Minehonour,it。Repentthate’erthytongueHathsobetray’dthineact:beingdoneunknown,Ishouldhavefounditafterwardswelldone;
Butmustcondemnitnow。Desist,anddrink。MENAS[Aside]Forthis,I’llneverfollowthypall’dfortunesmore。
Whoseeks,andwillnottakewhenonce’tisoffer’d,Shallneverfinditmore。POMPEYThishealthtoLepidus!MARKANTONYBearhimashore。I’llpledgeitforhim,Pompey。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHere’stothee,Menas!MENASEnobarbus,welcome!POMPEYFilltillthecupbehid。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThere’sastrongfellow,Menas。
PointingtotheAttendantwhocarriesoffLEPIDUSMENASWhy?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSA’bearsthethirdpartoftheworld,man;see’stnot?MENASThethirdpart,then,isdrunk:woulditwereall,Thatitmightgoonwheels!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSDrinkthou;increasethereels。MENASCome。POMPEYThisisnotyetanAlexandrianfeast。MARKANTONYItripenstowardsit。Strikethevessels,ho?
HereistoCaesar!OCTAVIUSCAESARIcouldwellforbear’t。
It’smonstrouslabour,whenIwashmybrain,Anditgrowsfouler。MARKANTONYBeachildo’thetime。OCTAVIUSCAESARPossessit,I’llmakeanswer:
ButIhadratherfastfromallfourdaysThandrinksomuchinone。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHa,mybraveemperor!
ToMARKANTONY
ShallwedancenowtheEgyptianBacchanals,Andcelebrateourdrink?POMPEYLet’sha’t,goodsoldier。MARKANTONYCome,let’salltakehands,Tillthattheconqueringwinehathsteep’doursenseInsoftanddelicateLethe。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAlltakehands。
Makebatterytoourearswiththeloudmusic:
ThewhileI’llplaceyou:thentheboyshallsing;
TheholdingeverymanshallbearasloudAshisstrongsidescanvolley。
Musicplays。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSplacesthemhandinhandTHESONG。
Come,thoumonarchofthevine,PlumpyBacchuswithpinkeyne!
Inthyfatsourcaresbedrown’d,Withthygrapesourhairsbecrown’d:
Cupus,tilltheworldgoround,Cupus,tilltheworldgoround!OCTAVIUSCAESARWhatwouldyoumore?Pompey,goodnight。
Goodbrother,Letmerequestyouoff:ourgraverbusinessFrownsatthislevity。Gentlelords,let’spart;
Youseewehaveburntourcheeks:strongEnobarbIsweakerthanthewine;andmineowntongueSplitswhatitspeaks:thewilddisguisehathalmostAntick’dusall。Whatneedsmorewords?Goodnight。
GoodAntony,yourhand。POMPEYI’lltryyouontheshore。MARKANTONYAndshall,sir;give’syourhand。POMPEYOAntony,Youhavemyfather’shouse,——But,what?wearefriends。
Come,downintotheboat。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSTakeheedyoufallnot。
ExeuntallbutDOMITIUSENOBARBUSandMENAS
Menas,I’llnotonshore。MENASNo,tomycabin。
Thesedrums!thesetrumpets,flutes!what!
LetNeptunehearwebidaloudfarewellTothesegreatfellows:soundandbehang’d,soundout!
Soundaflourish,withdrumsDOMITIUSENOBARBUSHo!saysa’There’smycap。MENASHo!Noblecaptain,come。
ExeuntACTIIISCENEI。AplaininSyria。EnterVENTIDIUSasitwereintriumph,withSILIUS,andotherRomans,Officers,andSoldiers;thedeadbodyofPACORUSbornebeforehimVENTIDIUSNow,dartingParthia,artthoustruck;
andnowPleasedfortunedoesofMarcusCrassus’deathMakemerevenger。Beartheking’sson’sbodyBeforeourarmy。ThyPacorus,Orodes,PaysthisforMarcusCrassus。SILIUSNobleVentidius,WhilstyetwithParthianbloodthyswordiswarm,ThefugitiveParthiansfollow;spurthroughMedia,Mesopotamia,andtheshelterswhitherTheroutedfly:sothygrandcaptainAntonyShallsettheeontriumphantchariotsandPutgarlandsonthyhead。VENTIDIUSOSilius,Silius,Ihavedoneenough;alowerplace,notewell,Maymaketoogreatanact:forlearnthis,Silius;
Bettertoleaveundone,thanbyourdeedAcquiretoohighafamewhenhimweserve’saway。
CaesarandAntonyhaveeverwonMoreintheirofficerthanperson:Sossius,OneofmyplaceinSyria,hislieutenant,Forquickaccumulationofrenown,Whichheachievedbytheminute,losthisfavour。
Whodoesi’thewarsmorethanhiscaptaincanBecomeshiscaptain’scaptain:andambition,Thesoldier’svirtue,rathermakeschoiceofloss,Thangainwhichdarkenshim。
IcoulddomoretodoAntoniusgood,But’twouldoffendhim;andinhisoffenceShouldmyperformanceperish。SILIUSThouhast,Ventidius,thatWithoutthewhichasoldier,andhissword,Grantsscarcedistinction。ThouwiltwritetoAntony!VENTIDIUSI’llhumblysignifywhatinhisname,Thatmagicalwordofwar,wehaveeffected;
How,withhisbannersandhiswell—paidranks,Thene’er—yet—beatenhorseofParthiaWehavejadedouto’thefield。SILIUSWhereishenow?VENTIDIUSHepurposethtoAthens:whither,withwhathasteTheweightwemustconveywith’swillpermit,Weshallappearbeforehim。Onthere;passalong!
ExeuntSCENEII。Rome。Anante—chamberinOCTAVIUSCAESAR’shouse。EnterAGRIPPAatonedoor,DOMITIUSENOBARBUSatanotherAGRIPPAWhat,arethebrothersparted?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSTheyhavedispatch’dwithPompey,heisgone;
Theotherthreearesealing。OctaviaweepsTopartfromRome;Caesarissad;andLepidus,SincePompey’sfeast,asMenassays,istroubledWiththegreensickness。AGRIPPA’TisanobleLepidus。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAveryfineone:O,howhelovesCaesar!AGRIPPANay,buthowdearlyheadoresMarkAntony!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSCaesar?Why,he’stheJupiterofmen。AGRIPPAWhat’sAntony?ThegodofJupiter。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSSpakeyouofCaesar?How!thenon—pareil!AGRIPPAOAntony!OthouArabianbird!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWouldyoupraiseCaesar,say’Caesar:’
gonofurther。AGRIPPAIndeed,hepliedthembothwithexcellentpraises。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSButhelovesCaesarbest;yethelovesAntony:
Ho!hearts,tongues,figures,scribes,bards,poets,cannotThink,speak,cast,write,sing,number,ho!
HislovetoAntony。ButasforCaesar,Kneeldown,kneeldown,andwonder。AGRIPPABothheloves。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSTheyarehisshards,andhetheirbeetle。
TrumpetswithinSo;
Thisistohorse。Adieu,nobleAgrippa。AGRIPPAGoodfortune,worthysoldier;andfarewell。
EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,MARKANTONY,LEPIDUS,andOCTAVIAMARKANTONYNofurther,sir。OCTAVIUSCAESARYoutakefrommeagreatpartofmyself;
Usemewellin’t。Sister,provesuchawifeAsmythoughtsmakethee,andasmyfarthestbandShallpassonthyapproof。MostnobleAntony,Letnotthepieceofvirtue,whichissetBetwixtusasthecementofourlove,Tokeepitbuilded,betheramtobatterThefortressofit;forbettermightweHavelovedwithoutthismean,ifonbothpartsThisbenotcherish’d。MARKANTONYMakemenotoffendedInyourdistrust。OCTAVIUSCAESARIhavesaid。MARKANTONYYoushallnotfind,Thoughyoubethereincurious,theleastcauseForwhatyouseemtofear:so,thegodskeepyou,AndmaketheheartsofRomansserveyourends!
