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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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!

Erosmost 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

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

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 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 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

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-