CORNELL 
 
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 COLLECTION MADE BY 
 
 BENNO LOEWY 
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 CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
ell University Library 
 
 "74 1891 
 
 Antony & Cleopatra. 
 
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ANTONY 
 
 AND 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 DUPRAT & C° 
 
 M DCCC XCI 
 
Cornell Imoeraitg Siihrarg 
 
 Mjara, SJmb lurk 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 BENNO LOEWY LIBRARY 
 
 COLLECTED BY 
 
 BENNO LOEWY 
 
 1834-1919 
 BEQUEATHED TO CORNELL UNIVERSITY 
 
Antony and Cleopatra 
 
Copyright 1890, by Duprat & C°. 
 
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE 
 
 ANTONY & CLEOPATRA 
 
 WITH AN INTRODUCTION 
 
 W J. ROLFE 
 
 AND SEVENTEEN ILLUSTRATIONS 
 
 PAUL AVRIL 
 
 "~ST 
 
 NEW-YORK 
 
 DUPRAT & C° 
 1891 
 
 L?3 
 
 ■3< 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 BY W. J. ROLFE, Litt. D. 
 
 There are no portions of English and Roman history 
 that seem so real to us as those which Shakespeare has 
 made the subjects of his plays. « History », said Macaulay, 
 before he had written history, « should be a compound 
 of poetry and philosophy, impressing general truths on 
 the mind by a vivid representation of particular characters 
 and incidents » . The true poet, then, must be the best of 
 historians. He sees the mere facts or phenomena of the 
 past more clearly than other men do, and his penetrative 
 vision pierces yet deeper to the spiritual forces that work 
 out the phenomena; as the man of science sees the subtle 
 electricity behind the flash of the lightning and the roll of 
 the thunder. History, unless it be of the ideal type described 
 by Macaulay, merely writes the obituary of the dead 
 past; Poetry calls it back from the grave, and makes it live 
 again before our eyes. The moral lessons of history are 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. a 
 
II ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 made the more impressive by this vivid presentation. The 
 actual life appeals to our hearts as no « moral » tagged 
 on at the end of the written record of it possibly could. 
 " Shakespeare saw the life of the past with this penetrat- 
 ing poetic vision, and he reproduced it as perfectly as he 
 saw it It does not follow, as some have assumed, that he 
 knew the dry facts of history very thoroughly, as Bacon, 
 for instance, or Ben Jonson did. Ben Jonson wrote Roman 
 plays which, in minute attention to the details of the man- 
 ners and customs of the time, are far more scholarly and 
 accurate than Shakespeare's. He accompanies them with 
 hundreds of notes, giving classical quotations to illustrate 
 the action and the language. The work shows genuine 
 poetic power as well as laborious research; and yet the 
 result is far inferior to that of Shakespeare's less pedan- 
 tic treatment of kindred subjects. The latter knows less of 
 classical history and antiquities, but has a deeper insight 
 into human nature, which is essentially the same in all 
 ages. 
 
 Those who believe that Francis Bacon wrote the plays 
 ascribed to Shakespeare regard them as conspicuous illus- 
 trations of the classical learning of their author. The fact 
 is, they are conspicuous illustrations of his plentiful lack 
 of such learning. How is it then that the ignoramus outdoes 
 the scholar in setting the old Roman life truthfully before 
 us? How is it that the man of « small Latin » reproduces 
 Latin life and character with a skill to which his learned 
 friend and critic could never attain? As we have intimated, 
 it is simply because the inferior scholar is the superior 
 poet. Grant the combination of pre-eminent genius with 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA III 
 
 the « small Latin », and all is clear. Shakespeare's know- 
 ledge of man was almost superhuman; and as Agassiz 
 from a single scale could reconstruct the fish, so Shakes- 
 peare from a few rudimentary facts could recreate the 
 man or the people. His schoolboy lessons in Roman history 
 in the Stratford Grammar School, supplemented by his 
 later reading in a single volume, North's Plutarch, were 
 all that he needed, outside of himself, for the production 
 of Julius Cesar, and Antony and Cleopatra, and 
 Coriolanus. 
 
 These Roman plays were not written in immediate suc- 
 cession, nor in the chronological order of the events upon 
 which they are based. Julius Gesar, the second in the 
 historical sequence, was the first in the order of composi- 
 tion, having been written, as an allusion to it in Weever's 
 Mirror of Martyrs proves, before 1601, when that 
 book was printed. Antony and Cleopatra, though his- 
 torically in close connection with Julius Caesar, was prob- 
 ably not written until six or seven years after that play 
 — in 1607 or early in 1608 — and Coriolanus, earliest 
 in its history, was the last to be produced, the date of its 
 composition being fixed by the best critics between 1608 
 and 1610. It may have followed close upon Antony and 
 Cleopatra, or at an interval of one or more years. 
 
 The date mentioned for Antony and Cleopatra is 
 that agreed upon by nearly all the commentators. No one 
 of any note places it earlier than 1607, while Knight, 
 Verplanck, and Lloyd are the only ones who put it later 
 than 1608. The only piece of external evidence bearing 
 upon the question is the entry of an Antony and Cleo- 
 
IV ANTO-NY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 patra in the Stationers' Registers (equivalent to our mod- 
 ern registration for copyright) to Edward Blount on the 
 20th of May, 1608. There can be little doubt that this 
 was Shakespeare's play, since Blount, as one of the pub- 
 Ushers of the Folio in 162 3, re-entered if among the plays 
 for that volume which were « not formerly entered to 
 other men ». No edition having been brought out after 
 the entry in 160S, he. thus re-asserted his claim to the 
 copyright. It may be noted that « the booke of Pericles, 
 Prince of Tyre » , was 1 entered by Blount at the same 
 time with Antony and Cleopatra in 1608. No author's 
 name is given for either play in the entry, but Pericles 
 was published in quarto the following year with Shake- 
 speare's name on the title-page. 
 
 This external evidence to the date is strongly confirmed 
 by ihe internal evidence, drawn from metre and style, and 
 from the links that connect this play with others of the 
 same period in the poet's literary career. The critics who 
 count the « light endings », the « weak endings », and 
 other peculiarities of the verse, come to the same conclusion 
 with those who note the broader characteristics of style and 
 dramatic treatment, and with those who trace the develop- 
 ment of the author's mind and art as shown in the suc- 
 cession of the later tragedies. It is impossible to illustrate 
 this in detail within our present limits; but we cannot 
 refrain from quoting what Dowden has said on the relation 
 of the play to the other Roman plays and to Macbeth : 
 
 « The events of Roman history connect Antony and 
 Cleopatra immediately with Julius CjESAr; yet Shake- 
 speare allowed a number of years to pass, during which he 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA V 
 
 was actively engaged as author, before he seems to have 
 thought of his second Roman play. What is the significance 
 of this fact ? Does it not mean that the historical connec- 
 tion was now a connection too external and too material 
 to carry Shakespeare on from subject to subject, as it had 
 sufficed to do while he was engaged upon his series of 
 English historical plays? The profoundest concerns of the 
 individual soul were now pressing upon the imagination 
 of the poet. Dramas now written upon subjects taken from 
 history became not chronicles, but tragedies. The moral 
 interest was supreme. The spiritual material dealt with by 
 Shakespeare's imagination in the play of Julius C*sar 
 lay wide apart from that which forms the centre of the 
 Antony and Cleopatra. Therefore the poet was not 
 carried directly forward from one to the other. 
 
 But having in Macbeth (about 1606) studied the ruin 
 of a nature which gave fair promise in men's eyes of great- 
 ness and nobility, Shakespeare, it may be, proceeded directly 
 to a similar study in the case of Antony. In the nature 
 of Antony, as in the nature of Macbeth, there is a moral 
 fault or flaw, which circumstances discover and which in 
 the end works his destruction. In each play the pathos is of 
 the same kind, — i t lies in the gradual s evering of a man,^ 
 through the lust of power or through the lu st of pleasur e, 
 fli>oi,his^better^ self .By the side of Antony, as by Mac- 
 beth's side, there stood a terrible force in the form of a 
 woman, whose function it was to realize and ripen the un- 
 organized and undeveloped evil of his soul. Antony's sin 
 was an inordinate passion for enjoyment at the expense of 
 Roman virtue and manly energy; a prodigality of heart 
 
VI ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 a superb egoism. After a brief interval, Shakespeare 
 went on to apply his imagination to the investigating of 
 another form of egoism, — not the egoism of self-diffusion, 
 but of self-concentration. As Antony betrays himself and 
 his cause through his sin of indulgence and laxity, so Co- 
 riolanus does violence to his own soul and to his country 
 through his sin of haughtiness, rigidity, and inordinate 
 pride. Thus an ethical tendency connects these two plays, 
 which.are also connected in point of time; w hile Ant ony 
 and Cleopatra, although historically a continuation of 
 Jul^ uTs C juuah, stands, wparuKd fiwnll, bulk Tn thelhron- 
 ological order of Shakespeare's plays and in the logical 
 order assigned by successive developments of the conscience, 
 the intellect, and the imagination of the dramatist. » 
 
 In this, as in the other Roman plays, Shakespeare drew 
 his materials almost exclusively from Sir Thomas North's 
 translation of Bishop Amyot's French version of Plutarch's 
 Lives. Not only the main historical action, but also many 
 of the minor incidents, speeches, and touches of charac- 
 terization are taken from this source. As Trench remarks, 
 « we have in Plutarch not the framework or skeleton only 
 of the story, no, nor yet merely the ligaments and sinews, 
 but very much also of the flesh and blood wherewith these 
 are covered and clothed ». Gervinus has observed that 
 even single expressions and words, « such as one unac- 
 quainted with Plutarch would consider in form and manner 
 to be quite Shakespearian, and which have not unfrequen- 
 tly been quoted as his peculiar property », are not really 
 his but the old Greek biographer's. It is a curious illustra- 
 tion of this that Hazlitt cites, as a striking example of the 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA VII 
 
 imagination displayed by the poet, the passage in which 
 Cleopatra refers to her birthday (Act HI, scene i3): 
 
 It is my birthday : 
 I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my lord 
 Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra. 
 
 But this is taken from North : « From henceforth Cleo- 
 patra, to clear herself of the suspicion he had of her, 
 made more of him than ever she did. For first of all, 
 where (that is, whereas) she did solemnize the day of her 
 birth very meanly and sparingly, fit for her present mis- 
 fortune, she now, in contrary manner, did keep it with such 
 solemnity that she exceeded all measure of sumptuousness 
 and magnificence. » More than one critic has eulogized 
 « the high-hearted answer » of Charmian to the expostu- 
 lation of the Roman soldier in the final scene: 
 
 GUARD 
 
 What work is here! Charmian, is this well done? 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 It is well done, and fitting for a princess 
 Descended of so many royal kings. 
 
 But this also is from Plutarch, with slight alteration 
 except what is necessary to put it into verse : « One of the 
 soldiers seeing her, angrily said unto her : Is that well 
 done, Charmian ? — Very well, said she again, and meet 
 for a princess descended from the race of so many noble 
 kings. » 
 
 And yet, freely as the dramatist has drawn from the 
 ancient author, how insignificant after all is his real in- 
 debtedness to him! So far as the historical materials of 
 the play are concerned, he may owe to him, as Trench has 
 
VIII ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 said, not merely the skeleton, but the flesh that clothes it; 
 but when we compare the finished poetry with the borrowed 
 prose, the latter appears only as the dry bones which the 
 mighty magician has transformed into a living thing of 
 beauty and a joy forever. 
 
 The key-note of the play is struck in the opening speech. 
 Demetrius and Philo see and lament the enthrallment of 
 Antony by the Egyptian queen, and his indifference to his 
 reputation and responsibilities as a soldier and a Roman: 
 
 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'dlike 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, reneags all temper, 
 And is become the bellows and the fan 
 To cool a gypsy's lust — 
 
 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. 
 
 If this had be en made a formal p rologu e to the play, it 
 could hardly have been moz e. appropriate and significant 
 « B ehold and see » is the poet's apostrophe to the theatre 
 and to the world for all time. « Enter Antony and Cleo- 
 patra. » Behold and see the tragedy of their sin and their 
 
 The first utterances of the pair are an avowal of the 
 love that is to be their curse and ruin, — love lawless and 
 unrestrained, to which no bourn can be set while heaven 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA IX 
 
 and earth remain as they are. A messenger enters with 
 news from Rome; but news from his country and his home 
 « grates » the recreant triumvir and husband. Cleopatra, 
 however, would fain satisfy herself whether his « faith 
 unfaithful » continues « falsely true » in spite of possible 
 appeals from Octavius or Fulvia : . 
 
 Nay, hear them, Antony. 
 Fulvia perchance is angry ; or who knows 
 If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent 
 His powerful mandate to you, « Do this, or this; 
 Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; 
 Perform 't, or else we damn thee?... » 
 Perchance, — nay, and most like, — 
 You must not stay here longer, your dismission 
 Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony. 
 Where 's Fulvia's process? Caesar's, I would say? both? 
 Call in the messengers. — As I am Egypt's queen, 
 Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine 
 Is Caesar's homager; else so thy cheek pays shame 
 When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. 
 
 The sarcasm, like a poisoned arrow, goes straight to 
 the mark, and Antony, stung by the envenomed barb, 
 cries out : 
 
 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; when such a mutual pair 
 
 (Embracing), 
 
 And such a twain can do 't, in which I bind, 
 On pain of punishment, the world to weet 
 We stand up peerless. 
 
 The die is cast. Rome and Fulvia are repudiated fully 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. b 
 
X ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 and finally. The « soul's tragedy », as Browning would 
 have called it, is complete. The subjective ruin of the man 
 is consummated, and nothing remains but to show its 
 objective phenomena and results. The spasms of penitence 
 and remorse that he feels at times afterwards are but as 
 eddies in the swift and resistless current that sweeps him 
 onward and downward to his doom. 
 
 Antony is no new acquaintance in the Roman company 
 to whom Shakespeare introduces us. We have met and 
 known him in Julius C^sar, and some of the earliest allu- 
 sions to him in that play give us a hint of the moral taint 
 that in the end undoes him. Brutus sneers at the « quick 
 spirit » that is in Antony and makes him « gamesome ». 
 The wary and sagacious Cassius, who, as Csesar notes, is 
 « a great observer » and « looks quite through the deeds 
 of men », recognizes the real ability of the man, only the 
 more dangerous from his want of principle. But Brutus 
 sees only the profligate, « given to sports, to wildness, and 
 much company », who, rather than die for his friend 
 Csesar, will live and laugh at his fate. And so Antony, 
 contrary to the judgment of Cassius, is suffered to « outlive 
 Csesar ». But Cassius was right and Brutus was wrong, 
 as they both found out to their sorrow when Brutus — 
 again in the face of his politic fellow-conspirator's warn- 
 ing — gave Antony leave to « speak in Csesar's funeral ». 
 
