Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face, Tug him away: being whipp'd, Bring him again :-This Jack of Cæsar's shall Bear us an errand to him.— [Exeunt Attend. with Thyreus. You were half blasted ere I knew you :-Ha! Have 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, (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. O, is it come to this? Ant. I found you as a morsel, cold upon Dead Cæsar's trencher: nay, you were a fragment Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours, Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have Luxuriously pick'd out :-For I am sure, Ant. Cold-hearted toward me? Cleo. Ah, dear, if I be so, From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, Ant. Where hast thou been, my heart?-Dost thou hear, lady? If from the field I shall return once more : Though you can guess what temperance should be, And fight maliciously for when mine hours You know not what it is. Wherefore is this? Cleo. The horned herd! for I have savage cause; A halter'd neck, which does the hangman thank 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 Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry To follow Cæsar in his triumph, since Thou hast been whipp'd for following him : henceforth, The white hand of a lady fever thee, My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has Ant. Cleo. I must stay his time. Ant. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle eyes With one that ties his points? Cleo. Not know me yet? Were nicell 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 gaudy12 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 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 Attend. Eno. Now he'll out-stare the lightning. To be furious, Is, to be frighted out of fear and in that mood, ACT IV. [Exit. SCENE I-Cæsar's camp at Alexandria. Enter Cæsar, reading a letter; Agrippa, Mæcenas, and others. Cas. 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 personal combat, Cæsar to Antony: Let the old ruffian know, I have many other ways to die; mean time, |Laugh at his challenge. (9) Melting. (12) Feasting. Mac. Cæsar 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. Cæs. 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 be done; And feast the army: we have store to do't, And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony! [Exeunt. you You take me in too dolorous a sense: SCENE III.-The same. Before the palace. 1 Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day. 2 Sold. It will determine one way: fare you well. SCENE II-Alexandria. A room in the pal-Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? ace. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and others. Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius. Ant. Why should he not? 1 Sold. Nothing: What news? 2 Sold. Good night to you. 1 Sold. No. Belike, 'tis but a rumour: Well, sir, good night. Soldiers, Enter two other 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 3 Sold. And full of purpose. 4 Sold. 1 Sold. 3 Sold. 'Tis a brave army, [Music of hautboys under the stage. Peace, what noise? List, list! 2 Sold. Hark! 1 Sold. Music i'the air. Under the earth. And kings have been your fellows. Out of the mind. 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,2 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 yield3 you for't! Peace, I say. What should this mean. 2 Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd, Now leaves him. 1 Sold. Walk; let's see if other watchinen Do hear what we do. 2 Sold. Sold. [They advance to another post. How now, masters? How now? do you hear this? How now? [Several speaking together. 1 Sold. Ay; Is't not strange? 3 Sold. Do you hear, masters? do you hear? 1 Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter; Let's see how't will give off. Sold. [Several speaking.] Content: 'Tis strange. [Exeunt. SCENE IV.-The same. A room in the palace. Enter Antony, and Cleopatra; Charmian, and others, attending. Ant. Eros! mine armour, Eros! Sleep a little. Ant. No, my chuck.-Eros, come; mine armour, Eros! Enter Eros, with armour. Enter other Officers, and Soldiers. 2 Offi. The morn is fair.--Good morrow, general. All Good morrow, general. Ant. '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: rebukable, [Kisses her. 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, Officers, and Sold. Char. Please you, retire to your chamber? Cleo. Lead me: He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might Determine this great war in single fight! Then, Antony,-But now,-Well, on. [1 [Exeunt. SCENE V.-Antony's camp near Alexandria. Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros; a Soldier meeting them. Sold. The gods make this a happy day to Antony! Ant. 