The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare

The Pennsylvania State University’s Electronic Classics Series

Senior Faculty Editor: Jim Manis

The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra is a publication of the Pennsylvania State University.

The Pennsylvania State University is an equal opportunity university. The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare is a publication of the Pennsylvania State University. This Portable Document file is furnished free and without any charge of any kind. Any person using this document file, for any purpose, and in any way does so at his or her own risk. Neither the Pennsylvania State University nor Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, nor anyone associated with the Pennsylvania State University assumes any responsibility for the material contained within the document or for the file as an electronic transmission, in any way.

The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra by William Shakespeare, the Pennsylvania State University, Jim Manis, Faculty Editor, Hazleton, PA 18201-1291 is a Portable Document File produced as part of an ongoing student publication project to bring classical works of literature, in English, to free and easy access of those wishing to make use of them.

Cover design by Jim Manis; Art Work: John W. Waterhouse: Oil on canvas: "Cleopatra," exhibited in 1888.

Copyright © 1998 The Pennsylvania State University

The Pennsylvania State University is an equal opportunity University. ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA CANIDIUS: lieutenant-general to Antony.

(written about 1607) SILIUS: an officer in Ventidius’s army.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE EUPHRONIUS: an ambassador from Antony to Caesar. MARK ANTONY, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, M. AEMILIUS,. and LEPIDUS: triumvirs. ALEXAS MARDIAN: a Eunuch, SELEUCUS: attendants on SEXTUS POMPEIUS: (POMPEY) Cleopatra.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS DIOMEDES VENTIDIUS A Soothsayer. (Soothsayer:) EROS, SCARUS, DERCETAS: friends to Antony. A Clown. (Clown:)

DEMETRIUS, PHILO,: MECAENAS, AGRIPPA, CLEOPATRA: queen of Egypt. DOLABELLA,PROCULEIUS, THYREUS, GALLUS MENAS: friends to Caesar OCTAVIA: sister to Caesar and wife to Antony.

MENECRATES, VARRIUS: friends to Pompey. CHARMIAN, IRAS: attendants on Cleopatra. TAURUS: lieutenant-general to Caesar. Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Atten- dants. 3 (First Officer:) ACT I (Second Officer:) (Third Officer:) SCENE I: Alexandria. A room in CLEOPATRA’s (Messenger:) palace. (Second Messenger:) (First Servant:) [Enter DEMETRIUS and PHILO.] (Second Servant:) (Egyptian:) PHILO: Nay, but this dotage of our general’s (Guard:) O’erflows the measure: those his goodly eyes, (First Guard:) That o’er the files and musters of the war (Second Guard:) Have glow’d like plated Mars, now bend, now (Attendant:) turn, (First Attendant:) The office and devotion of their view (Second Attendant:) Upon a tawny front: his captain’s heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst SCENE: In several parts of the Roman empire. The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy’s lust.

[Flourish. Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, her Ladies, the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her.]

4 Act I, scene i

Look, where they come: CLEOPATRA: Nay, hear them, Antony: Take but good note, and you shall see in him. Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows The triple pillar of the world transform’d If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent Into a strumpet’s fool: behold and see. His powerful mandate to you, ‘Do this, or this; Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that; CLEOPATRA: If it be love indeed, tell me how Perform ‘t, or else we damn thee.’ much. MARK ANTONY: How, my love! MARK ANTONY: There’s beggary in the love that can be reckon’d. CLEOPATRA: Perchance! nay, and most like: You must not stay here longer, your dismission CLEOPATRA: I’ll set a bourn how far to be Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony. beloved. Where’s Fulvia’s process? Caesar’s I would say? both? MARK ANTONY: Then must thou needs find out Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt’s queen, new heaven, new earth. Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine Is Caesar’s homager: else so thy cheek pays [Enter an Attendant.] shame When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messen- Attendant: News, my good lord, from Rome. gers!

MARK ANTONY: Grates me: the sum. MARK ANTONY: Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch 5 Act I, scene i

Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space. MARK ANTONY: Fie, wrangling queen! Kingdoms are clay: our dungy earth alike Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life To weep; whose every passion fully strives Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! No messenger, but thine; and all alone [Embracing.] To-night we’ll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen; And such a twain can do’t, in which I bind, Last night you did desire it: speak not to us. On pain of punishment, the world to weet We stand up peerless. [Exeunt MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with their train.] CLEOPATRA: Excellent falsehood! Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her? DEMETRIUS: Is Caesar with Antonius prized so I’ll seem the fool I am not; Antony slight? Will be himself. PHILO: Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, MARK ANTONY: But stirr’d by Cleopatra. He comes too short of that great property Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, Which still should go with Antony. Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh: There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch DEMETRIUS: I am full sorry Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight? That he approves the common liar, who Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope CLEOPATRA: Hear the ambassadors. Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy! 6 Act I, scene ii

[Exeunt.] ALEXAS: Show him your hand.

SCENE II: The same. Another room. [Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.]

[Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Sooth- DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Bring in the banquet sayer.] quickly; wine enough Cleopatra’s health to drink.

CHARMIAN: Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any CHARMIAN: Good sir, give me good fortune. thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where’s the soothsayer that you praised so to the queen? Soothsayer: I make not, but foresee. O, that I knew this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns with garlands! CHARMIAN: Pray, then, foresee me one.

ALEXAS: Soothsayer! Soothsayer: You shall be yet far fairer than you are.

Soothsayer: Your will? CHARMIAN: He means in flesh.

CHARMIAN: Is this the man? Is’t you, sir, that know IRAS: No, you shall paint when you are old. things? CHARMIAN: Wrinkles forbid! Soothsayer: In nature’s infinite book of secrecy A little I can read. ALEXAS: Vex not his prescience; be attentive.

7 Act I, scene ii CHARMIAN: Hush! former fortune Than that which is to approach. Soothsayer: You shall be more beloving than beloved. CHARMIAN: Then belike my children shall have no names: prithee, how many boys and wenches must I CHARMIAN: I had rather heat my liver with drinking. have?

ALEXAS: Nay, hear him. Soothsayer: If every of your wishes had a womb. And fertile every wish, a million. CHARMIAN: Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and CHARMIAN: Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry me ALEXAS: You think none but your sheets are privy to with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my your wishes. mistress. CHARMIAN: Nay, come, tell Iras hers. Soothsayer: You shall outlive the lady whom you serve. ALEXAS: We’ll know all our fortunes.

CHARMIAN: O excellent! I love long life better than DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Mine, and most of our for- figs. tunes, to-night, shall be—drunk to bed.

Soothsayer: You have seen and proved a fairer IRAS: There’s a palm presages chastity, if nothing 8 Act I, scene ii else. CHARMIAN: Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas,—come, his fortune, his fortune! O, let him CHARMIAN: E’en as the o’erflowing Nilus marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I be- presageth famine. seech thee! and let her die too, and give him a worse! and let worst follow worse, till the worst of IRAS: Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay. all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuck- old! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou CHARMIAN: Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I be- prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee, seech thee! tell her but a worky-day fortune. IRAS: Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of Soothsayer: Your fortunes are alike. the people! for, as it is a heartbreaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sor- IRAS: But how, but how? give me particulars. row to behold a foul knave uncuckolded: there- fore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him Soothsayer: I have said. accordingly!

IRAS: Am I not an inch of fortune better than she? CHARMIAN: Amen.

CHARMIAN: Well, if you were but an inch of for- ALEXAS: Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to make tune better than I, where would you choose it? me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores, but they’ld do’t! IRAS: Not in my husband’s nose. 9 Act I, scene ii DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Hush! here comes Antony. ALEXAS: Here, at your service. My lord approaches.

CHARMIAN: Not he; the queen. CLEOPATRA: We will not look upon him: go with us.

[Enter CLEOPATRA.] [Exeunt.]

CLEOPATRA: Saw you my lord? [Enter MARK ANTONY with a Messenger and At- tendants.] DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: No, lady. Messenger: Fulvia thy wife first came into the CLEOPATRA: Was he not here? field.

CHARMIAN: No, madam. MARK ANTONY: Against my brother Lucius?

CLEOPATRA: He was disposed to mirth; but on Messenger: Ay: the sudden But soon that war had end, and the time’s state A Roman thought hath struck him. Made friends of them, joining their force ‘gainst Enobarbus! Caesar; Whose better issue in the war, from Italy, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Madam? Upon the first encounter, drave them.

CLEOPATRA: Seek him, and bring him hither. MARK ANTONY: Well, what worst? Where’s Alexas? 10 Act I, scene ii

Messenger: The nature of bad news infects the With such full license as both truth and malice teller. Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds, MARK ANTONY: When it concerns the fool or When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told us coward. On: Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile. Things that are past are done with me. ’Tis thus: Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, Messenger: At your noble pleasure. I hear him as he flatter’d. [Exit.] Messenger: Labienus— This is stiff news—hath, with his Parthian force, MARK ANTONY: From Sicyon, ho, the news! Extended Asia from Euphrates; Speak there! His conquering banner shook from Syria To Lydia and to Ionia; First Attendant: The man from Sicyon,—is there Whilst— such an one?

MARK ANTONY: Antony, thou wouldst say,— Second Attendant: He stays upon your will.

Messenger: O, my lord! MARK ANTONY: Let him appear. MARK ANTONY: Speak to me home, mince not These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, the general tongue: Or lose myself in dotage. Name Cleopatra as she is call’d in Rome; Rail thou in Fulvia’s phrase; and taunt my faults [Enter another Messenger.] 11 Act I, scene ii What are you? I must from this enchanting queen break off: Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know, Second Messenger: Fulvia thy wife is dead. My idleness doth hatch. How now! Enobarbus!

MARK ANTONY: Where died she? [Re-enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.]

Second Messenger: In Sicyon: DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: What’s your pleasure, Her length of sickness, with what else more sir? serious Importeth thee to know, this bears. MARK ANTONY: I must with haste from hence.

[Gives a letter.] DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Why, then, we kill all our women: we see how mortal an unkindness is MARK ANTONY: Forbear me. to them; if they suffer our departure, death’s the word. [Exit Second Messenger.] MARK ANTONY: I must be gone. There’s a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it: What our contempt doth often hurl from us, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Under a compelling oc- We wish it ours again; the present pleasure, casion, let women die; it were pity to cast them away By revolution lowering, does become for nothing; though, between them and a great cause, The opposite of itself: she’s good, being gone; they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catch- The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on. ing but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have 12 Act I, scene ii seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment: I MARK ANTONY: Fulvia is dead. do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Sir?

MARK ANTONY: She is cunning past man’s MARK ANTONY: Fulvia is dead. thought. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Fulvia! [Exit ALEXAS.] MARK ANTONY: Dead. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Alack, sir, no; her pas- sions are made of nothing but the finest part of DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Why, sir, give the gods pure love: we cannot call her winds and waters a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tem- to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man pests than almanacs can report: this cannot be cun- the tailors of the earth; comforting therein, that ning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as when old robes are worn out, there are members well as Jove. to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case to be MARK ANTONY: Would I had never seen her. lamented: this grief is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat: and indeed DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: O, sir, you had then left the tears live in an onion that should water this sor- unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to row. have been blest withal would have discredited your travel. MARK ANTONY: The business she hath roached 13 Act I, scene iii in the state Higher than both in blood and life, stands up Cannot endure my absence. For the main soldier: whose quality, going on, The sides o’ the world may danger: much is DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: And the business you breeding, have broached here cannot be without you; espe- Which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life, cially that of Cleopatra’s, which wholly depends And not a serpent’s poison. Say, our pleasure, on your abode. To such whose place is under us, requires Our quick remove from hence. MARK ANTONY: No more light answers. Let our officers DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I shall do’t. Have notice what we purpose. I shall break The cause of our expedience to the queen, [Exeunt.] And get her leave to part. For not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, SCENE III: The same. Another room. Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too Of many our contriving friends in Rome [Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius ALEXAS.] Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands The empire of the sea: our slippery people, CLEOPATRA: Where is he? Whose love is never link’d to the deserver Till his deserts are past, begin to throw CHARMIAN: I did not see him since. Pompey the Great and all his dignities Upon his son; who, high in name and power, CLEOPATRA: See where he is, who’s with him, 14 Act I, scene iii what he does: [Enter MARK ANTONY.] I did not send you: if you find him sad, Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report CLEOPATRA: I am sick and sullen. That I am sudden sick: quick, and return. MARK ANTONY: I am sorry to give breathing to [Exit ALEXAS.] my purpose,—

CHARMIAN: Madam, methinks, if you did love CLEOPATRA: Help me away, dear Charmian; I him dearly, shall fall: You do not hold the method to enforce It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature The like from him. Will not sustain it.

CLEOPATRA: What should I do, I do not? MARK ANTONY: Now, my dearest queen,— CHARMIAN: In each thing give him way, cross him nothing. CLEOPATRA: Pray you, stand further from me.

CLEOPATRA: Thou teachest like a fool; the way MARK ANTONY: What’s the matter? to lose him. CLEOPATRA: I know, by that same eye, there’s CHARMIAN: Tempt him not so too far; I wish, some good news. forbear: What says the married woman? You may go: In time we hate that which we often fear. Would she had never given you leave to come! But here comes Antony. Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here: 15 Act I, scene iii I have no power upon you; hers you are. Then was the time for words: no going then; Eternity was in our lips and eyes, MARK ANTONY: The gods best know,— Bliss in our brows’ bent; none our parts so poor, But was a race of heaven: they are so still, CLEOPATRA: O, never was there queen Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, So mightily betray’d! yet at the first Art turn’d the greatest liar. I saw the treasons planted. MARK ANTONY: How now, lady! MARK ANTONY: Cleopatra,— CLEOPATRA: I would I had thy inches; thou CLEOPATRA: Why should I think you can be shouldst know mine and true, There were a heart in Egypt. Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, MARK ANTONY: Hear me, queen: Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous mad- The strong necessity of time commands ness, Our services awhile; but my full heart To be entangled with those mouth-made vows Remains in use with you. Our Italy Which break themselves in swearing! Shines o’er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius Makes his approaches to the port of Rome: MARK ANTONY: Most sweet queen,— Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to CLEOPATRA: Nay, pray you, seek no color for strength, your going, Are newly grown to love: the condemn’d Pompey, But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying, Rich in his father’s honor, creeps apace, 16 Act I, scene iii Into the hearts of such as have not thrived prepared to know Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten; The purposes I bear; which are, or cease, And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge As you shall give the advice. By the fire By any desperate change: my more particular, That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence And that which most with you should safe my Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war going, As thou affect’st. Is Fulvia’s death. CLEOPATRA: Cut my lace, Charmian, come; CLEOPATRA: Though age from folly could not But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well, give me freedom, So Antony loves. It does from childishness: can Fulvia die? MARK ANTONY: My precious queen, forbear; MARK ANTONY: She’s dead, my queen: And give true evidence to his love, which stands Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read An honorable trial. The garboils she awaked; at the last, best: See when and where she died. CLEOPATRA: So Fulvia told me. I prithee, turn aside and weep for her, CLEOPATRA: O most false love! Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see, Of excellent dissembling; and let it look In Fulvia’s death, how mine received shall be. Life perfect honor.

MARK ANTONY: Quarrel no more, but be MARK ANTONY: You’ll heat my blood: no more. 17 Act I, scene iii CLEOPATRA: You can do better yet; but this is To bear such idleness so near the heart meetly. As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; Since my becomings kill me, when they do not MARK ANTONY: Now, by my sword,— Eye well to you: your honor calls you hence; Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly. CLEOPATRA: And target. Still he mends; And all the gods go with you! upon your sword But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian, Sit laurel victory! and smooth success How this Herculean Roman does become Be strew’d before your feet! The carriage of his chafe. MARK ANTONY: Let us go. MARK ANTONY: I’ll leave you, lady. Come; CLEOPATRA: Courteous lord, one word. Our separation so abides, and flies, Sir, you and I must part, but that’s not it: That thou, residing here, go’st yet with me, Sir, you and I have loved, but there’s not it; And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. That you know well: something it is I would, Away! O, my oblivion is a very Antony, And I am all forgotten. [Exeunt.]