 That famous oration displayed at once the strength and 
 the weakness of Antony. If it had been the honest, disin- 
 terested, patriotic utterance it professed and seemed to be, 
 it would have been as noble as it was able and brilliant; 
 but it was simply a superb piece of demagogism. The 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA XI 
 
 speech ends with the announcement of Csesar's gifts to the 
 plebeians in his will — the meanest but most effective 
 appeal that could be made to them. « Here was a Csesar » 
 indeed for them; « when comes such another? » But what 
 are almost the first words of this friend of the people when 
 he next appears on the stage ? 
 
 But, Lepidus, go you to Caesar's house ; 
 Fetch the will hither, and we shall determine 
 How to cut off some charge in legacies. 
 
 Caesar's eloquent executor will cheat the legatees of the* 
 dead Dictator to the utmost degree he can. The next 
 moment, when Lepidus has gone on this errand, Antony 
 says to Octavius : 
 
 This is a slight unmeritable man, 
 
 Meet to be sent on errands; is it fit, 
 
 The three-fold world divided, he should stand 
 
 One of the three to share it? 
 
 He goes on to plot against his partner, calling Lepidus 
 a mere ass, to be tolerated while he is useful as a beast of 
 burden, and then to be turned off, like the ass, « to shake 
 his ears and graze in commons ». We get only these casual 
 glimpses of Antony after the great scene in the forum, 
 but they all unite to illustrate the tricky man's utter lack 
 of principle. He is a profligate turned demagogue, just 
 ' as later we find him a demagogue turned profligate again. 
 He plays upon the Roman plebeians as upon a pipe by the 
 subtlety and sophistry of his oratory; but he himself be- 
 comes a pipe on which the Egyptian siren plays what tune 
 she will. 
 
XII ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Andj^j. A,ntany t m ■Shakespeare brings him before us, 
 is not entirely unatt ractive. Paul Stapfer aptly defines him 
 as « a noble nature destitute of moral sense » ; in Plu- 
 tarch « frankly despicable, and even positively odious, 
 while Shakespeare adds many happy and delicate touches 
 which render him, if not altogether lovable, at least an 
 interesting and wellnigh a beautiful character » . The dram- 
 atist, if not completely true to history, cannot be charged 
 with being actually false to it. As Trench has remarked, 
 the fact that the play starts from a late period of An- 
 tony's career « enables Shakespeare to leave wholly out of 
 sight, and this with no violation of historic truth, much 
 in the life of the triumvir which was wickedest and worst. 
 There are followers who cleave to him in his lowest estate, 
 even as there are fitful gleams and glimpses of generosity 
 which explain this fidelity of theirs; and when at the last 
 we behold him standing amid the wreck of fortunes and 
 the waste of gifts, the whole range of poetry offers no 
 more tragical figure than he is, few that arouse a deeper 
 pity. » 
 
 C leopatra^ by gener al consent of the critics, is the most 
 wonderful of all i> hakespeare's_ ieminine creations. As 
 Campbell the poet observes, « he paints her as if the gypsy 
 herself had cast her spell over him, and given her own 
 witchcraft to his pencil ». There may be more in this than 
 a figure of rhetoric. Courtenay, Gervinus, Massey, Ward, 
 Furnivail, Dowden and others agree in the opinion that 
 the « dark lady » of Shakespeare's Sonnets, « his own 
 fickle, serpent-like, attractive mistress y , may be to some 
 extent portrayed in the Egyptian queen. « May we 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA XIII 
 
 dare », asks Dowden, « to conjecture that Cleopatra, queen 
 and courtesan, black from « Phcebus' amorous pinches », 
 a « lass, unparalleled », has some kinship through the 
 imagination with the dark lady of the virginal? » Now 
 that we know almost' certainly who this dark lady was, 
 this conjecture becomes far more probable. Mr. Thomas 
 Tyler, in his book on the Sonnets {London, 1890), has 
 identified her as Mary Fitton, maid of honor (God save 
 the mark!) to Queen Elizabeth, and mistress of William 
 Herbert, afterwards Earl of Pembroke. From what we 
 learn of her, she had « strong passions conjoined with an 
 imperious, masterful will ». Mr. Tyler adds : « The 
 queenly commanding qualities of Mrs. Fitton are not to 
 be mistaken. Her character, in its strength, resembles 
 that of her royal mistress, who declared : « / have the 
 heart of a king, and of a king of England too. » She 
 could, as we learn from Mrs. Martin, « tuck up her 
 clothes, take off her head-dress, and, attired in a large 
 white cloak, march off, « as though she had been a man », 
 to meet the Earl of Pembroke outside the court ». This re- 
 minds us of Cleopatra when Antony invites her to « wan- 
 der through the streets » at night and « note the qualities 
 of people ». Compare the more detailed description of 
 Plutarch : « Sometime also, when he (Antony) would go 
 up and down the city disguised like a slave in the night, 
 and would peer into poor men's windows and their shops, 
 Cleopatra would also be in a chamber-maid's array, and 
 amble up and down the streets with him. » 
 
 Whence hast thou this becoming of things ill ? 
 
XIV ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Shakespeare asks the dark lady in the i Soth Sonnet. This 
 is like Antony's exclamation, 
 
 Fie, wrangling queen ! 
 Whom every thing becomes; 
 
 and the declaration of Enobarbus : 
 
 For vilest things 
 Become themselves in her, that the holy priests 
 Bless her when she is riggish. 
 
 The Sonnets would furnish many another point of resem- 
 blance between the English and the Egyptian courtesan, 
 if our present limits permitted us to follow out the com- 
 parison. 
 
 No critic has ever commented upon Cleopatra without 
 quoting the passage we all know by heart : 
 
 Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 
 Her infinite variety; 
 
 and therein lay the main secret of her fascination. The 
 wanton may have sensual charms and attractions in the 
 highest degree, but men are soon sated with these, and 
 tire of the charmer unless she have something of this versa- 
 tility which continually offers fresh allurements and new 
 forms of captivation. As Enobarbus says, 
 
 other women cloy 
 The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry 
 Where most she satisfies. 
 
 This recalls Hamlet's description of his mother : 
 
 Why she would hang on him 
 As if increase of appetite had grown 
 By what it fed on. 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA XV 
 
 Cleopatra had this rare gift of her sex in utmost perfec- 
 tion. It was the spell that had enthralled Pompey and 
 Csesar even in what she called her « salad days »; for, as 
 Plutarch says, « they knew her when she was but a young 
 thing, and knew not then what the world meant ». We 
 might wonder that now, at the mature age of thirty- 
 nine, she could retain the powers of fascination that she 
 possessed in the early bloom of womanhood; but, if she 
 had lost any personal graces that time could take away, 
 which is possible if not probable, the loss was more than 
 made up by what she had learned from long experience in 
 tJuarLof love. That which was at first an instinct or 
 impulse had indeed become an art with her, an art of mar- 
 vellous complexity, of indescribable subtlety. She had car- 
 ried it to a degree of refinement which a woman like 
 Charmian, though by no means a novice in this feminine 
 cunning, could hardly comprehend. Cleopatra knew how 
 to attract by repulsion, to allure by antagonism, to lash a 
 man into hotter love by taunts and jeers and sarcasms. 
 Charmian's philosophy is of a simpler sort, and even when 
 her royal mistress has laughed at it she is still disposed to 
 cling to it. 
 
 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. 
 
XVI ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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. 
 
 We see, in the scene with Antony which follows, how 
 perfectly the queen puts her theory into practice, how she 
 teases and torments and irritates her lover, and laughs at 
 his impotent wrath, bidding Charmian note 
 
 How this Herculean Roman does become 
 The carriage of his chafe. 
 
 But she knows when to stop; she does not, as Charmian 
 has feared she might, « tempt him so too far ». After she 
 has worried him almost past endurance, she suddenly 
 checks herself and bids him farewell with genuine and fas- 
 cinating tenderness : 
 
 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 ! 
 
 Verily, as Antony has said, « she is cunning past man's 
 thought » but not past woman's wit. And this cunning 
 is shown in almost infinitely varied ways. She can change 
 with every shifting mood of her lover, adapting herself to 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA XVII 
 
 his humor, or sway his mood at will, compelling him to 
 her own humor or caprice. She can outdo him in revelling 
 and debauchery. She can fool him to the top of his bent. 
 She can see through the petty tricks to which his vanity 
 tempts him, and turn the tables upon him by shrewder 
 tricks of the same kind which he does not suspect until he is 
 entrapped and laughed at. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 'T was 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 laughed 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. 
 
 The story of the fishing is told more at length by Plu- 
 tarch, who explains how Antony had provoked Cleopatra 
 to this practical joke, and it is, moreover, so characteristic 
 of the old biographer that it may well be quoted in full : 
 « On a time he went to angle for fish, and, when he could 
 take none, he was as angry as could be, because Cleopatra 
 stood by. Wherefore he secretly commanded the fisher- 
 men that, when he cast in his line, they should straight 
 dive under the water, and put a fish on his hook which they 
 had taken before: and so snatched up his angling-rod, 
 and brought up a fish twice or thrice. Cleopatra found 
 that is, detected) it straight, yet she seemed not to see it, 
 but wondered at his excellent fishing; but, when she was 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. c 
 
XVI 1 1 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 alone by herself among her own people, she told them how 
 it was, and bade them the next morning to be on the wa- 
 ter to see the fishing. A number of people came to the ha- 
 ven, and got into the fisher-boats to see this fishing. Anto- 
 nius then threw in his line, and Cleopatra straight 
 commanded one of her men to dive under water before 
 Antonius's men, and to put some old salt fish upon his 
 bait, like unto those that are brought out of the country of 
 Pont. When he had hung the fish on his hook, Antonius 
 thinking he had taken a fish indeed, snatched up his line 
 presently. Then they all fell a-^laughing. » 
 
 ,But the tragedy follows hard upon the heels of the com- 
 edy. Octavius is at hand, and Antony must fight with 
 him — « by sea », says Cleopatra; and « by sea, by 
 sea )>, Antony echoes and insists, in the face of warnings 
 from his officers not to throw away « the absolute soldier- 
 ship » he has by land and give himself up « merely to chance 
 and hazard ». The result confirms their worst forebodings. 
 Cleopatra's galleys take flight, and 
 
 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 
 
 Fortune is afterward transiently retrieved on land; but 
 disaster and defeat, final and hopeless, soon follow. An- 
 tony ascribes this disgrace to treachery on the part of his 
 mistress and ally, and is ready to kill her for betraying 
 him to Octavius. She flees from his rage, and feigns her- 
 self dead, in the hope that it may turn his wrath to pity 
 and remorse : 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA XIX 
 
 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 deat-h. 
 
 It is the first of her wiles that fails by going too far. It 
 accomplishes its purpose only too well; for Antony, in the 
 agony and desperation of his grief, resolves to die also: 
 
 I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and 
 Weep for my pardon. 
 
 He falls, « a Roman by a Roman valiantly vanquished »; 
 and she in turn determines to die after « the high Roman 
 fashion ». She is « studied in her death », as ever in her 
 life. She will make the fell destroyer « proud to take her », 
 greeting him « like a queen » in her « best attires ». Nor 
 shall her beauty suffer stain or diminution as she goes 
 « again to meet Mark Antony ». The « pretty worm of 
 Nilus that kills and pains not » shall bring her liberty, 
 and, like a baby at her breast, suck the nurse asleep. While 
 she lapses to this welcome slumber, « as sweet as balm, as 
 soft as air, as gentle », murmuring the name of « An- 
 tony », her crown is turned awry ; but Charmian, who is 
 dying with her mistress, spends her last remnant of life 
 and strength in setting it right again, — so that, when 
 Csesar comes too late to save her, he can only say : 
 
 She looks like sleep, 
 As she would catch another Antony 
 In her strong toil of grace. 
 
 The character of Cleopatra has been admirably summed 
 up by Henry Giles: « Wonderful she is in her grand and 
 
XX ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 dazzling loveliness. Full of soul, full of power, and full of 
 poetry, she is the very majesty of voluptuousness; she could 
 beat Antony himself in the' strength and endurance of ca- 
 rousal. Ambitious, yet sensuous; cunning, yet intellect- 
 ual; insidious, yet bold; high and daring in her aims, she 
 contrives to combine politics with pleasure. Keen in her 
 understanding, yet gorgeous in her imagination, she knew 
 how to conceal a plan within a pageant, and her pageant- 
 ry was the pageantry of a goddess. Vehement as she was 
 subtle, her pleasures were as ocean-tides; they surged up 
 from the dark depths of her impassioned soul. Daughter of 
 the Ptolemies, queen of olden and mystic Egypt, with the 
 rich genius of Greece and the hot blood of Africa, she was 
 at once poetess, sovereign and enchantress; grace, minglea 
 with force, concealed the grossness of her excess; something 
 of the artistic entered into the wildest extravagance of her 
 luxuries; even in her vices she was brilliant and imperial. 
 It was meet that her lovers should be masters of the world; 
 with no lower suitors would imagination be content to mate 
 her. If she must bend her sceptre to the sword of Cxsar, 
 it was still right that he shouldbow his head to the royalty 
 of her beauty; his was the victory of force, hers of fasci- 
 nation; he was strong in his legions, she was strong in 
 herself; he conquered the world, and she conquered him. 
 The august and godlike Julius humbled himself before her. 
 The impetuous and magnificent Antony became a mere 
 child to her command. What measure shall we find for 
 that combination of womanly witchery and womanly ge- 
 nius, the result of which we observe in the subjugation of 
 two such men as haughty Julius and inconstant Antony? 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA XXI 
 
 It required the mind of Shakespeare properly io conceive it, 
 and by Shakespeare only it has sufficiency of expression. » 
 
 And we may note moreover, with Mrs. Jameson, that, 
 while « he alone has dared to exhibit the Egyptian queen 
 with all her greatness and all her littleness », he has yet 
 « preserved the dramatic propriety and poetical coloring 
 of the character, and awakened our piiy for fallen grand- 
 eur, without once beguiling . us into sympathy with 
 guilt or error ». 
 
