The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare

Re-enter ATTENDANTS, with THYREUS. 1 Att. Soundly, my lord.

Ant. Cry'd he and begg'd he pardon? 1 Att. He did ask favour.

Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent Thon wast not made his daughter; and be thou To follow Cesar in his triumph, since [sorry Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: henceforth,

The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou to look on't.-Get thee back to Cesar,
Tell him thy entertainment: Look thou say,
He makes me angry with him, for he seems
Proud and disdainful, barping 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 tires
Into the abism of hell. If he mislike

My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has
Hipparchus, my enfranchis'd boudman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like, to quit + me: Urge it thou:
Hence, with thy stripes, begone.

[Exit THYREUS.

Cleo. Have you done yet?
Ant. Alack, our terrene moon

Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone

The fall of Antony!

Cleo. I must stay his time.

Aut. To flatter Cesar, would you mingle eyes With one that ties his points?

Cleo. Not know me yet?

Ant. Cold-hearted toward me!
Cleo. 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 Cesarioný 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!

Ant. I am satisfied.

Cesar sits down in Alexandria; where

I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Hath nobly held our sever'd navy too

Have knit again, and fleet, ¶ threat'ning most

sealike.

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 is hope in it yet.

Cleo. That's my brave lord!
Ant. 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.

Cleo. It is my birth-day:

I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my lord

Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

Ant. We'll yet do well.

Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord.
Ant. 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 ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and
Attendants.

Eno. Now he'll out-stare 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

reason,

It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek Some way to leave him.

ACT IV.

[Exit.

SCENE 1.-CESAR'S Camp at Alexandria. Enter CESAR, reading a Letter; AGRIPPA, MECENAS, and others.

Ces. He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power

To beat me out of Egypt: my messenger
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to per-
sonal combat ;

Cesar to Antony :-Let the old ruffian know,
I have many other ways to die; mean time,
Langh at his challenge.

Mec. Cesar 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.

Ces. Let our best heads

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

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

Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS,
CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and others.

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius ?
Eno. No.

Ant. Why should he not?

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,

He is twenty men to one.

Ant. 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?
Eno. I'll strike; and cry, Take all.
Ant. Well said; come on.-

Call forth my household servants; let's to-night

Enter SERVANTS.

An Antony; that I might do you service,
So good as you have done.

Serv. The gods forbid !

Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight:

Scant not my cups; and make as much of me,
As when mine empire was your fellow too,
And suffer'd my command.

Cleo. What does he mean?

Eno. To make his followers weep.

Ant. 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. Miue 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!

Eno. What mean you, Sir,

To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep; And I, an ass, an onion-ey'd-for shame! Transform us not to women.

Ant. 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:

I spake to you for your comfort: did desire you To burn this night with torches: Kuow, my hearts,

I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you,
Where rather I'll expect victorious life,
Than death and honour. Let's to supper; come
And drown consideration.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same.-Before the Palace.
Enter two SOLDIERS, to their Guard.

1 Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day.

2 Sold. It will determine one way: fare you well.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? 1 Sold. Nothing: What news?

2 Sold. Belike, 'tis but a rumour:

Good night to you.

1 Sold. Well, Sir, good night.

Enter two other SOLDIERS.

2 Sold. Soldiers,

Have careful watch.

3 Sold. And you: Good night, good night. {The first two place themselves at their Posts.

4 Sold. Here we: They take their Posts.] and if to-morrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope"

Our landmen will stand up.

3 Sold. 'Tis a brave army,

And full of purpose.

Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me:

[Music of Hautboys under the Stage. This is a soldier's kiss: rebukable,

4 Sold. Peace, what noise?

1 Sold. List, list!

2 Sold. Hark!

1 Sold. Music i'the air.

3 Sold. Under the earth.

4 Sold. It signs well,

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[Kisses her.

Ces. The time of universal peace is near:

Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd Alarum. Enter ANTONY, marching; SCARUS,

Shall bear the olive freely.

Ces. Go, charge Agrippa

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

[workd

[Exeunt CESAR and his Train. Eno. Alexas did revolt: and went to Jewry, On affairs of Antony; there did persuade Great Herod to incline himself to Cesar, And leave his master Autony: for his pains, Cesar hath hang'd him. Canidius, and the rest That fell away, have entertainment, but No honourable trust. 1 have done ill; Of which I do accuse myself so sorely, That I will joy no more.

Enter a SOLDIER of CESAR'S.

Sold. 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.

Eno. I give it you.

Sold. Mock me not, Enobarbus.

I tell you true: Best that 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 SOLDIER. Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth, And feel I am so most. O Antony, Thou mine of bounty, how would'st thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows heart.

and Forces.

Aat. My nightingale,

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

Cleo. I'll give thee, friend,

An armour all of gold : it was a king's.

Ant. He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled Like holy Phoebus' car.-Give me thy hand; Through Alexandria make a jolly march;

Enter CESAR with his Forces, marching.
Ces. 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 gallies. To the vales,
And hold our best advantage.

