Antony and Cleopatra 3 – Shakespeare · Verses Across
Literature · Historical Fiction
Antony and Cleopatra 3ACT 3
18
Literature · Historical Fiction
Antony and Cleopatra 3
ACT 3
ShakespeareEnglish
SCENE I. A plain in Syria.
Enter Ventidius as it were in triumph, with Silius and other Romans, Officers and Soldiers; the dead body of Pacorus borne before him.
VENTIDIUS.
Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck, and now
Pleased Fortune does of Marcus Crassus’ death
Make me revenger. Bear the king’s son’s body
Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
SILIUS.
Noble Ventidius,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow. Spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
The routed fly. So thy grand captain Antony
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots, and
Put garlands on thy head.
VENTIDIUS.
O Silius, Silius,
I have done enough. A lower place, note well,
May make too great an act. For learn this, Silius:
Better to leave undone than by our deed
Acquire too high a fame when him we serve’s away.
Caesar and Antony have ever won
More in their officer, than person. Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achieved by th’ minute, lost his favour.
Who does i’ th’ wars more than his captain can
Becomes his captain’s captain; and ambition,
The soldier’s virtue, rather makes choice of loss
Than gain which darkens him.
I could do more to do Antonius good,
But ’twould offend him, and in his offence
Should my performance perish.
SILIUS.
Thou hast, Ventidius, that
Without the which a soldier and his sword
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?
VENTIDIUS.
I’ll humbly signify what in his name,
That magical word of war, we have effected;
How, with his banners, and his well-paid ranks,
The ne’er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
We have jaded out o’ th’ field.
SILIUS.
Where is he now?
VENTIDIUS.
He purposeth to Athens, whither, with what haste
The weight we must convey with ’s will permit,
We shall appear before him.—On there, pass along!
[Exeunt.]
SCENE II. Rome. An Ante-chamber in Caesar’s house.
Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another.
AGRIPPA.
What, are the brothers parted?
ENOBARBUS.
They have dispatched with Pompey; he is gone.
The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
To part from Rome. Caesar is sad, and Lepidus,
Since Pompey’s feast, as Menas says, is troubled
With the greensickness.
AGRIPPA.
’Tis a noble Lepidus.
ENOBARBUS.
A very fine one. O, how he loves Caesar!
AGRIPPA.
Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!
ENOBARBUS.
Caesar? Why he’s the Jupiter of men.
AGRIPPA.
What’s Antony? The god of Jupiter.
ENOBARBUS.
Spake you of Caesar? How, the nonpareil!
AGRIPPA.
O, Antony! O thou Arabian bird!
ENOBARBUS.
Would you praise Caesar, say “Caesar”. Go no further.
AGRIPPA.
Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.
ENOBARBUS. But he loves Caesar best, yet he loves Antony. Hoo! Hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets, cannot Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number—hoo!— His love to Antony. But as for Caesar, Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
AGRIPPA.
Both he loves.
ENOBARBUS.
They are his shards, and he their beetle.
[Trumpets within.]
So,
This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
AGRIPPA.
Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell.
Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus and Octavia.
ANTONY.
No further, sir.
CAESAR.
You take from me a great part of myself.
Use me well in’t. Sister, prove such a wife
As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest bond
Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue which is set
Betwixt us, as the cement of our love
To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
The fortress of it. For better might we
Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherished.
ANTONY.
Make me not offended
In your distrust.
CAESAR.
I have said.
ANTONY.
You shall not find,
Though you be therein curious, the least cause
For what you seem to fear. So the gods keep you,
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends.
We will here part.
CAESAR.
Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well.
The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy spirits all of comfort! Fare thee well.
OCTAVIA.
My noble brother!
ANTONY.
The April’s in her eyes. It is love’s spring,
And these the showers to bring it on.—Be cheerful.
OCTAVIA.
Sir, look well to my husband’s house, and—
CAESAR.
What, Octavia?
