ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA FIRST printed in the 1623 Folio, Antony and Cleopatra had been entered on the Stationers’ Register on 20 May 1608. Echoes of it in Barnabe Barnes’s tragedy The Devil’s Charter, acted by Shakespeare’s company in February 1607, suggest that Shakespeare wrote his play no later than 1606, and stylistic evidence supports that date. The Life of Marcus Antonius in Sir Thomas North’s translation of Plutarch’s Lives of the Noble Grecians and Romans (1579) was one of the sources for Julius Caesar; it also provided Shakespeare with most of his material for Antony and Cleopatra, in which he draws upon its language to a remarkable extent even in some of the play’s most poetic passages. For example, Enobarbus’ famous description of Cleopatra in her barge (2.2.197-225) incorporates phrase after phrase of North’s prose. And the play’s action stays close to North’s account, though with significant adjustments, particularly compressions of the time-scheme. It opens in 40 BC, two years after the end of Julius Caesar, and portrays events that took place over a period of ten years. Mark Antony has become an older man, though Octavius is still ‘scarce-bearded’. Plutarch, who was a connoisseur of human behaviour, also afforded many hints for the characterization; but some characters, particularly Antony’s comrade Domitius Enobarbus and Cleopatra’s women, Charmian and Iras, are largely created by Shakespeare. In the earlier play, Mark Antony had formed a triumvirate with Octavius Caesar and Lepidus. In Antony and Cleopatra the triumvirate is in a state of disintegration, partly because Mark Antony—married at the play’s opening to Fulvia, who is rebelling against Octavius Caesar—is infatuated with Cleopatra, Queen of Egypt (and the former mistress of Julius Caesar). The play’s action swings between Rome and Alexandria as Antony is torn between the claims of Rome—strengthened for a while by his marriage, after Fulvia’s death, to Octavius Caesar’s sister Octavia—and the temptations of Egypt. Gradually opposition between Antony and Octavius increases, until they engage in a sea-fight near Actium (in Greece), in which Antony follows Cleopatra’s navy in ignominious retreat. The closing stages of the double tragedy portray Antony’s shame, humiliation, and suicide after Cleopatra falsely causes him to believe that she has killed herself; faced with the threat that Caesar will take her captive to Rome, Cleopatra too commits suicide. According to Plutarch, she was thirty-eight years old; as for Antony, ‘some say that he lived three-and-fifty years, and others say, six-and-fifty’. In Antony and Cleopatra the classical restraint of Julius Caesar gives way to a fine excess of language, of dramatic action, and of individual behaviour. The style is hyperbolical, overflowing the measure of the iambic pentameter. The action is amazingly fluid, shifting with an ease and rapidity that caused bewilderment to ages unfamiliar with the conventions of Shakespeare’s theatre. And the characterization is correspondingly extravagant, delighting in the quirks of individual behaviour, above all in the paradoxes and inconsistencies of the Egyptian queen who contains within herself the capacity for every extreme of human behaviour, from vanity, meanness, and frivolity to the sublime self-transcendence with which she faces and embraces death.

THE PERSONS OF THE PLAY

The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra

Atto 1, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Demetrius and Philo
PHILO	Nay, but this dotage of our General’s O‘erflows the measure. Those his goodly eyes, That o’er the files and musters of the war Have glowed like plated Mars, now bend, now turn The office and devotion of their view Upon a tawny front. His captain’s heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy’s lust.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, her ladies, the train, with eunuchs fanning her
PHILO	Look where they come. Take but good note, and you shall see in him The triple pillar of the world transformed Into a strumpet’s fool. Behold and see.
CLEOPATRA	(to Antony) If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
ANTONY	There’s beggary in the love that can be reckoned.
CLEOPATRA	I’ll set a bourn how far to be beloved.
ANTONY	Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	News, my good lord, from Rome.
ANTONY	Grates me: the sum.
CLEOPATRA	Nay, hear them, Antony. Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you: ‘Do this, or this, Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that. Perform’t, or else we damn thee.’
ANTONY	How, my love?
CLEOPATRA	Perchance? Nay, and most like. You must not stay here longer. Your dismission Is come from Caesar, therefore hear it, Antony. Where’s Fulvia’s process—Caesar’s, I would say— both? Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt’s queen, Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Caesar’s homager; else so thy cheek pays shame When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
ANTONY	Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair And such a twain can do’t—in which I bind On pain of punishment the world to weet— We stand up peerless.
(didascalia)	CLEOPATRA aside Excellent falsehood!
ANTONY	Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? I’ll seem the fool I am not. (To Antony) Antony Will be himself.
ANTONY	But stirred by Cleopatra. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh. There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?
CLEOPATRA	Hear the ambassadors.
ANTONY	Fie, wrangling queen, Whom everything becomes—to chide, to laugh, To weep; how every passion fully strives To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! No messenger but thine; and all alone Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen. Last night you did desire it. (To the Messenger) Speak not to us.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Antony and Cleopatra with the train, and by another door the Messenger
DEMETRIUS	Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
PHILO	Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony.
DEMETRIUS	I am full sorry That he approves the common liar who Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope Of better deeds tomorrow. Rest you happy.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 1, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Enobarbus, a Soothsayer, Charmian, Iras, Mardian the eunuch, Alexas, and attendants
CHARMIAN	Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where’s the soothsayer that you praised so to th’ Queen? O that I knew this husband, which you say Must charge his horns with garlands!
ALEXAS	Soothsayer!
SOOTHSAYER	Your will?
CHARMIAN	Is this the man? Is’t you, sir, that know things?
SOOTHSAYER	In nature’s infinite book of secrecy A little I can read.
ALEXAS	(to Charmian) Show him your hand.
ENOBARBUS	(calling) Bring in the banquet quickly, Wine enough Cleopatra’s health to drink.
(didascalia)	Enter servants with food and wine, and exeunt
CHARMIAN	(to Soothsayer) Good sir, give me good fortune.
SOOTHSAYER	I make not, but foresee.
CHARMIAN	Pray then, foresee me one.
SOOTHSAYER	You shall be yet Far fairer than you are.
CHARMIAN	He means in flesh.
IRAS	No, you shall paint when you are old.
CHARMIAN	Wrinkles forbid!
ALEXAS	Vex not his prescience. Be attentive.
CHARMIAN	Hush!
SOOTHSAYER	You shall be more beloving than beloved.
CHARMIAN	I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
ALEXAS	Nay, hear him.
CHARMIAN	Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon and widow them all. Let me have a child at fifty to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage. Find me to marry me with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.
SOOTHSAYER	You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.
CHARMIAN	O, excellent! I love long life better than figs.
SOOTHSAYER	You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune Than that which is to approach.
CHARMIAN	Then belike my children shall have no names. Prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?
SOOTHSAYER	If every of your wishes had a womb, And fertile every wish, a million.
CHARMIAN	Out, fool—I forgive thee for a witch.
ALEXAS	You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.
CHARMIAN	(to the Soothsayer) Nay, come, tell Iras hers.
ALEXAS	We’ll know all our fortunes.
ENOBARBUS	Mine, and most of our fortunes, tonight shall be drunk to bed.
IRAS	(showing her hand to the Soothsayer) There’s a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.
CHARMIAN	E’s the o’erflowing Nilus presageth famine.
IRAS	Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.
CHARMIAN	Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. (To the Soothsayer) Prithee, tell her but a workaday fortune.
SOOTHSAYER	Your fortunes are alike.
IRAS	But how, but how? Give me particulars.
SOOTHSAYER	I have said.
IRAS	Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?
CHARMIAN	Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you choose it?
IRAS	Not in my husband’s nose.
CHARMIAN	Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas—come, his fortune, his fortune. O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee, and let her die too, and give him a worse, and let worse follow worse till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fiftyfold a cuckold. Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee.
IRAS	Amen, dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people. For as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded. Therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly.
CHARMIAN	Amen.
ALEXAS	Lo now, if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores but they’d do’t.
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra
ENOBARBUS	Hush, here comes Antony.
CHARMIAN	Not he, the Queen.
CLEOPATRA	Saw you my lord?
ENOBARBUS	No, lady.
CLEOPATRA	Was he not here?
CHARMIAN	No, madam.
CLEOPATRA	He was disposed to mirth, but on the sudden A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!
ENOBARBUS	Madam?
CLEOPATRA	Seek him, and bring him hither. Where’s Alexas?
ALEXAS	Here at your service. My lord approaches.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony with a Messenger
CLEOPATRA	We will not look upon him. Go with us.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Antony and the Messenger
MESSENGER	Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.
ANTONY	Against my brother Lucius?
MESSENGER	Ay, but soon that war had end, and the time’s state Made friends of them, jointing their force ’gainst Caesar, Whose better issue in the war from Italy Upon the first encounter drave them.
ANTONY	Well, what worst?
MESSENGER	The nature of bad news infects the teller.
ANTONY	When it concerns the fool or coward. On. Things that are past are done. With me ’tis thus: Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, I hear him as he flattered.
MESSENGER	Labienus— This is stiff news—hath with his Parthian force Extended Asia; from Euphrates His conquering banner shook, from Syria To Lydia and to Ionia, Whilst— ANTONYAntony, thou wouldst say—
MESSENGER	O, my lord!
ANTONY	Speak to me home. Mince not the general tongue. Name Cleopatra as she is called in Rome. Rail thou in Fulvia’s phrase, and taunt my faults With such full licence as both truth and malice Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds When our quick winds lie still, and our ills told us Is as our earing. Fare thee well a while.
MESSENGER	At your noble pleasure.
(didascalia)	Exit Messenger
(didascalia)	Enter another Messenger
ANTONY	From Sicyon, ho, the news? Speak there.
(didascalia)	SECOND MESSENGER
ANTONY	The man from Sicyon—
(didascalia)	ANTONY Is there such a one?
(didascalia)	SECOND MESSENGER
ANTONY	He stays upon your will.
ANTONY	Let him appear.
(didascalia)	Exit Second Messenger
ANTONY	These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, Or lose myself in dotage.
(didascalia)	Enter another Messenger with a letter
ANTONY	What are you?
(didascalia)	THIRD MESSENGER
ANTONY	Fulvia thy wife is dead.
ANTONY	Where died she?
THIRD MESSENGER	In Sicyon. Her length of sickness, with what else more serious Importeth thee to know, this bears. He gives Antony the letter
ANTONY	Forbear me.
(didascalia)	Exit Third Messenger
ANTONY	There’s a great spirit gone. Thus did I desire it. What our contempts doth often hurl from us We wish it ours again. The present pleasure, By revolution low’ring, does become The opposite of itself. She’s good being gone; The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on. I must from this enchanting queen break off. Ten thousand harms more than the ills I know My idleness doth hatch. How now, Enobarbus!
(didascalia)	Enter Enobarbus
ENOBARBUS	What’s your pleasure, sir?
ANTONY	I must with haste from hence.
ENOBARBUS	Why, then we kill all our women. We see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suffer our departure, death’s the word.
ANTONY	I must be gone.
ENOBARBUS	Under a compelling occasion let women die. It were pity to cast them away for nothing, though between them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra catching but the least noise of this dies instantly. I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment. I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying.
ANTONY	She is cunning past man’s thought.
ENOBARBUS	Alack, sir, no. Her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love. We cannot call her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report. This cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.
ANTONY	Would I had never seen her!
ENOBARBUS	O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work, which not to have been blessed withal would have discredited your travel.
ANTONY	Fulvia is dead.
ENOBARBUS	Sir.
ANTONY	Fulvia is dead.
ENOBARBUS	Fulvia?
ANTONY	Dead.
ENOBARBUS	Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein that when old robes are worn out there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented. This grief is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat, and indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.
ANTONY	The business she hath broached in the state Cannot endure my absence.
ENOBARBUS	And the business you have broached here cannot be without you, especially that of Cleopatra’s, which wholly depends on your abode.
ANTONY	No more light answers. Let our officers Have notice what we purpose. I shall break The cause of our expedience to the Queen, And get her leave to part; for not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too Of many our contriving friends in Rome Petition us at home. Sextus Pompeius Hath given the dare to Caesar and commands The empire of the sea. Our slippery people, Whose love is never linked to the deserver Till his deserts are past, begin to throw Pompey the Great and all his dignities Upon his son, who—high in name and power, Higher than both in blood and life—stands up For the main soldier; whose quality, going on, The sides o’th’ world may danger. Much is breeding Which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life, And not a serpent’s poison. Say our pleasure, To such whose place is under us, requires Our quick remove from hence.
ENOBARBUS	I shall do’t.
(didascalia)	Exeunt severally

