Enter a MESSENGER.

Mess. The emperor calls for Canidius.

[sar's

Scar. Gods, and goddesses, All the whole synod of them! Eno. What's thy passion?

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

Eno. How appears the fight?

Scar. On our side like the token'd & pestilence, Where death is sure. Yon' ribald-rid nag of Egypt,

Whom leprosy o'ertake! i'the midst o'the fight,-
When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,
The brize upon her, like a cow in June,
Hoists sails, and flies.

Eno. That I beheld: mine eyes
Did sicken at the sight on't, and could not
Endure a further view.

[lard

Scar. She once being loof'd, ** The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, Claps on his sea-wing, and like a doting malLeaving 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.

Eno. Alack, alack!

Enter CANIDIUS.

Can. 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 : Oh! he has given example for our flight, Most grossly, by his own.

Eno. Ay, are you thereabouts? Why then, good night

Indeed.
[Aside.
Can. Towards Peloponnesus are they fied.
Scar. 'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend
What further comes.

Can. To Cesar will I render

My legions and my horse; six kings already
Show me the way of yielding.

Eno. I'll yet follow

The wounded chance + of Antony, though my

reason

throes forth,

Each minute, some.

[Exeunt.

[Exeunt.

Eup. He says so.

Ant. Let her know it.

To the boy Cesar send this grizled head, And he will fill thy wishes to the brim With principalities.

Cleo. That head, my lord?

rose

Aut. To him again: Tell him, he wears the [note Of youth upon him; from which the world should Something particular: his coin, ships, legions, May be a coward's; whose minister would prevail

Under the service of a child, as soon

As i'the command of Cesar: 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. Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cesar will Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the show, Against a sworder.-1 see, men's judgments are A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward To draw the inward quality after them, To suffer all alike. That he should dream, Knowing all measures, the full Cesar will Answer his emptiness!-Cesar, thou hast subdu'd His judgment too.

Enter an ATTENDANT.

Att. A messenger from Cesar.
Cleo. 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.
Eno. Mine honesty and I begin to square. §
[Aside.

The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith mere folly :-Yet, he that can en lure
To follow with allegiance a fallen lord,
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i'the story.

Enter THYREUS.

Cleo. Cesar's will?

Thyr. Hear it apart.

Cleo. None but friends: say boldly, Thyr. So, haply, || are they friends to Antony. Eno. He needs as many, Sir, as Cesar has; Or needs not us. If Cesar please, our master Will leap to be his friend: For us, you know, Whose he is, we are; and that's Cesar's. Thyr. So.

Thus then, thou most renown'd! Cesar entreats, Not to consider in what case thou stand'st, Further than he is Cesar.

Cleo. Go on: Right royal.

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.

Cleo. What's your name?

Thyr. My name is Thyreus.
Cleo. Most kind messenger,

Say to great Cesar this, In disputation

I kiss his conqu'ring hand; tell, him, I am prompt

To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel: Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear The doom of Egypt.

Thyr. '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.

Cleo. Your Cesar'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.
Ant. Favours, by Jove that thunders!--
What art thou, fellow?

Thyr. One, that but performs

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have command obey'd.

Eno. You will be whipp'd.

Ant. Approach, there:-Ay, you hite!-Now gods and devils! [ho! Authority melts from me: Of late, when I cry'd, Like boys unto a muss, I kings would start forth, And cry, Your will? Have you no ears? I am

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

Ant. Moon and stars! [butaries Whip him-Were't twenty of the greatest triThat do acknowledge Cesar, 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.
Thyr. Mark Antony,-

Ant. Tug him away; being whipp'd,
Bring him again:-This Jack of Cesar's shall
Bear us an errand to him.-

[Exeunt ATTEND. 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 ? ||
Cleo. Good my lord,-

Ant. You have been a boggler ever :
But when we in our viciousness grow hard,

In our own filth drop our clear judginents; make us

Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we strut To our confusion.

Cleo. Wherefore is this?

Ant. 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!-Oh! that I were
Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar

The horned herd! for 1 have savage cause:
And to proclaim it civilly, were like

A halter'd neck, which does the hangman thank
For being yare about him.-Is he whipp'd?

Re-enter ATTENDANTS, with THYREUS.

1 Att. Soundly, my lord.

Ant. Cry'd he and begg'd he pardon? 1 Att. He did ask favour.

Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent Thon wast not made his daughter; and be thou To follow Cesar in his triumph, since [sorry Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: henceforth,

The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou to look on't.-Get thee back to Cesar,
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 tires
Into the abism of hell. If he mislike

My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has
Hipparchus, my enfranchis'd bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like, to quit me: Urge it thou:
Hence, with thy stripes, begone.

Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord. Ant. 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 ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and Attendants.

Eno. Now he'll out-stare 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

reason,

It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek Some way to leave him.

ACT IV.

on

[Exit.

Cleo. Have you done yet?
Ant. Alack, our terrene moon
Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone
The fall of Antony!

Cleo. I must stay his time.

Ant. To flatter Cesar, would you mingle eyes With one that ties his points?

Cleo. Not know me yet?

Ant. Cold-hearted toward me!
Cleo. Ah! dear, if I be so,

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
Dissolve my life! The next Cesarion 3 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!

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 is hope in it yet.

Cleo. That's my brave lord!

Ant. 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.

Cleo. It is my birth-day:

1 had thought to have held it poor; but, since my lord

Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

Ant. We'll yet do well.

Mec. Cesar 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.

Ces. 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 be done;
And feast the army: we have store to do't,
And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!
[Excunt.

SCENE II.--Alexandria.-A Room in the
Palace.

Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and others. Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius ? Eno. No.

Ant. Why should he not?

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,

He is twenty men to one.

Ant. To-morrow, soldier,

An Antony; that I might do you service,
So good as you have done.

Serv. The gods forbid !

Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight:

Scent not my cups; and make as much of me,
As when mine empire was your fellow too,
And suffer'd my command.

Cleo. What does he mean?

Eno. To make his followers weep.

Ant. 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 yieid + you for't!

Eno. What inean you, Sir,

To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep; And I, an ass, an onion-ey'd-for shame! Transform us not to women.

Ant. 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 :

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 l'il expect victorious life,
Than death and honour. Let's to supper; come
And drown consideration.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same.-Before the Palace.
Enter two SOLDIERS, to their Guard.

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

2 Sold. It will determine one way: fare you well.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? 1 Sold. Nothing: What news?

2 Sold. Belike, 'tis but a rumour:

Good night to you.

1 Sold. Well, Sir, good night.

Enter two other SOLDIERS.

2 Sold. Soldiers,

Have careful watch.

3 Sold. And you: Good night, good night. [The first two place themselves at their Posts.

4 Sold. Here we: [They take their Posts.]

and if to-morrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

Our landmen will stand up.

3 Sold. 'Tis a brave army,

And full of purpose.

said.

4 Sold. Peace, what noise ?

1 Sold. List, list!

2 Sold. Hark!

1 Sold. Music i'the air.

3 Sold. Under the earth.

4 Sold. It signs well,

Does't not?

3 Sold. No.

1 Sold. Peace, I say. What should this mean?

2 Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd,

Now leaves him.

[Kisses her.

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, OFFICERS, and SOLDIERS.

Char. Please you, retire to your chamber? He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cesar might Determine this great war in single fight! Then, Antony,-But now,-Well, on.

[Exeunt