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DRAMATIS PERSONAE (Persons Represented):

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

:CLEOPATRA, Queen of Egypt
:OCTAVIA,   Sister to Caesar 
:CHARMIAN,  Attendant on Cleopatra
:IRAS,      Attendant on Cleopatra

:Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants


:SCENE: Dispersed, in several parts of the Roman Empire.


== 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, reneges all temper,
:And is become the bellows and the fan
:To cool a gipsy's lust.

[Flourish within.]

: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.

[Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with their trains; Eunuchs fanning her.]

CLEOPATRA.
:If it be love indeed, tell me how much.

ANTONY.
:There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd.

CLEOPATRA.
:I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd.

ANTONY.
:Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.

[Enter 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;
:Perform't, or else we damn thee.'

ANTONY.
:How, my love!

CLEOPATRA.
:Perchance! Nay, and most like:—
:You must not stay here longer,—your dismission
:Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony.  —
:Where's Fulvia's process?—Caesar's I would say?—Both?—
:Call in the messengers.—As I am Egypt's queen,
:Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine
:Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame
:When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds.—The messengers!

ANTONY.
:Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
:Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space.
:Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike
:Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
:Is to do thus [Embracing]; when such a mutual pair
:And such a twain can do't, in which I bind,
:On pain of punishment, the world to weet
:We stand up peerless.

CLEOPATRA.
:Excellent falsehood!
:Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?—
:I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
:Will be himself.

ANTONY.
:But stirr'd by Cleopatra.—
:Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,
:Let's not confound the time with conference harsh:
:There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
:Without some pleasure now:—what sport to-night?

CLEOPATRA.
:Hear the ambassadors.

ANTONY.
:Fie, wrangling queen!
:Whom everything becomes,—to chide, to laugh,
:To weep; whose every passion fully strives
:To make itself in thee fair and admir'd!
:No messenger; but thine, and all alone
:To-night we'll wander through the streets and note
:The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
:Last night you did desire it:—speak not to us.

[Exeunt ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, with 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.]

=== SCENE II. Alexandria. Another Room in CLEOPATRA'S palace. ===

[Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Soothsayer.]

CHARMIAN.
:Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost
:most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you praised so
:to the queen? O that I knew this husband, which you say must
:charge his horns with garlands!

ALEXAS.
:Soothsayer,—

SOOTHSAYER.
:Your will?

CHARMIAN.
:Is this the man?—Is't you, sir, that know things?

SOOTHSAYER.
:In nature's infinite book of secrecy
:A little I can read.

ALEXAS.
:Show him your hand.

[Enter ENOBARBUS.]

ENOBARBUS.
:Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough
:Cleopatra's health to drink.

CHARMIAN.
:Good, sir, give me good fortune.

SOOTHSAYER.
:I make not, but foresee.

CHARMIAN.
:Pray, then, foresee me one.

SOOTHSAYER.
:You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

CHARMIAN.
:He means in flesh.

IRAS.
:No, you shall paint when you are old.

CHARMIAN.
:Wrinkles forbid!

ALEXAS.
:Vex not his prescience; be attentive.

CHARMIAN.
:Hush!

SOOTHSAYER.
:You shall be more beloving than beloved.

CHARMIAN.
:I had rather heat my liver with drinking.

ALEXAS.
:Nay, hear him.

CHARMIAN.
:Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three
:kings in a forenoon, and widow them all: let me have a child at
:fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry me
:with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.

SOOTHSAYER.
:You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.

CHARMIAN.
:O, excellent! I love long life better than figs.

SOOTHSAYER.
:You have seen and prov'd a fairer former fortune
:Than that which is to approach.

CHARMIAN.
:Then belike my children shall have no names:—pr'ythee, how many
:boys and wenches must I have?

SOOTHSAYER.
:If every of your wishes had a womb,
:And fertile every wish, a million.

CHARMIAN.
:Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.

ALEXAS.
:You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.

CHARMIAN.
:Nay, come, tell Iras hers.

ALEXAS.
:We'll know all our fortunes.

ENOBARBUS.
:Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night, shall be—
:drunk to bed.

IRAS.
:There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.

CHARMIAN.
:E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.

IRAS.
:Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.

CHARMIAN.
:Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot
:scratch mine ear.—Pr'ythee, tell her but worky-day fortune.

SOOTHSAYER.
:Your fortunes are alike.

IRAS.
:But how, but how? give me particulars.

SOOTHSAYER.
:I have said.

IRAS.
:Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?

CHARMIAN.
:Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where
:would you choose it?

IRAS.
:Not in my husband's nose.

CHARMIAN.
:Our worser thoughts heavens mend!—Alexas,—come, his fortune!
:his fortune!—O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet
:Isis, I beseech thee! And let her die too, and give him a worse!
:and let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him
:laughing to his grave, fiftyfold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me
:this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good
:Isis, I beseech thee!

IRAS.
:Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people! for, as it is
:a heartbreaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a
:deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded: therefore, dear
:Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly!

CHARMIAN.
:Amen.

ALEXAS.
:Lo now, if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold, they would
:make themselves whores but they'd 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?

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 CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHAR., IRAS, ALEX., and Soothsayer.]

[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.—'Tis thus;
:Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
:I hear him as he flatter'd.

MESSENGER.
:Labienus,—
:This is stiff news,—hath, with his Parthian force,
:Extended Asia from Euphrates;
:His conquering banner shook from Syria
:To Lydia and to Ionia;
:Whilst,—

ANTONY.
:Antony, thou wouldst say,—

MESSENGER.
:O, my lord!

ANTONY.
:Speak to me home, mince not the general tongue:
:Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome;
:Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults
:With such full licence as both truth and malice
:Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds
:When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us
:Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.

MESSENGER.
:At your noble pleasure.

[Exit.]

ANTONY.
:From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there!

FIRST ATTENDANT.
:The man from Sicyon—is there such an one?

SECOND ATTENDANT.
:He stays upon your will.

ANTONY.
:Let him appear.—
:These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,
:Or lose myself in dotage.—

[Enter another MESSENGER.]

: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 MESSENGER.]

:There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it:
:What our contempts doth often hurl from us,
:We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,
:By revolution lowering, 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—ho, Enobarbus!

[Re-enter ENOBARBUS.]

ENOBARBUS.
:What's your pleasure, sir?

ANTONY.
:I must with haste from hence.

ENOBARBUS.
:Why, then we kill all our women: we see how mortal an unkindness
:is to them; if they suffer our departure, death's the word.

ANTONY.
:I must be gone.

ENOBARBUS.
:Under a compelling occasion, let women die: it were pity to cast
:them away for nothing; though, between them and a great cause
:they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the
:least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty
:times upon far poorer moment: I do think there is mettle in
:death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a
:celerity in dying.

ANTONY.
:She is cunning past man's thought.

ENOBARBUS.
:Alack, sir, no: her passions are made of nothing but the finest
:part of pure love: we cannot call her winds and waters, sighs and
:tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can
:report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a
: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.

ANTONY.
:Fulvia is dead.

ENOBARBUS.
:Sir?

ANTONY.
:Fulvia is dead.

ENOBARBUS.
:Fulvia?

ANTONY.
:Dead.

ENOBARBUS.
:Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth
:their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to
:man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein that when old
:robes are worn out there are members to make new. If there were
:no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case
:to be lamented: this grief is crown'd with consolation; your old
:smock brings forth a new petticoat:—and, indeed, the tears live
:in an onion that should water this sorrow.

ANTONY.
:The business she hath broached in the state
:Cannot endure my absence.

ENOBARBUS.
:And the business you have broached here cannot be without you;
:especially that of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your
:abode.

ANTONY.
:No more light answers. Let our officers
:Have notice what we purpose. I shall break
:The cause of our expedience to the queen,
:And get her leave to part. For not alone
:The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
:Do strongly speak to us; but the letters 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' the world may danger: much is breeding
:Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life
:And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure
:To such whose place is under us, requires
:Our quick remove from hence.

ENOBARBUS.
:I shall do't.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE III. Alexandria. A Room in CLEOPATRA'S palace. ===

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Where is he?

CHARMIAN.
:I did not see him since.

CLEOPATRA.
:See where he is, who's with him, what he does:—
:I did not send you:—if you find him sad,
:Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
:That I am sudden sick: quick, and return.

[Exit ALEXAS.]

CHARMIAN.
:Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly,
:You do not hold the method to enforce
:The like from him.

CLEOPATRA.
:What should I do, I do not?

CHARMIAN.
:In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing.

CLEOPATRA.
:Thou teachest like a fool,—the way to lose him.

CHARMIAN.
:Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear;
:In time we hate that which we often fear.
: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;
:It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature
:Will not sustain it.

ANTONY.
:Now, my dearest queen,—

CLEOPATRA.
:Pray you, stand farther from me.

ANTONY.
:What's the matter?

CLEOPATRA.
:I know by that same eye there's some good news.
:What says the married woman?—You may go.
:Would she had never given you leave to come!
:Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here,—
:I have no power upon you; hers you are.

ANTONY.
:The gods best know,—

CLEOPATRA.
:O, never was there queen
:So mightily betray'd! Yet at the first
:I saw the treasons planted.

ANTONY.
:Cleopatra,—

CLEOPATRA.
:Why should I think you can be mine and true,
:Though you in swearing shake the throned gods,
:Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness,
:To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,
:Which break themselves in swearing!

ANTONY.
:Most sweet queen,—

CLEOPATRA.
:Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going,
:But bid farewell, and go: when you su'd 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 thriv'd
:Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
:And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
:By any desperate change. My more particular,
:And that which most with you should safe my going,
:Is Fulvia's death.

CLEOPATRA.
:Though age from folly could not give me freedom,
:It does from childishness:—can Fulvia die?

ANTONY.
:She's dead, my queen.
:Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read
:The garboils she awak'd;at the last, best.
:See when and where she died.

CLEOPATRA.
:O most false love!
:Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
:With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
:In Fulvia's death how mine receiv'd shall be.

ANTONY.
:Quarrel no more, but be prepar'd to know
:The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
:As you shall give theadvice. 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.

CLEOPATRA.
:So Fulvia told me.
:I pr'ythee, turn aside and weep for her;
:Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
:Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene
:Of excellent dissembling; and let it look
:Like perfect honour.

ANTONY.
:You'll heat my blood: no more.

CLEOPATRA.
:You can do better yet; but this is meetly.

ANTONY.
:Now, by my sword,—

CLEOPATRA.
:And target.—Still he mends;
:But this is not the best:—look, pr'ythee, Charmian,
:How this Herculean Roman does become
:The carriage of his chafe.

ANTONY.
:I'll leave you, lady.

CLEOPATRA.
:Courteous lord, one word.
:Sir, you and I must part,—but that's not it;
:Sir, you and I have lov'd,—but there's not it;
:That you know well: something it is I would,—
:O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
:And I am all forgotten.

ANTONY.
:But that your royalty
:Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
:For idleness itself.

CLEOPATRA.
:'Tis sweating labour
:To bear such idleness so near the heart
:As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me;
:Since my becomings kill me, when they do not
:Eye well to you: your honour calls you hence;
:Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
:And all the gods go with you! upon your sword
:Sit laurel victory! and smooth success
:Be strew'd before your feet!

ANTONY.
:Let us go. Come;
:Our separation so abides, and flies,
:That thou, residing here, goes yet with me,
:And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
:Away!

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE IV. Rome.  An Apartment in CAESAR'S House. ===

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, LEPIDUS, and Attendants.]

CAESAR.
:You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know,
:It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate
:Our great competitor. From Alexandria
:This is the <NOWIKI>news:</NOWIKI>—he fishes, drinks, and wastes
:The lamps of night in revel: is not more manlike
:Than Cleopatra;, nor the queen of Ptolemy
:More womanly than he: hardly gave audience, or
:Vouchsaf'd to think he had partners: you shall find there
:A man who is the abstract of all faults
:That all men follow.

LEPIDUS.
:I must not think there are
:Evils enow to darken all his goodness:
:His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven,
:More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary
:Rather than purchas'd; what he cannot change
:Than what he chooses.

CAESAR.
:You are too indulgent. Let's grant it is not
:Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy;
:To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit
:And keep the turn of tippling with a slave;
:To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet
:With knaves that smell of sweat: say this becomes him,—
:As his composure must be rare indeed
:Whom these things cannot blemish,—yet must Antony
:No way excuse his foils when we do bear
:So great weight in his lightness. If he fill'd
:His vacancy with his voluptuousness,
:Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones
:Call on him for't: but to confound such time
:That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud
:As his own state and ours,—'tis to be chid
:As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge,
:Pawn their experience to their present pleasure,
:And so rebel to judgment.

[Enter a Messenger.]

LEPIDUS.
:Here's more news.

MESSENGER.
:Thy biddings have been done; and every hour,
:Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report
:How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea;
:And it appears he is belov'd of those
:That only have fear'd Caesar: to the ports
:The discontents repair, and men's reports
:Give him much wrong'd.

CAESAR.
:I should have known no less:
:It hath been taught us from the primal state
:That he which is was wish'd until he were;
:And the ebb'd man, ne'er lov'd till ne'er worth love,
:Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body,
:Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream,
:Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide,
:To rot itself with motion.

MESSENGER.
:Caesar, I bring thee word
:Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates,
:Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound
:With keels of every kind: many hot inroads
:They make in Italy; the borders maritime
:Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt:
:No vessel can peep forth but 'tis as soon
:Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more
:Than could his war resisted.

CAESAR.
:Antony,
:Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once
:Was beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st
:Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel
:Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against,
:Though daintily brought up, with patience more
:Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink
:The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle
:Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign
:The roughest berry on the rudest hedge;
:Yea, like the stag when snow the pasture sheets,
:The barks of trees thou 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.
:'Tis pity of him.

CAESAR.
:Let his shames quickly
:Drive him to Rome; 'tis time we twain
:Did show ourselves i' thefield; and to that end
:Assemble we immediate council: Pompey
:Thrives in our idleness.

LEPIDUS.
:To-morrow, Caesar,
:I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly
:Both what by sea and land I can be able
:To front this present time.

CAESAR.
:Till which encounter
:It is my business too. Farewell.

LEPIDUS.
:Farewell, my lord: what you shall know meantime
:Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir,
:To let me be partaker.

CAESAR.
:Doubt not, sir;
:I knew it for my bond.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE V. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. ===

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Charmian,—

CHARMIAN.
:Madam?

CLEOPATRA.
:Ha, ha!—
:Give me to drink mandragora.

CHARMIAN.
:Why, madam?

CLEOPATRA.
:That I might sleep out this great gap of time
:My Antony is away.

CHARMIAN.
:You think of him too much.