MARK ANTONY: But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you For idleness itself.

CLEOPATRA: ’Tis sweating labor 18 SCENE IV: Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s house. Than what he chooses.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, reading a letter, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: You are too indulgent. Let LEPIDUS, and their Train.] us grant, it is not Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy; OCTAVIUS CAESAR: You may see, Lepidus, and To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit henceforth know, And keep the turn of tippling with a slave; It is not Caesar’s natural vice to hate To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet Our great competitor: from Alexandria With knaves that smell of sweat: say this This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes becomes him,— The lamps of night in revel; is not more man-like As his composure must be rare indeed Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy Whom these things cannot blemish,—yet must More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or Antony Vouchsafed to think he had partners: you shall No way excuse his soils, when we do bear find there So great weight in his lightness. If he fill’d A man who is the abstract of all faults His vacancy with his voluptuousness, That all men follow. Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones, Call on him for’t: but to confound such time, LEPIDUS: I must not think there are That drums him from his sport, and speaks as Evils enow to darken all his goodness: loud His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, As his own state and ours,—’tis to be chid More fiery by night’s blackness; hereditary, As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge, Rather than purchased; what he cannot change, Pawn their experience to their present pleasure, 19 Act I, scene iv And so rebel to judgment. To rot itself with motion.

[Enter a Messenger.] Messenger: Caesar, I bring thee word, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, LEPIDUS: Here’s more news. Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound With keels of every kind: many hot inroads Messenger: Thy biddings have been done; and They make in Italy; the borders maritime every hour, Lack blood to think on’t, and flush youth revolt: Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report No vessel can peep forth, but ’tis as soon How ’tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea; Taken as seen; for Pompey’s name strikes more And it appears he is beloved of those Than could his war resisted. That only have fear’d Caesar: to the ports The discontents repair, and men’s reports OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Antony, Give him much wrong’d. Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew’st OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I should have known no Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel less. Did famine follow; whom thou fought’st against, It hath been taught us from the primal state, Though daintily brought up, with patience more That he which is was wish’d until he were; Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink And the ebb’d man, ne’er loved till ne’er worth love, The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle Comes dear’d by being lack’d. This common body, Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, did deign Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; 20 Act I, scene v Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, LEPIDUS: Farewell, my lord: what you shall The barks of trees thou browsed’st; on the Alps know meantime It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir, Which some did die to look on: and all this— To let me be partaker. It wounds thine honor that I speak it now— Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Doubt not, sir; So much as lank’d not. I knew it for my bond.

LEPIDUS: ’Tis pity of him. [Exeunt.]

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Let his shames quickly SCENE V: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace. Drive him to Rome: ’tis time we twain Did show ourselves i’ the field; and to that end [Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and Assemble we immediate council: Pompey MARDIAN.] Thrives in our idleness. CLEOPATRA: Charmian! LEPIDUS: To-morrow, Caesar, I shall be furnish’d to inform you rightly CHARMIAN: Madam? Both what by sea and land I can be able To front this present time. CLEOPATRA: Ha, ha! Give me to drink mandragora. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Till which encounter, It is my business too. Farewell. CHARMIAN: Why, madam? 21 Act I, scene v CLEOPATRA: That I might sleep out this great MARDIAN: Not in deed, madam; for I can do gap of time nothing My Antony is away. But what indeed is honest to be done: Yet have I fierce affections, and think CHARMIAN: You think of him too much. What Venus did with Mars.

CLEOPATRA: O, ’tis treason! CLEOPATRA: O Charmian, Where think’st thou he is now? Stands he, or CHARMIAN: Madam, I trust, not so. sits he? CLEOPATRA: Thou, eunuch Mardian! Or does he walk? or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony! MARDIAN: What’s your highness’ pleasure? Do bravely, horse! for wot’st thou whom thou movest? CLEOPATRA: Not now to hear thee sing; I take The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm no pleasure And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now, In aught an eunuch has: ’tis well for thee, Or murmuring ‘Where’s my serpent of old Nile?’ That, being unseminar’d, thy freer thoughts For so he calls me: now I feed myself May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections? With most delicious poison. Think on me, That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black, MARDIAN: Yes, gracious madam. And wrinkled deep in time? Broad-fronted Caesar, CLEOPATRA: Indeed! When thou wast here above the ground, I was A morsel for a monarch: and great Pompey 22 Act I, scene v

Would stand and make his eyes grow in my This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, brow; To mend the petty present, I will piece There would he anchor his aspect and die Her opulent throne with kingdoms; all the east, With looking on his life. Say thou, shall call her mistress.’ So he nodded, And soberly did mount an arm-gaunt steed, [Enter ALEXAS, from OCTAVIUS CAESAR.] Who neigh’d so high, that what I would have spoke ALEXAS: Sovereign of Egypt, hail! Was beastly dumb’d by him.

CLEOPATRA: How much unlike art thou Mark CLEOPATRA: What, was he sad or merry? Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath ALEXAS: Like to the time o’ the year between the With his tinct gilded thee. extremes How goes it with my brave Mark Antony? Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.

ALEXAS: Last thing he did, dear queen, CLEOPATRA: O well-divided disposition! Note He kiss’d,—the last of many doubled kisses,— him, This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart. Note him good Charmian, ’tis the man; but note him: He was not sad, for he would shine on those CLEOPATRA: Mine ear must pluck it thence. That make their looks by his; he was not merry, Which seem’d to tell them his remembrance lay ALEXAS: ‘Good friend,’ quoth he, In Egypt with his joy; but between both: ‘Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry, 23 Act II, scene i The violence of either thee becomes, So does it no man else. Met’st thou my posts? CHARMIAN: By your most gracious pardon, I sing but after you. ALEXAS: Ay, madam, twenty several messengers: Why do you send so thick? CLEOPATRA: My salad days, When I was green in judgment: cold in blood, CLEOPATRA: Who’s born that day To say as I said then! But, come, away; When I forget to send to Antony, Get me ink and paper: Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian. He shall have every day a several greeting, Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, Or I’ll unpeople Egypt. Ever love Caesar so? [Exeunt.] CHARMIAN: O that brave Caesar! ACT II CLEOPATRA: Be choked with such another emphasis! SCENE I: Messina. POMPEY’s house. Say, the brave Antony. [Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in CHARMIAN: The valiant Caesar! warlike manner.]

CLEOPATRA: By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth, POMPEY: If the great gods be just, they shall assist If thou with Caesar paragon again The deeds of justest men. My man of men. 24 Act II, scene i MENECRATES: Know, worthy Pompey, Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry. That what they do delay, they not deny. POMPEY: Where have you this? ’tis false. POMPEY: Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays MENAS: From Silvius, sir. The thing we sue for. POMPEY: He dreams: I know they are in Rome MENECRATES: We, ignorant of ourselves, together, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, Deny us for our good; so find we profit Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip! By losing of our prayers. Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both! Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts, POMPEY: I shall do well: Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks The people love me, and the sea is mine; Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite; My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honor Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony Even till a Lethe’d dulness! In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where [Enter VARRIUS.] He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flatter’d; but he neither loves, How now, Varrius! Nor either cares for him. VARRIUS: This is most certain that I shall deliver: MENAS: Caesar and Lepidus Mark Antony is every hour in Rome 25 Act II, scene ii

Expected: since he went from Egypt ’tis For they have entertained cause enough A space for further travel. To draw their swords: but how the fear of us May cement their divisions and bind up POMPEY: I could have given less matter The petty difference, we yet not know. A better ear. Menas, I did not think Be’t as our gods will have’t! It only stands This amorous surfeiter would have donn’d his helm Our lives upon to use our strongest hands. For such a petty war: his soldiership Come, Menas. Is twice the other twain: but let us rear The higher our opinion, that our stirring [Exeunt.] Can from the lap of Egypt’s widow pluck The ne’er-lust-wearied Antony. SCENE II: Rome. The house of LEPIDUS.

MENAS: I cannot hope [Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and LEPIDUS.] Caesar and Antony shall well greet together: His wife that’s dead did trespasses to Caesar; LEPIDUS: Good Enobarbus, ’tis a worthy deed, His brother warr’d upon him; although, I think, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain Not moved by Antony. To soft and gentle speech.

POMPEY: I know not, Menas, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I shall entreat him How lesser enmities may give way to greater. To answer like himself: if Caesar move him, Were’t not that we stand up against them all, Let Antony look over Caesar’s head ‘Twere pregnant they should square between And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, themselves; Were I the wearer of Antonius’ beard, 26 Act II, scene ii I would not shave’t to-day. MARK ANTONY: If we compose well here, to LEPIDUS: ’Tis not a time Parthia: For private stomaching. Hark, Ventidius.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Every time OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I do not know, Serves for the matter that is then born in’t. Mecaenas; ask Agrippa.

LEPIDUS: But small to greater matters must give LEPIDUS: Noble friends, way. That which combined us was most great, and let not DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Not if the small come A leaner action rend us. What’s amiss, first. May it be gently heard: when we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit LEPIDUS: Your speech is passion: Murder in healing wounds: then, noble partners, But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes The rather, for I earnestly beseech, The noble Antony. Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curstness grow to the matter. [Enter MARK ANTONY and VENTIDIUS.] MARK ANTONY: ’Tis spoken well. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: And yonder, Caesar. Were we before our armies, and to fight. I should do thus. [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA.] [Flourish.] 27 Act II, scene ii OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Welcome to Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: No more than my residing here at Rome MARK ANTONY: Thank you. Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Sit. Might be my question.

MARK ANTONY: Sit, sir. MARK ANTONY: How intend you, practised?

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Nay, then. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: You may be pleased to catch MARK ANTONY: I learn, you take things ill which at mine intent are not so, By what did here befal me. Your wife and brother Or being, concern you not. Made wars upon me; and their contestation Was theme for you, you were the word of war. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I must be laugh’d at, If, or for nothing or a little, I MARK ANTONY: You do mistake your business; Should say myself offended, and with you my brother never Chiefly i’ the world; more laugh’d at, that I should Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it; Once name you derogately, when to sound your name And have my learning from some true reports, It not concern’d me. That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather MARK ANTONY: My being in Egypt, Caesar, Discredit my authority with yours; What was’t to you? And make the wars alike against my stomach, Having alike your cause? Of this my letters 28 Act II, scene ii Before did satisfy you. If you’ll patch a quarrel, MARK ANTONY: So much uncurbable, her As matter whole you have not to make it with, garboils, Caesar It must not be with this. Made out of her impatience, which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant OCTAVIUS CAESAR: You praise yourself Did you too much disquiet: for that you must By laying defects of judgment to me; but But say, I could not help it. You patch’d up your excuses. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I wrote to you MARK ANTONY: Not so, not so; When rioting in Alexandria; you I know you could not lack, I am certain on’t, Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Very necessity of this thought, that I, Did gibe my missive out of audience. Your partner in the cause ‘gainst which he fought, MARK ANTONY: Sir, Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars He fell upon me ere admitted: then Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want I would you had her spirit in such another: Of what I was i’ the morning: but next day The third o’ the world is yours; which with a I told him of myself; which was as much snaffle As to have ask’d him pardon. Let this fellow You may pace easy, but not such a wife. Be nothing of our strife; if we contend, Out of our question wipe him. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women! OCTAVIUS CAESAR: You have broken The article of your oath; which you shall never 29 Act II, scene ii Have tongue to charge me with. To stoop in such a case.

LEPIDUS: Soft, Caesar! LEPIDUS: ’Tis noble spoken.

MARK ANTONY: No, MECAENAS: If it might please you, to enforce no Lepidus, let him speak: further The honor is sacred which he talks on now, The griefs between ye: to forget them quite Supposing that I lack’d it. But, on, Caesar; Were to remember that the present need The article of my oath. Speaks to atone you.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: To lend me arms and aid LEPIDUS: Worthily spoken, Mecaenas. when I required them; The which you both denied. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Or, if you borrow one another’s love for the instant, you may, when you MARK ANTONY: Neglected, rather; hear no more words of Pompey, return it again: you And then when poison’d hours had bound me up shall have time to wrangle in when you have noth- From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may, ing else to do. I’ll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power MARK ANTONY: Thou art a soldier only: speak Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia, no more. To have me out of Egypt, made wars here; For which myself, the ignorant motive, do DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: That truth should be si- So far ask pardon as befits mine honor lent I had almost forgot. 30 Act II, scene ii MARK ANTONY: You wrong this presence; If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof therefore speak no more. Were well deserved of rashness.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Go to, then; your con- MARK ANTONY: I am not married, Caesar: let siderate stone. me hear Agrippa further speak. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I do not much dislike the matter, but AGRIPPA: To hold you in perpetual amity, The manner of his speech; for’t cannot be To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts We shall remain in friendship, our conditions With an unslipping knot, take Antony So differing in their acts. Yet if I knew Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge No worse a husband than the best of men; O’ the world I would pursue it. Whose virtue and whose general graces speak That which none else can utter. By this marriage, AGRIPPA: Give me leave, Caesar,— All little jealousies, which now seem great, And all great fears, which now import their OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Speak, Agrippa. dangers, Would then be nothing: truths would be tales, AGRIPPA: Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side, Where now half tales be truths: her love to both Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony Would, each to other and all loves to both, Is now a widower. Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke; For ’tis a studied, not a present thought, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Say not so, Agrippa: By duty ruminated. 31 Act II, scene ii MARK ANTONY: Will Caesar speak? To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again! OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Not till he hears how Antony is touch’d LEPIDUS: Happily, amen! With what is spoke already. MARK ANTONY: I did not think to draw my sword MARK ANTONY: What power is in Agrippa, ‘gainst Pompey; If I would say, ‘Agrippa, be it so,’ For he hath laid strange courtesies and great To make this good? Of late upon me: I must thank him only, Lest my remembrance suffer ill report; OCTAVIUS CAESAR: The power of Caesar, and At heel of that, defy him. His power unto Octavia. LEPIDUS: Time calls upon’s: MARK ANTONY: May I never Of us must Pompey presently be sought, To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, Or else he seeks out us. Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand: Further this act of grace: and from this hour MARK ANTONY: Where lies he? The heart of brothers govern in our loves And sway our great designs! OCTAVIUS CAESAR: About the mount Misenum.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: There is my hand. MARK ANTONY: What is his strength by land? A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother Did ever love so dearly: let her live OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Great and increasing: but 32 Act II, scene ii by sea DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Half the heart of Caesar, He is an absolute master. worthy Mecaenas! My honorable friend, Agrippa!

MARK ANTONY: So is the fame. AGRIPPA: Good Enobarbus! Would we had spoke together! Haste we for it: Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we MECAENAS: We have cause to be glad that mat- The business we have talk’d of. ters are so well digested. You stayed well by ‘t in Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: With most gladness: And do invite you to my sister’s view, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Ay, sir; we did sleep day Whither straight I’ll lead you. out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking. MARK ANTONY: Let us, Lepidus, Not lack your company. MECAENAS: Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a breakfast, and but twelve persons there; is this LEPIDUS: Noble Antony, true? Not sickness should detain me. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: This was but as a fly by an [Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK eagle: we had much more monstrous matter of feast, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS.] which worthily deserved noting.

MECAENAS: Welcome from Egypt, sir. MECAENAS: She’s a most triumphant lady, if re- port be square to her. 33 Act II, scene ii DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: When she first met Mark And what they undid did. Antony, she pursed up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus. AGRIPPA: O, rare for Antony!

