.
      MAECENAS. 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, Maecenas.
      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.
      ANTONY. Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.
      ENOBARBUS. That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.
      ANTONY. You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.
      ENOBARBUS. Go to, then- your considerate stone!
      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 diff'ring in their acts. Yet if I knew
      What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge
      O' th' world, I would pursue it.
      AGRIPPA. Give me leave, Caesar.
      CAESAR. Speak, Agrippa.
      AGRIPPA. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
      Admir'd Octavia. Great Mark Antony
      Is now a widower.
      CAESAR. Say not so, Agrippa.
      If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
      Were well deserv'd of rashness.
      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.
      ANTONY. Will Caesar speak?
      CAESAR. Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd
      With what is spoke already.
      ANTONY. What power is in Agrippa,
      If I would say 'Agrippa, be it so,'
      To make this good?
      CAESAR. The power of Caesar, and
      His power unto Octavia.
      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!
      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!
      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.
      ANTONY. Where lies he?
      CAESAR. About the Mount Misenum.
      ANTONY. What is his strength by land?
      CAESAR. Great and increasing; but by sea
      He is an absolute master.
      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.
      CAESAR. With most gladness;
      And do invite you to my sister's view,
      Whither straight I'll lead you.
      ANTONY. Let us, Lepidus,
      Not lack your company.
      LEPIDUS. Noble Antony,
      Not sickness should detain me. [Flourish]
      Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS, AGRIPPA, MAECENAS
      MAECENAS. Welcome from Egypt, sir.
      ENOBARBUS. Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas! My honourable
      friend, Agrippa!
      AGRIPPA. Good Enobarbus!
      MAECENAS. We have cause to be glad that matters are so well
      digested. You stay'd well by't in Egypt.
      ENOBARBUS. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance and made
      the night light with drinking.
      MAECENAS. Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but
      twelve persons there. Is this true?
      ENOBARBUS. This was but as a fly by an eagle. We had much more
      monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.
      MAECENAS. She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.
      ENOBARBUS. When she first met Mark Antony she purs'd up his heart,
      upon the river of Cydnus.
      AGRIPPA. There she appear'd indeed! Or my reporter devis'd well for
      her.
      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'erpicturing that Venus where we see
      The fancy out-work 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!
      ENOBARBUS. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
      So many mermaids, tended her i' th' 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,
      Enthron'd i' th' market-place, did sit alone,
      Whistling to th' air; which, but for vacancy,
      Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
      And made a gap in nature.
      AGRIPPA. Rare Egyptian!
      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 ploughed her, and she cropp'd.
      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, pow'r breathe forth.
      MAECENAS. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
      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.
      MAECENAS. 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.
      ENOBARBUS. Humbly, sir, I thank you. Exeunt



SCENE III. Rome. CAESAR'S house
Enter ANTONY, CAESAR, OCTAVIA between them

      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.
      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 th' rule. Good night, dear lady.
      OCTAVIA. Good night, sir.
      CAESAR. Good night. Exeunt CAESAR and OCTAVIA

      Enter SOOTHSAYER

      ANTONY. Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt?
      SOOTHSAYER. Would I had never come from thence, nor you thither!
      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.
      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 daemon, that 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'erpow'r'd. Therefore
      Make space enough between you.
      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.
      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' th' East my pleasure lies.

      Enter VENTIDIUS

      O, come, Ventidius,
      You must to Parthia. Your commission's ready;
      Follow me and receive't. Exeunt



SCENE IV. Rome. A street
Enter LEPIDUS, MAECENAS, 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.
      MAECENAS. We shall,
      As I conceive the journey, be at th' Mount
      Before you, Lepidus.
      LEPIDUS. Your way is shorter;
      My purposes do draw me much about.
      You'll win two days upon me.
      BOTH. Sir, good success!
      LEPIDUS. Farewell. Exeunt



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.
      ALL. The music, ho!

      Enter MARDIAN the eunuch

      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 th' 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! Y'are 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 laughed 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. Antony's 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- why 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. Th'art 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' th' 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]
      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 ling'ring 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 liv'd 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 afear'd to come.
      CLEOPATRA. I will not hurt him.
      These hands do lack nobility, that they strike
      A meaner than myself; since I myself
      Have given myself the cause.