CLEOPATRA.
:O, 'tis treason!

CHARMIAN.
:Madam, I trust, not so.

CLEOPATRA.
:Thou, eunuch Mardian!

MARDIAN.
:What's your highness' pleasure?

CLEOPATRA.
:Not now to hear thee sing; I take no pleasure
:In aught an eunuch has; 'tis well for thee
:That, being unseminar'd, thy freer thoughts
:May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?

MARDIAN.
:Yes, gracious madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:Indeed!

MARDIAN.
:Not in deed, madam; for I can do nothing
:But what indeed is honest to be done:
:Yet have I fierce affections, and think
:What Venus did with Mars.

CLEOPATRA.
:O Charmian,
:Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he or sits he?
:Or does he walk? or is he on his horse?
:O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!
:Do bravely, horse! for wott'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?

ALEXAS.
:Last thing he did, dear queen,
:He kiss'd,—the last of many doubled kisses,—
:This orient pearl: his speech sticks in my heart.

CLEOPATRA.
:Mine ear must pluck it thence.

ALEXAS.
:'Good friend,' quoth he
:'Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
:This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot,
:To mend the petty present, I will piece
:Her opulent throne with kingdoms; all the east,
:Say thou, shall call her mistress.' So he nodded,
:And soberly did mount an arm-girt steed,
:Who neigh'd so high that what I would have spoke
:Was beastly dumb'd by him.

CLEOPATRA.
:What, was he sad or merry?

ALEXAS.
:Like to the time o' 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; 'tis the man; but note him:
:He was not sad,—for he would shine on those
:That make their looks by his; he was not merry,—
:Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay
:In Egypt with his joy; but between both:
:O heavenly mingle!—Be'st thou sad or merry,
:The violence of either thee becomes,
:So does it no man else.—Mett'st thou my posts?

ALEXAS.
:Ay, madam, twenty several messengers.
:Why do you send so thick?

CLEOPATRA.
:Who's born that day
:When I forget to send to Antony
:Shall die a beggar.—Ink and paper, Charmian.—
:Welcome, my good Alexas.—Did I, Charmian,
:Ever love Caesar so?

CHARMIAN.
:O that brave Caesar!

CLEOPATRA.
:Be chok'd with such another emphasis!
:Say 'the brave Antony.'

CHARMIAN.
:The valiant Caesar!

CLEOPATRA.
:By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth
:If thou with Caesar paragon again
:My man of men.

CHARMIAN.
:By your most gracious pardon,
:I sing but after you.

CLEOPATRA.
:My salad days,
:When I was green in judgment:—cold in blood,
:To say as I said then!—But come, away;
:Get me ink and paper: he shall have every day
:A several greeting,
:Or I'll unpeople Egypt.

[Exeunt.]

== ACT II. ==

=== SCENE I. Messina. A Room in POMPEY'S house. ===

[Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS.]

POMPEY.
:If the great gods be just, they shall assist
:The deeds of justest men.

MENECRATES.
:Know, worthy Pompey,
:That what they do delay they not deny.

POMPEY.
:Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
:The thing we sue for.

MENECRATES.
:We, ignorant of ourselves,
:Beg often our own harms, which the wise 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 without doors: Caesar gets money where
:He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
:Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves
:Nor either cares for him.

MENAS.
:Caesar and Lepidus
:Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.

POMPEY.
:Where have you this? 'tis false.

MENAS.
:From Silvius, sir.

POMPEY.
:He dreams: I know they are in Rome together,
:Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love,
:Salt Cleopatra, soften thy wan'd lip!
:Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
:Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts,
:Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
:Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite;
:That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
:Even till a Lethe'd dullness.

[Enter VARRIUS.]

How now, Varrius!

VARRIUS.
:This is most certain that I shall deliver:—
:Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
:Expected: since he went from Egypt 'tis
:A space for 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 upon him; although, I think,
:Not mov'd by Antony.

POMPEY.
:I know not, Menas,
:How lesser enmities may give way to greater.
:Were't not that we stand up against them all,
:'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves;
:For they have entertained cause enough
:To draw their swords: but how the fear of us
:May cement their divisions, and bind up
:The petty difference, we yet not know.
:Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
:Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.
:Come, Menas.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE II. Rome. A Room in the House of LEPIDUS. ===

[Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS.]

LEPIDUS.
:Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
:And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
:To soft and gentle speech.

ENOBARBUS.
:I shall entreat him
:To answer like himself: if Caesar move him,
:Let Antony look over Caesar's head,
:And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
:Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,
:I would not shave't to-day.

LEPIDUS.
:'Tis not a time
:For private stomaching.

ENOBARBUS.
:Every time
:Serves for the matter that is then born in't.

LEPIDUS.
:But small to greater matters must give way.

ENOBARBUS.
:Not if the small come first.

LEPIDUS.
:Your speech is passion:
:But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
:The noble Antony.

[Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS.]

ENOBARBUS.
:And yonder, Caesar.

[Enter CAESAR, MAECENAS, and AGRIPPA.]

ANTONY.
:If we compose well here, to Parthia;
:Hark, Ventidius.

CAESAR.
:I do not know,
:Maecenas; ask Agrippa.

LEPIDUS.
:Noble friends,
:That which combin'd us was most great, and let not
:A leaner action rend us. What's amiss,
:May it be gently heard: when we debate
:Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
:Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners,—
:The rather for I earnestly beseech,—
:Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
:Nor curstness grow to the matter.

ANTONY.
:'Tis spoken well.
:Were we before our armies, and to fight,
:I should do thus.

CAESAR.
:Welcome to Rome.

ANTONY.
:Thank you.

CAESAR.
:Sit.

ANTONY.
:Sit, sir.

CAESAR.
:Nay, then.

ANTONY.
:I learn you take things ill which are not so,
:Or being, concern you not.

CAESAR.
:I must be laugh'd at
:If, or for nothing or a little, I
:Should say myself offended, and with you
:Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at that I should
:Once name you derogately, when to sound your name
:It not concern'd me.

ANTONY.
:My being in Egypt, Caesar,
:What was't to you?

CAESAR.
:No more than my residing here at Rome
:Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there
:Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt
:Might be my question.

ANTONY.
:How intend you practis'd?

CAESAR.
:You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent
:By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
:Made wars upon me; and their contestation
:Was theme for you, you were the word of war.

ANTONY.
:You do mistake your business; my brother never
:Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;
:And have my learning from some true reports
:That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
:Discredit my authority with yours;
:And make the wars alike against my stomach,
:Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
:Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel
:As matter whole you have not to make it with,
:It must not be with this.

CAESAR.
:You praise yourself
:By laying defects of judgment to me; but
:You patch'd up your excuses.

ANTONY.
:Not so, not so;
:I know you could not lack, I am certain on't,
:Very necessity of this thought, that I,
:Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
:Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
:Which 'fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
:I would you had her spirit in such another:
:The third o' theworld is yours; which with a snaffle
:You may pace easy, but not such a wife.

ENOBARBUS.
:Would we had all such wives, that the men
:Might go to wars with the women.

ANTONY.
:So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar,
:Made out of her impatience,—which not wanted
:Shrewdness of policy too,—I grieving grant
:Did you too much disquiet: for that you must
:But say I could not help it.

CAESAR.
:I wrote to you
:When rioting in Alexandria; you
:Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
:Did gibe my missive out of audience.

ANTONY.
:Sir,
:He fell upon me ere admitted: then
:Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
:Of what I was i' the morning: but next day
:I told him of myself; which was as much
:As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow
:Be nothing of our strife; if we contend,
:Out of our question wipe him.

CAESAR.
:You have broken
:The article of your oath; which you shall never
:Have tongue to charge me with.

LEPIDUS.
:Soft, Caesar!

ANTONY.
:No; Lepidus, let him speak.
:The honour is sacred which he talks on now,
:Supposing that I lack'd it.—But on, Caesar;
:The article of my oath.

CAESAR.
:To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd them;
:The which you both denied.

ANTONY.
:Neglected, rather;
:And then when poison'd hours had bound me up
:From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
:I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
:Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
:Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,
:To have me out of Egypt, made wars here;
:For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
:So far ask pardon as befits mine honour
:To stoop in such a case.

LEPIDUS.
:'Tis noble spoken.

MAECENAS.
:If it might please you to enforce no further
:The griefs between ye: to forget them quite
:Were to remember that the present need
:Speaks to atone you.

LEPIDUS.
:Worthily spoken, Maecenas.

ENOBARBUS.
:Or, if you borrow one another's love for the instant, you may,
:when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you shall
:have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.

ANTONY.
:Thou art a soldier only: speak no more.

ENOBARBUS.
:That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.

ANTONY.
:You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more.

ENOBARBUS.
:Go to, then; your considerate stone!

CAESAR.
:I do not much dislike the matter, but
:The manner of his speech; for't cannot be
:We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
:So differing in their acts. Yet if I knew
:What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge
:O' the world, I would pursue it.

AGRIPPA.
:Give me leave, Caesar,—

CAESAR.
:Speak, Agrippa.

AGRIPPA.
:Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
:Admir'd Octavia: great Mark Antony
:Is now a widower.

CAESAR.
:Say not so, Agrippa:
:If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
:Were well deserv'd of rashness.

ANTONY.
:I am not married, Caesar: let me hear
:Agrippa further speak.

AGRIPPA.
:To hold you in perpetual amity,
:To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
:With an unslipping knot, take Antony
:Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims
:No worse a husband than the best of men;
:Whose virtue and whose general graces speak
:That which none else can utter. By this marriage
:All little jealousies, which now seem great,
:And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
:Would then be nothing: truths would be tales,
:Where now half tales be truths: her love to both
:Would each to other, and all loves to both,
:Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;
:For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,
:By duty ruminated.

ANTONY.
:Will Caesar speak?

CAESAR.
:Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd
:With what is spoke already.

ANTONY.
:What power is in Agrippa,
:If I would say 'Agrippa, be it so,'
:To make this good?

CAESAR.
:The power of Caesar, and
:His power unto Octavia.

ANTONY.
:May I never
:To this good purpose, that so fairly shows,
:Dream of impediment!—Let me have thy hand:
:Further this act of grace; and from this hour
:The heart of brothers govern in our loves
:And sway our great designs!

CAESAR.
:There is my hand.
:A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother
:Did ever love so dearly: let her live
:To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never
:Fly off our loves again!

LEPIDUS.
:Happily, amen!

ANTONY.
:I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey;
:For he hath laid strange courtesies and great
:Of late upon me. I must thank him only,
:Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
:At heel of that, defy him.

LEPIDUS.
:Time calls upon's:
:Of us must Pompey presently be sought,
:Or else he seeks out us.

ANTONY.
:Where lies he?

CAESAR.
:About the Mount Misenum.

ANTONY.
:What is his strength
:By land?

CAESAR.
:Great and increasing; but by sea
:He is an absolute master.

ANTONY.
:So is the fame.
:Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it:
:Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we
:The business we have talk'd of.

CAESAR.
:With most gladness;
:And do invite you to my sister's view,
:Whither straight I'll lead you.

ANTONY.
:Let us, Lepidus,
:Not lack your company.

LEPIDUS.
:Noble Antony,
:Not sickness should detain me.

[Flourish. Exeunt CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS.]

MAECENAS.
:Welcome from Egypt, sir.

ENOBARBUS.
:Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas!—my honourable friend,
:Agrippa!—

AGRIPPA.
:Good Enobarbus!

MAECENAS.
:We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You
:stay'd well by it in Egypt.

ENOBARBUS.
:Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night
:light with drinking.

MAECENAS.
:Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve
:persons there. Is this true?

ENOBARBUS.
:This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had much more monstrous
:matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.

MAECENAS.
:She's a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.

ENOBARBUS.
:When she first met Mark Antony she pursed up his heart, upon the
:river of Cydnus.

AGRIPPA.
:There she appeared indeed; or my reporter devised well for her.

ENOBARBUS.
:I will tell you.
:The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,
:Burn'd on the water: the poop was beaten gold;
:Purple the sails, and so perfumèd 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 out-work nature: on each side her
:Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,
:With divers-colour'd fans, whose wind did seem
:To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool,
:And what they undid did.

AGRIPPA.
:O, rare for Antony!

ENOBARBUS.
:Her gentlewomen, like the Nereids,
:So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes,
:And made their bends adornings: at the helm
:A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle
:Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands
:That yarely frame the office. From the barge
:A strange invisible perfume hits the sense
:Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
:Her people out upon her; and Antony,
:Enthron'd i' the market-place, did sit alone,
:Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,
:Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too,
:And made a gap in nature.

AGRIPPA.
:Rare Egyptian!

ENOBARBUS.
:Upon her landing, Antony sent to her,
:Invited her to supper: she replied
:It should be better he became her guest;
:Which she entreated: our courteous Antony,
:Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak,
:Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast,
:And, for his ordinary, pays his heart
:For what his eyes eat only.

AGRIPPA.
:Royal wench!
:She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed:
:He ploughed her, and she cropp'd.

ENOBARBUS.
:I saw her once
:Hop forty paces through the public street;
:And, having lost her breath, she spoke and panted,
:That she did make defect perfection,
:And, breathless, power breathe forth.

MAECENAS.
:Now Antony must leave her utterly.

ENOBARBUS.
:Never; he will not:
:Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale
:Her infinite variety: other women cloy
:The appetites they feed; but she makes hungry
:Where most she satisfies: for vilest things
:Become themselves in her; that the holy priests
:Bless her when she is riggish.

MAECENAS.
:If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle
:The heart of Antony, Octavia is
:A blessed lottery to him.

AGRIPPA.
:Let us go.—
:Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest
:Whilst you abide here.

ENOBARBUS.
:Humbly, sir, I thank you.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE III. Rome. A Room in CAESAR'S House. ===

[Enter CAESAR, ANTONY, 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.

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.—

OCTAVIA.
:Good night, sir.

CAESAR.
:Good night.

[Exeunt CAESAR and OCTAVIA.]

[Enter SOOTHSAYER.]

ANTONY.
:Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt?

SOOTHSAYER.
:Would I had never come from thence, nor you
:Thither!

ANTONY.
:If you can, your reason.

SOOTHSAYER.
:I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue; but yet
:Hie you to Egypt again.

ANTONY.
:Say to me,
:Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine?

SOOTHSAYER.
:Caesar's.
:Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side:
:Thy demon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is
:Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable,
:Where Caesar's is not; but near him thy angel
:Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore
:Make space enough between you.

ANTONY.
:Speak this no more.

SOOTHSAYER.
:To none but thee; no more but when to thee.
:If thou dost play with him at any game,
:Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck
:He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens
:When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
:Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
:But, he away, 'tis noble.

ANTONY.
:Get thee gone:
:Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:—

[Exit SOOTHSAYER.]

