Ant. To him again; Tell him, he wears therose Of youth upon him; from which, the world should note Something particular: his coin, ships, legions, 5 May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail 10 [Exit Ambassador. To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Dispatch ;| From Antony win Cleopatra: promise, [To Thyreus. And in our name, what she requires; add more, 15 From thine invention, offers: Women are not, In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjure [reus; The ne'er touch'd vestal: Try thy cunning, ThyMake thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law. The Palace in Alexandria. Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, and Iras. Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this? Eno. Antony only, that would make his will Cleo. Pr'ythee, peace. Enter Antony, with the Ambassador. Ant. Is that his answer? The diadem. 20 25 30 Under the service of a child, as soon As i' the command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore [Exeunt Antony and Amb. Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will Enter an Attendant. Attend. A messenger from Cæsar. Cleo. What? no more ceremony? See, my women! Against the blown rose may they stop their nose, [Aside. 2 That is, how Antony conforms himself to this breach of his fortune. Think and die; that is, Reflect on your folly, and leave the world. 4 The meered question is a term we do not understand. Dr. Johnson says, mere is indeed a boundary, and the meered question, if it can mean any thing, may, with some violence of language, mean, the disputed boundary. The meaning is, I require of Casar not to depend on the superiority which the comparison of our different fortunes may exhibit to him, but to answer me man to man, in this decline of my age or power. ⚫ i, e. Cæsar intreats, that at the same time you consider your desperate fortunes, you would consider he is Cæsar; that is, generous and forgiving, able and willing to restore them. Clco. I will ask Antony.-Sir, sir, thou art so leaky, Cleo. What's your name? Say to great Cæsar this, In disputation 5 Have I my pillow left unprest in Rome, Cleo. Good my lord, Ant. You have been a boggler ever:— But when we in our viciousness grow hard, (O misery on't!) the wise gods feel our eyes; In ourown filth drop our clear judgements;makeus 10 Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we strut To our confusion. Cleo. O, is it come to this? Ant. I found you as a morsel, cold upon Dead Cæsar's trencher: nay, you were a fragment 15 Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have Luxuriously pick'd out:-For, I am sure, Though you can guesswhat temperance should be You know not what it is. I kiss his conquering hand': tell him, I am prompt 20 Thyr. 'Tis your noblest course. Wisdom and fortune combating together, No chance may shake it. Give me grace' to lay Cleo. Your Cæsar's father oft, When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in, Re-enter Antony, and Enobarbus. Thyr. One, that but performs The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest Cleo. Wherefore is this? Ant. To let a fellow that will take rewards, 30 A halter'd neck, which does the hangman thank Ant. Cry'd he? and begg'd he pardon? Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent [forth, 35 Thou wast not made his daughter; andbethousorry Ant. Approach, there:-Ah, you kite!-Now, 40 gods and devils! [ho! Antony yet. Take hence this Jack, and whip him. 45 When my good stars, that were my former guides, Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires Into the abism of hell. If he mislike Ant. Moon and stars!— My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has Ant. Alack, our terrene moon 55 Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone 1i. e. I own he has the better in the controversy,-I confess my inability to dispute or contend with him. i. e. Grant me the favour, 3i. e. a scramble, 4i. e. to requite ine. From Cæsar sits down in Alexandria; where [like. 5 10 I will oppose his fate. Our force by land If from the field I should return once more Cleo. That's my brave lord! Ant. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd, And fight maliciously: for when mine hours Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives Of me for jests; but now, I'll set my teeth, Is to be frighted out of fear: and in that mood, [Exit. SCENE I. Casar's Camp at Alexandria. Enter Casar, reading aletter; Agrippa, Mecanas; 35 &c. Cas. HE calls me boy; and chides, as he had power To beat me out of Egypt: my messenger [combat, Eno. No. Ant. Why should he not? [fortune, Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better He is twenty men to one. Ant. To-morrow, soldier, By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live, 45 Be bounteous at our meal.-Give me thy hand, 50 Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles SCENE II. The Palace at Alexandria. [Exeunt. Enter Antony,and Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius. 'Cæsarion was Cleopatra's son by Julius Cæsar. 60 mcans trifling. This epithet is still bestowed on feast-days in the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge, i. e. take advantage of. As you, 15 20 Cleo. Nay, I'll help too. [art For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you SCENE III. Enter a Company of Soldiers. [Exeunt. 1 Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day. 2 Sold. It will determine one way: fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? 1 Sold. Nothing: What news? [to you. 2 Sold. Belike, 'tis but a rumour: Good night 1 Sold. Well, sir, good night. [They meet with other Soldiers. 