      Enter the MESSENGER again

      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 submerg'd and made
      A cistern for scal'd 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 th'art 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 disprais'd 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. [To MARDIAN]
      Bid you Alexas
      Bring me word how tall she is.- Pity me, Charmian,
      But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber. Exeunt



SCENE VI. Near Misenum
Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one door, with drum and trumpet; at another, CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, ENOBARBUS, MAECENAS, AGRIPPA, with soldiers marching

      POMPEY. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
      And we shall talk before we fight.
      CAESAR. Most meet
      That first we come to words; and therefore have we
      Our written purposes before us sent;
      Which if thou hast considered, 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 mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? and what
      Made the all-honour'd honest Roman, Brutus,
      With the arm'd rest, courtiers of 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 burden
      The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
      To scourge th' ingratitude that despiteful Rome
      Cast on my noble father.
      CAESAR. Take your time.
      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 pleas'd to tell us-
      For this is from the present- how you take
      The offers we have sent you.
      CAESAR. There's the point.
      ANTONY. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
      What it is worth embrac'd.
      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.
      ALL. That's our offer.
      POMPEY. Know, then,
      I came before you here a man prepar'd
      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.
      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.
      ANTONY. The beds i' th' East are soft; and thanks to you,
      That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither;
      For I have gained by't.
      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.
      CAESAR. That's the next to do.
      POMPEY. We'll feast each other ere we part, and let's
      Draw lots who shall begin.
      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.
      ANTONY. You have heard much.
      POMPEY. I have fair meanings, sir.
      ANTONY. And fair words to them.
      POMPEY. Then so much have I heard;
      And I have heard Apollodorus carried-
      ENOBARBUS. No more of that! He did so.
      POMPEY. What, I pray you?
      ENOBARBUS. A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
      POMPEY. I know thee now. How far'st thou, soldier?
      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 behaviour.
      ENOBARBUS. Sir,
      I never lov'd you much; but I ha' prais'd ye
      When you have well deserv'd 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?
      ALL. Show's the way, sir.
      POMPEY. Come. Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS and MENAS
      MENAS. [Aside] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this
      treaty.- You and I have known, sir.
      ENOBARBUS. At sea, I think.
      MENAS. We have, sir.
      ENOBARBUS. You have done well by water.
      MENAS. And you by land.
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you
      have been a great thief by sea.
      MENAS. And you by land.
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. But there is never a fair woman has a true face.
      MENAS. No slander: they steal hearts.
      ENOBARBUS. We came hither to fight with you.
      MENAS. For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking.
      Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.
      ENOBARBUS. If he do, sure he cannot weep't back again.
      MENAS. Y'have said, sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here. Pray
      you, is he married to Cleopatra?
      ENOBARBUS. Caesar' sister is call'd Octavia.
      MENAS. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
      ENOBARBUS. But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
      MENAS. Pray ye, sir?
      ENOBARBUS. 'Tis true.
      MENAS. Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
      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.
      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?
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. I shall take it, sir. We have us'd our throats in Egypt.
      MENAS. Come, let's away. Exeunt
ACT_2|SC_7
      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' th' world will blow them
      down.
      SECOND SERVANT. Lepidus is high-colour'd.
      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 th' drink.
      FIRST SERVANT. But it raises the greater war between him and his
      discretion.
      SECOND SERVANT. Why, this it 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 partizan I could not heave.
      FIRST SERVANT. To be call'd 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 CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS,
      POMPEY, AGRIPPA, MAECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS,
      with other CAPTAINS

      ANTONY. [To CAESAR] Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o' th'
      Nile
      By certain scales i' th' pyramid; they know
      By th' 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. Y'have strange serpents there.
      ANTONY. Ay, Lepidus.
      LEPIDUS. Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the
      operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.
      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.
      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. [ Whispers in's ear ] Forbear me till anon-
      This wine for Lepidus!
      LEPIDUS. What manner o' thing is your crocodile?
      ANTONY. It is shap'd, sir, like itself, and it is as broad as it
      hath breadth; it is just so high as it is, and moves with it own
      organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and the elements
      once out of it, it transmigrates.
      LEPIDUS. What colour is it of?
      ANTONY. Of it own colour too.
      LEPIDUS. 'Tis a strange serpent.
      ANTONY. 'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.
      CAESAR. Will this description satisfy him?
      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 th'art mad. [Rises and walks
      aside] The matter?
      MENAS. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
      POMPEY. Thou hast serv'd me with much faith. What's else to say?-
      Be jolly, lords.
      ANTONY. These quicksands, 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 you think me poor, I am the man
      Will give thee all the world.
      POMPEY. Hast thou drunk well?
      MENAS. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
      Thou art, if thou dar'st 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 villainy:
      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!
      ANTONY. Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.
      ENOBARBUS. Here's to thee, Menas!
      MENAS. Enobarbus, welcome!
      POMPEY. Fill till the cup be hid.
      ENOBARBUS. There's a strong fellow, Menas.
      [Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS]
      MENAS. Why?
      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!
      ENOBARBUS. Drink thou; increase the reels.
      MENAS. Come.
      POMPEY. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
      ANTONY. It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
      Here's to Caesar!
      CAESAR. I could well forbear't.
      It's monstrous labour when I wash my brain
      And it grows fouler.
      ANTONY. Be a child o' th' time.
      CAESAR. Possess it, I'll make answer.
      But I had rather fast from all four days
      Than drink so much in one.
      ENOBARBUS. [To ANTONY] Ha, my brave emperor!
      Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals
      And celebrate our drink?
      POMPEY. Let's ha't, good soldier.
      ANTONY. Come, let's all take hands,
      Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
      In soft and delicate Lethe.
      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. 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!