 Of the other characters in the play Enobarbus is perhaps 
 the most interesting, both personally and dramatically . 
 He is a genuine soldier of the old Roman type, a plain, 
 blunt man, who, as Hudson has pointed out, is made use 
 of by Shakespeare to « serve the office of a chorus in the 
 play, to interpret between the author and his audience ». 
 He is thus « at once a character and a commentary ». 
 Gervinus pays a tribute to his dry humor, but shows him- 
 self amusingly blind to a conspicuous example of this hu- 
 mor, — where, upon Cleopatra's declaring to Thy reus that 
 her « honor was not yielded, but conquered merely » — a 
 falsehood as brazen as it was transparent — Enobarbus 
 says aside : « To be sure of that, I will ask Antony. » 
 One would suppose that the irony of this .was as obvious 
 as the mendacity that provokes it; but the German critic 
 takes it in all seriousness. According to him, what Cleo- 
 patra says to Thyreus .seems to Enobarbus « so earnest 
 and true that he questions his lord about it » / 
 
 The death of Enobarbus from shame and remorse — 
 he does not kill himself — proves the innate nobility of 
 the man. Indeed, as Paul Stopfer observes, « his figure 
 
 > 
 
XXII ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 is by far the noblest in the tragedy among those that have 
 more than a shadowy existence; for Eros and Octavia, 
 two other beautiful apparitions, only pass and disappear » . 
 What is the « moral » of the great tragedy ? It is that 
 of the dramatist's own entanglement with the lesser Cleo- 
 patra of the Sonnets, which escaped being a « soul's trag- 
 edy » only because Shakespeare was not a lesser Antony; 
 and it is written in the i 29^ Sonnet : 
 
 The expense of spirit in a waste of shame 
 
 Is lust in action; and till action, lust 
 
 Is perjur'd, murtherous, bloody, full of blame, 
 
 Savage, extreme, rude, cruel, not to trust, 
 
 Enjoy'd no sooner but despised straight, 
 
 Past reason hunted, and no sooner had 
 
 Past reason hated, as a swallow'd bait 
 
 On purpose laid to make the taker mad; 
 
 Mad in pursuit and in possession so; 
 
 Had, having, and in quest to have, extreme; 
 
 A bliss in proof, and prov'd, a very woe; 
 
 Before, a joy propos'd; behind, a dream. 
 
 All this the world well knows ; yet none knows well 
 
 To shun the heaven that leads men to this hell. 
 
 Shakespeare descended into that hell, but made his way 
 out again, wiser and stronger for the experience; Antony 
 sank into its black depths, and was seen no more. 
 
Antony and Cleopatra 
 
DRAMATIS PERSONS 
 
 Triumvirs. 
 
 Friends to Antony. 
 
 Mark Antony, 
 Octavius Cesar, 
 M. ^Emilius Lepidus, 
 Sextus Pompeius. 
 
 DoMITIUS ENOBARBUS, 
 
 Ventidius, 
 Eros, 
 
 SCARUS, 
 
 Dercetas, 
 Demetrius, 
 Philo, 
 Megenas, 
 
 ACRIPPA, 
 
 dolabella, 
 
 Proculeius, 
 
 Thyreus, 
 
 Gallus, 
 
 Menas, 
 
 Menecrates, 
 
 Varrius, r 
 
 Taurus, lieutenant-general to Caesar. 
 
 Canidius, lieutenant-general to Antony. 
 
 Silius, an officer in Ventidius's army. 
 
 Euphronius, an ambassador from Antony to Caesar. 
 
 Alexas, 
 
 Mardian, a Eunuch, 
 
 Seleucus, 
 
 DlOMEDES, 
 
 A Soothsayer. 
 A Clown. 
 
 Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt. 
 
 Octavia, sister to Caesar and wife to Antony. 
 
 Charmian, ) , 
 
 i Attendants on Cleopatra. 
 
 Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants. 
 
 Friends to Caesar. 
 
 Friends to Pompey. 
 
 Attendants on Cleopatra. 
 
 Scene : In several parts of the Roman empire. 
 
ACT I, SCENE III 
 
ACT I 
 
 SCENE I 
 
 Alexandria. — A room in Cleopatra's palace 
 Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO. 
 
 PHILO 
 
 Nay, but this dotage of our general's 
 
 O'erflows the measure : those his goodly eyes , 
 
 That o'er the files and musters of the war 
 
 Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn, 
 
 The office and devotion of their view 
 
 Upon a tawny front : his captain's heart, 
 
 Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst 
 
 The buckles on his breast, reneags all temper, 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. i 
 
2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 '11 set a bourn how far to be belov'd. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth. 
 Enter an ATTENDANT. 
 
 ATTENDANT 
 
 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 powerful mandate to you, Do this, or this ; 
 
 Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that ; 
 
ACT I, SCENE I 3 
 
 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 Cassar ; 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 ; when such a mutual pair 
 
 Embracing. 
 
 And such a twain can do 't, in which I bind, 
 On pain of punishment, the world to wit 
 We stand up peerless. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Excellent falsehood ! 
 Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? 
 I '11 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, 
 
4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 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 every thing 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 '11 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 their 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. 
 
ACT I, SCENE II 5 
 
 SCENE II 
 
 The Same. — Another Room 
 
 Enfer CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a SOOTHSAYER. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing Alexas, 
 almost most absolute Alexas, where 's the soothsayer 
 that you 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. 
 
6 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 mar- 
 ried 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. 
 
ACT I, SCENE II 7 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 O excellent! I love long life better than figs. 
 
 SOOTHSAYER 
 
 You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune 
 Than that which is to approach. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Then belike my children shall have no names : pri- 
 thee, 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 '11 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. 
 
8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostica- 
 tion, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee, tell her but a 
 work-a-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, 
 fifty-fold a cuckold 1 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 heart-breaking to see a handsome man 
 
ACT 1, SCENE 11 9 
 
 loose-wiv'd, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul 
 knave uncuckolded : therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, 
 and fortune him accordingly! 
 
 CHARM IAN 
 
 Amen. 
 
 ALEXAS 
 
 Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to make me a cuck- 
 old, they would make themselves whores, but they 'Id 
 do't! 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Hush ! here comes Antony. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Not he ; the Queen. 
 
 Enter CLEOPATRA. 
 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? 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 2 
 
io ANTONY AND CLEOgATRA 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Seek him, and bring him hither. Where 's Alexas? 
 
 ALEXAS 
 
 Here, at your service. My lord approaches. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 We will not look upon him : go with us. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Enter ANTONY with a MESSENGER and ATTENDANTS. 
 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. 'T is thus ; 
 Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, 
 I hear him as he flatter'd. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Labienus — 
 
ACT I, SCENE II i 
 
 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 license 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. 
 
I2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Enter another MESSENGER. 
 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 a letter 
 ANTONY 
 
 Forbear me. 
 
 Exit sec. messenger 
 
 There 's a great spirit gone ! Thus did I desire it : 
 What our contempt doth often hurl from us, 
 We wish it ours again ; the present pleasure, 
 By revolution 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. 
 
ACT I, SCENE II i3 
 
 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, be- 
 tween 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 shower 
 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. 
 
i 4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Fulvia is dead. 
 
 Sir? 
 
 Fulvia is dead. 
 
 Fulvia ! 
 
 Dead. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 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; comfort- 
 ing 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 conso- 
 lation ; 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 
 
ACT I, SCENE II ,5 
 
 Have notice what we purpose. I shall break 
 
 The cause of our expedience to the Queen, 
 
 And get her leave to part. For not alone 
 
 The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, 
 
 Do strongly speak to us ; but the letters too 
 
 Of many our contriving friends in Rome 
 
 Petition us at home : Sextus Pompeius 
 
 Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands 
 
 The empire of the sea : our slippery people, 
 
 Whose love is never link'd to the deserver 
 
 Till his deserts are past, begin to throw 
 
 Pompey the Great and all his dignities 
 
 Upon his son ; who, high in name and power, 
 
 Higher than both in blood and life, stands up 
 
 For the main soldier : whose quality, going on, 
 
 The sides o' 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 
 
 The same. — Another room 
 
 Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Where is he ? 
 
i6 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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. 
 But here comes Antony. 
 
 Enter 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 : 
 
ACT I, SCENE III , 7 
 
 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 't is 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, — 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 3 
 
r8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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, 
 
ACT I, SCENE III i 
 
 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 the advice. By the fire 
 That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence 
 Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war 
 As thou affect'st. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Cut my lace, Charmian,come; 
 But let it be : I am quickly ill, and well, 
 So Antony loves. . 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 My precious queen, forbear ; 
 And give true evidence to his love, which stands 
 An honourable trial. 
 
2o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 '11 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 '11 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 
 
ACT I, SCENE 111 
 
 Holds idleness your subject, I should take you 
 For idleness itself. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 'T is 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'd 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, go'st yet with me, 
 And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. 
 Away! 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE IV 
 
 Rome. — Cesar's house 
 
 Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, reading a letter, 
 LEPIDUS, and their TRAIN 
 
 C/ESAR 
 
 You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, 
 It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate 
 Our great competitor : from Alexandria 
 
22 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 
 Vouchsafd 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 You are too indulgent. Let us grant, it is not 
 
 Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy ; 
 
 To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit 
 
 And keep the turn of tippling with a slave ; 
 
 To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet 
 
 With knaves that smell of sweat : say this becomes him, — 
 
 As his composure must be rare indeed 
 
 Whom these things cannot blemish, — yet must Antony 
 
 No way excuse his soils, when we do bear 
 
 So great weight in his lightness. If he fill'd 
 
 His vacancy with his voluptuousness, 
 
 Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones, 
 
 Call on him for 't : but to confound such time. 
 
 That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud 
 
 As his own state and ours, — 't is to be chid 
 
ACT I, SCENE IV 2 3 
 
 As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge, 
 Pawn their experience to their present pleasure, 
 And so rebel to judgement. 
 
 Enter a MESSENGER 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Here 's more news. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Thy biddings have been done; and every hour, 
 Most noble Cassar, shalt thou have report 
 How 't is abroad. Pompey is strong at sea ; 
 And it appears he is belov'd of those 
 That only have fear'd Cassar : to the ports 
 The discontents repair, and men's reports 
 Give him much wrong'd. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 I should have known no less. 
 It hath been taught us from the primal state, 
 That he which is was wish'd until he were ; 
 And the ebb'd man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love, 
 Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body, 
 Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, 
 Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, 
 To rot itself with motion. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Caesar, I bring thee word, 
 Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, 
 Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound 
 With keels of every kind : many hot inroads 
 
a 4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 They make in Italy; the borders maritime 
 Lack blood to think on 't, and flush youth revolt: 
 No vessel can peep forth, but 't is as soon 
 Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more 
 Than could his war resisted. 
 
 CyESAR 
 
 Antony, 
 Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once 
 Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st 
 Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel 
 Did famine follow ; whom thou fought'st against, 
 Though daintily brought up, with patience more 
 Than savages could suffer : thou didst drink 
 The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle 
 Which beasts would cough at : thy palate then did deign 
 The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; 
 Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, 
 The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the Alps 
 It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, 
 Which some did die to look on : and all this — 
 It wounds thine honour that I speak it now — 
 Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek 
 So much as lank'd not. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 'T is pity of him. 
 
 CvESAR ' 
 
 Let his shames quickly 
 
 Drive him to Rome : 't is time we twain 
 
 Did show ourselves i' th' field; and to that end 
 
ACT I, SCENE IV 
 
 Assemble we immediate council : Pompey 
 Thrives in our idleness. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 To-morrow, Cassar, 
 I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly 
 Both what by sea and land I can be able 
 To front this present time. 
 
 C/ESAR 
 
 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Doubt not, sir; 
 I knew it for my bond. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE V 
 
 Alexandria. — Cleopatra's palace 
 
 Enkr CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS 
 and MARDIAN 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Charmian ! 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Madam? 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 
 
2 6 ANTONY'AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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, 't is treason ! 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Madam, I trust, not so. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Thou, eunuch Mardian ! 
 
 MARDIAN 
 
 What 7 s your highness' pleasure ? 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Not now to hear thee sing ; I take no pleasure 
 In aught an eunuch has : 't is 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 : 
 
ACT I, SCENE V i 7 
 
 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 medicine hath 
 With his tinct gilded thee. 
 How goes it with my brave Mark Antony? 
 
2 8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 sqberly did mount an arm-girt steed, 
 Who neigh'd so high, that what Lwould have spoke 
 Was beastly dumb'd by him. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 What, was he sad or merry ? 
 
 ALEXAS 
 
 Like to the time o 1 the year between the extremes 
 Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 O well-divided disposition ! Note him, 
 
 Note him, good Charmian, 't is 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, 
 
ACT I, SCENE V 
 
 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 Cassar 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 Ca;sar 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 judgement : cold in blood, 
 
3o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 To say as I said then! But, come, away; 
 Get me ink and paper : 
 He shall have every day a several greeting, 
 Or I '11 unpeople Egypt. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
ACT II, SCENE V 
 

 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 
 
3 2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 The thing we sue for. 
 
 MENECRATES 
 
 We, ignorant of ourselves, 
 Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers 
 Deny us for our good : so find we profit 
 By losing of our prayers. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 I shall do well : 
 The people love me, and the sea is mine; 
 My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope 
 Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony 
 In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make 
 No wars wjthout doors : Cassar 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? 't is 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 
 
ACT II, SCENE I 33 
 
 Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite; 
 
 That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour 
 
 Even till a Lethe'd dulness ! 
 
 Enter VARRIUS. 
 
 How now, Varrius! 
 
 VARRIUS 
 
 This is most certain that I shall deliver : 
 Mark Antony is every hour in Rome 
 Expected : since he went from Egypt 't is 
 A space for further travel. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 I could have given less matter 
 A better ear. Menas, I did not think 
 This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm 
 For such a petty war : his soldiership 
 Is twice the other twain : but let us rear 
 The higher our opinion, that our stirring 
 Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck 
 The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony. 
 
 MENAS 
 
 I cannot hope 
 Caesar and Antony shall well greet together : 
 His wife that 's dead did trespasses to Caesar; 
 His brother warr'd"apon 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, 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 5 
 
3 4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 'T were 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. — A Room in the house of Lepidus 
 
 Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 Good Enobarbus, 't is 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 Cassar 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 
 
 'T is not a time 
 For private stomaching. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Every time 
 
ACT II, SCENE II 35 
 
 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 C£SAR, MECjENAS and AGRIPPA. 
 ANTONY 
 
 If we compose well here, to Parthia : 
 Hark, Ventidius. 
 
 C^SAR 
 
 I do not know, 
 Mecasnas ; ask Agrippa. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Noble friends, 
 That which combined us was most great, and let not 
 A leaner action rend us. What 's amiss, 
 May it be gently heard : when we debate 
 Our trivial difference loud, we do commit 
 Murther in healing wounds : then, noble partners, 
 The rather, for I earnestly beseech, 
 
36 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, 
 Nor curstness grow to the matter. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 'T is spoken well. 
 Were we before our armies, and to fight, 
 I should do thus. 
 
 Flourish. 
 CiESAR 
 
 Welcome to Rome. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Thank you. 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 Sit. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Sit, sir. 
 
 CJESAR 
 
 Nay, then. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 I learn, you take things ill which are not so, 
 Or being, concern you not. 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 I must be laugh'd at, 
 If, or for nothing or a little, I 
 Should say myself offended, and with you 
 Chiefly i' th' world ; more laugh'd at, that I shouid -= 
 Once name you derogately, when to sound your name 
 It not concern'd me. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 My being in Egypt, Csesar,- 
 What was 't to you ? 
 
ACT 11, SCENE II 3 7 
 
 CESAR 
 
 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? 
 
 CJESAR 
 
 You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent 
 By what did here befal me. Your wife and brother 
 Made wars upon me; and their contestation 
 Was theme for you, you were the word of war. 
 