Wewillherepart。OCTAVIUSCAESARFarewell,mydearestsister,faretheewell:
Theelementsbekindtothee,andmakeThyspiritsallofcomfort!faretheewell。OCTAVIAMynoblebrother!MARKANTONYTheApril’sinhereyes:itislove’sspring,Andthesetheshowerstobringiton。Becheerful。OCTAVIASir,lookwelltomyhusband’shouse;
and——OCTAVIUSCAESARWhat,Octavia?OCTAVIAI’lltellyouinyourear。MARKANTONYHertonguewillnotobeyherheart,norcanHerheartinformhertongue,——theswan’sdown—feather,Thatstandsupontheswellatfulloftide,Andneitherwayinclines。DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[AsidetoAGRIPPA]WillCaesarweep?AGRIPPA[AsidetoDOMITIUSENOBARBUS]Hehasacloudin’sface。DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[AsidetoAGRIPPA]Heweretheworseforthat,wereheahorse;
Soishe,beingaman。AGRIPPA[AsidetoDOMITIUSENOBARBUS]Why,Enobarbus,WhenAntonyfoundJuliusCaesardead,Hecriedalmosttoroaring;andheweptWhenatPhilippihefoundBrutusslain。DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[AsidetoAGRIPPA]Thatyear,indeed,hewastroubledwitharheum;
Whatwillinglyhedidconfoundhewail’d,Believe’t,tillIwepttoo。OCTAVIUSCAESARNo,sweetOctavia,Youshallhearfrommestill;thetimeshallnotOut—gomythinkingonyou。MARKANTONYCome,sir,come;
I’llwrestlewithyouinmystrengthoflove:
Look,hereIhaveyou;thusIletyougo,Andgiveyoutothegods。OCTAVIUSCAESARAdieu;behappy!LEPIDUSLetallthenumberofthestarsgivelightTothyfairway!OCTAVIUSCAESARFarewell,farewell!
KissesOCTAVIAMARKANTONYFarewell!
Trumpetssound。ExeuntSCENEIII。Alexandria。CLEOPATRA’spalace。EnterCLEOPATRA,CHARMIAN,IRAS,andALEXASCLEOPATRAWhereisthefellow?ALEXASHalfafeardtocome。CLEOPATRAGoto,goto。
EntertheMessengerasbeforeComehither,sir。ALEXASGoodmajesty,HerodofJewrydarenotlookuponyouButwhenyouarewellpleased。CLEOPATRAThatHerod’sheadI’llhave:buthow,whenAntonyisgoneThroughwhomImightcommandit?Comethounear。MessengerMostgraciousmajesty,——CLEOPATRADidstthoubeholdOctavia?MessengerAy,dreadqueen。CLEOPATRAWhere?MessengerMadam,inRome;
Ilook’dherintheface,andsawherledBetweenherbrotherandMarkAntony。CLEOPATRAIssheastallasme?MessengerSheisnot,madam。CLEOPATRADidsthearherspeak?issheshrill—tonguedorlow?MessengerMadam,Iheardherspeak;sheislow—voiced。CLEOPATRAThat’snotsogood:hecannotlikeherlong。CHARMIANLikeher!OIsis!’tisimpossible。CLEOPATRAIthinkso,Charmian:dulloftongue,anddwarfish!
Whatmajestyisinhergait?Remember,Ife’erthoulook’dstonmajesty。MessengerShecreeps:
Hermotionandherstationareasone;
Sheshowsabodyratherthanalife,Astatuethanabreather。CLEOPATRAIsthiscertain?MessengerOrIhavenoobservance。CHARMIANThreeinEgyptCannotmakebetternote。CLEOPATRAHe’sveryknowing;
Idoperceive’t:there’snothinginheryet:
Thefellowhasgoodjudgment。CHARMIANExcellent。CLEOPATRAGuessatheryears,Iprithee。MessengerMadam,Shewasawidow,——CLEOPATRAWidow!Charmian,hark。MessengerAndIdothinkshe’sthirty。CLEOPATRABear’stthouherfaceinmind?is’tlongorround?MessengerRoundeventofaultiness。CLEOPATRAForthemostpart,too,theyarefoolishthatareso。
Herhair,whatcolour?MessengerBrown,madam:andherforeheadAslowasshewouldwishit。CLEOPATRAThere’sgoldforthee。
Thoumustnottakemyformersharpnessill:
Iwillemploytheebackagain;IfindtheeMostfitforbusiness:gomaketheeready;
Ourlettersareprepared。
ExitMessengerCHARMIANAproperman。CLEOPATRAIndeed,heisso:IrepentmemuchThatsoIharriedhim。Why,methinks,byhim,Thiscreature’snosuchthing。CHARMIANNothing,madam。CLEOPATRAThemanhathseensomemajesty,andshouldknow。CHARMIANHathheseenmajesty?Isiselsedefend,Andservingyousolong!CLEOPATRAIhaveonethingmoretoaskhimyet,goodCharmian:
But’tisnomatter;thoushaltbringhimtomeWhereIwillwrite。Allmaybewellenough。CHARMIANIwarrantyou,madam。
ExeuntSCENEIV。Athens。AroominMARKANTONY’shouse。EnterMARKANTONYandOCTAVIAMARKANTONYNay,nay,Octavia,notonlythat,——
Thatwereexcusable,that,andthousandsmoreOfsemblableimport,——buthehathwagedNewwars’gainstPompey;madehiswill,andreaditTopublicear:
Spokescantlyofme:whenperforcehecouldnotButpaymetermsofhonour,coldandsicklyHeventedthem;mostnarrowmeasurelentme:
Whenthebesthintwasgivenhim,henottook’t,Ordiditfromhisteeth。OCTAVIAOmygoodlord,Believenotall;or,ifyoumustbelieve,Stomachnotall。Amoreunhappylady,Ifthisdivisionchance,ne’erstoodbetween,Prayingforbothparts:
Thegoodgodsmepresently,WhenIshallpray,’Oblessmylordandhusband!’
Undothatprayer,bycryingoutasloud,’O,blessmybrother!’Husbandwin,winbrother,Prays,anddestroystheprayer;nomidway’Twixttheseextremesatall。MARKANTONYGentleOctavia,Letyourbestlovedrawtothatpoint,whichseeksBesttopreserveit:ifIloseminehonour,Ilosemyself:betterIwerenotyoursThanyourssobranchless。But,asyourequested,Yourselfshallgobetween’s:themeantime,lady,I’llraisethepreparationofawarShallstainyourbrother:makeyoursoonesthaste;
Soyourdesiresareyours。OCTAVIAThankstomylord。
TheJoveofpowermakememostweak,mostweak,Yourreconciler!Wars’twixtyoutwainwouldbeAsiftheworldshouldcleave,andthatslainmenShouldsolderuptherift。MARKANTONYWhenitappearstoyouwherethisbegins,Turnyourdispleasurethatway:forourfaultsCanneverbesoequal,thatyourloveCanequallymovewiththem。Provideyourgoing;
Chooseyourowncompany,andcommandwhatcostYourhearthasmindto。
ExeuntSCENEV。Thesame。Anotherroom。EnterDOMITIUSENOBARBUSandEROS,meetingDOMITIUSENOBARBUSHownow,friendEros!EROSThere’sstrangenewscome,sir。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWhat,man?EROSCaesarandLepidushavemadewarsuponPompey。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThisisold:whatisthesuccess?EROSCaesar,havingmadeuseofhiminthewars’gainstPompey,presentlydeniedhimrivality;wouldnotlethimpartakeinthegloryoftheaction:andnotrestinghere,accuseshimoflettershehadformerlywrotetoPompey;uponhisownappeal,seizeshim:
sothepoorthirdisup,tilldeathenlargehisconfine。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThen,world,thouhastapairofchaps,nomore;
Andthrowbetweenthemallthefoodthouhast,They’llgrindtheonetheother。Where’sAntony?EROSHe’swalkinginthegarden——thus;andspurnsTherushthatliesbeforehim;cries,’FoolLepidus!’