      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.
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. Take heed you fall not.
      Exeunt all but 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]
      ENOBARBUS. Hoo! says 'a. There's my cap.
      MENAS. Hoo! Noble Captain, come. Exeunt ACT_3|SC_1
      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
      Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
      Make me revenger. Bear the King's son's body
      Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
      Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
      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 achiev'd by th' minute, lost his favour.
      Who does i' th' 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' th' 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_3|SC_2
      SCENE II. Rome. CAESAR'S house

      Enter AGRIPPA at one door, ENOBARBUS at another

      AGRIPPA. What, are the brothers parted?
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. A very fine one. O, how he loves Caesar!
      AGRIPPA. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
      ENOBARBUS. Caesar? Why he's the Jupiter of men.
      AGRIPPA. What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.
      ENOBARBUS. Spake you of Caesar? How! the nonpareil!
      AGRIPPA. O, Antony! O thou Arabian bird!
      ENOBARBUS. Would you praise Caesar, say 'Caesar'- go no further.
      AGRIPPA. Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.
      ENOBARBUS. But he loves Caesar best. Yet he loves Antony.
      Hoo! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot
      Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number- hoo!-
      His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
      Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
      AGRIPPA. Both he loves.
      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 CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA

      ANTONY. No further, sir.
      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 lov'd without this mean, if on both parts
      This be not cherish'd.
      ANTONY. Make me not offended
      In your distrust.
      CAESAR. I have said.
      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.
      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!
      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-
      CAESAR. What, Octavia?
      OCTAVIA. I'll tell you in your ear.
      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 the full of tide,
      And neither way inclines.
      ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] Will Caesar weep?
      AGRIPPA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] He has a cloud in's face.
      ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] He were the worse for that, were he a
      horse;
      So is he, being a man.
      AGRIPPA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] Why, Enobarbus,
      When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,
      He cried almost to roaring; and he wept
      When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.
      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 weep too.
      CAESAR. No, sweet Octavia,
      You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
      Out-go my thinking on you.
      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.
      CAESAR. Adieu; be happy!
      LEPIDUS. Let all the number of the stars give light
      To thy fair way!
      CAESAR. Farewell, farewell! [Kisses OCTAVIA]
      ANTONY. Farewell! Trumpets sound. Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_3
      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 pleas'd.
      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-tongu'd or low?
      MESSENGER. Madam, I heard her speak: she is low-voic'd.
      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 prepar'd. Exeunt 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_3|SC_4
      SCENE IV.
      Athens. ANTONY'S house

      Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA

      ANTONY. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that-
      That were excusable, that and thousands more
      Of semblable import- but he hath wag'd
      New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
      To public ear;
      Spoke scandy 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 will mock 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 mid-way
      'Twixt these extremes at all.
      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 meantime, 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.
      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_3|SC_5
      SCENE V.
      Athens. ANTONY'S house

      Enter ENOBARBUS and EROS, meeting

      ENOBARBUS. How now, friend Eros!
      EROS. There's strange news come, sir.
      ENOBARBUS. What, man?
      EROS. Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.
      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.
      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 murd'red Pompey.
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. 'Twill be naught;
      But let it be. Bring me to Antony.
      EROS. Come, sir. Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_6
      SCENE VI.
      Rome. CAESAR'S house

      Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS

      CAESAR. Contemning Rome, he has done all this and more
      In Alexandria. Here's the manner of't:
      I' th' market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
      Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
      Were publicly enthron'd; 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.
      MAECENAS. This in the public eye?
      CAESAR. I' th' 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 th' habiliments of the goddess Isis
      That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
      As 'tis reported, so.
      MAECENAS. Let Rome be thus
      Inform'd.
      AGRIPPA. Who, queasy with his insolence
      Already, will their good thoughts call from him.
      CAESAR. The people knows it, and have now receiv'd
      His accusations.
      AGRIPPA. Who does he accuse?
      CAESAR. Caesar; and that, having in Sicily
      Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
      His part o' th' isle. Then does he say he lent me
      Some shipping, unrestor'd. Lastly, he frets
      That Lepidus of the triumvirate
      Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain
      All his revenue.
      AGRIPPA. Sir, this should be answer'd.
      CAESAR. 'Tis done already, and messenger gone.
      I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,
      That he his high authority abus'd,
      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,
      Demand the like.
      MAECENAS. He'll never yield to that.
      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!
      CAESAR. That ever I should call thee cast-away!
      OCTAVIA. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.
      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 th' 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,
      Rais'd 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 unlov'd. 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 it
      On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
      Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted
      My grieved ear withal; whereon I begg'd
      His pardon for return.
      CAESAR. Which soon he granted,
      Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.
      OCTAVIA. Do not say so, my lord.
      CAESAR. I have eyes upon him,
      And his affairs come to me on the wind.
      Where is he now?
      OCTAVIA. My lord, in Athens.
      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' th' earth for war. He hath assembled
      Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus
      Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
      Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
      King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
      Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
      Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
      The kings of Mede and Lycaonia, with
      More larger list of sceptres.
      OCTAVIA. Ay me most wretched,
      That have my heart parted betwixt two friends,
      That does afflict each other!
      CAESAR. Welcome hither.
      Your letters did withhold our breaking forth,
      Till we perceiv'd 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 determin'd things to destiny
      Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
      Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd
      Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,
      To do you justice, make their ministers
      Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,
      And ever welcome to us.
      AGRIPPA. Welcome, lady.
      MAECENAS. Welcome, dear madam.
      Each heart in Rome does love and pity you;
      Only th' 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?
      CAESAR. Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you
      Be ever known to patience. My dear'st sister! Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_7
      SCENE VII.
      ANTONY'S camp near Actium

      Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS

      CLEOPATRA. I will be even with thee, doubt it not.
      ENOBARBUS. But why, why,
      CLEOPATRA. Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,
      And say'st it is not fit.
      ENOBARBUS. Well, is it, is it?
      CLEOPATRA. Is't not denounc'd against us? Why should not we
      Be there in person?
      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?
      ENOBARBUS. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;
      Take from his heart, take from his brain, from's time,
      What should not then be spar'd. He is already
      Traduc'd 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' th' war,
      And, as the president of my kingdom, will
      Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;
      I will not stay behind.

      Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS

      ENOBARBUS. Nay, I have done.
      Here comes the Emperor.
      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 admir'd
      Than by the negligent.
      ANTONY. A good rebuke,
      Which might have well becom'd 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?
      ANTONY. For that he dares us to't.
      ENOBARBUS. So hath my lord dar'd 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, he shakes off;
      And so should you.
      ENOBARBUS. Your ships are not well mann'd;
      Your mariners are muleteers, 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 prepar'd for land.
      ANTONY. By sea, by sea.
      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 forgo
      The way which promises assurance; and
      Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard
      From firm security.
      ANTONY. I'll fight at sea.
      CLEOPATRA. I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.
      ANTONY. Our overplus of shipping will we burn,
      And, with the rest full-mann'd, from th' head of Actium
      Beat th' 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.
      ANTONY. Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible-
      Strange that his 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 th' Egyptians
      And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we
      Have us'd to conquer standing on the earth
      And fighting foot to foot.
      ANTONY. Well, well- away.
      Exeunt ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and ENOBARBUS
      SOLDIER. By Hercules, I think I am i' th' 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
      Beguil'd 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_3|SC_8
      SCENE VIII.
      A plain near Actium

      Enter CAESAR, with his army, marching

      CAESAR. Taurus!
      TAURUS. My lord?
      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_3|SC_9
      SCENE IX.
      Another part of the plain

      Enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS

      ANTONY. Set we our squadrons on yon side o' th' hill,
      In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place
      We may the number of the ships behold,
      And so proceed accordingly. Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_10
      SCENE X.
      Another part of the plain

      CANIDIUS marcheth with his land army one way
      over the stage, and TAURUS, the Lieutenant of
      CAESAR, the other way. After their going in is heard
      the noise of a sea-fight

      Alarum. Enter ENOBARBUS

      ENOBARBUS. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer.
      Th' 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!
      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.
      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' th' midst o' th' 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.
      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.
      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!
      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.
      ENOBARBUS. I'll yet follow
      The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
      Sits in the wind against me. Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_11
      SCENE XI.
      Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace

      Enter ANTONY With attendants

      ANTONY. Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;
      It is asham'd 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!
      ANTONY. I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
      To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;
      I have myself resolv'd 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 straight way.
      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!
      ANTONY. No, no, no, no, no.
      EROS. See you here, sir?
      ANTONY. O, fie, fie, fie!
      CHARMIAN. Madam!
      IRAS. Madam, O good Empress!
      EROS. Sir, sir!
      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 practice 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 me. O!
      EROS. Most noble sir, arise; the Queen approaches.
      Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her but
      Your comfort makes the rescue.
      ANTONY. I have offended reputation-
      A most unnoble swerving.
      EROS. Sir, the Queen.
      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 followed.
      ANTONY. Egypt, thou knew'st too well
      My heart was to thy rudder tied by th' 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!
      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' th' world play'd as I pleas'd,
      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!
      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 'a 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_3|SC_12
      SCENE XII.
      CAESAR'S camp in Egypt

      Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others

      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 of his wing,
      Which had superfluous kings for messengers
      Not many moons gone by.