 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 '11 patch a quarrel, 
 
 As matter whole you have not to make it with, 
 
 It must not be with this. 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 You praise yourself 
 By laying defects of judgement 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, 
 
38 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Very necessity of this thought, that I, 
 
 Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought, 
 
 Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars 
 
 Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, 
 
 I would you had her spirit in such another : 
 
 The third o' the world is yours; which with a snaffle 
 
 You may pace easy, but not such a wife. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Would we had all such wives, that the men might 
 go to wars with the women ! 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 So much uncurbable her garbbils, 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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. 
 
ACT II, SCENE 11 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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. v 
 
 CitSAR 
 
 To lend me arms and aid when I required them ; 
 The which you both denied. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Neglected, rather; 
 And then when poison'd hours had bound me up 
 From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may, 
 I '11 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 
 
 'T is noble spoken. 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 If it might please you, to enforce no further 
 
4 o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 The griefs between ye : to forget them quite 
 Were to remember that the present need 
 Speaks to atone you. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Worthily spoken, Mecasnas. 
 
 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. 
 
 CiESAR 
 
 I do not much dislike the matter, but 
 
 The manner of his speech; for 't cannot be 
 
 We shall remain in friendship, our conditions 
 
 So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew 
 
 What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge 
 
 O' th' world I would pursue it. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Give me leave, Caesar, — 
 
 C*SAR 
 
 Speak, Agrippa. 
 
ACT II, SCENE II 4 , 
 
 \ 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Thou hast a sister by the mother's side, 
 Admir'd Octavia : great Mark Antony 
 Is now a widower. 
 
 CjESAR. 
 
 Say not so, Agrippa : 
 If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof 
 Were well deserved 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 't is a studied, not a present thought, 
 
 By duty ruminated. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Will Caesar speak? 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 6 
 
4 2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CjESAR. 
 
 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 ? 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 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 ! 
 
 CESAR 
 
 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; 
 
ACT II, SCENE II 4 3 
 
 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 ? 
 
 CJESAR 
 
 About the mount Misenum. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 What is his strength by land? 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 With most gladness ; 
 And do invite you to my sister's view, 
 Whither straight I '11 lead you. 
 
 / ANTONY 
 
 Let us, Lepidus, 
 Not lack your company. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Noble Antony, 
 Not sickness should detain me. 
 
 Flourish. Exeunt Caesar, Antony and Lepidus. 
 
44 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 MEC£NAS 
 
 Welcome from Egypt, sir. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecaenas ! My 
 honourable friend, Agrippa! 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Good Enobarbus! 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 We have cause to be glad that matters are so well 
 digested. You stayed well by 't in Egypt. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and 
 made the night light with drinking. 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 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 deser- 
 ved noting. 
 
 MEC^NAS 
 
 She 7 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 appeared indeed; or my reporter devis'd 
 well for her. 
 
ACT II, SCENE II 4 5 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 I will tell you. 
 
 The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne, 
 
 Burn'd on the water : the poop was beaten gold ; 
 
 Purple the sails, and so perfumed that 
 
 The winds were love-sick with them ; the oars were silver, 
 
 Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made 
 
 The water which they beat to follow faster, 
 
 As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, 
 
 It beggar'd all description : she did lie 
 
 In her pavilion — cloth-of-gold of tissue — 
 
 O'er-picturing that Venus where we see 
 
 The fancy outwork nature : on each side her 
 
 Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, 
 
 With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem 
 
 To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, 
 
 And what they undid did. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 O, rare for Antony ! 
 
 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, 
 Enthroned i' th' market-place, did sit alone, 
 
46 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 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 plough'd 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, power breathe forth. 
 
 MEC£NAS 
 
 Now Antony must leave her utterly. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Never ; he will not : 
 
 Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 
 
 Her infinite variety : other women cloy 
 
ACT II, SCENE II 47 
 
 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. 
 
 MEC&NAS 
 
 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 
 
 The same. — Cesar's house 
 
 Enter ANTONY, CESAR, OCTAVIA between them, 
 and ATTENDANTS. 
 
 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. 
 
48 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Good night, sir. My Octavia, 
 Read not my blemishes in the world's report : 
 I have not kept my square; but that to come. 
 Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady. 
 Good night, sir. 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 Good night. 
 
 Exeunt Cssar 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 demon, that 's thy spirit which keeps thee, is 
 
 Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, 
 
ACT 11, SCENE 111 
 
 Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel 
 Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd : therefore 
 Make space 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, 't is 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, 
 P th' east my pleasure lies. 
 
 Enter VENTIDIUS. 
 
 O, come, Ventidius, 
 You must to Parthia : your commission 's ready; 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 7 
 
 49 
 
5o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Follow me, and receive 't. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE IV 
 
 The same. — A street 
 Enter LEPIDUS, MECjENAS 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 '11 follow. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress, 
 Which will become you both, farewell. 
 
 MEC/ENAS 
 
 We shall, 
 As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount 
 Before you, Lepidus. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Your way is shorter ; 
 My purposes do draw me much about : 
 You '11 win two days upon me. 
 
 MECSNAS, AGRIPPA 
 
 Sir, good success ! 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Farewell. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
ACT II, SCENE V 5! 
 
 SCENE V 
 
 Alexandria. — Cleopatra's palace 
 Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS and ALEXAS. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Give me some music; music, moody food 
 Of us that trade in love. 
 
 ATTENDANTS 
 
 The music, ho! 
 Enter MARDIAN 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 '11 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 '11 none now : 
 Give me mine angle; we '11 to the river : there, 
 My music playing far off, I will betray 
 Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce 
 Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, 
 
5 2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 I '11 think them every one an Antony, 
 And say « Ah, ha! you 're caught ». 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 'T was merry when 
 You wager'd on your angling; when your diver 
 Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he 
 With fervency drew up. 
 
 CLEOPATRA ' 
 
 That time, — O times ! — 
 I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night 
 I laugh'd him into patience : and next morn, 
 Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed; 
 Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst 
 I wore his sword Philippan. 
 
 Enter a MESSENGER. 
 
 O, from Italy ! 
 Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, 
 That long time have been barren. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Madam, madam, — 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Antonius dead ! — If thou say so, villain, 
 Thou kill'st thy mistress : but well and free, 
 If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here 
 My bluest veins to kiss ; a hand that kings 
 Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 First, madam, he is well. 
 
ACT II, SCENE V 53 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Why, there 's more gold. 
 But, sirrah, mark, we use 
 To say the dead are well : bring it to that, 
 The gold I give thee will I melt and pour 
 Down thy ill-uttering throat. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Good madam, hear me. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Well, go to, I will; 
 But there 's no goodness in thy face : if Antony 
 Be free and healthful, — so tart a favour 
 To trumpet such good tidings ! If not well, 
 Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes, 
 Not like a formal man. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Will 't please you hear me ? 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st : 
 Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well, 
 Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, 
 I '11 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 Cassar. 
 
5 4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Thou 'rt an honest man. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Cassar 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. 
 
ACT II, SCENE V 55 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Good madam, patience. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 What say you? Hence, 
 
 Strikes him again. 
 
 Horrible villain ! or I '11 spurn thine eyes 
 Like balls before me; I '11 unhair thy head : 
 
 She hales him up and down. 
 
 Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine, 
 Smarting in lingering pickle. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 Gracious madam, 
 I that do bring the news made not the match. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Say 't is 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 '11 run. 
 What mean you, madam ? I have made no fault. 
 
 Exit. 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Good madam, keep yourself within yourself: 
 The man is innocent. 
 
56 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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. 
 
 CHARM IAN 
 
 He is afeard to come. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 I will not hurt him. 
 
 Exit Charmian. 
 
 These hands do lack nobility, that they strike 
 A meaner than myself; since I myself 
 Have given myself the cause. 
 
 Re-enter CHARMIAN and MESSENGER. 
 
 Come hither, sir. 
 Though it be honest, it is never good 
 To bring bad news : give to a gracious message 
 An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell 
 Themselves when they be felt. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 I have done my duty. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Is he married ? 
 
 I cannot hate thee worser than I do, 
 
 If thou again say Yes. 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 He 's married, madam. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still ? 
 
ACT II, SCENE V 5 7 
 
 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 but what thou 'rt sure of. Get thee hence ; 
 The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome 
 Are all too dear for me : lie they upon thy hand, 
 And be undone by 'em ! 
 
 Exit Messenger. 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Good your highness, patience. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 In praising Antony, I have dispraised Cassar. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Many times, madam. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 8 
 
58 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 I am paid for 't now. 
 Lead me from hence ; 
 
 I faint : O Iras, Charmian ! 't is 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 : tiring me word quickly. 
 
 Exit Alexas. 
 
 Let him for ever go : — let him not — Charmian, 
 Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, 
 The other way 's a Mars. Bid you Alexas 
 
 To Mardian. 
 
 Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, 
 But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VI 
 
 Near Misenum 
 
 Flourish. 
 
 Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one side 
 with drum and trumpet ; 
 at another, CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, ENOBARBUS, 
 MECiENAS, with SOLDIERS marching. 
 
 POMPEY 
 Your hostages I have, so have you mine ; 
 And we shall talk before we fight. 
 
ACT II, SCENE VI 5 9 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Most meet 
 That first we come to words; and therefore have we 
 Our written purposes before us sent ; 
 Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know 
 If 't will 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 Csesar, 
 Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, 
 There saw you labouring for him. What was 't 
 That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what 
 Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus, 
 With the arm'd rest, courtiers 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 burthen 
 The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant 
 To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome 
 Cast on my noble father. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Take your time. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails; 
 
6o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 We '11 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. 
 
 CESAR 
 
 There 's the point. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 "Which do not be entreated to, but weigh 
 What it is worth embrac'd. 
 
 CESAR 
 
 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. 
 
 .CESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS 
 
 That 's our offer. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 Know, thenj 
 
ACT II, SCENE VI 
 
 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 gain'd by 't. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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 ■} 
 
62 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 I crave our composition may be written, 
 And seal'd between us. 
 
 CvESAR 
 
 That 's the next to do. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 We Ml 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 Cassar in a mattress. • 
 
ACT II, SCENE VI 63 
 
 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 ? 
 
 CjESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS 
 
 Show us the way, sir. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 Come. 
 
 Exeunt all but Menas and Enobarbus. 
 MENAS, aside. 
 
 Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this 
 treaty. — You and I have known, sir. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 At sea, I think. 
 
64 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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. 
 
ACT 11, SCENE VI 65 
 
 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 
 
 You 've said, sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony 
 here : pray you, is he married to Cleopatra ? 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Caesar's sister is called 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 
 
 'T is true. 
 
 MENAS 
 
 Then is Cassar 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 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 9 
 
66 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 Cassar ; 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 '11 be, man. Some o' their plants are ill- 
 rooted already ; the least wind i' th' world will blow 
 them down. 
 
ACT II, SCENE VII 6 7 
 
 SECOND SERVANT 
 
 Lepidus is high-coloured. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT 
 
 They have made him drink alms-drink. 
 
 SECOND SERVANT 
 
 As they pinch one another by the 'disposition, he 
 cries out « No more » ; reconciles them to his entreaty, 
 and himself to the drink. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT 
 
 But it raises the greater war between him and his dis- 
 cretion. 
 
 SECOND SERVANT 
 
 Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fel- 
 lowship : I had as lief have a reed that will do me no 
 service as a partisan I could not heave. 
 
 FIRST SERVANT 
 
 To be called into a huge sphere, and not to be seen 
 to move in 't, are the holes where eyes should be, 
 which pitifully disaster the cheeks. . 
 
 A sennet sounded. 
 
 Enter CjESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POMPEY, 
 
 AGRIPPA, MEC^ENAS, 
 
 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 the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth 
 Or foison follow : the higher Nilus swells, 
 The more it promises : as it ebbs, the seedsman 
 
68 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, 
 And shortly comes to harvest. 
 
 LEP1DUS 
 
 You 've 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 '11 ne'er out. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Not till you have slept; I fear me you '11 be in till 
 then. 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies' pyra- 
 mises 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. 
 
ACT II, SCENE VII 69 
 
 POMPEY, aside to Menas. 
 
 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 
 
 'T is a strange serpent. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 'T is so. And the tears of it are wet. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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. 
 
7 o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 POMPEY, aside to Menas. 
 
 I think thou 'rt mad. The matter ? 
 
 Rises, and walks aside. 
 MENAS 
 
 I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 Thou hast serv'd me with much faith. What 's else to say ? 
 Be jolly, lords. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 These quick-sands, Lepidus, •" 
 Keep off them, for you sink. 
 
 MENAS 
 
 Wilt thou be lord of all the world ? 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 What say' st thou ? 
 
 MENAS 
 
 Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That 's twice. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 How should that be ? 
 
 MENAS 
 
 But entertain it, 
 And, though thou think me poor, I am the man 
 Will give thee all the world. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 Hast thou drunk well ? 
 
 MENAS 
 
 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. 
 
ACT II, SCENE VII 7 i 
 
 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 't is villany; 
 In thee 't had been good service. Thou must know, 
 'T is 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 '11 never follow thy pall'd fortunes more. 
 tt Who seeks, and will not take when once 't is offer'd, 
 ' Shall never find it more. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 This health to Lepidus ! 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Bear him ashore. I '11 pledge it for him, Pompey. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Here 's to thee, Menas ! 
 
 MENAS 
 
 Enobarbus, welcome ! 
 
?5 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 Fill till the cup be hid. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 There 's a strong fellow, Menas. 
 
 Pointing to the Attendant who carries off Lepidus. 
 MENAS 
 
 Why? 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 A 1 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 is to Caesar ! 
 
 C*SAR 
 
 I could well forbear 't. 
 It 7 s monstrous labour, when I wash my brain, 
 And it grows fouler. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Be a child o' th' time. ' 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Possess it, I '11 make answer : 
 
ACT II, SCENE VII 7 3 
 
 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 '11 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 vats 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! 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 What would you more? Pompey, good night. Good brother, 
 Let me request you off : our graver business 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 10 
 
74 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let 's part; 
 You see we have burnt our cheeks : strong Enobarbus 
 Is weaker than the wine ; and mine own tongue 
 Splits what it -speaks : the wild disguise hath almost 
 Antick'dusall. What needs more words? Goodnight. 
 Good Antony, your hand. 
 
 POMPEY 
 
 I '11 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 '11 not on shore. 
 
 MENAS 
 
 No, to my cabin. 
 These drums ! these trumpets, flutes ! what ! 
 Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell 
 4o these great fellows : sound and be hang'd, sound out ! 
 
 Sound a flourish, with drums. / 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Ho ! says a'. There 's my cap.. 
 
 MENAS 
 
 Ho! Noble captain, come. . 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
N 
 
 "~v 
 
ACT III, SCENE XI 
 
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. 
 
7 8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 t 
 
 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. 
 Cassar 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 't would 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? 
 
ACT III, SCENE I 
 
 79 
 
 VENTIDIUS 
 
 I '11 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. — An antechamber in Cesar'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 
 
 'T is a noble Lepidus. 
 
 / 
 
80 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 1 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 : 
 
 Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot 
 
 Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho ! 
 
 His love to Antony. But as for Caesar, 
 
 Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Both he loves. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 They are his shards, andhe their beetle. (Trumpets within.) So ; 
 This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell. 
 