AndthreatsthethroatofthathisofficerThatmurder’dPompey。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSOurgreatnavy’srigg’d。EROSForItalyandCaesar。More,Domitius;
Mylorddesiresyoupresently:mynewsImighthavetoldhereafter。DOMITIUSENOBARBUS’Twillbenaught:
Butletitbe。BringmetoAntony。EROSCome,sir。
ExeuntSCENEVI。Rome。OCTAVIUSCAESAR’shouse。EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,AGRIPPA,andMECAENASOCTAVIUSCAESARContemningRome,hehasdoneallthis,andmore,InAlexandria:here’sthemannerof’t:
I’themarket—place,onatribunalsilver’d,CleopatraandhimselfinchairsofgoldWerepubliclyenthroned:atthefeetsatCaesarion,whomtheycallmyfather’sson,AndalltheunlawfulissuethattheirlustSincethenhathmadebetweenthem。UntoherHegavethestablishmentofEgypt;madeherOflowerSyria,Cyprus,Lydia,Absolutequeen。MECAENASThisinthepubliceye?OCTAVIUSCAESARI’thecommonshow—place,wheretheyexercise。
Hissonshethereproclaim’dthekingsofkings:
GreatMedia,Parthia,andArmenia。
HegavetoAlexander;toPtolemyheassign’dSyria,Cilicia,andPhoenicia:sheInthehabilimentsofthegoddessIsisThatdayappear’d;andoftbeforegaveaudience,As’tisreported,so。MECAENASLetRomebethusInform’d。AGRIPPAWho,queasywithhisinsolenceAlready,willtheirgoodthoughtscallfromhim。OCTAVIUSCAESARThepeopleknowit;andhavenowreceivedHisaccusations。AGRIPPAWhodoesheaccuse?OCTAVIUSCAESARCaesar:andthat,havinginSicilySextusPompeiusspoil’d,wehadnotratedhimHisparto’theisle:thendoeshesay,helentmeSomeshippingunrestored:lastly,hefretsThatLepidusofthetriumvirateShouldbedeposed;and,being,thatwedetainAllhisrevenue。AGRIPPASir,thisshouldbeanswer’d。OCTAVIUSCAESAR’Tisdonealready,andthemessengergone。
Ihavetoldhim,Lepiduswasgrowntoocruel;
Thathehishighauthorityabused,Anddiddeservehischange:forwhatIhaveconquer’d,Igranthimpart;butthen,inhisArmenia,Andotherofhisconquer’dkingdoms,I
Demandthelike。MECAENASHe’llneveryieldtothat。OCTAVIUSCAESARNormustnotthenbeyieldedtointhis。
EnterOCTAVIAwithhertrainOCTAVIAHail,Caesar,andmylord!hail,mostdearCaesar!OCTAVIUSCAESARThateverIshouldcalltheecastaway!OCTAVIAYouhavenotcall’dmeso,norhaveyoucause。OCTAVIUSCAESARWhyhaveyoustol’nuponusthus!YoucomenotLikeCaesar’ssister:thewifeofAntonyShouldhaveanarmyforanusher,andTheneighsofhorsetotellofherapproachLongereshedidappear;thetreesbythewayShouldhavebornemen;andexpectationfainted,Longingforwhatithadnot;nay,thedustShouldhaveascendedtotheroofofheaven,Raisedbyyourpopuloustroops:butyouarecomeAmarket—maidtoRome;andhavepreventedTheostentationofourlove,which,leftunshown,Isoftenleftunloved;weshouldhavemetyouByseaandland;supplyingeverystageWithanaugmentedgreeting。OCTAVIAGoodmylord,TocomethuswasInotconstrain’d,butdidOnmyfreewill。Mylord,MarkAntony,Hearingthatyoupreparedforwar,acquaintedMygrievedearwithal;whereon,Ibegg’dHispardonforreturn。OCTAVIUSCAESARWhichsoonhegranted,Beinganobstruct’tweenhislustandhim。OCTAVIADonotsayso,mylord。OCTAVIUSCAESARIhaveeyesuponhim,Andhisaffairscometomeonthewind。
Whereishenow?OCTAVIAMylord,inAthens。OCTAVIUSCAESARNo,mymostwrongedsister;CleopatraHathnoddedhimtoher。HehathgivenhisempireUptoawhore;whonowarelevyingThekingso’theearthforwar;hehathassembledBocchus,thekingofLibya;Archelaus,OfCappadocia;Philadelphos,kingOfPaphlagonia;theThracianking,Adallas;
KingMalchusofArabia;KingofPont;
HerodofJewry;Mithridates,kingOfComagene;PolemonandAmyntas,ThekingsofMedeandLycaonia,Withamorelargerlistofsceptres。OCTAVIAAyme,mostwretched,ThathavemyheartpartedbetwixttwofriendsThatdoafflicteachother!OCTAVIUSCAESARWelcomehither:
Yourlettersdidwithholdourbreakingforth;
Tillweperceived,bothhowyouwerewrongled,Andweinnegligentdanger。Cheeryourheart;
Beyounottroubledwiththetime,whichdrivesO’eryourcontentthesestrongnecessities;
ButletdeterminedthingstodestinyHoldunbewail’dtheirway。WelcometoRome;
Nothingmoredeartome。YouareabusedBeyondthemarkofthought:andthehighgods,Todoyoujustice,makethemministersOfusandthosethatloveyou。Bestofcomfort;
Andeverwelcometous。AGRIPPAWelcome,lady。MECAENASWelcome,dearmadam。
EachheartinRomedoesloveandpityyou:
OnlytheadulterousAntony,mostlargeInhisabominations,turnsyouoff;
Andgiveshispotentregimenttoatrull,Thatnoisesitagainstus。OCTAVIAIsitso,sir?OCTAVIUSCAESARMostcertain。Sister,welcome:prayyou,Beeverknowntopatience:mydear’stsister!