OCTAVIA.
I’ll tell you in your ear.
ANTONY.
Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
Her heart inform her tongue—the swan’s-down feather,
That stands upon the swell at the full of tide,
And neither way inclines.
ENOBARBUS.
[Aside to Agrippa.] Will Caesar weep?
AGRIPPA.
[Aside to Enobarbus.] He has a cloud in ’s face.
ENOBARBUS. [Aside to Agrippa.] He were the worse for that were he a horse; So is he, being a man.
AGRIPPA.
[Aside to Enobarbus.] Why, Enobarbus,
When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,
He cried almost to roaring, and he wept
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.
ENOBARBUS. [Aside to Agrippa.] That year, indeed, he was troubled with a rheum; What willingly he did confound he wailed, Believe ’t, till I weep too.
CAESAR.
No, sweet Octavia,
You shall hear from me still. The time shall not
Outgo my thinking on you.
ANTONY.
Come, sir, come,
I’ll wrestle with you in my strength of love.
Look, here I have you, thus I let you go,
And give you to the gods.
CAESAR.
Adieu, be happy!
LEPIDUS.
Let all the number of the stars give light
To thy fair way!
CAESAR.
Farewell, farewell!
[Kisses Octavia.]
ANTONY.
Farewell!
[Trumpets sound. Exeunt.]
SCENE III. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras and Alexas.
CLEOPATRA.
Where is the fellow?
ALEXAS.
Half afeared to come.
CLEOPATRA.
Go to, go to.
Enter a Messenger as before.
Come hither, sir.
ALEXAS.
Good majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
CLEOPATRA.
That Herod’s head
I’ll have! But how, when Antony is gone,
Through whom I might command it?—Come thou near.
MESSENGER.
Most gracious majesty!
CLEOPATRA.
Didst thou behold Octavia?
MESSENGER.
Ay, dread queen.
CLEOPATRA.
Where?
MESSENGER.
Madam, in Rome
I looked her in the face, and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
CLEOPATRA.
Is she as tall as me?
MESSENGER.
She is not, madam.
CLEOPATRA.
Didst hear her speak? Is she shrill-tongued or low?
MESSENGER.
Madam, I heard her speak. She is low-voiced.
CLEOPATRA.
That’s not so good. He cannot like her long.
CHARMIAN.
Like her? O Isis! ’Tis impossible.
CLEOPATRA.
I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue and dwarfish!
What majesty is in her gait? Remember,
If e’er thou look’dst on majesty.
MESSENGER.
She creeps.
Her motion and her station are as one.
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
CLEOPATRA.
Is this certain?
MESSENGER.
Or I have no observance.
CHARMIAN.
Three in Egypt
Cannot make better note.
CLEOPATRA.
He’s very knowing;
I do perceive’t. There’s nothing in her yet.
The fellow has good judgment.
CHARMIAN.
Excellent.
CLEOPATRA.
Guess at her years, I prithee.
MESSENGER.
Madam,
She was a widow.
CLEOPATRA.
Widow! Charmian, hark!
MESSENGER.
And I do think she’s thirty.
CLEOPATRA.
Bear’st thou her face in mind? Is’t long or round?
MESSENGER.
Round even to faultiness.
CLEOPATRA.
For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.
Her hair, what colour?
MESSENGER.
Brown, madam, and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
CLEOPATRA.
There’s gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill.
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
Most fit for business. Go make thee ready;
Our letters are prepared.
[Exit Messenger.]
CHARMIAN.
A proper man.
CLEOPATRA.
Indeed, he is so. I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,
This creature’s no such thing.
CHARMIAN.
Nothing, madam.
CLEOPATRA.
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.
CHARMIAN.
Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,
And serving you so long!
CLEOPATRA.
I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian.
But ’tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough.
CHARMIAN.
I warrant you, madam.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE IV. Athens. A Room in Antony’s House.
Enter Antony and Octavia.
