He that unbuckles this, till we do please
To doff't for our repose, shall hear a storm.
Thou fumblest, Eros; and my Queen's a squire
More tight at this than thou: dispatch. O Love,
That thou could'st see my wars to-day, and knew'st
The royal occupation! thou should'st see

A workman in 't.

Enter an armed Soldier.

Good morrow to thee; welcome!

Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge:
To business that we love we rise betime,

And go to't with delight.

SOLD.

A thousand, Sir,

Early though 't be, have on their riveted trim,

20

And at the port expect you. [Shout. Trumpets flourish.

Enter Captains and Soldiers.

CAPT. The morn is fair. Good morrow, General.

ALL. Good morrow, General.

ANT.

'Tis well blown, Lads:

This morning, like the spirit of a youth
That means to be of note, begins betimes.
So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.
Fare thee well, Dame, whate'er becomes of me,
This is a soldier's kiss: [kisses her.] rebukable,
And worthy shameful check it were, to stand
On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee
Now, like a man of steel. You that will fight,
Follow me close; I'll bring you to 't. Adieu.

30

[Exeunt ANTONY, EROS, Captains, and Soldiers. CHAR. Please you, retire to your chamber. CLEO.

Lead me.

He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might
Determine this great war in single fight!
Then, Antony-but now- Well, on.

[exeunt.

ACT IV
Sc. V

SCENE V. The Same. ANTONY'S Camp.

Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS; a Soldier
meeting them.

SOLD. The Gods make this a happy day to Antony !
ANT. Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd
To make me fight at land!

SOLD.

Hadst thou done so,

The Kings that have revolted, and the soldier
That has this morning left thee, would have still
Follow'd thy heels.

ANT.

SOLD.

Who's gone this morning?

One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus,
He shall not hear thee; or from Cæsar's camp

Say I am none of thine.

Who!

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. The Same. CESAR'S Camp.

[exeunt.

Flourish. Enter CÆSAR, AGRIPPA, with ENOBARBUS, and others.

CAS. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight:

Our will is Antony be took alive;

Make it so known.

AGR. Cæsar, I shall.

[exit.

CAS. The time of universal

peace is near:

Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd World
Shall bear the olive freely.

Plant those that have revolted in the vaunt,
That Antony may seem to spend his fury
Upon himself.

ΙΟ

[Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS.
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.

SOLD.

Enter a Soldier of CAESAR'S.
Enobarbus, Antony

Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
His bounty overplus: the messenger

Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now
Unloading of his mules.

I tell you true: best you safed the bringer

Out of the host; I must attend mine office,

Or would have done 't myself. Your Emperor

Continues still a Jove.

ENO. I am alone the villain of the Earth,

And feel I am so most. O Antony,

20

[exit.

Thou Mine of Bounty, how would'st thou have paid

My better service, when my turpitude

30

Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows1 my heart:
If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean

Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do 't, I feel.

1 swells.

ACT IV
Sc. VI

ACT IV
Sc. VI

I fight against thee! No: I will
go seek
Some ditch wherein to die; the foul'st best fits
My latter part of life.

SCENE VII. Field of Battle between the Camps.

[exit.

Alarum. Drums and Trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA
and others.

AGR. Retire, we have engag'd ourselves too far:
Cæsar himself has work, and our oppression1
Exceeds what we expected.

[exeunt.

Alarums. Enter ANTONY, and SCARUS wounded. SCAR. O my brave Emperor, this is fought indeed! Had we done so at first, we had droven them home With clouts about their heads.

ANT.

Thou bleed'st apace.

SCAR. I had a wound here that was like a T,

But now 'tis made an H.

ANT.

They do retire.

SCAR. We'll beat 'em into bench-holes: I have yet

Room for six scotches more.

ΤΟ

Enter EROS.

EROS. They are beaten, Sir; and our advantage serves

For a fair victory.

SCAR.

Let us score their backs,

And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind:
'Tis sport to maul a runner.

ANT.

I will reward thee

Once for thy spritely comfort, and tenfold
For thy good valour. Come thee on.
SCAR.

I'll halt after.

[exeunt.

SCENE VIII. Under the Walls of Alexandria.
Alarum. Enter ANTONY in a march; Scarus,
with others.

ANT. We have beat him to his camp. Run one before,
And let the Queen know of our guests. To-morrow,

1 the force pressing on us.

Before the Sun shall see 's, we'll spill the blood
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 't had been
Each man's like mine; you have shewn all Hectors.
Enter the City, clip 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. [to SCARUS.] Give me thy
hand;

Enter CLEOPATRA, attended.

To this great Fairy I'll commend thy acts,

ΤΟ

Make her thanks bless thee. [to CLEOPATRA.] O thou
Day o' the World,

Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all,

Through proof of harness to my heart, and there
Ride on the pants triumphing!

A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can

Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand:
Kiss it, my Warrior: he hath fought to-day
As if a God, in hate of mankind, had
Destroy'd in such a shape.

CLEO.

I'll give thee, Friend,

An armour all of gold; it was a King's.
ANT. He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled
Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand:
Through Alexandria make a jolly march;

Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them:1
Had our great palace the capacity

To camp this host, we all would sup together,

And drink carouses to the next day's fate,

1 i.e. hacked like their owners.

20

30

ACT IV
Sc. VIII