Atto 1, Scena 3

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras
CLEOPATRA	Where is he?
CHARMIAN	I did not see him since.
(didascalia)	CLEOPATRA to Alexas
CHARMIAN	See where he is, who’s with him, what he does. I did not send you. If you find him sad, Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.
(didascalia)	Exit Alexas
CHARMIAN	Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him.
CLEOPATRA	What should I do I do not?
CHARMIAN	In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing.
CLEOPATRA	Thou teachest like a fool, the way to lose him.
CHARMIAN	Tempt him not so too far. Iwis, forbear. In time we hate that which we often fear.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony
CHARMIAN	But here comes Antony.
CLEOPATRA	I am sick and sullen.
ANTONY	I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose.
CLEOPATRA	Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall. It cannot be thus long—the sides of nature Will not sustain it.
ANTONY	Now, my dearest queen.
CLEOPATRA	Pray you, stand farther from me.
ANTONY	What’s the matter?
CLEOPATRA	I know by that same eye there’s some good news. What says the married woman—you may go? Would she had never given you leave to come. Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here. I have no power upon you; hers you are.
ANTONY	The gods best know—
CLEOPATRA	O, never was there queen So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first I saw the treasons planted.
ANTONY	Cleopatra—
CLEOPATRA	Why should I think you can be mine and true— Though you in swearing shake the thronèd gods— Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows Which break themselves in swearing.
ANTONY	Most sweet queen—
CLEOPATRA	Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going, But bid farewell and go. When you sued staying, Then was the time for words; no going then. Eternity was in our lips and eyes, Bliss in our brow’s bent; none our parts so poor But was a race of heaven. They are so still, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Art turned the greatest liar.
ANTONY	How now, lady!
CLEOPATRA	I would I had thy inches. Thou shouldst know There were a heart in Egypt.
ANTONY	Hear me, Queen. The strong necessity of time commands Our services a while, but my full heart Remains in use with you. Our Italy Shines o’er with civil swords. Sextus Pompeius Makes his approaches to the port of Rome. Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction. The hated, grown to strength, Are newly grown to love. The condemned Pompey, Rich in his father’s honour, creeps apace Into the hearts of such as have not thrived Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten; And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge By any desperate change. My more particular, And that which most with you should safe my going, Is Fulvia’s death.
CLEOPATRA	Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?
ANTONY	She’s dead, my queen. He offers letters Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read The garboils she awaked. At the last, best, See when and where she died.
CLEOPATRA	O most false love! Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see, In Fulvia’s death how mine received shall be.
ANTONY	Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know The purposes I bear, which are or cease As you shall give th’advice. By the fire That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence Thy soldier-servant, making peace or war As thou affects.
CLEOPATRA	Cut my lace, Charmian, come. But let it be. I am quickly ill and well; So Antony loves.
ANTONY	My precious queen, forbear, And give true evidence to his love, which stands An honourable trial.
CLEOPATRA	So Fulvia told me. I prithee turn aside and weep for her, Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene Of excellent dissembling, and let it look Like perfect honour.
ANTONY	You’ll heat my blood. No more.
CLEOPATRA	You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
ANTONY	Now by my sword—
CLEOPATRA	And target. Still he mends. But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe.
ANTONY	I’ll leave you, lady.
CLEOPATRA	Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part; but that’s not it. Sir, you and I have loved; but there’s not it; That you know well. Something it is I would— O, my oblivion is a very Antony, And I am all forgotten.
ANTONY	But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you For idleness itself.
CLEOPATRA	’Tis sweating labour To bear such idleness so near the heart As Cleopatra this. But sir, forgive me, Since my becomings kill me when they do not Eye well to you. Your honour calls you hence, Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly, And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword Sit laurel victory, and smooth success Be strewed before your feet.
ANTONY	Let us go. Come. Our separation so abides and flies That thou residing here goes yet with me, And I hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Away.
(didascalia)	Exeunt severally

Atto 1, Scena 4

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Octavius reading a letter, Lepidus, and their train
CAESAR	You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Caesar’s natural vice to hate Our great competitor. From Alexandria This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy More womanly than he; hardly gave audience Or vouchsafed to think he had partners. You shall find there A man who is the abstract of all faults That all men follow.
LEPIDUS	I must not think there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness. His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, More fiery by night’s blackness; hereditary Rather than purchased; what he cannot change Than what he chooses.
CAESAR	You are too indulgent. Let’s grant it is not Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy, To give a kingdom for a mirth, to sit And keep the turn of tippling with a slave, To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet With knaves that smells of sweat. Say this becomes him— As his composure must be rare indeed Whom these things cannot blemish—yet must Antony No way excuse his foils when we do bear So great weight in his lightness. If he filled His vacancy with his voluptuousness, Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones Call on him for’t. But to confound such time That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud As his own state and ours—’tis to be chid As we rate boys who, being mature in knowledge, Pawn their experience to their present pleasure, And so rebel to judgement.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
LEPIDUS	Here’s more news.
MESSENGER	Thy biddings have been done, and every hour, Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report How ’tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea, And it appears he is beloved of those That only have feared Caesar. To the ports The discontents repair, and men’s reports Give him much wronged.
(didascalia)	Exit
CAESAR	I should have known no less. It hath been taught us from the primal state That he which is was wished until he were, And the ebbed man, ne‘er loved till ne’er worth love, Comes deared by being lacked. This common body, Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, Goes to, and back, lackeying the varying tide, To rot itself with motion.
(didascalia)	Enter a second Messenger
SECOND MESSENGER	Caesar, I bring thee word Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Makes the sea serve them, which they ear and wound With keels of every kind. Many hot inroads They make in Italy. The borders maritime Lack blood to think on‘t, and flush youth revolt. No vessel can peep forth but ’tis as soon Taken as seen; for Pompey’s name strikes more Than could his war resisted.
(didascalia)	Exit
CAESAR	Antony, Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once Was beaten from Modena, where thou slew‘st Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel Did famine follow, whom thou fought’st against— Though daintily brought up—with patience more Than savages could suffer. Thou didst drink The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle Which beasts would cough at. Thy palate then did deign The roughest berry on the rudest hedge. Yea, like the stag when snow the pasture sheets, The barks of trees thou browsed. On the Alps It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, Which some did die to look on; and all this— It wounds thine honour that I speak it now— Was borne so like a soldier that thy cheek So much as lanked not.
LEPIDUS	’Tis pity of him.
CAESAR	Let his shames quickly Drive him to Rome. ‘Tis time we twain Did show ourselves i’th’ field; and to that end Assemble we immediate council. Pompey Thrives in our idleness.
LEPIDUS	Tomorrow, Caesar, I shall be furnished to inform you rightly Both what by sea and land I can be able To front this present time.
CAESAR	Till which encounter It is my business, too. Farewell.
LEPIDUS	Farewell, my lord. What you shall know meantime Of stirs abroad I shall beseech you, sir, To let me be partaker.
CAESAR	Doubt not, sir. I knew it for my bond.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 1, Scena 5

