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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra

November 1997  [Etext #1130]


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1607

THE TRAGEDY OF ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

by William Shakespeare



DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  MARK ANTONY         Triumvirs
  OCTAVIUS CAESAR         "
  M AEMILIUS LEPIDUS     "
  SEXTUS POMPEIUS         "
  DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS friend to Antony
  VENTIDIUS             "    "   "
  EROS                  "    "   "
  SCARUS                "    "   "
  DERCETAS              "    "   "
  DEMETRIUS             "    "   "
  PHILO                 "    "   "
  MAECENAS   friend to Caesar
  AGRIPPA       "    "   "
  DOLABELLA     "    "   "
  PROCULEIUS    "    "   "
  THYREUS       "    "   "
  GALLUS        "    "   "
  MENAS      friend to Pompey
  MENECRATES    "    "    "
  VARRIUS       "    "    "  
  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      "     "      "
  SELEUCUS     "     "      "
  DIOMEDES     "     "      "
  A SOOTHSAYER
  A CLOWN

  CLEOPATRA Queen of Egypt
  OCTAVIA sister to Caesar and wife to Antony
  CHARMIAN lady attending on Cleopatra
  IRAS       "      "      "     "



  Officers Soldiers Messengers and Attendants


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SCENE:
The Roman Empire

ACT I SCENE I
Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO

  PHILO Nay but this dotage of our general's
    O'erflows the measure Those his goodly eyes
    That o'er the files and musters of the war
    Have glow'd like plated Mars now bend now turn
    The office and devotion of their view
    Upon a tawny front His captain's heart
    Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
    The buckles on his breast reneges all temper
    And is become the bellows and the fan
    To cool a gipsy's lust

     Flourish Enter ANTONY CLEOPATRA her LADIES the train
                    with eunuchs fanning her

    Look where they come!
    Take but good note and you shall see in him
    The triple pillar of the world transform'd  
    Into a strumpet's fool Behold and see
  CLEOPATRA If it be love indeed tell me how much
  ANTONY There's beggary in the love that can be reckon'd
  CLEOPATRA I'll set a bourn how far to be belov'd
  ANTONY Then must thou needs find out new heaven new earth

                       Enter a MESSENGER

  MESSENGER News my good lord from Rome
  ANTONY Grates me the sum
  CLEOPATRA Nay hear them Antony
    Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows
    If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent
    His pow'rful mandate to you: 'Do this or this;
    Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that;
    Perform't or else we damn thee'
  ANTONY How my love?
  CLEOPATRA Perchance? Nay and most like
    You must not stay here longer; your dismission
    Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it Antony  
    Where's Fulvia's process? Caesar's I would say? Both?
    Call in the messengers As I am Egypt's Queen
    Thou blushest Antony and that blood of thine
    Is Caesar's homager Else so thy cheek pays shame
    When shrill-tongu'd Fulvia scolds The messengers!
  ANTONY Let Rome in Tiber melt and the wide arch
    Of the rang'd empire fall! Here is my space
    Kingdoms are clay; our dungy earth alike
    Feeds beast as man The nobleness of life
    Is to do thus [emhracing] when such a mutual pair
    And such a twain can do't in which I bind
    On pain of punishment the world to weet
    We stand up peerless
  CLEOPATRA Excellent falsehood!
    Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her?
    I'll seem the fool I am not Antony
    Will be himself
  ANTONY But stirr'd by Cleopatra
    Now for the love of Love and her soft hours
    Let's not confound the time with conference harsh;  
    There's not a minute of our lives should stretch
    Without some pleasure now What sport to-night?
  CLEOPATRA Hear the ambassadors
  ANTONY Fie wrangling queen!
    Whom everything becomes- to chide to laugh
    To weep; whose every passion fully strives
    To make itself in thee fair and admir'd
    No messenger but thine and all alone
    To-night we'll wander through the streets and note
    The qualities of people Come my queen;
    Last night you did desire it Speak not to us
                     Exeunt ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with the train
  DEMETRIUS Is Caesar with Antonius priz'd so slight?
  PHILO Sir sometimes when he is not Antony
    He comes too short of that great property
    Which still should go with Antony
  DEMETRIUS I am full sorry
    That he approves the common liar who
    Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope
    Of better deeds to-morrow Rest you happy!            Exeunt




SCENE II
Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

Enter CHARMIAN IRAS ALEXAS and a SOOTHSAYER

  CHARMIAN Lord Alexas sweet Alexas most anything Alexas
almost
    most absolute Alexas where's the soothsayer that you prais'd
so
    to th' Queen? O that I knew this husband which you say must
    charge his horns with garlands!
  ALEXAS Soothsayer!
  SOOTHSAYER Your will?
  CHARMIAN Is this the man? Is't you sir that know things?
  SOOTHSAYER In nature's infinite book of secrecy
    A little I can read
  ALEXAS Show him your hand

                       Enter ENOBARBUS

  ENOBARBUS Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough
    Cleopatra's health to drink
  CHARMIAN Good sir give me good fortune
  SOOTHSAYER I make not but foresee  
  CHARMIAN Pray then foresee me one
  SOOTHSAYER You shall be yet far fairer than you are
  CHARMIAN He means in flesh
  IRAS No you shall paint when you are old
  CHARMIAN Wrinkles forbid!
  ALEXAS Vex not his prescience; be attentive
  CHARMIAN Hush!
  SOOTHSAYER You shall be more beloving than beloved
  CHARMIAN I had rather heat my liver with drinking
  ALEXAS Nay hear him
  CHARMIAN Good now some excellent fortune! Let me be married
to
    three kings in a forenoon and widow them all Let me have a
    child at fifty to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage Find me
to
    marry me with Octavius Caesar and companion me with my
mistress
  SOOTHSAYER You shall outlive the lady whom you serve
  CHARMIAN O excellent! I love long life better than figs
  SOOTHSAYER You have seen and prov'd a fairer former fortune
    Than that which is to approach
  CHARMIAN Then belike my children shall have no names
    Prithee how many boys and wenches must I have?  
  SOOTHSAYER If every of your wishes had a womb
    And fertile every wish a million
  CHARMIAN Out fool! I forgive thee for a witch
  ALEXAS You think none but your sheets are privy to your
wishes
  CHARMIAN Nay come tell Iras hers
  ALEXAS We'll know all our fortunes
  ENOBARBUS Mine and most of our fortunes to-night shall be-
    drunk to bed
  IRAS There's a palm presages chastity if nothing else
  CHARMIAN E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine
  IRAS Go you wild bedfellow you cannot soothsay
  CHARMIAN Nay if an oily palm be not a fruitful
prognostication I
    cannot scratch mine ear Prithee tell her but worky-day
fortune
  SOOTHSAYER Your fortunes are alike
  IRAS But how but how? Give me particulars
  SOOTHSAYER I have said
  IRAS Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?
  CHARMIAN Well if you were but an inch of fortune better than
I
    where would you choose it?
  IRAS Not in my husband's nose  
  CHARMIAN Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas- come his
    fortune his fortune! O let him marry a woman that cannot
go
    sweet Isis I beseech thee! And let her die too and give him
a
    worse! And let worse follow worse till the worst of all
follow
    him laughing to his grave fiftyfold a cuckold! Good Isis
hear
    me this prayer though thou deny me a matter of more weight;
good
    Isis I beseech thee!
  IRAS Amen Dear goddess hear that prayer of the people! For
as
    it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man loose-wiv'd so
it is
    a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded
Therefore
    dear Isis keep decorum and fortune him accordingly!
  CHARMIAN Amen
  ALEXAS Lo now if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold
they
    would make themselves whores but they'ld do't!

                          Enter CLEOPATRA

  ENOBARBUS Hush! Here comes Antony
  CHARMIAN Not he; the Queen
  CLEOPATRA Saw you my lord?  
  ENOBARBUS No lady
  CLEOPATRA Was he not here?
  CHARMIAN No madam
  CLEOPATRA He was dispos'd to mirth; but on the sudden
    A Roman thought hath struck him Enobarbus!
  ENOBARBUS Madam?
  CLEOPATRA Seek him and bring him hither Where's Alexas?
  ALEXAS Here at your service My lord approaches

          Enter ANTONY with a MESSENGER and attendants

  CLEOPATRA We will not look upon him Go with us
                       Exeunt CLEOPATRA ENOBARBUS and the rest
  MESSENGER Fulvia thy wife first came into the field
  ANTONY Against my brother Lucius?
  MESSENGER Ay
    But soon that war had end and the time's state
    Made friends of them jointing their force 'gainst Caesar
    Whose better issue in the war from Italy
    Upon the first encounter drave them  
  ANTONY Well what worst?
  MESSENGER The nature of bad news infects the teller
  ANTONY When it concerns the fool or coward On!
    Things that are past are done with me 'Tis thus:
    Who tells me true though in his tale lie death
    I hear him as he flatter'd
  MESSENGER Labienus-
    This is stiff news- hath with his Parthian force
    Extended Asia from Euphrates
    His conquering banner shook from Syria
    To Lydia and to Ionia
    Whilst-
  ANTONY Antony thou wouldst say
  MESSENGER O my lord!
  ANTONY Speak to me home; mince not the general tongue;
    Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome
    Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase and taunt my faults
    With such full licence as both truth and malice
    Have power to utter O then we bring forth weeds
    When our quick minds lie still and our ills told us  
    Is as our earing Fare thee well awhile
  MESSENGER At your noble pleasure                        Exit
  ANTONY From Sicyon ho the news! Speak there!
  FIRST ATTENDANT The man from Sicyon- is there such an one?
  SECOND ATTENDANT He stays upon your will
  ANTONY Let him appear
    These strong Egyptian fetters I must break
    Or lose myself in dotage

                 Enter another MESSENGER with a letter

    What are you?
  SECOND MESSENGER Fulvia thy wife is dead
  ANTONY Where died she?
  SECOND MESSENGER In Sicyon
    Her length of sickness with what else more serious
    Importeth thee to know this bears       [Gives the letter]
  ANTONY Forbear me                             Exit MESSENGER
    There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it
    What our contempts doth often hurl from us  
    We wish it ours again; the present pleasure
    By revolution low'ring does become
    The opposite of itself She's good being gone;
    The hand could pluck her back that shov'd her on
    I must from this enchanting queen break off
    Ten thousand harms more than the ills I know
    My idleness doth hatch How now Enobarbus!

                    Re-enter ENOBARBUS

  ENOBARBUS What's your pleasure sir?
  ANTONY I must with haste from hence
  ENOBARBUS Why then we kill all our women We see how mortal
an
    unkindness is to them; if they suffer our departure death's
the
    word
  ANTONY I must be gone
  ENOBARBUS Under a compelling occasion let women die It were
pity
    to cast them away for nothing though between them and a
great
    cause they should be esteemed nothing Cleopatra catching
but
    the least noise of this dies instantly; I have seen her die 

    twenty times upon far poorer moment I do think there is
mettle
    in death which commits some loving act upon her she hath
such a
    celerity in dying
  ANTONY She is cunning past man's thought
  ENOBARBUS Alack sir no! Her passions are made of nothing but
the
    finest part of pure love We cannot call her winds and waters
    sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than
    almanacs can report This cannot be cunning in her; if it be
she
    makes a show'r of rain as well as Jove
  ANTONY Would I had never seen her!
  ENOBARBUS O Sir you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of
    work which not to have been blest withal would have
discredited
    your travel
  ANTONY Fulvia is dead
  ENOBARBUS Sir?
  ANTONY Fulvia is dead
  ENOBARBUS Fulvia?
  ANTONY Dead
  ENOBARBUS Why sir give the gods a thankful sacrifice When
it
    pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him it


    shows to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein
that
    when old robes are worn out there are members to make new If
    there were no more women but Fulvia then had you indeed a
cut
    and the case to be lamented This grief is crown'd with
    consolation: your old smock brings forth a new petticoat; and
    indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this
sorrow
  ANTONY The business she hath broached in the state
    Cannot endure my absence
  ENOBARBUS And the business you have broach'd here cannot be
    without you; especially that of Cleopatra's which wholly
depends
    on your abode
  ANTONY No more light answers Let our officers
    Have notice what we purpose I shall break
    The cause of our expedience to the Queen
    And get her leave to part For not alone
    The death of Fulvia with more urgent touches
    Do strongly speak to us; but the letters to
    Of many our contriving friends in Rome
    Petition us at home Sextus Pompeius
    Hath given the dare to Caesar and commands  
    The empire of the sea; our slippery people
    Whose love is never link'd to the deserver
    Till his deserts are past begin to throw
    Pompey the Great and all his dignities
    Upon his son; who high in name and power
    Higher than both in blood and life stands up
    For the main soldier; whose quality going on
    The sides o' th' world may danger Much is breeding
    Which like the courser's hair hath yet but life
    And not a serpent's poison Say our pleasure
    To such whose place is under us requires
    Our quick remove from hence
  ENOBARBUS I shall do't                                Exeunt




SCENE III
Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

Enter CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN IRAS and ALEXAS

  CLEOPATRA Where is he?
  CHARMIAN I did not see him since
  CLEOPATRA See where he is who's with him what he does
    I did not send you If you find him sad
    Say I am dancing; if in mirth report
    That I am sudden sick Quick and return        Exit ALEXAS
  CHARMIAN Madam methinks if you did love him dearly
    You do not hold the method to enforce
    The like from him
  CLEOPATRA What should I do I do not?
  CHARMIAN In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing
  CLEOPATRA Thou teachest like a fool- the way to lose him
  CHARMIAN Tempt him not so too far; I wish forbear;
    In time we hate that which we often fear

                            Enter ANTONY
  
    But here comes Antony
  CLEOPATRA I am sick and sullen
  ANTONY I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose-
  CLEOPATRA Help me away dear Charmian; I shall fall
    It cannot be thus long; the sides of nature
    Will not sustain it
  ANTONY Now my dearest queen-
  CLEOPATRA Pray you stand farther from me
  ANTONY What's the matter?
  CLEOPATRA I know by that same eye there's some good news
    What says the married woman? You may go
    Would she had never given you leave to come!
    Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here-
    I have no power upon you; hers you are
  ANTONY The gods best know-
  CLEOPATRA O never was there queen
    So mightily betray'd! Yet at the first
    I saw the treasons planted
  ANTONY Cleopatra-
  CLEOPATRA Why should I think you can be mine and true  
    Though you in swearing shake the throned gods
    Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness
    To be entangled with those mouth-made vows
    Which break themselves in swearing!
  ANTONY Most sweet queen-
  CLEOPATRA Nay pray you seek no colour for your going
    But bid farewell and go When you sued staying
    Then was the time for words No going then!
    Eternity was in our lips and eyes
    Bliss in our brows' bent none our parts so poor
    But was a race of heaven They are so still
    Or thou the greatest soldier of the world
    Art turn'd the greatest liar
  ANTONY How now lady!
  CLEOPATRA I would I had thy inches Thou shouldst know
    There were a heart in Egypt
  ANTONY Hear me queen:
    The strong necessity of time commands
    Our services awhile; but my full heart
    Remains in use with you Our Italy  
    Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius
    Makes his approaches to the port of Rome;
    Equality of two domestic powers
    Breed scrupulous faction; the hated grown to strength
    Are newly grown to love The condemn'd Pompey
    Rich in his father's honour creeps apace
    Into the hearts of such as have not thrived
    Upon the present state whose numbers threaten;
    And quietness grown sick of rest would purge
    By any desperate change My more particular
    And that which most with you should safe my going
    Is Fulvia's death
  CLEOPATRA Though age from folly could not give me freedom
     It does from childishness Can Fulvia die?
  ANTONY She's dead my Queen
    Look here and at thy sovereign leisure read
    The garboils she awak'd At the last best
    See when and where she died
  CLEOPATRA O most false love!
    Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill  
    With sorrowful water? Now I see I see
    In Fulvia's death how mine receiv'd shall be
  ANTONY Quarrel no more but be prepar'd to know
    The purposes I bear; which are or cease
    As you shall give th' advice By the fire
    That quickens Nilus' slime I go from hence
    Thy soldier servant making peace or war
    As thou affects
  CLEOPATRA Cut my lace Charmian come!
    But let it be; I am quickly ill and well-
    So Antony loves
  ANTONY My precious queen forbear
    And give true evidence to his love which stands
    An honourable trial
  CLEOPATRA So Fulvia told me
    I prithee turn aside and weep for her;
    Then bid adieu to me and say the tears
    Belong to Egypt Good now play one scene
    Of excellent dissembling and let it look
    Like perfect honour  
  ANTONY You'll heat my blood; no more
  CLEOPATRA You can do better yet; but this is meetly
  ANTONY Now by my sword-
  CLEOPATRA And target Still he mends;
    But this is not the best Look prithee Charmian
    How this Herculean Roman does become
    The carriage of his chafe
  ANTONY I'll leave you lady
  CLEOPATRA Courteous lord one word
    Sir you and I must part- but that's not it
    Sir you and I have lov'd- but there's not it
    That you know well Something it is I would-
    O my oblivion is a very Antony
    And I am all forgotten!
  ANTONY But that your royalty
    Holds idleness your subject I should take you
    For idleness itself
  CLEOPATRA 'Tis sweating labour
    To bear such idleness so near the heart
    As Cleopatra this But sir forgive me;  
    Since my becomings kill me when they do not
    Eye well to you Your honour calls you hence;
    Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly
    And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword
    Sit laurel victory and smooth success
    Be strew'd before your feet!
  ANTONY Let us go Come
    Our separation so abides and flies
    That thou residing here goes yet with me
    And I hence fleeting here remain with thee
    Away!                                                 Exeunt




SCENE IV
Rome CAESAR'S house

Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR reading a letter; LEPIDUS and their train