Bear our back'd targets like the men that owe
them:

Had our great palace the capacity

To camp this host, we all would sup together,
And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
Which promises royal peril.-Trumpeters,
With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
Make mingle with our rattling tabourines;
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds
together,

Applauding our approach.

[Exeunt.

SCENE IX.-CESAR'S Camp. SENTINELS on their Post. Enter ENOBARBUS. 1 Sold. If we be not reliev'd within this hour, We must return to the court of guard: The

night

Is shiny; and, they say, we shall embattle
By the second hour i'the morn.

2 Sold. This last day was

A shrewd one to us.

Eno. O bear me witness, night !—

3 Sold. What man is this?

2 Sold. Stand close, and list to him.

Eno. Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,
When men revolted shall upon record

Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
Before thy face repent!-

1 Sold. Enobarbus !

3 Sold. Peace;

Hark further.

Eno. 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

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!

2 Sold. Let's speak

To him.

[Dies.

[Exeunt.

Ant. All is lost!

This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me:

My fleet have 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
For when I am reveng'd upon my charm,
Makes only wars on thee.-Bid them all fly:
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 Cesar; and this pine is bark'd,
That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am:
O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm, t
Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd
them home;

1 Sold. Let's hear him, for the things he speaks Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose, ý

Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,

May concern Cesar.

3 Sold. Let's do so. But he sleeps.

1 Sold. Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his

Was never yet for sleeping.

2 Sold. Go we to him.

3 Sold. Awake, awake, Sir; speak to us.

2 Sold. Hear you, Sir.

1 Sold. The hand of death hath raught him. Hark, the drums

Demurely wake the sleepers.
To the court of guard; he is
Is fully out.

3 Sold. Come on then; He may recover yet.

[Drums afur off. Let us bear him of note: our hour

[Exeunt with the Body.

SCENE X.-Between the two Camps. Enter ANTONY and SCARUS, with Forces marching.

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

Scar. For both, my lord.

Ant. I would, they'd fight i'the fire, or in the

air;

We'd fight there too. But this it is: Our foot
Upon the hills adjoining to the city,
Shall stay with us; order for sea is given;
They have put forth the haven: Further on,
Where their appointment we may best discover,
And look on their endeavour.

[Exeunt.

As becomes the warriors that own them. + The guard-room. I Pour out, as a sponge when queezed. The ancient preterite tense of reach.

Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss.-
What, Eros, Eros !

Enter CLEOPATRA.

Ah! thou spell! Avaunt.

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

Ant. Vanish; or I shall give thee thy deserv-
ing,

And blemish Cesar'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, to dolts: and let
Patient Octavia plough thy visage up
With her prepared nails. [Erit CLEO.] 'Tis well
thou'rt gone.

If it be well to live: But better 'twere
Thou fell'st into my fury, for one death
Might have prevented many.-Eros, ho!-
The shirt of Nessus is upon me: Teach me,
Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage:

Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o'the moon ;
And with those hands, that grasp'd the heaviest

SCENE XI -Alexandria.-A Room in the Heart, once be stronger than thy continent,"

Palace.

Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and

MARDIAN.

Cleo. Help me, my women! Oh, he is more mad

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,
[Thessaly | Lie down, and stray no further : Now all labour
Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles
Itself with strength: Seal then, t and all is

Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of
Was never so emboss'd t

Char. To the monument;
There lock yourself, and send him word you are
dead.

The soul and body rivet not more in parting,
Than greatness going off.

Cleo. To the monument :

Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself;
Say, that the last I spoke was, Antony;
And word it, pr'ythee, piteously: Hence,
Mardian; and bring me how he takes my death.-
To the monument.
[Exeunt.

SCENE XII.-The same.-Another Room.

Enter ANTONY and EROS.

Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'st me?
Eros. Ay, noble lord.

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 Eneas shall want troops,

And all the haunt be ours.-Come, Eros, Eros !

Re-enter EROS.

Eros. What would my lord 1

Ant. 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

Ant. Sometime, we see a cloud that's dra- With ships made cities, condemn myself, to lack

gonish;

A vapour, sometime, like a bear, or lion,

A tower'd citadel, a pendant rock,

A forked mountain, or blue promontory
With trees upon't, that nod unto the world,

And mock our eyes with air: Thou hast seen
these signs ;

They are black vesper's pageants.

Eros. Ay, my lord.

Ant. That, which is now a horse, even with a
thought,

The rack dislimbs; and makes it indistinct,
As water is in water.

Eros. It does, my lord.

[is

Ant. My good knave, || Eros, now thy captain
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 more, now lost)-she, Eros, has
Pack'd cards with Cesar and false play'd my
Unto an enemy's triumph.-
[glory

Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us
Ourselves to end ourselves.-Oh! thy vile lady!

The courage of a woman; less noble mind
Than she, which, by her death, our Cesar tells,
I am conquerer of myself. Thou art sworn,
Eros,
[now
That, when the exigent should come, (which
Is come indeed) when I should see behind me
The inevitable prosecution of

Disgrace and horror, that, on my command,
Thou then would'st kill me: do't; the time is

Eros. I would not see't.

Ant. 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.

Ant. 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 counte

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The Dramatic Works of William Shakspeare, Volume 9