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter
(didascalia)	Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian
CLEOPATRA	Charmian!
CHARMIAN	Madam?
CLEOPATRA	(yawning) Ha, ha. Give me to drink mandragora.
CHARMIAN	Why, madam?
CLEOPATRA	That I might sleep out this great gap of time My Antony is away.
CHARMIAN	You think of him too much.
CLEOPATRA	O, ’tis treason!
CHARMIAN	Madam, I trust not so.
CLEOPATRA	Thou, eunuch Mardian!
MARDIAN	What’s your highness’ pleasure?
CLEOPATRA	Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure In aught an eunuch has. ’is well for thee That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
MARDIAN	Yes, gracious madam.
CLEOPATRA	Indeed?
MARDIAN	Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing But what indeed is honest to be done. Yet have I fierce affections, and think What Venus did with Mars.
CLEOPATRA	O, Charmian, Where think‘st thou he is now? Stands he or sits he? Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony! Do bravely, horse, for wot’st thou whom thou mov’st?— The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now, Or murmuring ‘Where’s my serpent of old Nile?’— For so he calls me. Now I feed myself With most delicious poison. Think on me, That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black, And wrinkled deep in time. Broad-fronted Caesar, When thou wast here above the ground I was A morsel for a monarch, and great Pompey Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow. There would he anchor his aspect, and die With looking on his life.
(didascalia)	Enter Alexas
ALEXAS	Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
CLEOPATRA	How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath With his tinct gilded thee. How goes it With my brave Mark Antony?
ALEXAS	Last thing he did, dear Queen, He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses— This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.
CLEOPATRA	Mine ear must pluck it thence.
ALEXAS	‘Good friend,’ quoth he, ‘Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, To mend the petty present, I will piece Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East, Say thou, shall call her mistress.’ So he nodded, And soberly did mount an arm-jaunced steed, Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke Was beastly dumbed by him.
CLEOPATRA	What, was he sad or merry?
ALEXAS	Like to the time o’th’ year between the extremes Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
CLEOPATRA	O well divided disposition! Note him, Note him, good Charmian, ‘tis the man; but note him. He was not sad, for he would shine on those That make their looks by his; he was not merry, Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay In Egypt with his joy; but between both. O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry, The violence of either thee becomes; So does it no man else. Met’st thou my posts?
ALEXAS	Ay, madam, twenty several messengers. Why do you send so thick?
CLEOPATRA	Who’s born that day When I forget to send to Antony Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian! I Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, Ever love Caesar so?
CHARMIAN	O, that brave Caesar!
CLEOPATRA	Be choked with such another emphasis! Say ‘the brave Antony’.
CHARMIAN	The valiant Caesar.
CLEOPATRA	By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth If thou with Caesar paragon again My man of men.
CHARMIAN	By your most gracious pardon, I sing but after you.
CLEOPATRA	My salad days, When I was green in judgement, cold in blood, To say as I said then. But come, away, Get me ink and paper. He shall have every day a several greeting, Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner
POMPEY	If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men.
(didascalia)	MENECRATES Know, worthy Pompey,
POMPEY	That what they do delay they not deny.
POMPEY	Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays The thing we sue for.
(didascalia)	MENECRATES
POMPEY	We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers.
POMPEY	I shall do well. The people love me, and the sea is mine. My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope Says it will come to th’ full. Mark Antony In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make No wars without doors. Caesar gets money where He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him.
(didascalia)	MENAS
POMPEY	Caesar and Lepidus Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry.
POMPEY	Where have you this? ’Tis false.
(didascalia)	MENAS
POMPEY	From Silvius, sir.
POMPEY	He dreams. I know they are in Rome together, Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip. Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both Tie up the libertine, in a field of feasts Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite, That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour Even till a Lethe’d dullness—
(didascalia)	Enter Varrius
POMPEY	How now, Varrius?
VARRIUS	This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected. Since he went from Egypt, ’tis A space for farther travel.
POMPEY	I could have given less matter A better ear. Menas, I did not think This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm For such a petty war. His soldiership Is twice the other twain. But let us rear The higher our opinion, that our stirring Can from the lap of Egypt’s widow pluck The ne’er lust-wearied Antony.
MENAS	I cannot hope Caesar and Antony shall well greet together. His wife that’s dead did trespasses to Caesar, His brother warred upon him, although, I think, Not moved by Antony.
POMPEY	I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were’t not that we stand up against them all, ’Twere pregnant they should square between themselves, For they have entertained cause enough To draw their swords. But how the fear of us May cement their divisions, and bind up The petty difference, we yet not know. Be’t as our gods will have’t; it only stands Our lives upon to use our strongest hands. Come, Menas.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus
LEPIDUS	Good Enobarbus, ’tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech.
ENOBARBUS	I shall entreat him To answer like himself. If Caesar move him, Let Antony look over Caesar’s head And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, Were I the wearer of Antonio’s beard I would not shave’t today.
LEPIDUS	’Tis not a time For private stomaching.
ENOBARBUS	Every time Serves for the matter that is then born in’t.
LEPIDUS	But small to greater matters must give way.
ENOBARBUS	Not if the small come first.
LEPIDUS	Your speech is passion. But pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes The noble Antony.
(didascalia)	Enter at one door Antony and Ventidius
ENOBARBUS	And yonder Caesar.
(didascalia)	Enter at another door Caesar, Maecenas, and Agrippa
ANTONY	(to Ventidius) If we compose well here, to Parthia. Hark, Ventidius.
CAESAR	I do not know, Maecenas; ask Agrippa.
LEPIDUS	(to Caesar and Antony) Noble friends, That which combined us was most great; and let not A leaner action rend us. What’s amiss, May it be gently heard. When we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners, The rather for I earnestly beseech, Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curstness grow to th’ matter.
ANTONY	’Tis spoken well. Were we before our armies, and to fight, I should do thus.
(didascalia)	Antony and Caesar embrace. Flourish
CAESAR	Welcome to Rome.
ANTONY	Thank you.
CAESAR	Sit.
ANTONY	Sit, sir.
CAESAR	Nay then. They sit
ANTONY	I learn you take things ill which are not so, Or being, concern you not.
CAESAR	I must be laughed at If or for nothing or a little I Should say myself offended, and with you Chiefly i’th’ world; more laughed at that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concerned me.
ANTONY	My being in Egypt, Caesar, what was’t to you?
CAESAR	No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt. Yet if you there Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question.
ANTONY	How intend you ‘practised’?
CAESAR	You may be pleased to catch at mine intent By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother Made wars upon me, and their contestation Was theme for you. You were the word of war.
ANTONY	You do mistake the business. My brother never Did urge me in his act. I did enquire it, And have my learning from some true reports That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather Discredit my authority with yours, And make the wars alike against my stomach, Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters Before did satisfy you. If you’ll patch a quarrel, As matter whole you have to make it with, It must not be with this.
CAESAR	You praise yourself By laying defects of judgement to me, but You patched up your excuses.
ANTONY	Not so, not so. I know you could not lack, I am certain on’t, Very necessity of this thought, that I, Your partner in the cause ’gainst which he fought, Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, I would you had her spirit in such another. The third o’th’ world is yours, which with a snaffle You may pace easy, but not such a wife.
ENOBARBUS	Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women.
ANTONY	So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar, Made out of her impatience—which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too—I grieving grant Did you too much disquiet, for that you must But say I could not help it.
CAESAR	I wrote to you When, rioting in Alexandria, you Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Did gibe my missive out of audience.
ANTONY	Sir, he fell upon me ere admitted, then. Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want Of what I was i’th’ morning; but next day I told him of myself, which was as much As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow Be nothing of our strife. If we contend, Out of our question wipe him.
CAESAR	You have broken The article of your oath, which you shall never Have tongue to charge me with.
LEPIDUS	Soft, Caesar.
ANTONY	No, Lepidus, let him speak. The honour is sacred which he talks on now, Supposing that I lacked it. But on, Caesar: The article of my oath—
CAESAR	To lend me arms and aid when I required them, The which you both denied.
ANTONY	Neglected, rather, And then when poisoned hours had bound me up From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may I’ll play the penitent to you, but mine honesty Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power Work without it. Truth is that Fulvia, To have me out of Egypt, made wars here, For which myself, the ignorant motive, do So far ask pardon as befits mine honour To stoop in such a case.
LEPIDUS	’Tis noble spoken.
MAECENAS	If it might please you to enforce no further The griefs between ye; to forget them quite Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone you.
LEPIDUS	Worthily spoken, Maecenas.
ENOBARBUS	Or if you borrow one another’s love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again. You shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.
ANTONY	Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.
ENOBARBUS	That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.
ANTONY	You wrong this presence, therefore speak no more. ENOBARBUS Go to, then; your considerate stone.
CAESAR	I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech, for’t cannot be We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So diff‘ring in their acts. Yet if I knew What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to edge O’th’ world I would pursue it.
AGRIPPA	Give me leave, Caesar.
CAESAR	Speak, Agrippa.
AGRIPPA	Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side, Admired Octavia. Great Mark Antony Is now a widower.
CAESAR	Say not so, Agrippa. If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserved of rashness.
ANTONY	I am not married, Caesar. Let me hear Agrippa further speak.
AGRIPPA	To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men; Whose virtue and whose general graces speak That which none else can utter. By this marriage All little jealousies which now seem great, And all great fears which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both Would each to other and all loves to both Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke, For ’tis a studied, not a present thought, By duty ruminated.
ANTONY	Will Caesar speak?
CAESAR	Not till he hears how Antony is touched With what is spoke already.
ANTONY	What power is in Agrippa, If I would say ‘Agrippa, be it so’, To make this good?
CAESAR	The power of Caesar, And his power unto Octavia.
ANTONY	May I never To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand. Further this act of grace, and from this hour The heart of brothers govern in our loves And sway our great designs.
CAESAR	There’s my hand. Antony and Caesar clasp hands A sister I bequeath you whom no brother Did ever love so dearly. Let her live To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again.
LEPIDUS	Happily, amen.
ANTONY	I did not think to draw my sword ’gainst Pompey, For he hath laid strange courtesies and great Of late upon me. I must thank him only, Lest my remembrance suffer ill report; At heel of that, defy him.
LEPIDUS	Time calls upon’s. Of us must Pompey presently be sought, Or else he seeks out us.
ANTONY	Where lies he?
CAESAR	About the Mount Misena.
ANTONY	What is his strength By land?
CAESAR	Great and increasing, but by sea He is an absolute master.
ANTONY	So is the fame. Would we had spoke together. Haste we for it; Yet ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talked of.
CAESAR	With most gladness, And do invite you to my sister’s view, Whither straight I’ll lead you.
ANTONY	Let us, Lepidus, Not lack your company.
LEPIDUS	Noble Antony, Not sickness should detain me.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Exeunt all but Enobarbus, Agrippa, and Maecenas
MAECENAS	(to Enobarbus) Welcome from Egypt, sir.
ENOBARBUS	Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa!
AGRIPPA	Good Enobarbus!
MAECENAS	We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by’t in Egypt.
ENOBARBUS	Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.
MAECENAS	Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast and but twelve persons there—is this true?
ENOBARBUS	This was but as a fly by an eagle. We had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.
MAECENAS	She’s a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.
ENOBARBUS	When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydnus. AGRiPPA There she appeared indeed, or my reporter devised well for her.
ENOBARBUS	I will tell you. The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed that The winds were love-sick with them. The oars were silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made The water which they beat to follow faster, As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, It beggared all description. She did lie In her pavilion—cloth of gold, of tissue— O’er-picturing that Venus where we see The fancy outwork nature. On each side her Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, With divers-coloured fans whose wind did seem To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, And what they undid did.
AGRIPPA	O, rare for Antony!
ENOBARBUS	Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i‘th’ eyes, And made their bends adornings. At the helm A seeming mermaid steers. The silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her, and Antony, Enthroned i’th’ market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to th’air, which but for vacancy Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature.
AGRIPPA	Rare Egyptian!
ENOBARBUS	Upon her landing Antony sent to her, Invited her to supper. She replied It should be better he became her guest, Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony, Whom ne‘er the word of ‘No’ woman heard speak, Being barbered ten times o’er, goes to the feast, And for his ordinary pays his heart For what his eyes eat only.
AGRIPPA	Royal wench! She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed. He ploughed her, and she cropped.
ENOBARBUS	I saw her once Hop forty paces through the public street, And having lost her breath, she spoke and panted, That she did make defect perfection, And breathless, pour breath forth.
MAECENAS	Now Antony Must leave her utterly.
ENOBARBUS	Never. He will not. Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Other women cloy The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies. For vilest things Become themselves in her, that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish.
MAECENAS	If beauty, wisdom, modesty can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A blessed lottery to him.
AGRIPPA	Let us go. Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest Whilst you abide here.
ENOBARBUS	Humbly, sir, I thank you.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 3

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Caesar; Octavia between them
ANTONY	The world and my great office will sometimes Divide me from your bosom.
OCTAVIA	All which time, Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you.
ANTONY	Good night, sir. My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world’s report. I have not kept my square, but that to come Shall all be done by th’ rule. Good night, dear lady. Good night, sir.
CAESAR	Good night.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Caesar and Octavia
(didascalia)	Enter Soothsayer
ANTONY	Now, sirrah. You do wish yourself in Egypt?
SOOTHSAYER	Would I had never come from thence, nor you Gone thither.
ANTONY	If you can, your reason?
SOOTHSAYER	I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue. But yet hie you to Egypt again.
ANTONY	Say to me Whose fortunes shall rise higher: Caesar’s or mine?
SOOTHSAYER	Caesar’s. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side. Thy daemon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, Where Caesar’s is not. But near him thy angel Becomes afeard, as being o’erpowered. Therefore Make space enough between you.
ANTONY	Speak this no more.
SOOTHSAYER	To none but thee; no more but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck He beats thee ‘gainst the odds. Thy lustre thickens When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But he away, ’tis noble.
ANTONY	Get thee gone. Say to Ventidius I would speak with him.
(didascalia)	Exit Soothsayer
ANTONY	He shall to Parthia; be it art or hap, He hath spoken true. The very dice obey him, And in our sports my better cunning faints Under his chance. If we draw lots, he speeds. His cocks do win the battle still of mine When it is all to nought, and his quails ever Beat mine, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt; And though I make this marriage for my peace, I’th’ East my pleasure lies.
(didascalia)	Enter Ventidius
ANTONY	O, come, Ventidius. You must to Parthia, your commission’s ready. Follow me, and receive’t.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 4