  CAESAR You may see Lepidus and henceforth know
    It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate
    Our great competitor From Alexandria
    This is the news: he fishes drinks and wastes
    The lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike
    Than Cleopatra nor the queen of Ptolemy
    More womanly than he; hardly gave audience or
    Vouchsaf'd to think he had partners You shall find there
    A man who is the abstract of all faults
    That all men follow
  LEPIDUS I must not think there are
    Evils enow to darken all his goodness
    His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven
    More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary
    Rather than purchas'd; what he cannot change
    Than what he chooses  
  CAESAR You are too indulgent Let's grant it is not
    Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy
    To give a kingdom for a mirth to sit
    And keep the turn of tippling with a slave
    To reel the streets at noon and stand the buffet
    With knaves that smell of sweat Say this becomes him-
    As his composure must be rare indeed
    Whom these things cannot blemish- yet must Antony
    No way excuse his foils when we do bear
    So great weight in his lightness If he fill'd
    His vacancy with his voluptuousness
    Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones
    Call on him for't! But to confound such time
    That drums him from his sport and speaks as loud
    As his own state and ours- 'tis to be chid
    As we rate boys who being mature in knowledge
    Pawn their experience to their present pleasure
    And so rebel to judgment

                   Enter a MESSENGER  

  LEPIDUS Here's more news
  MESSENGER Thy biddings have been done; and every hour
    Most noble Caesar shalt thou have report
    How 'tis abroad Pompey is strong at sea
    And it appears he is belov'd of those
    That only have fear'd Caesar To the ports
    The discontents repair and men's reports
    Give him much wrong'd
  CAESAR I should have known no less
    It hath been taught us from the primal state
    That he which is was wish'd until he were;
    And the ebb'd man ne'er lov'd till ne'er worth love
    Comes dear'd by being lack'd This common body
    Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream
    Goes to and back lackeying the varying tide
    To rot itself with motion
  MESSENGER Caesar I bring thee word
    Menecrates and Menas famous pirates
    Make the sea serve them which they ear and wound  
    With keels of every kind Many hot inroads
    They make in Italy; the borders maritime
    Lack blood to think on't and flush youth revolt
    No vessel can peep forth but 'tis as soon
    Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more
    Than could his war resisted
  CAESAR Antony
    Leave thy lascivious wassails When thou once
    Was beaten from Modena where thou slew'st
    Hirtius and Pansa consuls at thy heel
    Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against
    Though daintily brought up with patience more
    Than savages could suffer Thou didst drink
    The stale of horses and the gilded puddle
    Which beasts would cough at Thy palate then did deign
    The roughest berry on the rudest hedge;
    Yea like the stag when snow the pasture sheets
    The barks of trees thou brows'd On the Alps
    It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh
    Which some did die to look on And all this-  
    It wounds thine honour that I speak it now-
    Was borne so like a soldier that thy cheek
    So much as lank'd not
  LEPIDUS 'Tis pity of him
  CAESAR Let his shames quickly
    Drive him to Rome 'Tis time we twain
    Did show ourselves i' th' field; and to that end
    Assemble we immediate council Pompey
    Thrives in our idleness
  LEPIDUS To-morrow Caesar
    I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly
    Both what by sea and land I can be able
    To front this present time
  CAESAR Till which encounter
    It is my business too Farewell
  LEPIDUS Farewell my lord What you shall know meantime
    Of stirs abroad I shall beseech you sir
    To let me be partaker
  CAESAR Doubt not sir;
    I knew it for my bond                                Exeunt




SCENE V
Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

Enter CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN IRAS and MARDIAN

  CLEOPATRA Charmian!
  CHARMIAN Madam?
  CLEOPATRA Ha ha!
    Give me to drink mandragora
  CHARMIAN Why madam?
  CLEOPATRA That I might sleep out this great gap of time
    My Antony is away
  CHARMIAN You think of him too much
  CLEOPATRA O 'tis treason!
  CHARMIAN Madam I trust not so
  CLEOPATRA Thou eunuch Mardian!
  MARDIAN What's your Highness' pleasure?
  CLEOPATRA Not now to hear thee sing; I take no pleasure
    In aught an eunuch has 'Tis well for thee
    That being unseminar'd thy freer thoughts
    May not fly forth of Egypt Hast thou affections?
  MARDIAN Yes gracious madam  
  CLEOPATRA Indeed?
  MARDIAN Not in deed madam; for I can do nothing
    But what indeed is honest to be done
    Yet have I fierce affections and think
    What Venus did with Mars
  CLEOPATRA O Charmian
    Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he or sits he?
    Or does he walk? or is he on his horse?
    O happy horse to bear the weight of Antony!
    Do bravely horse; for wot'st thou whom thou mov'st?
    The demi-Atlas of this earth the arm
    And burgonet of men He's speaking now
    Or murmuring 'Where's my serpent of old Nile?'
    For so he calls me Now I feed myself
    With most delicious poison Think on me
    That am with Phoebus' amorous pinches black
    And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar
    When thou wast here above the ground I was
    A morsel for a monarch; and great Pompey
    Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow;  
    There would he anchor his aspect and die
    With looking on his life

                         Enter ALEXAS

  ALEXAS Sovereign of Egypt hail!
  CLEOPATRA How much unlike art thou Mark Antony!
    Yet coming from him that great med'cine hath
    With his tinct gilded thee
    How goes it with my brave Mark Antony?
  ALEXAS Last thing he did dear Queen
    He kiss'd- the last of many doubled kisses-
    This orient pearl His speech sticks in my heart
  CLEOPATRA Mine ear must pluck it thence
  ALEXAS 'Good friend' quoth he
    'Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
    This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot
    To mend the petty present I will piece
    Her opulent throne with kingdoms All the East
    Say thou shall call her mistress' So he nodded  
    And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed
    Who neigh'd so high that what I would have spoke
    Was beastly dumb'd by him
  CLEOPATRA What was he sad or merry?
  ALEXAS Like to the time o' th' year between the extremes
    Of hot and cold; he was nor sad nor merry
  CLEOPATRA O well-divided disposition! Note him
    Note him good Charmian; 'tis the man; but note him!
    He was not sad for he would shine on those
    That make their looks by his; he was not merry
    Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay
    In Egypt with his joy; but between both
    O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry
    The violence of either thee becomes
    So does it no man else Met'st thou my posts?
  ALEXAS Ay madam twenty several messengers
    Why do you send so thick?
  CLEOPATRA Who's born that day
    When I forget to send to Antony
    Shall die a beggar Ink and paper Charmian  
    Welcome my good Alexas Did I Charmian
    Ever love Caesar so?
  CHARMIAN O that brave Caesar!
  CLEOPATRA Be chok'd with such another emphasis!
    Say 'the brave Antony'
  CHARMIAN The valiant Caesar!
  CLEOPATRA By Isis I will give thee bloody teeth
    If thou with Caesar paragon again
    My man of men
  CHARMIAN By your most gracious pardon
    I sing but after you
  CLEOPATRA My salad days
    When I was green in judgment cold in blood
    To say as I said then But come away!
    Get me ink and paper
    He shall have every day a several greeting
    Or I'll unpeople Egypt                               Exeunt



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ACT II SCENE I
Messina POMPEY'S house

Enter POMPEY MENECRATES and MENAS in warlike manner

  POMPEY If the great gods be just they shall assist
    The deeds of justest men
  MENECRATES Know worthy Pompey
    That what they do delay they not deny
  POMPEY Whiles we are suitors to their throne decays
    The thing we sue for
  MENECRATES We ignorant of ourselves
    Beg often our own harms which the wise pow'rs
    Deny us for our good; so find we profit
    By losing of our prayers
  POMPEY I shall do well
    The people love me and the sea is mine;
    My powers are crescent and my auguring hope
    Says it will come to th' full Mark Antony
    In Egypt sits at dinner and will make
    No wars without doors Caesar gets money where  
    He loses hearts Lepidus flatters both
    Of both is flatter'd; but he neither loves
    Nor either cares for him
  MENAS Caesar and Lepidus
    Are in the field A mighty strength they carry
  POMPEY Where have you this? 'Tis false
  MENAS From Silvius sir
  POMPEY He dreams I know they are in Rome together
    Looking for Antony But all the charms of love
    Salt Cleopatra soften thy wan'd lip!
    Let witchcraft join with beauty lust with both;
    Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts
    Keep his brain fuming Epicurean cooks
    Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite
    That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour
    Even till a Lethe'd dullness-

                       Enter VARRIUS

    How now Varrius!  
  VARRIUS This is most certain that I shall deliver:
    Mark Antony is every hour in Rome
    Expected Since he went from Egypt 'tis
    A space for farther travel
  POMPEY I could have given less matter
    A better ear Menas I did not think
    This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
    For such a petty war; his soldiership
    Is twice the other twain But let us rear
    The higher our opinion that our stirring
    Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
    The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony
  MENAS I cannot hope
    Caesar and Antony shall well greet together
    His wife that's dead did trespasses to Caesar;
    His brother warr'd upon him; although I think
    Not mov'd by Antony
  POMPEY I know not Menas
    How lesser enmities may give way to greater
    Were't not that we stand up against them all  
    'Twere pregnant they should square between themselves;
    For they have entertained cause enough
    To draw their swords But how the fear of us
    May cement their divisions and bind up
    The petty difference we yet not know
    Be't as our gods will have't! It only stands
    Our lives upon to use our strongest hands
    Come Menas                                          Exeunt




SCENE II
Rome The house of LEPIDUS

Enter ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS

  LEPIDUS Good Enobarbus 'tis a worthy deed
    And shall become you well to entreat your captain
    To soft and gentle speech
  ENOBARBUS I shall entreat him
    To answer like himself If Caesar move him
    Let Antony look over Caesar's head
    And speak as loud as Mars By Jupiter
    Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard
    I would not shave't to-day
  LEPIDUS 'Tis not a time
    For private stomaching
  ENOBARBUS Every time
    Serves for the matter that is then born in't
  LEPIDUS But small to greater matters must give way
  ENOBARBUS Not if the small come first
  LEPIDUS Your speech is passion;
    But pray you stir no embers up Here comes  
    The noble Antony

                Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS

  ENOBARBUS And yonder Caesar

            Enter CAESAR MAECENAS and AGRIPPA

  ANTONY If we compose well here to Parthia
    Hark Ventidius
  CAESAR I do not know Maecenas Ask Agrippa
  LEPIDUS Noble friends
    That which combin'd us was most great and let not
    A leaner action rend us What's amiss
    May it be gently heard When we debate
    Our trivial difference loud we do commit
    Murder in healing wounds Then noble partners
    The rather for I earnestly beseech
    Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms
    Nor curstness grow to th' matter  
  ANTONY 'Tis spoken well
    Were we before our arinies and to fight
    I should do thus                                 [Flourish]
  CAESAR Welcome to Rome
  ANTONY Thank you
  CAESAR Sit
  ANTONY Sit sir
  CAESAR Nay then                                  [They sit]
  ANTONY I learn you take things ill which are not so
    Or being concern you not
  CAESAR I must be laugh'd at
    If or for nothing or a little
    Should say myself offended and with you
    Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at that I should
    Once name you derogately when to sound your name
    It not concern'd me
  ANTONY My being in Egypt Caesar
    What was't to you?
  CAESAR No more than my residing here at Rome
    Might be to you in Egypt Yet if you there  
    Did practise on my state your being in Egypt
    Might be my question
  ANTONY How intend you- practis'd?
  CAESAR You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent
    By what did here befall me Your wife and brother
    Made wars upon me and their contestation
    Was theme for you; you were the word of war
  ANTONY You do mistake your business; my brother never
    Did urge me in his act I did inquire it
    And have my learning from some true reports
    That drew their swords with you Did he not rather
    Discredit my authority with yours
    And make the wars alike against my stomach
    Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
    Before did satisfy you If you'll patch a quarrel
    As matter whole you have not to make it with
    It must not be with this
  CAESAR You praise yourself
    By laying defects of judgment to me; but
    You patch'd up your excuses  
  ANTONY Not so not so;
    I know you could not lack I am certain on't
    Very necessity of this thought that I
    Your partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought
    Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars
    Which fronted mine own peace As for my wife
    I would you had her spirit in such another!
    The third o' th' world is yours which with a snaffle
    You may pace easy but not such a wife
  ENOBARBUS Would we had all such wives that the men might go
to
    wars with the women!
  ANTONY So much uncurbable her garboils Caesar
    Made out of her impatience- which not wanted
    Shrewdness of policy too- I grieving grant
    Did you too much disquiet For that you must
    But say I could not help it
  CAESAR I wrote to you
    When rioting in Alexandria; you
    Did pocket up my letters and with taunts
    Did gibe my missive out of audience  
  ANTONY Sir
    He fell upon me ere admitted Then
    Three kings I had newly feasted and did want
    Of what I was i' th' morning; but next day
    I told him of myself which was as much
    As to have ask'd him pardon Let this fellow
    Be nothing of our strife; if we contend
    Out of our question wipe him
  CAESAR You have broken
    The article of your oath which you shall never
    Have tongue to charge me with
  LEPIDUS Soft Caesar!
  ANTONY No;
    Lepidus let him speak
    The honour is sacred which he talks on now
    Supposing that I lack'd it But on Caesar:
    The article of my oath-
  CAESAR To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd them
    The which you both denied
  ANTONY Neglected rather;  
    And then when poisoned hours had bound me up
    From mine own knowledge As nearly as I may
    I'll play the penitent to you; but mine honesty
    Shall not make poor my greatness nor my power
    Work without it Truth is that Fulvia
    To have me out of Egypt made wars here;
    For which myself the ignorant motive do
    So far ask pardon as befits mine honour
    To stoop in such a case
  LEPIDUS 'Tis noble spoken
  MAECENAS If it might please you to enforce no further
    The griefs between ye- to forget them quite
    Were to remember that the present need
    Speaks to atone you
  LEPIDUS Worthily spoken Maecenas
  ENOBARBUS Or if you borrow one another's love for the
instant
    you may when you hear no more words of Pompey return it
again
    You shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else
to
    do
  ANTONY Thou art a soldier only Speak no more  
  ENOBARBUS That truth should be silent I had almost forgot
  ANTONY You wrong this presence; therefore speak no more
  ENOBARBUS Go to then- your considerate stone!
  CAESAR I do not much dislike the matter but
    The manner of his speech; for't cannot be
    We shall remain in friendship our conditions
    So diff'ring in their acts Yet if I knew
    What hoop should hold us stanch from edge to edge
    O' th' world I would pursue it
  AGRIPPA Give me leave Caesar
  CAESAR Speak Agrippa
  AGRIPPA Thou hast a sister by the mother's side
    Admir'd Octavia Great Mark Antony
    Is now a widower
  CAESAR Say not so Agrippa
    If Cleopatra heard you your reproof
    Were well deserv'd of rashness
  ANTONY I am not married Caesar Let me hear
    Agrippa further speak
  AGRIPPA To hold you in perpetual amity  
    To make you brothers and to knit your hearts
    With an unslipping knot take Antony
    Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims
    No worse a husband than the best of men;
    Whose virtue and whose general graces speak
    That which none else can utter By this marriage
    All little jealousies which now seem great
    And all great fears which now import their dangers
    Would then be nothing Truths would be tales
    Where now half tales be truths Her love to both
    Would each to other and all loves to both
    Draw after her Pardon what I have spoke;
    For 'tis a studied not a present thought
    By duty ruminated
  ANTONY Will Caesar speak?
  CAESAR Not till he hears how Antony is touch'd
    With what is spoke already
  ANTONY What power is in Agrippa
    If I would say 'Agrippa be it so'
    To make this good?  
  CAESAR The power of Caesar and
    His power unto Octavia
  ANTONY May I never
    To this good purpose that so fairly shows
    Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand
    Further this act of grace; and from this hour
    The heart of brothers govern in our loves
    And sway our great designs!
  CAESAR There is my hand
    A sister I bequeath you whom no brother
    Did ever love so dearly Let her live
    To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never
    Fly off our loves again!
  LEPIDUS Happily amen!
  ANTONY I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst Pompey;
    For he hath laid strange courtesies and great
    Of late upon me I must thank him only
    Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
    At heel of that defy him
  LEPIDUS Time calls upon's  
    Of us must Pompey presently be sought
    Or else he seeks out us
  ANTONY Where lies he?
  CAESAR About the Mount Misenum
  ANTONY What is his strength by land?
  CAESAR Great and increasing; but by sea
    He is an absolute master
  ANTONY So is the fame
    Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it
    Yet ere we put ourselves in arms dispatch we
    The business we have talk'd of
  CAESAR With most gladness;
    And do invite you to my sister's view
    Whither straight I'll lead you
  ANTONY Let us Lepidus
    Not lack your company
  LEPIDUS Noble Antony
    Not sickness should detain me                    [Flourish]
                     Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS AGRIPPA MAECENAS
  MAECENAS Welcome from Egypt sir  
  ENOBARBUS Half the heart of Caesar worthy Maecenas! My
honourable
    friend Agrippa!
  AGRIPPA Good Enobarbus!
  MAECENAS We have cause to be glad that matters are so well
    digested You stay'd well by't in Egypt
  ENOBARBUS Ay sir; we did sleep day out of countenance and
made
    the night light with drinking
  MAECENAS Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast and
but
    twelve persons there Is this true?
  ENOBARBUS This was but as a fly by an eagle We had much more
    monstrous matter of feast which worthily deserved noting
  MAECENAS She's a most triumphant lady if report be square to
her
  ENOBARBUS When she first met Mark Antony she purs'd up his
heart
    upon the river of Cydnus
  AGRIPPA There she appear'd indeed! Or my reporter devis'd well
for
    her
  ENOBARBUS I will tell you
    The barge she sat in like a burnish'd throne
    Burn'd on the water The poop was beaten gold;
    Purple the sails and so perfumed that  
    The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were silver
    Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke and made
    The water which they beat to follow faster
    As amorous of their strokes For her own person
    It beggar'd all description She did lie
    In her pavilion cloth-of-gold of tissue
    O'erpicturing that Venus where we see
    The fancy out-work nature On each side her
    Stood pretty dimpled boys like smiling Cupids
    With divers-colour'd fans whose wind did seem
    To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool
    And what they undid did
  AGRIPPA O rare for Antony!
  ENOBARBUS Her gentlewomen like the Nereides
    So many mermaids tended her i' th' eyes
    And made their bends adornings At the helm
    A seeming mermaid steers The silken tackle
    Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands
    That yarely frame the office From the barge
    A strange invisible perfume hits the sense  
    Of the adjacent wharfs The city cast
    Her people out upon her; and Antony
    Enthron'd i' th' market-place did sit alone
    Whistling to th' air; which but for vacancy
    Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too
    And made a gap in nature
  AGRIPPA Rare Egyptian!
  ENOBARBUS Upon her landing Antony sent to her
    Invited her to supper She replied
    It should be better he became her guest;
    Which she entreated Our courteous Antony
    Whom ne'er the word of 'No' woman heard speak
    Being barber'd ten times o'er goes to the feast
    And for his ordinary pays his heart
    For what his eyes eat only
  AGRIPPA Royal wench!
    She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed
    He ploughed her and she cropp'd
  ENOBARBUS I saw her once
    Hop forty paces through the public street;  
    And having lost her breath she spoke and panted
    That she did make defect perfection
    And breathless pow'r breathe forth
  MAECENAS Now Antony must leave her utterly
  ENOBARBUS Never! He will not
    Age cannot wither her nor custom stale
    Her infinite variety Other women cloy
    The appetites they feed but she makes hungry
    Where most she satisfies; for vilest things
    Become themselves in her that the holy priests
    Bless her when she is riggish
  MAECENAS If beauty wisdom modesty can settle
    The heart of Antony Octavia is
    A blessed lottery to him
  AGRIPPA Let us go
    Good Enobarbus make yourself my guest
    Whilst you abide here
  ENOBARBUS Humbly sir I thank you                    Exeunt