AGRIPPA: There she appeared indeed; or my re- DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Her gentlewomen, like porter devised well for her. the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i’ the eyes, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I will tell you. And made their bends adornings: at the helm The barge she sat in, like a burnish’d throne, A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle Burn’d on the water: the poop was beaten gold; Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands, Purple the sails, and so perfumed that That yarely frame the office. From the barge The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were A strange invisible perfume hits the sense silver, Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made Her people out upon her; and Antony, The water which they beat to follow faster, Enthroned i’ the market-place, did sit alone, As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy, It beggar’d all description: she did lie Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, In her pavilion—cloth-of-gold of tissue— And made a gap in nature. O’er-picturing that Venus where we see The fancy outwork nature: on each side her AGRIPPA: Rare Egyptian! Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, With divers-color’d fans, whose wind did seem DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Upon her landing, To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, Antony sent to her, 34 Act II, scene iii Invited her to supper: she replied, Her infinite variety: other women cloy It should be better he became her guest; The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry Which she entreated: our courteous Antony, Where most she satisfies; for vilest things Whom ne’er the word of ‘No’ woman heard Become themselves in her: that the holy priests speak, Bless her when she is riggish. Being barber’d ten times o’er, goes to the feast, MECAENAS: If beauty, wisdom, modesty, can settle And for his ordinary pays his heart The heart of Antony, Octavia is For what his eyes eat only. A blessed lottery to him.

AGRIPPA: Royal wench! AGRIPPA: Let us go. She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed: Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest He plough’d her, and she cropp’d. Whilst you abide here.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I saw her once DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Humbly, sir, I thank you. Hop forty paces through the public street; And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted, [Exeunt.] That she did make defect perfection, And, breathless, power breathe forth. SCENE III: The same. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s house. MECAENAS: Now Antony must leave her utterly. [Enter MARK ANTONY, OCTAVIUS CAESAR, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Never; he will not: OCTAVIA between them, and Attendants.] Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 35 Act II, scene iii MARK ANTONY: The world and my great office will sometimes Soothsayer: Would I had never come from Divide me from your bosom. thence, nor you Thither! OCTAVIA: All which time MARK ANTONY: If you can, your reason? Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you. Soothsayer: I see it in My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet MARK ANTONY: Good night, sir. My Octavia, Hie you to Egypt again. Read not my blemishes in the world’s report: I have not kept my square; but that to come MARK ANTONY: Say to me, Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar’s or mine? dear lady. Good night, sir. Soothsayer: Caesar’s. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side: OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Good night. Thy demon, that’s thy spirit which keeps thee, is Noble, courageous high, unmatchable, [Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and OCTAVIA.] Where Caesar’s is not; but, near him, thy angel Becomes a fear, as being o’erpower’d: therefore [Enter Soothsayer.] Make space enough between you.

MARK ANTONY: Now, sirrah; you do wish MARK ANTONY: Speak this no more. yourself in Egypt? 36 Act II, scene iv Soothsayer: To none but thee; no more, but [Enter VENTIDIUS.] when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game, O, come, Ventidius, Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck, You must to Parthia: your commission’s ready; He beats thee ‘gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens, Follow me, and receive’t. When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; [Exeunt.] But, he away, ’tis noble.

MARK ANTONY: Get thee gone: SCENE IV: The same. A street. Say to Ventidius I would speak with him: [Enter LEPIDUS, MECAENAS, and AGRIPPA.] [Exit Soothsayer.] LEPIDUS: Trouble yourselves no further: pray He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap, you, hasten He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him; Your generals after. And in our sports my better cunning faints Under his chance: if we draw lots, he speeds; AGRIPPA: Sir, Mark Antony His cocks do win the battle still of mine, Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow. When it is all to nought; and his quails ever Beat mine, inhoop’d, at odds. I will to Egypt: LEPIDUS: Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress, And though I make this marriage for my peace, Which will become you both, farewell. I’ the east my pleasure lies. 37 Act II, scene v MECAENAS: We shall, Attendants: The music, ho! As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount Before you, Lepidus. [Enter MARDIAN.] LEPIDUS: Your way is shorter; CLEOPATRA: Let it alone; let’s to billiards: My purposes do draw me much about: come, Charmian. You’ll win two days upon me. CHARMIAN: My arm is sore; best play with Mardian. MECAENAS, AGRIPPA,and LEPIDUS: Sir, good success! Farewell. CLEOPATRA: As well a woman with an eunuch play’d [Exeunt.] As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?

MARDIAN: As well as I can, madam. SCENE V: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace. CLEOPATRA: And when good will is show’d, [Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and though’t come too short, ALEXAS.] The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now: Give me mine angle; we’ll to the river: there, CLEOPATRA: Give me some music; music, My music playing far off, I will betray moody food Tawny-finn’d fishes; my bended hook shall pierce Of us that trade in love. Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up, I’ll think them every one an Antony, 38 Act II, scene v And say ‘Ah, ha! you’re caught.’ Thou kill’st thy mistress: but well and free, If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here CHARMIAN: ’Twas merry when My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings You wager’d on your angling; when your diver Have lipp’d, and trembled kissing. Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he With fervency drew up. Messenger: First, madam, he is well.

CLEOPATRA: That time,—O times!— CLEOPATRA: Why, there’s more gold. I laugh’d him out of patience; and that night But, sirrah, mark, we use I laugh’d him into patience; and next morn, To say the dead are well: bring it to that, Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed; The gold I give thee will I melt and pour Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst Down thy ill-uttering throat. I wore his sword Philippan. Messenger: Good madam, hear me. [Enter a Messenger.] CLEOPATRA: Well, go to, I will; O, from Italy But there’s no goodness in thy face: if Antony Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, Be free and healthful,—so tart a favor That long time have been barren. To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown’d with snakes, Messenger: Madam, madam,— Not like a formal man.

CLEOPATRA: Antonius dead!—If thou say so, villain, Messenger: Will’t please you hear me? 39 Act II, scene v CLEOPATRA: I have a mind to strike thee ere The good precedence; fie upon ‘But yet’! thou speak’st: ‘But yet’ is as a gaoler to bring forth Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well, Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, I’ll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail The good and bad together: he’s friends with Rich pearls upon thee. Caesar: In state of health thou say’st; and thou say’st free. Messenger: Madam, he’s well. Messenger: Free, madam! no; I made no such CLEOPATRA: Well said. report: He’s bound unto Octavia. Messenger: And friends with Caesar. CLEOPATRA: For what good turn? CLEOPATRA: Thou’rt an honest man. Messenger: For the best turn i’ the bed. Messenger: Caesar and he are greater friends than ever. CLEOPATRA: I am pale, Charmian.

CLEOPATRA: Make thee a fortune from me. Messenger: Madam, he’s married to Octavia.

Messenger: But yet, madam,— CLEOPATRA: The most infectious pestilence upon thee! CLEOPATRA: I do not like ‘But yet,’ it does allay 40 Act II, scene v [Strikes him down.] And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg. Messenger: Good madam, patience. Messenger: He’s married, madam.

CLEOPATRA: What say you? Hence, CLEOPATRA: Rogue, thou hast lived too long.

[Strikes him again.] [Draws a knife.]

Horrible villain! or I’ll spurn thine eyes Messenger: Nay, then I’ll run. Like balls before me; I’ll unhair thy head: What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.

[She hales him up and down.] [Exit.]

Thou shalt be whipp’d with wire, and stew’d in brine, CHARMIAN: Good madam, keep yourself within Smarting in lingering pickle. yourself: The man is innocent. Messenger: Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match. CLEOPATRA: Some innocents ‘scape not the thunderbolt. CLEOPATRA: Say ’tis not so, a province I will Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures give thee, Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again: And make thy fortunes proud: the blow thou hadst Though I am mad, I will not bite him: call. Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage; 41 Act II, scene v CHARMIAN: He is afeard to come. Messenger: He’s married, madam. CLEOPATRA: The gods confound thee! dost CLEOPATRA: I will not hurt him. thou hold there still?

[Exit CHARMIAN.] Messenger: Should I lie, madam?

These hands do lack nobility, that they strike CLEOPATRA: O, I would thou didst, A meaner than myself; since I myself So half my Egypt were submerged and made Have given myself the cause. A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence: Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me [Re-enter CHARMIAN and Messenger.] Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?

Come hither, sir. Messenger: I crave your highness’ pardon. Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news: give to a gracious message. CLEOPATRA: He is married? An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell Themselves when they be felt. Messenger: Take no offence that I would not offend you: Messenger: I have done my duty. To punish me for what you make me do. Seems much unequal: he’s married to Octavia. CLEOPATRA: Is he married? I cannot hate thee worser than I do, CLEOPATRA: O, that his fault should make a If thou again say ‘Yes.’ knave of thee, 42 Act II, scene vi That art not what thou’rt sure of! Get thee hence: [Exit ALEXAS.] The merchandise which thou hast brought from Let him for ever go:—let him not—Charmian, Rome Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand, The other way’s a Mars. Bid you Alexas And be undone by ‘em! [To MARDIAN.] [Exit Messenger.] Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, CHARMIAN: Good your highness, patience. But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.

CLEOPATRA: In praising Antony, I have [Exeunt.] dispraised Caesar.

CHARMIAN: Many times, madam. SCENE VI: Near Misenum.

CLEOPATRA: I am paid for’t now. [Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one Lead me from hence: door, with drum and trumpet: at another, I faint: O Iras, Charmian! ’tis no matter. OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, MECAENAS, with Report the feature of Octavia, her years, Soldiers marching.] Her inclination, let him not leave out The color of her hair: bring me word quickly. POMPEY: Your hostages I have, so have you mine; And we shall talk before we fight. 43 Act II, scene vi OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Most meet To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome That first we come to words; and therefore have we Cast on my noble father. Our written purposes before us sent; Which, if thou hast consider’d, let us know OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Take your time. If ‘twill tie up thy discontented sword, And carry back to Sicily much tall youth MARK ANTONY: Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, That else must perish here. with thy sails; We’ll speak with thee at sea: at land, thou know’st POMPEY: To you all three, How much we do o’er-count thee. The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the gods, I do not know POMPEY: At land, indeed, Wherefore my father should revengers want, Thou dost o’er-count me of my father’s house: Having a son and friends; since Julius Caesar, But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, Remain in’t as thou mayst. There saw you laboring for him. What was’t That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what LEPIDUS: Be pleased to tell us— Made the all-honor’d, honest Roman, Brutus, For this is from the present—how you take With the arm’d rest, courtiers and beauteous The offers we have sent you. freedom, To drench the Capitol; but that they would OCTAVIUS CAESAR: There’s the point. Have one man but a man? And that is it Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen MARK ANTONY: Which do not be entreated to, The anger’d ocean foams; with which I meant but weigh 44 Act II, scene vi What it is worth embraced. MARK ANTONY: I have heard it, Pompey; And am well studied for a liberal thanks OCTAVIUS CAESAR: And what may follow, Which I do owe you. To try a larger fortune. POMPEY: Let me have your hand: POMPEY: You have made me offer I did not think, sir, to have met you here. Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send MARK ANTONY: The beds i’ the east are soft; Measures of wheat to Rome; this ‘greed upon and thanks to you, To part with unhack’d edges, and bear back That call’d me timelier than my purpose hither; Our targes undinted. For I have gain’d by ‘t.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, and OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Since I saw you last, LEPIDUS: That’s our offer. There is a change upon you.

POMPEY: Know, then, POMPEY: Well, I know not I came before you here a man prepared What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; To take this offer: but Mark Antony But in my bosom shall she never come, Put me to some impatience: though I lose To make my heart her vassal. The praise of it by telling, you must know, When Caesar and your brother were at blows, LEPIDUS: Well met here. Your mother came to Sicily and did find Her welcome friendly. POMPEY: I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are 45 Act II, scene vi agreed: POMPEY: Then so much have I heard: I crave our composition may be written, And I have heard, Apollodorus carried— And seal’d between us. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: No more of that: he OCTAVIUS CAESAR: That’s the next to do. did so.

POMPEY: We’ll feast each other ere we part; POMPEY: What, I pray you? and let’s Draw lots who shall begin. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress. MARK ANTONY: That will I, Pompey. POMPEY: I know thee now: how farest thou, soldier? POMPEY: No, Antony, take the lot: but, first Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Well; Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar And well am like to do; for, I perceive, Grew fat with feasting there. Four feasts are toward.

MARK ANTONY: You have heard much. POMPEY: Let me shake thy hand; I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, POMPEY: I have fair meanings, sir. When I have envied thy behavior.

MARK ANTONY: And fair words to them. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Sir, I never loved you much; but I ha’ praised ye, 46 Act II, scene vi When you have well deserved ten times as much water. As I have said you did. MENAS: And you by land. POMPEY: Enjoy thy plainness, It nothing ill becomes thee. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I will praise any man Aboard my galley I invite you all: that will praise me; though it cannot be denied what Will you lead, lords? I have done by land.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, and MENAS: Nor what I have done by water. LEPIDUS: Show us the way, sir. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Yes, something you can POMPEY: Come. deny for your own safety: you have been a great thief by sea. [Exeunt all but MENAS and ENOBARBUS.] MENAS: And you by land. MENAS: [Aside] Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this treaty.—You and I have known, sir. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: There I deny my land service. But give me your hand, Menas: if our eyes DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: At sea, I think. had authority, here they might take two thieves kiss- ing. MENAS: We have, sir. MENAS: All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: You have done well by hands are. 47 Act II, scene vi DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: But there is never a fair Marcus Antonius. woman has a true face. MENAS: Pray ye, sir? MENAS: No slander; they steal hearts. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: ’Tis true. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: We came hither to fight with you. MENAS: Then is Caesar and he for ever knit to- gether. MENAS: For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: If I were bound to di- fortune. vine of this unity, I would not prophesy so.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: If he do, sure, he cannot MENAS: I think the policy of that purpose made weep’t back again. more in the marriage than the love of the parties.

MENAS: You’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I think so too. But you Antony here: pray you, is he married to Cleopatra? shall find, the band that seems to tie their friend- ship together will be the very strangler of their DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Caesar’s sister is called amity: Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conver- Octavia. sation.

MENAS: True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Marcellus. MENAS: Who would not have his wife so? DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: But she is now the wife of 48 Act II, scene vii DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Not he that himself is not a banquet.] so; which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again: then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up First Servant: Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their in Caesar; and, as I said before, that which plants are ill-rooted already: the least wind i’ the is the strength of their amity shall prove the world will blow them down. immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is: Second Servant: Lepidus is high-colored. he married but his occasion here. First Servant: They have made him drink alms- MENAS: And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you drink. aboard? I have a health for you. Second Servant: As they pinch one another by the DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I shall take it, sir: we have disposition, he cries out ‘No more;’ reconciles them to used our throats in Egypt. his entreaty, and himself to the drink.

MENAS: Come, let’s away. First Servant: But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion. [Exeunt.] Second Servant: Why, this is to have a name in great men’s fellowship: I had as lief have a reed that SCENE VII: On board POMPEY’s galley, off Misenum. will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

[Music plays. Enter two or three Servants with First Servant: To be called into a huge sphere, and 49 Act II, scene vii not to be seen to move in’t, are the holes where eyes MARK ANTONY: They are so. should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. POMPEY: Sit,—and some wine! A health to [A sennet sounded. Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, Lepidus! MARK ANTONY, LEPIDUS, POMPEY, AGRIPPA, MECAENAS, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, MENAS, LEPIDUS: I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll with other captains.] ne’er out.

MARK ANTONY: [To OCTAVIUS CAESAR] Thus DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Not till you have slept; do they, sir: they take the flow o’ the Nile I fear me you’ll be in till then. By certain scales i’ the pyramid; they know, By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth LEPIDUS: Nay, certainly, I have heard the Or foison follow: the higher Nilus swells, Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things; with- The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman out contradiction, I have heard that. Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest. MENAS: [Aside to POMPEY] Pompey, a word.

