The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Eno. What, man?

Eros. Cesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.

Eno. This is old: What is the success ? +

Eros. Cesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality; I 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 poor the third is up, til death enlarge his confine.

Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps;

Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECENAS.
Ces. Contemning Rome, he has done all this:
And more;

In Alexandria,-here's the manner of it,-
l'the market place, on a tribunal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthron'd: at the feet, sat
Cæsarion whom they call my father's son ;
And all the unlawful issue, that their lust
Since then hath made between them.
He gave the 'stablishment of Egypt; made her
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
Absolute queen.

Mec. This in the public eye?

Unto her

Ces. l'the common show-place, where they

exercise.

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Mcc. Let Rome be thus Inform'd.

Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence Already, will their good thoughts call from him. Ces. The people know it; and have now reHis accusations. [ceiv'd

Agr. Whom does he accuse ?

Ces. Cesar: and that, having in Sicily Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated + him. His part o'the isle: then does he say, he lent me Some shipping unrestor'd: lastly, he frets That Lepidus of the triumvirate

Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain All his revenue.

Agr. Sir, this should be answer'd.

Ces. 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.

I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel ; That he his high authority abus'd,

Oct. Is it so, Sir ? Ces. Most certain. you,

Sister, welcome: Pray

And did deserve his change; for what I have Be ever known to patience: My dearest sister!

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.

Ces. Which soon he granted,

Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

Oct. Do not say so, my lord.
Ces. I have eyes upon him,

And his affairs come to me on the wind.
Where is he now?

Oct. My lord, in Athens.

Ces. No, my most wronged sister: Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He bath given his

[Exeunt. SCENE VII-ANTONY'S Camp, near the Promontory of Actium.

Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Eno. But why, why, why?

Cleo. Thou hast forespoke my being in these

Be there in person?

Eno. [Aside.] Well, I could reply :

If we should serve with horse and mares to[bear

gether,

The horse were merely lost; the mares would A soldier and his horse.

Cleo. What is't you say?

Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle An tony;

Take from his heart, take from his brain, from bis time,

What should not then be spar'd. He is already Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome, That Photinus a eunuch, and your maids, Manage this war.

Cleo. Sink Rome; and their tongues rot, That speak against us! A charge we bear i'the

Cleo. Celerity is never more admir'd, Than by the negligent.

Ant. A good rebuke,

Which might have well becom'd the best of men, To taunt at slackness.--Canidius, we

Will fight with him by sea.

Cleo. By sea! What else?

Can. Why will my lord do so?
Ant. For he dares us to't.

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

Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cesar fought with Pompey: But these offers,

Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; And so should you.

Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd :

Power and empire. Forbid.

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Away, my Thetis ! -How now, worthy soldier ?
Sold. O noble emperor, do not fight by sea:
Trust not to rotten planks: Do you misdoubt
The sword, and these my wounds? Let the
Egyptians,

And the Phoenicians, go a ducking; we
Have used to conquer standing on the earth,
And fighting foot to foot.

Ant. Well, well, away.

[Exeunt ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and

ENOBARBUS.

Sold. By Hercules, I think I am i'the right.
Can. Soldier, thou art but his whole action

Enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS.

Ant. Set we our squadrons on yon' side o'the
hill

In eye of Cesar's battle; from which place
We may the number of the ships behold,
And so proceed accordingly.

[Exeunt.

Enter CANIDIUS, marching with his Land Army one way, over the Stage; and TAURUS, the Lieutenant of CESAR, the other way. After their departure, is heard the noise of a Seafight.

Alarum. Re-enter ENOBARBUS.

Eno. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold
no longer :

The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral,
With all their sixty, fly, and tarn the rudder;
To see't, mine eyes are blasted.

Enter SCARUS.
Scar. Gods, and goddesses,
All the whole synod of them!
Eno. What's thy passion?

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

Eno. How appears the fight?

Scar. On our side like the token'd § pestilence,
Where death is sure. You' ribald-rid nag || of
Egypt,

Whom leprosy o'ertake! i'the midst o'the fight,—
When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,
The brize upon her, like a cow in June,
Hoists sails, and flies.

Eno. That I beheld: mine eyes
Did sicken at the sight on't, and could not
Endure a further view.

[lard

Scar. She once being loof'd,**
The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,
Claps on his sea-wing, and like a doting mal-
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.

Eno. Alack, alack!

Enter CANIDIUS.

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

Eno. Ay, are you thereabouts? Why then, good
night
[Aside.
Indeed.
Can. Towards Peloponnesus are they fled.
Scar. 'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend
What further comes.

Can. To Cesar will I render

My legions and my horse; six kings already
Show me the way of yielding.