SCENE III
Rome CAESAR'S house

Enter ANTONY CAESAR OCTAVIA between them

  ANTONY The world and my great office will sometimes
    Divide me from your bosom
  OCTAVIA All which time
    Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
    To them for you
  ANTONY Good night sir My Octavia
    Read not my blemishes in the world's report
    I have not kept my square; but that to come
    Shall all be done by th' rule Good night dear lady
  OCTAVIA Good night sir
  CAESAR Good night                  Exeunt CAESAR and OCTAVIA

                        Enter SOOTHSAYER

  ANTONY Now sirrah you do wish yourself in Egypt?
  SOOTHSAYER Would I had never come from thence nor you
thither!
  ANTONY If you can- your reason  
  SOOTHSAYER I see it in my motion have it not in my tongue;
but
    yet hie you to Egypt again
  ANTONY Say to me
    Whose fortunes shall rise higher Caesar's or mine?
  SOOTHSAYER Caesar's
    Therefore O Antony stay not by his side
    Thy daemon that thy spirit which keeps thee is
    Noble courageous high unmatchable
    Where Caesar's is not; but near him thy angel
    Becomes a fear as being o'erpow'r'd Therefore
    Make space enough between you
  ANTONY Speak this no more
  SOOTHSAYER To none but thee; no more but when to thee
    If thou dost play with him at any game
    Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck
    He beats thee 'gainst the odds Thy lustre thickens
    When he shines by I say again thy spirit
    Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
    But he away 'tis noble
  ANTONY Get thee gone  
    Say to Ventidius I would speak with him
                                                 Exit SOOTHSAYER
    He shall to Parthia- Be it art or hap
    He hath spoken true The very dice obey him;
    And in our sports my better cunning faints
    Under his chance If we draw lots he speeds;
    His cocks do win the battle still of mine
    When it is all to nought and his quails ever
    Beat mine inhoop'd at odds I will to Egypt;
    And though I make this marriage for my peace
    I' th' East my pleasure lies

                       Enter VENTIDIUS

    O come Ventidius
    You must to Parthia Your commission's ready;
    Follow me and receive't                              Exeunt




SCENE IV
Rome A street

Enter LEPIDUS MAECENAS and AGRIPPA

  LEPIDUS Trouble yourselves no further Pray you hasten
    Your generals after
  AGRIPPA Sir Mark Antony
    Will e'en but kiss Octavia and we'll follow
  LEPIDUS Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress
    Which will become you both farewell
  MAECENAS We shall
    As I conceive the journey be at th' Mount
    Before you Lepidus
  LEPIDUS Your way is shorter;
    My purposes do draw me much about
    You'll win two days upon me
  BOTH Sir good success!
  LEPIDUS Farewell                                      Exeunt




SCENE V
Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

Enter CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN IRAS and ALEXAS

  CLEOPATRA Give me some music- music moody food
    Of us that trade in love
  ALL The music ho!

                    Enter MARDIAN the eunuch

  CLEOPATRA Let it alone! Let's to billiards Come Charmian
  CHARMIAN My arm is sore; best play with Mardian
  CLEOPATRA As well a woman with an eunuch play'd
    As with a woman Come you'll play with me sir?
  MARDIAN As well as I can madam
  CLEOPATRA And when good will is show'd though't come too
short
    The actor may plead pardon I'll none now
    Give me mine angle- we'll to th' river There
    My music playing far off I will betray
    Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
    Their slimy jaws; and as I draw them up
    I'll think them every one an Antony
    And say 'Ah ha! Y'are caught'
  CHARMIAN 'Twas merry when
    You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
    Did hang a salt fish on his hook which he
    With fervency drew up
  CLEOPATRA That time? O times
    I laughed him out of patience; and that night
    I laugh'd him into patience; and next morn
    Ere the ninth hour I drunk him to his bed
    Then put my tires and mantles on him whilst
    I wore his sword Philippan

                    Enter a MESSENGER

    O! from Italy?
    Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears
    That long time have been barren
  MESSENGER Madam madam-
  CLEOPATRA Antony's dead! If thou say so villain  
    Thou kill'st thy mistress; but well and free
    If thou so yield him there is gold and here
    My bluest veins to kiss- a hand that kings
    Have lipp'd and trembled kissing
  MESSENGER First madam he is well
  CLEOPATRA Why there's more gold
    But sirrah mark we use
    To say the dead are well Bring it to that
    The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
    Down thy ill-uttering throat
  MESSENGER Good madam hear me
  CLEOPATRA Well go to I will
    But there's no goodness in thy face If Antony
    Be free and healthful- why so tart a favour
    To trumpet such good tidings? If not well
    Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with snakes
    Not like a formal man
  MESSENGER Will't please you hear me?
  CLEOPATRA I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak'st
    Yet if thou say Antony lives is well  
    Or friends with Caesar or not captive to him
    I'll set thee in a shower of gold and hail
    Rich pearls upon thee
  MESSENGER Madam he's well
  CLEOPATRA Well said
  MESSENGER And friends with Caesar
  CLEOPATRA Th'art an honest man
  MESSENGER Caesar and he are greater friends than ever
  CLEOPATRA Make thee a fortune from me
  MESSENGER But yet madam-
  CLEOPATRA I do not like 'but yet' It does allay
    The good precedence; fie upon 'but yet'!
    'But yet' is as a gaoler to bring forth
    Some monstrous malefactor Prithee friend
    Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear
    The good and bad together He's friends with Caesar;
    In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free
  MESSENGER Free madam! No; I made no such report
    He's bound unto Octavia
  CLEOPATRA For what good turn?  
  MESSENGER For the best turn i' th' bed
  CLEOPATRA I am pale Charmian
  MESSENGER Madam he's married to Octavia
  CLEOPATRA The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
                                              [Strikes him down]
  MESSENGER Good madam patience
  CLEOPATRA What say you? Hence                  [Strikes him]
    Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
    Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head;
                                     [She hales him up and down]
    Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire and stew'd in brine
    Smarting in ling'ring pickle
  MESSENGER Gracious madam
    I that do bring the news made not the match
  CLEOPATRA Say 'tis not so a province I will give thee
    And make thy fortunes proud The blow thou hadst
    Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;
    And I will boot thee with what gift beside
    Thy modesty can beg
  MESSENGER He's married madam  
  CLEOPATRA Rogue thou hast liv'd too long    [Draws a knife]
  MESSENGER Nay then I'll run
    What mean you madam? I have made no fault             Exit
  CHARMIAN Good madam keep yourself within yourself:
    The man is innocent
  CLEOPATRA Some innocents scape not the thunderbolt
    Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures
    Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again
    Though I am mad I will not bite him Call!
  CHARMIAN He is afear'd to come
  CLEOPATRA I will not hurt him
    These hands do lack nobility that they strike
    A meaner than myself; since I myself
    Have given myself the cause

                    Enter the MESSENGER again

    Come hither sir
    Though it be honest it is never good
    To bring bad news Give to a gracious message  
    An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
    Themselves when they be felt
  MESSENGER I have done my duty
  CLEOPATRA Is he married?
    I cannot hate thee worser than I do
    If thou again say 'Yes'
  MESSENGER He's married madam
  CLEOPATRA The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?
  MESSENGER Should I lie madam?
  CLEOPATRA O I would thou didst
    So half my Egypt were submerg'd and made
    A cistern for scal'd snakes! Go get thee hence
    Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face to me
    Thou wouldst appear most ugly He is married?
  MESSENGER I crave your Highness' pardon
  CLEOPATRA He is married?
  MESSENGER Take no offence that I would not offend you;
    To punish me for what you make me do
    Seems much unequal He's married to Octavia
  CLEOPATRA O that his fault should make a knave of thee  
    That art not what th'art sure of! Get thee hence
    The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome
    Are all too dear for me Lie they upon thy hand
    And be undone by 'em!                         Exit MESSENGER
  CHARMIAN Good your Highness patience
  CLEOPATRA In praising Antony I have disprais'd Caesar
  CHARMIAN Many times madam
  CLEOPATRA I am paid for't now Lead me from hence
    I faint O Iras Charmian! 'Tis no matter
    Go to the fellow good Alexas; bid him
    Report the feature of Octavia her years
    Her inclination; let him not leave out
    The colour of her hair Bring me word quickly
                                                     Exit ALEXAS
    Let him for ever go- let him not Charmian-
    Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon
    The other way's a Mars                         [To MARDIAN]
    Bid you Alexas
    Bring me word how tall she is- Pity me Charmian
    But do not speak to me Lead me to my chamber        Exeunt




SCENE VI
Near Misenum

Flourish Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one door with drum and
trumpet;
at another CAESAR ANTONY LEPIDUS ENOBARBUS MAECENAS
AGRIPPA
with soldiers marching

  POMPEY Your hostages I have so have you mine;
    And we shall talk before we fight
  CAESAR Most meet
    That first we come to words; and therefore have we
    Our written purposes before us sent;
    Which if thou hast considered let us know
    If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword
    And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
    That else must perish here
  POMPEY To you all three
    The senators alone of this great world
    Chief factors for the gods: I do not know
    Wherefore my father should revengers want
    Having a son and friends since Julius Caesar  
    Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted
    There saw you labouring for him What was't
    That mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? and what
    Made the all-honour'd honest Roman Brutus
    With the arm'd rest courtiers of beauteous freedom
    To drench the Capitol but that they would
    Have one man but a man? And that is it
    Hath made me rig my navy at whose burden
    The anger'd ocean foams; with which I meant
    To scourge th' ingratitude that despiteful Rome
    Cast on my noble father
  CAESAR Take your time
  ANTONY Thou canst not fear us Pompey with thy sails;
    We'll speak with thee at sea; at land thou know'st
    How much we do o'er-count thee
  POMPEY At land indeed
    Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house
    But since the cuckoo builds not for himself
    Remain in't as thou mayst
  LEPIDUS Be pleas'd to tell us-  
    For this is from the present- how you take
    The offers we have sent you
  CAESAR There's the point
  ANTONY Which do not be entreated to but weigh
    What it is worth embrac'd
  CAESAR And what may follow
    To try a larger fortune
  POMPEY You have made me offer
    Of Sicily Sardinia; and I must
    Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send
    Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon
    To part with unhack'd edges and bear back
    Our targes undinted
  ALL That's our offer
  POMPEY Know then
    I came before you here a man prepar'd
    To take this offer; but Mark Antony
    Put me to some impatience Though I lose
    The praise of it by telling you must know
    When Caesar and your brother were at blows  
    Your mother came to Sicily and did find
    Her welcome friendly
  ANTONY I have heard it Pompey
    And am well studied for a liberal thanks
    Which I do owe you
  POMPEY Let me have your hand
    I did not think sir to have met you here
  ANTONY The beds i' th' East are soft; and thanks to you
    That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither;
    For I have gained by't
  CAESAR Since I saw you last
    There is a change upon you
  POMPEY Well I know not
    What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face;
    But in my bosom shall she never come
    To make my heart her vassal
  LEPIDUS Well met here
  POMPEY I hope so Lepidus Thus we are agreed
    I crave our composition may be written
    And seal'd between us  
  CAESAR That's the next to do
  POMPEY We'll feast each other ere we part and let's
    Draw lots who shall begin
  ANTONY That will I Pompey
  POMPEY No Antony take the lot;
    But first or last your fine Egyptian cookery
    Shall have the fame I have heard that Julius Caesar
    Grew fat with feasting there
  ANTONY You have heard much
  POMPEY I have fair meanings sir
  ANTONY And fair words to them
  POMPEY Then so much have I heard;
    And I have heard Apollodorus carried-
  ENOBARBUS No more of that! He did so
  POMPEY What I pray you?
  ENOBARBUS A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress
  POMPEY I know thee now How far'st thou soldier?
  ENOBARBUS Well;
    And well am like to do for I perceive
    Four feasts are toward  
  POMPEY Let me shake thy hand
    I never hated thee; I have seen thee fight
    When I have envied thy behaviour
  ENOBARBUS Sir
    I never lov'd you much; but I ha' prais'd ye
    When you have well deserv'd ten times as much
    As I have said you did
  POMPEY Enjoy thy plainness;
    It nothing ill becomes thee
    Aboard my galley I invite you all
    Will you lead lords?
  ALL Show's the way sir
  POMPEY Come               Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS and MENAS
  MENAS [Aside] Thy father Pompey would ne'er have made this
    treaty- You and I have known sir
  ENOBARBUS At sea I think
  MENAS We have sir
  ENOBARBUS You have done well by water
  MENAS And you by land
  ENOBARBUS I Will praise any man that will praise me; though it


    cannot be denied what I have done by land
  MENAS Nor what I have done by water
  ENOBARBUS Yes something you can deny for your own safety: you
    have been a great thief by sea
  MENAS And you by land
  ENOBARBUS There I deny my land service But give me your hand
    Menas; if our eyes had authority here they might take two
    thieves kissing
  MENAS All men's faces are true whatsome'er their hands are
  ENOBARBUS But there is never a fair woman has a true face
  MENAS No slander: they steal hearts
  ENOBARBUS We came hither to fight with you
  MENAS For my part I am sorry it is turn'd to a drinking
    Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune
  ENOBARBUS If he do sure he cannot weep't back again
  MENAS Y'have said sir We look'd not for Mark Antony here
Pray
    you is he married to Cleopatra?
  ENOBARBUS Caesar' sister is call'd Octavia
  MENAS True sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus
  ENOBARBUS But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius  
  MENAS Pray ye sir?
  ENOBARBUS 'Tis true
  MENAS Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together
  ENOBARBUS If I were bound to divine of this unity I would not
    prophesy so
  MENAS I think the policy of that purpose made more in the
marriage
    than the love of the parties
  ENOBARBUS I think so too But you shall find the band that
seems
    to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler
of
    their amity: Octavia is of a holy cold and still
conversation
  MENAS Who would not have his wife so?
  ENOBARBUS Not he that himself is not so; which is Mark Antony
He
    will to his Egyptian dish again; then shall the sighs of
Octavia
    blow the fire up in Caesar and as I said before that which
is
    the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author
of
    their variance Antony will use his affection where it is; he
    married but his occasion here
  MENAS And thus it may be Come sir will you aboard? I have a
    health for you
  ENOBARBUS I shall take it sir We have us'd our throats in
Egypt  
  MENAS Come let's away                                Exeunt

ACT_2|SC_7
                           SCENE VII
             On board POMPEY'S galley off Misenum

     Music plays Enter two or three SERVANTS with a banquet

  FIRST SERVANT Here they'll be man Some o' their plants are
    ill-rooted already; the least wind i' th' world will blow
them
    down
  SECOND SERVANT Lepidus is high-colour'd
  FIRST SERVANT They have made him drink alms-drink
  SECOND SERVANT As they pinch one another by the disposition
he
    cries out 'No more!'; reconciles them to his entreaty and
himself
    to th' drink
  FIRST SERVANT But it raises the greater war between him and
his
    discretion
  SECOND SERVANT Why this it is to have a name in great men's
    fellowship I had as lief have a reed that will do me no
service
    as a partizan I could not heave
  FIRST SERVANT To be call'd into a huge sphere and not to be
seen
    to move in't are the holes where eyes should be which
pitifully
    disaster the cheeks
  
           A sennet sounded Enter CAESAR ANTONY LEPIDUS
            POMPEY AGRIPPA MAECENAS ENOBARBUS MENAS
                         with other CAPTAINS

