1

ACT III
Sc. XIII

Dissolve my life! The next Cæsarion smite!
Till, by degrees, the memory of my womb,
Together with my brave Egyptians all,
By the discandying 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

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170

Have knit again, and fleet,1 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's hope in 't 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 nice2 and lucky, men did ransom lives
Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth,
And send to darkness all that stop me.
Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me
All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more:
Let's mock the midnight bell.

CLEO.

Come,

It is my birth-day:

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I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my Lord
Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

ANT. We will yet do well.

CLEO. Call all his noble captains to my Lord.

ANT. Do so, we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll force
The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my
Queen;

There's sap in 't yet. The next time I do fight,
I'll make Death love me; for I will contend
Even with his pestilent scythe.

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[Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS.

ENO. Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious,

Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood

1 float.

2 fitted to my purpose.

3 commemorative feast.

The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still,
A diminution in our Captain's brain

Restores his heart. When valour preys on reason,
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
Some way to leave him.

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[exit.

ACT III

Sc. XIII

ACT IV

SCENE I. Before Alexandria. CESAR's Camp.

Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECENAS, with his Army;
CÆSAR reading a letter.

CAS. He calls me boy, and chides, as he had power

To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger

He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,

Cæsar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know

I have many other ways to die; meantime

Laugh at his challenge.

MEC.

Cæsar must think,

When one so great begins to rage he's hunted
Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now
Make boot of his distraction: never anger
Made good guard for itself.

Let our best heads

CÆS.
Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles
We mean to fight. Within our files there are,
Of those that serv'd Mark Antony but late,
Enough to fetch him in. See it done:
And feast the army: we have store to do 't,
And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!

IO

[exeunt.

SCENE II. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's Palace.

Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN,
IRAS, ALEXAS, with others.

ANT. He will not fight with me, Domitius.

ENO.

No.

ACT IV ANT. Why should he not?

Sc. II

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
Be bounteous at our meal.

Thou hast been rightly honest;—so hast thou ;—
Thou-and thou-and thou;-you have serv'd me well,
And Kings have been your fellows.

CLEO. [aside to ENOBARBUS.]

What means this?

ENO. [aside to CLEOPATRA.] "Tis one of those odd tricks

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. [aside to ENOBARBUS.]

What does he mean?

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ENO. [aside to CLEOPATRA.] To make his followers weep.

ANT.

Tend me to-night;

May be it is the period of your duty:
Haply you shall not see me more; or if,

A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow

You'll serve another master. I look on you

As one that takes his leave. Mine honest Friends,
I turn you not away; but, like a master

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Now the Witch take me, if I meant it thus!

Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty Friends,
You take me in too dolorous a sense:

For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you
To burn this night with torches; know, my Hearts, 41
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.

SCENE III. The Same. Before the Palace.

Enter two Soldiers to their guard.

FIRST SOLD. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day.
SEC. SOLD. It will determine one way: fare you well.
Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

FIRST SOLD. Nothing. What news?

SEC. SOLD. Belike 'tis but a rumour. Good night to you.
FIRST SOLD. Well, Sir, good night.

Enter two other Soldiers.

SEC. SOLD. Soldiers, have careful watch.

THIRD SOLD. And you. Good night, good night.

[They place themselves in every corner of the Stage.

FOURTH SOLD. Here we: and, if to-morrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

Our landmen will stand up.

THIRD SOLD.

And full of purpose.

FOURTH SOLD.

"Tis a brave army,

[Music of the hautboys as under

the Stage.

Peace! what noise?

1 Cease!

ACT IV
Sc. II

SEC. SOLD. 'Tis the God Hercules, whom Antony lov'd,

Ay; is 't not strange?

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How now! do you hear this?
FIRST SOLD.

THIRD SOLD. Do you hear, Masters? do you hear?
FIRST SOLD. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;
Let's see how it will give off.
ALL.

Content. 'Tis strange.

[exeunt.

SCENE IV. The Same. A Room in the Palace.

Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, and others

attending.

ANT. Eros! mine armour, Eros!

CLEO.

Sleep a little.

ANT. No, my Chuck. Eros, come; mine armour, Eros!

The armourer of my heart: false, false; this, this.
CLEO. Sooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be.

ANT.

Well, well;