He shall to Parthia.—Be it art or hap,
:He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;—
:And in our sports my better cunning faints
:Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds;
:His cocks do win the battle still of mine,
:When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
:Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
:And though I make this marriage for my peace,
:I' the East my pleasure lies.

[Enter VENTIDIUS.]

O, come, Ventidius,
:You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;
:Follow me and receive it.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE IV.  Rome. A street. ===

[Enter LEPIDUS, MAECENAS, and AGRIPPA.]

LEPIDUS.
:Trouble yourselves no further: pray you, hasten
:Your generals after.

AGRIPPA.
:Sir, Mark Antony
:Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.

LEPIDUS.
:Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress,
:Which will become you both, farewell.

MAECENAS.
:We shall,
:As I conceive the journey, be at the mount
:Before you, Lepidus.

LEPIDUS.
:Your way is shorter;
:My purposes do draw me much about.
:You'll win two days upon me.

BOTH.
:Sir, good success!

LEPIDUS.
:Farewell.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE V. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. ===

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and Attendants.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Give me some music,—music, moody food
:Of us that trade in love.

ALL.
:The music, ho!

[Enter MARDIAN.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Let it alone; let's to billiards:
:Come, Charmian.

CHARMIAN.
:My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.

CLEOPATRA.
:As well a woman with an eunuch play'd
:As with a woman.—Come, you'll play with me, sir?

MARDIAN.
:As well as I can, madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:And when good will is show'd, though't come too short,
:The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:—
:Give me mine angle,—we'll to 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
:I'll think them every one an Antony,
:And say 'Ah ha! You're caught.'

CHARMIAN.
:'Twas merry when
:You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
:Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he
:With fervency drew up.

CLEOPATRA.
:That time?—O times!—
:I laughed him out of patience; and that night
:I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn,
:Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
:Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
:I wore his sword Philippan.

[Enter a MESSENGER.]

O! from Italy!—
:Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
:That long time have been barren.

MESSENGER.
:Madam, madam,—

CLEOPATRA.
:Antony's dead!—
:If thou say so, villain, thou kill'st thy mistress;
:But well and free,
:If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here
:My bluest veins to kiss,—a hand that kings
:Have lipp'd, and trembled kissing.

MESSENGER.
:First, madam, he's well.

CLEOPATRA.
:Why, there's more gold.
:But, sirrah, mark, we use
:To say the dead are well: bring it to that,
:The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
:Down thy ill-uttering throat.

MESSENGER.
:Good madam, hear me.

CLEOPATRA.
:Well, go to, I will;
:But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
:Be free and healthful,—why so tart a favour
:To trumpet such good tidings! If not well,
:Thou shouldst come like a fury crown'd with snakes,
:Not like a formal man.

MESSENGER.
:Will't please you hear me?

CLEOPATRA.
:I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st:
:Yet, if thou say Antony lives, is well,
:Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,
:I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail
:Rich pearls upon thee.

MESSENGER.
:Madam, he's well.

CLEOPATRA.
:Well said.

MESSENGER.
:And friends with Caesar.

CLEOPATRA.
:Th'art an honest man.

MESSENGER.
:Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.

CLEOPATRA.
:Make thee a fortune from me.

MESSENGER.
:But yet, madam,—

CLEOPATRA.
:I do not like 'but yet', it does allay
:The good precedence; fie upon 'but yet'!
:'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth
:Some monstrous malefactor. Pr'ythee, 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' the bed.

CLEOPATRA.
:I am pale, Charmian.

MESSENGER.
:Madam, he's married to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA.
:The most infectious pestilence upon thee!

[Strikes him down.]

MESSENGER.
:Good madam, patience.

CLEOPATRA.
:What say you?—Hence,

[Strikes him again.]

Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
:Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:

[She hales him up and down.]

Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire and stew'd in brine,
:Smarting in ling'ring pickle.

MESSENGER.
:Gracious madam,
:I that do bring the news made not the match.

CLEOPATRA.
:Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
:And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst
:Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
:And I will boot thee with what gift beside
:Thy modesty can beg.

MESSENGER.
:He's married, madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:Rogue, thou hast liv'd too long.

[Draws a dagger.]

MESSENGER.
:Nay, then I'll run.—
:What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

[Exit.]

CHARMIAN.
:Good madam, keep yourself within yourself:
:The man is innocent.

CLEOPATRA.
:Some innocents scape not the thunderbolt.—
:Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
:Turn all to serpents!—Call the slave again:—
:Though I am mad, I will not bite him:—call!

CHARMIAN.
:He is afear'd to come.

CLEOPATRA.
:I will not hurt him.

[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 <NOWIKI>news:</NOWIKI> give to a gracious message
:An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
:Themselves when they be felt.

MESSENGER.
:I have done my duty.

CLEOPATRA.
:Is he married?
:I cannot hate thee worser than I do
:If thou again say 'Yes.'

MESSENGER.
:He's married, madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:The gods confound thee! dost thou hold there still!

MESSENGER.
:Should I lie, madam?

CLEOPATRA.
:O, I would thou didst,
:So half my Egypt were submerg'd, and made
:A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go, get thee hence:
:Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me
:Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

MESSENGER.
:I crave your highness' pardon.

CLEOPATRA.
:He is married?

MESSENGER.
:Take no offence that I would not offend you:
:To punish me for what you make me do
:Seems much unequal: he's married to Octavia.

CLEOPATRA.
:O, that his fault should make a knave of thee
:That art not what tho'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 disprais'd Caesar.

CHARMIAN.
:Many times, madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:I am paid for't now.
:Lead me from hence;
:I faint:—O Iras, Charmian!—'tis no matter.—
:Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him
:Report the feature of Octavia, her years,
:Her inclination; let him not leave out
:The colour of her hair:—bring me word quickly.

[Exit ALEXAS.]

:Let him for ever go:—let him not, Charmian—
:Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
:T'other way he's a Mars.—[To MARDIAN] Bid you Alexas
:Bring me word how tall she is.—Pity me, Charmian,
:But do not speak to me.—Lead me to my chamber.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE VI.  Near Misenum. ===

[Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one side, with drum and
:trumpet; at  the other, CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, ENOBARBUS,
:MAECENAS, with Soldiers marching.]

POMPEY.
:Your hostages I have, so have you mine;
:And we shall talk before we fight.

CAESAR.
:Most meet
:That first we come to words; and therefore have we
:Our written purposes before us sent;
:Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know
:If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,
:And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
:That else must perish here.

POMPEY.
:To you all three,
:The senators alone of this great world,
:Chief factors for the gods,—I do not know
:Wherefore my father should revengers want,
:Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar,
:Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted,
:There saw you labouring for him. What was't
:That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire; and what
:Made the all-honour'd, honest Roman, Brutus,
:With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom,
:To drench the Capitol, but that they would
:Have one man but a man? And that is it
:Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burden
:The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
:To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
:Cast on my noble father.

CAESAR.
:Take your time.

ANTONY.
:Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails;
:We'll speak with thee at sea: at land thou know'st
:How much we do o'er-count thee.

POMPEY.
:At land, indeed,
:Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house:
:But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
:Remain in't as thou mayst.

LEPIDUS.
:Be pleas'd to tell us,—
:For this is from the present,—how you take
:The offers we have sent you.

CAESAR.
:There's the point.

ANTONY.
:Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
:What it is worth embrac'd.

CAESAR.
:And what may follow,
:To try a larger fortune.

POMPEY.
:You have made me offer
:Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must
:Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send
:Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon,
:To part with unhack'd edges and bear back
:Our targes undinted.

CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS.
:That's our offer.

POMPEY.
:Know, then,
:I came before you here a man prepar'd
:To take this offer: but Mark Antony
:Put me to some impatience:—though I lose
:The praise of it by telling, you must know,
:When Caesar and your brother were at blows,
:Your mother came to Sicily, and did find
:Her welcome friendly.

ANTONY.
:I have heard it, Pompey,
:And am well studied for a liberal thanks
:Which I do owe you.

POMPEY.
:Let me have your hand:
:I did not think, sir, to have met you here.

ANTONY.
:The beds i' the East are soft; and, thanks to you,
:That call'd me, timelier than my purpose, hither;
:For I have gained by it.

CAESAR.
:Since I saw you last
:There is a change upon you.

POMPEY.
:Well, I know not
:What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;
:But in my bosom shall she never come
:To make my heart her vassal.

LEPIDUS.
:Well met here.

POMPEY.
:I hope so, Lepidus.—Thus we are agreed:
:I crave our composition may be written,
:And seal'd between us.

CAESAR.
:That's the next to do.

POMPEY.
:We'll feast each other ere we part; and let's
:Draw lots who shall begin.

ANTONY.
:That will I, Pompey.

POMPEY.
:No, Antony, take the lot: but, first
:Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
:Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar
:Grew fat with feasting there.

ANTONY.
:You have heard much.

POMPEY.
:I have fair meanings, sir.

ANTONY.
:And fair words to them.

POMPEY.
:Then so much have I heard;
:And I have heard Apollodorus carried,—

ENOBARBUS.
:No more of that:—he did so.

POMPEY.
:What, I pray you?

ENOBARBUS.
:A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.

POMPEY.
:I know thee now: how far'st thou, soldier?

ENOBARBUS.
:Well;
:And well am like to do; for I perceive
:Four feasts are toward.

POMPEY.
:Let me shake thy hand;
:I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight,
:When I have envied thy behaviour.

ENOBARBUS.
:Sir,
:I never lov'd you much; but I ha' prais'd ye
:When you have well deserv'd ten times as much
:As I have said you did.

POMPEY.
:Enjoy thy plainness;
:It nothing ill becomes thee.—
:Aboard my galley I invite you all:
:Will you lead, lords?

CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS.
:Show's the way, sir.

POMPEY.
:Come.

[Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS and MENAS.]

MENAS.
:[Aside.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this treaty.—
:You and I have known, sir.

ENOBARBUS.
:At sea, I think.

MENAS.
:We have, sir.

ENOBARBUS.
:You have done well by water.

MENAS.
:And you by land.

ENOBARBUS.
:I will praise any man that will praise me; though it cannot be
:denied what I have done by land.

MENAS.
:Nor what I have done by water.

ENOBARBUS.
:Yes, something you can deny for your own safety: you have been a
:great thief by sea.

MENAS.
:And you by land.

ENOBARBUS.
:There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: if
:our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing.

MENAS.
:All men's faces are true, whatsome'er their hands are.

ENOBARBUS.
:But there is never a fair woman has a true face.

MENAS.
:No slander; they steal hearts.

ENOBARBUS.
:We came hither to fight with you.

MENAS.
:For my part, I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking. Pompey doth
:this day laugh away his fortune.

ENOBARBUS.
:If he do, sure he cannot weep it back again.

MENAS.
:You have 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 you, sir?

ENOBARBUS.
:'Tis true.

MENAS.
:Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.

ENOBARBUS.
:If I were bound to divine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.

MENAS.
:I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than
:the love of the parties.

ENOBARBUS.
:I think so too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie
:their friendship together will be the very strangler of their
:amity:  Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.

MENAS.
:Who would not have his wife so?

ENOBARBUS.
:Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony. He will to
:his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the
:fire up in Caesar; and, as I said before, that which is the
:strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their
:variance. Antony will use his affection where it is: he married
:but his occasion here.

MENAS.
:And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health
:for you.

ENOBARBUS.
:I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats in Egypt.

MENAS.
:Come, let's away.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE VII. On board POMPEY'S Galley, lying near Misenum. ===

[Music. Enter two or three SERVANTS with a banquet.]

FIRST SERVANT.
:Here they'll be, man. Some o' their plants are ill-rooted
:already; the least wind i' the world will blow them down.

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 discretion.

SECOND SERVANT.
:Why, this it is to have a name in great men's fellowship: I had
:as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partizan I
:could not heave.

FIRST SERVANT.
:To be 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 CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POMPEY, AGRIPPA, MAECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS, with other Captains.]

ANTONY.
:[To CAESAR.] Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o' the Nile
:By certain scales i' the 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
:Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
:And shortly comes to harvest.

LEPIDUS.
: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'll ne'er out.

ENOBARBUS.
:Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll be in till then.

LEPIDUS.
:Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies' pyramises are very
:goodly things; without contradiction I have heard that.

MENAS.
:[Aside to POMPEY.] Pompey, a word.

POMPEY.
:[Aside to MENAS.] Say in mine ear: what is't?

MENAS.
:[Aside to POMPEY.] Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain,
:And hear me speak a word.

POMPEY.
:[Aside to MENAS.] Forbear me till ano.n—
:This wine for Lepidus!

LEPIDUS.
:What manner o' thing is your crocodile?

ANTONY.
:It is shaped, 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 its own colour too.

LEPIDUS.
:'Tis a strange serpent.

ANTONY.
:'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet.

CAESAR.
:Will this description satisfy him?

ANTONY.
:With the health that Pompey gives him, else he is a very epicure.

POMPEY.
:[Aside to MENAS.] Go, hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that! away!
:Do as I bid you.—Where's this cup I call'd for?

MENAS.
:[Aside to POMPEY.] If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me,
:Rise from thy stool.

POMPEY.
[Aside to MENAS.] I think thou'rt mad.

[Rises and walks aside.]

:The matter?

MENAS.
:I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.

POMPEY.
:Thou hast serv'd me with much faith.
:What's else to say?—
:Be jolly, lords.

ANTONY.
:These quicksands, Lepidus,
:Keep off them, for you sink.

MENAS.
:Wilt thou be lord of all the world?

POMPEY.
:What say'st thou?

MENAS.
:Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?
:That's twice.

POMPEY.
:How should that be?

MENAS.
:But entertain it,
:And though you think me poor, I am the man
:Will give thee all the world.

POMPEY.
:Hast thou drunk well?

MENAS.
:No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
:Thou art, if thou dar'st be, the earthly Jove:
:Whate'er the ocean pales or sky inclips
:Is thine, if thou wilt have't.

POMPEY.
:Show me which way.

MENAS.
:These three world-sharers, these competitors,
:Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
:And when we are put off, fall to their throats:
:All then is thine.

POMPEY.
:Ah, this thou shouldst have done,
:And not have spoke on't! In me 'tis villainy:
:In thee't had been good service. Thou must know
:'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour:
:Mine honour it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
:Hath so betray'd thine act: being done unknown,
:I should have found it afterwards well done;
:But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.

MENAS.
:[Aside.] For this,
:I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
:Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,
:Shall never find it more.

POMPEY.
:This health to Lepidus!

ANTONY.
:Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him, Pompey.

ENOBARBUS.
:Here's to thee, Menas!

MENAS.
:Enobarbus, welcome!