  ANTONY [To CAESAR] Thus do they sir: they take the flow o'
th'
      Nile
    By certain scales i' th' pyramid; they know
    By th' height the lowness or the mean if dearth
    Or foison follow The higher Nilus swells
    The more it promises; as it ebbs the seedsman
    Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain
    And shortly comes to harvest
  LEPIDUS Y'have strange serpents there
  ANTONY Ay Lepidus
  LEPIDUS Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the
    operation of your sun; so is your crocodile
  ANTONY They are so
  POMPEY Sit- and some wine! A health to Lepidus!
  LEPIDUS I am not so well as I should be but I'll ne'er out
  ENOBARBUS Not till you have slept I fear me you'll be in till


    then
  LEPIDUS Nay certainly I have heard the Ptolemies' pyramises
are
    very goodly things Without contradiction I have heard that
  MENAS [Aside to POMPEY] Pompey a word
  POMPEY [Aside to MENAS] Say in mine ear; what is't?
  MENAS [Aside to POMPEY] Forsake thy seat I do beseech thee
      Captain
    And hear me speak a word
  POMPEY [ Whispers in's ear ] Forbear me till anon-
    This wine for Lepidus!
  LEPIDUS What manner o' thing is your crocodile?
  ANTONY It is shap'd sir like itself and it is as broad as
it
    hath breadth; it is just so high as it is and moves with it
own
    organs It lives by that which nourisheth it and the
elements
    once out of it it transmigrates
  LEPIDUS What colour is it of?
  ANTONY Of it own colour too
  LEPIDUS 'Tis a strange serpent
  ANTONY 'Tis so And the tears of it are wet
  CAESAR Will this description satisfy him?  
  ANTONY With the health that Pompey gives him else he is a
very
    epicure
  POMPEY [Aside to MENAS] Go hang sir hang! Tell me of that!
      Away!
    Do as I bid you- Where's this cup I call'd for?
  MENAS [Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of merit thou wilt
hear
      me
    Rise from thy stool
  POMPEY [Aside to MENAS] I think th'art mad [Rises and walks
    aside] The matter?
  MENAS I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes
  POMPEY Thou hast serv'd me with much faith What's else to
say?-
    Be jolly lords
  ANTONY These quicksands Lepidus
    Keep off them for you sink
  MENAS Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
  POMPEY What say'st thou?
  MENAS Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice
  POMPEY How should that be?
  MENAS But entertain it  
    And though you think me poor I am the man
    Will give thee all the world
  POMPEY Hast thou drunk well?
  MENAS No Pompey I have kept me from the cup
    Thou art if thou dar'st be the earthly Jove;
    Whate'er the ocean pales or sky inclips
    Is thine if thou wilt ha't
  POMPEY Show me which way
  MENAS These three world-sharers these competitors
    Are in thy vessel Let me cut the cable;
    And when we are put off fall to their throats
    All there is thine
  POMPEY Ah this thou shouldst have done
    And not have spoke on't In me 'tis villainy:
    In thee't had been good service Thou must know
    'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour:
    Mine honour it Repent that e'er thy tongue
    Hath so betray'd thine act Being done unknown
    I should have found it afterwards well done
    But must condemn it now Desist and drink  
  MENAS [Aside] For this
    I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more
    Who seeks and will not take when once 'tis offer'd
    Shall never find it more
  POMPEY This health to Lepidus!
  ANTONY Bear him ashore I'll pledge it for him Pompey
  ENOBARBUS Here's to thee Menas!
  MENAS Enobarbus welcome!
  POMPEY Fill till the cup be hid
  ENOBARBUS There's a strong fellow Menas
               [Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS]
  MENAS Why?
  ENOBARBUS 'A bears the third part of the world man; see'st
not?
  MENAS The third part then is drunk Would it were all
    That it might go on wheels!
  ENOBARBUS Drink thou; increase the reels
  MENAS Come
  POMPEY This is not yet an Alexandrian feast
  ANTONY It ripens towards it Strike the vessels ho!
    Here's to Caesar!  
  CAESAR I could well forbear't
    It's monstrous labour when I wash my brain
    And it grows fouler
  ANTONY Be a child o' th' time
  CAESAR Possess it I'll make answer
    But I had rather fast from all four days
    Than drink so much in one
  ENOBARBUS [To ANTONY] Ha my brave emperor!
    Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals
    And celebrate our drink?
  POMPEY Let's ha't good soldier
  ANTONY Come let's all take hands
    Till that the conquering wine hath steep'd our sense
    In soft and delicate Lethe
  ENOBARBUS All take hands
    Make battery to our ears with the loud music
    The while I'll place you; then the boy shall sing;
    The holding every man shall bear as loud
    As his strong sides can volley
               [Music plays ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand] 


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

  CAESAR What would you more? Pompey good night Good brother
    Let me request you off; our graver business
    Frowns at this levity Gentle lords let's part;
    You see we have burnt our cheeks Strong Enobarb
    Is weaker than the wine and mine own tongue
    Splits what it speaks The wild disguise hath almost
    Antick'd us all What needs more words? Good night
    Good Antony your hand
  POMPEY I'll try you on the shore
  ANTONY And shall sir Give's your hand
  POMPEY O Antony  
    You have my father's house- but what? We are friends
    Come down into the boat
  ENOBARBUS Take heed you fall not
                              Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS and MENAS
    Menas I'll not on shore
  MENAS No to my cabin
    These drums! these trumpets flutes! what!
    Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
    To these great fellows Sound and be hang'd sound out!
                                  [Sound a flourish with drums]
  ENOBARBUS Hoo! says 'a There's my cap
  MENAS Hoo! Noble Captain come                        Exeunt
ACT_3|SC_1
                     ACT III SCENE I
                     A plain in Syria

       Enter VENTIDIUS as it were in triumph with SILIUS
      and other Romans OFFICERS and soldiers; the dead body
                of PACORUS borne before him

  VENTIDIUS Now darting Parthia art thou struck and now
    Pleas'd fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
    Make me revenger Bear the King's son's body
    Before our army Thy Pacorus Orodes
    Pays this for Marcus Crassus
  SILIUS Noble Ventidius
    Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm
    The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media
    Mesopotamia and the shelters whither
    The routed fly So thy grand captain Antony
    Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and
    Put garlands on thy head
  VENTIDIUS O Silius Silius
    I have done enough A lower place note well
    May make too great an act; for learn this Silius:  
    Better to leave undone than by our deed
    Acquire too high a fame when him we serve's away
    Caesar and Antony have ever won
    More in their officer than person Sossius
    One of my place in Syria his lieutenant
    For quick accumulation of renown
    Which he achiev'd by th' minute lost his favour
    Who does i' th' wars more than his captain can
    Becomes his captain's captain; and ambition
    The soldier's virtue rather makes choice of loss
    Than gain which darkens him
    I could do more to do Antonius good
    But 'twould offend him; and in his offence
    Should my performance perish
  SILIUS Thou hast Ventidius that
    Without the which a soldier and his sword
    Grants scarce distinction Thou wilt write to Antony?
  VENTIDIUS I'll humbly signify what in his name
    That magical word of war we have effected;
    How with his banners and his well-paid ranks  
    The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
    We have jaded out o' th' field
  SILIUS Where is he now?
  VENTIDIUS He purposeth to Athens; whither with what haste
    The weight we must convey with's will permit
    We shall appear before him- On there; pass along
                                                          Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_2
                            SCENE II Rome CAESAR'S house

        Enter AGRIPPA at one door ENOBARBUS at another

  AGRIPPA What are the brothers parted?
  ENOBARBUS They have dispatch'd with Pompey; he is gone;
    The other three are sealing Octavia weeps
    To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus
    Since Pompey's feast as Menas says is troubled
    With the green sickness
  AGRIPPA 'Tis a noble Lepidus
  ENOBARBUS A very fine one O how he loves Caesar!
  AGRIPPA Nay but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
  ENOBARBUS Caesar? Why he's the Jupiter of men
  AGRIPPA What's Antony? The god of Jupiter
  ENOBARBUS Spake you of Caesar? How! the nonpareil!
  AGRIPPA O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!
  ENOBARBUS Would you praise Caesar say 'Caesar'- go no
further
  AGRIPPA Indeed he plied them both with excellent praises
  ENOBARBUS But he loves Caesar best Yet he loves Antony
    Hoo! hearts tongues figures scribes bards poets cannot 

    Think speak cast write sing number- hoo!-
    His love to Antony But as for Caesar
    Kneel down kneel down and wonder
  AGRIPPA Both he loves
  ENOBARBUS They are his shards and he their beetle [Trumpets
      within] So-
    This is to horse Adieu noble Agrippa
  AGRIPPA Good fortune worthy soldier and farewell

           Enter CAESAR ANTONY LEPIDUS and OCTAVIA

  ANTONY No further sir
  CAESAR You take from me a great part of myself;
    Use me well in't Sister prove such a wife
    As my thoughts make thee and as my farthest band
    Shall pass on thy approof Most noble Antony
    Let not the piece of virtue which is set
    Betwixt us as the cement of our love
    To keep it builded be the ram to batter
    The fortress of it; for better might we  
    Have lov'd without this mean if on both parts
    This be not cherish'd
  ANTONY Make me not offended
    In your distrust
  CAESAR I have said
  ANTONY You shall not find
    Though you be therein curious the least cause
    For what you seem to fear So the gods keep you
    And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!
    We will here part
  CAESAR Farewell my dearest sister fare thee well
    The elements be kind to thee and make
    Thy spirits all of comfort! Fare thee well
  OCTAVIA My noble brother!
  ANTONY The April's in her eyes It is love's spring
    And these the showers to bring it on Be cheerful
  OCTAVIA Sir look well to my husband's house; and-
  CAESAR What Octavia?
  OCTAVIA I'll tell you in your ear
  ANTONY Her tongue will not obey her heart nor can  
    Her heart inform her tongue- the swan's down feather
    That stands upon the swell at the full of tide
    And neither way inclines
  ENOBARBUS [Aside to AGRIPPA] Will Caesar weep?
  AGRIPPA [Aside to ENOBARBUS] He has a cloud in's face
  ENOBARBUS [Aside to AGRIPPA] He were the worse for that were
he a
      horse;
    So is he being a man
  AGRIPPA [Aside to ENOBARBUS] Why Enobarbus
    When Antony found Julius Caesar dead
    He cried almost to roaring; and he wept
    When at Philippi he found Brutus slain
  ENOBARBUS [Aside to AGRIPPA] That year indeed he was
troubled
      with a rheum;
    What willingly he did confound he wail'd
    Believe't- till I weep too
  CAESAR No sweet Octavia
    You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
    Out-go my thinking on you
  ANTONY Come sir come;  
    I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love
    Look here I have you; thus I let you go
    And give you to the gods
  CAESAR Adieu; be happy!
  LEPIDUS Let all the number of the stars give light
    To thy fair way!
  CAESAR Farewell farewell!                   [Kisses OCTAVIA]
  ANTONY Farewell!                       Trumpets sound Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_3
                          SCENE III
              Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

         Enter CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN IRAS and ALEXAS

  CLEOPATRA Where is the fellow?
  ALEXAS Half afeard to come
  CLEOPATRA Go to go to

                Enter the MESSENGER as before

    Come hither sir
  ALEXAS Good Majesty
    Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
    But when you are well pleas'd
  CLEOPATRA That Herod's head
    I'll have But how when Antony is gone
    Through whom I might command it? Come thou near
  MESSENGER Most gracious Majesty!
  CLEOPATRA Didst thou behold Octavia?
  MESSENGER Ay dread Queen
  CLEOPATRA Where?  
  MESSENGER Madam in Rome
    I look'd her in the face and saw her led
    Between her brother and Mark Antony
  CLEOPATRA Is she as tall as me?
  MESSENGER She is not madam
  CLEOPATRA Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongu'd or low?
  MESSENGER Madam I heard her speak: she is low-voic'd
  CLEOPATRA That's not so good He cannot like her long
  CHARMIAN Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible
  CLEOPATRA I think so Charmian Dull of tongue and dwarfish!
    What majesty is in her gait? Remember
    If e'er thou look'dst on majesty
  MESSENGER She creeps
    Her motion and her station are as one;
    She shows a body rather than a life
    A statue than a breather
  CLEOPATRA Is this certain?
  MESSENGER Or I have no observance
  CHARMIAN Three in Egypt
    Cannot make better note  
  CLEOPATRA He's very knowing;
    I do perceive't There's nothing in her yet
    The fellow has good judgment
  CHARMIAN Excellent
  CLEOPATRA Guess at her years I prithee
  MESSENGER Madam
    She was a widow
  CLEOPATRA Widow? Charmian hark!
  MESSENGER And I do think she's thirty
  CLEOPATRA Bear'st thou her face in mind? Is't long or round?
  MESSENGER Round even to faultiness
  CLEOPATRA For the most part too they are foolish that are
so
    Her hair what colour?
  MESSENGER Brown madam; and her forehead
    As low as she would wish it
  CLEOPATRA There's gold for thee
    Thou must not take my former sharpness ill
    I will employ thee back again; I find thee
    Most fit for business Go make thee ready;
    Our letters are prepar'd                   Exeunt MESSENGER 

  CHARMIAN A proper man
  CLEOPATRA Indeed he is so I repent me much
    That so I harried him Why methinks by him
    This creature's no such thing
  CHARMIAN Nothing madam
  CLEOPATRA The man hath seen some majesty and should know
  CHARMIAN Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend
    And serving you so long!
  CLEOPATRA I have one thing more to ask him yet good Charmian
    But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
    Where I will write All may be well enough
  CHARMIAN I warrant you madam                         Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_4
                          SCENE IV
                  Athens ANTONY'S house

                 Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA

  ANTONY Nay nay Octavia not only that-
    That were excusable that and thousands more
    Of semblable import- but he hath wag'd
    New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will and read it
    To public ear;
    Spoke scandy of me; when perforce he could not
    But pay me terms of honour cold and sickly
    He vented them most narrow measure lent me;
    When the best hint was given him he not took't
    Or did it from his teeth
  OCTAVIA O my good lord
    Believe not all; or if you must believe
    Stomach not all A more unhappy lady
    If this division chance ne'er stood between
    Praying for both parts
    The good gods will mock me presently
    When I shall pray 'O bless my lord and husband!'  
    Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
    'O bless my brother!' Husband win win brother
    Prays and destroys the prayer; no mid-way
    'Twixt these extremes at all
  ANTONY Gentle Octavia
    Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
    Best to preserve it If I lose mine honour
    I lose myself; better I were not yours
    Than yours so branchless But as you requested
    Yourself shall go between's The meantime lady
    I'll raise the preparation of a war
    Shall stain your brother Make your soonest haste;
    So your desires are yours
  OCTAVIA Thanks to my lord
    The Jove of power make me most weak most weak
    Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
    As if the world should cleave and that slain men
    Should solder up the rift
  ANTONY When it appears to you where this begins
    Turn your displeasure that way for our faults  
    Can never be so equal that your love
    Can equally move with them Provide your going;
    Choose your own company and command what cost
    Your heart has mind to                               Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_5
                           SCENE V
                   Athens ANTONY'S house

             Enter ENOBARBUS and EROS meeting

  ENOBARBUS How now friend Eros!
  EROS There's strange news come sir
  ENOBARBUS What man?
  EROS Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey
  ENOBARBUS This is old What is the success?
  EROS Caesar having made use of him in the wars 'gainst
Pompey
    presently denied him rivality would not let him partake in
the
    glory of the action; and not resting here accuses him of
letters
    he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal seizes
him
    So the poor third is up till death enlarge his confine
  ENOBARBUS Then world thou hast a pair of chaps- no more;
    And throw between them all the food thou hast
    They'll grind the one the other Where's Antony?
  EROS He's walking in the garden- thus and spurns
    The rush that lies before him; cries 'Fool Lepidus!'
    And threats the throat of that his officer
    That murd'red Pompey  
  ENOBARBUS Our great navy's rigg'd
  EROS For Italy and Caesar More Domitius:
    My lord desires you presently; my news
    I might have told hereafter
  ENOBARBUS 'Twill be naught;
    But let it be Bring me to Antony
  EROS Come sir                                        Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_6
                          SCENE VI
                   Rome CAESAR'S house

             Enter CAESAR AGRIPPA and MAECENAS

  CAESAR Contemning Rome he has done all this and more
    In Alexandria Here's the manner of't:
    I' th' market-place on a tribunal silver'd
    Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
    Were publicly enthron'd; at the feet sat
    Caesarion whom they call my father's son
    And all the unlawful issue that their lust
    Since then hath made between them Unto her
    He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
    Of lower Syria Cyprus Lydia
    Absolute queen
  MAECENAS This in the public eye?
  CAESAR I' th' common show-place where they exercise
    His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:
    Great Media Parthia and Armenia
    He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd
    Syria Cilicia and Phoenicia She  
    In th' habiliments of the goddess Isis
    That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience
    As 'tis reported so
  MAECENAS Let Rome be thus
    Inform'd
  AGRIPPA Who queasy with his insolence
    Already will their good thoughts call from him
  CAESAR The people knows it and have now receiv'd
    His accusations
  AGRIPPA Who does he accuse?
  CAESAR Caesar; and that having in Sicily
    Sextus Pompeius spoil'd we had not rated him
    His part o' th' isle Then does he say he lent me
    Some shipping unrestor'd Lastly he frets
    That Lepidus of the triumvirate
    Should be depos'd; and being that we detain
    All his revenue
  AGRIPPA Sir this should be answer'd
  CAESAR 'Tis done already and messenger gone
    I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel  
    That he his high authority abus'd
    And did deserve his change For what I have conquer'd
    I grant him part; but then in his Armenia
    And other of his conquer'd kingdoms
    Demand the like
  MAECENAS He'll never yield to that
  CAESAR Nor must not then be yielded to in this