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lepidus, Maecenas, and Agrippa
LEPIDUS	Trouble yourselves no further. Pray you, hasten Your generals after.
AGRIPPA	Sir, Mark Antony Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow.
LEPIDUS	Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress, Which will become you both, farewell.
MAECENAS	We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount Before you, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS	Your way is shorter. My purposes do draw me much about. You’ll win two days upon me.
MAECENAS	and
AGRIPPA	Sir, good success.
LEPIDUS	Farewell.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Maecenas and Agrippa at one door, Lepidus at another

Atto 2, Scena 5

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Give me some music—music, moody food Of us that trade in love. CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS The music, ho!
(didascalia)	Enter Mardian, the eunuch
CLEOPATRA	Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN	My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA	As well a woman with an eunuch played As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN	As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA	And when good will is showed, though’t come too short The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now. Give me mine angle. We’ll to th’ river. There, My music playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up I’ll think them every one an Antony, And say ‘Ah ha, you’re caught!’
CHARMIAN	’Twas merry when You wagered on your angling, when your diver Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA	That time—O times!— I laughed him out of patience, and that night I laughed him into patience, and next morn, Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed, Then put my tires and mantles on him whilst I wore his sword Philippan.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
CLEOPATRA	O, from Italy. Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, That long time have been barren.
MESSENGER	Madam, madam!
CLEOPATRA	Antonio’s dead. If thou say so, villain, Thou kill’st thy mistress; but well and free, If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here My bluest veins to kiss—a hand that kings Have lipped, and trembled kissing.
MESSENGER	First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA	Why, there’s more gold. But, sirrah, mark: we use To say the dead are well. Bring it to that, The gold I give thee will I melt and pour Down thy ill-uttering throat.
MESSENGER	Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA	Well, go to, I will. But there’s no goodness in thy face. If Antony Be free and healthful, so tart a favour To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes, Not like a formal man.
MESSENGER	Will’t please you hear me?
CLEOPATRA	I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st. Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well, Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, I’ll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail Rich pearls upon thee.
MESSENGER	Madam, he’s well.
CLEOPATRA	Well said.
MESSENGER	And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA	Thou’rt an honest man.
MESSENGER	Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA	Make thee a fortune from me.
MESSENGER	But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA	I do not like ‘But yet’; it does allay The good precedence. Fie upon ‘But yet’. ‘But yet’ is as a jailer to bring forth Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, The good and bad together. He’s friends with Caesar, In state of health, thou sayst; and, thou sayst, free.
MESSENGER	Free, madam? No, I made no such report. He’s bound unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	For what good turn?
MESSENGER	For the best turn i’th’ bed.
CLEOPATRA	I am pale, Charmian.
MESSENGER	Madam, he’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	The most infectious pestilence upon thee! She strikes him down
MESSENGER	Good madam, patience!
CLEOPATRA	What say you? She strikes him Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me. I’ll unhair thy head, She hales him up and down Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine, Smarting in ling’ring pickle.
MESSENGER	Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA	Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee, And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage, And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg.
MESSENGER	He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA	Rogue, thou hast lived too long. She draws a knife
MESSENGER	Nay then, I’ll run. What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. Exit
CHARMIAN	Good madam, keep yourself within yourself. The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA	Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt. Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again. Though I am mad I will not bite him. Call!
CHARMIAN	He is afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA	I will not hurt him.
(didascalia)	Exit Charmian
CLEOPATRA	These hands do lack nobility that they strike A meaner than myself, since I myself Have given myself the cause.
(didascalia)	Enter the Messenger again With Charmian Come hither, sir.
CLEOPATRA	Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell Themselves when they be felt.
MESSENGER	I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA	Is he married? I cannot hate thee worser than I do If thou again say ‘Yes’.
MESSENGER	He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA	The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?
MESSENGER	Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA	O, I would thou didst, So half my Egypt were submerged and made A cistern for scaled snakes. Go, get thee hence. Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
MESSENGER	I crave your highness’ pardon.
CLEOPATRA	He is married?
MESSENGER	Take no offence that I would not offend you. To punish me for what you make me do Seems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	O that his fault should make a knave of thee, That act not what thou‘rt sure of! Get thee hence. The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by ’em.
(didascalia)	Exit Messenger
CHARMIAN	Good your highness, patience.
CLEOPATRA	In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN	Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA	I am paid for’t now. Lead me from hence. I faint. O Iras, Charmian—’tis no matter. Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him Report the feature of Octavia: her years, Her inclination; let him not leave out The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
(didascalia)	Exit Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Let him for ever go—let him not, Charmian; Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
(didascalia)	The other way’s a Mars. To Mardian Bid you Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 6

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door, with a drummer and a trumpeter; at another, Caesar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, Agrippa, with soldiers marching
POMPEY	Your hostages I have, so have you mine, And we shall talk before we fight.
CAESAR	Most meet That first we come to words, and therefore have we Our written purposes before us sent, Which if thou hast considered, let us know If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword And carry back to Sicily much tall youth That else must perish here.
POMPEY	To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the gods: I do not know Wherefore my father should revengers want, Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. What was’t That moved pale Cassius to conspire? And what Made the all-honoured, honest Roman Brutus, With the armed rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom, To drench the Capitol but that they would Have one man but a man? And that is it Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burden The angered ocean foams; with which I meant To scourge th’ingratitude that despiteful Rome Cast on my noble father.
CAESAR	Take your time.
ANTONY	Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails. We’ll speak with thee at sea. At land thou know’st How much we do o’ercount thee.
POMPEY	At land indeed Thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house, But since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in’t as thou mayst.
LEPIDUS	Be pleased to tell us— For this is from the present—how you take The offers we have sent you.
CAESAR	There’s the point.
ANTONY	Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth, embraced.
CAESAR	And what may follow, To try a larger fortune?
POMPEY	You have made me offer Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send Measures of wheat to Rome; this ’greed upon, To part with unhacked edges, and bear back Our targes undinted. CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS That’s our offer.
POMPEY	Know, then, I came before you here a man prepared To take this offer. But Mark Antony Put me to some impatience. Though I lose The praise of it by telling, you must know, When Caesar and your brother were at blows, Your mother came to Sicily, and did find Her welcome friendly.
ANTONY	I have heard it, Pompey, And am well studied for a liberal thanks Which I do owe you.
POMPEY	Let me have your hand. Pompey and Antony shake hands I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
ANTONY	The beds i’th’ East are soft; and thanks to you, That called me timelier than my purpose hither; For I have gained by’t.
CAESAR	(to Pompey) Since I saw you last There is a change upon you.
POMPEY	Well, I know not What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face, But in my bosom shall she never come To make my heart her vassal.
LEPIDUS	Well met here.
POMPEY	I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed. I crave our composition may be written And sealed between us.
CAESAR	That’s the next to do.
POMPEY	We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s Draw lots who shall begin.
ANTONY	That will I, Pompey.
POMPEY	No, Antony, take the lot. But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar Grew fat with feasting there.
ANTONY	You have heard much.
POMPEY	I have fair meanings, sir.
ANTONY	And fair words to them.
POMPEY	Then so much have I heard, And I have heard Apollodorus carried—
ENOBARBUS	No more o’ that, he did so.
POMPEY	What, I pray you?
ENOBARBUS	A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
POMPEY	I know thee now. How far’st thou, soldier?
ENOBARBUS	Well, and well am like to do, for I perceive Four feasts are toward.
POMPEY	Let me shake thy hand. Pompey and Enobarbus shake hands I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight When I have envied thy behaviour.
ENOBARBUS	Sir, I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised ye When you have well deserved ten times as much As I have said you did.
POMPEY	Enjoy thy plainness. It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all. Will you lead, lords? CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS Show’s the way, sir.
POMPEY	Come.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas
MENAS	(aside) Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this treaty. (To Enobarbus) You and I have known, sir.
ENOBARBUS	At sea, I think.
MENAS	We have, sir.
ENOBARBUS	You have done well by water.
MENAS	And you by land.
ENOBARBUS	I will praise any man that will praise me, though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.
MENAS	Nor what I have done by water.
ENOBARBUS	Yes, something you can deny for your own safety. You have been a great thief by sea.
MENAS	And you by land.
ENOBARBUS	There I deny my land service; but give me your hand, Menas. If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing. They shake hands
MENAS	All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.
ENOBARBUS	But there is never a fair woman has a true face.
MENAS	No slander; they steal hearts.
ENOBARBUS	We came hither to fight with you.
MENAS	For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.
ENOBARBUS	If he do, sure he cannot weep’t back again.
MENAS	You’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?
ENOBARBUS	Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.
MENAS	True, sir. She was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
ENOBARBUS	But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
MENAS	Pray ye, sir?
ENOBARBUS	’Tis true.
MENAS	Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
ENOBARBUS	If I were bound to divine of this unity I would not prophesy so.
MENAS	I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.
ENOBARBUS	I think so, too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.
MENAS	Who would not have his wife so?
ENOBARBUS	Not he that himself is not so, which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again; then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is. He married but his occasion here.
MENAS	And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.
ENOBARBUS	I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats in Egypt.
MENAS	Come, let’s away.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 2, Scena 7