Eno. I'll yet follow

The wounded chance tt of Antony, though my

Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself: to the sea side straightway:
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little: 'pray you now :-
Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command,
Therefore I pray you :-I'll see you by and by.
[Sits down.
Enter Exos; and CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN
and IRAS.

Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him :-Comfort

Ant. Fall not a tear, I say: one of them rates⚫ All that is won and lost: Give me a kiss; Even this repays me.-We sent our school-master, Is he come back ?-Love, I am full of lead :— Some wine, within there, and our viands :-Fortune knows,

We scorn her most, when most she offers blows, [Exeunt. SCENE X.-CESAR'S Camp in Egypt.

Enter CESAR, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, and others.

Ces. Let him appear that's come from AnKnow you him? [tony.

Dol. Cesar, '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.

Ces. Approach, and speak.

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

C'es. Be it so: Declare thine office.

Eup. 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.

Ces. 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 sne unheard. So to them both.
Eup. Fortune pursue thee!

Ces. Bring him through the bands.
[Exit EUPHRONIUS.
To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Despatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,

[To THYREUS. 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 [Thyreus ; The ne'er-touch'd vestal: Try thy cunning, Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law.

+ Fought by proxy. 1 Bewildered. Paramour.

Unless.

Jefeated.

Euphronius, schoolmaster to AnDiadem, the crown. Bears his misfortunes. Cozened The sole occasion of the war

Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

Cleo. Pr'ythee, peace.

Enter ANTONY, with EUPHRONIUS. Ant. Is this his answer?

Eup. Ay, my lord.

Ant. The queen

Shall then have courtesy, so she will yield

Us up.

Eup. He says so.

Ant. Let her know it.

To the boy Cesar send this grizled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
With principalities.

Cleo. That head, my lord?

rose

Ant. To him again: Tell him, he wears the [note Of youth upon him; from which the world should Something particular: his coin, ships, legions, whose minister would May be a coward's; prevail

Under the service of a child, as soon

As i'the command of Cesar: 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.
Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cesar will
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the show,
Against a sworder.-1 see, men's judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward
To draw the inward quality after them,
To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Cesar will
Answer his emptiness I-Cesar, thou hast subdu'd
His judgment too.

Enter an ATTENDANT.

Att. A messenger from Cesar.
Cleo. 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.
Eno. Mine honesty and I begin to square. §
[Aside.

The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith mere folly :-Yet, he that can en lure
To follow with allegiance a fallen lord,
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i'the story.

Enter THYREUS.

Cleo. Cesar's will?

Thyr. Hear it apart.

Cleo. None but friends: say boldly,
Thyr. So, haply, are they friends to Antony.
Eno. He needs as many, Sir, as Cesar has;
Or needs not us. If Cesar please, our master
Will leap to be his friend: For us, you know,
Whose he is, we are; and that's Cesar's.
Thyr. So.-

Thus then, thou most renown'd! Cesar entreats,
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,
Further than he is Cesar.

Cleo. Go on: Right royal.

Thyr. He knows, that you embrace not
tony

As you did love, but as you fear'd him.
Cleo. Oh!

Thyr. Shall I say to Cesar

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.

Cleo. What's your name?
Thyr. My name is Thyreus.
Cleo. Most kind messenger,

Say to great Cesar this, In disputation

I kiss his conqu'ring hand; tell him, I am
prompt

To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel:
Tell him, from his all-obeying + breath 1 hear
The doom of Egypt.

Thyr. '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.

Cleo. Your Cesar'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.
Ant. Favours, by Jove that thunders 1-
What art thou, fellow ?

Thyr. One, that but performs

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have coinmand obey'd.

Eno. You will be whipp'd.

Ant. Approach, there:-Ay, you kite!-Now [ho! gods and devils! Authority melts from me: Of late, when I cry'd, Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, And cry, Your will? Have you no ears? I am

Enter ATTENDANTS.

Antony yet. Take hence this Jack, and whip him.

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

[butaries
Ant. Moon and stars!
Whip him :-Were't twenty of the greatest tri-
That do acknowledge Cesar, 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.
Thyr. Mark Antony,--

Ant. Tug him away; being whipp'd,
Bring him again :-This Jack of Cesar's shall
Bear us an errand to him.-

[Exeunt ATTEND. 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 ?

Cleo. Good my lord,

Ant. You have been a boggler ever:
But when we in our viciousness grow hard,
An-(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 us, while we strut
To our confusion.

Cleo. Oh! is it come to this?

Ant. I found you as a morsel cold upon
Dead Cesar's trencher: nay, you were a frag.

ment

Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours,
Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have
Luxuriously pick'd out:-For I am sure,
Though you can guess what temperance should be
You know not what it is.

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, Volume 9