                Enter OCTAVIA with her train

  OCTAVIA Hail Caesar and my lord! hail most dear Caesar!
  CAESAR That ever I should call thee cast-away!
  OCTAVIA You have not call'd me so nor have you cause
  CAESAR Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not
    Like Caesar's sister The wife of Antony
    Should have an army for an usher and
    The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
    Long ere she did appear The trees by th' way
    Should have borne men and expectation fainted
    Longing for what it had not Nay the dust  
    Should have ascended to the roof of heaven
    Rais'd by your populous troops But you are come
    A market-maid to Rome and have prevented
    The ostentation of our love which left unshown
    Is often left unlov'd We should have met you
    By sea and land supplying every stage
    With an augmented greeting
  OCTAVIA Good my lord
    To come thus was I not constrain'd but did it
    On my free will My lord Mark Antony
    Hearing that you prepar'd for war acquainted
    My grieved ear withal; whereon I begg'd
    His pardon for return
  CAESAR Which soon he granted
    Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him
  OCTAVIA Do not say so my lord
  CAESAR I have eyes upon him
    And his affairs come to me on the wind
    Where is he now?
  OCTAVIA My lord in Athens  
  CAESAR No my most wronged sister: Cleopatra
    Hath nodded him to her He hath given his empire
    Up to a whore who now are levying
    The kings o' th' earth for war He hath assembled
    Bocchus the king of Libya; Archelaus
    Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos king
    Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king Adallas;
    King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
    Herod of Jewry; Mithridates king
    Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas
    The kings of Mede and Lycaonia with
    More larger list of sceptres
  OCTAVIA Ay me most wretched
    That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
    That does afflict each other!
  CAESAR Welcome hither
    Your letters did withhold our breaking forth
    Till we perceiv'd both how you were wrong led
    And we in negligent danger Cheer your heart;
    Be you not troubled with the time which drives  
    O'er your content these strong necessities
    But let determin'd things to destiny
    Hold unbewail'd their way Welcome to Rome;
    Nothing more dear to me You are abus'd
    Beyond the mark of thought and the high gods
    To do you justice make their ministers
    Of us and those that love you Best of comfort
    And ever welcome to us
  AGRIPPA Welcome lady
  MAECENAS Welcome dear madam
    Each heart in Rome does love and pity you;
    Only th' adulterous Antony most large
    In his abominations turns you off
    And gives his potent regiment to a trull
    That noises it against us
  OCTAVIA Is it so sir?
  CAESAR Most certain Sister welcome Pray you
    Be ever known to patience My dear'st sister!         Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_7
                          SCENE VII
                  ANTONY'S camp near Actium

                Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS

  CLEOPATRA I will be even with thee doubt it not
  ENOBARBUS But why why
  CLEOPATRA Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars
    And say'st it is not fit
  ENOBARBUS Well is it is it?
  CLEOPATRA Is't not denounc'd against us? Why should not we
    Be there in person?
  ENOBARBUS [Aside] Well I could reply:
    If we should serve with horse and mares together
    The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear
    A soldier and his horse
  CLEOPATRA What is't you say?
  ENOBARBUS Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;
    Take from his heart take from his brain from's time
    What should not then be spar'd He is already
    Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome
    That Photinus an eunuch and your maids  
    Manage this war
  CLEOPATRA Sink Rome and their tongues rot
    That speak against us! A charge we bear i' th' war
    And as the president of my kingdom will
    Appear there for a man Speak not against it;
    I will not stay behind

                   Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS

  ENOBARBUS Nay I have done
    Here comes the Emperor
  ANTONY Is it not strange Canidius
    That from Tarentum and Brundusium
    He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea
    And take in Toryne?- You have heard on't sweet?
  CLEOPATRA Celerity is never more admir'd
    Than by the negligent
  ANTONY A good rebuke
    Which might have well becom'd the best of men
    To taunt at slackness Canidius we  
    Will fight with him by sea
  CLEOPATRA By sea! What else?
  CANIDIUS Why will my lord do so?
  ANTONY For that he dares us to't
  ENOBARBUS So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight
  CANIDIUS Ay and to wage this battle at Pharsalia
    Where Caesar fought with Pompey But these offers
    Which serve not for his vantage he shakes off;
    And so should you
  ENOBARBUS Your ships are not well mann'd;
    Your mariners are muleteers reapers people
    Ingross'd by swift impress In Caesar's fleet
    Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought;
    Their ships are yare; yours heavy No disgrace
    Shall fall you for refusing him at sea
    Being prepar'd for land
  ANTONY By sea by sea
  ENOBARBUS Most worthy sir you therein throw away
    The absolute soldiership you have by land;
    Distract your army which doth most consist  
    Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted
    Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo
    The way which promises assurance; and
    Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard
    From firm security
  ANTONY I'll fight at sea
  CLEOPATRA I have sixty sails Caesar none better
  ANTONY Our overplus of shipping will we burn
    And with the rest full-mann'd from th' head of Actium
    Beat th' approaching Caesar But if we fail
    We then can do't at land

                       Enter a MESSENGER

    Thy business?
  MESSENGER The news is true my lord: he is descried;
    Caesar has taken Toryne
  ANTONY Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible-
    Strange that his power should be Canidius
    Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land  
    And our twelve thousand horse We'll to our ship
    Away my Thetis!

                       Enter a SOLDIER

    How now worthy soldier?
  SOLDIER O noble Emperor do not fight by sea;
    Trust not to rotten planks Do you misdoubt
    This sword and these my wounds? Let th' Egyptians
    And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we
    Have us'd to conquer standing on the earth
    And fighting foot to foot
  ANTONY Well well- away
                         Exeunt ANTONY CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS
  SOLDIER By Hercules I think I am i' th' right
  CANIDIUS Soldier thou art; but his whole action grows
    Not in the power on't So our leader's led
    And we are women's men
  SOLDIER You keep by land
    The legions and the horse whole do you not?  
  CANIDIUS Marcus Octavius Marcus Justeius
    Publicola and Caelius are for sea;
    But we keep whole by land This speed of Caesar's
    Carries beyond belief
  SOLDIER While he was yet in Rome
    His power went out in such distractions as
    Beguil'd all spies
  CANIDIUS Who's his lieutenant hear you?
  SOLDIER They say one Taurus
  CANIDIUS Well I know the man

                        Enter a MESSENGER

  MESSENGER The Emperor calls Canidius
  CANIDIUS With news the time's with labour and throes forth
    Each minute some                                     Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_8
                          SCENE VIII
                      A plain near Actium

             Enter CAESAR with his army marching

  CAESAR Taurus!
  TAURUS My lord?
  CAESAR Strike not by land; keep whole; provoke not battle
    Till we have done at sea Do not exceed
    The prescript of this scroll Our fortune lies
    Upon this jump                                       Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_9
                           SCENE IX
                  Another part of the plain

                  Enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS

  ANTONY Set we our squadrons on yon side o' th' hill
    In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place
    We may the number of the ships behold
    And so proceed accordingly                           Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_10
                           SCENE X
                 Another part of the plain

        CANIDIUS marcheth with his land army one way
        over the stage and TAURUS the Lieutenant of
      CAESAR the other way After their going in is heard
                   the noise of a sea-fight

                    Alarum Enter ENOBARBUS

  ENOBARBUS Naught naught all naught! I can behold no longer
    Th' Antoniad the Egyptian admiral
    With all their sixty fly and turn the rudder
    To see't mine eyes are blasted

                        Enter SCARUS

  SCARUS Gods and goddesses
    All the whole synod of them!
  ENOBARBUS What's thy passion?
  SCARUS The greater cantle of the world is lost
    With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away  
    Kingdoms and provinces
  ENOBARBUS How appears the fight?
  SCARUS On our side like the token'd pestilence
    Where death is sure Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt-
    Whom leprosy o'ertake!- i' th' midst o' th' fight
    When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd
    Both as the same or rather ours the elder-
    The breese upon her like a cow in June-
    Hoists sails and flies
  ENOBARBUS That I beheld;
    Mine eyes did sicken at the sight and could not
    Endure a further view
  SCARUS She once being loof'd
    The noble ruin of her magic Antony
    Claps on his sea-wing and like a doting mallard
    Leaving the fight in height flies after her
    I never saw an action of such shame;
    Experience manhood honour ne'er before
    Did violate so itself
  ENOBARBUS Alack alack!  

                       Enter CANIDIUS

  CANIDIUS Our fortune on the sea is out of breath
    And sinks most lamentably Had our general
    Been what he knew himself it had gone well
    O he has given example for our flight
    Most grossly by his own!
  ENOBARBUS Ay are you thereabouts?
    Why then good night indeed
  CANIDIUS Toward Peloponnesus are they fled
  SCARUS 'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend
    What further comes
  CANIDIUS To Caesar will I render
    My legions and my horse; six kings already
    Show me the way of yielding
  ENOBARBUS I'll yet follow
    The wounded chance of Antony though my reason
    Sits in the wind against me                          Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_11
                         SCENE XI
              Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

               Enter ANTONY With attendants

  ANTONY Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;
    It is asham'd to bear me Friends come hither
    I am so lated in the world that I
    Have lost my way for ever I have a ship
    Laden with gold; take that; divide it Fly
    And make your peace with Caesar
  ALL Fly? Not we!
  ANTONY I have fled myself and have instructed cowards
    To run and show their shoulders Friends be gone;
    I have myself resolv'd upon a course
    Which has no need of you; be gone
    My treasure's in the harbour take it O
    I follow'd that I blush to look upon
    My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
    Reprove the brown for rashness and they them
    For fear and doting Friends be gone; you shall
    Have letters from me to some friends that will  
    Sweep your way for you Pray you look not sad
    Nor make replies of loathness; take the hint
    Which my despair proclaims Let that be left
    Which leaves itself To the sea-side straight way
    I will possess you of that ship and treasure
    Leave me I pray a little; pray you now;
    Nay do so for indeed I have lost command;
    Therefore I pray you I'll see you by and by    [Sits down]

            Enter CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN and IRAS
                         EROS following

  EROS Nay gentle madam to him! Comfort him
  IRAS Do most dear Queen
  CHARMIAN Do? Why what else?
  CLEOPATRA Let me sit down O Juno!
  ANTONY No no no no no
  EROS See you here sir?
  ANTONY O fie fie fie!
  CHARMIAN Madam!  
  IRAS Madam O good Empress!
  EROS Sir sir!
  ANTONY Yes my lord yes He at Philippi kept
    His sword e'en like a dancer while I struck
    The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
    That the mad Brutus ended; he alone
    Dealt on lieutenantry and no practice had
    In the brave squares of war Yet now- no matter
  CLEOPATRA Ah stand by!
  EROS The Queen my lord the Queen!
  IRAS Go to him madam speak to him
    He is unqualitied with very shame
  CLEOPATRA Well then sustain me O!
 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 followed
  ANTONY Egypt thou knew'st too well
    My heart was to thy rudder tied by th' strings
    And thou shouldst tow me after O'er my spirit
    Thy full supremacy thou knew'st and that
    Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
    Command me
  CLEOPATRA O my pardon!
  ANTONY Now I must
    To the young man send humble treaties dodge
    And palter in the shifts of lowness who
    With half the bulk o' th' world play'd as I pleas'd
    Making and marring fortunes You did know
    How much you were my conqueror and that
    My sword made weak by my affection would
    Obey it on all cause  
  CLEOPATRA Pardon pardon!
  ANTONY Fall not a tear I say; one of them rates
    All that is won and lost Give me a kiss;
    Even this repays me
    We sent our schoolmaster; is 'a come back?
    Love I am full of lead Some wine
    Within there and our viands! Fortune knows
    We scorn her most when most she offers blows         Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_12
                         SCENE XII
                   CAESAR'S camp in Egypt

   Enter CAESAR AGRIPPA DOLABELLA THYREUS with others

  CAESAR Let him appear that's come from Antony
    Know you him?
  DOLABELLA Caesar 'tis his schoolmaster:
    An argument that he is pluck'd when hither
    He sends so poor a pinion of his wing
    Which had superfluous kings for messengers
    Not many moons gone by

            Enter EUPHRONIUS Ambassador from ANTONY

  CAESAR Approach and speak
  EUPHRONIUS Such as I am I come from Antony
    I was of late as petty to his ends
    As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf
    To his grand sea
  CAESAR Be't so Declare thine office
  EUPHRONIUS Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee and  
    Requires to live in Egypt; which not granted
    He lessens his requests and to thee sues
    To let him breathe between the heavens and earth
    A private man in Athens This for him
    Next Cleopatra does confess thy greatness
    Submits her to thy might and of thee craves
    The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs
    Now hazarded to thy grace
  CAESAR For Antony
    I have no ears to his request The Queen
    Of audience nor desire shall fail so she
    From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend
    Or take his life there This if she perform
    She shall not sue unheard So to them both
  EUPHRONIUS Fortune pursue thee!
  CAESAR Bring him through the bands           Exit EUPHRONIUS
    [To THYREUS] To try thy eloquence now 'tis time Dispatch;
    From Antony win Cleopatra Promise
    And in our name what she requires; add more
    From thine invention offers Women are not  
    In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure
    The ne'er-touch'd vestal Try thy cunning Thyreus;
    Make thine own edict for thy pains which we
    Will answer as a law
  THYREUS Caesar I go
  CAESAR Observe how Antony becomes his flaw
    And what thou think'st his very action speaks
    In every power that moves
  THYREUS Caesar I shall                               Exeunt

ACT_3|SC_13
                           SCENE XIII
               Alexandria CLEOPATRA'S palace

        Enter CLEOPATRA ENOBARBUS CHARMIAN and IRAS

  CLEOPATRA What shall we do Enobarbus?
  ENOBARBUS Think and die
  CLEOPATRA Is Antony or we in fault for this?
  ENOBARBUS Antony only that would make his will
    Lord of his reason What though you fled
    From that great face of war whose several ranges
    Frighted each other? Why should he follow?
    The itch of his affection should not then
    Have nick'd his captainship at such a point
    When half to half the world oppos'd he being
    The mered question 'Twas a shame no less
    Than was his loss to course your flying flags
    And leave his navy gazing
  CLEOPATRA Prithee peace

          Enter EUPHRONIUS the Ambassador; with ANTONY
  
  ANTONY Is that his answer?
  EUPHRONIUS Ay my lord
  ANTONY The Queen shall then have courtesy so she
    Will yield us up
  EUPHRONIUS He says so
  ANTONY Let her know't
    To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head
    And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
    With principalities
  CLEOPATRA That head my lord?
  ANTONY To him again Tell him he wears the rose
    Of youth upon him; from which the world should note
    Something particular His coin ships legions
    May be a coward's whose ministers would prevail
    Under the service of a child as soon
    As i' th' command of Caesar I dare him therefore
    To lay his gay comparisons apart
    And answer me declin'd sword against sword
    Ourselves alone I'll write it Follow me
                                    Exeunt ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS 

  EUPHRONIUS [Aside] Yes like enough high-battled Caesar will
    Unstate his happiness and be stag'd to th' show
    Against a sworder! I see men's judgments are
    A parcel of their fortunes and things outward
    Do draw the inward quality after them
    To suffer all alike That he should dream
    Knowing all measures the full Caesar will
    Answer his emptiness! Caesar thou hast subdu'd
    His judgment too

                       Enter a SERVANT

  SERVANT A messenger from Caesar
  CLEOPATRA What no more ceremony? See my women!
    Against the blown rose may they stop their nose
    That kneel'd unto the buds Admit him sir     Exit SERVANT
  ENOBARBUS [Aside] Mine honesty and I begin to square
    The loyalty well held to fools does make
    Our faith mere folly Yet he that can endure
    To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord  
    Does conquer him that did his master conquer
    And earns a place i' th' story

                       Enter THYREUS

  CLEOPATRA Caesar's will?
  THYREUS Hear it apart
  CLEOPATRA None but friends: say boldly
  THYREUS So haply are they friends to Antony
  ENOBARBUS He needs as many sir as Caesar has
    Or needs not us If Caesar please our master
    Will leap to be his friend For us you know
    Whose he is we are and that is Caesar's
  THYREUS So
    Thus then thou most renown'd: Caesar entreats
    Not to consider in what case thou stand'st
    Further than he is Caesar
  CLEOPATRA Go on Right royal!
  THYREUS He knows that you embrace not Antony
    As you did love but as you fear'd him  
  CLEOPATRA O!
  THYREUS The scars upon your honour therefore he
    Does pity as constrained blemishes
    Not as deserv'd
  CLEOPATRA He is a god and knows
    What is most right Mine honour was not yielded
    But conquer'd merely
  ENOBARBUS [Aside] To be sure of that
    I will ask Antony Sir sir thou art so leaky
    That we must leave thee to thy sinking for
    Thy dearest quit thee                                  Exit
  THYREUS Shall I say to Caesar
    What you require of him? For he partly begs
    To be desir'd to give It much would please him
    That of his fortunes you should make a staff
    To lean upon But it would warm his spirits
    To hear from me you had left Antony
    And put yourself under his shroud
    The universal landlord
  CLEOPATRA What's your name?  
  THYREUS My name is Thyreus
  CLEOPATRA Most kind messenger
    Say to great Caesar this: in deputation
    I kiss his conquring hand Tell him I am prompt
    To lay my crown at 's feet and there to kneel
    Tell him from his all-obeying breath I hear
    The doom of Egypt
  THYREUS 'Tis your noblest course
    Wisdom and fortune combating together
    If that the former dare but what it can
    No chance may shake it Give me grace to lay
    My duty on your hand
  CLEOPATRA Your Caesar's father oft
    When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in
    Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place
    As it rain'd kisses

                Re-enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS

  ANTONY Favours by Jove that thunders!  
    What art thou fellow?
  THYREUS One that but performs
    The bidding of the fullest man and worthiest
    To have command obey'd
  ENOBARBUS [Aside] You will be whipt
  ANTONY Approach there- Ah you kite!- Now gods and devils!
    Authority melts from me Of late when I cried 'Ho!'
    Like boys unto a muss kings would start forth
    And cry 'Your will?' Have you no ears? I am
    Antony yet