      Enter EUPHRONIUS, Ambassador from ANTONY

      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.
      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.
      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!
      CAESAR. Bring him through the bands. Exit EUPHRONIUS
      [To THYREUS] To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time. Dispatch;
      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.
      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_3|SC_13
      SCENE XIII.
      Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace

      Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and IRAS

      CLEOPATRA. What shall we do, Enobarbus?
      ENOBARBUS. Think, and die.
      CLEOPATRA. Is Antony or we in fault for this?
      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 oppos'd, he being
      The mered question. 'Twas a shame no less
      Than was his loss, to course your flying flags
      And leave his navy gazing.
      CLEOPATRA. Prithee, peace.

      Enter EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador; with ANTONY

      ANTONY. Is that his answer?
      EUPHRONIUS. Ay, my lord.
      ANTONY. The Queen shall then have courtesy, so she
      Will yield us up.
      EUPHRONIUS. He says so.
      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?
      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' th' command of Caesar. I dare him therefore
      To lay his gay comparisons apart,
      And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,
      Ourselves alone. I'll write it. Follow me.
      Exeunt ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS
      EUPHRONIUS. [Aside] Yes, like enough high-battled Caesar will
      Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to th' 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 subdu'd
      His judgment too.

      Enter a SERVANT

      SERVANT. 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 SERVANT
      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' th' 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.
      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 deserv'd.
      CLEOPATRA. He is a god, and knows
      What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,
      But conquer'd merely.
      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 desir'd 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 shroud,
      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 conquring 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 mus'd of taking kingdoms in,
      Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,
      As it rain'd kisses.

      Re-enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS

      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.
      ENOBARBUS. [Aside] You will be whipt.
      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 servants

      Take hence this Jack and whip him.
      ENOBARBUS. 'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp
      Than with an old one dying.
      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.
      THYMUS. Mark Antony-
      ANTONY. Tug him away. Being whipt,
      Bring him again: the Jack of Caesar's shall
      Bear us an errand to him. Exeunt servants 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 abus'd
      By one that looks on feeders?
      CLEOPATRA. Good my lord-
      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?
      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,
      Unregist'red 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?
      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 a SERVANT with THYREUS

      Is he whipt?
      SERVANT. Soundly, my lord.
      ANTONY. Cried he? and begg'd 'a pardon?
      SERVANT. He did ask favour.
      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 whipt 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 th' 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, be gone. Exit THYREUS
      CLEOPATRA. Have you done yet?
      ANTONY. Alack, our terrene moon
      Is now eclips'd, and it portends alone
      The fall of Antony.
      CLEOPATRA. I must stay his time.
      ANTONY. To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes
      With one that ties his points?
      CLEOPATRA. Not know me yet?
      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.
      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 to
      Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning 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!
      ANTONY. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd,
      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 birthday.
      I had thought t'have held it poor; but since my lord
      Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.
      ANTONY. We will yet do well.
      CLEOPATRA. Call all his noble captains to my lord.
      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 ENOBARBUS
      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_4|SC_1
      ACT IV. SCENE I.
      CAESAR'S camp before Alexandria

      Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS, with his army;
      CAESAR reading a letter

      CAESAR. He calls me boy, and chides as he had power
      To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger
      He hath whipt 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.
      MAECENAS. 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.
      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 serv'd 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_4|SC_2
      SCENE II.
      Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

      Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS,
      ALEXAS, with others

      ANTONY. He will not fight with me, Domitius?
      ENOBARBUS. No.
      ANTONY. Why should he not?
      ENOBARBUS. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,
      He is twenty men to one.
      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?
      ENOBARBUS. I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'
      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 has been rightly honest. So hast thou;
      Thou, and thou, and thou. You have serv'd me well,
      And kings have been your fellows.
      CLEOPATRA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] What means this?
      ENOBARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] 'Tis one of those odd tricks which
      sorrow shoots
      Out of the mind.
      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.
      SERVANT. The gods forbid!
      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 ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?
      ENOBARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep.
      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!
      ENOBARBUS. What mean you, sir,
      To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep;
      And I, an ass, am onion-ey'd. For shame!
      Transform us not to women.
      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_4|SC_3
      SCENE III.
      Alexandria. Before CLEOPATRA's palace