ACT HI, SCENE II 
 
 Enter CESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS and OCTAVIA. 
 ANTONY 
 
 No further, sir. 
 
 CjESAR. 
 
 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. 
 
 C/ESAR 
 
 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. 
 
 CESAR 
 
 Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well : 
 The elements be kind to thee, and make 
 Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. i i 
 
82 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 — 
 
 C/ESAR 
 
 What, 
 Octavia? 
 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 I '11 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 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. 
 
ACT III, SCENE II 83 
 
 ENOBARBUS, aside to Agrippa. 
 
 That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum ; 
 What willingly he did confound he wail'd, 
 Believe 't, till I wept too. 
 
 C^SAR 
 
 No, sweet Octavia, 
 You shall hear from me still ; the time shall not 
 Out-go my thinking on you. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Come, sir, come; 
 I '11 wrestle with you in my strength of love : 
 Look, here I have you ; thus I let you go, 
 And give you to the gods. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Adieu ; be happy ! 
 
 LEPIDUS 
 
 Let all the number of the stars give light 
 To thy fair way ! 
 
 CiESAR 
 
 Farewell, farewell! 
 
 Kisses Octavia. 
 ANTONY 
 
 Farewell ! 
 
 Trumpets sound. Exeunt. 
 
84 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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, goto. 
 
 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 '11 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. 
 
ACT III, SCENE 111 85 
 
 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! 't is impossible. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 I think so, Charmian : dull of tongue, and dwarfish ! t 
 What majesty is in her gait? Remember, ) 
 
 If e'er thou look'dst on majesty. J 
 
 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 ? 
 
86 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 judgement. 
 
 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^t 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. 
 
ACT 111, SCENE III 8 7 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 There 's gold for thee. 
 Thou must not take my former sharpness ill : 
 I will employ thee back again; I find thee 
 Most fit for business : go make thee ready; 
 Our letters are prepared. 
 
 Exit Messenger. *" 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 A proper man. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Indeed, he is so : I repent me much 
 
 That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, 
 
 This creature 's no such thing. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Nothing, madam. 
 
 CLEOPATRA _ 
 
 The man hath seen some majesty, and should know. I 
 
 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 't is no matter; thou shalt bring him to me 
 Where I will write. All may be well enough. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 I warrant you, madam. 
 
 Exeunt, 
 
88 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 SCENE IV 
 
 Athens. — A room in 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 scantly of me : when perforce he could not 
 
 But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly 
 
 He vented them ; most narrow measure lent me : 
 
 When the best hint was given him, he not took 't, 
 
 Or did it from his teeth. 
 
 octavia __ __ 
 
 O my good lord, \ 
 
 Believe not all; or, if you must believe, 
 Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady, 
 If this division chance, ne'er stood between, 
 Praying for both parts : 
 The good gods 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 midway 
 'Twixt these extremes at all. 
 
ACT III, SCENE IV 89 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Gentle Octavia, 
 Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks - 
 Best to preserve it : if I lose mine honour, 
 I lose myself : better I were not yours 
 Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, 
 Yourself shall go between 's : the mean time, lady,- 
 I '11 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. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 
 
9 o ANTONY AND CLEOPATfLA 
 
 SCENE V 
 
 The same. — Another room 
 
 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 '11 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 ! » 
 
ACT III, SCENE V 
 And threats the throat of that his officer 
 That murder'd 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 
 
 'T will be naught : 
 But let it be. Bring me to Antony. 
 
 EROS 
 
 Come, sir. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VI 
 
 Rome. — Cesar's house 
 
 Enter CLESAR, AGRIPPA and MEGENAS. 
 
 CiESAR 
 
 Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more, 
 
 In Alexandria : here 's the manner of 't : 
 
 P 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 
 
9 2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, 
 Absolute queen. 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 This in the public eye? 
 
 CESAR 
 
 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 the habiliments of the goddess Isis/ 
 
 That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience, 
 
 As't is reported, so. 
 
 MEC/ENAS 
 
 Let Rome be thus 
 Inform'd. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Who, queasy with his insolence 
 Already, will their good thoughts call from him. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 The people know it ; and have now received- 
 His accusations. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Who does he accuse?/ 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 ; 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 
 
ACT III, SCENE VI 9 3 
 
 Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain 
 All his revenue. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Sir, this should be answer'd. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 'Tis done already, and the 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, I 
 
 Demand the like. 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 He '11 never yield to that. 
 
 C/ESAR 
 
 Nor must not then be yielded to in this. 
 
 Enter OCTAVIA with her train. 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 Hail, Caesar, and my lord ! hail, most dear Caasar! 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 That ever I should call thee castaway! 
 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not 
 Like Cassar's sister : the wife of Antony 
 Should have an army for an usher, and 
 The neighs of horse to tell of her approach 
 Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way 
 
94 
 
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 unloved : we should have met you 
 By sea and land; supplying every stage 
 With an augmented greeting. 
 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 Good my lord, 
 To come thus was I not constraint, but did 
 On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony, 
 Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted 
 My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd 
 His pardon for return. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Which soon he granted, 
 Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him. 
 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 Do not say so, my lord. 
 
 CESAR 
 
 I have eyes upon him, 
 And his affairs come to me on the wind. 
 Where is he now ? 
 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 My lord, in Athens. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra 
 
 Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire 
 
ACT III, SCENE VI 9 5 
 
 Up to a whore ; who now are levying J 
 
 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 Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont; 
 
 Herod of Jewry ; Mithridates, King 
 
 Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas, 
 
 The Kings of Mede and Lycaonia, 
 
 With a more larger list of sceptres, 
 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 Ay me, most wretched, 
 That have my heart parted betwixt two friends 
 That do afflict each other ! 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 Welcome hither: 
 Your letters did withhold our breaking forth ; 
 Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led, 
 And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart : 
 Be you not troubled with the time, which drives 
 O'er your content these strong necessities ; 
 But let determined things to destiny 
 Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome; 
 Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd 
 Beyond the mark of thought : and the high gods, 
 To do you justice, make them ministers 
 Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort; 
 And ever welcome to us. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Welcome, lady. 
 
96 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 Welcome, dear madam. 
 
 Each heart in Rome does love and pity you : 
 
 Only the adulterous Antony, most large 
 
 In his abominations, turns you off; 
 
 And gives his potent regiment to a trull, 
 
 That noises it against us. 
 
 OCTAVIA 
 
 Is it so, sir? 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Most certain. Sister, welcome : pray you, 
 Be ever known to patience : my dear'st sister ! 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VII 
 
 Near Actium. — Antony's camp 
 
 Enter. CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS. 
 
 CLEOPATRA , 
 
 I will be even with thee, doubt it not. J 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 But why, why, why ? 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars, 
 And say'st it is not fit. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Well, is it, is it? 
 
 j 
 
ACT III, SCENE VII 97 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 If 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 't is 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 J 
 
 Appear there for a man. Speak not against it ; 
 I will not stay behind. __J 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Nay, I have done. 
 Here comes the Emperor. 
 
 Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS. 
 ANTONY 
 
 Is it not strange, Canidius, 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. i3 
 
9 8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 Cassar 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 muleters, reapers, people 
 Ingross'd by swift impress; in Caesar's fleet 
 Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought : 
 Their ships are yare ; yours, heavy : no disgrace 
 
ACT 111, SCENE VII 
 
 99 
 
 <fu^ 
 
 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 forego 
 The way which promises assurance; and 
 Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, 
 From firm security. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 I'll fight at sea. 
 
 CLEOPATRA ,-j 
 
 I have sixty sails, Caesar none better. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Our overplus of shipping will we burn; 
 
 And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium 
 
 Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail, 
 
 We then can do 't at land. 
 
 ^ 
 
 Enter a MESSENGER. 
 
 Thy business ? 
 
 MESSENGER 
 
 The news is true, my lord; he is descri'd ; 
 Caesar has taken Toryne. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Can he be there in person? 't is impossible ; 
 
ioo ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Strange that his power should be. Canidius, 
 Our nineteen legions thou shalthold by land, 
 And our twelve thousand horse. We '11 to our ship : 
 Away, my Thetis ! 
 
 Enter a SOLDIER. 
 How now, worthy soldier ! 
 
 SOLDIER 
 
 O noble emperor, do not fight by sea ; 
 
 Trust not to rotten planks : do you misdoubt 
 
 This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians 
 
 And the Phoenicians go a-ducking : we 
 
 Have'used to conquer, standing on the earth, 
 
 And fighting foot to foot. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Well, well : away ! 
 
 Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus. 
 SOLDIER 
 
 By Hercules, I think I am i' th' right. 
 
 canidius ■ — l 
 
 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 Csesar's 
 
ACT III, SCENE VII 10 
 
 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 7 s with labour, and throes forth, 
 Each minute, some. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE VIII 
 
 A PLAIN NEAR AcTIUM 
 
 Enter CESAR, and TAURUS, with his army, marching. 
 
 C*SAR 
 Taurus ! 
 
 TAURUS 
 
 My lord ? 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Strike not by land; keep whole : provoke not battle, 
 
io2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 yond 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: 
 The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, 
 
/ 
 
 ACT III, SCENE X , 3 
 
 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 ribaldred 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, 
 
104 
 
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard, 
 Leaving the fight in height, flies after her : 
 J 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 
 
 'T is 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 '11 yet follow 
 
ACT III, SCENE X , 5 
 
 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. 
 
 ATTENDANTS 
 
 Fly! not we. 
 
 ANTONY < 
 
 1 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 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 14 
 
io6 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad, 
 Nor make replies of loathness : take the hint 
 Which my despair proclaims ; let that be left 
 Which leaves itself : to the sea-side straightway : 
 I will possess you of that ship and treasure. 
 Leave me, I pray, a little : pray you now : 
 Nay, do so ; for, indeed, I have lost command, 
 Therefore I pray you : I '11 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 ! if" 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 No, no, no, no, no. 
 
 EROS 
 
 See you here, sir ? 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 O fie, fie, fie ! 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Madam ! 
 
 IRAS 
 
 Madam, O good empress ! 
 
ACT 111, SCENE XI 107 
 
 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 't was 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 ! ^J 
 
 EROS 
 
 Most noble sir, arise; the Queen approaches : 
 Her head 's declin'd, and death will seize her, but 
 Your comfort makes the rescue. -— 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 I have offended reputation, / 
 
 A most unnoble swerving. 
 
 EROS 
 
 Sir, the Queen. 
 
 ANTONY ^_ 
 
 O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt ? See, 
 How I convey my shame out of thine eyes 
 
 7 
 
,o8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 By looking back what I have left behind / 
 'Stroy'd in dishonour. --' 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 O my lord, my lord7~7 
 Forgive my fearful sails ! I little thought / 
 You would have follow'd. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Egypt, thou knew'st too well 
 My heart was to thy rudder ti'd 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 school master; 
 
ACT III, SCENE t Xl 109 
 
 Is he come back ? Love, I am full of lead. 
 
 Some wine, within there, and our viands^ Fortune knows 
 
 We scorn her most when most she offers blows. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE XII 
 
 Egypt. — Cesar's camp 
 
 Enter CESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others. 
 
 CESAR 
 
 Let him appear that 's come from Antony. 
 Know you him ? 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Caesar, 't is 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. 
 
 CESAR 
 
 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. 
 
no ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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. 
 
 CvESAR 
 
 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 ! 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Bring him through the bands. 
 
 Exit Euphronius. 
 (To Thyreus.) 
 
 To try thy eloquence, now 't is 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 
 
ACT III, SCENE XII u 
 
 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. 
 
 CyESAR 
 
 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 
 
ii2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 : 't was a shame no less 
 Than was his loss, to course your flying flags, 
 And leave his navy gazing. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Prithee, peace. 
 Enter ANTONY with EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador. 
 
 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 
 
ACT III, SCENE XIII 1 1 3 
 
 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 '11 write it: follow me. 
 
 Exeunt Antony and Euphronius. 
 ENOBARBUS, 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 judgements 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 judgement too. 
 
 Enter an ATTENDANT. 
 
 ATTENDANT 
 
 A messenger from Caesar. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 What, no more ceremony ? See, my women ! 
 Against the blown rose may they stop their nose 
 That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir. 
 
 Exit Attendant. 
 ENOBARBUS, aside. 
 
 Mine honesty and I begin to square. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. l5 
 
/? 
 
 114 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 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 mCst renown'd : Cassar 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 
 
ACT III, SCENE XIII 
 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. 
 
1 1 6 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Most kind messenger, 
 Say to great Caesar this : in deputation 
 I kiss his conquering hand : tell him, I am prompt 
 To lay my crown at 's feet, and there tojcneel : 
 Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear 
 The doom of Egypt. 
 
 THYREUS 
 
 'T is 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 whipp'd. 
 
ACT III, SCENE XIII 117 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Approach there ! Ah, you kite ! Now, gods and devils ! 
 Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried « Ho! » 
 Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, 
 And cry « Your will? » Have you no ears ? I am 
 Antony yet. 
 
 Enter ATTENDANTS. 
 Take hence this Jack, and whip him. 
 
 ENOBARBUS, aside. 
 
 'T is 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 Cassar, should I find them 
 So saucy with the hand of she here, — what 's her name, 
 Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows, 
 Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face, 
 And whine aloud for mercy : take him hence. 
 
 THYREUS 
 
 Mark Antony ! 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Tug him away : being whipped, 
 Bring him again : this Jack of Caesar's shall 
 Bear us an errand to him. 
 
 Exeunt Attendants with Thyreus. 
 
 You were half blasted ere I knew you : ha ! 
 Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome, 
 
,,8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Forborne the getting of a lawful race, 
 And by a gem of women, to be abus'd 
 By one that looks on feeders ? 
 
 CLEOPATRA s\ \ 
 
 Good my lord, — <- 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 You have been a boggier ever: 
 
 And when we in our viciousness grow hard — 
 
 misery on 't! — the wise gods seel our eyes; 
 
 In our own filth drop our clear judgements; make us 
 Adore our errors; laugh at 's, while we strut 
 To our confusion. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 O, is 't come to this? 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 1 found you as a morsel cold upon 
 
 Dead Caesar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment 
 Of Cneius Pompey's ; besides what hotter hours, 
 Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have 
 Luxuriously pick'd out : for, I am sure, 
 Though you can guess what temperance should be, 
 You know not what it is. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Wherefore is this ? 
 
 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 
 
ACT III, SCENE Xlll 119 
 
 The horn'd herd! for I have savage cause; 
 And to proclaim it civilly, were like 
 A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank 
 For being yare about him. 
 
 Re-enter ATTENDANTS with THYREUS. 
 
 Is he whipp'd ? 
 
 FIRST ATTENDANT 
 
 Soundly, my lord. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Cried he? and begg'dhe pardon? 
 