POMPEY.
:Fill till the cup be hid.

ENOBARBUS.
:There's a strong fellow, Menas.

[Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS.]

MENAS.
:Why?

ENOBARBUS.
:'A bears the third part of the world, man; see'st not?

MENAS.
:The third part, then, is drunk; would it were all,
:That it might go on wheels!

ENOBARBUS.
:Drink thou; increase the reels.

MENAS.
:Come.

POMPEY.
:This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

ANTONY.
:It ripens towards it.—Strike the vessels, ho!—
:Here is to Caesar!

CAESAR.
:I could well forbear't.
:It's monstrous labour when I wash my brain
:And it grows fouler.

ANTONY.
:Be a child o' the time.

CAESAR.
:Possess it, I'll make answer:
:But I had rather fast from all four days
:Than drink so much in one.

ENOBARBUS.
:[To ANTONY.] Ha, my brave emperor!
:Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals
:And celebrate our drink?

POMPEY.
:Let's ha't, good soldier.

ANTONY.
:Come, let's all take hands,
:Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
:In soft and delicate Lethe.

ENOBARBUS.
:All take hands.—
:Make battery to our ears with the loud music:—
:The while I'll place you: then the boy shall sing;
:The holding every man shall bear as loud
:As his strong sides can volley.

[Music plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand.]

       SONG.
:  Come, thou monarch of the vine,
:  Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!
:  In thy fats our cares be drown'd,
:  With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
:  Cup us, till the world go round,
:  Cup us, till the world go round!

CAESAR.
:What would you more?—Pompey, good night. Good brother,
:Let me request you off: our graver business
:Frowns at this levity.—Gentle lords, let's part;
:You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
:Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
:Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
:Antick'd us all. What needs more words. Good night.—
:Good Antony, your hand.

POMPEY.
:I'll try you on the shore.

ANTONY.
:And shall, sir: give's your hand.

POMPEY.
:O Antony,
:You have my father's house,—but, what? we are friends.
:Come, down into the boat.

ENOBARBUS.
:Take heed you fall not.

[Exeunt POMPEY, CAESAR, ANTONY, and Attendants.]

:Menas, I'll not on shore.

MENAS.
:No, to my cabin.—
:These drums!—these trumpets, flutes! what!—
:Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
:To these great fellows: sound and be hang'd, sound out!

[A flourish of trumpets, with drums.]

ENOBARBUS.
:Hoo! says 'a.—There's my cap.

MENAS.
:Hoo!—noble captain, come.

[Exeunt.]

== ACT III. ==

=== SCENE I. A plain in Syria. ===

[Enter VENTIDIUS, in triumph, with SILIUS and other Romans,
:Officers and Soldiers; the dead body of PACORUS borne in front.]

VENTIDIUS.
:Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck; and now
:Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
:Make me revenger.—Bear the king's son's body
:Before our army.—Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
:Pays this for Marcus Crassus.

SILIUS.
:Noble Ventidius,
:Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm
:The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media,
:Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
:The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony
:Shall set thee on triumphant chariots, and
:Put garlands on thy head.

VENTIDIUS.
:O Silius, Silius,
:I have done enough: a lower place, note well,
:May make too great an act; for learn this, Silius,—
:Better to leave undone, than by our deed
:Acquire too high a fame when him we serve's away.
:Caesar and Antony have ever won
:More in their officer, than person: Sossius,
:One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
:For quick accumulation of renown,
:Which he achiev'd by the minute, lost his favour.
:Who does i' the wars more than his captain can
:Becomes his captain's captain; and ambition,
:The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss
:Than gain which darkens him.
:I could do more to do Antonius good,
:But 'twould offend him; and in his offence
:Should my performance perish.

SILIUS.
:Thou hast, Ventidius, that
:Without the which a soldier and his sword
:Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?

VENTIDIUS.
:I'll humbly signify what in his name,
:That magical word of war, we have effected;
:How, with his banners, and his well-paid ranks,
:The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
:We have jaded out o' the 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 Ante-chamber in CAESAR'S house. ===

[Enter AGRIPPA and ENOBARBUS, meeting.]

AGRIPPA.
:What, are the brothers parted?

ENOBARBUS.
:They have despatch'd with Pompey; he is gone;
:The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
:To part from Rome: Caesar is sad; and Lepidus,
:Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
:With the green sickness.

AGRIPPA.
:'Tis a noble Lepidus.

ENOBARBUS.
:A very fine one: O, how he loves Caesar!

AGRIPPA.
:Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!

ENOBARBUS.
:Caesar? Why he's the Jupiter of men.

AGRIPPA.
:What's Antony? The god of Jupiter.

ENOBARBUS.
:Spake you of Caesar? How! the nonpareil!

AGRIPPA.
:O, Antony! O thou Arabian bird!

ENOBARBUS.
:Would you praise Caesar, say 'Caesar'—go no further.

AGRIPPA.
:Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.

ENOBARBUS.
:But he loves Caesar best;—yet he loves Antony:
:Hoo! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot
:Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number—hoo!—
:His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
:Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.

AGRIPPA.
:Both he loves.

ENOBARBUS.
:They are his shards, and he their beetle.

[Trumpets within.]

:So,—
:This is to horse.—Adieu, noble Agrippa.

AGRIPPA.
:Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell.

[Enter CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA.]

ANTONY.
:No further, sir.

CAESAR.
:You take from me a great part of myself;
:Use me well in't.—Sister, prove such a wife
:As my thoughts make thee, and as my furthest band
:Shall pass on thy approof.—Most noble Antony,
:Let not the piece of virtue which is set
:Betwixt us as the cement of our love,
:To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
:The fortress of it; for better might we
:Have lov'd without this mean if on both parts
:This be not cherish'd.

ANTONY.
:Make me not offended
:In your distrust.

CAESAR.
:I have said.

ANTONY.
:You shall not find,
:Though you be therein curious, the least cause
:For what you seem to fear: so, the gods keep you,
:And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!
:We will here part.

CAESAR.
:Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:
:The elements be kind to thee, and make
:Thy spirits all of comfort! Fare thee well.

OCTAVIA.
:My noble brother!—

ANTONY.
:The April's in her eyes: it is love's spring,
:And these the showers to bring it on.—Be cheerful.

OCTAVIA.
:Sir, look well to my husband's house; and—

CAESAR.
:What,
:Octavia?

OCTAVIA.
:I'll tell you in your ear.

ANTONY.
:Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
:Her heart inform her tongue,—the swan's down feather,
:That stands upon the swell at the full of tide,
:And neither way inclines.

ENOBARBUS.
:[Aside to AGRIPPA.] Will Caesar weep?

AGRIPPA.
:[Aside to ENOBARBUS.] He has a cloud in's face.

ENOBARBUS.
:[Aside to AGRIPPA.] He were the worse for that, were he a horse;
:So is he, being a man.

AGRIPPA.
:[Aside to ENOBARBUS.] Why, Enobarbus,
:When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,
:He cried almost to roaring; and he wept
:When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

ENOBARBUS.
:[Aside to AGRIPPA.] That year, indeed, he was troubled with a
:rheum;
:What willingly he did confound he wail'd:
:Believe't till I weep too.

CAESAR.
:No, sweet Octavia,
:You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
:Out-go my thinking on you.

ANTONY.
:Come, sir, come;
:I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love:
:Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
:And give you to the gods.

CAESAR.
:Adieu; be happy!

LEPIDUS.
:Let all the number of the stars give light
:To thy fair way!

CAESAR.
:Farewell, farewell!

[Kisses OCTAVIA.]

ANTONY.
:Farewell!

[Trumpets sound within. Exeunt.]

=== SCENE III. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. ===

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Where is the fellow?

ALEXAS.
:Half afear'd to come.

CLEOPATRA.
:Go to, go to.

[Enter a Messenger.]

Come hither, sir.

ALEXAS.
:Good majesty,
:Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
:But when you are well pleas'd.

CLEOPATRA.
:That Herod's head
:I'll have: but how? when Antony is gone,
:Through whom I might command it?—Come thou near.

MESSENGER.
:Most gracious majesty,—

CLEOPATRA.
:Didst thou behold Octavia?

MESSENGER.
:Ay, dread queen.

CLEOPATRA.
:Where?

MESSENGER.
:Madam, in Rome
:I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
:Between her brother and Mark Antony.

CLEOPATRA.
:Is she as tall as me?

MESSENGER.
:She is not, madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongu'd or low?

MESSENGER.
:Madam, I heard her speak:  she is low-voic'd.

CLEOPATRA.
:That's not so good:—he cannot like her long.

CHARMIAN.
:Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.

CLEOPATRA.
:I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue and dwarfish!—
:What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
:If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.

MESSENGER.
:She creeps,—
:Her motion and her station are as one;
:She shows a body rather than a life,
:A statue than a breather.

CLEOPATRA.
:Is this certain?

MESSENGER.
:Or I have no observance.

CHARMIAN.
:Three in Egypt
:Cannot make better note.

CLEOPATRA.
:He's very knowing;
:I do perceive't:—there's nothing in her yet:—
:The fellow has good judgment.

CHARMIAN.
:Excellent.

CLEOPATRA.
:Guess at her years, I pr'ythee.

MESSENGER.
:Madam,
:She was a widow.

CLEOPATRA.
:Widow!—Charmian, hark!

MESSENGER.
:And I do think she's thirty.

CLEOPATRA.
:Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round?

MESSENGER.
:Round even to faultiness.

CLEOPATRA.
:For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.—
:Her hair, what colour?

MESSENGER.
:Brown, madam: and her forehead
:As low as she would wish it.

CLEOPATRA.
:There's gold for thee.
:Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:—
:I will employ thee back again; I find thee
:Most fit for business:—go make thee ready;
:Our letters are prepar'd.

[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.

CHARMIAN.
:Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
:And serving you so long!

CLEOPATRA.
:I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian:
:But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
:Where I will write. All may be well enough.

CHARMIAN.
:I warrant you, madam.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE IV.  Athens. 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 scandy of me: when perforce he could not
:But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
:He vented them:most narrow measure lent me;
:When the best hint was given him, he not took't,
:Or did it from his teeth.

OCTAVIA.
:O my good lord,
:Believe not all; or if you must believe,
:Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
:If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
:Praying for both parts:
:Sure the good gods will mock me presently
:When I shall pray 'O, bless my lord and husband!'
:Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
:'O, bless my brother!' Husband win, win brother,
:Prays and destroys the prayer; no mid-way
:'Twixt these extremes at all.

ANTONY.
:Gentle Octavia,
:Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
:Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honour,
:I lose myself: better I were not yours
:Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
:Yourself shall go between's: the meantime, lady,
:I'll raise the preparation of a war
:Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;
:So your desires are yours.

OCTAVIA.
:Thanks to my lord.
:The Jove of power make me, most weak, most weak,
:Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
:As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
:Should solder up the rift.

ANTONY.
:When it appears to you where this begins,
:Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults
:Can never be so equal that your love
:Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
:Choose your own company, and command what cost
:Your heart has mind to.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE V. Athens. Another Room in ANTONY'S House. ===

[Enter ENOBARBUS and EROS, meeting.]

ENOBARBUS.
:How now, friend Eros!

EROS.
:There's strange news come, sir.

ENOBARBUS.
:What, man?

EROS.
:Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

ENOBARBUS.
:This is old: what is the success?

EROS.
:Caesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey,
:presently denied him rivality; would not let him partake in the
:glory of the action: and not resting here, accuses him of letters
:he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him:
:so the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.

ENOBARBUS.
:Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more;
:And throw between them all the food thou hast,
:They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony?

EROS.
:He's walking in the garden—thus; and spurns
:The rush that lies before him; cries 'Fool Lepidus!'
:And threats the throat of that his officer
:That 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.
:'Twill be naught;
:But let it be.—Bring me to Antony.

EROS.
:Come, sir.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE VI. Rome. A Room in CAESAR'S House. ===

[Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS.]

CAESAR.
:Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more,
:In Alexandria. Here's the manner of't:—
:I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
:Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
:Were publicly enthron'd: at the feet sat
:Caesarion, whom they call my father's son,
:And all the unlawful issue that their lust
:Since then hath made between them. Unto her
:He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her
:Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
:Absolute queen.

MAECENAS.
:This in the public eye?

CAESAR.
:I' the 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 'tis reported, so.

MAECENAS.
:Let Rome be thus
:Inform'd.

AGRIPPA.
:Who, queasy with his insolence
:Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

CAESAR.
:The people knows it: and have now receiv'd
:His accusations.

AGRIPPA.
:Who does he accuse?

CAESAR.
:Caesar: and that, having in Sicily
:Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
:His part o' the isle: then does he say he lent me
:Some shipping, unrestor'd: lastly, he frets
:That Lepidus of the triumvirate
:Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain
:All his revenue.

AGRIPPA.
:Sir, this should be answer'd.

CAESAR.
:'Tis done already, and messenger gone.
:I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel;
:That he his high authority abus'd,
:And did deserve his change: for what I have conquer'd
:I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia
:And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
:Demand the like.

MAECENAS.
:He'll never yield to that.

CAESAR.
:Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

[Enter OCTAVIA, with her train.]

OCTAVIA.
:Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!

CAESAR.
:That ever I should call thee castaway!

OCTAVIA.
:You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.

CAESAR.
:Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not
:Like Caesar's sister: the wife of Antony
:Should have an army for an usher, and
:The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
:Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
:Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
:Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
:Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
:Rais'd by your populous troops: but you are come
:A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
:The ostentation of our love, which left unshown
:Is often left unlov'd; we should have met you
:By sea and land; supplying every stage
:With an augmented greeting.

OCTAVIA.
:Good my lord,
:To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
:On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
:Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted
:My grieved ear withal: whereon I begg'd
:His pardon for return.

CAESAR.
:Which soon he granted,
:Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

OCTAVIA.
:Do not say so, my lord.

CAESAR.
:I have eyes upon him,
:And his affairs come to me on the wind.
:Where is he now?

OCTAVIA.
:My lord, in Athens.

CAESAR.
:No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
:Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
:Up to a whore; who now are levying
:The kings o' theearth for war: he hath assembled
:Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus
:Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
:Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
:King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
:Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
:Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
:The kings of Mede and Lycaonia, with
:More larger list of sceptres.

OCTAVIA.
:Ay me, most wretched,
:That have my heart parted betwixt two friends,
:That do afflict each other!

CAESAR.
:Welcome hither:
:Your letters did withhold our breaking forth,
:Till we perceiv'd both how you were wrong led
:And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart:
:Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
:O'er your content these strong necessities;
:But let determin'd things to destiny
:Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
:Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd
:Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
:To do you justice, make their ministers
:Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;
:And ever welcome to us.

AGRIPPA.
:Welcome, lady.