LEPIDUS: You’ve strange serpents there. POMPEY: [Aside to MENAS] Say in mine ear: what is’t? MARK ANTONY: Ay, Lepidus. MENAS: [Aside to POMPEY] Forsake thy seat, I LEPIDUS: Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your do beseech thee, captain, mud by the operation of your sun: so is your crocodile. And hear me speak a word. 50 Act II, scene vii POMPEY: [Aside to MENAS] Forbear me till MARK ANTONY: With the health that Pompey gives anon. him, else he is a very epicure. This wine for Lepidus! POMPEY: [Aside to MENAS] Go hang, sir, hang! LEPIDUS: What manner o’ thing is your crocodile? Tell me of that? away! Do as I bid you. Where’s this cup I call’d for? MARK ANTONY: It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth: it is just so high as it is, MENAS: [Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of and moves with its own organs: it lives by that which merit thou wilt hear me, nourisheth it; and the elements once out of it, it trans- Rise from thy stool. migrates. POMPEY: [Aside to MENAS] I think thou’rt mad. LEPIDUS: What color is it of? The matter?

MARK ANTONY: Of it own color too. Hath so betray’d thine act: being done un known, LEPIDUS: ’Tis a strange serpent. I should have found it afterwards well done; But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink. MARK ANTONY: ’Tis so. And the tears of it are wet. MENAS: [Aside] For this, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Will this description satisfy I’ll never follow thy pall’d fortunes more. him? Who seeks, and will not take when once ’tis offer’d, 51 Act II, scene vii

Shall never find it more. MENAS: The third part, then, is drunk: would it were all, POMPEY: This health to Lepidus! That it might go on wheels!

MARK ANTONY: Bear him ashore. I’ll pledge it DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Drink thou; increase the for him, Pompey. reels.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Here’s to thee, Menas! MENAS: Come.

MENAS: Enobarbus, welcome! POMPEY: This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.

POMPEY: Fill till the cup be hid. MARK ANTONY: It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho? DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: There’s a strong Here is to Caesar! fellow, Menas. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I could well forbear’t. [Pointing to the Attendant who carries off It’s monstrous labor, when I wash my brain, LEPIDUS.] And it grows fouler.

MENAS: Why? MARK ANTONY: Be a child o’ the time.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: A’ bears the third part OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Possess it, I’ll make answer: of the world, man; see’st not? But I had rather fast from all four days 52 Act II, scene vii

[Rises, and walks aside.] Will give thee all the world.

MENAS: I have ever held my cap off to thy POMPEY: Hast thou drunk well?

MENAS: No, Pompey, I have kept me from the POMPEY: Thou hast served me with much faith. cup. Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove: Be jolly, lords. Whate’er the ocean pales, or sky inclips, Is thine, if thou wilt ha’t. MARK ANTONY: These quick-sands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink. POMPEY: Show me which way.

MENAS: Wilt thou be lord of all the world? MENAS: These three world-sharers, these competitors, POMPEY: What say’st thou? Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable; And, when we are put off, fall to their throats: MENAS: Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? All there is thine.

POMPEY: Ah, this thou shoudst have done, POMPEY: How should that be? And not have spoke on’t. In me ‘tis villainy; In thee’t had bin good service. Thou must know MENAS: But entertain it, ‘Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor; And, though thou think me poor, I am the man Mine honor it. Repent that ere thy tongue 53 Act II, scene vii

Than drink so much in one. them hand in hand.]

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Ha, my brave emperor! THE SONG.

[To MARK ANTONY.] Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne! Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals, In thy fats our cares be drown’d, And celebrate our drink? With thy grapes our hairs be crown’d: Cup us, till the world go round, POMPEY: Let’s ha’t, good soldier. Cup us, till the world go round!

MARK ANTONY: Come, let’s all take hands, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: What would you more? Till that the conquering wine hath steep’d our Pompey, good night. Good brother, sense Let me request you off: our graver business In soft and delicate Lethe. Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let’s part; You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: All take hands. Enobarb Make battery to our ears with the loud music: Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue The while I’ll place you: then the boy shall sing; Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath The holding every man shall bear as loud almost As his strong sides can volley. Antick’d us all. What needs more words? Good night. [Music plays. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS places Good Antony, your hand. 54 Act III, scene i

POMPEY: I’ll try you on the shore. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Hoo! says a’. There’s my cap. MARK ANTONY: And shall, sir; give’s your hand. MENAS: Hoa! Noble captain, come. POMPEY: O Antony, You have my father’s house,—But, what? we are [Exeunt.] friends. Come, down into the boat. ACT III DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Take heed you fall not. SCENE I: A plain in Syria. [Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and MENAS.] [Enter VENTIDIUS as it were in triumph, with SILIUS,and other Romans, Officers, and Soldiers; Menas, I’ll not on shore. the dead body of PACORUS borne before him.]

MENAS: No, to my cabin. VENTIDIUS: Now, darting Parthia, art thou These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what! struck; and now Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death To these great fellows: sound and be hang’d, Make me revenger. Bear the king’s son’s body sound out! Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes, Pays this for Marcus Crassus. [Sound a flourish, with drums.] 55 Act III, scene i

SILIUS: Noble Ventidius, But ’twould offend him; and in his offence Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm, Should my performance perish. The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media, Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither SILIUS: Thou hast, Ventidius, that The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony Without the which a soldier, and his sword, Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Put garlands on thy head. Antony! VENTIDIUS: O Silius, Silius, VENTIDIUS: I’ll humbly signify what in his name, I have done enough; a lower place, note well, That magical word of war, we have effected; May make too great an act: for learn this, Silius; How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks, Better to leave undone, than by our deed The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia Acquire too high a fame when him we serve’s We have jaded out o’ the field. away. Caesar and Antony have ever won SILIUS: Where is he now? More in their officer than person: Sossius, One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant, VENTIDIUS: He purposeth to Athens: whither, For quick accumulation of renown, with what haste Which he achieved by the minute, lost his favor. The weight we must convey with’s will permit, Who does i’ the wars more than his captain can We shall appear before him. On there; pass Becomes his captain’s captain: and ambition, along! The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss, Than gain which darkens him. [Exeunt.] I could do more to do Antonius good, 56 Act III, scene ii

SCENE II: Rome. An ante-chamber in OCTAVIUS DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Caesar? Why, he’s CAESAR’s house. the Jupiter of men.

[Enter AGRIPPA at one door, DOMITIUS AGRIPPA: What’s Antony? The god of Jupiter. ENOBARBUS at another.] DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Spake you of Caesar? AGRIPPA: What, are the brothers parted? How! the non-pareil!

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: They have dispatch’d AGRIPPA: O Antony! O thou Arabian bird! with Pompey, he is gone; The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Would you praise To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus, Caesar, say ‘Caesar:’ go no further. Since Pompey’s feast, as Menas says, is troubled With the green sickness. AGRIPPA: Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises. AGRIPPA: ’Tis a noble Lepidus. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: But he loves Caesar DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: A very fine one: O, best; yet he loves Antony: how he loves Caesar! Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot AGRIPPA: Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho! Antony! His love to Antony. But as for Caesar, Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder. 57 Act III, scene ii AGRIPPA: Both he loves. Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony, Let not the piece of virtue, which is set DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: They are his shards, Betwixt us as the cement of our love, and he their beetle. To keep it builded, be the ram to batter The fortress of it; for better might we [Trumpets within.] Have loved without this mean, if on both parts This be not cherish’d. So; This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa. MARK ANTONY: Make me not offended In your distrust. AGRIPPA: Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I have said.

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, MARK ANTONY, MARK ANTONY: You shall not find, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA.] Though you be therein curious, the least cause For what you seem to fear: so, the gods keep you, MARK ANTONY: No further, sir. And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends! We will here part. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: You take from me a great part of myself; OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Farewell, my dearest Use me well in ‘t. Sister, prove such a wife sister, fare thee well: As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest The elements be kind to thee, and make band Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well. 58 Act III, scene ii

OCTAVIA: My noble brother! AGRIPPA: [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] He has a cloud in ‘s face. MARK ANTONY: The April ‘s in her eyes: it is love’s spring, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside to AGRIPPA] And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful. He were the worse for that, were he a horse; So is he, being a man. OCTAVIA: Sir, look well to my husband’s house; and— AGRIPPA: [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] Why, Enobarbus, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: What, Octavia? When Antony found Julius Caesar dead, He cried almost to roaring; and he wept OCTAVIA: I’ll tell you in your ear. When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

MARK ANTONY: Her tongue will not obey her DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside to AGRIPPA] heart, nor can That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum; Her heart inform her tongue,—the swan’s What willingly he did confound he wail’d, down-feather, Believe’t, till I wept too. That stands upon the swell at full of tide, And neither way inclines. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: No, sweet Octavia, You shall hear from me still; the time shall not DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside to AGRIPPA] Will Out-go my thinking on you. Caesar weep? MARK ANTONY: Come, sir, come; 59 Act III, scene iii

I’ll wrestle with you in my strength of love: ALEXAS: Half afeard to come. Look, here I have you; thus I let you go, And give you to the gods. CLEOPATRA: Go to, go to. [Enter the Messenger as before.] OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Adieu; be happy! Come hither, sir. LEPIDUS: Let all the number of the stars give light To thy fair way! ALEXAS: Good majesty, Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Farewell, farewell! But when you are well pleased.

[Kisses OCTAVIA.] CLEOPATRA: That Herod’s head I’ll have: but how, when Antony is gone MARK ANTONY: Farewell! Through whom I might command it? Come thou near. [Trumpets sound. Exeunt.] Messenger: Most gracious majesty,— SCENE III: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace. CLEOPATRA: Didst thou behold Octavia? [Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS.] Messenger: Ay, dread queen.

CLEOPATRA: Where is the fellow? CLEOPATRA: Where? 60 Act III, scene iii

Messenger: Madam, in Rome; Messenger: She creeps: I look’d her in the face, and saw her led Her motion and her station are as one; Between her brother and Mark Antony. She shows a body rather than a life, A statue than a breather. CLEOPATRA: Is she as tall as me? CLEOPATRA: Is this certain? Messenger: She is not, madam. Messenger: Or I have no observance. CLEOPATRA: Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low? CHARMIAN: Three in Egypt Cannot make better note. Messenger: Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced. CLEOPATRA: He’s very knowing; I do perceive’t: there’s nothing in her yet: CLEOPATRA: That’s not so good: he cannot like The fellow has good judgment. her long. CHARMIAN: Excellent. CHARMIAN: Like her! O Isis! ’tis impossible. CLEOPATRA: Guess at her years, I prithee. CLEOPATRA: I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and dwarfish! Messenger: Madam, What majesty is in her gait? Remember, She was a widow,— If e’er thou look’dst on majesty. 61 Act III, scene iii CLEOPATRA: Widow! Charmian, hark. CHARMIAN: A proper man. Messenger: And I do think she’s thirty. CLEOPATRA: Indeed, he is so: I repent me much That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him, CLEOPATRA: Bear’st thou her face in mind? is’t This creature’s no such thing. long or round? CHARMIAN: Nothing, madam. Messenger: Round even to faultiness. CLEOPATRA: The man hath seen some majesty, CLEOPATRA: For the most part, too, they are and should know. foolish that are so. Her hair, what color? CHARMIAN: Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend, Messenger: Brown, madam: and her forehead And serving you so long! As low as she would wish it. CLEOPATRA: I have one thing more to ask him CLEOPATRA: There’s gold for thee. yet, good Charmian: Thou must not take my former sharpness ill: But ’tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me I will employ thee back again; I find thee Where I will write. All may be well enough. Most fit for business: go make thee ready; Our letters are prepared. CHARMIAN: I warrant you, madam.

[Exit Messenger.] [Exeunt.]

62 Act III, scene iv

SCENE IV: Athens. A room in MARK ANTONY’s When I shall pray, ‘O bless my lord and husband!’ house. Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud, ‘O, bless my brother!’ Husband win, win brother, [Enter MARK ANTONY and OCTAVIA.] Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway ‘Twixt these extremes at all. MARK ANTONY: Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,— That were excusable, that, and thousands more MARK ANTONY: Gentle Octavia, Of semblable import,—but he hath waged Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks New wars ‘gainst Pompey; made his will, and Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honor, read it I lose myself: better I were not yours To public ear: Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested, Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not Yourself shall go between ‘s: the mean time, lady, But pay me terms of honor, cold and sickly I’ll raise the preparation of a war He vented them; most narrow measure lent me: Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste; When the best hint was given him, he not took’t, So your desires are yours. Or did it from his teeth. OCTAVIA: Thanks to my lord. OCTAVIA: O my good lord, The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak, Believe not all; or, if you must believe, Your reconciler! Wars ‘twixt you twain would be Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady, As if the world should cleave, and that slain men If this division chance, ne’er stood between, Should solder up the rift. Praying for both parts: The good gods me presently, MARK ANTONY: When it appears to you where 63 Act III, scene v this begins, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: This is old: what is the Turn your displeasure that way: for our faults success? Can never be so equal, that your love Can equally move with them. Provide your going; EROS: Caesar, having made use of him in the wars Choose your own company, and command what cost ‘gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would Your heart has mind to. not lethim partake in the glory of the action: and not resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly [Exeunt.] wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him: so the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.

SCENE V: The same. Another room. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more; [Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS and EROS, meet- And throw between them all the food thou hast, ing.] They’ll grind the one the other. Where’s Antony?

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: How now, friend Eros! EROS: He’s walking in the garden—thus; and spurns EROS: There’s strange news come, sir. The rush that lies before him; cries, ‘Fool Lepidus!’ And threats the throat of that his officer DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: What, man? That murder’d Pompey.

EROS: Caesar and Lepidus have made wars DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Our great navy’s rigg’d. upon Pompey. EROS: For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius; 64 Act III, scene vi

My lord desires you presently: my news And all the unlawful issue that their lust I might have told hereafter. Since then hath made between them. Unto her He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: ‘Twill be naught: Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, But let it be. Bring me to Antony. Absolute queen.

EROS: Come, sir. MECAENAS: This in the public eye?

[Exeunt.] OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I’ the common show-place, where they exercise. His sons he there proclaim’d the kings of kings: SCENE VI: Rome. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s house. Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia. He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign’d [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she MECAENAS.] In the habiliments of the goddess Isis That day appear’d; and oft before gave audience, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Contemning Rome, he has As ’tis reported, so. done all this, and more, In Alexandria: here’s the manner of ‘t: MECAENAS: Let Rome be thus inform’d. I’ the market-place, on a tribunal silver’d, Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold AGRIPPA: Who, queasy with his insolence Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat Already, will their good thoughts call from him. Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: The people know it; and 65 Act III, scene vi

have now received And other of his conquer’d kingdoms, I His accusations. Demand the like.

AGRIPPA: Who does he accuse? MECAENAS: He’ll never yield to that.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Caesar: and that, having in OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Nor must not then be Sicily yielded to in this. Sextus Pompeius spoil’d, we had not rated him His part o’ the isle: then does he say, he lent me [Enter OCTAVIA with her train.] Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets That Lepidus of the triumvirate OCTAVIA: Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain dear Caesar! All his revenue. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: That ever I should call thee AGRIPPA: Sir, this should be answer’d. castaway!