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Music plays. Enter two or three Servants with a banquet
FIRST SERVANT	Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill rooted already; the least wind i’th’ world will blow them down.
SECOND SERVANT	Lepidus is high-coloured.
FIRST SERVANT	They have made him drink alms-drink.
SECOND SERVANT	As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out ‘No more!’—reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.
FIRST SERVANT	But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.
SECOND SERVANT	Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
FIRST SERVANT	To be called into a huge sphere and not to be seen to move in’t, are the holes where eyes should be which pitifully disaster the cheeks.
(didascalia)	A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Maecenas,.Enobarbus, and Menas, with other captains and a boy
ANTONY	(to Caesar) Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’th’ Nile By certain scales i’th’ pyramid. They know By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells The more it promises; as it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest.
LEPIDUS	You’ve strange serpents there?
ANTONY	Ay, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS	Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.
ANTONY	They are so.
POMPEY	Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!
(didascalia)	Antony, Pompey, and Lepidus sit
LEPIDUS	I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.
ENOBARBUS	Not till you have slept—I fear me you’ll be in till then.
LEPIDUS	Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things: without contradiction I have heard that.
MENAS	(aside to Pompey) Pompey, a word.
POMPEY	(aside to Menas) Say in mine ear; what is’t?
MENAS	(aside to Pompey) Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, And hear me speak a word.
POMPEY	(aside to Menas) Forbear me till anon. (Aloud) This wine for Lepidus! Menas whispers in Pompey’s ear
LEPIDUS	What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
ANTONY	It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves with it own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.
LEPIDUS	What colour is it of?
ANTONY	Of it own colour, too.
LEPIDUS	’Tis a strange serpent.
ANTONY	’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
CAESAR	(to Antony) Will this description satisfy him?
ANTONY	With the health that Pompey gives him; else he is a very epicure.
POMPEY	(aside to Menas) Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away, Do as I bid you. (Aloud) Where’s this cup I called for?
MENAS	(aside to Pompey) If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rise from thy stool.
(didascalia)	POMPEY rising I think thou’rt mad. The matter?
(didascalia)	Menas and Pompey stand apart
MENAS	I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
POMPEY	Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say? Be jolly, lords.
ANTONY	These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink.
MENAS	Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
POMPEY	What sayst thou?
MENAS	Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.
POMPEY	How should that be?
MENAS	But entertain it And, though thou think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.
POMPEY	Hast thou drunk well?
MENAS	No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar‘st be, the earthly Jove. Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips Is thine, if thou wilt ha’t.
POMPEY	Show me which way!
MENAS	These three world-sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable; And when we are put off, fall to their throats. All there is thine.
POMPEY	Ah, this thou shouldst have done And not have spoke on’t. In me ‘tis villainy, In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown, I should have found it afterwards well done, But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink. He returns to the others
MENAS	(aside) For this, I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more. Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered, Shall never find it more.
POMPEY	This health to Lepidus!
ANTONY	Bear him ashore.—I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.
ENOBARBUS	Here’s to thee, Menas!
MENAS	Enobarbus, welcome.
POMPEY	Fill till the cup be hid. One lifts Lepidus, drunk, and carries him off
ENOBARBUS	There’s a strong fellow, Menas.
MENAS	Why? 86
ENOBARBUS	A bears the third part of the world, man; seest not?
MENAS	The third part then is drunk. Would it were all, That it might go on wheels.
ENOBARBUS	Drink thou, increase the reels.
MENAS	Come.
POMPEY	This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
ANTONY	It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho! Here’s to Caesar!
CAESAR	I could well forbear’t. It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain, An it grow fouler.
ANTONY	Be a child o’th’ time.
CAESAR	Possess it, I’ll make answer. But I had rather fast from all, four days, Than drink so much in one.
ENOBARBUS	(to Antony) Ha, my brave Emperor, Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals, And celebrate our drink?
POMPEY	Let’s ha’t, good soldier.
ANTONY	Come, let’s all take hands Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense In soft and delicate Lethe.
ENOBARBUS	All take hands. Make battery to our ears with the loud music. The while I’ll place you, then the boy shall sing. The holding every man shall beat as loud As his strong sides can volley.
(didascalia)	Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand
(didascalia)	Boy (sings)
ENOBARBUS	Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drowned, With thy grapes our hairs be crowned! Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round!
CAESAR	What would you more? Pompey, good night. (To Antony) Good-brother, Let me request you off. Our graver business Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let’s part. You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night. Good Antony, your hand.
POMPEY	I’ll try you on the shore.
ANTONY	And shall, sir. Give’s your hand.
POMPEY	O Antony, You have my father’s house. But what, we are friends! Come down into the boat.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas
ENOBARBUS	Take heed you fall not, Menas.
MENAS	I’ll not on shore. No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes, what! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out!
(didascalia)	Sound a flourish, with drums
ENOBARBUS	(throwing his cap in the air) Hoo, says a! There’s my cap.
MENAS	Ho, noble captain, come!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Ventidius, with Silius and other Roman soldiers, as it were in triumph; 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 4’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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 green-sickness.
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.
(didascalia)	Trumpet within
ENOBARBUS	So, This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
AGRIPPA	Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell.
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia
ANTONY	(to Caesar) 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	(weeping) 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. She whispers to Caesar
ANTONY	Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can Her heart inform her tongue—the swan’-down feather, That stands upon the swell at 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’, till I wept 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 (embracing Caesar); 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. He kisses Octavia
ANTONY	Farewell.
(didascalia)	Trumpets sound. Exeunt Antony, Octavia, and Enobarbus at one door, Caesar, Lepidus, and Agrippa at another

Atto 3, Scena 3

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Where is the fellow?
ALEXAS	Half afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA	Go to, go to.
(didascalia)	Enter the Messenger as before
CLEOPATRA	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? (To the Messenger) 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, ’is impossible!
CLEOPATRA	I think so, Charmian. Dull of tongue, and dwarfish. What majesty is in her gait? Remember If e‘er thou looked’st 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 judgement.
CHARMIAN	Excellent.
CLEOPATRA	(to the Messenger) 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	(giving money) 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.
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 4

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 5

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 chops, 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

Atto 3, Scena 6

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 the 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.
(didascalia)	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 stol’n 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 obstruct ’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 Malchus 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, makes 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!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 7

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 sayst 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?
(didascalia)	ENOBARBUS aside Well, I could reply
CLEOPATRA	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.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Camidius
ENOBARBUS	Nay, I have done. Here comes the Emperor.
ANTONY	Is it not strange, Camidius, That from Tarentum and Brundisium 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. Camidius, we Will fight with him by sea.
CLEOPATRA	By sea—what else?
CAMIDIUS	Why will my lord do so?
ANTONY	For that he dares us to’t.
ENOBARBUS	So hath my lord dared him to single fight.
CAMIDIUS	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 muleters, reapers, people 35 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.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
ANTONY	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. Camidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship. Away, my Thetis!
(didascalia)	Enter a Soldier
ANTONY	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!
(didascalia)	Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus
SOLDIER	By Hercules, I think I am i’th’ right.
CAMIDIUS	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?
CAMIDIUS	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.
CAMIDIUS	Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?
SOLDIER	They say, one Taurus.
CAMIDIUS	Well I know the man.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	The Emperor calls Camidius.
CAMIDIUS	With news the time’s in labour, and throws forth Each minute some.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 8

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar with his army, marching, and Taurus CAESAR Taurus!
TAURUS	My lord?
CAESAR	Strike not by land. Keep whole. Provoke not battle Till we have done at sea. (Giving a scroll) Do not exceed The prescript of this scroll. Our fortune lies Upon this jump.
(didascalia)	Exit Caesar and his army at one door, Taurus at another

Atto 3, Scena 9

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 10

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Camidius marcheth with his land army over the stage, and taurus, the lieutenant of caesar, with his
NOBARBUS	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.
(didascalia)	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 riband-red 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 breese 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 luffed, 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!
(didascalia)	Enter Camidius
CAMIDIUS	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!
CAMIDIUS	Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
SCARUS	’Tis easy to’t, and there I will attend What further comes.
CAMIDIUS	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt severally

Atto 3, Scena 11

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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.
ATTENDANTS	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 seaside 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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt attendants
ANTONY	He sits down.
(didascalia)	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! She sits down
ANTONY	No, no, no, no, no.
EROS	(to Antony) 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.
(didascalia)	CLEOPATRA (rising, to Charmian and Iras) Ah, stand by.
EROS	The Queen, my lord, the Queen.
IRAS	Go to him, madam. Speak to him. He’s 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.
(didascalia)	ANTONY rising
EROS	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. He kisses her Even this repays me. (To an Attendant) We sent our schoolmaster; Is a come back? (To Cleopatra) Love, I am full of lead. (Calling) Some wine
(didascalia)	Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
ANTONY	We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 3, Scena 12

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar, Agrippa, Thidias, and 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Ambassador from Antony
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-disgracèd 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.
(didascalia)	Exit Ambassador, attended
CAESAR	(To Thidias) To try thy eloquence now ‘tis time. Dispatch. From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise, And in our name, what she requires. Add more As thine invention offers. Women are not In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure The ne’er-touched 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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Caesar and his train at one door, and Thidias at another

Atto 3, Scena 13

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 mooted question. ’Twas a shame no less Than was his loss, to course your flying flags And leave his navy gazing.
CLEOPATRA	Prithee, peace.
(didascalia)	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 Cleopatra) 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 the Ambassador) 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 caparisons apart And answer me declined, sword against sword, Ourselves alone. I’ll write it. Follow me.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Antony and Ambassador
ENOBARBUS	(aside) Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will Unstate his happiness and be staged to th’ show Against a sworder! I see men’s judgements 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 judgement, too.
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	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 fall’n lord Does conquer him that did his master conquer, And earns a place i’th’ story.
(didascalia)	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. (To Cleopatra) 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 embraced not Antony As you did love, but as you feared him.
CLEOPATRA	0.
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.
(didascalia)	Exit
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 your self 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 Till 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. He kisses Cleopatra’s 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.
(didascalia)	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	You will be whipped.
ANTONY	(calling) 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.
(didascalia)	Enter servants
ANTONY	Take hence this jack, and whip him.
(didascalia)	ENOBARBUS aside to Thidias
ANTONY	’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 whipped, Bring him again. This jack of Caesar’s shall Bear us an errand to him.
(didascalia)	Exeunt servants with Thidias
ANTONY	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 seel our eyes, In our own filth drop our clear judgements, 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 Gnaeus Pompey’s, besides what hotter hours Unregistered in vulgar fame you have Luxuriously picked 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 hornèd 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.
(didascalia)	Enter a Servant with Thidias
ANTONY	Is he whipped?
SERVANT	Soundly, my lord.
ANTONY	Cried he, and begged a pardon?
SERVANT	He did ask favour.
ANTONY	(to Thidias) 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’abyss of hell. If he mislike My speech and what is done, tell him he has Hipparchus, my enfranchèd 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!
(didascalia)	Exit Servant with Thidias
CLEOPATRA	Have you done yet?
ANTONY	Alack, our terrene moon Is now eclipsed, and it portends alone The fall of Antony.
CLEOPATRA	(aside) 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 to’ve 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.
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exit

Atto 4, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar, reading a letter, with Agrippa, Maecenas, and his army
CAESAR	He calls me boy, and chides as he had power To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger He hath whipped with rods, dares me to personal combat, Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know I have many other ways to die; meantime, Laugh at his challenge.
MAECENAS	Caesar 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.
CAESAR	Let our best heads Know that tomorrow the last of many battles We mean to fight. Within our files there are, Of those that served 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 earned the waste. Poor Antony!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, with others
ANTONY	He will not fight with me, Domitius?
ENOBARBUS	No.
ANTONY	Why should he not?
ENOBARBUS	He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one.
ANTONY	Tomorrow, 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. Woot thou fight well?
ENOBARBUS	I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all!’
ANTONY	Well said. Come on! Call forth my household servants. Let’s tonight Be bounteous at our meal.
(didascalia)	Enter Servitors
ANTONY	Give me thy hand. Thou hast been rightly honest; so hast thou, Thou, and thou, and thou; you have served me well, And kings have been your fellows.
CLEOPATRA	(to Enobarbus) What means this?
ENOBARBUS	(to Cleopatra) ’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots Out of the mind.
ANTONY	(to a Servitor) And thou art honest too. I wish I could be made so many men, And all of you clapped up together in An Antony, that I might do you service So good as you have done.
SERVITORS	The gods forbid!
ANTONY	Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight. Scant not my cups, and make as much of me As when mine empire was your fellow too, And suffered my command.
CLEOPATRA	(aside to Enobarbus) What does he mean?
ENOBARBUS	(aside to Cleopatra) To make his followers weep.
ANTONY	Tend me tonight. Maybe it is the period of your duty. Haply you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrow 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 Married to your good service, stay till death. Tend me tonight two hours. I ask no more; And the gods yield you for’t!
ENOBARBUS	What mean you, sir, To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep, And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame, Transform us not to women.
ANTONY	Ho, ho, ho, 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, I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead you Where rather I’ll expect victorious life Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come, And drown consideration.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 3