ANTONY.
Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that—
That were excusable, that and thousands more
Of semblable import—but he hath waged
New wars ’gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
To public ear;
Spoke scantly of me; when perforce he could not
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
He vented them; most narrow measure lent me;
When the best hint was given him, he not took ’t,
Or did it from his teeth.
OCTAVIA.
O, my good lord,
Believe not all, or if you must believe,
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne’er stood between,
Praying for both parts.
The good gods will mock me presently
When I shall pray “O, bless my lord and husband!”
Undo that prayer by crying out as loud
“O, bless my brother!” Husband win, win brother,
Prays and destroys the prayer; no midway
’Twixt these extremes at all.
ANTONY.
Gentle Octavia,
Let your best love draw to that point which seeks
Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour,
I lose myself; better I were not yours
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,
Yourself shall go between’s. The meantime, lady,
I’ll raise the preparation of a war
Shall stain your brother. Make your soonest haste,
So your desires are yours.
OCTAVIA.
Thanks to my lord.
The Jove of power make me, most weak, most weak,
Your reconciler! Wars ’twixt you twain would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
Should solder up the rift.
ANTONY.
When it appears to you where this begins,
Turn your displeasure that way, for our faults
Can never be so equal that your love
Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
Choose your own company, and command what cost
Your heart has mind to.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE V. Athens. Another Room in Antony’s House.
Enter Enobarbus and Eros meeting.
ENOBARBUS.
How now, friend Eros?
EROS.
There’s strange news come, sir.
ENOBARBUS.
What, man?
EROS.
Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.
ENOBARBUS.
This is old. What is the success?
EROS. Caesar, having made use of him in the wars ’gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality; would not let him partake in the glory of the action, and, not resting here, accuses him of letters he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him. So the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.
ENOBARBUS.
Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no more,
And throw between them all the food thou hast,
They’ll grind the one the other. Where’s Antony?
EROS.
He’s walking in the garden, thus, and spurns
The rush that lies before him; cries “Fool Lepidus!”
And threats the throat of that his officer
That murdered Pompey.
ENOBARBUS.
Our great navy’s rigged.
EROS.
For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius:
My lord desires you presently. My news
I might have told hereafter.
ENOBARBUS.
’Twill be naught,
But let it be. Bring me to Antony.
EROS.
Come, sir.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE VI. Rome. A Room in Caesar’s House.
Enter Agrippa, Maecenas and Caesar.
CAESAR.
Contemning Rome, he has done all this, and more
In Alexandria. Here’s the manner of ’t:
I’ th’ market-place, on a tribunal silvered,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthroned. At the feet sat
Caesarion, whom they call my father’s son,
And all the unlawful issue that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
Of lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
Absolute queen.
MAECENAS.
This in the public eye?
CAESAR.
I’ th’ common showplace where they exercise.
His sons he there proclaimed the kings of kings:
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia
He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned
Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She
In th’ habiliments of the goddess Isis
That day appeared, and oft before gave audience,
As ’tis reported, so.
MAECENAS.
Let Rome be thus informed.
AGRIPPA.
Who, queasy with his insolence already,
Will their good thoughts call from him.
CAESAR.
The people knows it and have now received
His accusations.
AGRIPPA.
Who does he accuse?
CAESAR.
Caesar, and that, having in Sicily
Sextus Pompeius spoiled, we had not rated him
His part o’ th’ isle. Then does he say he lent me
Some shipping, unrestored. Lastly, he frets
That Lepidus of the triumvirate
Should be deposed and, being, that we detain
All his revenue.
AGRIPPA.
Sir, this should be answered.
CAESAR.
’Tis done already, and messenger gone.
I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,
That he his high authority abused,
And did deserve his change. For what I have conquered
I grant him part; but then in his Armenia
And other of his conquered kingdoms, I
Demand the like.
MAECENAS.
He’ll never yield to that.
CAESAR.