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: ’Tis done already, and the OCTAVIA: You have not call’d me so, nor have messenger gone. you cause. I have told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel; That he his high authority abused, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Why have you stol’n upon And did deserve his change: for what I have us thus! You come not conquer’d, Like Caesar’s sister: the wife of Antony I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, Should have an army for an usher, and 66 Act III, scene vi

The neighs of horse to tell of her approach OCTAVIUS CAESAR: I have eyes upon him, Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way And his affairs come to me on the wind. Should have borne men; and expectation fainted, Where is he now? Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust Should have ascended to the roof of heaven, OCTAVIA: My lord, in Athens. Raised by your populous troops: but you are come A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented OCTAVIUS CAESAR: No, my most wronged The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown, sister; Cleopatra Is often left unloved; we should have met you Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire By sea and land; supplying every stage Up to a whore; who now are levying With an augmented greeting. The kings o’ the earth for war; he hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus, OCTAVIA: Good my lord, Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king To come thus was I not constrain’d, but did Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony, King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont; Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg’d Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas, His pardon for return. The kings of Mede and Lycaonia, With a more larger list of sceptres. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Which soon he granted, Being an obstruct ‘tween his lust and him. OCTAVIA: Ay me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends OCTAVIA: Do not say so, my lord. That do afflict each other! 67 Act III, scene vii

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Welcome hither: OCTAVIA: Is it so, sir? Your letters did withhold our breaking forth; Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Most certain. Sister, And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart; welcome: pray you, Be you not troubled with the time, which drives Be ever known to patience: my dear’st sister! O’er your content these strong necessities; But let determined things to destiny [Exeunt.] Hold unbewail’d their way. Welcome to Rome; Nothing more dear to me. You are abused SCENE VII: Near Actium. MARK ANTONY’s camp. Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, To do you justice, make them ministers [Enter CLEOPATRA and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.] Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort; And ever welcome to us. CLEOPATRA: I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

AGRIPPA: Welcome, lady. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: But why, why, why?

MECAENAS: Welcome, dear madam. CLEOPATRA: Thou hast forspoke my being in Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: these wars, Only the adulterous Antony, most large And say’st it is not fit. In his abominations, turns you off; DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Well, is it, is it? And gives his potent regiment to a trull, That noises it against us. CLEOPATRA: If not denounced against us, why should not we 68 Act III, scene vii

Be there in person? I will not stay behind.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside] Well, I could DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Nay, I have done. reply: Here comes the emperor. If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear [Enter MARK ANTONY and CANIDIUS.] A soldier and his horse. MARK ANTONY: Is it not strange, Canidius, CLEOPATRA: What is’t you say? That from Tarentum and Brundusium He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Your presence needs And take in Toryne? You have heard on’t, sweet? must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from’s CLEOPATRA: Celerity is never more admired time, Than by the negligent. What should not then be spared. He is already Traduced for levity; and ’tis said in Rome MARK ANTONY: A good rebuke, That Photinus an eunuch and your maids Which might have well becomed the best of men, Manage this war. To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea. CLEOPATRA: Sink Rome, and their tongues rot CLEOPATRA: By sea! what else? That speak against us! A charge we bear i’ the war, And, as the president of my kingdom, will CANIDIUS: Why will my lord do so? Appear there for a man. Speak not against it: 69 Act III, scene vii

MARK ANTONY: For that he dares us to’t. The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: So hath my lord dared Of war-mark’d footmen; leave unexecuted him to single fight. Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego The way which promises assurance; and CANIDIUS: Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia. Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, Where Caesar fought with Pompey: but these offers, From firm security. Which serve not for his vantage, be shakes off; And so should you. MARK ANTONY: I’ll fight at sea.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Your ships are not well CLEOPATRA: I have sixty sails, Caesar none better. mann’d; Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people MARK ANTONY: Our overplus of shipping will Ingross’d by swift impress; in Caesar’s fleet we burn; Are those that often have ‘gainst Pompey fought: And, with the rest full-mann’d, from the head of Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: no disgrace Actium Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail, Being prepared for land. We then can do’t at land.

MARK ANTONY: By sea, by sea. [Enter a Messenger.]

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Most worthy sir, you Thy business? therein throw away 70 Act III, scene vii

Messenger: The news is true, my lord; he is descried; [Exeunt MARK ANTONY, QUEEN CLEOPATRA, and Caesar has taken Toryne. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.]

MARK ANTONY: Can he be there in person? ’tis Soldier: By Hercules, I think I am i’ the right. impossible; Strange that power should be. Canidius, CANIDIUS: Soldier, thou art: but his whole Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, action grows And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship: Not in the power on’t: so our leader’s led, Away, my Thetis! And we are women’s men.

[Enter a Soldier.] Soldier: You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not? How now, worthy soldier? CANIDIUS: Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Soldier: O noble emperor, do not fight by sea; Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea: Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar’s This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians Carries beyond belief. And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we Have used to conquer, standing on the earth, Soldier: While he was yet in Rome, And fighting foot to foot. His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all spies. MARK ANTONY: Well, well: away! CANIDIUS: Who’s his lieutenant, hear you? 71 Act III, scenes viii & ix

Soldier: They say, one Taurus. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Strike not by land; keep whole: provoke not battle, CANIDIUS: Well I know the man. Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed The prescript of this scroll: our fortune lies [Enter a Messenger.] Upon this jump.

Messenger: The emperor calls Canidius. [Exeunt.]

CANIDIUS: With news the time’s with labor, and throes forth, SCENE IX: Another part of the plain. Each minute, some. [Enter MARK ANTONY and DOMITIUS [Exeunt.] ENOBARBUS.]

MARK ANTONY: Set we our squadrons on yond SCENE VIII: A plain near Actium. side o’ the hill, In eye of Caesar’s battle; from which place [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, and TAURUS, with his We may the number of the ships behold, army,marching.] And so proceed accordingly.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Taurus! [Exeunt.]

TAURUS: My lord? 72 Act III, scene x

SCENE X: Another part of the plain. With very ignorance; we have kiss’d away Kingdoms and provinces. [CANIDIUS marcheth with his land army one way over the stage; and TAURUS, the lieutenant DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: How appears the fight? of OCTAVIUS CAESAR, the other way. After their going in, is heard the noise of a sea-fight.] SCARUS: On our side like the token’d pestilence, Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt,— [Alarum. Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.] Whom leprosy o’ertake!—i’ the midst o’ the fight, When vantage like a pair of twins appear’d, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Naught, naught all, Both as the same, or rather ours the elder, naught! I can behold no longer: The breese upon her, like a cow in June, The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, Hoists sails and flies. With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder: To see’t mine eyes are blasted. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: That I beheld: Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not [Enter SCARUS.] Endure a further view.

SCARUS: Gods and goddesses, SCARUS: She once being loof’d, All the whole synod of them! The noble ruin of her magic, Antony, Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doting mallard, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: What’s thy passion! Leaving the fight in height, flies after her: I never saw an action of such shame; SCARUS: The greater cantle of the world is lost Experience, manhood, honor, ne’er before 73 Act III, scene xi

Did violate so itself. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I’ll yet follow The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Alack, alack! Sits in the wind against me.

[Enter CANIDIUS.] [Exeunt.]

CANIDIUS: Our fortune on the sea is out of breath, And sinks most lamentably. Had our general SCENE XI: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace. Been what he knew himself, it had gone well: O, he has given example for our flight, [Enter MARK ANTONY with Attendants.] Most grossly, by his own! MARK ANTONY: Hark! the land bids me tread DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Ay, are you thereabouts? no more upon’t; Why, then, good night indeed. It is ashamed to bear me! Friends, come hither: I am so lated in the world, that I CANIDIUS: Toward Peloponnesus are they fled. Have lost my way for ever: I have a ship Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly, SCARUS: ’Tis easy to’t; and there I will attend And make your peace with Caesar. What further comes. All: Fly! not we. CANIDIUS: To Caesar will I render My legions and my horse: six kings already MARK ANTONY: I have fled myself; and have Show me the way of yielding. instructed cowards 74 Act III, scene xi

To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone; EROS: Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him. I have myself resolved upon a course Which has no need of you; be gone: IRAS: Do, most dear queen. My treasure’s in the harbor, take it. O, I follow’d that I blush to look upon: CHARMIAN: Do! why: what else? My very hairs do mutiny; for the white Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them CLEOPATRA: Let me sit down. O Juno! For fear and doting. Friends, be gone: you shall Have letters from me to some friends that will MARK ANTONY: No, no, no, no, no. Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad, Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint EROS: See you here, sir? Which my despair proclaims; let that be left Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway: MARK ANTONY: O fie, fie, fie! I will possess you of that ship and treasure. Leave me, I pray, a little: pray you now: CHARMIAN: Madam! Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command, Therefore I pray you: I’ll see you by and by. IRAS: Madam, O good empress!

[Sits down.] EROS: Sir, sir,—

[Enter CLEOPATRA led by CHARMIAN and IRAS; MARK ANTONY: Yes, my lord, yes; he at Philippi EROS following.] kept His sword e’en like a dancer; while I struck 75 Act III, scene xi

The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and ’twas I MARK ANTONY: O, whither hast thou led me, That the mad Brutus ended: he alone Egypt? See, Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had How I convey my shame out of thine eyes In the brave squares of war: yet now—No By looking back what I have left behind matter. ‘Stroy’d in dishonor.

CLEOPATRA: Ah, stand by. CLEOPATRA: O my lord, my lord, Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought EROS: The queen, my lord, the queen. You would have follow’d.

IRAS: Go to him, madam, speak to him: MARK ANTONY: Egypt, thou knew’st too well He is unqualitied with very shame. My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings, And thou shouldst tow me after: o’er my spirit CLEOPATRA: Well then, sustain him: O! Thy full supremacy thou knew’st, and that Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods EROS: Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches: Command me. Her head’s declined, and death will seize her, but Your comfort makes the rescue. CLEOPATRA: O, my pardon!

MARK ANTONY: I have offended reputation, MARK ANTONY: Now I must A most unnoble swerving. To the young man send humble treaties, dodge And palter in the shifts of lowness; who EROS: Sir, the queen. With half the bulk o’ the world play’d as I pleased, 76 Act III, scene xii

Making and marring fortunes. You did know THYREUS, with others.] How much you were my conqueror; and that My sword, made weak by my affection, would OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Let him appear that’s Obey it on all cause. come from Antony. Know you him? CLEOPATRA: Pardon, pardon! DOLABELLA: Caesar, ’tis his schoolmaster: MARK ANTONY: Fall not a tear, I say; one of An argument that he is pluck’d, when hither them rates He sends so poor a pinion off his wing, All that is won and lost: give me a kiss; Which had superfluous kings for messengers Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster; Not many moons gone by. Is he come back? Love, I am full of lead. Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune [Enter EUPHRONIUS, ambassador from MARK knows ANTONY.] We scorn her most when most she offers blows. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Approach, and speak. [Exeunt.] EUPHRONIUS: Such as I am, I come from Antony: I was of late as petty to his ends SCENE XII: Egypt. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s camp. As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf To his grand sea. [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, DOLABELLA, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Be’t so: declare thine office. 77 Act III, scene xii

EUPHRONIUS: Lord of his fortunes he salutes [Exit EUPHRONIUS.] thee, and Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted, [To THYREUS] To try eloquence, now ’tis time: He lessens his requests; and to thee sues dispatch; To let him breathe between the heavens and From Antony win Cleopatra: promise, earth, And in our name, what she requires; add more, A private man in Athens: this for him. From thine invention, offers: women are not Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness; In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves The ne’er touch’d vestal: try thy cunning, The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs, Thyreus; Now hazarded to thy grace. Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: For Antony, I have no ears to his request. The queen THYREUS: Caesar, I go. Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Observe how Antony Or take his life there: this if she perform, becomes his flaw, She shall not sue unheard. So to them both. And what thou think’st his very action speaks In every power that moves. EUPHRONIUS: Fortune pursue thee! THYREUS: Caesar, I shall. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Bring him through the bands. [Exeunt.] 78 Act III, scene xiii

SCENE XIII: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace. CLEOPATRA: Prithee, peace.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, [Enter MARK ANTONY with EUPHRONIUS, the CHARMIAN, and IRAS.] Ambassador.]

CLEOPATRA: What shall we do, Enobarbus? MARK ANTONY: Is that his answer?

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Think, and die. EUPHRONIUS: Ay, my lord.

CLEOPATRA: Is Antony or we in fault for this? MARK ANTONY: The queen shall then have courtesy, so she DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Antony only, that Will yield us up. would make his will Lord of his reason. What though you fled EUPHRONIUS: He says so. From that great face of war, whose several ranges Frighted each other? why should he follow? MARK ANTONY: Let her know’t. The itch of his affection should not then To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head, Have nick’d his captainship; at such a point, And he will fill thy wishes to the brim When half to half the world opposed, he being With principalities. The meered question: ’twas a shame no less Than was his loss, to course your flying flags, CLEOPATRA: That head, my lord? And leave his navy gazing. MARK ANTONY: To him again: tell him he 79 Act III, scene xiii

wears the rose [Enter an Attendant.] Of youth upon him; from which the world should note Something particular: his coin, ships, legions, Attendant: A messenger from CAESAR. May be a coward’s; whose ministers would prevail CLEOPATRA: What, no more ceremony? See, my Under the service of a child as soon women! As i’ the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore Against the blown rose may they stop their nose To lay his gay comparisons apart, That kneel’d unto the buds. Admit him, sir. And answer me declined, sword against sword, Ourselves alone. I’ll write it: follow me. [Exit Attendant.]

[Exeunt MARK ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS.] DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside] Mine honesty and I begin to square. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside] Yes, like The loyalty well held to fools does make enough, high-battled Caesar will Our faith mere folly: yet he that can endure Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show, To follow with allegiance a fall’n lord Against a sworder! I see men’s judgments are Does conquer him that did his master conquer A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward And earns a place i’ the story. Do draw the inward quality after them, To suffer all alike. That he should dream, [Enter THYREUS.] Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued CLEOPATRA: Caesar’s will? His judgment too. 80 Act III, scene xiii

THYREUS: Hear it apart. THYREUS: The scars upon your honor, therefore, he Does pity, as constrained blemishes, CLEOPATRA: None but friends: say boldly. Not as deserved.

THYREUS: So, haply, are they friends to Antony. CLEOPATRA: He is a god, and knows What is most right: mine honor was not yielded, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: He needs as many, sir, But conquer’d merely. as Caesar has; Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside] To be sure of Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know, that, Whose he is we are, and that is, Caesar’s. I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky, That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for THYREUS: So. Thy dearest quit thee. Thus then, thou most renown’d: Caesar entreats, Not to consider in what case thou stand’st, [Exit.] Further than he is Caesar. THYREUS: Shall I say to Caesar CLEOPATRA: Go on: right royal. What you require of him? for he partly begs To be desired to give. It much would please him, THYREUS: He knows that you embrace not Antony That of his fortunes you should make a staff As you did love, but as you fear’d him. To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits, To hear from me you had left Antony, CLEOPATRA: O! And put yourself under his shrowd, 81 Act III, scene xiii

The universal landlord. [Re-enter MARK ANTONY and DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.] CLEOPATRA: What’s your name? MARK ANTONY: Favors, by Jove that thunders! THYREUS: My name is Thyreus. What art thou, fellow?

CLEOPATRA: Most kind messenger, THYREUS: One that but performs Say to great Caesar this: in deputation The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt To have command obey’d. To lay my crown at ‘s feet, and there to kneel: Tell him from his all-obeying breath I hear DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside] You will be The doom of Egypt. whipp’d.

THYREUS: ’Tis your noblest course. MARK ANTONY: Approach, there! Ah, you kite! Wisdom and fortune combating together, Now, gods and devils! If that the former dare but what it can, Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried ‘Ho!’ No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth, My duty on your hand. And cry ‘Your will?’ Have you no ears? I am Antony yet. CLEOPATRA: Your Caesar’s father oft, When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in, [Enter Attendants.] Bestow’d his lips on that unworthy place, As it rain’d kisses. Take hence this Jack, and whip him. 82 Act III, scene xiii

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside] ’Tis better And by a gem of women, to be abused playing with a lion’s whelp By one that looks on feeders? Than with an old one dying. CLEOPATRA: Good my lord,— MARK ANTONY: Moon and stars! Whip him. Were’t twenty of the greatest tributaries MARK ANTONY: You have been a boggler ever: That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them But when we in our viciousness grow hard— So saucy with the hand of she here,—what’s her O misery on’t!—the wise gods seel our eyes; name, In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows, Adore our errors; laugh at’s, while we strut Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face, To our confusion. And whine aloud for mercy: take him hence. THYREUS: Mark Antony! CLEOPATRA: O, is’t come to this?