MAECENAS.
:Welcome, dear madam.
:Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
:Only theadulterous Antony, most large
:In his abominations, turns you off,
:And gives his potent regiment to a trull
:That noises it against us.

OCTAVIA.
:Is it so, sir?

CAESAR.
:Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you
:Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister!

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE VII. ANTONY'S Camp near the Promontory of Actium. ===

[Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

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?

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 'tis said in Rome
:That Photinus an eunuch and your maids
:Manage this war.

CLEOPATRA.
:Sink Rome, and their tongues rot
:That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war,
:And, as the president of my kingdom, will
:Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;
:I will not stay behind.

ENOBARBUS.
:Nay, I have done.
:Here comes the emperor.

[Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS.]

ANTONY.
:Is it not strange, Canidius,
:That from Tarentum and Brundusium
:He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,
:And take in Toryne?—You have heard on't, sweet?

CLEOPATRA.
:Celerity is never more admir'd
:Than by the negligent.

ANTONY.
:A good rebuke,
:Which might have well becom'd the best of men
:To taunt at slackness.—Canidius, we
:Will fight with him by sea.

CLEOPATRA.
:By sea! what else?

CANIDIUS.
:Why will my lord do so?

ANTONY.
:For that he dares us to't.

ENOBARBUS.
:So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight.

CANIDIUS.
:Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia,
:Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers,
:Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off;
:And so should you.

ENOBARBUS.
:Your ships are not well mann'd:
:Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people
:Ingross'd by swift impress; in Caesar's fleet
:Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought:
:Their ships are yare; yours heavy: no disgrace
:Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
:Being prepar'd for land.

ANTONY.
:By sea, by sea.

ENOBARBUS.
:Most worthy sir, you therein throw away
:The absolute soldiership you have by land;
:Distract your army, which doth most consist
:Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted
:Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo
:The way which promises assurance; and
:Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard
:From firm security.

ANTONY.
:I'll fight at sea.

CLEOPATRA.
:I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.

ANTONY.
:Our overplus of shipping will we burn;
:And, with the rest full-mann'd, from 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 descried;
:Caesar has taken Toryne.

ANTONY.
:Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible—
:Strange that his power should be.—Canidius,
:Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
:And our twelve thousand horse.—We'll to our ship:
:Away, my Thetis!

[Enter a SOLDIER.]

:How now, worthy soldier?

SOLDIER.
:O noble emperor, do not fight by sea;
:Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt
:This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians
:And the Phoenicians go a-ducking: we
:Have us'd to conquer standing on the earth
:And fighting foot to foot.

ANTONY.
:Well, well:—away.

[Exeunt ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and ENOBARBUS.]

SOLDIER.
:By Hercules, I think I am i' the right.

CANIDIUS.
:Soldier, thou art: but his whole action grows
:Not in the power on't: so our leader's led,
:And we are women's men.

SOLDIER.
:You keep by land
:The legions and the horse whole, do you not?

CANIDIUS.
:Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,
:Publicola, and Caelius are for sea:
:But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's
:Carries beyond belief.

SOLDIER.
:While he was yet in Rome
:His power went out in such distractions as
:Beguil'd all spies.

CANIDIUS.
:Who's his lieutenant, hear you?

SOLDIER.
:They say one Taurus.

CANIDIUS.
:Well I know the man.

[Enter a Messenger.]

MESSENGER.
:The Emperor calls Canidius.

CANIDIUS.
:With news the time's with labour; and throes forth
:Each minute some.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE VIII. A plain near Actium. ===

[Enter CAESAR, TAURUS, Officers, and others.]

CAESAR.
:Taurus,—

TAURUS.
:My lord?

CAESAR.
:Strike not by land; keep whole; provoke not battle
:Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed
:The prescript of this scroll: our fortune lies
:Upon this jump.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE IX. Another part of the Plain. ===

[Enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS.]

ANTONY.
:Set we our squadrons on yon side o' the 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. ===

[Enter CANIDIUS, marching with his land Army one way; and
:TAURUS, the Lieutenant of CAESAR, with his Army, 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,
:With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder:
:To see't mine eyes are blasted.

[Enter SCARUS.]

SCARUS.
:Gods and goddesses,
:All the whole synod of them!

ENOBARBUS.
:What's thy passion?

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

ENOBARBUS.
:How appears the fight?

SCARUS.
:On our side like the token'd pestilence,
:Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt,—
:Whom leprosy o'ertake!—i' the midst o' the fight,
:When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
:Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,—
:The breese upon her, like a cow in June,—
:Hoists sails and flies.

ENOBARBUS.
:That I beheld:
:Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not
:Endure a further view.

SCARUS.
:She once being loof'd,
:The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,
:Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard,
:Leaving the fight in height, flies after her:
:I never saw an action of such shame;
:Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
:Did violate so itself.

ENOBARBUS.
:Alack, alack!

[Enter CANIDIUS.]

CANIDIUS.
:Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,
:And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
:Been what he knew himself, it had gone well:
:O, he has given example for our flight
:Most grossly by his own!

ENOBARBUS.
:Ay, are you thereabouts?
:Why, then, good night indeed.

CANIDIUS.
:Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.

SCARUS.
:'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend
:What further comes.

CANIDIUS.
:To Caesar will I render
:My legions and my horse; six kings already
:Show me the way of yielding.

ENOBARBUS.
:I'll yet follow
:The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
:Sits in the wind against me.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE XI. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. ===

[Enter ANTONY and attendants.]

ANTONY.
:Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;—
:It is asham'd to bear me.—Friends, come hither:
:I am so lated in the world that I
:Have lost my way for ever:—I have a ship
:Laden with gold; take that; divide it; fly,
:And make your peace with Caesar.

ALL.
:Fly! Not we.

ANTONY.
:I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
:To run and show their shoulders.—Friends, be gone;
:I have myself resolv'd upon a course
:Which has no need of you; be gone;
:My treasure's in the harbour, take it.—O,
:I follow'd that I blush to look upon:
:My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
:Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
:For fear and doting.—Friends, be gone: you shall
:Have letters from me to some friends that will
:Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
:Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint
:Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
:Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway:
:I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
:Leave me, I pray, a little: pray you now:—
:Nay, do so; for indeed I have lost command,
:Therefore I pray you:—I'll see you by and by.

[Sits down.]

[Enter CLEOPATRA, led by CHARMIAN and IRAS, EROS following.]

EROS.
:Nay, gentle madam, to him!—comfort him.

IRAS.
:Do, most dear queen.

CHARMIAN.
:Do! why, what else?

CLEOPATRA.
:Let me sit down. O Juno!

ANTONY.
:No, no, no, no, no.

EROS.
:See you here, sir?

ANTONY.
:O, fie, fie, fie!

CHARMIAN.
:Madam,—

IRAS.
:Madam, O good empress,—

EROS.
:Sir, sir,—

ANTONY.
:Yes, my lord, yes;—he at Philippi kept
:His sword e'en like a dancer; while I struck
:The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
:That the mad Brutus ended; he alone
:Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
:In the brave squares of war: yet now—no matter.

CLEOPATRA.
:Ah, stand by.

EROS.
:The queen, my lord, the queen!

IRAS.
:Go to him, madam, speak to him:
:He is unqualitied with very shame.

CLEOPATRA.
:Well then,—sustain me.—O!

EROS.
:Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches:
:Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her, but
:Your comfort makes the rescue.

ANTONY.
:I have offended reputation,—
:A most unnoble swerving.

EROS.
:Sir, the queen.

ANTONY.
:O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
:How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
:By looking back, what I have left behind
:'Stroy'd in dishonour.

CLEOPATRA.
:O my lord, my lord,
:Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
:You would have follow'd.

ANTONY.
:Egypt, thou knew'st too well
:My heart was to thy rudder tied by the 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' the world play'd as I pleas'd,
:Making and marring fortunes. You did know
:How much you were my conqueror; and that
:My sword, made weak by my affection, would
:Obey it on all cause.

CLEOPATRA.
:Pardon, pardon!

ANTONY.
:Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
:All that is won and lost: give me a kiss;
:Even this repays me.—We sent our schoolmaster;
:Is 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. CAESAR'S camp in Egypt. ===

[Enter CAESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others.]

CAESAR.
:Let him appear that's come from Antony.—
:Know you him?

DOLABELLA.
:Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster:
:An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
:He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
:Which had superfluous kings for messengers
:Not many moons gone by.

[Enter EUPHRONIUS.]

CAESAR.
:Approach, and speak.

EUPHRONIUS.
:Such as I am, I come from Antony:
:I was of late as petty to his ends
:As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf
:To his grand sea.

CAESAR.
:Be't so: declare thine office.

EUPHRONIUS.
:Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
:Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,
:He lessens his requests; and to thee sues
:To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
:A private man in Athens: this for him.
:Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness;
:Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves
:The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
:Now hazarded to thy grace.

CAESAR.
:For Antony,
:I have no ears to his request. The queen
:Of audience nor desire shall fail; so she
:From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
:Or take his life there: this if she perform,
:She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.

EUPHRONIUS.
:Fortune pursue thee!

CAESAR.
:Bring him through the bands.

[Exit EUPHRONIUS.]

[To THYREUS.] To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time. Despatch;
:From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise,
:And in our name, what she requires; add more,
:From thine invention, offers: women are not
:In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure
:The ne'er-touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus;
:Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
:Will answer as a law.

THYREUS.
:Caesar, I go.

CAESAR.
:Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
:And what thou think'st his very action speaks
:In every power that moves.

THYREUS.
:Caesar, I shall.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE XIII. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. ===

[Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and IRAS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:What shall we do, Enobarbus?

ENOBARBUS.
:Think, and die.

CLEOPATRA.
:Is Antony or we in fault for this?

ENOBARBUS.
:Antony only, that would make his will
:Lord of his reason. What though you fled
:From that great face of war, whose several ranges
:Frighted each other? why should he follow?
:The itch of his affection should not then
:Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
:When half to half the world oppos'd, he being
:The mered question; 'twas a shame no less
:Than was his loss, to course your flying flags
:And leave his navy gazing.

CLEOPATRA.
:Pr'ythee, peace.

[Enter ANTONY, with EUPHRONIUS.]

ANTONY.
:Is that his answer?

EUPHRONIUS.
:Ay, my lord.

ANTONY.
:The queen shall then have courtesy, so she
:Will yield us up.

EUPHRONIUS.
:He says so.

ANTONY.
:Let her know't.—
:To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,
:And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
:With principalities.

CLEOPATRA.
:That head, my lord?

ANTONY.
:To him again: tell him he wears the rose
:Of youth upon him; from which the world should note
:Something particular: his coins, ships, legions,
:May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail
:Under the service of a child as soon
:As i' the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore
:To lay his gay comparisons apart,
:And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,
:Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me.

[Exeunt ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS.]

EUPHRONIUS.
:Yes, like enough high-battled Caesar will
:Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the show
:Against a sworder.—I see men's judgments are
:A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward
:Do draw the inward quality after them,
:To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
:Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will
:Answer his emptiness!—Caesar, thou hast subdu'd
:His judgment 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.
:The loyalty well held to fools does make
:Our faith mere folly:—yet he that can endure
:To follow with allegiance a fallen lord
:Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
:And earns a place i' the story.

[Enter THYREUS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Caesar's will?

THYREUS.
:Hear it apart.

CLEOPATRA.
:None but friends: say boldly.

THYREUS.
:So, haply, are they friends to Antony.

ENOBARBUS.
:He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has;
:Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master
:Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know
:Whose he is we are, and that is Caesar's.

THYREUS.
:So.—
:Thus then, thou most renown'd: Caesar entreats
:Not to consider in what case thou stand'st
:Further than he is Caesar.

CLEOPATRA.
:Go on: right royal.

THYREUS.
:He knows that you embrace not Antony
:As you did love, but as you fear'd him.

CLEOPATRA.
:O!

THYREUS.
:The scars upon your honour, therefore, he
:Does pity, as constrained blemishes,
:Not as deserv'd.

CLEOPATRA.
:He is a god, and knows
:What is most right: mine honour was not yielded,
:But conquer'd merely.

ENOBARBUS.
:[Aside.] To be sure of that,
:I will ask Antony.—Sir, sir, thou art so leaky
:That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
:Thy dearest quit thee.

[Exit.]

THYREUS.
:Shall I say to Caesar
:What you require of him? for he partly begs
:To be desir'd to give. It much would please him
:That of his fortunes you should make a staff
:To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits
:To hear from me you had left Antony,
:And put yourself under his shroud, who is
:The universal landlord.

CLEOPATRA.
:What's your name?

THYREUS.
:My name is Thyreus.

CLEOPATRA.
:Most kind messenger,
:Say to great Caesar this:—in deputation
:I kiss his conquring hand: tell him I am prompt
:To lay my crown at's feet, and there to kneel:
:Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear
:The doom of Egypt.

THYREUS.
:'Tis your noblest course.
:Wisdom and fortune combating together,
:If that the former dare but what it can,
:No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
:My duty on your hand.

CLEOPATRA.
:Your Caesar's father
:Oft, when he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in,
:Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,
:As it rain'd kisses.

[Re-enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS.]

ANTONY.
:Favours, by Jove that thunders!—
:What art thou, fellow?

THYREUS.
:One that but performs
:The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
:To have command obey'd.

ENOBARBUS.
:[Aside.] You will be whipp'd.

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

ANTONY.
:Moon and stars!
:Whip him.—Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries
:That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them
:So saucy with the hand of she here,—what's her name
:Since she was Cleopatra?—Whip him, fellows,
:Till like a boy you see him cringe his face,
:And whine aloud for mercy: take him hence.

THYMUS.
:Mark Antony,—

ANTONY.
:Tug him away: being whipp'd,
: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,
:Forborne the getting of a lawful race,
:And by a gem of women, to be abus'd
:By one that looks on feeders?

CLEOPATRA.
:Good my lord,—

ANTONY.
:You have been a boggler ever:—
:But when we in our viciousness grow hard,—
:O misery on't!—the wise gods seal our eyes;
:In our own filth drop our clear judgments: make us
:Adore our errors; laugh at's while we strut
:To our confusion.

CLEOPATRA.
:O, is't come to this?

ANTONY.
:I found you as a morsel cold upon
:Dead Caesar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment
:Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours,
:Unregist'red in vulgar fame, you have
:Luxuriously pick'd out:—for I am sure,
:Though you can guess what temperance should be,
:You know not what it is.

CLEOPATRA.
:Wherefore is this?

ANTONY.
:To let a fellow that will take rewards,
:And say 'God quit you!' be familiar with
:My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal
:And plighter of high hearts!—O that I were
:Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar
:The horned herd! for I have savage cause;
:And to proclaim it civilly were like
:A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank
:For being yare about him.