      Enter a company of soldiers

      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.
      [They meet other soldiers]
      SECOND SOLDIER. Soldiers, have careful watch.
      FIRST SOLDIER. And you. Good night, good night.
      [The two companies separate and place themselves
      in every corner of the stage]
      SECOND 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 is under the stage]
      SECOND SOLDIER. Peace, what noise?
      THIRD SOLDIER. List, list!
      SECOND SOLDIER. Hark!
      THIRD SOLDIER. Music i' th' air.
      FOURTH SOLDIER. Under the earth.
      THIRD SOLDIER. It signs well, does it not?
      FOURTH SOLDIER. No.
      THIRD SOLDIER. Peace, I say!
      What should this mean?
      SECOND SOLDIER. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd,
      Now leaves him.
      THIRD SOLDIER. Walk; let's see if other watchmen
      Do hear what we do.
      SECOND SOLDIER. How now, masters!
      SOLDIERS. [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.
      SOLDIERS. Content. 'Tis strange. Exeunt
ACT_4|SC_4
      SCENE IV.
      Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

      Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS,
      with others

      ANTONY. Eros! mine armour, Eros!
      CLEOPATRA. Sleep a little.
      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?
      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.
      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?
      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. Flourish of trumpets within]

      Enter CAPTAINS and soldiers

      CAPTAIN. The morn is fair. Good morrow, General.
      ALL. Good morrow, General.
      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,
      And worthy shameful check 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 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_4|SC_5
      SCENE V.
      Alexandria. ANTONY'S camp

      Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS, a SOLDIER
      meeting them

      SOLDIER. The gods make this a happy day to Antony!
      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
      Followed thy heels.
      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.'
      ANTONY. What say'st thou?
      SOLDIER. Sir,
      He is with Caesar.
      EROS. Sir, his chests and treasure
      He has not with him.
      ANTONY. Is he gone?
      SOLDIER. Most certain.
      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_4|SC_6
      SCENE VI.
      Alexandria. CAESAR'S camp

      Flourish. Enter AGRIPPA, CAESAR, With DOLABELLA
      and ENOBARBUS

      CAESAR. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.
      Our will is Antony be took alive;
      Make it so known.
      AGRIPPA. Caesar, I shall. Exit
      CAESAR. The time of universal peace is near.
      Prove this a prosp'rous day, the three-nook'd world
      Shall bear the olive freely.

      Enter A MESSENGER

      MESSENGER. Antony
      Is come into the field.
      CAESAR. Go charge Agrippa
      Plant those that have revolted in the vant,
      That Antony may seem to spend his fury
      Upon himself. Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS
      ENOBARBUS. Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry on
      Affairs of Antony; there did dissuade
      Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar
      And leave his master Antony. For this pains
      Casaer 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.
      ENOBARBUS. I give it you.
      SOLDIER. Mock not, Enobarbus.
      I tell you true. Best you saf'd the bringer
      Out of the host. I must attend mine office,
      Or would have done't myself. Your emperor
      Continues still a Jove. Exit
      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_4|SC_7
      SCENE VII.
      Field of battle between the camps

      Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA
      and others

      AGRIPPA. Retire. We have engag'd ourselves too far.
      Caesar himself has work, and our oppression
      Exceeds what we expected. Exeunt

      Alarums. Enter 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.
      ANTONY. Thou bleed'st apace.
      SCARUS. I had a wound here that was like a T,
      But now 'tis made an H.
      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.
      ANTONY. I will reward thee
      Once for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfold
      For thy good valour. Come thee on.
      SCARUS. I'll halt after. Exeunt
ACT_4|SC_8
      SCENE VIII.
      Under the walls of Alexandria

      Alarum. Enter ANTONY, again in a march; SCARUS
      with others

      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 escap'd. I thank you all;
      For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
      Not as you serv'd 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.

      Enter CLEOPATRA, attended

      [To SCARUS] Give me thy hand-
      To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,
      Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o' th' 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, com'st thou smiling from
      The world's great snare uncaught?
      ANTONY. Mine 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
      Destroyed in such a shape.
      CLEOPATRA. I'll give thee, friend,
      An armour all of gold; it was a king's.
      ANTONY. He has deserv'd 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 our rattling tabourines,
      That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together
      Applauding our approach. Exeunt
ACT_4|SC_9
      SCENE IX.
      CAESAR'S camp

      Enter a CENTURION and his company; ENOBARBUS follows

      CENTURION. If we be not reliev'd within this hour,
      We must return to th' court of guard. The night
      Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle
      By th' second hour i' th' morn.
      FIRST WATCH. This last day was
      A shrewd one to's.
      ENOBARBUS. O, bear me witness, night-
      SECOND WATCH. What man is this?
      FIRST WATCH. Stand close and list him.
      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!
      CENTURION. Enobarbus?
      SECOND WATCH. Peace!
      Hark further.
      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]
      FIRST WATCH. Let's speak to him.
      CENTURION. Let's hear him, for the things he speaks
      May concern Caesar.
      SECOND WATCH. Let's do so. But he sleeps.
      CENTURION. Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his
      Was never yet for sleep.
      FIRST WATCH. Go we to him.
      SECOND WATCH. Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.
      FIRST WATCH. Hear you, sir?
      CENTURION. The hand of death hath raught him.
      [Drums afar off ] Hark! the drums
      Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
      To th' court of guard; he is of note. Our hour
      Is fully out.
      SECOND WATCH. Come on, then;
      He may recover yet. Exeunt with the body
ACT_4|SC_10
      SCENE X.
      Between the two camps