MARK ANTONY: Tug him away: being whipp’d, MARK ANTONY: I found you as a morsel cold upon Bring him again: this Jack of Caesar’s shall Dead Caesar’s trencher; nay, you were a fragment Bear us an errand to him. Of Cneius Pompey’s; besides what hotter hours, Unregister’d in vulgar fame, you have [Exeunt Attendants with THYREUS.] Luxuriously pick’d out: for, I am sure, Though you can guess what temperance should be, You were half blasted ere I knew you: ha! You know not what it is. Have I my pillow left unpress’d in Rome, Forborne the getting of a lawful race, CLEOPATRA: Wherefore is this? 83 Act III, scene xiii

Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry MARK ANTONY: To let a fellow that will take To follow Caesar in his triumph, since rewards Thou hast been whipp’d for following him: And say ‘God quit you!’ be familiar with henceforth My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal The white hand of a lady fever thee, And plighter of high hearts! O, that I were Shake thou to look on ‘t. Get thee back to Caesar, Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar Tell him thy entertainment: look, thou say The horned herd! for I have savage cause; He makes me angry with him; for he seems And to proclaim it civilly, were like Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am, A halter’d neck which does the hangman thank Not what he knew I was: he makes me angry; For being yare about him. And at this time most easy ’tis to do’t, When my good stars, that were my former [Re-enter Attendants with THYREUS.] guides, Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires Is he whipp’d? Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike My speech and what is done, tell him he has First Attendant: Soundly, my lord. Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture, MARK ANTONY: Cried he? and begg’d a’ pardon? As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou: Hence with thy stripes, begone! First Attendant: He did ask favor. [Exit THYREUS.] MARK ANTONY: If that thy father live, let him repent 84 Act III, scene xiii

CLEOPATRA: Have you done yet? By the discandying of this pelleted storm, Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile MARK ANTONY: Alack, our terrene moon Have buried them for prey! Is now eclipsed; and it portends alone The fall of Antony! MARK ANTONY: I am satisfied. Caesar sits down in Alexandria; where CLEOPATRA: I must stay his time. I will oppose his fate. Our force by land Hath nobly held; our sever’d navy too MARK ANTONY: To flatter Caesar, would you Have knit again, and fleet, threatening most mingle eyes sea-like. With one that ties his points? Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear, lady? CLEOPATRA: Not know me yet? If from the field I shall return once more To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood; MARK ANTONY: Cold-hearted toward me? I and my sword will earn our chronicle: There’s hope in’t yet. CLEOPATRA: Ah, dear, if I be so, From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, CLEOPATRA: That’s my brave lord! And poison it in the source; and the first stone Drop in my neck: as it determines, so MARK ANTONY: I will be treble-sinew’d, Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite! hearted, breathed, Till by degrees the memory of my womb, And fight maliciously: for when mine hours Together with my brave Egyptians all, Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives 85 Act IV, scene i

Of me for jests; but now I’ll set my teeth, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Now he’ll outstare the And send to darkness all that stop me. Come, lightning. To be furious, Let’s have one other gaudy night: call to me Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more; The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still, Let’s mock the midnight bell. A diminution in our captain’s brain Restores his heart: when valor preys on reason, CLEOPATRA: It is my birth-day: It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek I had thought to have held it poor: but, since Some way to leave him. my lord Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra. [Exit.]

MARK ANTONY: We will yet do well. CLEOPATRA: Call all his noble captains to my lord. ACT IV

MARK ANTONY: Do so, we’ll speak to them; and to-night I’ll force SCENE I: Before Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my camp. queen; There’s sap in’t yet. The next time I do fight, [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and I’ll make death love me; for I will contend MECAENAS, with his Army; OCTAVIUS CAESAR Even with his pestilent scythe. reading a letter.]

[Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.] OCTAVIUS CAESAR: He calls me boy; and 86 Act IV, scene ii chides, as he had power SCENE II: Alexandria. CLEOPATRA’s palace. To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger He hath whipp’d with rods; dares me to personal [Enter MARK ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, DOMITIUS combat, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, with Caesar to Antony: let the old ruffian know others.] I have many other ways to die; meantime Laugh at his challenge. MARK ANTONY: He will not fight with me, Domitius.

MECAENAS: Caesar must think, DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: No. When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted MARK ANTONY: Why should he not? Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now Make boot of his distraction: never anger DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: He thinks, being Made good guard for itself. twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Let our best heads Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles MARK ANTONY: To-morrow, soldier, We mean to fight: within our files there are, By sea and land I’ll fight: or I will live, Of those that served Mark Antony but late, Or bathe my dying honor in the blood Enough to fetch him in. See it done: Shall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well? And feast the army; we have store to do’t, And they have earn’d the waste. Poor Antony! DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all.’ [Exeunt.] 87 Act IV, scene ii

MARK ANTONY: Well said; come on. So good as you have done. Call forth my household servants: let’s to-night Be bounteous at our meal. All: The gods forbid!

[Enter three or four Servitors.] MARK ANTONY: Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night: Give me thy hand, Scant not my cups; and make as much of me Thou hast been rightly honest;—so hast thou;— As when mine empire was your fellow too, Thou,—and thou,—and thou:—you have served me And suffer’d my command. well, CLEOPATRA: [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] And kings have been your fellows. What does he mean?

CLEOPATRA: [Aside to DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS] DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside to LEOPATRA] To What means this? make his followers weep.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: [Aside to CLEOPATRA] MARK ANTONY: Tend me to-night; ’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots May be it is the period of your duty: Out of the mind. Haply you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow MARK ANTONY: And thou art honest too. You’ll serve another master. I look on you I wish I could be made so many men, As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, And all of you clapp’d up together in I turn you not away; but, like a master An Antony, that I might do you service Married to your good service, stay till death: 88 Act IV, scene iii Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more, [Enter two Soldiers to their guard.] And the gods yield you for’t! First Soldier: Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: What mean you, sir, To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep; Second Soldier: It will determine one way: fare you And I, an ass, am onion-eyed: for shame, well. Transform us not to women. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

MARK ANTONY: Ho, ho, ho! First Soldier: Nothing. What news? Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus! Grace grow where those drops fall! Second Soldier: Belike ’tis but a rumor. Good night My hearty friends, to you. You take me in too dolorous a sense; For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you First Soldier: Well, sir, good night. To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts, I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you [Enter two other Soldiers.] Where rather I’ll expect victorious life Than death and honor. Let’s to supper, come, Second Soldier: Soldiers, have careful watch. And drown consideration. Third Soldier: And you. Good night, good night. [Exeunt.] [They place themselves in every corner of the SCENE III: The same. Before the palace. stage.] 89 Act IV, scene iii

Fourth Soldier: Here we: and if to-morrow First Soldier: Peace, I say! Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope What should this mean? Our landmen will stand up. Second Soldier: ’Tis the god Hercules, whom Third Soldier: ’Tis a brave army, Antony loved, And full of purpose. Now leaves him.

[Music of the hautboys as under the stage.] First Soldier: Walk; let’s see if other watchmen Do hear what we do? Fourth Soldier: Peace! what noise? [They advance to another post.] First Soldier: List, list! Second Soldier: How now, masters! Second Soldier: Hark! All: [Speaking together] How now! First Soldier: Music i’ the air. How now! do you hear this?

Third Soldier: Under the earth. First Soldier: Ay; is’t not strange?

Fourth Soldier: It signs well, does it not? Third Soldier: Do you hear, masters? do you hear?

Third Soldier: No. First Soldier: Follow the noise so far as we have 90 Act IV, scene iv

quarter; If fortune be not ours to-day, it is Let’s see how it will give off. Because we brave her: come.

All: Content. ’Tis strange. CLEOPATRA: Nay, I’ll help too. What’s this for? [Exeunt.] MARK ANTONY: Ah, let be, let be! thou art The armorer of my heart: false, false; this, this. SCENE IV: The same. A room in the palace. CLEOPATRA: Sooth, la, I’ll help: thus it must be.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, MARK ANTONY: Well, well; CHARMIAN, and others attending.] We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow? Go put on thy defences. MARK ANTONY: Eros! mine armor, Eros! EROS: Briefly, sir. CLEOPATRA: Sleep a little. CLEOPATRA: Is not this buckled well? MARK ANTONY: No, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armor, Eros! MARK ANTONY: Rarely, rarely: He that unbuckles this, till we do please [Enter EROS with armor.] To daff’t for our repose, shall hear a storm. Thou fumblest, Eros; and my queen’s a squire Come good fellow, put mine iron on: More tight at this than thou: dispatch. O love, 91 Act IV, scene iv

That thou couldst see my wars to-day, and knew’st MARK ANTONY: ’Tis well blown, lads: The royal occupation! thou shouldst see This morning, like the spirit of a youth A workman in’t. That means to be of note, begins betimes. So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said. [Enter an armed Soldier.] Fare thee well, dame, whate’er becomes of me: This is a soldier’s kiss: rebukeable Good morrow to thee; welcome: Thou look’st like him that knows a warlike charge: [Kisses her.] To business that we love we rise betime, And worthy shameful check it were, to stand And go to’t with delight. On more mechanic compliment; I’ll leave thee Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight, Soldier: A thousand, sir, Follow me close; I’ll bring you to’t. Adieu. Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim, And at the port expect you. [Exeunt MARK ANTONY, EROS, Captains, and Soldiers.] [Shout. Trumpets flourish.] CHARMIAN: Please you, retire to your chamber. [Enter Captains and Soldiers.] CLEOPATRA: Lead me. Captain: The morn is fair. Good morrow, general. He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might Determine this great war in single fight! All: Good morrow, general. Then Antony,—but now—Well, on.

92 Act IV, scene v

[Exeunt.] MARK ANTONY: What say’st thou?

SCENE V: Alexandria. MARK ANTONY’s camp. Soldier: Sir, He is with Caesar. [Trumpets sound. Enter MARK ANTONY and EROS; a Soldier meeting them.] EROS: Sir, his chests and treasure He has not with him. Soldier: The gods make this a happy day to Antony! MARK ANTONY: Is he gone? MARK ANTONY: Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail’d Soldier: Most certain. To make me fight at land! MARK ANTONY: Go, Eros, send his treasure after; Soldier: Hadst thou done so, do it; The kings that have revolted, and the soldier Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him— That has this morning left thee, would have still I will subscribe—gentle adieus and greetings; Follow’d thy heels. Say that I wish he never find more cause To change a master. O, my fortunes have MARK ANTONY: Who’s gone this morning? Corrupted honest men! Dispatch.—Enobarbus!

Soldier: Who! [Exeunt.] One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee; or from Caesar’s camp Say ‘I am none of thine.’ 93 Act IV, scene vi

SCENE VI: Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s Is come into the field. camp. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Go charge Agrippa [Flourish. Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, Plant those that have revolted in the van, with DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS, and others.] That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight: [Exeunt all but DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.] Our will is Antony be took alive; Make it so known. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry on AGRIPPA: Caesar, I shall. Affairs of Antony; there did persuade Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar, [Exit.] And leave his master Antony: for this pains Caesar hath hang’d him. Canidius and the rest OCTAVIUS CAESAR: The time of universal peace is That fell away have entertainment, but near: No honorable trust. I have done ill; Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook’d world Of which I do accuse myself so sorely, Shall bear the olive freely. That I will joy no more.

[Enter a Messenger.] [Enter a Soldier of CAESAR’s.]

Messenger: Antony Soldier: Enobarbus, Antony 94 Act IV, scene vii

Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with I feel. His bounty overplus: the messenger I fight against thee! No: I will go seek Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now Some ditch wherein to die; the foul’st best fits Unloading of his mules. My latter part of life.

DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I give it you. [Exit.]

Soldier: Mock not, Enobarbus. I tell you true: best you safed the bringer SCENE VII: Field of battle between the camps. Out of the host; I must attend mine office, Or would have done’t myself. Your emperor [Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA Continues still a Jove. and others.]

[Exit.] AGRIPPA: Retire, we have engaged ourselves too far: DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: I am alone the villain Caesar himself has work, and our oppression of the earth, Exceeds what we expected. And feel I am so most. O Antony, Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid [Exeunt.] My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart: [Alarums. Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean wounded.] Shall outstrike thought: but thought will do’t, 95 Act IV, scene viii

SCARUS: O my brave emperor, this is fought And snatch ‘em up, as we take hares, behind: indeed! ’Tis sport to maul a runner. Had we done so at first, we had droven them home With clouts about their heads. MARK ANTONY: I will reward thee Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold MARK ANTONY: Thou bleed’st apace. For thy good valor. Come thee on.

SCARUS: I had a wound here that was like a T, SCARUS: I’ll halt after. But now ’tis made an H. [Exeunt.] MARK ANTONY: They do retire.

SCARUS: We’ll beat ‘em into bench-holes: I have SCENE VIII: Under the walls of Alexandria. yet Room for six scotches more. [Alarum. Enter MARK ANTONY, in a march; SCARUS, with others.] [Enter EROS.] MARK ANTONY: We have beat him to his camp: EROS: They are beaten, sir, and our advantage run one before, serves And let the queen know of our gests. To-morrow, For a fair victory. Before the sun shall see ‘s, we’ll spill the blood That has to-day escaped. I thank you all; SCARUS: Let us score their backs, For doughty-handed are you, and have fought 96 Act IV, scene viii

Not as you served the cause, but as ‘t had been O infinite virtue, comest thou smiling from Each man’s like mine; you have shown all Hectors. The world’s great snare uncaught? Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends, Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears MARK ANTONY: My nightingale, Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! though The honor’d gashes whole. grey Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet [To SCARUS.] ha’ we A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can Give me thy hand Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man; Commend unto his lips thy favoring hand: [Enter CLEOPATRA, attended.] Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day To this great fairy I’ll commend thy acts, As if a god, in hate of mankind, had Make her thanks bless thee. Destroy’d in such a shape.

[To CLEOPATRA.] CLEOPATRA: I’ll give thee, friend, An armor all of gold; it was a king’s. O thou day o’ the world, Chain mine arm’d neck; leap thou, attire and all, MARK ANTONY: He has deserved it, were it car- Through proof of harness to my heart, and there buncled Ride on the pants triumphing! Like holy Phoebus’ car. Give me thy hand: Through Alexandria make a jolly march; CLEOPATRA: Lord of lords! Bear our hack’d targets like the men that owe them: 97 Act IV, scene ix

Had our great palace the capacity A shrewd one to’s. To camp this host, we all would sup together, And drink carouses to the next day’s fate, [Enter DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS.] Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters, With brazen din blast you the city’s ear; DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: O, bear me witness, Make mingle with rattling tabourines; night,— That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together, Third Soldier: What man is this? Applauding our approach. Second Soldier: Stand close, and list him. [Exeunt.] DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon, SCENE IX: OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s camp. When men revolted shall upon record Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did [Sentinels at their post.] Before thy face repent!

First Soldier: If we be not relieved within this hour, First Soldier: Enobarbus! We must return to the court of guard: the night Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle Third Soldier: Peace! Hark further. By the second hour i’ the morn. DOMITIUS ENOBARBUS: O sovereign mistress Second Soldier: This last day was of true melancholy, 98 Act IV, scene ix

The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me, Second Soldier: Go we to him. That life, a very rebel to my will, May hang no longer on me: throw my heart Third Soldier: Awake, sir, awake; speak to us. Against the flint and hardness of my fault: Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder, Second Soldier: Hear you, sir? And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony, Nobler than my revolt is infamous, First Soldier: The hand of death hath raught him. Forgive me in thine own particular; But let the world rank me in register [Drums afar off.] A master-leaver and a fugitive: O Antony! O Antony! Hark! the drums Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him [Dies.] To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour Second Soldier: Let’s speak Is fully out. To him. Third Soldier: Come on, then; First Soldier: Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks He may recover yet. May concern Caesar. [Exeunt with the body.] Third Soldier: Let’s do so. But he sleeps.