[Re-enter Attendants with THYREUS.]

I:s he whipp'd?

FIRST ATTENDANT.
:Soundly, my lord.

ANTONY.
:Cried he? and begg'd he 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 'tis 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
:Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom
:He may at pleasure, whip, or hang, or torture,
:As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou:
:Hence with thy stripes, be gone.

[Exit THYREUS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Have you done yet?

ANTONY.
:Alack, our terrene moon
:Is now eclips'd, and it portends alone
:The fall of Antony!

CLEOPATRA.
:I must stay his time.

ANTONY.
:To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes
:With one that ties his points?

CLEOPATRA.
:Not know me yet?

ANTONY.
:Cold-hearted toward me?

CLEOPATRA.
:Ah, dear, if I be so,
:From my cold heart let heaven engender hail,
:And poison it in the source; and the first stone
:Drop in my neck: as it determines, so
:Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite!
:Till, by degrees, the memory of my womb,
:Together with my brave Egyptians all,
:By the discandying of this pelleted storm,
:Lie graveless,—till the flies and gnats of Nile
:Have buried them for prey!

ANTONY.
:I am satisfied.
:Caesar sits down in Alexandria; where
:I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
:Hath nobly held: our sever'd navy to
:Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sea-like.
:Where hast thou been, my heart?—Dost thou hear, lady?
:If from the field I shall return once more
:To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood:
:I and my sword will earn our chronicle:
:There's hope in't yet.

CLEOPATRA.
:That's my brave lord!

ANTONY.
:I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd,
:And fight maliciously: for when mine hours
:Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives
:Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth,
:And send to darkness all that stop me.—Come,
:Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me
:All my sad captains; fill our bowls; once more
:Let's mock the midnight bell.

CLEOPATRA.
:It is my birthday.
:I had thought t'have held it poor; but since my lord
:Is Antony again I will be Cleopatra.

ANTONY.
:We will yet do well.

CLEOPATRA.
:Call all his noble captains to my lord.

ANTONY.
:Do so; we'll speak to them: and to-night I'll force
:The wine peep through their scars.—Come on, my queen;
:There's sap in't yet. The next time I do fight
:I'll make death love me; for I will contend
:Even with his pestilent scythe.

[Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS.]

ENOBARBUS.
:Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious
:Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood
:The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still
:A diminution in our captain's brain
:Restores his heart: when valour preys on reason,
:It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
:Some way to leave him.

[Exit.]

== ACT IV.==
=== SCENE I. CAESAR'S Camp at Alexandria. ===

[Enter CAESAR reading a letter; AGRIPPA, MAECENAS, and others.]

CAESAR.
:He calls me boy; and chides as he had power
:To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger
:He hath whip'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
:Caesar to Antony:—let the old ruffian know
:I have many other ways to die; meantime
:Laugh at his challenge.

MAECENAS.
:Caesar must think
:When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted
:Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now
:Make boot of his distraction:—never anger
:Made good guard for itself.

CAESAR.
:Let our best heads
:Know that to-morrow the last of many battles
:We mean to fight.—Within our files there are
:Of those that serv'd Mark Antony but late,
:Enough to fetch him in. See it done:
:And feast the army; we have store to do't,
:And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!

[Exeunt.]

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

[Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and
:others.]

ANTONY.
:He will not fight with me, Domitius?

ENOBARBUS.
:No.

ANTONY.
:Why should he not?

ENOBARBUS.
:He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,
:He is twenty men to one.

ANTONY.
:To-morrow, soldier,
:By sea and land I'll fight; or I will live,
:Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
:Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well?

ENOBARBUS.
:I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'

ANTONY.
:Well said; come on.—
:Call forth my household servants: let's to-night
:Be bounteous at our meal.—

[Enter Servants.]

:Give me thy hand,
:Thou has been rightly honest;—so hast thou;—
:Thou,—and thou,—and thou;—you have serv'd me well,
:And kings have been your fellows.

CLEOPATRA.
:[Aside to ENOBARBUS.] What means this?

ENOBARBUS.
:[Aside to CLEOPATRA.] 'Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow
:shoots
:Out of the mind.

ANTONY.
:And thou art honest too.
:I wish I could be made so many men,
:And all of you clapp'd up together in
:An Antony, that I might do you service
:So good as you have done.

SERVANT.
:The gods forbid!

ANTONY.
:Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night:
:Scant not my cups; and make as much of me
:As when mine empire was your fellow too,
:And suffer'd my command.

CLEOPATRA.
:[Aside to ENOBARBUS.] What does he mean?

ENOBARBUS.
:[Aside to CLEOPATRA.] To make his followers weep.

ANTONY.
:Tend me to-night;
:May be it is the period of your duty:
:Haply you shall not see me more; or if,
:A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow
:You'll serve another master. I look on you
:As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,
:I turn you not away; but, like a master
:Married to your good service, stay till death:
:Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more,
:And the gods yield you for't!

ENOBARBUS.
:What mean you, sir,
:To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep;
:And I, an ass, am onion-ey'd: for shame,
:Transform us not to women.

ANTONY.
:Ho, ho, ho!
:Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus!
:Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends,
:You take me in too dolorous a sense;
:For I spake to you for your comfort,—did desire you
:To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts,
:I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you
:Where rather I'll expect victorious life
:Than death and honour. Let's to supper; come,
:And drown consideration.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE III. Alexandria. Before 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 'tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

FIRST SOLDIER.
:Well, sir, good night.

[Enter two other Soldiers.]

SECOND SOLDIER.
:Soldiers, have careful watch.

THIRD SOLDIER.
:And you. Good night, good night.

[The first two place themselves at their posts.]

FOURTH SOLDIER.
:Here we: [The third and fourth take their posts.] and if
:to-morrow
:Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope
:Our landmen will stand up.

THIRD SOLDIER.
:'Tis a brave army,
:And full of purpose.

[Music as of hautboys under the stage.]

FOURTH SOLDIER.
:Peace, what noise?

FIRST SOLDIER.
:List, list!

SECOND SOLDIER.
:Hark!

FIRST SOLDIER.
:Music i' the air.

THIRD SOLDIER.
:Under the earth.

FOURTH SOLDIER.
:It signs well, does it not?

THIRD SOLDIER.
:No.

FIRST SOLDIER.
:Peace, I say!
:What should this mean?

SECOND SOLDIER.
:'Tis 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!

SOLDIERS.
:[Speaking together.] How now!
:How now! Do you hear this?

FIRST SOLDIER.
:Ay; is't not strange?

THIRD SOLDIER.
:Do you hear, masters? do you hear?

FIRST SOLDIER.
:Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;
:Let's see how it will give off.

SOLDIERS.
:[Speaking together.] Content. 'Tis strange.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE IV. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace. ===

[Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and others attending.]

ANTONY.
:Eros! mine armour, Eros!

CLEOPATRA.
:Sleep a little.

ANTONY.
:No, my chuck.—Eros! Come, mine armour, Eros!

[Enter EROS with armour.]

:Come, good fellow, put mine iron on.—
:If fortune be not ours to-day, it is
:Because we brave her.—Come.

CLEOPATRA.
:Nay, I'll help too.
:What's this for?

ANTONY.
:Ah, let be, let be! Thou art
:The armourer of my heart. False, false; this, this.

CLEOPATRA.
:Sooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be.

ANTONY.
:Well, well;
:We shall thrive now.—Seest thou, my good fellow?
:Go put on thy defences.

EROS.
:Briefly, sir.

CLEOPATRA.
:Is not this buckled well?

ANTONY.
:Rarely, rarely;
:He that unbuckles this, till we do please
:To daff't for our repose, shall hear a storm.—
:Thou fumblest, Eros, and my queen's a squire
:More tight at this than thou: despatch.—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 Officer, armed.]

: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.

OFFICER.
:A thousand, sir,
:Early though't be, have on their riveted trim,
:And at the port expect you.

[Shout. Flourish of trumpets within.]

[Enter other Officers and Soldiers.]

SECOND OFFICER.
:The morn is fair.—Good morrow, general.

ALL.
:Good morrow, general.

ANTONY.
:'Tis well blown, lads:
:This morning, like the spirit of a youth
:That means to be of note, begins betimes.—
:So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.—
:Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me:
:[Kisses her.]
:This is a soldier's kiss: rebukeable,
:And worthy shameful check it were, to stand
:On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee
:Now like a man of steel.—You that will fight,
:Follow me close; I'll bring you to't. Adieu.

[Exeunt ANTONY, EROS, Officers and Soldiers.]

CHARMIAN.
:Please you, retire to your chamber.

CLEOPATRA.
:Lead me.
:He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might
:Determine this great war in single fight!
:Then, Antony,—but now—Well, on.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE V. ANTONY'S camp near Alexandria. ===

[Trumpets sound within. Enter ANTONY and EROS; a SOLDIER meeting them.]

SOLDIER.
:The gods make this a happy day to Antony!

ANTONY.
:Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd
:To make me fight at land!

SOLDIER.
:Hadst thou done so,
:The kings that have revolted, and the soldier
:That has this morning left thee, would have still
: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—
: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!—Eros, despatch.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE VI. Alexandria. CAESAR'S camp. ===

[Flourish. Enter AGRIPPA, CAESAR, with DOLABELLA and ENOBARBUS.]

CAESAR.
:Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight:
:Our will is Antony be took alive;
:Make it so known.

AGRIPPA.
:Caesar, I shall.

[Exit.]

CAESAR.
:The time of universal peace is near:
:Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world
:Shall bear the olive freely.

[Enter a Messenger.]

MESSENGER.
:Antony
:Is come into the field.

CAESAR.
:Go charge Agrippa
:Plant those that have revolted in the van,
:That Antony may seem to spend his fury
:Upon himself.

[Exeunt CAESAR and his Train.]

ENOBARBUS.
:Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry on
:Affairs of Antony; there did dissuade
:Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar
:And leave his master Antony: for this pains
:Casaer hath hang'd him. Canidius and the rest
:That fell away, have entertainment, but
:No honourable trust. I have done ill;
:Of which I do accuse myself so sorely
:That I will joy no more.

[Enter a SOLDIER of CAESAR'S.]

SOLDIER.
:Enobarbus, Antony
:Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
:His bounty overplus: the messenger
:Came on my guard, and at thy tent is now
:Unloading of his mules.

ENOBARBUS.
:I give it you.

SOLDIER.
:Mock not, Enobarbus.
:I tell you true: best you saf'd the bringer
:Out of the host; I must attend mine office,
:Or would have done't myself. Your emperor
:Continues still a Jove.

[Exit.]

ENOBARBUS.
:I am alone the villain of the earth,
:And feel I am so most. O Antony,
:Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
:My better service, when my turpitude
:Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart:
:If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean
:Shall outstrike thought: but thought will do't, I feel.
:I fight against thee!—No: I will go seek
:Some ditch wherein to die; the foul'st best fits
:My latter part of life.

[Exit.]

=== SCENE VII. Field of battle between the Camps. ===

[Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA and others.]

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

[Exeunt.]

[Alarum. Enter ANTONY, and SCARUS wounded.]

SCARUS.
:O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!
:Had we done so at first, we had driven them home
:With clouts about their heads.

ANTONY.
:Thou bleed'st apace.

SCARUS.
:I had a wound here that was like a T,
:But now 'tis made an H.

ANTONY.
:They do retire.

SCARUS.
:We'll beat'em into bench-holes: I have yet
:Room for six scotches more.

[Enter EROS.]

EROS.
:They are beaten, sir; and our advantage serves
:For a fair victory.

SCARUS.
:Let us score their backs
:And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind:
:'Tis sport to maul a runner.

ANTONY.
:I will reward thee
:Once for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfold
:For thy good valour. Come thee on.

SCARUS.
:I'll halt after.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE VIII. Under the Walls of Alexandria. ===

[Alarum. Enter ANTONY, marching; SCARUS and Forces.]

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 us, we'll spill the blood
:That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;
:For doughty-handed are you, and have fought
:Not as you serv'd the cause, but as'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'll commend thy acts,
:Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o' the world,
:Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all;
:Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
:Ride on the pants triumphing.

CLEOPATRA.
:Lord of lords!
:O infinite virtue, com'st thou smiling from
:The world's great snare uncaught?

ANTONY.
:Mine nightingale,
:We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! though grey
:Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha' we
:A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
:Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
:Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand;—
:Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day
:As if a god, in hate of mankind, had
:Destroyed in such a shape.

CLEOPATRA.
:I'll give thee, friend,
:An armour all of gold; it was a king's.

ANTONY.
:He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled
:Like holy Phoebus' car.—Give me thy hand:
:Through Alexandria make a jolly march;
:Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them:
:Had our great palace the capacity
:To camp this host, we all would sup together,
:And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
:Which promises royal peril.—Trumpeters,
:With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
:Make mingle with our rattling tabourines;
:That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together,
:Applauding our approach.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE IX. CAESAR'S camp. ===

[Sentinels at their Post.]

FIRST SOLDIER.
:If we be not reliev'd within this hour,
:We must return to thecourt of guard: the night
:Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle
:By the second hour i' the 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
:Before thy face repent!—

FIRST SOLDIER.
:Enobarbus!

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 fore sleep.

SECOND SOLDIER.
:Go we to him.

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
:Do merrily 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 with the body.]

=== SCENE X. Ground between the two Camps. ===

[Enter ANTONY and SCARUS, with Forces, marching.]

ANTONY.
:Their preparation is to-day by sea;
:We please them not by land.

SCARUS.
:For both, my lord.

ANTONY.
:I would they'd fight i' the fire or i' the air;
:We'd fight there too. But this it is; our foot
:Upon the hills adjoining to the city
:Shall stay with us:—order for sea is given;
:They have put forth the haven:—forward now,
:Where their appointment we may best discover,
:And look on their endeavour.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE XI. Another part of the Ground. ===

[Enter CAESAR with his Forces, marching.]

CAESAR.
:But being charg'd, we will be still by land,
:Which, as I take't, we shall; for his best force
:Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales,
:And hold our best advantage.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE XII. Another part of the Ground. ===

[Enter ANTONY and SCARUS.]

ANTONY.
:Yet they are not join'd: where yond pine does stand
:I shall discover all: I'll bring thee word
:Straight how 'tis like to go.

[Exit.]

SCARUS.
:Swallows have built
:In Cleopatra's sails their nests: the augurers
:Say they know not,—they cannot tell;—look grimly,
:And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony
:Is valiant and dejected; and, by starts,
:His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear
:Of what he has and has not.

[Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight.]

[Re-enter ANTONY.]