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter
(didascalia)	a company of Soldiers
FIRST SOLDIER	Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.
SECOND SOLDIER	It will determine one way. Fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?
FIRST SOLDIER	Nothing. What news?
SECOND SOLDIER	Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you.
FIRST SOLDIER	Well, sir, good night.
(didascalia)	Enter other Soldiers, meeting them
SECOND SOLDIER	Soldiers, have careful watch.
THIRD SOLDIER	And you. Good night, good night. They place themselves in every corner of the stage
SECOND SOLDIER	Here we; an if tomorrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope Our landmen will stand up.
FIRST SOLDIER	’Tis a brave army, And full of purpose.
(didascalia)	Music of the hautboys is under the stage
SECOND SOLDIER	Peace, what noise?
FIRST SOLDIER	List, list!
SECOND SOLDIER	Hark!
FIRST SOLDIER	Music i’th’ air.
THIRD SOLDIER	Under the earth.
FOURTH SOLDIER	It signs well, does it not?
THIRD SOLDIER	No.
FIRST SOLDIER	Peace, I say! What should this mean?
SECOND SOLDIER	’Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved, Now leaves him.
FIRST SOLDIER	Walk. Let’s see if other watchmen Do hear what we do.
SECOND SOLDIER	How now, masters?
ALL	(speaking together) How now? How now? Do you hear this?
FIRST SOLDIER	Ay. Is’t not strange?
THIRD SOLDIER	Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?
FIRST SOLDIER	Follow the noise so far as we have quarter. Let’s see how it will give off.
ALL	Content. ’Tis strange.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 4

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with Charmian and others
ANTONY	(calling) Eros, mine armour, Eros!
CLEOPATRA	Sleep a little.
ANTONY	No, my chuck. Eros, come, mine armour, Eros!
(didascalia)	Enter Eros with armour
ANTONY	Come, good fellow, put thine iron on. If fortune be not ours today, it is Because we brave her. Come.
CLEOPATRA	Nay, I’ll help, too. What’s this for?
ANTONY	Ah, let be, let be! Thou art The armourer of my heart. False, false! This, this!
CLEOPATRA	Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be. She helps Antony to arm
ANTONY	Well, well, We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow? Go put on thy defences.
EROS	Briefly, sir.
CLEOPATRA	Is not this buckled well?
ANTONY	Rarely, rarely. 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 couldst see my wars today, and knew’st The royal occupation! Thou shouldst see A workman in’t.
(didascalia)	Enter an armed Soldier
ANTONY	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.
SOLDIER	A thousand, sir, Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim, And at the port expect you.
(didascalia)	Shout within. Trumpets flourish. Enter Captains and Soldiers
CAPTAIN	The morn is fair. Good morrow, General.
SOLDIERS	Good morrow, General.
ANTONY	’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. He kisses Cleopatra 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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Cleopatra and Charmian
CHARMIAN	Please you retire to your chamber?
CLEOPATRA	Lead me. He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might Determine this great war in single fight! Then, Antony—but now! Well, on.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 5

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros, meeting a Soldier
SOLDIER	The gods make this a happy day to Antony!
ANTONY	Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed To make me fight at land!
SOLDIER	Hadst thou done so, The kings that have revolted, and the soldier That has this morning left thee, would have still Followed thy heels.
ANTONY	Who’s gone this morning?
SOLDIER	Who? One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp Say ‘I am none of thine’.
ANTONY	What sayest thou?
SOLDIER	Sir, he is with Caesar.
EROS	(to Antony) Sir, his chests and treasure He has not with him.
ANTONY	Is he gone?
SOLDIER	Most certain.
ANTONY	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 15 To change a master. O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men! Dispatch. Enobarbus!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 6

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar, witih Enobarbus and Dolabella
CAESAR	Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight. Our will is Antony be took alive. Make it so known.
AGRIPPA	Caesar, I shall.
(didascalia)	Exit
CAESAR	The time of universal peace is near. Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked world Shall bear the olive freely.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	Antony Is come into the field.
CAESAR	Go charge Agrippa Plant those that have revolted in the van, That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. 10
(didascalia)	Exeunt Messenger at one door, Caesar and Dolabella at another
ENOBARBUS	Alexas did revolt, and went to Jewry on Affairs of Antony; there did dissuade Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar And leave his master, Antony. For this pains, Caesar hath hanged him. Camidius and the rest 15 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.
(didascalia)	Enter a Soldier of Caesar’s
SOLDIER	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.
ENOBARBUS	I give it you.
SOLDIER	Mock not, Enobarbus, 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.
(didascalia)	Exit
ENOBARBUS	I am alone the villain of the earth, And feel I am so most. O Antony, Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart. If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do‘t, I feel. I fight against thee? No, I will go seek Some ditch wherein to die. The foul’st best fits My latter part of life.
(didascalia)	Exit

Atto 4, Scena 7

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Alarum. Enter Agrippa with drummers and trumpeters
AGRIPPA	Retire! We have engaged our selves too far. Caesar himself has work, and our oppression Exceeds what we expected.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 8

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Alarums. Enter Antony, and Scarus wounded
SCARUS	O my brave Emperor, this is fought indeed! Had we done so at first, we had droven them home With clouts about their heads.
ANTONY	Thou bleed’st apace.
SCARUS	I had a wound here that was like a T, But now ’tis made an H.
(didascalia)	Retreat sounded far off
ANTONY	They do retire.
SCARUS	We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have yet Room for six scotches more.
(didascalia)	Enter Eros
EROS	They are beaten, sir, and our advantage serves For a fair victory.
SCARUS	Let us score their backs And snatch ‘em up as we take hares, behind. ’Tis sport to maul a runner.
ANTONY	(to Eros) I will reward thee Once for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfold For thy good valour. Come thee on.
SCARUS	I’ll halt after.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 9

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Alarum. Enter Antony again in a march; drummers and trumpeters; Scarus, with others
ANTONY	We have beat him to his camp. Run one before, And let the Queen know of our gests.
(didascalia)	Exit a soldier
ANTONY	Tomorrow, Before the sun shall see’s, we’ll spill the blood That has today escaped. I thank you all, For doughty-handed are you, and have fought Not as you served the cause, but as’t had been Each man’s like mine. You have shown all Hectors.
(didascalia)	Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
ANTONY	Tell them your feats whilst they with joyful tears Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss The honoured gashes whole.
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra
ANTONY	(To Scarus) Give me thy hand. To this great fairy I’ll commend thy acts, Make her thanks bless thee. (To Cleopatra, embracing her) O’thou day o’th’ world, Chain mine armed neck; leap thou, attire and all, Through proof of harness to my heart, and there Ride on the pants triumphing.
CLEOPATRA	Lord of lords! O infinite virtue, com’st thou smiling from The world’s great snare uncaught?
ANTONY	My nightingale, We have beat them to their beds. What, girl, though grey Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha’ we 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. Scarus kisses Cleopatra’s hand He hath fought today As if a god, in hate of mankind, had Destroyed in such a shape.
CLEOPATRA	I’ll give thee, friend, An armour all of gold. It was a king’s.
ANTONY	He has deserved it, were it carbuncled Like holy Phoebus’ car. Give me thy hand. Through Alexandria make a jolly march. Bear our hacked targets like the men that owe them. Had our great palace the capacity To camp this host, we all would sup together And drink carouses to the next day’s fate, Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters, With brazen din blast you the city’s ear; Make mingle with our rattling taborins, That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together, Applauding our approach.
(didascalia)	Trumpets sound. Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 10

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter a Sentry and his company; Enobarbus follows
SENTRY	If we be not relieved within this hour We must return to th’ court of guard. The night Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle By th’ second hour i’th’ morn.
FIRST WATCH	This last day was A shrewd one to’s.
ENOBARBUS	O bear me witness, night—
SECOND WATCH	What man is this?
FIRST WATCH	Stand close, and list him.
ENOBARBUS	Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon, When men revolted shall upon record Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did Before thy face repent.
SENTRY	Enobarbus?
SECOND WATCH	Peace; hark further.
ENOBARBUS	O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me, That life, a very rebel to my will, May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart Against the flint and hardness of my fault, Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder, And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony, Nobler than my revolt is infamous, Forgive me in thine own particular, But let the world rank me in register A master-leaver and a fugitive. O Antony! O Antony! He dies
FIRST WATCH	Let’s speak to him.
SENTRY	Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks May concern Caesar.
SECOND WATCH	Let’s do so. But he sleeps.
SENTRY	Swoons, rather; for so bad a prayer as his Was never yet for sleep.
FIRST WATCH	Go we to him.
SECOND WATCH	Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.
FIRST WATCH	Hear you, sir?
SENTRY	The hand of death hath raught him.
(didascalia)	Drums afar off
SENTRY	Hark, the drums Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him To th’ court of guard; he is of note. Our hour Is fully out.
SECOND WATCH	Come on, then. He may recover yet.
(didascalia)	Exeunt with the body

Atto 4, Scena 11

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Scarus with their army
ANTONY	Their preparation is today by sea; We please them not by land.
SCARUS	For both, my lord.
ANTONY	I would they’d fight i‘th’ fire or i’th’ air; We’d fight there too. But this it is: our foot Upon the hills adjoining to the city Shall stay with us. Order for sea is given. They have put forth the haven— Where their appointment we may best discover, And look on their endeavour.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 12

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar and his army
CAESAR	But being charged, we will be still by land— Which, as I take’t, we shall, for his best force Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, And hold our best advantage.
(didascalia)	Exeunt
(didascalia)	4.13 Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight. Enter Antony and Scarus
ANTONY	Yet they are not joined. Where yon pine does stand I shall discover all. I’ll bring thee word Straight how ’tis like to go.
(didascalia)	Exit
SCARUS	Swallows have built In Cleopatra’s sails their nests. The augurs Say they know not, they cannot tell, look grimly, And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony Is valiant, and dejected, and by starts His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear Of what he has and has not.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony
ANTONY	All is lost. This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me. My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonder They cast their caps up, and carouse together Like friends long lost. Triple-turned whore! ’Tis thou Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly; For when I am revenged upon my charm, I have done all. Bid them all fly. Be gone.
(didascalia)	Exit Scarus
ANTONY	O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more. Fortune and Antony part here; even here Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts That spanieled me at heels, to whom I gave Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is barked That overtopped them all. Betrayed I am. O this false soul of Egypt! This grave charm, Whose eye becked forth my wars and called them home, Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end, Like a right gipsy hath at fast and loose Beguiled me to the very heart of loss. What, Eros, Eros!
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra
ANTONY	Ah, thou spell! Avaunt.
CLEOPATRA	Why is my lord enraged against his love?
ANTONY	Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving And blemish Caesar’s triumph. Let him take thee And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians; Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot Of all thy sex; most monster-like be shown For poor’st diminutives, for dolts, and let Patient Octavia plough thy visage up With her prepared nails.
(didascalia)	Exit Cleopatra
ANTONY	’Tis well thou’rt gone, If it be well to live. But better ’twere Thou fell’st into my fury, for one death Might have prevented many. Eros, ho! The shirt of Nessus is upon me. Teach me, Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage. Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o’th’ moon, And with those hands that grasped the heaviest club Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die. To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall Under this plot. She dies for’t. Eros, ho!
(didascalia)	Exit

Atto 4, Scena 14

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, Mardian
CLEOPATRA	Help me, my women! O, he’s more mad Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly Was never so embossed.
CHARMIAN	To th’ monument! There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead. The soul and body rive not more in parting Than greatness going off.
CLEOPATRA	To th’ monument! Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself. Say that the last I spoke was ‘Antony’, And word it, prithee, piteously. Hence, Mardian, And bring me how he takes my death. To th’ monument!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 4, Scena 15