2 Sold. Soldiers, have careful watch. 1 Sold. And you: Good night, good night. [They place themselves on every corner of the stage. 2 Sold. Here we: and if to-morrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope Our landmen will stand up. 1 Sold. 'Tis a brave army, and full of purpose. [Musick of hautboys under the stage. 2 Sold. Peace, what noise? 1 Sold. List, list! 2 Sold. Hark! Ant. What's this for? Ah, let be, let be! thou The armourer of my heart:-False, false; this, this. Cleo. Sooth, la, I'll help : Thus it must be. Ant. Well, well; We shall thrive now.-Seest thou, my good fellow? Go, put on thy defences. Eros. Briefly, sir. Cleo. Is not this buckled well? 30 He that unbuckles this, 'till we do please A workman in 't.-Good morrow to thee; wel come: Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge:` 40 To business that we love, we rise betime, And 45 go to it with delight. Off. A thousand, sir, Early though it be, have on their rivetted trim, Cap. The morn is fair.-Good morrow, general! Ant. 'Tis well blown, lads. This morning, like the spirit of a youth 50 That means to be of note, begins betimes.— So, so; come, give me that: this way; wellsaid. Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me: This is a soldier's kiss: rebukeable, [Kisses her. And worthy shameful check it were, to stand 55 On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee Now, like a man of steel.-You, that will fight, Follow me close; I'll bring you to 't.—Adieu. [Exeunt Antony, Officers, &c. Char. Please you, retire to your chamber? Cleo. Lead me. 601 He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might 2 i. e. reward you. 'i. e. I have my eyes as full of tears 4 That is, an honourable death. i. e. it bodes well. 'Subintelligitur, you see me more. as if they had been fretted by onions. i. e. quickly, sir. To do is to put off. 3 E 4 Determine Trumpets sound. Enter Antony, and Eros; a Soldier meeting them. Sold. The gods make this a happy day toAntony! Enter a Soldier of Cæsar's. Sold. Enobarbus, Antony Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with His bounty over-plus: The messenger 5 Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now, Unloading of his mules. I Eno. I give it you. tell you true: Best you safed the bringer Sold. Mock not, Enobarbus, Ant. 'Would, thou and those thy scars had once 10 Out of the host; I must attend mine office, [prevail'd Or would have done 't myself. To make me fight at land! Eros. Hadst thou done so, The kings that have revolted, and the soldier That has this morning left thee, would have still Follow'd thy heels. Ant. Who's gone this morning? Eros. Who? One ever near thee: Call for Enobarbus. He shall not hear thee; or from Cæsar's camp Ant. What say'st thou ? He is with Cæsar. Eros. Sir, his chests and treasure He has not with him. Ant. Is he gone? Sold. Most certain. Ant. Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do it; "Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him (I will subscribe) gentle adieus, and greetings: Say, that I wish he never find more cause To change a master.-O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men!-Dispatch.-Enobarbus! SCENE VI. Cæsar's Camp. [Exeunt. Continues still a Jove. Your emperor Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth, And feel I am so most. O Antony, [Exit. 15 Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude [heart: Thou dost so crown with gold? This blows1 my If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean [feel. Shall out-strike thought; but thought will do't, I 201 fight against thee!No: I will go seek Some ditch, wherein to die: the foul'st best fits My latter part of life. [Exit. Before the Walls of Alexandria. Alarum. Drums and Trumpets. Enter Agrippa, and others. Agr. Retire, we have engag'd ourselves too far: Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression 2 30 Exceeds what we expected. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter Antony, and Scarus, wounded. Scar.O mybrave emperor, this is fought indeed! Had we done so at first, we had driven them home With clouts about their heads. 35 40 Ant.Thou bleed'st apace. Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T, But now 'tis made an H. Ant. They do retire. Room for six scotches more. Scar. We'll beat'em into bench-holes; I have yet Enter Eros. Eros. They are beaten, sir; and our advantage For a fair victory. Scar. Let us score their backs, [serves 45 And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind; "Tis sport to maul a runner. 1501 [Exeunt Caesar, &c. That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. Eno. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry, on Affairs of Antony; there did persuade Great Herod to incline himself to Cæsar, And leave his master Antony: for this pains, Cæsar hath hanged him. Canidius, and the rest That fell away, have entertainment, but No honourable trust. I have done ill; Of which I do accuse myself so sorely, That I will joy no more. i. e. swells. 55 Apt. I will reward thee Once for thy sprightly comfort, and ten-fold SCENE VIII. Under the Walls of Alexandria. [Exeunt. Alarum. Enter Antony again in a march. Scarus, with others. Ant. We have beat him to his camp: Run one before, [row, And let the queen know of our guests. To morBefore the sun shall see us, we'll spill the blood 60 That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all; For doughty-handed are you; and have fought Not as you serv'd the cause, but as it had been * Oppression for opposition. Each |