ExeuntSCENEVII。NearActium。MARKANTONY’scamp。EnterCLEOPATRAandDOMITIUSENOBARBUSCLEOPATRAIwillbeevenwiththee,doubtitnot。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSButwhy,why,why?CLEOPATRAThouhastforspokemybeinginthesewars,Andsay’stitisnotfit。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWell,isit,isit?CLEOPATRAIfnotdenouncedagainstus,whyshouldnotweBethereinperson?DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[Aside]Well,Icouldreply:
Ifweshouldservewithhorseandmarestogether,Thehorseweremerelylost;themareswouldbearAsoldierandhishorse。CLEOPATRAWhatis’tyousay?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSYourpresenceneedsmustpuzzleAntony;
Takefromhisheart,takefromhisbrain,from’stime,Whatshouldnotthenbespared。HeisalreadyTraducedforlevity;and’tissaidinRomeThatPhotinusaneunuchandyourmaidsManagethiswar。CLEOPATRASinkRome,andtheirtonguesrotThatspeakagainstus!Achargewebeari’thewar,And,asthepresidentofmykingdom,willAppearthereforaman。Speaknotagainstit:
Iwillnotstaybehind。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNay,Ihavedone。
Herecomestheemperor。
EnterMARKANTONYandCANIDIUSMARKANTONYIsitnotstrange,Canidius,ThatfromTarentumandBrundusiumHecouldsoquicklycuttheIoniansea,AndtakeinToryne?Youhaveheardon’t,sweet?CLEOPATRACelerityisnevermoreadmiredThanbythenegligent。MARKANTONYAgoodrebuke,Whichmighthavewellbecomedthebestofmen,Totauntatslackness。Canidius,weWillfightwithhimbysea。CLEOPATRABysea!whatelse?CANIDIUSWhywillmylorddoso?MARKANTONYForthathedaresusto’t。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSSohathmylorddaredhimtosinglefight。CANIDIUSAy,andtowagethisbattleatPharsalia。
WhereCaesarfoughtwithPompey:buttheseoffers,Whichservenotforhisvantage,beshakesoff;
Andsoshouldyou。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSYourshipsarenotwellmann’d;
Yourmarinersaremuleters,reapers,peopleIngross’dbyswiftimpress;inCaesar’sfleetArethosethatoftenhave’gainstPompeyfought:
Theirshipsareyare;yours,heavy:nodisgraceShallfallyouforrefusinghimatsea,Beingpreparedforland。MARKANTONYBysea,bysea。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSMostworthysir,youthereinthrowawayTheabsolutesoldiershipyouhavebyland;
Distractyourarmy,whichdothmostconsistOfwar—mark’dfootmen;leaveunexecutedYourownrenownedknowledge;quiteforegoThewaywhichpromisesassurance;andGiveupyourselfmerelytochanceandhazard,Fromfirmsecurity。MARKANTONYI’llfightatsea。CLEOPATRAIhavesixtysails,Caesarnonebetter。MARKANTONYOuroverplusofshippingwillweburn;
And,withtherestfull—mann’d,fromtheheadofActiumBeattheapproachingCaesar。Butifwefail,Wethencando’tatland。
EnteraMessengerThybusiness?MessengerThenewsistrue,mylord;heisdescried;
CaesarhastakenToryne。MARKANTONYCanhebethereinperson?’tisimpossible;
Strangethatpowershouldbe。Canidius,Ournineteenlegionsthoushaltholdbyland,Andourtwelvethousandhorse。We’lltoourship:
Away,myThetis!
EnteraSoldierHownow,worthysoldier?SoldierOnobleemperor,donotfightbysea;
Trustnottorottenplanks:doyoumisdoubtThisswordandthesemywounds?LettheEgyptiansAndthePhoeniciansgoa—ducking;weHaveusedtoconquer,standingontheearth,Andfightingfoottofoot。MARKANTONYWell,well:away!
ExeuntMARKANTONY,QUEENCLEOPATRA,andDOMITIUSENOBARBUSSoldierByHercules,IthinkIami’theright。CANIDIUSSoldier,thouart:buthiswholeactiongrowsNotinthepoweron’t:soourleader’sled,Andwearewomen’smen。SoldierYoukeepbylandThelegionsandthehorsewhole,doyounot?CANIDIUSMarcusOctavius,MarcusJusteius,Publicola,andCaelius,areforsea:
Butwekeepwholebyland。ThisspeedofCaesar’sCarriesbeyondbelief。SoldierWhilehewasyetinRome,HispowerwentoutinsuchdistractionsasBeguiledallspies。CANIDIUSWho’shislieutenant,hearyou?SoldierTheysay,oneTaurus。CANIDIUSWellIknowtheman。
EnteraMessengerMessengerTheemperorcallsCanidius。CANIDIUSWithnewsthetime’swithlabour,andthroesforth,Eachminute,some。
ExeuntSCENEVIII。AplainnearActium。EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,andTAURUS,withhisarmy,marchingOCTAVIUSCAESARTaurus!TAURUSMylord?OCTAVIUSCAESARStrikenotbyland;keepwhole:provokenotbattle,Tillwehavedoneatsea。DonotexceedTheprescriptofthisscroll:ourfortuneliesUponthisjump。
ExeuntSCENEIX。Anotherpartoftheplain。EnterMARKANTONYandDOMITIUSENOBARBUSMARKANTONYSetweoursquadronsonyondsideo’thehill,IneyeofCaesar’sbattle;fromwhichplaceWemaythenumberoftheshipsbehold,Andsoproceedaccordingly。
ExeuntSCENEX。Anotherpartoftheplain。CANIDIUSmarchethwithhislandarmyonewayoverthestage;
andTAURUS,thelieutenantofOCTAVIUSCAESAR,theotherway。Aftertheirgoingin,isheardthenoiseofasea—fightAlarum。EnterDOMITIUSENOBARBUSDOMITIUSENOBARBUSNaught,naughtall,naught!Icanbeholdnolonger:
TheAntoniad,theEgyptianadmiral,Withalltheirsixty,flyandturntherudder:
Tosee’tmineeyesareblasted。
EnterSCARUSSCARUSGodsandgoddesses,Allthewholesynodofthem!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWhat’sthypassion!SCARUSThegreatercantleoftheworldislostWithveryignorance;wehavekiss’dawayKingdomsandprovinces。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHowappearsthefight?SCARUSOnoursidelikethetoken’dpestilence,Wheredeathissure。YonribaudrednagofEgypt,——
Whomleprosyo’ertake!——i’themidsto’thefight,Whenvantagelikeapairoftwinsappear’d,Bothasthesame,orratherourstheelder,Thebreeseuponher,likeacowinJune,Hoistssailsandflies。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThatIbeheld:
Mineeyesdidsickenatthesight,andcouldnotEndureafurtherview。SCARUSSheoncebeingloof’d,Thenobleruinofhermagic,Antony,Clapsonhissea—wing,and,likeadotingmallard,Leavingthefightinheight,fliesafterher:
Ineversawanactionofsuchshame;
Experience,manhood,honour,ne’erbeforeDidviolatesoitself。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAlack,alack!
EnterCANIDIUSCANIDIUSOurfortuneontheseaisoutofbreath,Andsinksmostlamentably。HadourgeneralBeenwhatheknewhimself,ithadgonewell:
O,hehasgivenexampleforourflight,Mostgrossly,byhisown!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAy,areyouthereabouts?