                       Enter servants

    Take hence this Jack and whip him
  ENOBARBUS 'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp
    Than with an old one dying
  ANTONY Moon and stars!
    Whip him Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries
    That do acknowledge Caesar should I find them
    So saucy with the hand of she here- what's her name  
    Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him fellows
    Till like a boy you see him cringe his face
    And whine aloud for mercy Take him hence
  THYMUS Mark Antony-
  ANTONY Tug him away Being whipt
    Bring him again: the Jack of Caesar's shall
    Bear us an errand to him       Exeunt servants with THYREUS
    You were half blasted ere I knew you Ha!
    Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome
    Forborne the getting of a lawful race
    And by a gem of women to be abus'd
    By one that looks on feeders?
  CLEOPATRA Good my lord-
  ANTONY You have been a boggler ever
    But when we in our viciousness grow hard-
    O misery on't!- the wise gods seel our eyes
    In our own filth drop our clear judgments make us
    Adore our errors laugh at's while we strut
    To our confusion
  CLEOPATRA O is't come to this?  
  ANTONY I found you as a morsel cold upon
    Dead Caesar's trencher Nay you were a fragment
    Of Cneius Pompey's besides what hotter hours
    Unregist'red in vulgar fame you have
    Luxuriously pick'd out; for I am sure
    Though you can guess what temperance should be
    You know not what it is
  CLEOPATRA Wherefore is this?
  ANTONY To let a fellow that will take rewards
    And say 'God quit you!' be familiar with
    My playfellow your hand this kingly seal
    And plighter of high hearts! O that I were
    Upon the hill of Basan to outroar
    The horned herd! For I have savage cause
    And to proclaim it civilly were like
    A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank
    For being yare about him

              Re-enter a SERVANT with THYREUS
  
    Is he whipt?
  SERVANT Soundly my lord
  ANTONY Cried he? and begg'd 'a pardon?
  SERVANT He did ask favour
  ANTONY If that thy father live let him repent
    Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry
    To follow Caesar in his triumph since
    Thou hast been whipt for following him Henceforth
    The white hand of a lady fever thee!
    Shake thou to look on't Get thee back to Caesar;
    Tell him thy entertainment; look thou say
    He makes me angry with him; for he seems
    Proud and disdainful harping on what I am
    Not what he knew I was He makes me angry;
    And at this time most easy 'tis to do't
    When my good stars that were my former guides
    Have empty left their orbs and shot their fires
    Into th' abysm of hell If he mislike
    My speech and what is done tell him he has
    Hipparchus my enfranched bondman whom  
    He may at pleasure whip or hang or torture
    As he shall like to quit me Urge it thou
    Hence with thy stripes be gone                Exit THYREUS
  CLEOPATRA Have you done yet?
  ANTONY Alack our terrene moon
    Is now eclips'd and it portends alone
    The fall of Antony
  CLEOPATRA I must stay his time
  ANTONY To flatter Caesar would you mingle eyes
    With one that ties his points?
  CLEOPATRA Not know me yet?
  ANTONY Cold-hearted toward me?
  CLEOPATRA Ah dear if I be so
    From my cold heart let heaven engender hail
    And poison it in the source and the first stone
    Drop in my neck; as it determines so
    Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite!
    Till by degrees the memory of my womb
    Together with my brave Egyptians all
    By the discandying of this pelleted storm  
    Lie graveless till the flies and gnats of Nile
    Have buried them for prey
  ANTONY I am satisfied
    Caesar sits down in Alexandria where
    I will oppose his fate Our force by land
    Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy to
    Have knit again and fleet threat'ning most sea-like
    Where hast thou been my heart? Dost thou hear lady?
    If from the field I shall return once more
    To kiss these lips I will appear in blood
    I and my sword will earn our chronicle
    There's hope in't yet
  CLEOPATRA That's my brave lord!
  ANTONY I will be treble-sinew'd hearted breath'd
    And fight maliciously For when mine hours
    Were nice and lucky men did ransom lives
    Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth
    And send to darkness all that stop me Come
    Let's have one other gaudy night Call to me
    All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more;  
    Let's mock the midnight bell
  CLEOPATRA It is my birthday
    I had thought t'have held it poor; but since my lord
    Is Antony again I will be Cleopatra
  ANTONY We will yet do well
  CLEOPATRA Call all his noble captains to my lord
  ANTONY Do so we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll force
    The wine peep through their scars Come on my queen
    There's sap in't yet The next time I do fight
    I'll make death love me; for I will contend
    Even with his pestilent scythe     Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS
  ENOBARBUS Now he'll outstare the lightning To be furious
    Is to be frighted out of fear and in that mood
    The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still
    A diminution in our captain's brain
    Restores his heart When valour preys on reason
    It eats the sword it fights with I will seek
    Some way to leave him                                  Exit

ACT_4|SC_1
                      ACT IV SCENE I
              CAESAR'S camp before Alexandria

      Enter CAESAR AGRIPPA and MAECENAS with his army;
                 CAESAR reading a letter

  CAESAR He calls me boy and chides as he had power
    To beat me out of Egypt My messenger
    He hath whipt with rods; dares me to personal combat
    Caesar to Antony Let the old ruffian know
    I have many other ways to die meantime
    Laugh at his challenge
  MAECENAS Caesar must think
    When one so great begins to rage he's hunted
    Even to falling Give him no breath but now
    Make boot of his distraction Never anger
    Made good guard for itself
  CAESAR Let our best heads
    Know that to-morrow the last of many battles
    We mean to fight Within our files there are
    Of those that serv'd Mark Antony but late
    Enough to fetch him in See it done;  
    And feast the army; we have store to do't
    And they have earn'd the waste Poor Antony!          Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_2
                          SCENE II
               Alexandria CLEOPATRA's palace

      Enter ANTONY CLEOPATRA ENOBARBUS CHARMIAN IRAS
                     ALEXAS with others

  ANTONY He will not fight with me Domitius?
  ENOBARBUS No
  ANTONY Why should he not?
  ENOBARBUS He thinks being twenty times of better fortune
    He is twenty men to one
  ANTONY To-morrow soldier
    By sea and land I'll fight Or I will live
    Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
    Shall make it live again Woo't thou fight well?
  ENOBARBUS I'll strike and cry 'Take all'
  ANTONY Well said; come on
    Call forth my household servants; let's to-night
    Be bounteous at our meal

                Enter three or four servitors
  
    Give me thy hand
    Thou has been rightly honest So hast thou;
    Thou and thou and thou You have serv'd me well
    And kings have been your fellows
  CLEOPATRA [Aside to ENOBARBUS] What means this?
  ENOBARBUS [Aside to CLEOPATRA] 'Tis one of those odd tricks
which
      sorrow shoots
    Out of the mind
  ANTONY And thou art honest too
    I wish I could be made so many men
    And all of you clapp'd up together in
    An Antony that I might do you service
    So good as you have done
  SERVANT The gods forbid!
  ANTONY Well my good fellows wait on me to-night
    Scant not my cups and make as much of me
    As when mine empire was your fellow too
    And suffer'd my command
  CLEOPATRA [Aside to ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?
    ENOBARBUS [Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep  
  ANTONY Tend me to-night;
    May be it is the period of your duty
    Haply you shall not see me more; or if
    A mangled shadow Perchance to-morrow
    You'll serve another master I look on you
    As one that takes his leave Mine honest friends
    I turn you not away; but like a master
    Married to your good service stay till death
    Tend me to-night two hours I ask no more
    And the gods yield you for't!
  ENOBARBUS What mean you sir
    To give them this discomfort? Look they weep;
    And I an ass am onion-ey'd For shame!
    Transform us not to women
  ANTONY Ho ho ho!
    Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!
    Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends
    You take me in too dolorous a sense;
    For I spake to you for your comfort did desire you
    To burn this night with torches Know my hearts  
    I hope well of to-morrow and will lead you
    Where rather I'll expect victorious life
    Than death and honour Let's to supper come
    And drown consideration                              Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_3
                          SCENE III
             Alexandria Before CLEOPATRA's palace

                 Enter a company of soldiers

  FIRST SOLDIER Brother good night To-morrow is the day
  SECOND SOLDIER It will determine one way Fare you well
    Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?
  FIRST SOLDIER Nothing What news?
  SECOND SOLDIER Belike 'tis but a rumour Good night to you
  FIRST SOLDIER Well sir good night
                                      [They meet other soldiers]
  SECOND SOLDIER Soldiers have careful watch
  FIRST SOLDIER And you Good night good night
                [The two companies separate and place themselves
                                   in every corner of the stage]
  SECOND SOLDIER Here we And if to-morrow
    Our navy thrive I have an absolute hope
    Our landmen will stand up
  THIRD SOLDIER 'Tis a brave army
    And full of purpose
                      [Music of the hautboys is under the stage] 

  SECOND SOLDIER Peace what noise?
  THIRD SOLDIER List list!
  SECOND SOLDIER Hark!
  THIRD SOLDIER Music i' th' air
  FOURTH SOLDIER Under the earth
  THIRD SOLDIER It signs well does it not?
  FOURTH SOLDIER No
  THIRD SOLDIER Peace I say!
    What should this mean?
  SECOND SOLDIER 'Tis the god Hercules whom Antony lov'd
    Now leaves him
  THIRD SOLDIER Walk; let's see if other watchmen
    Do hear what we do
  SECOND SOLDIER How now masters!
  SOLDIERS [Speaking together] How now!
    How now! Do you hear this?
  FIRST SOLDIER Ay; is't not strange?
  THIRD SOLDIER Do you hear masters? Do you hear?
  FIRST SOLDIER Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;
    Let's see how it will give off  
  SOLDIERS Content 'Tis strange                        Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_4
                           SCENE IV
               Alexandria CLEOPATRA's palace

         Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN IRAS
                          with others

  ANTONY Eros! mine armour Eros!
  CLEOPATRA Sleep a little
  ANTONY No my chuck Eros! Come mine armour Eros!

                   Enter EROS with armour

    Come good fellow put mine iron on
    If fortune be not ours to-day it is
    Because we brave her Come
  CLEOPATRA Nay I'll help too
    What's this for?
  ANTONY Ah let be let be! Thou art
    The armourer of my heart False false; this this
  CLEOPATRA Sooth la I'll help Thus it must be
  ANTONY Well well;
    We shall thrive now Seest thou my good fellow?  
    Go put on thy defences
  EROS Briefly sir
  CLEOPATRA Is not this buckled well?
  ANTONY Rarely rarely!
    He that unbuckles this till we do please
    To daff't for our repose shall hear a storm
    Thou fumblest Eros and my queen's a squire
    More tight at this than thou Dispatch O love
    That thou couldst see my wars to-day and knew'st
    The royal occupation! Thou shouldst see
    A workman in't

                   Enter an armed SOLDIER

    Good-morrow to thee Welcome
    Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge
    To business that we love we rise betime
    And go to't with delight
  SOLDIER A thousand sir
    Early though't be have on their riveted trim  
    And at the port expect you
                            [Shout Flourish of trumpets within]

                 Enter CAPTAINS and soldiers

  CAPTAIN The morn is fair Good morrow General
  ALL Good morrow General
  ANTONY 'Tis well blown lads
    This morning like the spirit of a youth
    That means to be of note begins betimes
    So so Come give me that This way Well said
    Fare thee well dame whate'er becomes of me
    This is a soldier's kiss Rebukeable
    And worthy shameful check it were to stand
    On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee
    Now like a man of steel You that will fight
    Follow me close; I'll bring you to't Adieu
                      Exeunt ANTONY EROS CAPTAINS and soldiers
  CHARMIAN Please you retire to your chamber?
  CLEOPATRA Lead me
    He goes forth gallantly That he and Caesar might
    Determine this great war in single fight!
    Then Antony- but now Well on                      Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_5
                          SCENE V
                  Alexandria ANTONY'S camp

        Trumpets sound Enter ANTONY and EROS a SOLDIER
                       meeting them

  SOLDIER The gods make this a happy day to Antony!
  ANTONY Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd
    To make me fight at land!
  SOLDIER Hadst thou done so
    The kings that have revolted and the soldier
    That has this morning left thee would have still
    Followed thy heels
  ANTONY Who's gone this morning?
  SOLDIER Who?
    One ever near thee Call for Enobarbus
    He shall not hear thee; or from Caesar's camp
    Say 'I am none of thine'
  ANTONY What say'st thou?
  SOLDIER Sir
    He is with Caesar
  EROS Sir his chests and treasure  
    He has not with him
  ANTONY Is he gone?
  SOLDIER Most certain
  ANTONY Go Eros send his treasure after; do it;
    Detain no jot I charge thee Write to him-
    I will subscribe- gentle adieus and greetings;
    Say that I wish he never find more cause
    To change a master O my fortunes have
    Corrupted honest men! Dispatch Enobarbus!            Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_6
                         SCENE VI
                 Alexandria CAESAR'S camp

       Flourish Enter AGRIPPA CAESAR With DOLABELLA
                       and ENOBARBUS

  CAESAR Go forth Agrippa and begin the fight
    Our will is Antony be took alive;
    Make it so known
  AGRIPPA Caesar I shall                                 Exit
  CAESAR The time of universal peace is near
    Prove this a prosp'rous day the three-nook'd world
    Shall bear the olive freely

                     Enter A MESSENGER

  MESSENGER Antony
    Is come into the field
  CAESAR Go charge Agrippa
    Plant those that have revolted in the vant
    That Antony may seem to spend his fury
    Upon himself                       Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS 

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

                  Enter a SOLDIER of CAESAR'S

  SOLDIER Enobarbus Antony
    Hath after thee sent all thy treasure with
    His bounty overplus The messenger
    Came on my guard and at thy tent is now
    Unloading of his mules
  ENOBARBUS I give it you
  SOLDIER Mock not Enobarbus
    I tell you true Best you saf'd the bringer  
    Out of the host I must attend mine office
    Or would have done't myself Your emperor
    Continues still a Jove                                 Exit
  ENOBARBUS I am alone the villain of the earth
    And feel I am so most O Antony
    Thou mine of bounty how wouldst thou have paid
    My better service when my turpitude
    Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart
    If swift thought break it not a swifter mean
    Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do't I feel
    I fight against thee? No! I will go seek
    Some ditch wherein to die; the foul'st best fits
    My latter part of life                                 Exit

ACT_4|SC_7
                          SCENE VII
             Field of battle between the camps

         Alarum Drums and trumpets Enter AGRIPPA
                        and others

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

          Alarums Enter ANTONY and SCARUS wounded

  SCARUS O my brave Emperor this is fought indeed!
    Had we done so at first we had droven them home
    With clouts about their heads
  ANTONY Thou bleed'st apace
  SCARUS I had a wound here that was like a T
    But now 'tis made an H
  ANTONY They do retire
  SCARUS We'll beat'em into bench-holes I have yet
    Room for six scotches more
  
                        Enter EROS

  EROS They are beaten sir and our advantage serves
    For a fair victory
  SCARUS Let us score their backs
    And snatch 'em up as we take hares behind
    'Tis sport to maul a runner
  ANTONY I will reward thee
    Once for thy sprightly comfort and tenfold
    For thy good valour Come thee on
    SCARUS I'll halt after                              Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_8
                         SCENE VIII
               Under the walls of Alexandria

        Alarum Enter ANTONY again in a march; SCARUS
                        with others

  ANTONY We have beat him to his camp Run one before
    And let the Queen know of our gests To-morrow
    Before the sun shall see's we'll spill the blood
    That has to-day escap'd I thank you all;
    For doughty-handed are you and have fought
    Not as you serv'd the cause but as't had been
    Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors
    Enter the city clip your wives your friends
    Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
    Wash the congealment from your wounds and kiss
    The honour'd gashes whole

                 Enter CLEOPATRA attended

    [To SCARUS] Give me thy hand-
    To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts  
    Make her thanks bless thee O thou day o' th' world
    Chain mine arm'd neck Leap thou attire and all
    Through proof of harness to my heart and there
    Ride on the pants triumphing
  CLEOPATRA Lord of lords!
    O infinite virtue com'st thou smiling from
    The world's great snare uncaught?
  ANTONY Mine nightingale
    We have beat them to their beds What girl! though grey
    Do something mingle with our younger brown yet ha' we
    A brain that nourishes our nerves and can
    Get goal for goal of youth Behold this man;
    Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand-
    Kiss it my warrior- he hath fought to-day
    As if a god in hate of mankind had
    Destroyed in such a shape
  CLEOPATRA I'll give thee friend
    An armour all of gold; it was a king's
  ANTONY He has deserv'd it were it carbuncled
    Like holy Phoebus' car Give me thy hand  
    Through Alexandria make a jolly march;
    Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them
    Had our great palace the capacity
    To camp this host we all would sup together
    And drink carouses to the next day's fate
    Which promises royal peril Trumpeters
    With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
    Make mingle with our rattling tabourines
    That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together
    Applauding our approach                              Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_9
                         SCENE IX
                      CAESAR'S camp

      Enter a CENTURION and his company; ENOBARBUS follows

  CENTURION If we be not reliev'd within this hour
    We must return to th' court of guard The night
    Is shiny and they say we shall embattle
    By th' second hour i' th' morn
  FIRST WATCH This last day was
    A shrewd one to's
  ENOBARBUS O bear me witness night-
  SECOND WATCH What man is this?
  FIRST WATCH Stand close and list him
  ENOBARBUS Be witness to me O thou blessed moon
    When men revolted shall upon record
    Bear hateful memory poor Enobarbus did
    Before thy face repent!
  CENTURION Enobarbus?
  SECOND WATCH Peace!
    Hark further
  ENOBARBUS O sovereign mistress of true melancholy  
    The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me
    That life a very rebel to my will
    May hang no longer on me Throw my heart
    Against the flint and hardness of my fault
    Which being dried with grief will break to powder
    And finish all foul thoughts O Antony
    Nobler than my revolt is infamous
    Forgive me in thine own particular
    But let the world rank me in register
    A master-leaver and a fugitive!
    O Antony! O Antony!                                   [Dies]
  FIRST WATCH Let's speak to him
  CENTURION Let's hear him for the things he speaks
    May concern Caesar
  SECOND WATCH Let's do so But he sleeps
  CENTURION Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his
    Was never yet for sleep
  FIRST WATCH Go we to him
  SECOND WATCH Awake sir awake; speak to us
  FIRST WATCH Hear you sir?  
  CENTURION The hand of death hath raught him
    [Drums afar off ] Hark! the drums
    Demurely wake the sleepers Let us bear him
    To th' court of guard; he is of note Our hour
    Is fully out
  SECOND WATCH Come on then;
    He may recover yet                     Exeunt with the body

ACT_4|SC_10
                          SCENE X
                    Between the two camps

            Enter ANTONY and SCARUS with their army

  ANTONY Their preparation is to-day by sea;
    We please them not by land
  SCARUS For both my lord
  ANTONY I would they'd fight i' th' fire or i' th' air;
    We'd fight there too But this it is our foot
    Upon the hills adjoining to the city
    Shall stay with us- Order for sea is given;
    They have put forth the haven-
    Where their appointment we may best discover
    And look on their endeavour                          Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_11
                         SCENE XI
                    Between the camps

                Enter CAESAR and his army

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

ACT_4|SC_12
                         SCENE XII
                  A hill near Alexandria

                  Enter ANTONY and SCARUS

  ANTONY Yet they are not join'd Where yond pine does stand
    I shall discover all I'll bring thee word
    Straight how 'tis like to go                           Exit
  SCARUS Swallows have built
    In Cleopatra's sails their nests The augurers
    Say they know not they cannot tell; look grimly
    And dare not speak their knowledge Antony
    Is valiant and dejected; and by starts
    His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear
    Of what he has and has not
                            [Alarum afar off as at a sea-fight]

                      Re-enter ANTONY

  ANTONY All is lost!
    This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me
    My fleet hath yielded to the foe and yonder  
    They cast their caps up and carouse together
    Like friends long lost Triple-turn'd whore! 'tis thou
    Hast sold me to this novice; and my heart
    Makes only wars on thee Bid them all fly;
    For when I am reveng'd upon my charm
    I have done all Bid them all fly; begone       Exit SCARUS
    O sun thy uprise shall I see no more!
    Fortune and Antony part here; even here
    Do we shake hands All come to this? The hearts
    That spaniel'd me at heels to whom I gave
    Their wishes do discandy melt their sweets
    On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd
    That overtopp'd them all Betray'd I am
    O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm-
    Whose eye beck'd forth my wars and call'd them home
    Whose bosom was my crownet my chief end-
    Like a right gypsy hath at fast and loose
    Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss
    What Eros Eros!
  