 FIRST ATTENDANT 
 
 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 whipp'd for following him : henceforth 
 
 The white hand of a lady fever thee, 
 
 Shake thou to look on 't. Get thee back to Caesar, 
 
 Tell him thy entertainment : look thou say 
 
 He makes me angry with him ; for he seems 
 
 Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am, 
 
 Not what he knew I was : he makes me angry ; 
 
 And at this time most easy 't is to do't, 
 
 When my good stars, that were my former guides, 
 
 Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires 
 
 Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike 
 
 My speech and what is done, tell him he has 
 
ijo ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom 
 He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture, 
 As he shall like, to quit me : urge it thou : 
 Hence with thy stripes, begone ! 
 
 Exit Thyreus. 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Have you done yet? 
 
 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, 
 
ACT III, SCENE XIII 121 
 
 Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile 
 Have buried them for prey ! 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 I am satisfied. Jk 
 Caesar sits down in Alexandria; where 
 I will oppose his fate. Our force by land 
 Hath nobly held ; our sever'd navy too 
 Have knit again, and fleet, threatening most sea-like. 
 Where hast thou been, my heart ? Dost thou hear,. lady ? 
 If from the field I shall return once more 
 To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood ; 
 I and my sword will earn our chronicle : 
 There 's hope in't yet. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 That 's my brave lord ! / 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breathed, 
 And fight maliciously : for when mine hours 
 Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives 
 Of me for jests; but now I '11 set my teeth, 
 And send to darkness all that stop me. Come, 
 Let 's have one other gaudy night : call to me 
 All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more ; 
 Let 's mock the midnight bell. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 It is my birth-day: 
 I had thought to have held it poor; but, siace-myJLord 
 Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 We will yet do well. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. '(> 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATELA 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Call all his noble captains to my lord. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Do so, we '11 speak to them; and to-night I '11 force 
 The wine peep through their scars. Comeon, myqueen; 
 There's sap in 't yet. The next time I do fight, 
 I '11 make death love me ; for I will contend 
 Even with his pestilent scythe. 
 
 Exeunt all but Enobarbus. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Now he '11 outstare the lightning 
 
 
 . I To be furious, 
 irfthat mood 
 
 Is to be frighted out of fear! and 
 
 The dove will peck the estfidge; 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 iy SCENE XV 
 
SCENE I 
 
 Before Alexandria. 
 
 Cesar's camp 
 
 Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MEC^ENAS, with his army; 
 CAESAR reading a letter. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power 
 
 To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger 
 
 He hath whipp'd with rods ; dares meto personal combat, 
 
 Cagsar to Antony : let the old ruffian know 
 
 I have many other ways to die ; meantime 
 
 Laugh at his challenge. 
 
i2 4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 Cassar 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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 i 
 
 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 ? 
 
ACT IV, SCENE II ia5 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, 
 He is twenty men to one. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 To-morrow, soldier, 
 By sea and land I '11 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 hast 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". 
 
 'T is 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 
 
, 2 6 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 An Antony, that I might do you service 
 So good as you have done. 
 
 ALL 
 
 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 '11 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 
 Marri'd 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. 
 
ACT IV, SCENE II , 1? 
 
 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 '11 expect victorious life 
 Than death and honour. Let *s to supper, come, 
 And drown consideration. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE III 
 
 The same. — Before the palace 
 
 Enter two SOLDIERS to their guard. 
 
 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 't is but a rumour. Good night to you. 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Well, sir, good night. 
 
ia8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Enter two other SOLDIERS. 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 Soldiers, have careful watch. 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 And you. Good night, good night. 
 
 They place themselves in every corner of the stage. 
 FOURTH SOLDIER 
 
 Here we : and if to-morrow 
 
 Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope 
 
 Our landmen will stand up. 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 'T is a brave army, 
 And full of purpose. 
 
 Music of the hautboys as under the stage. 
 FOURTH SOLDIER 
 
 Peace! what noise? 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 List, list ! 
 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 Hark! 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Music i'th'air. 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 Under the earth. 
 
 FOURTH SOLDIER 
 
 It signs well, does it not? 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 No. 
 
ACT IV, SCENE III i 2g 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Peace, I say! 
 What should this mean? 
 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 'T is the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd, 
 Now leaves him. 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Walk; let 's see if other watchmen 
 Do hear what we do. 
 
 They advance to another post. 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 How now, masters! 
 
 ALL, speaking together. 
 
 How now ! 
 How now! do you hear this ? 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER. 
 
 Ay; is 't not strange? 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 Do you hear, masters ? do you hear ? 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Follow the noise so far as we have quarter ; 
 Let 's see how it will give off. 
 
 ALL 
 
 Content. 'T is strange. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 17 
 
i3o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 SCENE IV 
 
 The same. — A room in the palace 
 
 Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARM IAN, and 
 others attending. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Eros! mine armour, Eros! 
 
 CLEOPATRA , f £- \ c ', 
 
 Sleep a littleTS ^> v ^" 
 
 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 '11 help too I 
 What 's this for ? j 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Ah, let be, let be! thou art 
 The armourer of my heart : false, false ; this, this, i 
 
 CLEOPATRA -^ 
 
 Sooth, la, I '11 help : thus it must be. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Well, well; 
 
ACT IV, SCENE IV i3. 
 
 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 7 s a squire 
 More tight at this than thou : dispatch. O love, 
 That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew'st 
 The royal occupation ! thou shouldst see 
 A workman in 't. 
 
 Enter an armed SOLDIER. 
 
 Good morrow to thee; welcome: 
 Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge : 
 To business that we love we rise betime, 
 And go to 't with delight. 
 
 SOLDIER 
 
 A thousand, sir, 
 Early though 't be, have on their riveted trim, 
 And at the port expect you. 
 
 Shout. Trumpets flourish. 
 
 Enter CAPTAINS and SOLDIERS. 
 
 CAPTAINS 
 
 The morn is fair. Good morrow, general. 
 
,3 2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 ALL 
 
 Good morrow, general. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 'T is well blown, lads : 
 This morning, like the spirit of a youth 
 That means to be of nate, begins betimes. 
 So, so; come, give me that : this way; well said. 
 Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me : 
 This is a soldier's kiss : rebukeable 
 
 Kisses her. 
 
 And worthy shameful check it were, to stand 
 On more mechanic compliment; I '11 leave thee 
 Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight, 
 Follow me close ; I '11 bring you to 't. Adieu. 
 
 Exeunt Antony, Eros, Captains and Soldiers. 
 CHARM IAN 
 
 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! 
 
ACT IV, SCENE V 1 33 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd - 
 To make me fight at land ! 
 
 SOLDIER 
 
 Hadst thou done so, 
 The kings that have revolted, and the soldier 
 That has this morning left thee, would have still 
 Follow'd thy heels. 
 
 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 — 
 
j3 4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 
 Enter CjESAR, AGRIPPA, with ENOBARBUS, and others. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight : 
 Our will is Antony be took alive; 
 Make it so known. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 Cassar, I shall. 
 
 Exit. 
 CjESAR 
 
 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Go charge Agrippa 
 
ACT IV, SCENE VI 1 35 
 
 Plant those that have revolted in the van, 
 That Antony may seem to spend his fury 
 Upon himself. 
 
 Exeunt all but Enobaibus. 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 Alexas did revolt ; and went to Jewry on 
 Affairs of Antony ; there did persuade 
 Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar, 
 And leave his master Antony : for this pains 
 Caesar hath hang'd him. Canidius and the rest 
 That fell away have entertainment, but 
 No honourable trust. I have done ill ; 
 Of which I do accuse myself so sorely, 
 That I will joy no more. 
 
 Enter a SOLDIER of Cxsar'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'dthe bringer 
 Out of the host; I must attend mine office, 
 Or would have done 't myself. Your emperor 
 Continues still a Jove. 
 
 Exit. 
 
1 36 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 b lows my heart: 
 
 If swift thought break it not, a swjfter 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. 
 
 Alarums. Exeunt. 
 
 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. 
 
ACT IV, SCENE VII , 3 7 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Thou bleed'st apace. 
 
 SCARUS 
 
 I had a wound here that was like a T, 
 But now 't is made an H. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 They do retire. 
 
 SCARUS 
 
 We '11 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 u 
 'T is sport to maul a runner. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 I will reward thee 
 Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold 
 For thy good valour. Come thee on. 
 
 SCARUS 
 
 I '11 halt after. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. iH 
 
(38 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 SCENE VIII 
 Under the walls of Alexandria 
 
 Alarum. 
 Enter ANTONY, 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 '11 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. 
 
 To Scarus. 
 
 Give me thy hand; 
 Enter CLEOPATRA, attended. 
 
 To this great fairy I '11 commend thy acts, 
 Make her thanks bless thee. 
 
 To Cleopatra. 
 
 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! 
 
ACT IV, SCENE VIII j 3c 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Lord of lords ! 
 O infinite virtue, com'st thou smiling from 
 The world's great snare uncaught? 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 My nightingale, 
 We have beat them to their beds. What, girl ! though grey 
 Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha' we 
 A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can 
 Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man ; 
 Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand : 
 Kiss it, my warrior : he hath fought to-day 
 As if a god, in hate of mankind, had 
 Destroy 1 d in such a shape. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 I '11 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. 
 
i 4 o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 SCENE IX 
 
 CjESAR's CAMP 
 
 SENTINELS at their post. 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 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 the second hour i' th' morn. 
 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 This last day was 
 A shrewd one to 's. 
 
 Enter ENOBARBUS. 
 
 ENOBARBUS 
 
 O, bear me witness, night, - 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 What man is this? 
 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 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 x 
 Before thy face repent ! 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Enobarbus! 
 
ACT IV, SCENE IX , 4 , 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 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. 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 Let 's speak 
 To him. 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Let 's hear him, for the things he speaks 
 May concern Caesar. 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 Let 's do so. But he sleeps. 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his 
 Was never yet for sleep. 
 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 Go we to him. 
 
i 4 2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 Awake, sir, awake; speak to us. 
 
 SECOND SOLDIER 
 
 Hear you, sir? 
 
 FIRST SOLDIER 
 
 The hand of death hath raught him. 
 
 Drums afar off. 
 
 Hark! the drums 
 Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him 
 To the court of guard; he is of note : our hour 
 Is fully out. 
 
 THIRD SOLDIER 
 
 Come on, then ; 
 He may recover yet. 
 
 Exeunt w^th 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 'Id fight i' th' fire or i' th' air; 
 We 'Id fight there too. But this it is; our foot 
 
ACT IV, SCENE X , 4 3 
 
 Upon the hills adjoining to the city 
 Shall stay with us : order for sea is given; 
 They have put forth the haven. [Go we up] 
 Where their appointment we may best discover, 
 And look on their endeavour. 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
 SCENE XI 
 
 Another part of the same 
 
 Enter CAESAR and his army. 
 
 CiESAR 
 
 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 
 
 Another part of the same 
 
 Enter ANTONY and SCARUS. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Yet they are not join'd : where yond pine does stand, 
 I shall discover all : I '11 bring thee word 
 Straight, how 't is like to go. 
 
 Exit. 
 
/ 
 
 , 44 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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! 't is 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 Scams. , t - — ' 
 
 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, — 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XII , 4 5 
 
 Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd them home; 
 Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end, — 
 Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose, 
 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? 7 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving, 
 And blemish Cassar'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. 
 
 'T is well thou 'rt gone, 
 If it be well to live; but better 't were 
 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 : 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 19 
 
146 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall 
 Under this plot ; she dies for 't. Eros, bo ! 
 
 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 the monument ! 
 There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead. 
 The soul and body rive not more in parting 
 Than greatness going off. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 To the monument! 
 Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself; 
 Say, that the last I spoke was « Antony », 
 And word it, pr ithee, piteous lv : hence, Mardian, 
 And bring me ho w he takes my death . To the monument ! 
 
 Exeunt. 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XIV i 47 
 
 SCENE XIV 
 
 The same. — Another room 
 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; 
 
, 4 8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. c 
 
 I made these wars for Egypt : and the Queen, — 
 Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine; 
 Which whilst it was mine had annex'd unto 't ' 
 A million more, now lost, — she, Eros, has 
 Pack'd cards with C3esar, 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 1 
 She has robb'd me of my sword. 
 
 MARXIAN 
 
 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 render'd life, 
 
 Thy name so buried in her. 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XIV , 49 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Dead, then? 
 
 MARDIAN 
 
 s* Dead. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done, 
 And we must sleep. 
 
 To Mardian. 
 
 T-hat thou depart'st hence safe, 
 Does pay thy labour richly; go. 
 
 Exit Mardian. 
 
 Off, pluck off : 
 The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep 
 The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides ! 
 Heart, once be stronger than thy continent, 
 Crack thy frail case ! Apace, Eros, apace. 
 No more a soldier : bruised pieces, go ; 
 You have been nobly borne. From me awhile. 
 
 Exit Eros. 
 
 I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and ^"^\ 
 
 Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now 
 All length is torture : since the torch is out, ! 
 
 Lie down, and stray no farther : now all labour I 
 Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles 1 
 
 Itself with strength : seal then, and all is done. — ' 
 Eros I — I come, my queen : — Eros ! — Stay for me : 
 Where souls do couch on flowers, we '11 hand in hand, J 
 And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze : 
 Dido and her ^Eneas shall want troops, 
 And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros I 
 
"V 
 
 i5o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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 
 The inevitable prosecution of 
 Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, ' 
 Thou then wouldst kill me : do 't; the time is come : 
 ThoiLstrik'st not me, 't is Caesar thou defeat'st. 
 Put colour in thy cheek. 
 
 EROS 
 
 The gods withhold me 1 
 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 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XIV 
 
 Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded 
 His baseness that ensued ? 
 
 EROS 
 
 I would not see 't. 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Come, then ; for with ^ 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. 
 
i52 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 'T is said, man; and farewell. 
 
 EROS 
 
 Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 Now, Eros. 
 
 EROS 
 
 Why, there then : thus I do 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. fMy 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. J Come then; and, Eros, 
 Thy master dies ftly^scholar : to do thus •- 
 
 Falling on his sword. 
 
 I learn'd of thee. How ! not dead ? not dead ? 
 The guard, ho! O, dispatch me! 
 
 Enter DERCETAS and GUARD. ^ 
 FIRST GUARD 
 
 What 's the noise? 
 
 ANTONY 
 
 I have done my work ill, friends : O, make an end 
 Of what I have begun. 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XIV ,53 
 
 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 and Cleopatra. 20 
 
i5 4 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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. i 
 
 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; 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XIV ,55 
 
 'T is 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, bearing Antony. 
 
 SCENE XV 
 
 The same. — 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 sorrowj 
 
i56 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great 
 
 As that which makes it. 
 
 <■ 
 
 .Enter, below, DIOMEDES. 
 
 How now! is he dead? 
 
 DIOMEDES 
 
 His death 's upon him, but not dead. 
 Look out o' 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. _-i 
 
 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 't is 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. 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XV i5 7 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 I dare not, dear, — 
 Dear my lord, pardon, — I dare not, 
 Lest I be taken : not the 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, come; / 
 
 They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra. / 
 
 And welcome, welcome ! die where thou hast lived : 
 Quicken with kissing : had my lips that power, I 
 
 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. 
 
i58 
 
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 \ 
 
 U 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, 
 
 That the false housewife 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 Csesar trust but Proculeius. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 My resolution and my hands I '11 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 vanquished. 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 
 
 ^ 
 
 
ACT IV, SCENE XV i5 9 
 
 — ■---^ 
 No better than a sty? O, see, my women, / 
 
 Antony dies. 
 