First Soldier: Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer as his Was never yet for sleep. 99 Act IV, scenes x, xi and xii

SCENE X: Between the two camps. [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, and his Army.]

[Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS, with their OCTAVIUS CAESAR: But being charged, we will Army.] be still by land, Which, as I take’t, we shall; for his best force MARK ANTONY: Their preparation is to-day by sea; Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, We please them not by land. And hold our best advantage.

SCARUS: For both, my lord. [Exeunt.]

MARK ANTONY: I would they’ld fight i’ the fire or i’ the air; SCENE XII: Another part of the same. We’ld fight there too. But this it is; our foot Upon the hills adjoining to the city [Enter MARK ANTONY and SCARUS.] Shall stay with us: order for sea is given; They have put forth the haven . . . . MARK ANTONY: Yet they are not join’d: where Where their appointment we may best discover, yond pine does stand, And look on their endeavor. I shall discover all: I’ll bring thee word Straight, how ’tis like to go. [Exeunt.] [Exit.]

SCENE XI: Another part of the same. SCARUS: Swallows have built 100 Act IV, scene xii

In Cleopatra’s sails their nests: the augurers O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more: Say they know not, they cannot tell; look grimly, Fortune and Antony part here; even here And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts Is valiant, and dejected; and, by starts, That spaniel’d me at heels, to whom I gave His fretted fortunes give him hope, and fear, Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets Of what he has, and has not. On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark’d, That overtopp’d them all. Betray’d I am: [Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight.] O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm,— Whose eye beck’d forth my wars, and call’d them [Re-enter MARK ANTONY.] home; Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,— MARK ANTONY: All is lost; Like a right gipsy, hath, at fast and loose, This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me: Beguiled me to the very heart of loss. My fleet hath yielded to the foe; and yonder What, Eros, Eros! They cast their caps up and carouse together Like friends long lost. Triple-turn’d whore! ’tis thou [Enter CLEOPATRA.] Hast sold me to this novice; and my heart Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly; Ah, thou spell! Avaunt! For when I am revenged upon my charm, I have done all. Bid them all fly; begone. CLEOPATRA: Why is my lord enraged against his love?

[Exit SCARUS.] MARK ANTONY: Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving, 101 Act IV, scene xiii

And blemish Caesar’s triumph. Let him take thee, SCENE XIII: Alexandria. Cleopatra’s palace. And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians: Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot [Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and Of all thy sex; most monster-like, be shown MARDIAN.] For poor’st diminutives, for doits; and let Patient Octavia plough thy visage up CLEOPATRA: Help me, my women! O, he is more mad With her prepared nails. Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly Was never so emboss’d. [Exit CLEOPATRA.] CHARMIAN: To the monument! ’Tis well thou’rt gone, There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead. If it be well to live; but better ‘twere The soul and body rive not more in parting Thou fell’st into my fury, for one death Than greatness going off. Might have prevented many. Eros, ho! The shirt of Nessus is upon me: teach me, CLEOPATRA: To the monument! Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage: Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself; Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o’ the moon; Say, that the last I spoke was ‘Antony,’ And with those hands, that grasp’d the heaviest club, And word it, prithee, piteously: hence, Mardian, Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die: And bring me how he takes my death. To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall To the monument! Under this plot; she dies for’t. Eros, ho! [Exeunt.] [Exit.] 102 Act IV, scene xiv

SCENE XIV: The same. Another room. EROS: It does, my lord.

[Enter MARK ANTONY and EROS.] MARK ANTONY: My good knave Eros, now thy captain is MARK ANTONY: Eros, thou yet behold’st me? Even such a body: here I am Antony: Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. EROS: Ay, noble lord. I made these wars for Egypt: and the queen,— Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine; MARK ANTONY: Sometimes we see a cloud that’s Which whilst it was mine had annex’d unto’t dragonish; A million more, now lost,—she, Eros, has A vapor sometime like a bear or lion, Pack’d cards with Caesar, and false-play’d my glory A tower’d citadel, a pendent rock, Unto an enemy’s triumph. A forked mountain, or blue promontory Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us With trees upon’t, that nod unto the world, Ourselves to end ourselves. And mock our eyes with air: thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper’s pageants. [Enter MARDIAN.]

EROS: Ay, my lord, O! thy vile lady! She has robb’d me of my sword. MARK ANTONY: That which is now a horse, even with a thought MARDIAN: No, Antony; The rack dislimns, and makes it indistinct, My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled As water is in water. With thine entirely. 103 Act IV, scene xiv

MARK ANTONY: Hence, saucy eunuch; peace! That thou depart’st hence safe, She hath betray’d me and shall die the death. Does pay thy labor richly; go.

MARDIAN: Death of one person can be paid but [Exit MARDIAN.] once, And that she has discharged: what thou wouldst do Off, pluck off: Is done unto thy hand: the last she spake The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep Was ‘Antony! most noble Antony!’ The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides! Then in the midst a tearing groan did break Heart, once be stronger than thy continent, The name of Antony; it was divided Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace. Between her heart and lips: she render’d life, No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go; Thy name so buried in her. You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.

MARK ANTONY: Dead, then? [Exit EROS.]

MARDIAN: Dead. I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now MARK ANTONY: Unarm, Eros; the long day’s task All length is torture: since the torch is out, is done, Lie down, and stray no farther: now all labor And we must sleep. Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done. [To MARDIAN.] Eros!—I come, my queen:—Eros!—Stay for me: Where souls do couch on flowers, we’ll hand in hand, 104 Act IV, scene xiv

And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze: EROS: The gods withhold me! Dido and her AEneas shall want troops, Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros! Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?

[Re-enter EROS.] MARK ANTONY: Eros, Wouldst thou be window’d in great Rome and see EROS: What would my lord? Thy master thus with pleach’d arms, bending down MARK ANTONY: Since Cleopatra died, His corrigible neck, his face subdued I have lived in such dishonor, that the gods To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel’d seat Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded Quarter’d the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back His baseness that ensued? With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack The courage of a woman; less noble mind EROS: I would not see’t. Than she which by her death our Caesar tells ‘I am conqueror of myself.’ Thou art sworn, Eros, MARK ANTONY: Come, then; for with a wound I That, when the exigent should come, which now must be cured. Is come indeed, when I should see behind me Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn The inevitable prosecution of Most useful for thy country. Disgrace and horror, that, on my command, Thou then wouldst kill me: do’t; the time is come: EROS: O, sir, pardon me! Thou strikest not me, ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st. Put color in thy cheek. MARK ANTONY: When I did make thee free, sworest thou not then 105 Act IV, scene xiv

To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once; MARK ANTONY: Now, Eros. Or thy precedent services are all But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come. EROS: Why, there then: thus I do escape the sorrow Of Antony’s death. EROS: Turn from me, then, that noble countenance, Wherein the worship of the whole world lies. [Kills himself.] MARK ANTONY: Thrice-nobler than myself! MARK ANTONY: Lo thee! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what I should, and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros [Turning from him.] Have by their brave instruction got upon me A nobleness in record: but I will be EROS: My sword is drawn. A bridegroom in my death, and run into’t As to a lover’s bed. Come, then; and, Eros, MARK ANTONY: Then let it do at once Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus The thing why thou hast drawn it. [Falling on his sword.] EROS: My dear master, My captain, and my emperor, let me say, I learn’d of thee. How! not dead? not dead? Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell. The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!

MARK ANTONY: ’Tis said, man; and farewell. [Enter DERCETAS and Guard.]

EROS: Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now? First Guard: What’s the noise? 106 Act IV, scene xiv

MARK ANTONY: I have done my work in, friends: O, [Enter DIOMEDES.] make an end Of what I have begun. DIOMEDES: Where’s Antony?

Second Guard: The star is fall’n. DERCETAS: There, Diomed there. First Guard: And time is at his period. DIOMEDES: Lives he? All: Alas, and woe! Wilt thou not answer, man?

MARK ANTONY: Let him that loves me strike me dead. [Exit DERCETAS.]

First Guard: Not I. MARK ANTONY: Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, andgive me Second Guard: Nor I. Sufficing strokes for death.

Third Guard: Nor any one. DIOMEDES: Most absolute lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee. [Exeunt Guard.] MARK ANTONY: When did she send thee? DERCETAS: Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. DIOMEDES: Now, my lord. This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him. MARK ANTONY: Where is she? 107 Act IV, scene xv

DIOMEDES: Lock’d in her monument. She had a First Guard: Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live prophesying fear to wear Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw— All your true followers out. Which never shall be found—you did suspect She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage All: Most heavy day! Would not be purged, she sent you word she was dead; MARK ANTONY: Nay, good my fellows, do not But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent please sharp fate Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, To grace it with your sorrows: bid that welcome I dread, too late. Which comes to punish us, and we punish it Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up: MARK ANTONY: Too late, good Diomed: call my I have led you oft: carry me now, good friends, guard, I prithee. And have my thanks for all.

DIOMEDES: What, ho, the emperor’s guard! The [Exeunt, bearing MARK ANTONY.] guard, what, ho! Come, your lord calls! SCENE XV: The same. A monument.

[Enter four or five of the Guard of MARK ANTONY.] [Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with CHARMIAN and IRAS.] MARK ANTONY: Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides; CLEOPATRA: O Charmian, I will never go from hence. ’Tis the last service that I shall command you. 108 Act IV, scene xv

CHARMIAN: Be comforted, dear madam. MARK ANTONY: Peace! Not Caesar’s valor hath o’erthrown Antony, CLEOPATRA: No, I will not: But Antony’s hath triumph’d on itself. All strange and terrible events are welcome, But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow, CLEOPATRA: So it should be, that none but Antony Proportion’d to our cause, must be as great Should conquer Antony; but woe ’tis so! As that which makes it. MARK ANTONY: I am dying, Egypt, dying; only [Enter, below, DIOMEDES.] I here importune death awhile, until Of many thousand kisses the poor last How now! is he dead? I lay up thy lips.

DIOMEDES: His death’s upon him, but not dead. CLEOPATRA: I dare not, dear,— Look out o’ the other side your monument; Dear my lord, pardon,—I dare not, His guard have brought him thither. Lest I be taken: not the imperious show Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall [Enter, below, MARK ANTONY, borne by the Guard.] Be brooch’d with me; if knife, drugs,serpents, have Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe: CLEOPATRA: O sun, Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes Burn the great sphere thou movest in! darkling stand And still conclusion, shall acquire no honor The varying shore o’ the world. O Antony, Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony,— Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help; Help me, my women,—we must draw thee up: Help, friends below; let’s draw him hither. Assist, good friends. 109 Act IV, scene xv

MARK ANTONY: O, quick, or I am gone. Provoked by my offence.

CLEOPATRA: Here’s sport indeed! How heavy MARK ANTONY: One word, sweet queen: weighs my lord! Of Caesar seek your honor, with your safety. O! Our strength is all gone into heaviness, That makes the weight: had I great Juno’s power, CLEOPATRA: They do not go together. The strong-wing’d Mercury should fetch thee up, And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little,— MARK ANTONY: Gentle, hear me: Wishes were ever fools,—O, come, come, come; None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.

[They heave MARK ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA.] CLEOPATRA: My resolution and my hands I’ll trust; None about Caesar. And welcome, welcome! die where thou hast lived: Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power, MARK ANTONY: The miserable change now at my end Thus would I wear them out. Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts In feeding them with those my former fortunes All: A heavy sight! Wherein I lived, the greatest prince o’ the world, The noblest; and do now not basely die, MARK ANTONY: I am dying, Egypt, dying: Not cowardly put off my helmet to Give me some wine, and let me speak a little. My countryman,—a Roman by a Roman Valiantly vanquish’d. Now my spirit is going; CLEOPATRA: No, let me speak; and let me rail so high, I can no more. That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel, 110 Act IV, scene xv

CLEOPATRA: Noblest of men, woo’t die? CHARMIAN: O madam, madam, madam! Hast thou no care of me? shall I abide In this dull world, which in thy absence is IRAS: Royal Egypt, No better than a sty? O, see, my women, Empress!

[MARK ANTONY dies.] CHARMIAN: Peace, peace, Iras!

The crown o’ the earth doth melt. My lord! CLEOPATRA: No more, but e’en a woman, and O, wither’d is the garland of the war, commanded The soldier’s pole is fall’n: young boys and girls By such poor passion as the maid that milks Are level now with men; the odds is gone, And does the meanest chares. It were for me And there is nothing left remarkable To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods; Beneath the visiting moon. To tell them that this world did equal theirs Till they had stol’n our jewel. All’s but naught; [Faints.] Patience is scottish, and impatience does Become a dog that’s mad: then is it sin CHARMIAN: O, quietness, lady! To rush into the secret house of death, Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women? IRAS: She is dead too, our sovereign. What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian! My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look, CHARMIAN: Lady! Our lamp is spent, it’s out! Good sirs, take heart: We’ll bury him; and then, what’s brave, what’s noble, IRAS: Madam! Let’s do it after the high Roman fashion, 111 Act V, scene i

And make death proud to take us. Come, away: DOLABELLA: Caesar, I shall. This case of that huge spirit now is cold: Ah, women, women! come; we have no friend [Exit.] But resolution, and the briefest end. [Enter DERCETAS, with the sword of MARK [Exeunt; those above bearing off MARK ANTONY’s ANTONY.] body.] OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Wherefore is that? and what art thou that darest ACT V Appear thus to us?

DERCETAS: I am call’d Dercetas; SCENE I: Alexandria. OCTAVIUS CAESAR’s camp. Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy Best to be served: whilst he stood up and spoke, [Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, AGRIPPA, OLABELLA, He was my master; and I wore my life MECAENAS, GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, and others, To spend upon his haters. If thou please his council of war.] To take me to thee, as I was to him I’ll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Go to him, Dolabella, bid I yield thee up my life. him yield; Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks OCTAVIUS CAESAR: What is’t thou say’st? The pauses that he makes. DERCETAS: I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead. 112 Act V, scene i OCTAVIUS CAESAR: The breaking of so great a Our most persisted deeds. thing should make A greater crack: the round world MECAENAS: His taints and honors Should have shook lions into civil streets, Waged equal with him. And citizens to their dens: the death of Antony Is not a single doom; in the name lay AGRIPPA: A rarer spirit never A moiety of the world. Did steer humanity: but you, gods, will give us Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch’d. DERCETAS: He is dead, Caesar: Not by a public minister of justice, MECAENAS: When such a spacious mirror’s set Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand, before him, Which writ his honor in the acts it did, He needs must see himself. Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, Splitted the heart. This is his sword; OCTAVIUS CAESAR: O Antony! I robb’d his wound of it; behold it stain’d I have follow’d thee to this; but we do lance With his most noble blood. Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce Have shown to thee such a declining day, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Look you sad, friends? Or look on thine; we could not stall together The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings In the whole world: but yet let me lament, To wash the eyes of kings. With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, That thou, my brother, my competitor AGRIPPA: And strange it is, In top of all design, my mate in empire, That nature must compel us to lament Friend and companion in the front of war, 113 Act V, scene i

The arm of mine own body, and the heart Egyptian: So the gods preserve thee! Where mine his thoughts did kindle,—that our stars, Unreconciliable, should divide [Exit.] Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends— But I will tell you at some meeter season: OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say, [Enter an Egyptian.] We purpose her no shame: give her what comforts The quality of her passion shall require, The business of this man looks out of him; Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke We’ll hear him what he says. Whence are you? She do defeat us; for her life in Rome Would be eternal in our triumph: go, Egyptian: A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my And with your speediest bring us what she says, mistress, And how you find of her. Confined in all she has, her monument, Of thy intents desires instruction, PROCULEIUS: Caesar, I shall. That she preparedly may frame herself To the way she’s forced to. [Exit.]