                      Enter CLEOPATRA

    Ah thou spell! Avaunt!
  CLEOPATRA Why is my lord enrag'd against his love?
  ANTONY Vanish or I shall give thee thy deserving
    And blemish Caesar's triumph Let him take thee
    And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians;
    Follow his chariot like the greatest spot
    Of all thy sex; most monster-like be shown
    For poor'st diminutives for doits and let
    Patient Octavia plough thy visage up
    With her prepared nails                      Exit CLEOPATRA
    'Tis well th'art gone
    If it be well to live; but better 'twere
    Thou fell'st into my fury for one death
    Might have prevented many Eros ho!
    The shirt of Nessus is upon me; teach me
    Alcides thou mine ancestor thy rage;
    Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o' th' moon
    And with those hands that grasp'd the heaviest club
    Subdue my worthiest self The witch shall die
    To the young Roman boy she hath sold me and I fall
    Under this plot She dies for't Eros ho!              Exit

ACT_4|SC_13
                          SCENE XIII
               Alexandria CLEOPATRA's palace

      Enter CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN IRAS and MARDIAN

  CLEOPATRA Help me my women O he is more mad
    Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly
    Was never so emboss'd
  CHARMIAN To th'monument!
    There lock yourself and send him word you are dead
    The soul and body rive not more in parting
    Than greatness going off
  CLEOPATRA To th' monument!
    Mardian go tell him I have slain myself;
    Say that the last I spoke was 'Antony'
    And word it prithee piteously Hence Mardian
    And bring me how he takes my death To th' monument!
                                                          Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_14
                          SCENE XIV
                     CLEOPATRA'S palace

                   Enter ANTONY and EROS

  ANTONY Eros thou yet behold'st me?
  EROS Ay noble lord
  ANTONY Sometime we see a cloud that's dragonish;
    A vapour sometime like a bear or lion
    A tower'd citadel a pendent rock
    A forked mountain or blue promontory
    With trees upon't that nod unto the world
    And mock our eyes with air Thou hast seen these signs;
    They are black vesper's pageants
  EROS Ay my lord
  ANTONY That which is now a horse even with a thought
    The rack dislimns and makes it indistinct
    As water is in water
  EROS It does my lord
  ANTONY My good knave Eros now thy captain is
    Even such a body Here I am Antony;
    Yet cannot hold this visible shape my knave  
    I made these wars for Egypt; and the Queen-
    Whose heart I thought I had for she had mine
    Which whilst it was mine had annex'd unto't
    A million moe now lost- she Eros has
    Pack'd cards with Caesar and false-play'd my glory
    Unto an enemy's triumph
    Nay weep not gentle Eros; there is left us
    Ourselves to end ourselves

                         Enter MARDIAN

    O thy vile lady!
    She has robb'd me of my sword
  MARDIAN No Antony;
    My mistress lov'd thee and her fortunes mingled
    With thine entirely
  ANTONY Hence saucy eunuch; peace!
    She hath betray'd me and shall die the death
  MARDIAN Death of one person can be paid but once
    And that she has discharg'd What thou wouldst do  
    Is done unto thy hand The last she spake
    Was 'Antony! most noble Antony!'
    Then in the midst a tearing groan did break
    The name of Antony; it was divided
    Between her heart and lips She rend'red life
    Thy name so buried in her
  ANTONY Dead then?
  MARDIAN Dead
  ANTONY Unarm Eros; the long day's task is done
    And we must sleep That thou depart'st hence safe
    Does pay thy labour richly Go                 Exit MARDIAN
    Off pluck off!
    The sevenfold shield of Ajax cannot keep
    The battery from my heart O cleave my sides!
    Heart once be stronger than thy continent
    Crack thy frail case Apace Eros apace-
    No more a soldier Bruised pieces go;
    You have been nobly borne- From me awhile        Exit EROS
    I will o'ertake thee Cleopatra and
    Weep for my pardon So it must be for now  
    All length is torture Since the torch is out
    Lie down and stray no farther Now all labour
    Mars what it does; yea very force entangles
    Itself with strength Seal then and all is done
    Eros!- I come my queen- Eros!- Stay for me;
    Where souls do couch on flowers we'll hand in hand
    And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze
    Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops
    And all the haunt be ours- Come Eros Eros!

                       Re-enter EROS

  EROS What would my lord?
  ANTONY Since Cleopatra died
    I have liv'd in such dishonour that the gods
    Detest my baseness I that with my sword
    Quarter'd the world and o'er green Neptune's back
    With ships made cities condemn myself to lack
    The courage of a woman; less noble mind
    Than she which by her death our Caesar tells  
    'I am conqueror of myself' Thou art sworn Eros
    That when the exigent should come- which now
    Is come indeed- when I should see behind me
    Th' inevitable prosecution of
    Disgrace and horror that on my command
    Thou then wouldst kill me Do't; the time is come
    Thou strik'st not me; 'tis Caesar thou defeat'st
    Put colour in thy cheek
  EROS The gods withhold me!
    Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts
    Though enemy lost aim and could not?
  ANTONY Eros
    Wouldst thou be window'd in great Rome and see
    Thy master thus with pleach'd arms bending down
    His corrigible neck his face subdu'd
    To penetrative shame whilst the wheel'd seat
    Of fortunate Caesar drawn before him branded
    His baseness that ensued?
  EROS I would not see't
  ANTONY Come then; for with a wound I must be cur'd  
    Draw that thy honest sword which thou hast worn
    Most useful for thy country
  EROS O sir pardon me!
  ANTONY When I did make thee free swor'st thou not then
    To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once
    Or thy precedent services are all
    But accidents unpurpos'd Draw and come
  EROS Turn from me then that noble countenance
    Wherein the worship of the whole world lies
  ANTONY Lo thee!                            [Turning from him]
  EROS My sword is drawn
  ANTONY Then let it do at once
    The thing why thou hast drawn it
  EROS My dear master
    My captain and my emperor let me say
    Before I strike this bloody stroke farewell
  ANTONY 'Tis said man; and farewell
  EROS Farewell great chief Shall I strike now?
  ANTONY Now Eros
  EROS Why there then! Thus do I escape the sorrow  
    Of Antony's death                            [Kills himself
  ANTONY Thrice nobler than myself!
    Thou teachest me O valiant Eros what
    I should and thou couldst not My queen and Eros
    Have by their brave instruction got upon me
    A nobleness in record But I will be
    A bridegroom in my death and run into't
    As to a lover's bed Come then; and Eros
    Thy master dies thy scholar To do thus
                                          [Falling on his sword]
    I learn'd of thee How? not dead? not dead?-
    The guard ho! O dispatch me!

                  Enter DERCETAS and a guard

  FIRST GUARD What's the noise?
  ANTONY I have done my work ill friends O make an end
    Of what I have begun
  SECOND GUARD The star is fall'n
  FIRST GUARD And time is at his period  
  ALL Alas and woe!
  ANTONY Let him that loves me strike me dead
  FIRST GUARD Not I
  SECOND GUARD Nor I
  THIRD GUARD Nor any one                         Exeunt guard
  DERCETAS Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly
    This sword but shown to Caesar with this tidings
    Shall enter me with him

                       Enter DIOMEDES

  DIOMEDES Where's Antony?
  DERCETAS There Diomed there
  DIOMEDES Lives he?
    Wilt thou not answer man?                     Exit DERCETAS
  ANTONY Art thou there Diomed? Draw thy sword and give me
    Sufficing strokes for death
  DIOMEDES Most absolute lord
    My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee
  ANTONY When did she send thee?  
  DIOMEDES Now my lord
  ANTONY Where is she?
  DIOMEDES Lock'd in her monument She had a prophesying fear
    Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw-
    Which never shall be found- you did suspect
    She had dispos'd with Caesar and that your rage
    Would not be purg'd she sent you word she was dead;
    But fearing since how it might work hath sent
    Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come
    I dread too late
  ANTONY Too late good Diomed Call my guard I prithee
  DIOMEDES What ho! the Emperor's guard! The guard what ho!
    Come your lord calls!

             Enter four or five of the guard of ANTONY

  ANTONY Bear me good friends where Cleopatra bides;
    'Tis the last service that I shall command you
  FIRST GUARD Woe woe are we sir you may not live to wear
    All your true followers out  
  ALL Most heavy day!
  ANTONY Nay good my fellows do not please sharp fate
    To grace it with your sorrows Bid that welcome
    Which comes to punish us and we punish it
    Seeming to bear it lightly Take me up
    I have led you oft; carry me now good friends
    And have my thanks for all           Exeunt hearing ANTONY
ACT_4|SC_15
                         SCENE XV
                   Alexandria A monument

      Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft with CHARMIAN
                         and IRAS

  CLEOPATRA O Charmian I will never go from hence!
  CHARMIAN Be comforted dear madam
  CLEOPATRA No I will not
    All strange and terrible events are welcome
    But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow
    Proportion'd to our cause must be as great
    As that which makes it

                   Enter DIOMEDES below

    How now! Is he dead?
  DIOMEDES His death's upon him but not dead
    Look out o' th' other side your monument;
    His guard have brought him thither

            Enter below ANTONY borne by the guard  

  CLEOPATRA O sun
    Burn the great sphere thou mov'st in! Darkling stand
    The varying shore o' th' world O Antony
    Antony Antony! Help Charmian; help Iras help;
    Help friends below! Let's draw him hither
  ANTONY Peace!
    Not Caesar's valour hath o'erthrown Antony
    But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself
  CLEOPATRA So it should be that none but Antony
    Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!
  ANTONY I am dying Egypt dying; only
    I here importune death awhile until
    Of many thousand kisses the poor last
    I lay upon thy lips
  CLEOPATRA I dare not dear
    Dear my lord pardon! I dare not
    Lest I be taken Not th' imperious show
    Of the full-fortun'd Caesar ever shall
    Be brooch'd with me If knife drugs serpents have  
    Edge sting or operation I am safe
    Your wife Octavia with her modest eyes
    And still conclusion shall acquire no honour
    Demuring upon me But come come Antony-
    Help me my women- we must draw thee up;
    Assist good friends
  ANTONY O quick or I am gone
  CLEOPATRA Here's sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
    Our strength is all gone into heaviness;
    That makes the weight Had I great Juno's power
    The strong-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up
    And set thee by Jove's side Yet come a little
    Wishers were ever fools O come come
                          [They heave ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA]
    And welcome welcome! Die where thou hast liv'd
    Quicken with kissing Had my lips that power
    Thus would I wear them out
  ALL A heavy sight!
  ANTONY I am dying Egypt dying
    Give me some wine and let me speak a little  
  CLEOPATRA No let me speak; and let me rail so high
    That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel
    Provok'd by my offence
  ANTONY One word sweet queen:
    Of Caesar seek your honour with your safety O!
  CLEOPATRA They do not go together
  ANTONY Gentle hear me:
    None about Caesar trust but Proculeius
  CLEOPATRA My resolution and my hands I'll trust;
    None about Caesar
  ANTONY The miserable change now at my end
    Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts
    In feeding them with those my former fortunes
    Wherein I liv'd the greatest prince o' th' world
    The noblest; and do now not basely die
    Not cowardly put off my helmet to
    My countryman- a Roman by a Roman
    Valiantly vanquish'd Now my spirit is going
    I can no more
  CLEOPATRA Noblest of men woo't die?  
    Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide
    In this dull world which in thy absence is
    No better than a sty? O see my women        [Antony dies]
    The crown o' th' earth doth melt My lord!
    O wither'd is the garland of the war
    The soldier's pole is fall'n! Young boys and girls
    Are level now with men The odds is gone
    And there is nothing left remarkable
    Beneath the visiting moon                          [Swoons]
  CHARMIAN O quietness lady!
  IRAS She's dead too our sovereign
  CHARMIAN Lady!
  IRAS Madam!
  CHARMIAN O madam madam madam!
  IRAS Royal Egypt Empress!
  CHARMIAN Peace peace Iras!
  CLEOPATRA No more but e'en a woman and commanded
    By such poor passion as the maid that milks
    And does the meanest chares It were for me
    To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods;  
    To tell them that this world did equal theirs
    Till they had stol'n our jewel All's but nought;
    Patience is sottish and impatience does
    Become a dog that's mad Then is it sin
    To rush into the secret house of death
    Ere death dare come to us? How do you women?
    What what! good cheer! Why how now Charmian!
    My noble girls! Ah women women look
    Our lamp is spent it's out! Good sirs take heart
    We'll bury him; and then what's brave what's noble
    Let's do it after the high Roman fashion
    And make death proud to take us Come away;
    This case of that huge spirit now is cold
    Ah women women! Come; we have no friend
    But resolution and the briefest end
                   Exeunt; those above hearing off ANTONY'S body

ACT_5|SC_1
                       ACT V SCENE I
                  Alexandria CAESAR'S camp

      Enter CAESAR AGRIPPA DOLABELLA MAECENAS GALLUS
          PROCULEIUS and others his Council of War

  CAESAR Go to him Dolabella bid him yield;
    Being so frustrate tell him he mocks
    The pauses that he makes
  DOLABELLA Caesar I shall                               Exit

             Enter DERCETAS With the sword of ANTONY

  CAESAR Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar'st
    Appear thus to us?
  DERCETAS I am call'd Dercetas;
    Mark Antony I serv'd who best was worthy
    Best to be serv'd Whilst he stood up and spoke
    He was my master and I wore my life
    To spend upon his haters If thou please
    To take me to thee as I was to him
    I'll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not  
    I yield thee up my life
  CAESAR What is't thou say'st?
  DERCETAS I say O Caesar Antony is dead
  CAESAR The breaking of so great a thing should make
    A greater crack The round world
    Should have shook lions into civil streets
    And citizens to their dens The death of Antony
    Is not a single doom; in the name lay
    A moiety of the world
  DERCETAS He is dead Caesar
    Not by a public minister of justice
    Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand
    Which writ his honour in the acts it did
    Hath with the courage which the heart did lend it
    Splitted the heart This is his sword;
    I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd
    With his most noble blood
  CAESAR Look you sad friends?
    The gods rebuke me but it is tidings
    To wash the eyes of kings  
  AGRIPPA And strange it is
    That nature must compel us to lament
    Our most persisted deeds
  MAECENAS His taints and honours
    Wag'd equal with him
  AGRIPPA A rarer spirit never
    Did steer humanity But you gods will give us
    Some faults to make us men Caesar is touch'd
  MAECENAS When such a spacious mirror's set before him
    He needs must see himself
  CAESAR O Antony
    I have follow'd thee to this! But we do lance
    Diseases in our bodies I must perforce
    Have shown to thee such a declining day
    Or look on thine; we could not stall together
    In the whole world But yet let me lament
    With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts
    That thou my brother my competitor
    In top of all design my mate in empire
    Friend and companion in the front of war  
    The arm of mine own body and the heart
    Where mine his thoughts did kindle- that our stars
    Unreconciliable should divide
    Our equalness to this Hear me good friends-

                    Enter an EGYPTIAN

    But I will tell you at some meeter season
    The business of this man looks out of him;
    We'll hear him what he says Whence are you?
  EGYPTIAN A poor Egyptian yet the Queen my mistress
    Confin'd in all she has her monument
    Of thy intents desires instruction
    That she preparedly may frame herself
    To th' way she's forc'd to
  CAESAR Bid her have good heart
    She soon shall know of us by some of ours
    How honourable and how kindly we
    Determine for her; for Caesar cannot learn
    To be ungentle  
  EGYPTIAN So the gods preserve thee!                      Exit
  CAESAR Come hither Proculeius Go and say
    We purpose her no shame Give her what comforts
    The quality of her passion shall require
    Lest in her greatness by some mortal stroke
    She do defeat us; for her life in Rome
    Would be eternal in our triumph Go
    And with your speediest bring us what she says
    And how you find her
  PROCULEIUS Caesar I shall                              Exit
  CAESAR Gallus go you along                      Exit GALLUS
    Where's Dolabella to second Proculeius?
  ALL Dolabella!
  CAESAR Let him alone for I remember now
    How he's employ'd; he shall in time be ready
    Go with me to my tent where you shall see
    How hardly I was drawn into this war
    How calm and gentle I proceeded still
    In all my writings Go with me and see
    What I can show in this                              Exeunt