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Eros
ANTONY	Eros, thou yet behold’st me?
EROS	Ay, noble lord.
ANTONY	Sometime we see a cloud that’s dragonish, A vapour sometime like a bear or lion, A towered citadel, a pendent rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon’t that nod unto the world And mock our eyes with air. Thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper’s pageants.
EROS	Ay, my lord.
ANTONY	That which is now a horse even with a thought The rack distains, and makes it indistinct As water is in water.
EROS	It does, my lord.
ANTONY	My good knave Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body. Here I am Antony, Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. I made these wars for Egypt, and the Queen— Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine, Which whilst it was mine had annexed unto’t A million more, now lost—she, Eros, has Packed cards with Caesar, and false-played my glory Unto an enemy’s triumph. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left us Ourselves to end ourselves.
(didascalia)	Enter Mardian
ANTONY	O thy vile lady, She has robbed me of my sword!
MARDIAN	No, Antony, My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled With thine entirely.
ANTONY	Hence, saucy eunuch, peace! She hath betrayed me, and shall die the death.
MARDIAN	Death of one person can be paid but once, And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst do Is done unto thy hand. The last she spake Was ‘Antony, most noble Antony!’ Then in the midst a tearing groan did break The name of Antony. It was divided Between her heart and lips. She rendered life, Thy name so buried in her.
ANTONY	Dead, then?
MARDIAN	Dead.
ANTONY	Unarm, Eros. The long day’s task is done, And we must sleep. (To Mardian) That thou depart’st hence safe Does pay thy labour richly. Go.
(didascalia)	Exit Mardian
ANTONY	Off, pluck off. Eros helps Antony to unarm The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides! Heart, once be stronger than thy continent; Crack thy frail case. Apace, Eros, apace. No more a soldier. Bruised pieces, go; You have been nobly borne.—From me a while.
(didascalia)	Exit Eros
ANTONY	I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now All length is torture. Since the torch is out, Lie down, and stray no farther. Now all labour Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles Itself with strength. Seal, then, and all is done. Eros!-I come, my queen.-Eros!-Stay for me. Where souls do couch on flowers we’ll hand in hand, And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze. Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops, And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros!
(didascalia)	Enter Eros
EROS	What would my lord?
ANTONY	Since Cleopatra died I have lived in such dishonour that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Quartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack The courage of a woman; less noble mind Than she which by her death our Caesar tells ‘I am conqueror of myself.’ Thou art sworn, Eros, That when the exigent should come, which now Is come indeed—when I should see behind me Th’inevitable prosecution of Disgrace and horror—that on my command Thou then wouldst kill me. Do’t. The time is come. Thou strik‘st not me; ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st. Put colour in thy cheek.
EROS	The gods withhold me! Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, Though enemy, lost aim and could not?
ANTONY	Eros, Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and see Thy master thus with pleached arms, bending down His corrigible neck, his face subdued To penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seat Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded His baseness that ensued?
EROS	I would not see’t.
ANTONY	Come then; for with a wound I must be cured. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country.
EROS	O sir, pardon me! 80
ANTONY	When I did make thee free, swor’st thou not then To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once, Or thy precedent services are all But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.
EROS	Turn from me then that noble countenance Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.
ANTONY	(turning away) Lo thee!
EROS	My sword is drawn.
ANTONY	Then let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it.
EROS	My dear master, My captain, and my Emperor: let me say, Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
ANTONY	’Tis said, man; and farewell.
EROS	Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
ANTONY	Now, Eros.
(didascalia)	Eros stabs himself
EROS	Why, there then, thus I do escape the sorrow Of Antony’s death. He dies
ANTONY	Thrice nobler than myself, Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what I should and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros Have by their brave instruction got upon me A nobleness in record. But I will be A bridegroom in my death, and run into’t As to a lover’s bed. Come then, and, Eros, Thy master dies thy scholar. To do thus I learned of thee. He stabs himself How, not dead? Not dead? The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!
(didascalia)	Enter a guard and Decretas
FIRST GUARD	What’s the noise?
ANTONY	I have done my work ill, friends. O, make an end Of what I have begun!
SECOND GUARD	The star is fall’n.
FIRST GUARD	And time is at his period.
ALL THE GUARDS	Alas And woe!
ANTONY	Let him that loves me strike me dead.
FIRST GUARD	Not I.
SECOND GUARD	Nor I.
THIRD GUARD	Nor anyone.
(didascalia)	Exeunt the guard
DECRETAS	Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. He takes Antony’s sword This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him.
(didascalia)	Enter Diomedes
DIOMEDES	Where’s Antony?
DECRETAS	There, Diomed, there.
DIOMEDES	Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?
(didascalia)	Exit Decretas
ANTONY	Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me Sufficing strokes for death.
DIOMEDES	Most absolute lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.
ANTONY	When did she send thee?
DIOMEDES	Now, my lord.
ANTONY	Where is she?
DIOMEDES	Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fear Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw— Which never shall be found—you did suspect She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage Would not be purged, she sent word she was dead; But fearing since how it might work, hath sent Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, I dread, too late.
ANTONY	Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.
DIOMEDES	What ho, the Emperor’s guard! The guard, what hot Come, your lord calls.
(didascalia)	Enter four or five of the guard of Antony
ANTONY	Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides. ’Tis the last service that I shall command you.
FIRST GUARD	Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear All your true followers out.
ALL THE GUARDS	Most heavy day!
ANTONY	Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate To grace it with your sorrows. Bid that welcome Which comes to punish us, and we punish it, Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up. I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends, And have my thanks for all.
(didascalia)	Exeunt bearing Antony and Eros

Atto 4, Scena 16

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra and her maids aloft, with Charmian and Iras
CLEOPATRA	O Charmian, I will never go from hence.
CHARMIAN	Be comforted, dear madam.
CLEOPATRA	No, I will not. All strange and terrible events are welcome, But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow, Proportioned to our cause, must be as great As that which makes it.
(didascalia)	Enter Diomedes below
CLEOPATRA	How now? Is he dead?
DIOMEDES	His death’s upon him, but not dead. Look out o’th’ other side your monument. His guard have brought him thither.
(didascalia)	Enter below Antony, borne by the guard
CLEOPATRA	O sun, Burn the great sphere thou mov‘st in; darkling stand The varying shore o’th’ world! O Antony, 11 Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, Help, Iras, help, help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.
ANTONY	Peace. Not Caesar’s valour Hath o’erthrown Antony, but Antony’s Hath triumphed on itself.
CLEOPATRA	So it should be, That none but Antony should conquer Antony. But woe ’tis so!
ANTONY	I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only I here importune death awhile until Of many thousand kisses the poor last I lay upon thy lips.
CLEOPATRA	I dare not, dear, Dear, my lord, pardon. I dare not, Lest I be taken. Nor th’imperious show Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall Be brooched with me, if knife, drugs, serpents, have Edge, sting, or operation. I am safe. Your wife, Octavia, with her modest eyes And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony.— Help me, my women.—We must draw thee up. Assist, good friends.
ANTONY	O quick, or I am gone!
CLEOPATRA	Here’s sport indeed. How heavy weighs my lord! Our strength is all gone into heaviness, That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little. Wishers were ever fools. O come, come, come! They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived, Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power, Thus would I wear them out. They kiss
ALL THE LOOKERS-ON	A heavy sight.
ANTONY	I am dying, Egypt, dying. Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.
CLEOPATRA	No, let me speak, and let me rail so high That the false hussy Fortune break her wheel, Provoked by my offence.
ANTONY	One word, sweet queen. Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!
CLEOPATRA	They do not go together.
ANTONY	Gentle, hear me. None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.
CLEOPATRA	My resolution and my hands I’ll trust, None about Caesar.
ANTONY	The miserable change now at my end Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts In feeding them with those my former fortunes, Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’th’ world, The noblest; and do now not basely die, Not cowardly put off my helmet to My countryman; a Roman by a Roman Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going; I can no more.
CLEOPATRA	Noblest of men, woot die? Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide In this dull world, which in thy absence is No better than a sty? Antony dies O see, my women, The crown o’th’ earth doth melt. My lord! O, withered is the garland of the war. The soldier’s pole is fall’n. Young boys and girls Are level now with men. The odds is gone, And there is nothing left remarkable Beneath the visiting moon. She falls
CHARMIAN	O, quietness, lady!
IRAS	She’s dead, too, our sovereign.
CHARMIAN	Lady!
IRAS	Madam!
CHARMIAN	O, madam, madam, madam!
IRAS	Royal Egypt, Empress!
CHARMIAN	Peace, peace, Iras!
CLEOPATRA	(recovering) No more but e’en a woman, and commanded By such poor passion as the maid that milks And does the meanest chores. It were for me To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods, To tell them that this world did equal theirs Till they had stol’n our jewel. All’s but naught. Patience is sottish, and impatience does Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin To rush into the secret house of death Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women? What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian? My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look, Our lamp is spent, it’s out. Good sirs, take heart; We’ll bury him, and then what’s brave, what’s noble, Let’s do it after the high Roman fashion, And make death proud to take us. Come, away. This case of that huge spirit now is cold. Ah, women, women! Come. We have no friend But resolution, and the briefest end.
(didascalia)	Exeunt, those above bearing off Antony’s body

Atto 5, Scena 1

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar with his council of war: Agrippa, Dolabella, Maecenas, Gallus, Proculeius
CAESAR	Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield. Being so frustrate, tell him, he but mocks The pauses that he makes.
DOLABELLA	Caesar, I shall. Exit
(didascalia)	Enter Decretas with the sword of Antony
CAESAR	Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar’st Appear thus to us?
DECRETAS	I am called Decretas. Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy Best to be served. Whilst he stood up and spoke He was my master, and I wore my life To spend upon his haters. If thou please To take me to thee, as I was to him I’ll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not, I yield thee up my life.
CAESAR	What is’t thou sayst?
DECRETAS	I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.
CAESAR	The breaking of so great a thing should make A greater crack. The rived world Should have shook lions into civil streets, And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony Is not a single doom; in that name lay A moiety of the world.
DECRETAS	He is dead, Caesar, Not by a public minister of justice, Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand Which writ his honour in the acts it did Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, Splitted the heart. This is his sword; I robbed his wound of it. Behold it stained With his most noble blood.
CAESAR	(weeping) Look you, sad friends, The gods rebuke me; but it is a tidings To wash the eyes of kings.
(didascalia)	AGRIPPA
CAESAR	And strange it is That nature must compel us to lament Our most persisted deeds.
MAECENAS	His taints and honours Waged equal with him.
(didascalia)	AGRIPPA
MAECENAS	A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity; but you gods will give us Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touched.
MAECENAS	When such a spacious mirror’s set before him He needs must see himself.
CAESAR	O Antony, I have followed thee to this. But we do lance Diseases in our bodies. I must perforce Have shown to thee such a declining day, Or look on thine. We could not stall together In the whole world. But yet let me lament, With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, That thou, my brother, my competitor In top of all design, my mate in empire, Friend and companion in the front of war, The arm of mine own body, and the heart Where mine his thoughts did kindle—that our stars, Unreconciliable, should divide Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends—
(didascalia)	Enter an Egyptian
CAESAR	But I will tell you at some meeter season. The business of this man looks out of him; We’ll hear him what he says.—Whence are you?
EGYPTIAN	A poor Egyptian, yet the Queen my mistress, Confined in all she has, her monument, Of thy intents desires instruction, That she preparèdly may frame herself To th’ way she’s forced to.
CAESAR	Bid her have good heart. She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, How honourable and how kindly we Determine for her. For Caesar cannot live To be ungentle.
EGYPTIAN	So; the gods preserve thee! Exit
CAESAR	Come hither, Proculeius. Go, and say We purpose her no shame. Give her what comforts The quality of her passion shall require, Lest in her greatness, by some mortal stroke, She do defeat us; for her life in Rome Would be eternal in our triumph. Go, And with your speediest bring us what she says And how you find of her.
PROCULEIUS	Caesar, I shall. Exit
CAESAR	Gallus, go you along.
(didascalia)	Exit Gallus
CAESAR	Where’s Dolabella, To second Proculeius?
ALL BUT CAESAR	Dolabella!
CAESAR	Let him alone; for I remember now How he’s employed. He shall in time be ready. Go with me to my tent, where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war, How calm and gentle I proceeded still In all my writings. Go with me, and see What I can show in this.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Atto 5, Scena 2