ANTONY.
:All is lost;
:This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me:
:My fleet hath yielded to the foe; and yonder
:They cast their caps up, and carouse together
:Like friends long lost.—Triple-turn'd whore! 'tis thou
:Hast sold me to this novice; and my heart
:Makes only wars on thee.—Bid them all fly;
:For when I am reveng'd upon my charm,
:I have done all.—Bid them all fly; begone.

[Exit SCARUS.]

:O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more:
:Fortune and Antony part here; even here
:Do we shake hands.—All come to this!—The hearts
:That spaniel'd me at heels, to whom I gave
:Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets
:On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd
:That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am:
:O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm,
:Whose eye beck'd forth my wars and call'd them home;
:Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,—
:Like a right gypsy, hath, at fast and loose,
:Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss.—
:What, Eros, Eros!

[Enter CLEOPATRA.]

:Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!

CLEOPATRA.
:Why is my lord enrag'd against his love?

ANTONY.
:Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving,
:And blemish Caesar's triumph. Let him take thee
:And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians:
:Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot
:Of all thy sex; most monster-like, be shown
:For poor'st diminutives, for doits; and let
:Patient Octavia plough thy visage up
:With her prepared nails.

[Exit CLEOPATRA.]

':Tis well thou'rt gone,
:If it be well to live; but better 'twere
:Thou fell'st into my fury, for one death
:Might have prevented many.—Eros, ho!—
:The shirt of Nessus is upon me: teach me,
:Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage:
:Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' the moon;
:And with those hands that grasp'd the heaviest club
:Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die:
:To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall
:Under this plot:—she dies for't.—Eros, ho!

[Exit.]

=== SCENE XIII. Alexandria. A Room in the 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'ythee, piteously: hence, Mardian;
:And bring me how he takes my death.—
:To the monument!

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE XIV. Alexandria. 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 pendant rock,
:A forked mountain, or blue promontory
:With trees upon't, that nod unto the world,
:And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these signs;
:They are black vesper's pageants.

EROS.
:Ay, my lord.

ANTONY.
:That which is now a horse, even with a thought
:The rack dislimns; and makes it indistinct,
:As water is in water.

EROS.
:It does, my lord.

ANTONY.
:My good knave Eros, now thy captain is
:Even such a body: here I am Antony;
:Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.
:I made these wars for Egypt; and the queen,—
:Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine;
:Which, whilst it was mine, had annex'd unto't
:A million moe, now lost,—she, Eros, has
:Pack'd cards with Caesar, and false-play'd my glory
:Unto an enemy's triumph.—
:Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us
:Ourselves to end ourselves.—

[Enter MARDIAN.]

:O, thy vile lady!
:She has robb'd me of my sword.

MARDIAN.
:No, Antony;
:My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled
:With thine entirely.

ANTONY.
:Hence, saucy eunuch; peace!
:She hath betray'd me, and shall die the death.

MARDIAN.
:Death of one person can be paid but once,
:And that she has discharg'd: what thou wouldst do
:Is done unto thy hand: the last she spake
:Was 'Antony! most noble Antony!'
:Then in the midst a tearing groan did break
:The name of Antony; it was divided
:Between her heart and lips: she render'd life,
:Thy name so buried in her.

ANTONY.
:Dead then?

MARDIAN.
:Dead.

ANTONY.
:Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done,
:And we must sleep.—That thou depart'st hence safe
:Does pay thy labour richly; go.

[Exit MARDIAN.]

:Off, pluck off;—
:The sevenfold shield of Ajax cannot keep
:The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
:Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,
:Crack thy frail case!—Apace, Eros, apace.—
:No more a soldier.—Bruised pieces, go;
:You have been nobly borne.—From me awhile.—

[Exit EROS.]

:I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
:Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now
:All length is torture.—Since the torch is out,
:Lie down, and stray no further:—now all labour
:Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles
:Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done.—
:Eros!—I come, my queen.—Eros!—stay for me:
:Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in hand,
:And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze:
:Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops,
:And all the haunt be ours.—Come, Eros, Eros!

[Re-enter EROS.]

EROS.
:What would my lord?

ANTONY.
:Since Cleopatra died,
:I have liv'd in such dishonour that the gods
:Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
:Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back
:With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack
:The courage of a woman; less noble mind
:Than she which by her death our Caesar tells
:'I am conqueror of myself.' Thou art sworn, Eros,
:That, when the exigent should come,—which now
:Is come indeed—when I should see behind me
:The inevitable prosecution of
:Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,
:Thou then wouldst kill me: do't; the time is come:
:Thou strik'st not me; 'tis Caesar thou defeat'st.
:Put colour in thy cheek.

EROS.
:The gods withhold me!
:Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,
:Though enemy, lost aim and could not?

ANTONY.
:Eros,
:Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome and see
:Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down
:His corrigible neck, his face subdu'd
:To penetrative shame; whilst the wheel'd seat
:Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
:His baseness that ensued?

EROS.
:I would not see't.

ANTONY.
:Come, then; for with a wound I must be cur'd.
:Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn
:Most useful for thy country.

EROS.
:O, sir, pardon me!

ANTONY.
:When I did make thee free, swor'st thou not then
:To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once;
:Or thy precedent services are all
:But accidents unpurpos'd. Draw, and come.

EROS.
:Turn from me then that noble countenance,
:Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.

ANTONY.
:Lo thee!

[Turning from him.]

EROS.
:My sword is drawn.

ANTONY.
:Then let it do at once
:The thing why thou hast drawn it.

EROS.
:My dear master,
:My captain and my emperor, let me say,
:Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.

ANTONY.
:'Tis said, man;—and farewell.

EROS.
:Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?

ANTONY.
:Now, Eros.

EROS.
:Why, there then [falls on his sword]!—thus do I escape the sorrow
:Of Antony's death.

[Dies.]

ANTONY.
:Thrice nobler than myself!
:Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what
:I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros
:Have, by their brave instruction, got upon me
:A nobleness in record: but I will be
:A bridegroom in my death, and run into't
:As to a lover's bed. Come, then; and, Eros,
:Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus

[Falling on his sword.]

:I learn'd of thee. How? not dead? not dead?—
:The guard, ho!—O, despatch me!

[Enter DERCETAS and a guard.]

FIRST GUARD.
:What's the noise?

ANTONY.
:I have done my work ill, friends: O, make an end
:Of what I have begun.

SECOND GUARD.
:The star is fallen.

FIRST GUARD.
:And time is at his period.

ALL.
:Alas, and woe!

ANTONY.
:Let him that loves me, strike me dead.

FIRST GUARD.
:Not I.

SECOND GUARD.
:Nor I.

THIRD GUARD.
:Nor any one.

[Exeunt guard.]

DERCETAS.
:Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.
:This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings,
:Shall enter me with him.

[Enter DIOMEDES.]

DIOMEDES.
:Where's Antony?

DERCETAS.
:There, Diomed, there.

DIOMEDES.
:Lives he?
:Wilt thou not answer, man?

[Exit DERCETAS.]

ANTONY.
:Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword and give me
:Sufficing strokes for death.

DIOMEDES.
:Most absolute lord,
:My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.

ANTONY.
:When did she send thee?

DIOMEDES.
:Now, my lord.

ANTONY.
:Where is she?

DIOMEDES.
:Lock'd in her monument. She had a prophesying fear
:Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw,—
:Which never shall be found,—you did suspect
:She had dispos'd with Caesar, and that your rage
:Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was dead;
:But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent
:Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
:I dread, too late.

ANTONY.
:Too late, good Diomed.—Call my guard, I pr'ythee.

DIOMEDES.
:What, ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, what ho!
:Come, your lord calls!

[Enter some of the Guard.]

ANTONY.
:Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides;
:'Tis the last service that I shall command you.

FIRST GUARD.
:Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear
:All your true followers out.

ALL.
:Most heavy day!

ANTONY.
:Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate
:To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome
:Which comes to punish us, and we punish it,
:Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:
:I have led you oft: carry me now, good friends,
:And have my thanks for all.

[Exeunt, bearing ANTONY.]

=== SCENE XV. Alexandria. A monument. ===

[Enter, above, CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN and IRAS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:O Charmian, I will never go from hence!

CHARMIAN.
:Be comforted, dear madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:No, I will not:
:All strange and terrible events are welcome,
:But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
:Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great
:As that which makes it.—

[Enter, below, DIOMEDES.]

:How now! is he dead?

DIOMEDES.
:His death's upon him, but not dead.
:Look out o' the 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' theworld.—O Antony,
:Antony, Antony!—Help, Charmian; help, Iras, help,—
:Help, friends below;—let's draw him hither.

ANTONY.
:Peace!
:Not Caesar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony,
:But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself.

CLEOPATRA.
:So it should be, that none but Antony
:Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!

ANTONY.
:I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
:I here importune death awhile, until
:Of many thousand kisses the poor last
:I lay upon thy lips.

CLEOPATRA.
:I dare not, dear,—
:Dear my lord, pardon,—I dare not,
:Lest I be taken: not 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;

[They draw ANTONY up.]

:And welcome, welcome! die where thou hast liv'd:
:Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
:Thus would I wear them out.

ALL.
:A heavy sight!

ANTONY.
:I am dying, Egypt, dying:
:Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

CLEOPATRA.
:No, let me speak; and let me rail so high
:That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,
:Provok'd by my offence.

ANTONY.
:One word, sweet queen:
:Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety.—O!

CLEOPATRA.
:They do not go together.

ANTONY.
:Gentle, hear me:
:None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

CLEOPATRA.
:My resolution and my hands I'll trust;
:None about Caesar.

ANTONY.
:The miserable change now at my end
:Lament nor sorrow at: but please your thoughts
:In feeding them with those my former fortunes
:Wherein I liv'd, the greatest prince o' the world,
:The noblest; and do now not basely die,
:Not cowardly put off my helmet to
:My countryman, a Roman by a Roman
:Valiantly vanquish'd. Now my spirit is going:
:I can no more.

CLEOPATRA.
:Noblest of men, woo't die?
:Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide
:In this dull world, which in thy absence is
:No better than a sty?—O, see, my women,

[Antony dies.]

:The crown o' the earth doth melt.—My lord!—
:O, wither'd is the garland of the war,
:The soldier's pole is fallen: young boys and girls
:Are level now with men: the odds is gone,
:And there is nothing left remarkable
:Beneath the visiting moon.

[Faints.]

CHARMIAN.
: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
:Till they had stol'n our jewel. All's but naught;
:Patience is sottish, and impatience does
:Become a dog that's mad: then is it sin
:To rush into the secret house of death
:Ere death dare come to us?—How do you, women?
:What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian!
:My noble girls!—Ah, women, women, look,
:Our lamp is spent, it's out!—Good sirs, take heart:—
:We'll bury him; and then, what's brave, what's noble,
:Let's do it after the high Roman fashion,
:And make death proud to take us. Come, away:
:This case of that huge spirit now is cold:
:Ah, women, women!—Come; we have no friend
:But resolution, and the briefest end.

[Exeunt; those above bearing off ANTONY'S body.]

== ACT V. ==

=== SCENE I. CAESAR'S Camp before Alexandria. ===

[Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MAECENAS, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, and Others.]

CAESAR.
:Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield;
:Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks
:The pauses that he makes.

DOLABELLA.
:Caesar, I shall.

[Exit.]

[Enter DERCETAS with the sword of ANTONY.]

CAESAR.
:Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar'st
:Appear thus to us?

DERCETAS.
:I am call'd Dercetas;
:Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy
:Best to be serv'd: whilst he stood up and spoke,
:He was my master, and I wore my life
:To spend upon his haters. If thou please
:To take me to thee, as I was to him
:I'll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not,
:I yield thee up my life.

CAESAR.
:What is't thou say'st?

DERCETAS.
:I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.

CAESAR.
:The breaking of so great a thing should make
:A greater crack: the round world
:Should have shook lions into civil streets,
:And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony
:Is not a single doom; in the name lay
:A moiety of the world.

DERCETAS.
:He is dead, Caesar;
:Not by a public minister of justice,
:Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand
:Which writ his honour in the acts it did
:Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,
:Splitted the heart.—This is his sword;
:I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd
:With his most noble blood.

CAESAR.
:Look you sad, friends?
:The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings
:To wash the eyes of kings.

AGRIPPA.
:And strange it is
:That nature must compel us to lament
:Our most persisted deeds.

MAECENAS.
:His taints and honours
:Weigh'd equal with him.

AGRIPPA.
:A rarer spirit never
:Did steer humanity. But you, gods, will give us
:Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch'd.

MAECENAS.
:When such a spacious mirror's set before him,
:He needs must see himself.

CAESAR.
:O Antony!
:I have follow'd thee to this!—But we do lance
:Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce
:Have shown to thee such a declining day
:Or look on thine; we could not stall together
:In the whole world: but yet let me lament,
:With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts,
:That thou, my brother, my competitor
:In top of all design, my mate in empire,
:Friend and companion in the front of war,
:The arm of mine own body, and the heart
:Where mine his thoughts did kindle,—that our stars,
:Unreconciliable, should divide
:Our equalness to this.—Hear me, good friends,—
:But I will tell you at some meeter season.

[Enter a Messenger.]

:The business of this man looks out of him;
:We'll hear him what he says.—Whence are you?

MESSENGER.
:A poor Egyptian yet. The queen, my mistress,
:Confin'd in all she has, her monument,
:Of thy intents desires instruction,
:That she preparedly may frame herself
:To the way she's forc'd to.

CAESAR.
:Bid her have good heart:
:She soon shall know of us, by some of ours,
:How honourable and how kindly we
:Determine for her; for Caesar cannot learn
:To be ungentle.

MESSENGER.
:So the gods preserve thee!

[Exit.]

CAESAR.
:Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say
:We purpose her no shame: give her what comforts
:The quality of her passion shall require
:Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke
:She do defeat us; for her life in Rome
:Would be eternal in our triumph: go,
:And with your speediest bring us what she says,
:And how you find her.

PROCULEIUS.
:Caesar, I shall.

[Exit.]

CAESAR.
:Gallus, go you along.—

[Exit GALLUS.]

:Where's Dolabella, to second Proculeius?

ALL.
:Dolabella!

CAESAR.
:Let him alone, for I remember now
:How he's employ'd; he shall in time be ready.
:Go with me to my tent; where you shall see
:How hardly I was drawn into this war;
:How calm and gentle I proceeded still
:In all my writings: go with me, and see
:What I can show in this.

[Exeunt.]

=== SCENE II. Alexandria. A Room in the Monument. ===

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:My desolation does begin to make
:A better life. 'Tis paltry to be Caesar;
:Not being Fortune, he's but Fortune's knave,
:A minister of her will: and it is great
:To do that thing that ends all other deeds;
:Which shackles accidents and bolts up change;
:Which sleeps, and never palates more the dug,
:The beggar's nurse and Caesar's.