Why,then,goodnightindeed。CANIDIUSTowardPeloponnesusaretheyfled。SCARUS’Tiseasyto’t;andthereIwillattendWhatfurthercomes。CANIDIUSToCaesarwillIrenderMylegionsandmyhorse:sixkingsalreadyShowmethewayofyielding。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSI’llyetfollowThewoundedchanceofAntony,thoughmyreasonSitsinthewindagainstme。
ExeuntSCENEXI。Alexandria。CLEOPATRA’spalace。EnterMARKANTONYwithAttendantsMARKANTONYHark!thelandbidsmetreadnomoreupon’t;
Itisashamedtobearme!Friends,comehither:
Iamsolatedintheworld,thatI
Havelostmywayforever:IhaveashipLadenwithgold;takethat,divideit;fly,AndmakeyourpeacewithCaesar。AllFly!notwe。MARKANTONYIhavefledmyself;andhaveinstructedcowardsTorunandshowtheirshoulders。Friends,begone;
IhavemyselfresolveduponacourseWhichhasnoneedofyou;begone:
Mytreasure’sintheharbour,takeit。O,Ifollow’dthatIblushtolookupon:
Myveryhairsdomutiny;forthewhiteReprovethebrownforrashness,andtheythemForfearanddoting。Friends,begone:youshallHavelettersfrommetosomefriendsthatwillSweepyourwayforyou。Prayyou,looknotsad,Normakerepliesofloathness:takethehintWhichmydespairproclaims;letthatbeleftWhichleavesitself:tothesea—sidestraightway:
Iwillpossessyouofthatshipandtreasure。
Leaveme,Ipray,alittle:prayyounow:
Nay,doso;for,indeed,Ihavelostcommand,ThereforeIprayyou:I’llseeyoubyandby。
SitsdownEnterCLEOPATRAledbyCHARMIANandIRAS;EROSfollowingEROSNay,gentlemadam,tohim,comforthim。IRASDo,mostdearqueen。CHARMIANDo!why:whatelse?CLEOPATRALetmesitdown。OJuno!MARKANTONYNo,no,no,no,no。EROSSeeyouhere,sir?MARKANTONYOfie,fie,fie!CHARMIANMadam!IRASMadam,Ogoodempress!EROSSir,sir,——MARKANTONYYes,mylord,yes;heatPhilippikeptHissworde’enlikeadancer;whileIstruckTheleanandwrinkledCassius;and’twasI
ThatthemadBrutusended:healoneDealtonlieutenantry,andnopractisehadInthebravesquaresofwar:yetnow——Nomatter。CLEOPATRAAh,standby。EROSThequeen,mylord,thequeen。IRASGotohim,madam,speaktohim:
Heisunqualitiedwithveryshame。CLEOPATRAWellthen,sustainhim:O!EROSMostnoblesir,arise;thequeenapproaches:
Herhead’sdeclined,anddeathwillseizeher,butYourcomfortmakestherescue。MARKANTONYIhaveoffendedreputation,Amostunnobleswerving。EROSSir,thequeen。MARKANTONYO,whitherhastthouledme,Egypt?See,HowIconveymyshameoutofthineeyesBylookingbackwhatIhaveleftbehind’Stroy’dindishonour。CLEOPATRAOmylord,mylord,Forgivemyfearfulsails!IlittlethoughtYouwouldhavefollow’d。MARKANTONYEgypt,thouknew’sttoowellMyheartwastothyruddertiedbythestrings,Andthoushouldsttowmeafter:o’ermyspiritThyfullsupremacythouknew’st,andthatThybeckmightfromthebiddingofthegodsCommandme。CLEOPATRAO,mypardon!MARKANTONYNowImustTotheyoungmansendhumbletreaties,dodgeAndpalterintheshiftsoflowness;whoWithhalfthebulko’theworldplay’dasIpleased,Makingandmarringfortunes。YoudidknowHowmuchyouweremyconqueror;andthatMysword,madeweakbymyaffection,wouldObeyitonallcause。CLEOPATRAPardon,pardon!MARKANTONYFallnotatear,Isay;oneofthemratesAllthatiswonandlost:givemeakiss;
Eventhisrepaysme。Wesentourschoolmaster;
Ishecomeback?Love,Iamfulloflead。
Somewine,withinthere,andourviands!FortuneknowsWescornhermostwhenmostsheoffersblows。
ExeuntSCENEXII。Egypt。OCTAVIUSCAESAR’scamp。EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,DOLABELLA,THYREUS,withothersOCTAVIUSCAESARLethimappearthat’scomefromAntony。
Knowyouhim?DOLABELLACaesar,’tishisschoolmaster:
Anargumentthatheispluck’d,whenhitherHesendssopoorapinionoffhiswing,WhichhadsuperfluouskingsformessengersNotmanymoonsgoneby。
EnterEUPHRONIUS,ambassadorfromMARKANTONYOCTAVIUSCAESARApproach,andspeak。EUPHRONIUSSuchasIam,IcomefromAntony:
IwasoflateaspettytohisendsAsisthemorn—dewonthemyrtle—leafTohisgrandsea。OCTAVIUSCAESARBe’tso:declarethineoffice。EUPHRONIUSLordofhisfortuneshesalutesthee,andRequirestoliveinEgypt:whichnotgranted,Helessenshisrequests;andtotheesuesTolethimbreathebetweentheheavensandearth,AprivatemaninAthens:thisforhim。
Next,Cleopatradoesconfessthygreatness;
Submitshertothymight;andoftheecravesThecircleofthePtolemiesforherheirs,Nowhazardedtothygrace。OCTAVIUSCAESARForAntony,Ihavenoearstohisrequest。ThequeenOfaudiencenordesireshallfail,sosheFromEgyptdriveherall—disgracedfriend,Ortakehislifethere:thisifsheperform,Sheshallnotsueunheard。Sotothemboth。EUPHRONIUSFortunepursuethee!OCTAVIUSCAESARBringhimthroughthebands。
ExitEUPHRONIUS
ToTHYREUS
FromAntonywinCleopatra:promise,Andinourname,whatsherequires;addmore,Fromthineinvention,offers:womenarenotIntheirbestfortunesstrong;butwantwillperjureThene’ertouch’dvestal:trythycunning,Thyreus;
Makethineownedictforthypains,whichweWillanswerasalaw。THYREUSCaesar,Igo。OCTAVIUSCAESARObservehowAntonybecomeshisflaw,Andwhatthouthink’sthisveryactionspeaksIneverypowerthatmoves。THYREUSCaesar,Ishall。
ExeuntSCENEXIII。Alexandria。CLEOPATRA’spalace。EnterCLEOPATRA,DOMITIUSENOBARBUS,CHARMIAN,andIRASCLEOPATRAWhatshallwedo,Enobarbus?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThink,anddie。CLEOPATRAIsAntonyorweinfaultforthis?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAntonyonly,thatwouldmakehiswillLordofhisreason。WhatthoughyoufledFromthatgreatfaceofwar,whoseseveralrangesFrightedeachother?whyshouldhefollow?
TheitchofhisaffectionshouldnotthenHavenick’dhiscaptainship;atsuchapoint,Whenhalftohalftheworldopposed,hebeingThemeeredquestion:’twasashamenolessThanwashisloss,tocourseyourflyingflags,Andleavehisnavygazing。CLEOPATRAPrithee,peace。
EnterMARKANTONYwithEUPHRONIUS,theAmbassadorMARKANTONYIsthathisanswer?EUPHRONIUSAy,mylord。MARKANTONYThequeenshallthenhavecourtesy,sosheWillyieldusup。EUPHRONIUSHesaysso。MARKANTONYLetherknow’t。
TotheboyCaesarsendthisgrizzledhead,AndhewillfillthywishestothebrimWithprincipalities。CLEOPATRAThathead,mylord?MARKANTONYTohimagain:tellhimhewearstheroseOfyouthuponhim;fromwhichtheworldshouldnoteSomethingparticular:hiscoin,ships,legions,Maybeacoward’s;whoseministerswouldprevailUndertheserviceofachildassoonAsi’thecommandofCaesar:IdarehimthereforeTolayhisgaycomparisonsapart,Andanswermedeclined,swordagainstsword,Ourselvesalone。I’llwriteit:followme。
ExeuntMARKANTONYandEUPHRONIUSDOMITIUSENOBARBUS[Aside]Yes,likeenough,high—battledCaesarwillUnstatehishappiness,andbestagedtotheshow,Againstasworder!Iseemen’sjudgmentsareAparceloftheirfortunes;andthingsoutwardDodrawtheinwardqualityafterthem,Tosufferallalike。Thatheshoulddream,Knowingallmeasures,thefullCaesarwillAnswerhisemptiness!Caesar,thouhastsubduedHisjudgmenttoo。
EnteranAttendantAttendantAmessengerfromCAESAR。CLEOPATRAWhat,nomoreceremony?See,mywomen!