'Would, thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd To make me fight at land! Sold. Hadst thou done so, The kings that have revolted, and the soldier That has this morning left thee, would have still Follow'd thy heels. Ant. Sold. Who's gone this morning? Who? Is come into the field. Antony Cæs. Go, charge Agrippa Plant those that have revolted in the van, That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. [Exeunt Cæsar and his train. Eno. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry, On affairs of Antony; there did persuade Great Herod to incline himself to Cæsar, And leave his master Antony for this pains, Cæsar hath hang'd him. Canidius, and the rest have entertainment, but No honourable trust. Of which I do accuse myself so sorely, I have done ill; That I will joy no more. That fell away, Enter a Soldier of Cæsar's. Mock me not, Enobarbus. heart: If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean SCENE VII.-Field of battle between the camps. Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter Agrippa, and others. Agr. Retire, we have engag'd ourselves too far: Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression Exceeds what we expected. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter Antony and Scarus, wounded. Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed! Had we done so at first, we had driven them home With clouts about their heads. Ant. Thou bleed'st apace. Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T, But now 'tis made an H. Ant. (4) Riveted dress, armour. Room for six scotches1 more. Enter Eros. SCENE IX-Cæsar's camp. Sentinels on their post. Enter Enobarbus. 1 Sold. If we be not reliev'd within this hour, Eros. They are beaten, sir; and our advantage We must return to the court of guard: The night SCENE VIII.-Under the walls of Alexandria. Alarum. Enter Antony, marching; Scarus, and forces. Ant. We have beat him to his camp; Run one before, And let the queen know of our guests.-To-morrow, Enter Cleopatra, attended. To this great fairy4 I'll commend thy acts, Make her thanks bless thee.-O thou day o'the 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. Cleo. Lord of lords! O infinite virtue! com'st thou smiling from My nightingale, We have beat them to their beds. What, girl? though grey Do something mingle with our brown; yet have we Cleo. Ant. He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled To camp this host, we all would sup together; (2) Brave. [Exeunt. (3) Embrace. (1) Cuts. (4) Beauty united with power, was the popular characteristic of fairies. them. Armour of proof. As becomes the brave warriors that own Is shiny; and, they say, we shall embattle By the second hour i'the morn. 2 Sold. A shrewd one to us. Eno. This last day was O, bear me witness, night, Eno. O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, The poisonous damp of night disponges upon me; That life, a very rebel to my will, May hang no longer on me: Throw my heart 3 Sold. Awake, awake, sir; 2 Sold. 1 Sold. The hand of death Hark, the drums Demurely 10 wake the sleepers. To the court of guard; he is Is fully out. Go we to him. speak to us. Hear you, sir? hath raught him. [Drums afar off. Let us bear him note: our hour of [Exeunt with the body. Enter 3 Sold. Come on then; He may recover yet. SCENE X-Between the two camps. Scar. Enter Cæsar, and his forces, marching. Caes. But12 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. Re-enter Antony and Scarus. Ant. Yet they're not join'd: Where yonder pine I shall discover all: I'll bring thee word [Exit. Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight. Antony. Ant. The soul and body rivell not more in parting, 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 Enter Cleopatra. Ah, thou spell! Avaunt! Cleo. Why is my lord enrag'd against his love? Ant. Vanish; or I shall give thee thy deserving, And blemish Cæsar'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 ;6 and let Patient Octavia plough thy visage up Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'st me? A forked mountain, or blue promontory They are black vesper's pageants. Eros. Ay, my lord. Ant. That, which is now a horse, even with a thought, The rack 12 dislimns; and makes it indistinct, Eros. It does, my lord. queen, Even such a body: here I am Antony; Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us She has robb'd me of my sword. With her prepared nails. [Exit Cleo.] 'Tis well With thine entirely. thou'rt gone, If it be well to live: But better 'twere (1) Cleopatra first belonged to Julius Cæsar, then to Antony, and now, as Antony supposes, to|| Augustus. (2) Deadly piece of witchcraft. (3) Was the motion for. (4) Finish. (5) A cheating game, at present named pricg at the belt. (6) For the smallest piece of money, to clowns. money, Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace; She hath betray'd me, and shall die the death. Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once; And that she has discharg'd: What thou would'st 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 render'd life, Thy name so buried in her. |