[Enter, to the gates of the Monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS, and Soldiers.]

PROCULEIUS.
:Caesar sends greetings to the queen of Egypt;
:And bids thee study on what fair demands
:Thou mean'st to have him grant thee.

CLEOPATRA.
:What's thy name?

PROCULEIUS.
:My name is Proculeius.

CLEOPATRA.
:Antony
:Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but
:I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd,
:That have no use for trusting. If your master
:Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him
:That majesty, to keep decorum, must
:No less beg than a kingdom: if he please
:To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son,
:He gives me so much of mine own as I
:Will kneel to him with thanks.

PROCULEIUS.
:Be of good cheer;
:You are fallen 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' the face.

PROCULEIUS.
:This I'll report, dear lady.
:Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
:Of him that caus'd it.

GALLUS.
:You see how easily she may be surpris'd:

[Here PROCULEIUS and two of the Guard ascend the Monument by a ladder placed against a window, and, having ascended, come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar and open the gates.]

[To PROCULEIUS. and the Guear.] Guard her till Caesar come.

[Exit.]

IRAS.
:Royal queen!

CHARMIAN.
:O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen!

CLEOPATRA.
:Quick, quick, good hands.

[Drawing a dagger.]

PROCULEIUS.
:Hold, worthy lady, hold;

[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
:Theundoing of yourself: let the world see
:His nobleness well acted, which your death
:Will never let come forth.

CLEOPATRA.
:Where art thou, death?
:Come hither, come! Come, come, and take a queen
:Worth many babes and beggars!

PROCULEIUS.
:O, temperance, lady!

CLEOPATRA.
:Sir, I will eat no meat; I'll not drink, sir;
:If idle talk will once be accessary,
:I'll not sleep neither: this mortal house I'll ruin,
:Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
:Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court;
:Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye
:Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up,
:And show me to the shouting varletry
:Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
:Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud
:Lay me stark-nak'd, and let the water-flies
:Blow me into abhorring! rather make
:My country's high pyramides my gibbet,
:And hang me up in chains!

PROCULEIUS.
:You do extend
:These thoughts of horror further than you shall
:Find cause in Caesar.

[Enter DOLABELLA.]

DOLABELLA.
:Proculeius,
:What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
:And he hath sent for thee: as for the queen,
:I'll take her to my guard.

PROCULEIUS.
:So, Dolabella,
:It shall content me best: be gentle to her.—
:[To CLEOPATRA.] To Caesar I will speak what you shall please,
:If you'll employ me to him.

CLEOPATRA.
:Say I would die.

[Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers.]

DOLABELLA.
:Most noble empress, you have heard of me?

CLEOPATRA.
:I cannot tell.

DOLABELLA.
:Assuredly you know me.

CLEOPATRA.
:No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
:You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
:Is't not your trick?

DOLABELLA.
:I understand not, madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony:—
:O, such another sleep, that I might see
:But such another man!

DOLABELLA.
:If it might please you,—

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,—

CLEOPATRA.
:His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm
:Crested the world: his voice was propertied
:As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;
:But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
:He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,
:There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas
:That grew the more by reaping: his delights
:Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above
:The element they liv'd in: in his livery
:Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were
:As plates dropp'd from his pocket.

DOLABELLA.
:Cleopatra,—

CLEOPATRA.
:Think you there was or might be such a man
:As this I 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
:O'ertake pursu'd success, but I do feel,
:By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
:My very heart at root.

CLEOPATRA.
:I thank you, sir.
:Know you what Caesar means to do with me?

DOLABELLA.
:I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.

CLEOPATRA.
:Nay, pray you, sir,—

DOLABELLA.
:Though he be honourable,—

CLEOPATRA.
:He'll lead me, then, in triumph?

DOLABELLA.
:Madam, he will;
:I know it.

[Flourish within.]

[Within.] Make way there,—Caesar!

[Enter CAESAR, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MAECENAS, SELEUCUS, and Attendants.]

CAESAR.
:Which is the queen of Egypt?

DOLABELLA.
:It is the emperor, madam.

[CLEOPATRA kneels.]

CAESAR.
:Arise, you shall not kneel:—
:I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.

CLEOPATRA.
:Sir, the gods
:Will have it thus; my master and my lord
:I must obey.

CAESAR.
:Take to you no hard thoughts;
:The record of what injuries you did us,
:Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
:As things but done by chance.

CLEOPATRA.
:Sole sir o' the world,
:I cannot project mine own cause so well
:To make it clear: but do confess I have
:Been laden with like frailties which before
:Have often sham'd our sex.

CAESAR.
:Cleopatra, know
:We will extenuate rather than enforce:
:If you apply yourself to our intents,—
:Which towards you are most gentle,—you shall find
:A benefit in this change; but if you seek
:To lay on me a cruelty, by taking
:Antony's course, you shall bereave yourself
:Of my good purposes, and put your children
:To that destruction which I'll guard them from,
:If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.

CLEOPATRA.
:And may, through all the world: 'tis yours, and we,
:Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall
:Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.

CAESAR.
:You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.

CLEOPATRA.
:This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels,
:I am possess'd of: 'tis exactly valued;
:Not petty things admitted.—Where's Seleucus?

SELEUCUS.
:Here, madam.

CLEOPATRA.
:This is my treasurer: let him speak, my lord,
:Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd
:To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.

SELEUCUS.
:Madam,
:I had rather seal my lips than to my peril
:Speak that which is not.

CLEOPATRA.
:What have I kept back?

SELEUCUS.
:Enough to purchase what you have made known.

CAESAR.
:Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
:Your wisdom in the deed.

CLEOPATRA.
:See, Caesar! O, behold,
:How pomp is follow'd! Mine will now be yours;
:And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
:The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
:Even make me wild: O slave, of no more trust
:Than love that's hir'd!—What, goest thou back? thou shalt
:Go back, I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes
:Though they had wings; slave, soulless villain, dog!
:O rarely base!

CAESAR.
:Good queen, let us entreat you.

CLEOPATRA.
:O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,—
:That thou vouchsafing here to visit me,
:Doing the honour of thy lordliness
:To one so meek, that mine own servant should
:Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
:Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
:That I some lady trifles have reserv'd,
:Immoment toys, things of such dignity
:As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
:Some nobler token I have kept apart
:For Livia and Octavia, to induce
:Their mediation;—must I be unfolded
:With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
:Beneath the fall I have.
:[To SELEUCUS.] Pr'ythee go hence;
:Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
:Through theashes of my chance.—Wert thou a man,
:Thou wouldst have mercy on me.

CAESAR.
:Forbear, Seleucus.

[Exit SELEUCUS.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought
:For things that others do; and when we fall
:We answer others' merits in our name,
:Are therefore to be pitied.

CAESAR.
:Cleopatra,
:Not what you have reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,
:Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be't yours,
:Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe
:Caesar's no merchant, to make prize with you
:Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer'd;
:Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen;
:For we intend so to dispose you as
:Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep:
:Our care and pity is so much upon you
:That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.

CLEOPATRA.
:My master and my lord!

CAESAR.
:Not so. Adieu.

[Flourish. Exeunt CAESAR and his Train.]

CLEOPATRA.
:He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not
:Be noble to myself: but hark thee, Charmian!

[Whispers CHARMIAN.]

IRAS.
:Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,
:And we are for the dark.

CLEOPATRA.
:Hie thee again:
:I have spoke already, and it is provided;
:Go put it to the haste.

CHARMIAN.
:Madam, I will.

[Re-enter DOLABELLA.]

DOLABELLA.
:Where's the queen?

CHARMIAN.
:Behold, sir.

[Exit.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Dolabella!

DOLABELLA.
:Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
:Which my love makes religion to obey,
:I tell you this: Caesar through Syria
:Intends his journey; and within three days
:You with your children will he send before:
:Make your best use of this: I have perform'd
:Your pleasure and my promise.

CLEOPATRA.
:Dolabella,
:I shall remain your debtor.

DOLABELLA.
:I your servant.
:Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.

CLEOPATRA.
:Farewell, and thanks.

[Exit DOLABELLA.]

:Now, Iras, what think'st thou?
:Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shall be shown
:In Rome as well as I: mechanic slaves,
:With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall
:Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,
:Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded,
:And forc'd to drink their vapour.

IRAS.
:The gods forbid!

CLEOPATRA.
:Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras:—saucy lictors
:Will catch at us like strumpets; and scald rhymers
:Ballad us out o' tune: the quick comedians
:Extemporally will stage us, and present
:Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
:Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see
:Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
:I' the posture of a whore.

IRAS.
:O the good gods!

CLEOPATRA.
:Nay, that's certain.

IRAS.
:I'll never see't; for I am sure mine nails
:Are stronger than mine eyes.

CLEOPATRA.
:Why, that's the way
:To fool their preparation and to conquer
:Their most absurd intents.

[Enter CHARMIAN.]

:Now, Charmian!—
:Show me, my women, like a queen.—Go fetch
:My best attires;—I am again for Cydnus,
:To meet Mark Antony:—sirrah, Iras, go.—
:Now, noble Charmian, we'll despatch indeed;
:And when thou hast done this chare, I'll give thee leave
:To play till doomsday.—Bring our crown and all.

[Exit IRAS. A noise within.]

:Wherefore's this noise?

[Enter one of the Guard.]

GUARD.
:Here is a rural fellow
:That will not be denied your highness' presence:
:He brings you figs.

CLEOPATRA.
:Let him come in.

[Exit Guard.]

:What poor an instrument
:May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty.
:My resolution's plac'd, and I have nothing
:Of woman in me: now from head to foot
:I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon
:No planet is of mine.

[Re-enter Guard, with Clown bringing a basket.]

GUARD.
:This is the man.

CLEOPATRA.
:Avoid, and leave him.

[Exit Guard.]

:Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there
:That kills and pains not?

CLOWN.
:Truly, I have him. But I would not be the party that should
:desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those that
:do die of it do seldom or never recover.

CLEOPATRA.
:Remember'st thou any that have died on't?

CLOWN.
:Very many, men and women too. I heard of one of them no longer
:than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie;
:as a woman should not do but in the way of honesty: how she died
:of the biting of it, what pain she felt,—truly she makes a very
:good report o' the worm; but he that will believe all that they
:say shall never be saved by half that they do: but this is most
:falliable, the worm's an odd worm.

CLEOPATRA.
:Get thee hence; farewell.

CLOWN.
:I wish you all joy of the worm.

[Sets down the basket.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Farewell.

CLOWN.
:You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.

CLEOPATRA.
:Ay, ay; farewell.

CLOWN.
:Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of
:wise people; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm.

CLEOPATRA.
:Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.

CLOWN.
:Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the
:feeding.

CLEOPATRA.
:Will it eat me?

CLOWN.
:You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil himself
:will not eat a woman: I know that a woman is a dish for the gods,
:if the devil dress her not. But truly, these same whoreson devils
:do the gods great harm in their women, for in every ten that they
:make the devils mar five.

CLEOPATRA.
:Well, get thee gone; farewell.

CLOWN.
:Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o' the worm.

[Exit.]

[Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c.]

CLEOPATRA.
:Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have
:Immortal longings in me: now no more
:The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:—
:Yare, yare, good Iras; quick.—Methinks I hear
:Antony call; I see him rouse himself
:To praise my noble act; I hear him mock
:The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
:To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come:
:Now to that name my courage prove my title!
:I am fire and air; my other elements
:I give to baser life.—So,—have you done?
:Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
:Farewell, kind Charmian;—Iras, long farewell.

[Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies.]

:Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
:If thus thou and nature can so gently part,
:The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,
:Which hurts and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?
:If thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
:It is not worth leave-taking.

CHARMIAN.
:Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may say
:The gods themselves do weep!

CLEOPATRA.
:This proves me base:
:If she first meet the curled Antony,
:He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss
:Which is my heaven to have.—Come, thou mortal wretch,

[To an asp, which she applies to her breast.]

:With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
:Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool,
:Be angry and despatch. O couldst thou speak,
:That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
:Unpolicied!

CHARMIAN.
:O eastern star!

CLEOPATRA.
:Peace, peace!
:Dost thou not see my baby at my breast
:That sucks the nurse asleep?

CHARMIAN.
:O, break! O, break!

CLEOPATRA.
:As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle:—
:O Antony! Nay, I will take thee too:—

[Applying another asp to her arm.]

:What should I stay,—

[Falls on a bed and dies.]

CHARMIAN.
:In this vile world?—So, fare thee well.—
:Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies
:A lass unparallel'd.—Downy windows, close;
:And golden Phoebus never be beheld
:Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
:I'll mend it and then play.

[Enter the guard, rushing in.]

FIRST GUARD.
:Where's the queen?

CHARMIAN.
:Speak softly, wake her not.

FIRST GUARD.
:Caesar hath sent,—

CHARMIAN.
:Too slow a messenger.

[Applies an asp.]

:O, come apace, despatch: 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!

[CHARMIAN dies.]

[Re-enter DOLABELLA.]

DOLABELLA.
:How goes it here?

SECOND GUARD.
:All dead.

DOLABELLA.
:Caesar, thy thoughts
:Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming
:To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou
:So sought'st to hinder.

[Within.] A way there, a way for Caesar!

[Re-enter CAESAR and his Train.]

DOLABELLA.
:O sir, you are too sure an augurer;
:That you did fear is done.

CAESAR.
:Bravest at the last,
:She levell'd at our purposes, and being royal,
:Took her own way.—The manner of their deaths?
:I do not see them bleed.

DOLABELLA.
:Who was last with them?

FIRST GUARD.
:A simple countryman that brought her figs.
:This was his basket.

CAESAR.
:Poison'd then.

FIRST GUARD.
:O Caesar,
:This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood and spake:
:I found her trimming up the diadem
:On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood,
:And on the sudden dropp'd.

CAESAR.
:O noble weakness!—
:If they had swallow'd poison 'twould appear
:By external swelling: but she looks like sleep,—
:As she would catch another Antony
:In her strong toil of grace.

DOLABELLA.
:Here on her breast
:There is a vent of blood, and something blown:
:The like is on her arm.

FIRST GUARD.
:This is an aspic's trail: and these fig-leaves
:Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves
:Upon the caves of Nile.

CAESAR.
:Most probable
:That so she died; for her physician tells me
:She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite
:Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed,
:And bear her women from the monument:—
:She shall be buried by her Antony:
:No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
:A pair so famous. High events as these
:Strike those that make them; and their story is
:No less in pity than his glory which
:Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall
:In solemn show attend this funeral;
:And then to Rome.—Come, Dolabella, see
:High order in this great solemnity.

[Exeunt.]

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