Nor must not then be yielded to in this.
Enter Octavia with her train.
OCTAVIA.
Hail, Caesar, and my lord! Hail, most dear Caesar!
CAESAR.
That ever I should call thee castaway!
OCTAVIA.
You have not called me so, nor have you cause.
CAESAR.
Why have you stolen upon us thus? You come not
Like Caesar’s sister. The wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
Long ere she did appear. The trees by th’ way
Should have borne men, and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not. Nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Raised by your populous troops. But you are come
A market-maid to Rome, and have prevented
The ostentation of our love, which, left unshown,
Is often left unloved. We should have met you
By sea and land, supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.
OCTAVIA.
Good my lord,
To come thus was I not constrained, but did it
On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
My grieved ear withal, whereon I begged
His pardon for return.
CAESAR.
Which soon he granted,
Being an abstract ’tween his lust and him.
OCTAVIA.
Do not say so, my lord.
CAESAR.
I have eyes upon him,
And his affairs come to me on the wind.
Where is he now?
OCTAVIA.
My lord, in Athens.
CAESAR.
No, my most wronged sister. Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
Up to a whore, who now are levying
The kings o’ th’ earth for war. He hath assembled
Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus
Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
King Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
With a more larger list of sceptres.
OCTAVIA.
Ay me, most wretched,
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
That does afflict each other!
CAESAR.
Welcome hither.
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth
Till we perceived both how you were wrong led
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart.
Be you not troubled with the time, which drives
O’er your content these strong necessities,
But let determined things to destiny
Hold unbewailed their way. Welcome to Rome,
Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
Beyond the mark of thought, and the high gods,
To do you justice, make their ministers
Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,
And ever welcome to us.
AGRIPPA.
Welcome, lady.
MAECENAS.
Welcome, dear madam.
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you.
Only th’ adulterous Antony, most large
In his abominations, turns you off
And gives his potent regiment to a trull
That noises it against us.
OCTAVIA.
Is it so, sir?
CAESAR.
Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you
Be ever known to patience. My dear’st sister!
[Exeunt.]
SCENE VII. Antony’s Camp near the Promontory of Actium.
Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus.
CLEOPATRA.
I will be even with thee, doubt it not.
ENOBARBUS.
But why, why, why?
CLEOPATRA.
Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars
And say’st it is not fit.
ENOBARBUS.
Well, is it, is it?
CLEOPATRA.
Is ’t not denounced against us? Why should not we
Be there in person?
ENOBARBUS.
Well, I could reply:
If we should serve with horse and mares together,
The horse were merely lost. The mares would bear
A soldier and his horse.
CLEOPATRA.
What is’t you say?
ENOBARBUS.
Your presence needs must puzzle Antony,
Take from his heart, take from his brain, from ’s time,
What should not then be spared. He is already
Traduced for levity, and ’tis said in Rome
That Photinus, an eunuch, and your maids
Manage this war.
CLEOPATRA.
Sink Rome, and their tongues rot
That speak against us! A charge we bear i’ th’ war,
And, as the president of my kingdom, will
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it.
I will not stay behind.
Enter Antony and Canidius.
ENOBARBUS.
Nay, I have done.
Here comes the Emperor.
ANTONY.
Is it not strange, Canidius,
That from Tarentum and Brundusium
He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea
And take in Toryne?—You have heard on ’t, sweet?
CLEOPATRA.
Celerity is never more admired
Than by the negligent.
ANTONY.
A good rebuke,
Which might have well becomed the best of men
To taunt at slackness.—Canidius, we
Will fight with him by sea.
CLEOPATRA.
By sea, what else?
CANIDIUS.
Why will my lord do so?
ANTONY.
For that he dares us to ’t.
ENOBARBUS.
So hath my lord dared him to single fight.
CANIDIUS.
Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia,
Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers,
Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off,
And so should you.
ENOBARBUS.