ACT_5|SC_2
                         SCENE II
                Alexandria The monument

      Enter CLEOPATRA CHARMIAN IRAS and MARDIAN

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

       Enter to the gates of the monument PROCULEIUS GALLUS
                          and soldiers

  PROCULEIUS Caesar sends greetings to the Queen of Egypt
    And bids thee study on what fair demands
    Thou mean'st to have him grant thee
  CLEOPATRA What's thy name?
  PROCULEIUS My name is Proculeius  
  CLEOPATRA Antony
    Did tell me of you bade me trust you; but
    I do not greatly care to be deceiv'd
    That have no use for trusting If your master
    Would have a queen his beggar you must tell him
    That majesty to keep decorum must
    No less beg than a kingdom If he please
    To give me conquer'd Egypt for my son
    He gives me so much of mine own as I
    Will kneel to him with thanks
  PROCULEIUS Be of good cheer;
    Y'are fall'n into a princely hand; fear nothing
    Make your full reference freely to my lord
    Who is so full of grace that it flows over
    On all that need Let me report to him
    Your sweet dependency and you shall find
    A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness
    Where he for grace is kneel'd to
  CLEOPATRA Pray you tell him
    I am his fortune's vassal and I send him  
    The greatness he has got I hourly learn
    A doctrine of obedience and would gladly
    Look him i' th' face
  PROCULEIUS This I'll report dear lady
    Have comfort for I know your plight is pitied
    Of him that caus'd it
  GALLUS You see how easily she may be surpris'd

      Here PROCULEIUS and two of the guard ascend the
       monument by a ladder placed against a window
       and come behind CLEOPATRA Some of the guard
                unbar and open the gates

    Guard her till Caesar come                             Exit
  IRAS Royal Queen!
  CHARMIAN O Cleopatra! thou art taken Queen!
  CLEOPATRA Quick quick good hands        [Drawing a dagger]
  PROCULEIUS Hold worthy lady hold             [Disarms her]
    Do not yourself such wrong who are in this
    Reliev'd but not betray'd  
  CLEOPATRA What of death too
    That rids our dogs of languish?
  PROCULEIUS Cleopatra
    Do not abuse my master's bounty by
    Th' undoing of yourself Let the world see
    His nobleness well acted which your death
    Will never let come forth
  CLEOPATRA Where art thou death?
    Come hither come! Come come and take a queen
    Worth many babes and beggars!
  PROCULEIUS O temperance lady!
  CLEOPATRA Sir I will eat no meat; I'll not drink sir;
    If idle talk will once be necessary
    I'll not sleep neither This mortal house I'll ruin
    Do Caesar what he can Know sir that I
    Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court
    Nor once be chastis'd with the sober eye
    Of dull Octavia Shall they hoist me up
    And show me to the shouting varletry
    Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt  
    Be gentle grave unto me! Rather on Nilus' mud
    Lay me stark-nak'd and let the water-flies
    Blow me into abhorring! Rather make
    My country's high pyramides my gibbet
    And hang me up in chains!
  PROCULEIUS You do extend
    These thoughts of horror further than you shall
    Find cause in Caesar

                      Enter DOLABELLA

  DOLABELLA Proculeius
    What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows
    And he hath sent for thee For the Queen
    I'll take her to my guard
  PROCULEIUS So Dolabella
    It shall content me best Be gentle to her
    [To CLEOPATRA] To Caesar I will speak what you shall please
    If you'll employ me to him
  CLEOPATRA Say I would die  
                                  Exeunt PROCULEIUS and soldiers
  DOLABELLA Most noble Empress you have heard of me?
  CLEOPATRA I cannot tell
  DOLABELLA Assuredly you know me
  CLEOPATRA No matter sir what I have heard or known
    You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
    Is't not your trick?
  DOLABELLA I understand not madam
  CLEOPATRA I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony-
    O such another sleep that I might see
    But such another man!
  DOLABELLA If it might please ye-
  CLEOPATRA His face was as the heav'ns and therein stuck
    A sun and moon which kept their course and lighted
    The little O the earth
  DOLABELLA Most sovereign creature-
  CLEOPATRA His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd arm
    Crested the world His voice was propertied
    As all the tuned spheres and that to friends;
    But when he meant to quail and shake the orb  
    He was as rattling thunder For his bounty
    There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas
    That grew the more by reaping His delights
    Were dolphin-like: they show'd his back above
    The element they liv'd in In his livery
    Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were
    As plates dropp'd from his pocket
  DOLABELLA Cleopatra-
  CLEOPATRA Think you there was or might be such a man
    As this I dreamt of?
  DOLABELLA Gentle madam no
  CLEOPATRA You lie up to the hearing of the gods
    But if there be nor ever were one such
    It's past the size of drearning Nature wants stuff
    To vie strange forms with fancy; yet t' imagine
    An Antony were nature's piece 'gainst fancy
    Condemning shadows quite
  DOLABELLA Hear me good madam
    Your loss is as yourself great; and you bear it
    As answering to the weight Would I might never  
    O'ertake pursu'd success but I do feel
    By the rebound of yours a grief that smites
    My very heart at root
  CLEOPATRA I thank you sir
    Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
  DOLABELLA I am loath to tell you what I would you knew
  CLEOPATRA Nay pray you sir
  DOLABELLA Though he be honourable-
  CLEOPATRA He'll lead me then in triumph?
  DOLABELLA Madam he will I know't                [Flourish]
                              [Within: 'Make way there-Caesar!']

       Enter CAESAR; GALLUS PROCULEIUS MAECENAS SELEUCUS
                     and others of his train

  CAESAR Which is the Queen of Egypt?
  DOLABELLA It is the Emperor madam        [CLEOPATPA kneels]
  CAESAR Arise you shall not kneel
    I pray you rise; rise Egypt
  CLEOPATRA Sir the gods  
    Will have it thus; my master and my lord
    I must obey
  CAESAR Take to you no hard thoughts
    The record of what injuries you did us
    Though written in our flesh we shall remember
    As things but done by chance
  CLEOPATRA Sole sir o' th' world
    I cannot project mine own cause so well
    To make it clear but do confess I have
    Been laden with like frailties which before
    Have often sham'd our sex
  CAESAR Cleopatra know
    We will extenuate rather than enforce
    If you apply yourself to our intents-
    Which towards you are most gentle- you shall find
    A benefit in this change; but if you seek
    To lay on me a cruelty by taking
    Antony's course you shall bereave yourself
    Of my good purposes and put your children
    To that destruction which I'll guard them from  
    If thereon you rely I'll take my leave
  CLEOPATRA And may through all the world 'Tis yours and we
    Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest shall
    Hang in what place you please Here my good lord
  CAESAR You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra
  CLEOPATRA This is the brief of money plate and jewels
    I am possess'd of 'Tis exactly valued
    Not petty things admitted Where's Seleucus?
  SELEUCUS Here madam
  CLEOPATRA This is my treasurer; let him speak my lord
    Upon his peril that I have reserv'd
    To myself nothing Speak the truth Seleucus
  SELEUCUS Madam
    I had rather seal my lips than to my peril
    Speak that which is not
  CLEOPATRA What have I kept back?
  SELEUCUS Enough to purchase what you have made known
  CAESAR Nay blush not Cleopatra; I approve
    Your wisdom in the deed
  CLEOPATRA See Caesar! O behold  
    How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours;
    And should we shift estates yours would be mine
    The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
    Even make me wild O slave of no more trust
    Than love that's hir'd! What goest thou back? Thou shalt
    Go back I warrant thee; but I'll catch thine eyes
    Though they had wings Slave soulless villain dog!
    O rarely base!
  CAESAR Good Queen let us entreat you
  CLEOPATRA O Caesar what a wounding shame is this
    That thou vouchsafing here to visit me
    Doing the honour of thy lordliness
    To one so meek that mine own servant should
    Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
    Addition of his envy! Say good Caesar
    That I some lady trifles have reserv'd
    Immoment toys things of such dignity
    As we greet modern friends withal; and say
    Some nobler token I have kept apart
    For Livia and Octavia to induce  
    Their mediation- must I be unfolded
    With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me
    Beneath the fall I have [To SELEUCUS] Prithee go hence;
    Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
    Through th' ashes of my chance Wert thou a man
    Thou wouldst have mercy on me
  CAESAR Forbear Seleucus                       Exit SELEUCUS
  CLEOPATRA Be it known that we the greatest are misthought
    For things that others do; and when we fall
    We answer others' merits in our name
    Are therefore to be pitied
  CAESAR Cleopatra
    Not what you have reserv'd nor what acknowledg'd
    Put we i' th' roll of conquest Still be't yours
    Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe
    Caesar's no merchant to make prize with you
    Of things that merchants sold Therefore be cheer'd;
    Make not your thoughts your prisons No dear Queen;
    For we intend so to dispose you as
    Yourself shall give us counsel Feed and sleep  
    Our care and pity is so much upon you
    That we remain your friend; and so adieu
  CLEOPATRA My master and my lord!
  CAESAR Not so Adieu
                           Flourish Exeunt CAESAR and his train
  CLEOPATRA He words me girls he words me that I should not
    Be noble to myself But hark thee Charmian!
                                             [Whispers CHARMIAN]
  IRAS Finish good lady; the bright day is done
    And we are for the dark
  CLEOPATRA Hie thee again
    I have spoke already and it is provided;
    Go put it to the haste
  CHARMIAN Madam I will

                      Re-enter DOLABELLA

  DOLABELLA Where's the Queen?
  CHARMIAN Behold sir                                    Exit
  CLEOPATRA Dolabella!  
  DOLABELLA Madam as thereto sworn by your command
    Which my love makes religion to obey
    I tell you this: Caesar through Syria
    Intends his journey and within three days
    You with your children will he send before
    Make your best use of this; I have perform'd
    Your pleasure and my promise
  CLEOPATRA Dolabella
    I shall remain your debtor
  DOLABELLA I your servant
    Adieu good Queen; I must attend on Caesar
  CLEOPATRA Farewell and thanks                Exit DOLABELLA
    Now Iras what think'st thou?
    Thou an Egyptian puppet shall be shown
    In Rome as well as I Mechanic slaves
    With greasy aprons rules and hammers shall
    Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths
    Rank of gross diet shall we be enclouded
    And forc'd to drink their vapour
  IRAS The gods forbid!  
  CLEOPATRA Nay 'tis most certain Iras Saucy lictors
    Will catch at us like strumpets and scald rhymers
    Ballad us out o' tune; the quick comedians
    Extemporally will stage us and present
    Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
    Shall be brought drunken forth and I shall see
    Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
    I' th' posture of a whore
  IRAS O the good gods!
  CLEOPATRA Nay that's certain
  IRAS I'll never see't for I am sure mine nails
    Are stronger than mine eyes
  CLEOPATRA Why that's the way
    To fool their preparation and to conquer
    Their most absurd intents

                      Enter CHARMIAN

    Now Charmian!
    Show me my women like a queen Go fetch  
    My best attires I am again for Cydnus
    To meet Mark Antony Sirrah Iras go
    Now noble Charmian we'll dispatch indeed;
    And when thou hast done this chare I'll give thee leave
    To play till doomsday Bring our crown and all
                                       Exit IRAS A noise within
    Wherefore's this noise?

                     Enter a GUARDSMAN

  GUARDSMAN Here is a rural fellow
    That will not be denied your Highness' presence
    He brings you figs
  CLEOPATRA Let him come in                     Exit GUARDSMAN
    What poor an instrument
    May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty
    My resolution's plac'd and I have nothing
    Of woman in me Now from head to foot
    I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon
    No planet is of mine  

          Re-enter GUARDSMAN and CLOWN with a basket

  GUARDSMAN This is the man
  CLEOPATRA Avoid and leave him                Exit GUARDSMAN
    Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there
    That kills and pains not?
  CLOWN Truly I have him But I would not be the party that
should
    desire you to touch him for his biting is immortal; those
that
    do die of it do seldom or never recover
  CLEOPATRA Remember'st thou any that have died on't?
  CLOWN Very many men and women too I heard of one of them no
    longer than yesterday: a very honest woman but something
given
    to lie as a woman should not do but in the way of honesty;
how
    she died of the biting of it what pain she felt- truly she
makes
    a very good report o' th' worm But he that will believe all
that
    they say shall never be saved by half that they do But this
is
    most falliable the worm's an odd worm
  CLEOPATRA Get thee hence; farewell
  CLOWN I wish you all joy of the worm  
                                          [Sets down the basket]
  CLEOPATRA Farewell
  CLOWN You must think this look you that the worm will do his
    kind
  CLEOPATRA Ay ay; farewell
  CLOWN Look you the worm is not to be trusted but in the
keeping
    of wise people; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm
  CLEOPATRA Take thou no care; it shall be heeded
  CLOWN Very good Give it nothing I pray you for it is not
worth
    the feeding
  CLEOPATRA Will it eat me?
  CLOWN You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil
    himself will not eat a woman I know that a woman is a dish
for
    the gods if the devil dress her not But truly these same
    whoreson devils do the gods great harm in their women for in
    every ten that they make the devils mar five
  CLEOPATRA Well get thee gone; farewell
  CLOWN Yes forsooth I wish you joy o' th' worm         Exit

             Re-enter IRAS with a robe crown &c  

  CLEOPATRA Give me my robe put on my crown; I have
    Immortal longings in me Now no more
    The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip
    Yare yare good Iras; quick Methinks I hear
    Antony call I see him rouse himself
    To praise my noble act I hear him mock
    The luck of Caesar which the gods give men
    To excuse their after wrath Husband I come
    Now to that name my courage prove my title!
    I am fire and air; my other elements
    I give to baser life So have you done?
    Come then and take the last warmth of my lips
    Farewell kind Charmian Iras long farewell
                              [Kisses them IRAS falls and dies]
    Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
    If thus thou and nature can so gently part
    The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch
    Which hurts and is desir'd Dost thou lie still?
    If thou vanishest thou tell'st the world  
    It is not worth leave-taking
  CHARMIAN Dissolve thick cloud and rain that I may say
    The gods themselves do weep
  CLEOPATRA This proves me base
    If she first meet the curled Antony
    He'll make demand of her and spend that kiss
    Which is my heaven to have Come thou mortal wretch
                    [To an asp which she applies to her breast]
    With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
    Of life at once untie Poor venomous fool
    Be angry and dispatch O couldst thou speak
    That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
    Unpolicied!
  CHARMIAN O Eastern star!
  CLEOPATRA Peace peace!
    Dost thou not see my baby at my breast
    That sucks the nurse asleep?
  CHARMIAN O break! O break!
  CLEOPATRA As sweet as balm as soft as air as gentle-
    O Antony! Nay I will take thee too:  
                               [Applying another asp to her arm]
    What should I stay-                                   [Dies]
  CHARMIAN In this vile world? So fare thee well
    Now boast thee death in thy possession lies
    A lass unparallel'd Downy windows close;
    And golden Phoebus never be beheld
    Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
    I'll mend it and then play-

                  Enter the guard rushing in

  FIRST GUARD Where's the Queen?
  CHARMIAN Speak softly wake her not
  FIRST GUARD Caesar hath sent-
  CHARMIAN Too slow a messenger               [Applies an asp]
    O come apace dispatch I partly feel thee
  FIRST GUARD Approach ho! All's not well: Caesar's beguil'd
  SECOND GUARD There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him
  FIRST GUARD What work is here! Charmian is this well done?
  CHARMIAN It is well done and fitting for a princes  
    Descended of so many royal kings
    Ah soldier!                                 [CHARMIAN dies]

                      Re-enter DOLABELLA

  DOLABELLA How goes it here?
  SECOND GUARD All dead
  DOLABELLA Caesar thy thoughts
    Touch their effects in this Thyself art coming
    To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou
    So sought'st to hinder
                      [Within: 'A way there a way for Caesar!']

              Re-enter CAESAR and all his train

  DOLABELLA O sir you are too sure an augurer:
    That you did fear is done
  CAESAR Bravest at the last
    She levell'd at our purposes and being royal
    Took her own way The manner of their deaths?  
    I do not see them bleed
  DOLABELLA Who was last with them?
  FIRST GUARD A simple countryman that brought her figs
    This was his basket
  CAESAR Poison'd then
  FIRST GUARD O Caesar
    This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood and spake
    I found her trimming up the diadem
    On her dead mistress Tremblingly she stood
    And on the sudden dropp'd
  CAESAR O noble weakness!
    If they had swallow'd poison 'twould appear
    By external swelling; but she looks like sleep
    As she would catch another Antony
    In her strong toil of grace
  DOLABELLA Here on her breast
    There is a vent of blood and something blown;
    The like is on her arm
  FIRST GUARD This is an aspic's trail; and these fig-leaves
    Have slime upon them such as th' aspic leaves  
    Upon the caves of Nile
  CAESAR Most probable
    That so she died; for her physician tells me
    She hath pursu'd conclusions infinite
    Of easy ways to die Take up her bed
    And bear her women from the monument
    She shall be buried by her Antony;
    No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
    A pair so famous High events as these
    Strike those that make them; and their story is
    No less in pity than his glory which
    Brought them to be lamented Our army shall
    In solemn show attend this funeral
    And then to Rome Come Dolabella see
    High order in this great solemnity                   Exeunt


THE END


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End of this Etext of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
THE TRAGEDY OF ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA


