And fend to darkness all that stop me. Come,
Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me
All my fad captains, fill our bowls; once more
Let's mock the midnight bell."

Cleo. It is my birth-day;

I had thought t' have held it poor: but fince my Lord Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

Ant. We will yet do well.

Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my Lord. Ant. Do fo, we'll fpeak to them, and to-night I'll force

The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my
Queen ;

There's fap in't yet. The next time I do fight,
I'll make death love me; for I will contend
Even with his peftilent fcythe.

[Exeunt. Eno. Now he'll out-ftare the lightning. To be furious,

Is to be frighted out of fear; and, in that mood,
The dove will peck the eftridge; and I fee ftill,
A diminution in our captain's brain

Reftores his heart. When valour preys on reason,
It eats the fword it fights with. I will feek
Some way to leave him.

[Exit.

ACT IV.

SCENE I.

Cæfar's Camp.

Enter Cæfar, Agrippa, and Mecenas, with their army. Cæfar reading a letter.

Cæfar.

HE calls me boy; and chides, as he had power

To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger

He hath whip'd with rods, dares me to perfonal combat,

Cæfar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know,
He hath many other ways to die: mean time,
Laugh at his challenge..

Mec. Cæfar muft think,

When one fo 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.
Caf. Let our best heads

Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles
We mean to fight. Within our files there are
Of thofe that ferv'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!
[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

The Palace in Alexandria.

Enter Antony and Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, with others.

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

Ant. Why fhould he not?

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better

He's twenty men to one.

Ant. To-morrow, foldier,

By fea and land I'll fight: or I will live,

Or bathe my dying honour in the blood

[fortune,

Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well? Eno. I'll ftrike, and cry, "take all."

Ant. Well faid. Come on.

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

Enter Servants.

Ee bounteous at our meal. Give me thy hand, Thou haft been rightly honeft; fo haft thou; And thou; and thou; and thou. You've ferved

And kings have been your fellows. [me well,

Cleo. What means this?

Take advantage of. Johnfon

Eno. afide.] 'Tis one of thofe odd tricks which

'Out of the mind.

Ant And thou art honeft too,

[forrow fhoots

I wish I could be made fo many men,
And all of you clap'd up together in
An Antony, that I might do you fervice
So good as you have done.

Omnes. The Gods forbid!

Ant. 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 fuffer'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 fhall not fee me more; or if,

A mangled fhadow. It may chance, to-morrow
You'll ferve another master. I look on you
As one that takes his leave. Mine honeft frientis,
I turn you not away; but, like a master
Married to your good fervice, ftay till death:
Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more,
And the gods fhield you for't?

Eno. What mean you, Sir,
To give them this difcomfort?

Look, they weep..

And I, an afs, am onion-ey'd. For fhame,
Transform us not to women.

Aut. 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 fenfe;

Ifpake t' you for your comfort, did defire 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 fupper, come,
And drown confideration.

VOL. IX.

[Exeunt.

2

SCENE

III.

A Court of Guard before the Palace.

Enter a company of Soldiers.

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.

to you.

1 Sold. Well, Sir, good night.

Good-night

[They meet with other Soldiers.

2 Sold. Soldiers, have careful watch.

1 Sold. And you. Good night, good night. [They place themselves on every corner of the stage. 2 Sold. Here we; and if to-morrow

Our navy thrive, I have an abfolute hope

Our landmen will ftand up.

1 Sold. 'Tis a brave army, and full of purpose. [Mufic of the hautboys is under the stage.

2 Sold. Peace, what noife?

1 Sold. Lift, lift!

2 Sold. Hark!

1 Sold. Mufic i' th' air.3 Sold. Under the earth.. It figns well, does it not? 2 Sold. No.

1 Sold Peace, I fay. What fhould this mean? 2 Sold. 'Tis the God Hercules, who loved Antony, Now leaves him.

I Sold. Walk, let's fee if other watchmen
Do hear what we do.

2 Sold. How now, mafters ?
Omnes. How now? how now?

1 Sold. Is't not strange?

[Speak together. do you hear this?

3 Sold. Do you hear, mafters ? do you hear?

1 Sold. Follow the noife fo far as we have quarter; Let's fee how 'twill give off.

Omnes. Content. 'Tis ftrange.

SCENE

[Exeunt.

IV.

Changes to Cleopatra's Palace.

Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with Charmian andi others.

Aut. Eros, mine armour, Eros.

Cleo. Sleep a little.

Ant. No, my chuck. Eros, come. Mine armour, Eros.

Enter Eros.

Come, my good fellow, put thine iron on..

If fortune be not ours to-day, it is

Because we brave her.

Come.

Cleo. Nay, I'll help too.

Ant. What's this for? Ah, let be, let be; thou art The armourer of my heart;

this;

-falle, falfe; this,

Cleo, Sooth-la, I'll help. Thus it must be.

[Cleopatra puts the armour on Antory..

Ant. Well, well, we fhall thrive now;

Seeft thou, my good fellow? Go, put on thy defences. . Eno. Briefly, Sir.

Cleo. Is not this buckled well?

Ant. Rarely, rarely:

He that unbuckles this, till we do please

To doff't for our repofe, fhall hear a storm.

Thou fumbleft, Eros; and my Queen's a fquire

More tight at this than thou.. Difpatch. O Love!! That thou couldft fee my wars to day, and knew'st The royal occupation; thou fhouldit fee

A workman in't.

Enter an armed Soldier.

Good-morrow to thee; welcome ;

Thou look'ft like him that knows a warlike charge::