Your ships are not well manned,
Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people
Engrossed by swift impress. In Caesar’s fleet
Are those that often have ’gainst Pompey fought.
Their ships are yare, yours heavy. No disgrace
Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepared for land.
ANTONY.
By sea, by sea.
ENOBARBUS.
Most worthy sir, you therein throw away
The absolute soldiership you have by land;
Distract your army, which doth most consist
Of war-marked footmen; leave unexecuted
Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo
The way which promises assurance; and
Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard
From firm security.
ANTONY.
I’ll fight at sea.
CLEOPATRA.
I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.
ANTONY.
Our overplus of shipping will we burn,
And with the rest full-manned, from th’ head of Actium
Beat th’ approaching Caesar. But if we fail,
We then can do ’t at land.
Enter a Messenger.
Thy business?
MESSENGER.
The news is true, my lord; he is descried.
Caesar has taken Toryne.
ANTONY.
Can he be there in person? ’Tis impossible;
Strange that his power should be. Canidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship.
Away, my Thetis!
Enter a Soldier.
How now, worthy soldier?
SOLDIER.
O noble emperor, do not fight by sea.
Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt
This sword and these my wounds? Let th’ Egyptians
And the Phoenicians go a-ducking. We
Have used to conquer standing on the earth
And fighting foot to foot.
ANTONY.
Well, well, away.
[Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra and Enobarbus.]
SOLDIER.
By Hercules, I think I am i’ th’ right.
CANIDIUS.
Soldier, thou art. But his whole action grows
Not in the power on ’t. So our leader’s led,
And we are women’s men.
SOLDIER.
You keep by land
The legions and the horse whole, do you not?
CANIDIUS.
Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,
Publicola, and Caelius are for sea,
But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar’s
Carries beyond belief.
SOLDIER.
While he was yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions as
Beguiled all spies.
CANIDIUS.
Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?
SOLDIER.
They say one Taurus.
CANIDIUS.
Well I know the man.
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER.
The Emperor calls Canidius.
CANIDIUS.
With news the time’s with labour, and throes forth
Each minute some.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE VIII. A plain near Actium.
Enter Caesar with his army and Taurus marching.
CAESAR.
Taurus!
TAURUS.
My lord?
CAESAR.
Strike not by land; keep whole; provoke not battle
Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed
The prescript of this scroll. Our fortune lies
Upon this jump.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE IX. Another part of the Plain.
Enter Antony and Enobarbus.
ANTONY.
Set we our squadrons on yon side o’ th’ hill
In eye of Caesar’s battle, from which place
We may the number of the ships behold
And so proceed accordingly.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE X. Another part of the Plain.
Canidius marching with his land army one way over the stage, and Taurus, the Lieutenant of Caesar, with his Army, the other way. After their going in, is heard the noise of a sea fight.
Alarum. Enter Enobarbus.
ENOBARBUS.
Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer.
Th’ Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral,
With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder.
To see ’t mine eyes are blasted.
Enter Scarus.
SCARUS.
Gods and goddesses,
All the whole synod of them!
ENOBARBUS.
What’s thy passion?
SCARUS.
The greater cantle of the world is lost
With very ignorance. We have kissed away
Kingdoms and provinces.
ENOBARBUS.
How appears the fight?
SCARUS.
On our side, like the tokened pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt,
Whom leprosy o’ertake, i’ th’ midst o’ th’ fight,
When vantage like a pair of twins appeared,
Both as the same—or, rather, ours the elder—
The breeze upon her, like a cow in June,
Hoists sails and flies.
ENOBARBUS.
That I beheld.
Mine eyes did sicken at the sight and could not
Endure a further view.
SCARUS.
She once being loofed,
The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,
Claps on his sea-wing and, like a doting mallard,
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her.
I never saw an action of such shame.
Experience, manhood, honour, ne’er before
Did violate so itself.
ENOBARBUS.
Alack, alack!
Enter Canidius.