 The crown o' th' earth doth melt. My lord ! 
 
 O, wifhePcTTs" trie "garland of the war, 
 
 The soldier's pole is fall'n : young boys and girls 
 
 Are level now with men; the odds is gone, 
 
 And there is nothing left remarkable 
 
 Beneath the visiting moon. -,/ 
 
 Faints. 
 CHARM IAN 
 
 O, quietness, lady! 
 
 IRAS 
 
 She is dead too, our sovereign. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Lady! 
 
 IRAS 
 
 Madam ! 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 O madam, madam, madam ! 
 
 IRAS 
 
 Royal Egypt, 
 Empress ! 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Peace, peace, Iras! 
 
 CLEOPATRA ~ > 
 
 No more; but e'en a woman, and commanded 
 By such poor passion as the maid that milks 
 And does the meanest chares. It were for me 
 To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; 
 To tell them that this world did equal theirs 
 
i6o 
 
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 Till they had stol'n our jewel. All 's but naught; 
 
 Patience is sottish, and impatience does 
 
 Become a dog that 's mad : thenjsjljin 
 
 To rush into_ t he secret Jiouse of death, 
 
 Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women? 
 
 What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmiart ! 
 
 My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look, 
 
 Our lamp is spent, it 's out! Good sirs, take heart : 
 
 We '11 bury him ; and then, what 's brave, what 7 s noble, 
 
 Let 's do it after the high Roman fashion, 
 
 And-make death proud to take us. . Come, away : 
 
 This case of that huge spirit now is cold : 
 
 Ah, women, women ! come; we have no friend 
 
 But resolution, and the briefest end. 
 
 Exeunt; those above bearing off Antony's body. 
 
 - : ' &* i " 
 
 
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 <4jijj£s 
 
 i Vj m 
 
 jtefc^V^ . . ■ 
 
 
 
 
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ACT V. SCENE II 
 
SCENE I 
 
 Alexandria. — Cesar's camp 
 
 • 
 
 Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MECENAS, 
 GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, and others, his council of war. 
 
 CESAR 
 Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield; 
 Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks 
 The pauses that he makes. 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Caesar, I shal 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 
 
 Exit. 
 
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Enter DERCETAS with the sword of ANTON Y. 
 
 CJESAR 
 
 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 '11 be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not, 
 I yield thee up my life-. 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 What is 't thou say'st? 
 
 DERCETAS 
 
 I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead. 
 
 CJESAR 
 
 The breaking of so great a ihing should make . 
 A greater crack : the wounded world 
 Should have shook lions into civil streets, |f 
 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, 
 
ACT V, SCENE I i63 
 
 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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. 
 
 MECjENAS 
 
 His taints and honours 
 Waged equal with him. 
 
 AGRIPPA 
 
 A rarer spirit never 
 Did steer humanity; but you, gods, will give us 
 Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch'd. 
 
 MECJENAS 
 
 When such a spacious mirror 's set before him, 
 He needs must see himself. 
 
 CiESAR 
 
 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, 
 
164 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 That thou, my brother, my competitor 
 
 In top of all design, my mate in empire,- 
 
 Friend and companion in the front of war, 
 
 The arm of mine own body, and the heart 
 
 Where mine his thoughts did kindle, — that our stars, 
 
 Unreconciliable, should divide 
 
 Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends, — 
 
 But I will tell you at some meeter season : 
 
 Enter an EGYPTIAN. 
 
 The business of this man looks out of him ; 
 
 We '11 hear him what he says. Whence .are you? 
 
 EGYPTIAN 
 
 A poor Egyptian yet. The Queen my mistress, 
 
 Confined in all she has, her monument, 
 
 Of thy intents desires instruction, 
 
 That she preparedly may frame herself 
 
 To the way she *s forc'd to. / 
 
 C£SAR v 
 
 Bid her have good heart : 
 She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, 
 How honourably and how kindly we 
 Determine for her; for Cassar cannot live 
 To be ungentle. 
 
 EGYPTIAN 
 
 So the gods preserve thee ! 
 
 Exit. 
 C£SAR 
 
 Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say, 
 
 We purpose her no shame : give her what comforts 
 
ACT V, SCENE 1 i65 
 
 The quality of her passion shall require, 
 Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke 
 She do defeatus; for her life in Rome 
 Would be eternal in our triumph : go, 
 And with your speediest bring us what she says, 
 And how you find of her. 
 
 PROCULEIUS 
 
 Caesar, I shall. 
 
 Exit. 
 C£SAR 
 
 Gallus, go you along. 
 
 Exit Gallus. 
 
 "Where 's Dolabella, 
 To second Proculeius ? 
 
 ALL 
 
 Dolabella! 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 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. 
 
1 66 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 SCENE II 
 
 Alexandria. — A room in the monument 
 
 Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN and IRAS. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 My desolation does begin to make 
 
 A better life. 'T is 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 gales of the monument, PROCULEIUS, 
 GALLUS and SOLDIERS. 
 
 PROCULEIUS 
 
 Cassar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt ; 
 And bids thee study on what fair demands 
 Thou mean'st to have him grant thee. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 What 's thy name? 
 
 PROCULEIUS 
 
 My name is Proculeius. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Antony 
 Did tell me of you, bade me trust you ; but 
 I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd, 
 That have no use for trusting. If your master 
 
ACT V, SCENE II » 167 
 
 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. 
 
 PROCULE1US 
 
 Be of good cheer; 
 You 're fall'n into a princely hand, fear nothing: 
 Make your full reference freely to my lord, 
 Who is so full of grace, that it flows over 
 On all that need : let me report to him 
 Your sweet dependency; and you shall find 
 A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness, 
 Where he for grace is kneel'd to. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Pray you, tell him 
 I am his fortune's, vassal, and I send him 
 The greatness he has got. I hourly learn 
 A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly 
 Look him i' th' face. 
 
 PROCULEIUS 
 
 This I '11 report, dear lady. 
 Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied 
 Of him that caused it. 
 
 GALLUS 
 
 You see how easily she may be surprised : 
 
 Here Proculeius and two of the Guard ascend the monument by a 
 ladder placed against a window, and, having descended, come 
 behind Cleopatra. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates. 
 
1 68 ANTONY AND CLEOPATKA 
 
 To Proculeius and the Guard. 
 
 Guard her till Cassar come. 
 
 Exit. 
 IRAS 
 
 Royal queen! 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Quick, quick, good hands. 
 
 Drawing a dagger. 
 PROCULEIUS 
 
 Hold, worthy lady, hold : 
 
 Seizes and disarms her. 
 
 Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this 
 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 
 The undoing of yourself : let the world see 
 His nobleness well acted, which your death 
 Will never let come forth. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Where art thou, death? 
 Come hither, come ! come, come, and take a queen 
 Worth many babes and beggars! - K 
 
 PROCULEIUS 
 
 O, temperance, lady! 
 
ACT V, SCENE 11 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Sir, I will eat no meat, I '11 not drink, sir; 
 
 If idle talk will once be necessary, 
 
 I '11 not sleep neither : this mortal house I '11 ruin, 
 
 Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I 
 
 Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court ; 
 
 Nor once be chastised with the sober eye 
 
 Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up 
 
 And show me to the shouting varletry 
 
 Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt 
 
 Be gentle grave unto me ! rather on Nilus' mud 
 
 Lay me stark-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 '11 take her to my guard. 
 
 ' PROCULEIUS 
 
 So, Dolabella, 
 It shall content me best : be gentle to her. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 22 
 
i 7 o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 To Cleopatra. 
 
 To Caesar I will speak what you shall please, 
 If you '11 employ me to him. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Say, I would die. 
 
 Exeunt Proculeius and Soldiers. 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Most noble empress, you have heard of me? 
 
 'CLEOPATRA 
 
 I cannot tell. 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Assuredly you know me. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. 
 You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; 
 Is 't not your trick? 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 I understand not, madam. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony : 
 O, such another sleep, that I might see 
 But such another man ! 
 
 .DOLABELLA 
 
 If it might please ye, — 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 His face was as the heavens; and therein stuck 
 
 A sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted 
 
 The little O, the earth. 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Most sovereign creature, — 
 
ACT V, SCENE II 171 
 
 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 't was 
 
 That grew the more by reaping; his delights 
 
 Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above 
 
 The element they lived in : in his livery 
 
 Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were 
 
 As plates dropp'd from his pocket. 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Cleopatra! 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Think you there was, or might be, such a man r 
 As this I dream'd of? 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Gentle madam, no. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. 
 
 But, if there be, or ever were, one such, 
 
 It 's past the size of dreaming : nature wants stuff 
 
 To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine 
 
 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 
 
i 7 2 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel, 
 By the rebound of yours, a grief that shoots 
 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 '11 lead me, then, in triumph? 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Madam, he will; I know 't. 
 
 Flourish, and shout within : ' 
 
 Make way there : Caesar! 
 
 Enter CjESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MEC^NAS, 
 SELEUCUS, and others of his train. 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 Which is the Queen of Egypt? 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 It is the Emperor, madam. 
 
 Cleopatra kneels. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Arise, you shall not kneel : 
 I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt. 
 
ACT V, SCENE II 1? 3 
 
 CLEOPATRA. 
 
 Sir, the gods 
 Will have it thus ; my master and my lord 
 I must obey. 
 
 C^SAR 
 
 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Clebpatra, 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 '11 guard them from, 
 If thereon you rely. I '11 take my leave. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 And may, through all the world : 't is yours; and we, 
 Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall 
 Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. 
 
i 74 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CJESAR 
 
 You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 This is the brief of money, plate and jewels, 
 
 I am possess'd of : 't is 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. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve 
 Your wisdom in the deed. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 See, Caesar! O, behold, 
 How pomp is follow'd ! mine will now be yours; 
 And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. 
 Th' ingratitude of this Seleucus does 
 Even make me wild : O slave, of no more trust 
 
ACT V. SCENE II i 7 5 
 
 Than love that 's hir'd! What, goest thou back? thou shalt 
 Go back, I warrant thee; but I '11 catch thine eyes, 
 Though they had wings;' slave, soulless villain, dog! 
 O rarely base ! 
 
 C.ESAR. 
 
 Good queen, let us entreat you. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 O Cassar, 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 Cassar, 
 
 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 the ashes of my chance : wert thou a man, 
 Thou wouldst have mercy on me. 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 Forbear, Seleucus. 
 
 Exit Seleucus. 
 
176 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 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. 
 
 CJESA.K 
 
 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, 
 Cassar '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 ! 
 
 CSSAR 
 
 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. 
 
ACT V. SCENE 11 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Hie thee again : 
 I have spoke already, and it is provided; 
 Go put it to the haste. 
 
 CHARM IAN 
 
 Madam, I will. 
 Re-enier DOLABELLA. 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Where is the Queen ? 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Behold, sir. 
 
 Exit. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Dolabella ! 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, 
 Which my love makes religion to obey, 
 I tell you this : Caesar through Syria 
 Intends his journey; and within three days 
 You with your children will he send before r 
 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. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 2 3 
 
i 7 8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Farewell, and thanks. 
 
 Exit Dolabella. 
 
 Now, Iras, what think' st thou? 
 Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown 
 In Rome, as well as I : mechanic slaves 
 With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall 
 Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths, 
 Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, 
 And forc'd to drink their vapour. 
 
 IRAS 
 
 The gods forbid ! 
 
 CLEOPATRA -- — 
 
 Nay, 't is 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 7 s certain. 
 
 IRAS 
 
 I '11 never see 't; for, I am sure, my nails 
 Are stronger than mine eyes. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Why, that 's the way 
 
ACT V, SCENE II . 7g 
 
 To fool their preparation, and to conquer 
 Their most absurd intents. 
 
 Re-enter CHARMIAN. 
 
 Now, Charmian! 
 Show me, my women, like a queen : go fetch 
 My best attires ; I am again for Cydnus, 
 To meet Mark Antony : sirrah Iras, go. 
 Now, noble Charmian, we '11 dispatch indeed; 
 And, when thou hast done this chare, I '11 give thee leave 
 To play till doomsday. Bring oar crown and all. 
 Wherefore 's this noise ? 
 
 Exit Iras. A noise within. 
 
 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 placed, and I have nothing 
 Of woman in me; now from head to foot 
 I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon 
 No planet is of mine. 
 
i8o ANTONY AND CLEOPATR.A 
 
 Re-enter GUARDSMAN, with CLOWN bringing 
 in 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 immort-, 
 al; 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 fallible, the worm 's an odd worm. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Get thee hence; farewell. 
 
 CLOWN 
 
 I wish you all joy of the worm. 
 
 Setting down his basket. 
 
ACT V, SCENE II 
 
 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 good- 
 ness in the worm. 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. 
 
 CLOWN 
 
 Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is 
 hot 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. 
 
.82 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Re-enter IRAS wilh a robe, crown, etc. 
 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 Cassar, 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. lias falls and dies. 
 
 Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall ? 
 If thou and nature can so gently part, 
 The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, 
 Which hurts, and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still ? 
 If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world 
 It is not worth leave-taking. 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain ; that I may say, 
 The gods themselves do weep! 
 
 CLEOPATRA 
 
 This proves me base 
 If she first meet the curled Antony, 
 He '11 make demand of her, and spend that kiss 
 
ACT V, SCENE 11 i83 
 
 Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal wretch, 
 
 To an asp, which she applies lo 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 ! 
 
 CHARM IAN 
 
 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, — 
 
 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 Phcebus never be beheld 
 Of eyes again so royal ! Your crown 's awry; 
 
 1 '11 mend it, and then play. 
 
184 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 Enter the GUARD, rushing in. 
 FIRST GUARD 
 
 Where is the Queen ? 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Speak softly, wake her not. 
 
 FIRST GUARD 
 
 Caesar hath sent — 
 
 CHARMIAN 
 
 Too slow a messenger. 
 
 Applies an asp. 
 
 O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee. 
 
 FIRST GUARD 
 
 Approach, ho ! All 's not well : Caesar 's 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 princess 
 Descended of so many royal kings. 
 Ah, soldier! 
 
 Dies. 
 
 Re-enter DOLABELLA. 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 How goes it here? 
 
 SECOND GUARD 
 
 All dead. 
 
ACT V, SCENE II ,85 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Cassar, 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 Cassar ! 
 Ke-enter CjESAR and all his train, marching. 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 sir, you are too sure an augurer; 
 That you did fear is done. 
 
 C/ESAR 
 
 Bravest at the last, 
 She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, 
 Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? 
 
 1 do not see them bleed. 
 
 DOLABELLA 
 
 Who was last with them ? 
 
 FIRST GUARD 
 
 A simple countryman, that brought her figs : 
 This was his basket. 
 
 C£SAR 
 
 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. 
 
 Antony and Cleopatra. M 
 
1 86 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 
 
 CjESAR 
 
 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 r 
 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. 
 
 CiESAR 
 
 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. 
 
, 
 
GLOSSARY AND NOTES 
 
 BY J. THOMSON 
 
 ACT I 
 
 Page i, line 8. — Keneags : an obsolete word properly spelt 
 reneges, meaning renounces, sets aside, as in « King Lear », 
 act. II, sc. ii, line 84. It is rhymed with « leagued » in Syl- 
 vester's Dubartas. 
 
 2,2. — Gipsy's lust : gipsy is used in its original sense for 
 an Egyptian, and in its accidental sense for a bad woman. 
 
 2, 10. — The sum : be brief, sum thy business in a few 
 words. 
 
 3, 5. — Where's Fuhia's process : where's Fulvia's sum- 
 mons. 
 
 3, 16. — To wit : or, as in the Folios, to weet, that is, 
 to know. 
 
 5, 4. — Charge his horns with garlands: make him a rich 
 and honourable cuckold, having his horns hung about with 
 garlands. 
 
 7, 4. — My children shall have no names : shall be bastards. 
 
 8, 3. — Work-a-day : generally written, worky-day. 
 
 ii, 2. — Euphrates : here written with a short a, Eu- 
 phrates. 
 
 11, 12. — Earing : ploughing, tilling. 
 
 1 5, 2. — Expedience . haste, speed, meaning in this place, 
 sudden departure. 
 
190 GLOSSARY AND NOTES 
 
 1 5, 17. — Courser's hair: referring to the belief that a 
 horse's hair steeped long in corrupted water becomes a living 
 worm. 
 
 19, 7. — Garboils : confused contentions, turmoils. 
 
 19, 9. — Sacred vials: the tiny lachrymatory vials which 
 the Romans sometimes put into the funeral urns of kinsfolk 
 and friends. 
 
 21, 9. — Laurel'd victory : better, [aurel victory, which more- 
 over was the language of Shakespeare's time. 
 
 23, 1. — Mature in knowledge: apparently a slip, as the 
 sense seems to require the word immature; or, perhaps the 
 Poet meant that, boys old enough to know their duty pawn, 
 etc. 
 
 23, 19. — Ear and wound: plough and wound. 
 
 27, 8. — Burgonet : a close-fitting helmet, first used by the 
 Burgundians, but unknown to Cleopatra and to Antony. 
 
 28, 10. — Arm-girt steed: a much-disputed phrase; the 
 Folios have arm-gaunt, implying a horse gaunt with the conti- 
 nued weight of armour. Many substituted words, as termagant 
 and arrogant, have been proposed, but, whatever epithet was 
 used, Malone thinks it was intended as descriptive of a beautiful 
 horse. 
 
 ACT II 
 
 3a, 1 5. — Salt : lecherous. 
 
 32, 1 5. — Wan'd lip : a much disputed phrase; in old edi- 
 tions it is written wand and apparently stands for wan. 
 
 33, 7. — Space for further travel : a time in which a longer 
 journey might have been made. 
 
 37, 17. — You have not to make it with : the interpolation 
 of not is unmetrical : probably written, « you n' have ». 
 
 38, 10. — Garboils: tantrums. 
 
 38, 1 7. — Missive : Used for messenger. 
 40, 11. — Your considerate stone : an elliptical phrase de- 
 pending on the expression of the voice, equivalent to « hence- 
 
GLOSSARY AND NOTES 
 
 . 9 I 
 
 forth I am as silent as a stone .>. Probably a forgotten proverb 
 like, a silent as a stone ». 
 
 41, 17- — Would be tales: probably, « would be half tales. », 
 to complete the metre and also agree with the next line, 
 « where now half tales be truths ». 
 
 43, 11. — ■ My sister's view: equivalent to, view of my 
 sister. 
 
 45, 18. — Tended her i' th' eyes : watched the smallest indi- 
 cation given by Cleopatra : discovered her will by her eyes. 
 
 45, 19. — Made their bends adornings: in paying their obei- 
 sances to Cleopatra the humble bendings of their bodies were 
 so graceful that they added to their beauty. 
 
 45, 22. — Yarely : readily, dexterously. 
 
 46, 1 3. ■ — Cropp'd: was fruitful. 
 
 47, 4. — Kiggish : rigg is an ancient word meaning a 
 strumpet. 
 
 48, 8. — Thither : here written for hither. 
 
 48, 9. — My motion : my active part, my mind. 
 
 49, 17. — Quails : the Romans fought quails, like cocks, 
 pitting them within a hoop. 
 
 50, 7. — The Mount : that is, Mount Misenum. 
 
 -y 5i, 3. — Billiards : an anachronism; billiards were un- 
 known for a thousand years after the time of Cleopatra. 
 
 57, 11. — But : some read « not »; and others write the 
 line « that art not what thou'rt sore of ». The line is very dis- 
 puted, and is probably a broken sentence, reading thus : 
 
 O, that his fault should make a knave of thee, 
 That art not! — What? thou 'rt sure of 't? 
 
 are you sure that he is married to Octavia? 
 
 59, 22. — Fear us : affright us. 
 
 6 2; ^. _ North's Plutarch ^79 reads in margin : « Cleo- 
 patra trussed up in a mattresse and so brought to [Julius] 
 Caesar, upon Apollodorus backe. » 
 
 66, 1 5. — Plants: here used for soles of the feet, from the 
 Latin. 
 
lyt GLOSSARY AND NOTES 
 
 67, 10. — Partisan : a heavy kind of halberd. 
 
 67, 17. — Foison : for foizon, a french word signifying 
 plenty. 
 
 68, 12. — Pyramises ; in use in Shakespeare's time for py- 
 ramids : moreover Lepidus was nearly intoxicated and his 
 tongue began to « split what it speaks » . 
 
 69, 6. — It own organs : would now be written, its own 
 organs. 
 
 69, 9. — It own colour : it, would now be written, its. 
 
 70, i3. — Inclips : embraces. 
 
 72, 7. — Keels : increase the world's giddy course. 
 
 72, 10. — Strike the vessels : as we now say, chink glasses, 
 or, break a bottle. 
 
 73, 11. — The holding: the chorus, or, the burden of the 
 song. 
 
 ACT III 
 
 77, 4. — Pacorus was the son of Orodes, king of Parthia. 
 
 78, 10. — Him we serve : doubtless, him we serve, is what 
 Shakespeare wrote, but modern editors read more gramma- 
 tically « when he we serve's away ». 
 
 80, 6. — Thou Arabian bird : the phoenix. 
 
 80, 14. — Shards: the scaly wing-cases of beetles : see, in 
 « Macbeth », the « shard-borne beetle ». 
 
 81, 4. — Band: band, and bond, in Shakespeare's time 
 were synonymous. 
 
 82, 11. — Cloud in 's face : a black spot on a horse's fore- 
 head is regarded as a gr-eat blemish, it being supposed to indi- 
 cate an ill-temper. 
 
 85, 5. — Me : a slip for « I ». 
 
 90, 5. — What is the success : what follows? or, what is the 
 issue ? 
 
 90, 7. — Rivality : equal rank. 
 
 92, 11. — Queasy : fastidious, disgusted. 
 
GLOSSARY AND NOTES Ig3 
 
 94> 6. — Ostentation: a slip in metre for « ostent», a word 
 frequently used by Shakespeare. 
 
 9^> 5 - — Trull •' here used as synonymous to harlot. 
 
 96, 11. — Forspoke : spoken against : compounded like 
 forbid. 
 
 97, 4. — Merely: entirely, absolutely lost. 
 
 98, 18. — Yare : dextrous, manageable. 
 
 102, 9. — Antoniad: Plutarch says this was the name of 
 Cleopatra's ship. 
 
 io3, 4. — Cantle : fragment, or rather, corner. 
 
 io3, 8. — Kibaldred: ribaudred in Folios: probably « ribald- 
 rid nag », that is strumpet. 
 
 io3, 12. — Breese : gad-fly. 
 
 io3, 16. — Loof'd: to loof is to bring a ship close to the 
 wind. 
 
 109, 2. — Within: superfluous, and apparently inserted in 
 error. 
 
 109, 5. — Schoolmaster : Euphronius was schoolmaster to 
 Cleopatra's children by Antony. 
 
 109, 1 3. — Hi's grand sea : his, would now-a-days be sup- 
 plied by its. 
 
 1 10, 19. — Offers: the sentence is transposed, and means 
 « add more offers from thine invention ». 
 
 112, 5. — Mered question : the question being limited to 
 him: used as a participial adjective formed from mere, or, 
 meer. 
 
 1 1 3 , 21. — To square : to quarrel. 
 
 1 1 5, 1 5. — Shroud : shelter. 
 
 116, 1. — Deputation : by, proxy, deputy. 
 
 1 16, 9. — Your Cxsar's father : Julius Caesar was not the 
 father, but the great uncle of Octavius (Augustus) whom he 
 adopted. 
 
 117, 3. — Muss: scramble; but more likely an allusion to 
 a boy's game so called. The game is mentioned by Rabelais. 
 
 117, 10. — Hand of she . a slip for a her ». 
 , , y t 1 , . — Was Cleopatra : since she ceased to be Cleopatra. 
 Antony and Cleopatra. 2 5 
 
'94 
 
 GLOSSARY AND NOTES 
 
 1 1 8, 3. — Feeders: dependents. 
 
 n8, 2i. — The hill of Basan : from Psalm LXVIII, i5. 
 
 119, 4. — Yare : nimble, adroit. 
 
 120, 1. — Enfranched : abbreviated form of enfranchised. 
 120, 9. — Ties his points : acts as his body servant : the points 
 
 tied the doublet to the hose; but not in Rome. 
 
 120, 17. — Discandying : thawing. 
 
 121, 18. — Gaudy . festive : gaudy is still an epithet bes- 
 towed on. certain 'festival days at the Universities of Oxford 
 and Cambridge. 
 
 ACT IV 
 
 123, 4. — Ways to die : Shakespeare was misled by the am- 
 biguity of the old translation of Plutarch, « Caesar answered, 
 that he [Antony] had many other ways to die, than so ». 
 
 i25, 5. — Woo't thou : wilt thou. 
 
 126, 16. — Yield you : reward you. 
 
 127, 1. — Ho, ho, ho! : ho is an interjection commanding 
 to desist or leave off. 
 
 i3o, 2. — My chuck: my chicken. 
 
 1 3o, 7. — False, false; this, this : this is the piece you ought 
 to have given me, and not that of which you asked the use. 
 
 1 32, 4. — Well said: well done : see « As you like it », 
 act II, sc. vi, 1. 14., and « Hamlet », act. I, sc. v, 1. 162. 
 
 1 34, 10. — Three-nook'd world: Europe, Asia, and Africa, 
 the then whole known world. 
 
 1 36, 5. — Blows my heart: swells, or, smites, my heart. 
 1 36, 1 5. — Droven : a slip for driven. 
 
 137, 2. — An H : an ache : so pronounced. 
 1 38, z. — Gests : deeds, exploits. 
 
 1 38, 8. — Clip : Embrace, enfold. 
 
 1 38, 1 5. — Proof of harness : armour of proof. 
 
 139, 1 5. — Owe them : query, own them. 
 
 139, 21. — Tdbourines : small drums. 
 
 140, 2. — Court of gu,ard : room where the guard musters. 
 
GLOSSARY AND NOTES I g5 
 
 142, 2. — Kaught him : reached him. 
 
 142, 3. — Demurely : soberly, solemnly. 
 
 143, 3. — Go we up : there is a hiatus here in the text : 
 the words proposed correspond with the text of North's Plu- 
 tarch. 
 
 144, 10. — Triple turn'd: Cleopatra was first the mistress 
 of Julius Caesar, then of Cneius Pompey, and afterwards of 
 Antony. 
 
 145, 2. — Crownei : coronet. 
 
 1 45, 12. — Doits : the smallest coins; half farthings. 
 
 145, 18. — Teach me, Alcides : Hercules, from whom Antony 
 claimed descent, and who threw into the sea his servant Li- 
 chas, who brought him the poisoned shirt of Nessus from De- 
 janira. 
 
 146, 4. — Than Telamon : Ajax who went mad about the 
 armour of Achilles. 
 
 146, 5. — Emboss'd: blown, and foaming at the mouth. 
 
 147, 12. — Knave: servant. 
 
 149, 6. — Thy continent: the thing that contains thee. 
 
 i5o, 19. — Pleach'd: intertwined, folded. 
 
 i58, 2. — Housewife Fortune : pronounced hussif : a hussy, 
 wanton: see similar use of « housewife » in « Henry IV », 
 part 11, « Henry V » and « Othello ». 
 
 1 5g, 6. — Remarkable : a word, in Shakespeare's time, of 
 very grave import : conspicuous. 
 
 1 5g, 1 3. — Chares: task-work. 
 
 ACT V 
 
 161, 2. — Frustrate: frustrated. 
 
 166, 3. — Fortune's knave : the servant of fortune. 
 
 169, 2. — If idle talk : « if it will be necessary now, for once 
 to waste a moment in idle talk of my purpose, I will not sleep 
 neither. » Probably a line is lost after necessary, e. g. « I '11 not 
 so much as syllable a word », 
 
 169, 1 3. — Pyramides : not pyramises (as at page 68). 
 
196 glossar'y and notes 
 
 171, 11. — Plates : pieces of silver money. 
 
 173, 6. — Project : proctor, or, shape, my cause. 
 
 175, 8. — Envy : malice, spite. 
 
 175, 11. — Modern friends : commonplace, unimportant, 
 friends. 
 
 175, 19. — Forbear, Seleucus : retire, Seleucus. 
 
 178, 7. — Scald: a word of contempt implying poverty, 
 disease, filth. 
 
 178, 12. — Boy my greatness : the parts of women on the 
 stage were acted by boys. 
 
 178, 18. — Absurd intents : possibly an error for « assur'd ». 
 
 1 79, 3. — Sirrah Iras : sirrah was a familiar address applied 
 to women as well as to men. 
 
 180, 2. — Worm : serpent : here it is the asp. 
 
 182, 2. — Yare : quickly, nimbly. 
 
 182, 12. — Dost fall? : as Cleopatra says a farewell » to 
 Iras she applies an asp to her attendant; hence afterwards her 
 murder of Iras, strikes her as cowardly, and she exclaims 
 « This proves me base ». 
 
 182, 23. — Intrinsicate : intricate, or, tightly drawn. 
 
 i83, 1. — Ass unpolicied : ass without more policy than, 
 etc. 
 
 186, 7. — Pursu'd conclusions: tried experiments. 
 
 186, 11. — Clip : embrace, enfold. 
 
CE LIVRE 
 
 A ETE ACHEVE D'lMPRIMER 
 
 \ 
 
 Le 50 Mars 1891 
 
 POUR 
 
 DUPRAT ET C IE , EDITEURS 
 
 PAR 
 
 D. JOUAUST 
 
 A PARIS