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Bid her have good heart: OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Gallus, go you along. She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, How honorable and how kindly we [Exit GALLUS.] Determine for her; for Caesar cannot live To be ungentle. Where’s Dolabella, 114 Act V, scene ii

To second Proculeius? To do that thing that ends all other deeds; Which shackles accidents and bolts up change; All: Dolabella! Which sleeps, and never palates more the dug, The beggar’s nurse and Caesar’s. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Let him alone, for I remember now [Enter, to the gates of the monument, ROCULEIUS, How he’s employ’d: he shall in time be ready. GALLUS and Soldiers.] Go with me to my tent; where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war; PROCULEIUS: Caesar sends greeting to the How calm and gentle I proceeded still Queen of Egypt; In all my writings: go with me, and see And bids thee study on what fair demands What I can show in this. Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.

[Exeunt.] CLEOPATRA: What’s thy name?

SCENE II: Alexandria. A room in the monument. PROCULEIUS: My name is Proculeius.

[Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and IRAS.] CLEOPATRA: Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but CLEOPATRA: My desolation does begin to make I do not greatly care to be deceived, A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar; That have no use for trusting. If your master Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave, Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, A minister of her will: and it is great That majesty, to keep decorum, must 115 Act V, scene ii

No less beg than a kingdom: if he please GALLUS: You see how easily she may be surprised: To give me conquer’d Egypt for my son, He gives me so much of mine own, as I [Here PROCULEIUS and two of the Guard ascend Will kneel to him with thanks. the monument by a ladder placed against a window, and, having descended, come behind PROCULEIUS: Be of good cheer; CLEOPATRA. Some of the Guard unbar and open You’re fall’n into a princely hand, fear nothing: the gates.] Make your full reference freely to my lord, Who is so full of grace, that it flows over [To PROCULEIUS and the Guard.] On all that need: let me report to him Your sweet dependency; and you shall find Guard her till Caesar come. A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness, Where he for grace is kneel’d to. [Exit.]

CLEOPATRA: Pray you, tell him IRAS: Royal queen! I am his fortune’s vassal, and I send him The greatness he has got. I hourly learn CHARMIAN: O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen: A doctrine of obedience; and would gladly Look him i’ the face. CLEOPATRA: Quick, quick, good hands.

PROCULEIUS: This I’ll report, dear lady. [Drawing a dagger.] Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it. PROCULEIUS: Hold, worthy lady, hold: 116 Act V, scene ii

[Seizes and disarms her.] I’ll ruin, Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Will not wait pinion’d at your master’s court; Relieved, but not betray’d. Nor once be chastised with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up CLEOPATRA: What, of death too, And show me to the shouting varletry That rids our dogs of languish? Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus’ mud PROCULEIUS: Cleopatra, Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies Do not abuse my master’s bounty by Blow me into abhorring! rather make The undoing of yourself: let the world see My country’s high pyramides my gibbet, His nobleness well acted, which your death And hang me up in chains! Will never let come forth. PROCULEIUS: You do extend CLEOPATRA: Where art thou, death? These thoughts of horror further than you shall Come hither, come! come, come, and take a queen Find cause in Caesar. Worthy many babes and beggars! [Enter DOLABELLA.] PROCULEIUS: O, temperance, lady! DOLABELLA: Proculeius, CLEOPATRA: Sir, I will eat no meat, I’ll not drink, sir; What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, If idle talk will once be necessary, And he hath sent for thee: for the queen, I’ll not sleep neither: this mortal house I’ll take her to my guard. 117 Act V, scene ii

PROCULEIUS: So, Dolabella, DOLABELLA: I understand not, madam. It shall content me best: be gentle to her. CLEOPATRA: I dream’d there was an Emperor [To CLEOPATRA.] Antony: O, such another sleep, that I might see To Caesar I will speak what you shall please, But such another man! If you’ll employ me to him. DOLABELLA: If it might please ye,— CLEOPATRA: Say, I would die. CLEOPATRA: His face was as the heavens; and [Exeunt PROCULEIUS and Soldiers.] therein stuck A sun and moon, which kept their course, and DOLABELLA: Most noble empress, you have heard lighted of me? The little O, the earth.

CLEOPATRA: I cannot tell. DOLABELLA: Most sovereign creature,—

DOLABELLA: Assuredly you know me. CLEOPATRA: His legs bestrid the ocean: his rear’d arm CLEOPATRA: No matter, sir, what I have heard or Crested the world: his voice was propertied known. As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, Is’t not your trick? He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, 118 Act V, scene ii

There was no winter in’t; an autumn ’twas Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it That grew the more by reaping: his delights As answering to the weight: would I might never Were dolphin-like; they show’d his back above O’ertake pursued success, but I do feel, The element they lived in: in his livery By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites Walk’d crowns and crownets; realms and islands were My very heart at root. As plates dropp’d from his pocket. CLEOPATRA: I thank you, sir, DOLABELLA: Cleopatra! Know you what Caesar means to do with me?

CLEOPATRA: Think you there was, or might be, DOLABELLA: I am loath to tell you what I would such a man you knew. As this I dream’d of? CLEOPATRA: Nay, pray you, sir,— DOLABELLA: Gentle madam, no. DOLABELLA: Though he be honorable,— CLEOPATRA: You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. But, if there be, or ever were, one such, CLEOPATRA: He’ll lead me, then, in triumph? It’s past the size of dreaming: nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine DOLABELLA: Madam, he will; I know’t. And Antony, were nature’s piece ‘gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite. [Flourish, and shout within, ‘Make way there: Octavius Caesar!’] DOLABELLA: Hear me, good madam. 119 Act V, scene ii

[Enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR, GALLUS, I cannot project mine own cause so well ROCULEIUS, MECAENAS, SELEUCUS, To make it clear; but do confess I have and others of his Train.] Been laden with like frailties which before Have often shamed our sex. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Which is the Queen of Egypt? OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Cleopatra, know, DOLABELLA: It is the emperor, madam. We will extenuate rather than enforce: If you apply yourself to our intents, [CLEOPATRA kneels.] Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find A benefit in this change; but if you seek OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Arise, you shall not kneel: To lay on me a cruelty, by taking I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt. Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself Of my good purposes, and put your children CLEOPATRA: Sir, the gods To that destruction which I’ll guard them from, Will have it thus; my master and my lord If thereon you rely. I’ll take my leave. I must obey. CLEOPATRA: And may, through all the world: ’tis OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Take to you no hard thoughts: yours; and we, The record of what injuries you did us, Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall Though written in our flesh, we shall remember Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord. As things but done by chance. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: You shall advise me in all for CLEOPATRA: Sole sir o’ the world, Cleopatra. 120 Act V, scene ii

CLEOPATRA: This is the brief of money, plate, and Your wisdom in the deed. jewels, I am possess’d of: ’tis exactly valued; CLEOPATRA: See, Caesar! O, behold, Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus? How pomp is follow’d! mine will now be yours; And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine. SELEUCUS: Here, madam. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild: O slave, of no more trust CLEOPATRA: This is my treasurer: let him speak, Than love that’s hired! What, goest thou back? my lord, thou shalt Upon his peril, that I have reserved Go back, I warrant thee; but I’ll catch thine eyes, To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus. Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog! O rarely base! SELEUCUS: Madam, I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril, OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Good queen, let us entreat Speak that which is not. you.

CLEOPATRA: What have I kept back? CLEOPATRA: O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this, SELEUCUS: Enough to purchase what you have That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, made known. Doing the honor of thy lordliness To one so meek, that mine own servant should OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I Parcel the sum of my disgraces by approve Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar, 121 Act V, scene ii

That I some lady trifles have reserved, We answer others’ merits in our name, Immoment toys, things of such dignity Are therefore to be pitied. As we greet modern friends withal; and say, Some nobler token I have kept apart OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Cleopatra, For Livia and Octavia, to induce Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowl- Their mediation; must I be unfolded edged, With one that I have bred? The gods! it smites me Put we i’ the roll of conquest: still be’t yours, Beneath the fall I have. Bestow it at your pleasure; and believe, Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you [To SELEUCUS.] Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheer’d; Make not your thoughts your prisons: no, dear queen; Prithee, go hence; For we intend so to dispose you as Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep: Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man, Our care and pity is so much upon you, Thou wouldst have mercy on me. That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.

OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Forbear, Seleucus. CLEOPATRA: My master, and my lord!

[Exit SELEUCUS.] OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Not so. Adieu.

CLEOPATRA: Be it known, that we, the greatest, [Flourish. Exeunt OCTAVIUS CAESAR and his are misthought train.] For things that others do; and, when we fall, 122 Act V, scene ii

CLEOPATRA: He words me, girls, he words me, CLEOPATRA: Dolabella! that I should not Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmian. DOLABELLA: Madam, as thereto sworn by your command, [Whispers CHARMIAN.] Which my love makes religion to obey, I tell you this: Caesar through Syria IRAS: Finish, good lady; the bright day is done, Intends his journey; and within three days And we are for the dark. You with your children will he send before: Make your best use of this: I have perform’d CLEOPATRA: Hie thee again: Your pleasure and my promise. I have spoke already, and it is provided; Go put it to the haste. CLEOPATRA: Dolabella, I shall remain your debtor. CHARMIAN: Madam, I will. DOLABELLA: I your servant, [Re-enter DOLABELLA.] Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.

DOLABELLA: Where is the queen? CLEOPATRA: Farewell, and thanks.

CHARMIAN: Behold, sir. [Exit DOLABELLA.]

[Exit.] Now, Iras, what think’st thou? Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown 123 Act V, scene ii

In Rome, as well as I: mechanic slaves Are stronger than mine eyes. With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths, CLEOPATRA: Why, that’s the way Rank of gross diet, shall be enclouded, To fool their preparation, and to conquer And forced to drink their vapor. Their most absurd intents.

IRAS: The gods forbid! [Re-enter CHARMIAN.]

CLEOPATRA: Nay, ’tis most certain, Iras: saucy Now, Charmian! lictors Show me, my women, like a queen: go fetch Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers My best attires: I am again for Cydnus, Ballad us out o’ tune: the quick comedians To meet Mark Antony: sirrah Iras, go. Extemporally will stage us, and present Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch indeed; Our Alexandrian revels; Antony And, when thou hast done this chare, I’ll give Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see thee leave Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all. I’ the posture of a whore. Wherefore’s this noise?

IRAS: O the good gods! [Exit IRAS. A noise within.]

CLEOPATRA: Nay, that’s certain. [Enter a Guardsman.]

IRAS: I’ll never see ‘t; for, I am sure, my nails Guard: Here is a rural fellow 124 Act V, scene ii

That will not be denied your highness presence: Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, He brings you figs. That kills and pains not?

CLEOPATRA: Let him come in. Clown: Truly, I have him: but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is [Exit Guardsman.] immortal; those that do die of it do seldom or never recover. What poor an instrument May do a noble deed! he brings me liberty. CLEOPATRA: Rememberest thou any that have My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing died on’t? Of woman in me: now from head to foot I am marble-constant; now the fleeting moon Clown: Very many, men and women too. I heard of No planet is of mine. one of them no longer than yesterday: a very honest woman, but something given to lie; as a woman should [Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in a not do, but in the way of honesty: how she died of the basket.] biting of it, what pain she felt: truly, she makes a very good report o’ the worm; but he that will believe all Guard: This is the man. that they say, shall never be saved by half that they do: but this is most fallible, the worm’s an odd worm. CLEOPATRA: Avoid, and leave him. CLEOPATRA: Get thee hence; farewell. [Exit Guardsman.] Clown: I wish you all joy of the worm. 125 Act V, scene ii

[Setting down his basket.] woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But, truly, these same whoreson devils do the CLEOPATRA: Farewell. gods great harm in their women; for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five. Clown: You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind. CLEOPATRA: Well, get thee gone; farewell.

CLEOPATRA: Ay, ay; farewell. Clown: Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o’ the worm.

Clown: Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in [Exit.] the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no goodness in worm. [Re-enter IRAS with a robe, crown, &c.]

CLEOPATRA: Give me my robe, put on my crown; I CLEOPATRA: Take thou no care; it shall be heeded. have Immortal longings in me: now no more Clown: Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip: not worth the feeding. Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear Antony call; I see him rouse himself CLEOPATRA: Will it eat me? To praise my noble act; I hear him mock The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men Clown: You must not think I am so simple but I know To excuse their after wrath: husband, I come: the devil himself will not eat a woman: I know that a Now to that name my courage prove my title! 126 Act V, scene ii

I am fire and air; my other elements [To an asp, which she applies to her breast.] I give to baser life. So; have you done? Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell. Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak, [Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies.] That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass Unpolicied! Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? If thou and nature can so gently part, CHARMIAN: O eastern star! The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, Which hurts, and is desired. Dost thou lie still? CLEOPATRA: Peace, peace! If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, It is not worth leave-taking. That sucks the nurse asleep?

CHARMIAN: Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that CHARMIAN: O, break! O, break! I may say, The gods themselves do weep! CLEOPATRA: As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle,— CLEOPATRA: This proves me base: O Antony!—Nay, I will take thee too. If she first meet the curled Antony, He’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss [Applying another asp to her arm.] Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal wretch, What should I stay— 127 Act V, scene ii

[Dies.] beguiled.

CHARMIAN: In this vile world? So, fare thee well. Second Guard: There’s Dolabella sent from Caesar; Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies call him. A lass unparallel’d. Downy windows, close; And golden Phoebus never be beheld First Guard: What work is here! Charmian, is Of eyes again so royal! Your crown’s awry; this well done? I’ll mend it, and then play. CHARMIAN: It is well done, and fitting for a [Enter the Guard, rushing in.] princess Descended of so many royal kings. First Guard: Where is the queen? Ah, soldier!

CHARMIAN: Speak softly, wake her not. [Dies.]

First Guard: Caesar hath sent— [Re-enter DOLABELLA.]

CHARMIAN: Too slow a messenger. DOLABELLA: How goes it here?

[Applies an asp.] Second Guard: All dead.

O, come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee. DOLABELLA: Caesar, thy thoughts First Guard: Approach, ho! All’s not well: Caesar’s Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming 128 Act V, scene ii

To see perform’d the dreaded act which thou First Guard: O Caesar, So sought’st to hinder. This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake: [Within ‘A way there, a way for Caesar!’] I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood [Re-enter OCTAVIUS CAESAR and all his train And on the sudden dropp’d. marching.] OCTAVIUS CAESAR: O noble weakness! DOLABELLA: O sir, you are too sure an augurer; If they had swallow’d poison, ’twould appear That you did fear is done. By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Bravest at the last, In her strong toil of grace. She levell’d at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? DOLABELLA: Here, on her breast, I do not see them bleed. There is a vent of blood and something blown: The like is on her arm. DOLABELLA: Who was last with them? First Guard: This is an aspic’s trail: and these First Guard: A simple countryman, that brought fig-leaves her figs: Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves This was his basket. Upon the caves of Nile. OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Most probable OCTAVIUS CAESAR: Poison’d, then. That so she died; for her physician tells me 129 Act V, scene ii

She hath pursued conclusions infinite This electronic document is a production Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed; of The Pennsylvania State And bear her women from the monument: She shall be buried by her Antony: University System. No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Be sure to visit our Web site for more Strike those that make them; and their story is No less in pity than his glory which Shakespeare in PDFs. Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall In solemn show attend this funeral; http://www2.hn.psu.edu/faculty/jmanis/ And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see shake.htm High order in this great solemnity.

[Exeunt.]

FINIS

130