AgainsttheblownrosemaytheystoptheirnoseThatkneel’duntothebuds。Admithim,sir。
ExitAttendantDOMITIUSENOBARBUS[Aside]MinehonestyandIbegintosquare。
TheloyaltywellheldtofoolsdoesmakeOurfaithmerefolly:yethethatcanendureTofollowwithallegianceafall’nlordDoesconquerhimthatdidhismasterconquerAndearnsaplacei’thestory。
EnterTHYREUSCLEOPATRACaesar’swill?THYREUSHearitapart。CLEOPATRANonebutfriends:sayboldly。THYREUSSo,haply,aretheyfriendstoAntony。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHeneedsasmany,sir,asCaesarhas;
Orneedsnotus。IfCaesarplease,ourmasterWillleaptobehisfriend:forus,youknow,Whoseheisweare,andthatis,Caesar’s。THYREUSSo。
Thusthen,thoumostrenown’d:Caesarentreats,Nottoconsiderinwhatcasethoustand’st,FurtherthanheisCaesar。CLEOPATRAGoon:rightroyal。THYREUSHeknowsthatyouembracenotAntonyAsyoudidlove,butasyoufear’dhim。CLEOPATRAO!THYREUSThescarsuponyourhonour,therefore,heDoespity,asconstrainedblemishes,Notasdeserved。CLEOPATRAHeisagod,andknowsWhatismostright:minehonourwasnotyielded,Butconquer’dmerely。DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[Aside]Tobesureofthat,IwillaskAntony。Sir,sir,thouartsoleaky,Thatwemustleavetheetothysinking,forThydearestquitthee。
ExitTHYREUSShallIsaytoCaesarWhatyourequireofhim?forhepartlybegsTobedesiredtogive。Itmuchwouldpleasehim,ThatofhisfortunesyoushouldmakeastaffToleanupon:butitwouldwarmhisspirits,TohearfrommeyouhadleftAntony,Andputyourselfunderhisshrowd,Theuniversallandlord。CLEOPATRAWhat’syourname?THYREUSMynameisThyreus。CLEOPATRAMostkindmessenger,SaytogreatCaesarthis:indeputationIkisshisconqueringhand:tellhim,IampromptTolaymycrownat’sfeet,andtheretokneel:
Tellhimfromhisall—obeyingbreathIhearThedoomofEgypt。THYREUS’Tisyournoblestcourse。
Wisdomandfortunecombatingtogether,Ifthattheformerdarebutwhatitcan,Nochancemayshakeit。GivemegracetolayMydutyonyourhand。CLEOPATRAYourCaesar’sfatheroft,Whenhehathmusedoftakingkingdomsin,Bestow’dhislipsonthatunworthyplace,Asitrain’dkisses。
Re—enterMARKANTONYandDOMITIUSENOBARBUSMARKANTONYFavours,byJovethatthunders!
Whatartthou,fellow?THYREUSOnethatbutperformsThebiddingofthefullestman,andworthiestTohavecommandobey’d。DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[Aside]Youwillbewhipp’d。MARKANTONYApproach,there!Ah,youkite!Now,godsanddevils!
Authoritymeltsfromme:oflate,whenIcried’Ho!’
Likeboysuntoamuss,kingswouldstartforth,Andcry’Yourwill?’Haveyounoears?IamAntonyyet。
EnterAttendantsTakehencethisJack,andwhiphim。DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[Aside]’Tisbetterplayingwithalion’swhelpThanwithanoldonedying。MARKANTONYMoonandstars!
Whiphim。Were’ttwentyofthegreatesttributariesThatdoacknowledgeCaesar,shouldIfindthemSosaucywiththehandofshehere,——what’shername,SinceshewasCleopatra?Whiphim,fellows,Till,likeaboy,youseehimcringehisface,Andwhinealoudformercy:takehimhence。THYREUSMarkAntony!MARKANTONYTughimaway:beingwhipp’d,Bringhimagain:thisJackofCaesar’sshallBearusanerrandtohim。
ExeuntAttendantswithTHYREUS
YouwerehalfblastedereIknewyou:ha!
HaveImypillowleftunpress’dinRome,Forbornethegettingofalawfulrace,Andbyagemofwomen,tobeabusedByonethatlooksonfeeders?CLEOPATRAGoodmylord,——MARKANTONYYouhavebeenabogglerever:
Butwhenweinourviciousnessgrowhard——
Omiseryon’t!——thewisegodsseeloureyes;
Inourownfilthdropourclearjudgments;makeusAdoreourerrors;laughat’s,whilewestrutToourconfusion。CLEOPATRAO,is’tcometothis?MARKANTONYIfoundyouasamorselcolduponDeadCaesar’strencher;nay,youwereafragmentOfCneiusPompey’s;besideswhathotterhours,Unregister’dinvulgarfame,youhaveLuxuriouslypick’dout:for,Iamsure,Thoughyoucanguesswhattemperanceshouldbe,Youknownotwhatitis。CLEOPATRAWhereforeisthis?MARKANTONYToletafellowthatwilltakerewardsAndsay’Godquityou!’befamiliarwithMyplayfellow,yourhand;thiskinglysealAndplighterofhighhearts!O,thatIwereUponthehillofBasan,tooutroarThehornedherd!forIhavesavagecause;
Andtoproclaimitcivilly,werelikeAhalter’dneckwhichdoesthehangmanthankForbeingyareabouthim。
Re—enterAttendantswithTHYREUS
Ishewhipp’d?FirstAttendantSoundly,mylord。MARKANTONYCriedhe?andbegg’da’pardon?FirstAttendantHedidaskfavour。MARKANTONYIfthatthyfatherlive,lethimrepentThouwastnotmadehisdaughter;andbethousorryTofollowCaesarinhistriumph,sinceThouhastbeenwhipp’dforfollowinghim:henceforthThewhitehandofaladyfeverthee,Shakethoutolookon’t。GettheebacktoCaesar,Tellhimthyentertainment:look,thousayHemakesmeangrywithhim;forheseemsProudanddisdainful,harpingonwhatIam,NotwhatheknewIwas:hemakesmeangry;
Andatthistimemosteasy’tistodo’t,Whenmygoodstars,thatweremyformerguides,Haveemptylefttheirorbs,andshottheirfiresIntotheabysmofhell。IfhemislikeMyspeechandwhatisdone,tellhimhehasHipparchus,myenfranchedbondman,whomHemayatpleasurewhip,orhang,ortorture,Asheshalllike,toquitme:urgeitthou:
Hencewiththystripes,begone!
ExitTHYREUSCLEOPATRAHaveyoudoneyet?MARKANTONYAlack,ourterrenemoonIsnoweclipsed;anditportendsaloneThefallofAntony!CLEOPATRAImuststayhistime。MARKANTONYToflatterCaesar,wouldyoumingleeyesWithonethattieshispoints?CLEOPATRANotknowmeyet?MARKANTONYCold—heartedtowardme?CLEOPATRAAh,dear,ifIbeso,Frommycoldheartletheavenengenderhail,Andpoisonitinthesource;andthefirststoneDropinmyneck:asitdetermines,soDissolvemylife!ThenextCaesarionsmite!
Tillbydegreesthememoryofmywomb,TogetherwithmybraveEgyptiansall,Bythediscandyingofthispelletedstorm,Liegraveless,tillthefliesandgnatsofNileHaveburiedthemforprey!MARKANTONYIamsatisfied。
CaesarsitsdowninAlexandria;whereIwillopposehisfate。OurforcebylandHathnoblyheld;oursever’dnavytooHaveknitagain,andfleet,threateningmostsea—like。
Wherehastthoubeen,myheart?Dostthouhear,lady?