CANIDIUS.
Our fortune on the sea is out of breath
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well.
O, he has given example for our flight
Most grossly by his own!
ENOBARBUS.
Ay, are you thereabouts?
Why, then, good night indeed.
CANIDIUS.
Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
SCARUS.
’Tis easy to’t, and there I will attend
What further comes.
CANIDIUS.
To Caesar will I render
My legions and my horse. Six kings already
Show me the way of yielding.
ENOBARBUS.
I’ll yet follow
The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
Sits in the wind against me.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE XI. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.
Enter Antony with attendants.
ANTONY.
Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon’t.
It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither.
I am so lated in the world that I
Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship
Laden with gold. Take that, divide it. Fly,
And make your peace with Caesar.
ALL.
Fly? Not we.
ANTONY.
I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone.
I have myself resolved upon a course
Which has no need of you. Be gone.
My treasure’s in the harbour. Take it. O,
I followed that I blush to look upon.
My very hairs do mutiny, for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting. Friends, be gone. You shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness. Take the hint
Which my despair proclaims. Let that be left
Which leaves itself. To the sea-side straightway.
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little—pray you, now,
Nay, do so; for indeed I have lost command.
Therefore I pray you. I’ll see you by and by.
[Sits down.]
Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian, Iras and Eros.
EROS.
Nay, gentle madam, to him! Comfort him.
IRAS.
Do, most dear queen.
CHARMIAN.
Do! Why, what else?
CLEOPATRA.
Let me sit down. O Juno!
ANTONY.
No, no, no, no, no.
EROS.
See you here, sir?
ANTONY.
O, fie, fie, fie!
CHARMIAN.
Madam.
IRAS.
Madam, O good empress!
EROS.
Sir, sir!
ANTONY.
Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept
His sword e’en like a dancer, while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius, and ’twas I
That the mad Brutus ended. He alone
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
In the brave squares of war. Yet now—no matter.
CLEOPATRA.
Ah, stand by.
EROS.
The Queen, my lord, the Queen!
IRAS.
Go to him, madam; speak to him.
He is unqualitied with very shame.
CLEOPATRA.
Well then, sustain me. O!
EROS.
Most noble sir, arise. The Queen approaches.
Her head’s declined, and death will seize her but
Your comfort makes the rescue.
ANTONY.
I have offended reputation,
A most unnoble swerving.
EROS.
Sir, the Queen.
ANTONY.
O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
By looking back what I have left behind
’Stroyed in dishonour.
CLEOPATRA.
O my lord, my lord,
Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
You would have followed.
ANTONY.
Egypt, thou knew’st too well
My heart was to thy rudder tied by th’ strings,
And thou shouldst tow me after. O’er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew’st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
Command me.
CLEOPATRA.
O, my pardon!
ANTONY.
Now I must
To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness, who
With half the bulk o’ th’ world played as I pleased,
Making and marring fortunes. You did know
How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.
CLEOPATRA.
Pardon, pardon!
ANTONY.
Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss.
Even this repays me.
We sent our schoolmaster. Is he come back?
Love, I am full of lead. Some wine
Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE XII. Caesar’s camp in Egypt.
Enter Caesar, Agrippa, Dolabella with others.
CAESAR.
Let him appear that’s come from Antony.
Know you him?
DOLABELLA.
Caesar, ’tis his schoolmaster—
An argument that he is plucked, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
Which had superfluous kings for messengers
Not many moons gone by.
Enter Ambassador from Anthony.
CAESAR.
Approach, and speak.
AMBASSADOR.
Such as I am, I come from Antony.
I was of late as petty to his ends
As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf
To his grand sea.
CAESAR.
Be’t so. Declare thine office.
AMBASSADOR.
Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Egypt, which not granted,
He lessens his requests, and to thee sues
To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens. This for him.
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness,
Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace.
CAESAR.
For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there. This if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
AMBASSADOR.
