Enter Antony and Canidius. Is't not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum, and Brundusium, He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, We may the number of our ships behold, [Exeunt. Enter Canidius, marching with his Land Army one And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, sweet? And so proceed accordingly. Cleo. Celerity is never more admir'd, Than by the negligent. Ant. 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. Way over the Stage; and Taurus, the Lieutenant of Cæsar, the other Way. After their going in, is heard the Noise of a Sea-fight. Alarum. Re-enter Enobarbus. Eno. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no [longer: Cleo. By sea! What else? The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, For he dares us to't. Can. Why will my lord do so? Ant. Eno. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: But these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; And so should you. Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd: Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepar'd for land. Ant. By sea, by sea. Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego Ant. I'll fight at sea. Cleo. I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better. Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full mann'd, from the head of Actium Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail, With all their sixty, fly, and turn the rudder; To see't, mine eyes are blasted. 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: O, he has given example for our flight, Most grossly, by his own. [night, Indeed. [Aside. Can. Towards Peloponnesus are they fled. Scar. "Tis easy to't; and there I will attend What further comes. Can. To Cæsar will I render My legions, and my horse; six kings already Eno. [Exeunt. SCENE IX. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. Enter Antony and Attendants, Ant. Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon't, Have lost my way for ever:-I have a ship And make your peace with Cæsar. Att. Fly! not we. Ant. I have fled myself; and have instructed cowards To run, and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone; My treasure's in the harbour, take it.-0, I blush to look upon: My very hairs do mutiny; for the white For fear and doting. Friends, be gone; you shall Have letters from me to some friends, that will Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad, Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint Which my despair proclaims; let that be left Which leaves itself: to the sea side straightway: I will possess you of that ship and treasure. Leave me, I pray, a little: 'pray you now:Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command, Therefore I pray you:-I'll see you by and by. [Sits down. Eros. Sir, sir, Ant. Yes, my lord, yes; -He, at Philippi, kept His sword even like a dancer; while I struck The lean and wrinkled Cassins; and 'twas I, That the mad Brutus ended he alone Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen. He is unqualitied with very shame. Cleo. Well then, Sustain me:-0! Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches; Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her; but Your comfort makes the rescue. Ant. I have offended reputation; A most unnoble swerving. Eros. Sir, the queen. Ant. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See, How I convey my shame out of thine eyes, By looking back on what I have left behind, 'Stroy'd in dishonour. Cleo. O my lord, my lord! Forgive my fearful sails; I little thought, You would have follow'd. Ant. Egypt, thou knew'st too well, My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings, Thy full supremacy thou knew'st; and that Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods Command me. Cleo. Ant. To the young man send humble treaties, dodge And palter in the shifts of lowness; who With half the bulk o'the world play'd as I pleas'd, Making, and marring fortunes. You did know, How much you were my conqueror; and that Obey it on all cause. Cleo. O pardon, pardon. Ant. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates All that is won and lost; Give me a kiss; Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster, Is he come back?-Love, I am full of lead:Some wine, within there, and our viands:-Fortune knows, We scorn her most, when most she offers blows. [Exeunt, SCENE X. Cæsar's Camp, in Egypt. Enter Cæsar, Dolabella, Thyreus, and others. Cæs. Let him appear that's come from Antony.Know you him? Cæsar, 'tis his schoolmaster: To let him breathe between the heavens and earth, Cæs. For Antony, Cæs. Bring him through the bands. [Exit Euphronius. To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Despatch; In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjure Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this? Eno. Antony only, that would make his will Lord of his reason. What although 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, And leave his navy gazing. Ant. To him again; Tell him, he wears the rose Of youth upon him; from which the world should note As i'the command of Cæsar I dare him therefore [Exeunt Antony and Euphronius. Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the show, Against a sworder. I see, men's judgments are A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward Do draw the inward quality after them, To suffer all alike. That he should dream, Knowing all measures, the full Cæsar will Answer his emptiness!-Cæsar, thou hast subdu'd His judgment too. 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!-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. 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. since Thou wast not made his daught and be thou sorry When my good stars, that were my former guides, My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has 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 Cæsar, 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, From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, Dissolve my life! The next Cæsarion smite 1 Ant. I am satisfied. Ant. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd, And fight maliciously for when mine hours Cleo. It is my birth-day; I had thought, to have held it poor; but, since my lord Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra. Ant. We'll yet do well. Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord. Ant. Do so, we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll [queen; force The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my [Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Attendants. SCENE I. Cæsar's Camp at Alexandria. Enter Cæsar, reading a Letter; Agrippa, Mecenas, and others. Cæs. He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power To beat me out of Egypt: my messenger He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal 2 Sold. Soldiers, Cæsar to Antony: Let the old ruffian know, [combat, Have careful watch. I have many other ways to die; mean time, Laugh at his challenge. Mec. Cæsar 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. Cæs. Let our best heads Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles [Exeunt. Be bounteous at our meal. Give me thy hand, Thou hast been rightly honest; -so hast thou; 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 4 Sold. Does't not? 3 Sold. 1 Sold. No. Under the earth. It signs well. Peace, I say. What should this mean? 2 Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd, Now leaves him. 1 Sold. Walk; let's see if other watchmen Do hear what we do. [They advance to another Post. 2 Sold. Sold. How now, masters? How now? do you hear this? 1 Sold. How now? [Several speaking together. Is't not strange? Ay; 3 Sold. Do you hear, masters? do you hear? 1 Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter; Let's see how't will give off. Sold. [Several speaking] Content: "Tis strange. [Exeunt. SCENE IV. The same. A Room in the Palace. And thou, and thou, and thou: you have serv'd Enter Antony and Cleopatra; Charmian and others, Early though it be, have on their riveted trim, Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends, And at the port expect you. You take me in too dolorous a sense: [Shout. Trumpets. Flourish. Go, charge Agrippa Is come into the field. Cas. Plant those that have revolted in the van, That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. [Exeunt Cæsar and his Train. On affairs of Antony; there did persuade Of which I do accuse myself so sorely, Eros. They are beaten, sir; and our advantage Let us score their backs, Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold I'll halt after. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII. Under the Walls of Alexandria. Alarum. Enter Antony, marching; Scarus and Forces. Ant. We have beat him to his camp; Run one before, And let the queen know of our guests. -To-morrow, Before the sun shail see us, 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 it 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. Give me thy hand; [To Scarus. Enter Cleopatra, attended. To this great fairy l'il commend thy acts, Ride on the pants triumphing. Cleo. Lord of lords! O infinite virtue! com'st thou smiling from The world's great snare uncaught? Ant. My nightingale, We have beat them to their beds. What, girl? though gray Do something mingle with our brown; yet have we Destroy'd in such a shape. Cleo. I'll give thee, friend, An armour all of gold; it was a king's. Ant. 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; [ther, [Exeunt. |