IffromthefieldIshallreturnoncemoreTokisstheselips,Iwillappearinblood;
Iandmyswordwillearnourchronicle:
There’shopein’tyet。CLEOPATRAThat’smybravelord!MARKANTONYIwillbetreble—sinew’d,hearted,breathed,Andfightmaliciously:forwhenminehoursWereniceandlucky,mendidransomlivesOfmeforjests;butnowI’llsetmyteeth,Andsendtodarknessallthatstopme。Come,Let’shaveoneothergaudynight:calltomeAllmysadcaptains;fillourbowlsoncemore;
Let’smockthemidnightbell。CLEOPATRAItismybirth—day:
Ihadthoughttohavehelditpoor:but,sincemylordIsAntonyagain,IwillbeCleopatra。MARKANTONYWewillyetdowell。CLEOPATRACallallhisnoblecaptainstomylord。MARKANTONYDoso,we’llspeaktothem;andto—nightI’llforceThewinepeepthroughtheirscars。Comeon,myqueen;
There’ssapin’tyet。ThenexttimeIdofight,I’llmakedeathloveme;forIwillcontendEvenwithhispestilentscythe。
ExeuntallbutDOMITIUSENOBARBUSDOMITIUSENOBARBUSNowhe’lloutstarethelightning。Tobefurious,Istobefrightedoutoffear;andinthatmoodThedovewillpecktheestridge;andIseestill,Adiminutioninourcaptain’sbrainRestoreshisheart:whenvalourpreysonreason,Iteatsthesworditfightswith。IwillseekSomewaytoleavehim。
ExitACTIVSCENEI。BeforeAlexandria。OCTAVIUSCAESAR’scamp。EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,AGRIPPA,andMECAENAS,withhisArmy;
OCTAVIUSCAESARreadingaletterOCTAVIUSCAESARHecallsmeboy;andchides,ashehadpowerTobeatmeoutofEgypt;mymessengerHehathwhipp’dwithrods;daresmetopersonalcombat,CaesartoAntony:lettheoldruffianknowIhavemanyotherwaystodie;meantimeLaughathischallenge。MECAENASCaesarmustthink,Whenonesogreatbeginstorage,he’shuntedEventofalling。Givehimnobreath,butnowMakebootofhisdistraction:neverangerMadegoodguardforitself。OCTAVIUSCAESARLetourbestheadsKnow,thatto—morrowthelastofmanybattlesWemeantofight:withinourfilesthereare,OfthosethatservedMarkAntonybutlate,Enoughtofetchhimin。Seeitdone:
Andfeastthearmy;wehavestoretodo’t,Andtheyhaveearn’dthewaste。PoorAntony!
ExeuntSCENEII。Alexandria。CLEOPATRA’spalace。EnterMARKANTONY,CLEOPATRA,DOMITIUSENOBARBUS,CHARMIAN,IRAS,ALEXAS,withothersMARKANTONYHewillnotfightwithme,Domitius。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNo。MARKANTONYWhyshouldhenot?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHethinks,beingtwentytimesofbetterfortune,Heistwentymentoone。MARKANTONYTo—morrow,soldier,ByseaandlandI’llfight:orIwilllive,OrbathemydyinghonourinthebloodShallmakeitliveagain。Woo’tthoufightwell?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSI’llstrike,andcry’Takeall。’MARKANTONYWellsaid;comeon。
Callforthmyhouseholdservants:let’sto—nightBebounteousatourmeal。
EnterthreeorfourServitorsGivemethyhand,Thouhastbeenrightlyhonest;——sohastthou;——
Thou,——andthou,——andthou:——youhaveservedmewell,Andkingshavebeenyourfellows。CLEOPATRA[AsidetoDOMITIUSENOBARBUS]Whatmeansthis?DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[AsidetoCLEOPATRA]’TisoneofthoseoddtrickswhichsorrowshootsOutofthemind。MARKANTONYAndthouarthonesttoo。
IwishIcouldbemadesomanymen,Andallofyouclapp’duptogetherinAnAntony,thatImightdoyouserviceSogoodasyouhavedone。AllThegodsforbid!MARKANTONYWell,mygoodfellows,waitonmeto—night:
Scantnotmycups;andmakeasmuchofmeAswhenmineempirewasyourfellowtoo,Andsuffer’dmycommand。CLEOPATRA[AsidetoDOMITIUSENOBARBUS]Whatdoeshemean?DOMITIUSENOBARBUS[AsidetoCLEOPATRA]Tomakehisfollowersweep。MARKANTONYTendmeto—night;
Maybeitistheperiodofyourduty:
Haplyyoushallnotseememore;orif,Amangledshadow:perchanceto—morrowYou’llserveanothermaster。IlookonyouAsonethattakeshisleave。Minehonestfriends,Iturnyounotaway;but,likeamasterMarriedtoyourgoodservice,staytilldeath:
Tendmeto—nighttwohours,Iasknomore,Andthegodsyieldyoufor’t!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWhatmeanyou,sir,Togivethemthisdiscomfort?Look,theyweep;
AndI,anass,amonion—eyed:forshame,Transformusnottowomen。MARKANTONYHo,ho,ho!
Nowthewitchtakeme,ifImeantitthus!
Gracegrowwherethosedropsfall!
Myheartyfriends,Youtakemeintoodolorousasense;
ForIspaketoyouforyourcomfort;diddesireyouToburnthisnightwithtorches:know,myhearts,Ihopewellofto—morrow;andwillleadyouWhereratherI’llexpectvictoriouslifeThandeathandhonour。Let’stosupper,come,Anddrownconsideration。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Thesame。Beforethepalace。EntertwoSoldierstotheirguardFirstSoldierBrother,goodnight:to—morrowistheday。SecondSoldierItwilldetermineoneway:fareyouwell。
Heardyouofnothingstrangeaboutthestreets?FirstSoldierNothing。Whatnews?SecondSoldierBelike’tisbutarumour。Goodnighttoyou。FirstSoldierWell,sir,goodnight。
EntertwootherSoldiersSecondSoldierSoldiers,havecarefulwatch。ThirdSoldierAndyou。Goodnight,goodnight。
TheyplacethemselvesineverycornerofthestageFourthSoldierHerewe:andifto—morrowOurnavythrive,IhaveanabsolutehopeOurlandmenwillstandup。ThirdSoldier’Tisabravearmy,Andfullofpurpose。
MusicofthehautboysasunderthestageFourthSoldierPeace!whatnoise?FirstSoldierList,list!SecondSoldierHark!FirstSoldierMusici’theair。ThirdSoldierUndertheearth。FourthSoldierItsignswell,doesitnot?ThirdSoldierNo。FirstSoldierPeace,Isay!
Whatshouldthismean?SecondSoldier’TisthegodHercules,whomAntonyloved,Nowleaveshim。FirstSoldierWalk;let’sseeifotherwatchmenDohearwhatwedo?
TheyadvancetoanotherpostSecondSoldierHownow,masters!All[Speakingtogether]Hownow!
Hownow!doyouhearthis?FirstSoldierAy;is’tnotstrange?ThirdSoldierDoyouhear,masters?doyouhear?FirstSoldierFollowthenoisesofaraswehavequarter;
Let’sseehowitwillgiveoff。AllContent。’Tisstrange。
ExeuntSCENEIV。Thesame。Aroominthepalace。EnterMARKANTONYandCLEOPATRA,CHARMIAN,andothersattendingMARKANTONYEros!minearmour,Eros!CLEOPATRASleepalittle。MARKANTONYNo,mychuck。Eros,come;minearmour,Eros!