Fortune pursue thee!
CAESAR.
Bring him through the bands.
[Exit Ambassador, attended.]
[To Thidias.] To try thy eloquence now ’tis time. Dispatch. From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise, And in our name, what she requires; add more, From thine invention, offers. Women are not In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure The ne’er-touch’d vestal. Try thy cunning, Thidias; Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law.
THIDIAS.
Caesar, I go.
CAESAR.
Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
And what thou think’st his very action speaks
In every power that moves.
THIDIAS.
Caesar, I shall.
[Exeunt.]
SCENE XIII. Alexandria. A Room in the Palace.
Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian and Iras.
CLEOPATRA.
What shall we do, Enobarbus?
ENOBARBUS.
Think, and die.
CLEOPATRA.
Is Antony or we in fault for this?
ENOBARBUS.
Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though 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 nicked his captainship, at such a point,
When half to half the world opposed, he being
The mered question. ’Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags
And leave his navy gazing.
CLEOPATRA.
Prithee, peace.
Enter the Ambassador with Antony.
ANTONY.
Is that his answer?
AMBASSADOR.
Ay, my lord.
ANTONY.
The Queen shall then have courtesy, so she
Will yield us up.
AMBASSADOR.
He says so.
ANTONY.
Let her know’t.—
To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
With principalities.
CLEOPATRA.
That head, my lord?
ANTONY.
To him again. Tell him he wears the rose
Of youth upon him, from which the world should note
Something particular: his coin, ships, legions,
May be a coward’s; whose ministers would prevail
Under the service of a child as soon
As i’ th’ command of Caesar. I dare him therefore
To lay his gay comparisons apart,
And answer me declined, sword against sword,
Ourselves alone. I’ll write it. Follow me.
[Exeunt Antony and Ambassador.]
ENOBARBUS.
Yes, like enough high-battled Caesar will
Unstate his happiness, and be staged to th’ show
Against a sworder! I see men’s judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them
To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will
Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued
His judgment too.
Enter a Servant.
SERVANT.
A messenger from Caesar.
CLEOPATRA.
What, no more ceremony? See, my women,
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose
That kneeled unto the buds. Admit him, sir.
[Exit Servant.]
ENOBARBUS.
[Aside.] Mine honesty and I begin to square.
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’ th’ story.
Enter Thidias.
CLEOPATRA.
Caesar’s will?
THIDIAS.
Hear it apart.
CLEOPATRA.
None but friends. Say boldly.
THIDIAS.
So haply are they friends to Antony.
ENOBARBUS.
He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has,
Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master
Will leap to be his friend. For us, you know
Whose he is we are, and that is Caesar’s.
THIDIAS.
So.—
Thus then, thou most renowned: Caesar entreats
Not to consider in what case thou stand’st
Further than he is Caesar.
CLEOPATRA.
Go on; right royal.
THIDIAS.
He knows that you embrace not Antony
As you did love, but as you feared him.
CLEOPATRA.
O!
THIDIAS.
The scars upon your honour, therefore, he
Does pity as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserved.
CLEOPATRA.
He is a god and knows
What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,
But conquered merely.
ENOBARBUS.
[Aside.] To be sure of that,
I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee.
[Exit Enobarbus.]
THIDIAS.
Shall I say to Caesar
What you require of him? For he partly begs
To be desired 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 shroud,
The universal landlord.
CLEOPATRA.
What’s your name?
THIDIAS.
My name is Thidias.
CLEOPATRA.
Most kind messenger,
Say to great Caesar this in deputation:
I kiss his conqu’ring hand. Tell him I am prompt
To lay my crown at’s feet, and there to kneel.
Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.
THIDIAS.
’Tis your noblest course.
Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can,
No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
My duty on your hand.
CLEOPATRA.
Your Caesar’s father oft,
When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in,
Bestowed his lips on that unworthy place
As it rained kisses.
Enter Antony and Enobarbus.
