Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and IRAS.

Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus ?
Eno.
Think, and die.
Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this?
Eno. Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What although you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges
Frighted each other? why should he follow?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
When half to half the world oppos'd, he being
The mered question 3: 'Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.
Cleo.

Pr'ythee, peace.
Enter ANTONY, with EUPHRONIUS.
Ant. Is this his answer?

Eup.

Ant.

Ay, my lord.

The queen

Shall then have courtesy, so she will yield

Us up.

A messenger from Cæsar. Cleo. What, no more ceremony?— See, my women!

Against the blown rose may they stop their nose, That kneel'd unto the buds. — Admit him, sir. Eno. Mine honesty, and I, begin to square.7

[Aside.

The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith mere folly:- Yet, he that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fallen lord,
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i' the story.

What is most right: Mine honour was not yielded, But conquer'd merely.

Eno.

To be sure of that, [Aside. I will ask Antony. - Sir, sir, thou'rt so leaky, That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit ENOBARBUS. Thyr. Shall I say to Cæsar What you require of him? for he partly begs To be desir'd to give. It much would please him, That of his fortunes you should make a staff To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits, To hear from me you had left Antony, And put yourself under his shrowd, The universal landlord.

Cleo.

What's your name?
Thyr. My name is Thyreus.
Cleo.

Most kind messenger, Say to great Cæsar this, In disputation 8

I kiss his conquering hand: tell him I am prompt To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel:

In age and power. 6 Are of a piece with them. 7 Quarrel.

8 Supposed to be an error for deputation, i. e, by proxy.

Whip him:

Were't twenty of the greatest tribu

taries That do acknowledge Cæsar, should I find them So saucy with the hand of she here, (What's her name Since she was Cleopatra?) — Whip him, fellows, Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face, And whine aloud for mercy: Take him hence. Thyr. Mark Antony, Ant.

Tug him away: being whipp'd, Bring him again : · -- This Jack of Cæsar's shall Bear us an errand to him.

[Exeunt Attend. with THYREUS. You were half blasted ere I knew you: Ha! Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome, Forborne the getting of a lawful race, And by a gem of women, to be abus'd By one that looks on feeders? 5

Cleo.

Good my lord,— Ant. You have been a boggler ever:But when we in our viciousness grow hard, (O misery on't!) the wise gods seel 6 our eyes; In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we strut To our confusion.

Cleo.

O, is it come to this?

I have savage cause;

And to proclaim it civilly, were like

A halter'd neck, which does the hangman thank For being yare 7 about him. — Is he whipp'd?

1 Att. He did ask favour. ·

Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent Thou was not made his daughter; and be thou sorry To follow Cæsar in his triumph, since

Thou hast been whipp'd for following him; henceforth,

The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou to look on't. Get thee back to Cæsar,
Tell him thy entertainment: Look, thou say,
He makes me angry with him: for he seems
Proud and disdainful; harping on what I am;
Not what he knew I was: He makes me angry;
And at this time most easy 'tis to do't;
When my good stars, that were my former guides,
Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires
Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike
My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has
Hipparchus, my enfranchis'd bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like, to quit 8 me: Urge it thou:
Hence, with thy stripes, begone. [Exit THYREUS.
Cleo. Have you done yet?
Ant.
Alack, our terrene 9 moon
Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone
The fall of Antony!

Cleo.
I must stay his time.
Ant. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle eyes
With one that ties his points?

Cleo.

Not know me yet?

Ant. Cold-hearted toward me? Cleo. Ah, dear, if I be so, From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, And poison it in the source; and the first stone Drop in my neck: as it determines ', so Dissolve my life! The next Cæsarion ? smite! Till, by degrees, the memory of myself, Together with my brave Egyptians all, By the discandying 3 of this pelleted storm, Lie graveless; till the flies and gnats of Nile Have buried them for prey!

Ant. I am satisfied. Cæsar sits down in Alexandria; where I will oppose his fate. Our force by land Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too Have knit again, and fleet threatening most sea

like.

Where hast thou been, my heart? - Dost thou hear,

lady?

If from the field I shall return once more To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood; I and my sword will earn our chronicle; There is hope in it yet.

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 ransome lives Of me for jests; but now, I'll set my teeth, And send to darkness all that stop me. - Come, Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me 9 Earthly. 2 Her son by Julius Cæsar. • Float. 5 Trifling.

7 Ready, handy.

1 Dissolves.

3 Melting.

8 Requite.

Eno. 'Tis one of those odd tricks, which sorrow shoots [Aside. Out of the mind. Ant.

And thou art honest too.
I wish I could be made so many men;
And all of you clapp'd up together in
An Antony; that I might do you service,
So good as you have done.

Serv.
The gods forbid !
Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night:
Scant not my cups; and make as much of me,
As when mine empire was your fellow too,
And suffer'd my command.

Cleo.

What does he mean?

To give them this discomfort? And I, an ass, am onion-eyed;

What mean you, sir, Look, they weep; for shame,

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius. Eno.

Ant. Why should be not?

No.

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,

He is twenty men to one.

Ant.

To-morrow, soldier, By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live, Or bathe my dying honour in the blood Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well? Eno. I'll strike; and cry, Take all. Ant. Well said; come on. — Call forth my household servants; let's to-night

You take me in too dolorous a sense;

I spake to you for your comfort: did desire you
To burn this night with torches: Know, my hearts,
I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you,
Where rather I'll expect victorious life,
Than death and honour. Let's to supper; come,
And drown consideration.
[Exeunt.

Plant those that have revolted in the van,
That Antony may seem to spend his fury
Upon himself. [Exeunt CASAR and his Train.
Eno. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry,
On affairs of Antony: there did persuade
Great Herod to incline himself to Cæsar,
And leave his master Antony: for this pains,
Cæsar hath hang'd him. Canidius, and the rest
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.

Scar. Let us score their backs, And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind; 'Tis sport to maul a runner.

I will reward thee

Ant. Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold For thy good valour. Come thee on. Scar. I'll halt after.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VIII. - - Under the Walls of Alexandria. Alarum. Enter ANTONY, marching; SCARUS, and Forces.

Ant. We have beat him to his camp; Run one before,

And let the queen know of our guests.-To-morrow,
Before the sun shall see us, we'll spill the blood
That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;
For doughty 5-handed are you; and have fought
Not as you serv'd the cause, but as it had been
Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
Enter the city, clasp your wives, your friends,
Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
The honour'd gashes whole. Give me thy hand;
[TO SCARUS.

Sentinels on their Post. Enter ENOBARBUS.

1 Sold. If we be not reliev'd within this hour,

serves

For a fair victory.

3 Swells.

4 Cuts.