      Enter ANTONY and SCARUS, with their army

      ANTONY. Their preparation is to-day by sea;
      We please them not by land.
      SCARUS. For both, my lord.
      ANTONY. I would they'd fight i' th' fire or i' th' air;
      We'd 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_4|SC_11
      SCENE XI.
      Between the camps

      Enter CAESAR and his army

      CAESAR. But being charg'd, 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_4|SC_12
      SCENE XII.
      A hill near Alexandria

      Enter ANTONY and SCARUS

      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 ANTONY

      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 reveng'd 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 gypsy hath at fast and loose
      Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss.
      What, Eros, Eros!

      Enter CLEOPATRA

      Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!
      CLEOPATRA. Why is my lord enrag'd against his love?
      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 th'art 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' th' 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_4|SC_13
      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 th'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 th' 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 th' monument!
      Exeunt
ACT_4|SC_14
      SCENE XIV.
      CLEOPATRA'S palace

      Enter ANTONY and EROS

      ANTONY. Eros, thou yet behold'st me?
      EROS. Ay, noble lord.
      ANTONY. Sometime 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.
      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.
      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 moe, 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 lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled
      With thine entirely.
      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 discharg'd. 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 rend'red life,
      Thy name so buried in her.
      ANTONY. Dead then?
      MARDIAN. Dead.
      ANTONY. Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done,
      And we must sleep. That thou depart'st hence safe
      Does pay thy labour richly. Go. Exit MARDIAN
      Off, pluck off!
      The sevenfold 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?
      ANTONY. Since Cleopatra died,
      I have liv'd 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
      Th' inevitable prosecution of
      Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,
      Thou then wouldst kill me. Do't; the time is come.
      Thou strik'st 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?
      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 subdu'd
      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.
      ANTONY. Come, then; for with a wound I must be cur'd.
      Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn
      Most useful for thy country.
      EROS. O, sir, pardon me!
      ANTONY. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not then
      To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once,
      Or thy precedent services are all
      But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come.
      EROS. Turn from me then that noble countenance,
      Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.
      ANTONY. Lo thee! [Turning from him]
      EROS. My sword is drawn.
      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.
      ANTONY. 'Tis said, man; and farewell.
      EROS. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
      ANTONY. Now, Eros.
      EROS. Why, there then! Thus do I escape the sorrow
      Of Antony's death. [Kills himself
      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 a guard

      FIRST GUARD. What's the noise?
      ANTONY. I have done my work ill, 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!
      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
      ANTONY. Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword and give me
      Sufficing strokes for death.
      DIOMEDES. Most absolute lord,
      My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.
      ANTONY. When did she send thee?
      DIOMEDES. Now, my lord.
      ANTONY. Where is she?
      DIOMEDES. Lock'd in her monument. She had a prophesying fear
      Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw-
      Which never shall be found- you did suspect
      She had dispos'd with Caesar, and that your rage
      Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was dead;
      But fearing since how it might work, hath sent
      Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
      I dread, too late.
      ANTONY. Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.
      DIOMEDES. What, ho! the Emperor's guard! The guard, what ho!
      Come, your lord calls!

      Enter four or five of the guard of ANTONY

      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!
      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, hearing ANTONY ACT_4|SC_15
      SCENE XV.
      Alexandria. 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 DIOMEDES, below

      How now! Is he dead?
      DIOMEDES. His death's upon him, but not dead.
      Look out o' th' other side your monument;
      His guard have brought him thither.

      Enter, below, ANTONY, borne by the guard

      CLEOPATRA. O sun,
      Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in! Darkling stand
      The varying shore o' th' world. O Antony,
      Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian; help, Iras, help;
      Help, friends below! Let's draw him hither.
      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!
      ANTONY. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
      I here importune death awhile, until
      Of many thousand kisses the poor last
      I lay upon thy lips.
      CLEOPATRA. I dare not, dear.
      Dear my lord, pardon! I dare not,
      Lest I be taken. Not th' imperious show
      Of the full-fortun'd 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.
      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.
      Wishers were ever fools. O come, come,
      [They heave ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA]
      And welcome, welcome! Die where thou hast liv'd.
      Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,
      Thus would I wear them out.
      ALL. A heavy sight!
      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 huswife Fortune break her wheel,
      Provok'd by my offence.
      ANTONY. One word, sweet queen:
      Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!
      CLEOPATRA. They do not go together.
      ANTONY. Gentle, hear me:
      None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.
      CLEOPATRA. My resolution and my hands I'll trust;
      None about Caesar
      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 liv'd the greatest prince o' th' 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, [Antony dies]
      The crown o' th' 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. [Swoons]
      CHARMIAN. O, quietness, lady!
      IRAS. She's 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 nought;
      Patience is sottish, 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 hearing off ANTONY'S body
ACT_5|SC_1
      ACT V. SCENE I.
      Alexandria. CAESAR'S camp

      Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MAECENAS, GALLUS,
      PROCULEIUS, and others, his Council of War

      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 ANTONY

      CAESAR. Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar'st
      Appear thus to us?
      DERCETAS. I am call'd Dercetas;
      Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy
      Best to be serv'd. 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.
      CAESAR. What is't thou say'st?
      DERCETAS. I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.
      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.
      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.
      MAECENAS. His taints and honours
      Wag'd 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.
      MAECENAS. When such a spacious mirror's set before him,
      He needs must see himself.
      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-

      Enter an EGYPTIAN

      But I will tell you at some meeter season.
      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,
      Confin'd in all she has, her monument,
      Of thy intents desires instruction,
      That she preparedly may frame herself
      To th' way she's forc'd to.
      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 learn
      To be ungentle.
      EGYPTIAN. So the gods preserve thee! Exit
      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 her.
      PROCULEIUS. Caesar, I shall. Exit
      CAESAR. Gallus, go you along. Exit GALLUS
      Where's Dolabella, to second Proculeius?
      ALL. Dolabella!
      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_5|SC_2
      SCENE II.
      Alexandria. The monument

      Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN

      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 greetings 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 deceiv'd,
      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;
      Y'are 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' th' face.
      PROCULEIUS. This I'll report, dear lady.
      Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
      Of him that caus'd it.
      GALLUS. You see how easily she may be surpris'd.

      Here PROCULEIUS and two of the guard ascend the
      monument by a ladder placed against a window,
      and come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the guard
      unbar and open the gates

      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, [Disarms her]
      Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
      Reliev'd, 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
      Th' 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
      Worth 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 chastis'd 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-nak'd, 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 dreamt 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 heav'ns, 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 liv'd 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 dreamt of?
      DOLABELLA. Gentle madam, no.
      CLEOPATRA. You lie, up to the hearing of the gods.
      But if there be nor ever were one such,
      It's past the size of drearning. Nature wants stuff
      To vie strange forms with fancy; yet t' imagine
      An 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 pursu'd 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]
      [Within: 'Make way there-Caesar!']

      Enter CAESAR; GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MAECENAS, SELEUCUS,
      and others of his train

      CAESAR. Which is the Queen of Egypt?
      DOLABELLA. It is the Emperor, madam. [CLEOPATPA kneels]
      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.
      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' th' 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 sham'd our sex.
      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.
      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 reserv'd
      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.
      CAESAR. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
      Your wisdom in the deed.
      CLEOPATRA. See, Caesar! O, behold,
      How pomp is followed! 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 hir'd! 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!
      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 reserv'd,
      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 th' ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man,
      Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
      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.
      CAESAR. Cleopatra,
      Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
      Put we i' th' 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!
      CAESAR. Not so. Adieu.
      Flourish. Exeunt 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's 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 shall 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 we be enclouded,
      And forc'd 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' th' posture of a whore.
      IRAS. O the good gods!
      CLEOPATRA. Nay, that's certain.
      IRAS. I'll never see't, for I am sure mine nails
      Are stronger than mine eyes.
      CLEOPATRA. Why, that's the way
      To fool their preparation and to conquer
      Their most absurd intents.

      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.
      Exit IRAS. A noise within
      Wherefore's this noise?

      Enter a GUARDSMAN

      GUARDSMAN. 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 plac'd, 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 and CLOWN, with a basket

      GUARDSMAN. 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. Remember'st 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' th' worm. But he that will believe all that
      they say shall never be saved by half that they do. But this is
      most falliable, the worm's an odd worm.
      CLEOPATRA. Get thee hence; farewell.
      CLOWN. I wish you all joy of the worm.
      [Sets down the 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 the 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' th' 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 thus thou and nature can so gently part,
      The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
      Which hurts and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?
      If 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's 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 beguil'd.
      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 princes
      Descended of so many royal kings.
      Ah, soldier! [CHARMIAN 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 CAESAR and all his train

      DOLABELLA. O sir, you are too sure an augurer:
      That you did fear is done.
      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.
      CAESAR. Poison'd then.
      FIRST GUARD. O Caesar,
      This Charmian liv'd 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.
      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 th' aspic leaves
      Upon the caves of Nile.
      CAESAR. Most probable
      That so she died; for her physician tells me
      She hath pursu'd 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

THE END