ANTONY.
Favours, by Jove that thunders!
What art thou, fellow?
THIDIAS.
One that but performs
The bidding of the fullest man and worthiest
To have command obeyed.
ENOBARBUS.
[Aside.] You will be whipped.
ANTONY.
Approach there.—Ah, you kite!—Now, gods and devils,
Authority melts from me. Of late when I cried “Ho!”
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth
And cry “Your will?” Have you no ears? I am
Antony yet.
Enter Servants.
Take hence this jack and whip him.
ENOBARBUS.
’Tis better playing with a lion’s whelp
Than with an old one dying.
ANTONY.
Moon and stars!
Whip him. Were’t twenty of the greatest tributaries
That do acknowledge Caesar, 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.
THIDIAS.
Mark Antony—
ANTONY.
Tug him away. Being whipp’d,
Bring him again. This jack of Caesar’s shall
Bear us an errand to him.
[Exeunt Servants with Thidias.]
You were half blasted ere I knew you. Ha!
Have I my pillow left unpressed in Rome,
Forborne the getting of a lawful race,
And by a gem of women, to be abused
By one that looks on feeders?
CLEOPATRA.
Good my lord—
ANTONY.
You have been a boggler ever.
But when we in our viciousness grow hard—
O misery on’t!—the wise gods seal our eyes,
In our own filth drop our clear judgments, make us
Adore our errors, laugh at’s while we strut
To our confusion.
CLEOPATRA.
O, is’t come to this?
ANTONY.
I found you as a morsel cold upon
Dead Caesar’s trencher; nay, you were a fragment
Of Gneius Pompey’s, besides what hotter hours,
Unregistered in vulgar fame, you have
Luxuriously pick’d out. For I am sure,
Though you can guess what temperance should be,
You know not what it is.
CLEOPATRA.
Wherefore is this?
ANTONY.
To let a fellow that will take rewards
And say “God quit you!” be familiar with
My playfellow, your hand, this kingly seal
And plighter of high hearts! O that I were
Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar
The horned herd! For I have savage cause,
And to proclaim it civilly were like
A haltered neck which does the hangman thank
For being yare about him.
Enter a Servant with Thidias.
Is he whipped?
SERVANT.
Soundly, my lord.
ANTONY.
Cried he? And begged he pardon?
SERVANT.
He did ask favour.
ANTONY.
If that thy father live, let him repent
Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry
To follow Caesar in his triumph, since
Thou hast been whipped for following him. Henceforth
The white hand of a lady fever thee;
Shake thou to look on’t. Get thee back to Caesar;
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 th’ abysm of hell. If he mislike
My speech and what is done, tell him he has
Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like, to quit me. Urge it thou.
Hence with thy stripes, be gone.
[Exit Thidias.]
CLEOPATRA.
Have you done yet?
ANTONY.
Alack, our terrene moon is now eclipsed,
And it portends alone the fall of Antony.
CLEOPATRA.
I must stay his time.
ANTONY.
To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes
With one that ties his points?
CLEOPATRA.
Not know me yet?
ANTONY.
Cold-hearted toward me?
CLEOPATRA.
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 Caesarion 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!
ANTONY.
I am satisfied.
Caesar sits down in Alexandria, where
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Hath nobly held; our severed navy too
Have knit again, and fleet, threat’ning 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.
CLEOPATRA.
That’s my brave lord!
ANTONY.
I will be treble-sinewed, hearted, breathed,
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
And send to darkness all that stop me. Come,
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.
CLEOPATRA.
It is my birthday.
I had thought t’have held it poor, but since my lord
Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.
ANTONY.
We will yet do well.
CLEOPATRA.
Call all his noble captains to my lord.
ANTONY.
Do so; we’ll speak to them; and tonight 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.
[Exeunt all but Enobarbus.]
ENOBARBUS.
Now he’ll outstare the lightning. To be furious
Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood
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.