EnterEROSwitharmourComegoodfellow,putmineironon:
Iffortunebenotoursto—day,itisBecausewebraveher:come。CLEOPATRANay,I’llhelptoo。
What’sthisfor?MARKANTONYAh,letbe,letbe!thouartThearmourerofmyheart:false,false;this,this。CLEOPATRASooth,la,I’llhelp:thusitmustbe。MARKANTONYWell,well;
Weshallthrivenow。Seestthou,mygoodfellow?
Goputonthydefences。EROSBriefly,sir。CLEOPATRAIsnotthisbuckledwell?MARKANTONYRarely,rarely:
Hethatunbucklesthis,tillwedopleaseTodaff’tforourrepose,shallhearastorm。
Thoufumblest,Eros;andmyqueen’sasquireMoretightatthisthanthou:dispatch。Olove,Thatthoucouldstseemywarsto—day,andknew’stTheroyaloccupation!thoushouldstseeAworkmanin’t。
EnteranarmedSoldierGoodmorrowtothee;welcome:
Thoulook’stlikehimthatknowsawarlikecharge:
Tobusinessthatwelovewerisebetime,Andgoto’twithdelight。SoldierAthousand,sir,Earlythough’tbe,haveontheirrivetedtrim,Andattheportexpectyou。
Shout。TrumpetsflourishEnterCaptainsandSoldiersCaptainThemornisfair。Goodmorrow,general。AllGoodmorrow,general。MARKANTONY’Tiswellblown,lads:
Thismorning,likethespiritofayouthThatmeanstobeofnote,beginsbetimes。
So,so;come,givemethat:thisway;wellsaid。
Faretheewell,dame,whate’erbecomesofme:
Thisisasoldier’skiss:rebukeableKissesherAndworthyshamefulchequeitwere,tostandOnmoremechaniccompliment;I’llleavetheeNow,likeamanofsteel。Youthatwillfight,Followmeclose;I’llbringyouto’t。Adieu。
ExeuntMARKANTONY,EROS,Captains,andSoldiersCHARMIANPleaseyou,retiretoyourchamber。CLEOPATRALeadme。
Hegoesforthgallantly。ThatheandCaesarmightDeterminethisgreatwarinsinglefight!
ThenAntony,——butnow——Well,on。
ExeuntSCENEV。Alexandria。MARKANTONY’scamp。Trumpetssound。EnterMARKANTONYandEROS;aSoldiermeetingthemSoldierThegodsmakethisahappydaytoAntony!MARKANTONYWouldthouandthosethyscarshadonceprevail’dTomakemefightatland!SoldierHadstthoudoneso,Thekingsthathaverevolted,andthesoldierThathasthismorningleftthee,wouldhavestillFollow’dthyheels。MARKANTONYWho’sgonethismorning?SoldierWho!
Oneevernearthee:callforEnobarbus,Heshallnothearthee;orfromCaesar’scampSay’Iamnoneofthine。’MARKANTONYWhatsay’stthou?SoldierSir,HeiswithCaesar。EROSSir,hischestsandtreasureHehasnotwithhim。MARKANTONYIshegone?SoldierMostcertain。MARKANTONYGo,Eros,sendhistreasureafter;doit;
Detainnojot,Ichargethee:writetohim——
Iwillsubscribe——gentleadieusandgreetings;
SaythatIwishheneverfindmorecauseTochangeamaster。O,myfortuneshaveCorruptedhonestmen!Dispatch。——Enobarbus!
ExeuntSCENEVI。Alexandria。OCTAVIUSCAESAR’scamp。Flourish。EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,AGRIPPA,withDOMITIUS
ENOBARBUS,andothersOCTAVIUSCAESARGoforth,Agrippa,andbeginthefight:
OurwillisAntonybetookalive;
Makeitsoknown。AGRIPPACaesar,Ishall。
ExitOCTAVIUSCAESARThetimeofuniversalpeaceisnear:
Provethisaprosperousday,thethree—nook’dworldShallbeartheolivefreely。
EnteraMessengerMessengerAntonyIscomeintothefield。OCTAVIUSCAESARGochargeAgrippaPlantthosethathaverevoltedinthevan,ThatAntonymayseemtospendhisfuryUponhimself。
ExeuntallbutDOMITIUSENOBARBUSDOMITIUSENOBARBUSAlexasdidrevolt;andwenttoJewryonAffairsofAntony;theredidpersuadeGreatHerodtoinclinehimselftoCaesar,AndleavehismasterAntony:forthispainsCaesarhathhang’dhim。CanidiusandtherestThatfellawayhaveentertainment,butNohonourabletrust。Ihavedoneill;
OfwhichIdoaccusemyselfsosorely,ThatIwilljoynomore。
EnteraSoldierofCAESAR’sSoldierEnobarbus,AntonyHathaftertheesentallthytreasure,withHisbountyoverplus:themessengerCameonmyguard;andatthytentisnowUnloadingofhismules。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIgiveityou。SoldierMocknot,Enobarbus。
Itellyoutrue:bestyousafedthebringerOutofthehost;Imustattendmineoffice,Orwouldhavedone’tmyself。YouremperorContinuesstillaJove。
ExitDOMITIUSENOBARBUSIamalonethevillainoftheearth,AndfeelIamsomost。OAntony,Thoumineofbounty,howwouldstthouhavepaidMybetterservice,whenmyturpitudeThoudostsocrownwithgold!Thisblowsmyheart:
Ifswiftthoughtbreakitnot,aswiftermeanShalloutstrikethought:butthoughtwilldo’t,Ifeel。
Ifightagainstthee!No:IwillgoseekSomeditchwhereintodie;thefoul’stbestfitsMylatterpartoflife。
ExitSCENEVII。Fieldofbattlebetweenthecamps。Alarum。Drumsandtrumpets。EnterAGRIPPAandothersAGRIPPARetire,wehaveengagedourselvestoofar:
Caesarhimselfhaswork,andouroppressionExceedswhatweexpected。
ExeuntAlarums。EnterMARKANTONYandSCARUSwoundedSCARUSOmybraveemperor,thisisfoughtindeed!
Hadwedonesoatfirst,wehaddroventhemhomeWithcloutsabouttheirheads。MARKANTONYThoubleed’stapace。SCARUSIhadawoundherethatwaslikeaT,Butnow’tismadeanH。MARKANTONYTheydoretire。SCARUSWe’llbeat’emintobench—holes:IhaveyetRoomforsixscotchesmore。
EnterEROSEROSTheyarebeaten,sir,andouradvantageservesForafairvictory。SCARUSLetusscoretheirbacks,Andsnatch’emup,aswetakehares,behind:
’Tissporttomaularunner。MARKANTONYIwillrewardtheeOnceforthyspritelycomfort,andten—foldForthygoodvalour。Cometheeon。SCARUSI’llhaltafter。
ExeuntSCENEVIII。UnderthewallsofAlexandria。Alarum。EnterMARKANTONY,inamarch;SCARUS,withothersMARKANTONYWehavebeathimtohiscamp:runonebefore,Andletthequeenknowofourgests。To—morrow,Beforethesunshallsee’s,we’llspillthebloodThathasto—dayescaped。Ithankyouall;
Fordoughty—handedareyou,andhavefoughtNotasyouservedthecause,butas’thadbeenEachman’slikemine;youhaveshownallHectors。
Enterthecity,clipyourwives,yourfriends,Tellthemyourfeats;whilsttheywithjoyfultearsWashthecongealmentfromyourwounds,andkissThehonour’dgasheswhole。
ToSCARUS
GivemethyhandEnterCLEOPATRA,attendedTothisgreatfairyI’llcommendthyacts,Makeherthanksblessthee。