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian
CLEOPATRA	My desolation does begin to make A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar. Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave, A minister of her will. And it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds, Which shackles accidents and bolts up change, Which sleeps and never palates more the dung, The beggar’s nurse, and Caesar’s.
(didascalia)	Enter Proculeius
PROCULEIUS	Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt, And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.
CLEOPATRA	What’s thy name?
PROCULEIUS	My name is Proculeius.
CLEOPATRA	Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but I do not greatly care to be deceived, That have no use for trusting. If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him That majesty, to keep decorum, must No less beg than a kingdom. If he please To give me conquered Egypt for my son, He gives me so much of mine own as I Will kneel to him with thanks.
PROCULEIUS	Be of good cheer. You’re fall’n into a princely hand; fear nothing. Make your full reference freely to my lord, Who is so full of grace that it flows over On all that need. Let me report to him Your sweet dependency, and you shall find A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness, Where he for grace is kneeled to.
CLEOPATRA	Pray you, tell him I am his fortune’s vassal, and I send him The greatness he has got. I hourly learn A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly Look him i’th’ face.
PROCULEIUS	This I’ll report, dear lady; Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it.
(didascalia)	Enter Roman soldiers from behind
PROCULEIUS	(to the soldiers) You see how easily she may be surprised. Guard her till Caesar come.
IRAS	Royal Queen-
CHARMIAN	O Cleopatra, thou art taken, Queen!
CLEOPATRA	(drawing a dagger) Quick, quick, good hands!
PROCULEIUS	(disarming Cleopatra) Hold, worthy lady, hold! Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved but not betrayed.
CLEOPATRA	What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish?
PROCULEIUS	Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master’s bounty by Th’undoing of yourself. Let the world see His nobleness well acted, which your death Will never let come forth.
CLEOPATRA	Where art thou, death? Come hither, come. Come, come, and take a queen Worth many babes and beggars.
PROCULEIUS	O temperance, lady!
CLEOPATRA	Sir, I will eat no meat. I’ll not drink, sir. If idle talk will once be necessary, I’ll not sleep, neither. This mortal house I’ll ruin, Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I Will not wait pinioned at your master’s court, Nor once be chastised with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up And show me to the shouting varletry Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Be gentle grave unto me; rather on Nilus’ mud Lay me stark naked, and let the waterflies Blow me into abhorring; rather make My country’s high pyramides my gibbet, And hang me up in chains.
PROCULEIUS	You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Caesar.
(didascalia)	Enter Dolabella
DOLABELLA	Proculeius, What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, And he hath sent for thee. For the Queen, I’ll take her to my guard.
PROCULEIUS	So, Dolabella, It shall content me best. Be gentle to her. (To Cleopatra) To Caesar I will speak what you shall please, If you’ll employ me to him.
CLEOPATRA	Say I would die.
(didascalia)	Exit Proculeius
DOLABELLA	Most noble Empress, you have heard of me.
CLEOPATRA	I cannot tell.
DOLABELLA	Assuredly you know me.
CLEOPATRA	No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; Is’t not your trick?
DOLABELLA	I understand not, madam.
CLEOPATRA	I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony. O, such another sleep, that I might see But such another man!
DOLABELLA	If it might please ye—
CLEOPATRA	His face was as the heav‘ns, and therein stuck A sun and moon, which kept their course and lighted The little O o’th’ earth.
DOLABELLA	Most sovereign creature—
CLEOPATRA	His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm Crested the world. His voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in’t; an autumn ’twas, That grew the more by reaping. His delights Were dolphin-like; they showed his back above The element they lived in. In his livery Walked crowns and crownets. Realms and islands were As plates dropped from his pocket.
DOLABELLA	Cleopatra—
CLEOPATRA	Think you there was, or might be, such a man As this I dreamt of?
DOLABELLA	Gentle madam, no.
CLEOPATRA	You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. But if there be, or ever were one such, It’s past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy; yet t‘imagine An Antony were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.
DOLABELLA	Hear me, good madam: Your loss is as yourself, great, and you bear it As answering to the weight. Would I might never O’ertake pursued success but I do feel, By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites My very heart at root.
CLEOPATRA	I thank you, sir. Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
DOLABELLA	I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
CLEOPATRA	Nay, pray you, sir.
DOLABELLA	Though he be honourable—
CLEOPATRA	He’ll lead me then in triumph.
DOLABELLA	Madam, he will, I know’t.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Caesar, with Proculeius, Gallus, Maecenas, and others of his train
ALL	Make way, there! Caesar!
CAESAR	Which is the Queen of Egypt?
DOLABELLA	(to Cleopatra) It is the Emperor, madam. Cleopatra kneels
CAESAR	Arise! You shall not kneel. I pray you rise, rise, Egypt.
CLEOPATRA	(rising) Sir, the gods Will have it thus. My master and my lord I must obey.
CAESAR	Take to you no hard thoughts. The record of what injuries you did us, Though written in our flesh, we shall remember As things but done by chance.
CLEOPATRA	Sole sir o’th’ world, I cannot project mine own cause so well To make it clear, but do confess I have Been laden with like frailties which before Have often shamed our sex.
CAESAR	Cleopatra, know We will extenuate rather than enforce. If you apply yourself to our intents, Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find A benefit in this change; but if you seek To lay on me a cruelty by taking Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself Of my good purposes and put your children To that destruction which I’ll guard them from, If thereon you rely. I’ll take my leave.
CLEOPATRA	And may through all the world! ’Tis yours, and we, Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall Hang in what place you please. (Giving a paper) Here, my good lord.
CAESAR	You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
CLEOPATRA	This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels I am possessed of. ’Tis exactly valued, Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus?
(didascalia)	Enter Seleucus
SELEUCUS	Here, madam.
CLEOPATRA	(to Caesar) This is my treasurer. Let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserved To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
SELEUCUS	Madam, I had rather seal my lips Than to my peril speak that which is not.
CLEOPATRA	What have I kept back?
SELEUCUS	Enough to purchase what you have made known.
CAESAR	Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve Your wisdom in the deed.
CLEOPATRA	See, Caesar! O, behold How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours, And should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild.—O slave, of no more trust Than love that’s hired! What, goest thou back? Thou shalt Go back, I warrant thee; but I’ll catch thine eyes Though they had wings. Slave, soulless villain, dog! O rarely base!
CAESAR	Good Queen, let us entreat you.
CLEOPATRA	O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this, That thou vouchsafing here to visit me, Doing the honour of thy lordliness To one so meek—that mine own servant should Parcel the sum of my disgraces by Addition of his envy. Say, good Caesar, That I some lady trifles have reserved, Immoment toys, things of such dignity As we greet modern friends withal; and say Some nobler token I have kept apart For Livia and Octavia, to induce Their mediation—must I be unfolded With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me Beneath the fall I have. (To Seleucus) Prithee, go hence, Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Through th’ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
CAESAR	Forbear, Seleucus.
(didascalia)	Exit Seleucus
CLEOPATRA	Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and when we fall We answer others’ merits in our name, Are therefore to be pitied.
CAESAR	Cleopatra, Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged Put we i’th’ roll of conquest. Still be’t yours. Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered. Make not your thoughts your prisons. No, dear Queen; For we intend so to dispose you as Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep. Our care and pity is so much upon you That we remain your friend; and so adieu.
CLEOPATRA	My master and my lord!
CAESAR	Not so. Adieu.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Exeunt Caesar and his train
CLEOPATRA	He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian. She whispers to Charmian
IRAS	Finish, good lady. The bright day is done, And we are for the dark.
CLEOPATRA	(to Charmian) Hie thee again. I have spoke already, and it is provided. Go put it to the haste.
CHARMIAN	Madam, I will.
(didascalia)	Enter Dolabella
DOLABELLA	Where’s the Queen?
CHARMIAN	Behold, sir.
(didascalia)	Exit
CLEOPATRA	Dolabella!
DOLABELLA	Madam, as thereto sworn by your command— Which my love makes religion to obey— I tell you this: Caesar through Syria Intends his journey, and within three days You with your children will he send before. Make your best use of this. I have performed Your pleasure, and my promise.
CLEOPATRA	Dolabella, I shall remain your debtor.
DOLABELLA	I your servant. Adieu, good Queen. I must attend on Caesar.
CLEOPATRA	Farewell, and thanks.
(didascalia)	Exit Dolabella
CLEOPATRA	Now, Iras, what think’st thou? Thou, an Egyptian puppet shall be shown In Rome, as well as I. Mechanic slaves With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers shall Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths, Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, And forced to drink their vapour.
IRAS	The gods forbid!
CLEOPATRA	Nay, ‘tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers Ballad us out o’ tune. The quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present Our Alexandrian revels. Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness I’th’ posture of a whore.
IRAS	O, the good gods!
CLEOPATRA	Nay, that’s certain.
IRAS	I’ll never see’t! For I am sure my nails Are stronger than mine eyes.
CLEOPATRA	Why, that’s the way To fool their preparation and to conquer Their most absurd intents.
(didascalia)	Enter Charmian
CLEOPATRA	Now, Charmian! Show me, my women, like a queen. Go fetch My best attires. I am again for Cydnus To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go. Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch indeed, And when thou hast done this chore I’ll give thee leave To play till doomsday.—Bring our crown and all.
(didascalia)	Exit Iras
(didascalia)	A noise within
CLEOPATRA	Wherefore’s this noise?
(didascalia)	Enter a Guardsman
GUARDSMAN	Here is a rural fellow That will not be denied your highness’ presence. He brings you figs.
CLEOPATRA	Let him come in.
(didascalia)	Exit Guardsman
CLEOPATRA	What poor an instrument May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty. My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing Of woman in me. Now from head to foot I am marble-constant. Now the fleeting moon No planet is of mine.
(didascalia)	Enter Guardsman, and Clown with a basket
GUARDSMAN	This is the man.
CLEOPATRA	Avoid, and leave him.
(didascalia)	Exit Guardsman
CLEOPATRA	Hast thou the pretty worm Of Nilus there, that kills and pains not?
CLOWN	Truly, I have him; but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those that do die of it do seldom or never recover.
CLEOPATRA	Remember’st thou any that have died on’t?
CLOWN	Very many, men, and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday, a very honest woman, but something given to lie, as a woman should not do but in the way of honesty, how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt. Truly, she makes a very good report o’th’ worm; but he that will believe all that they say shall never be saved by half that they do; but this is most falliable: the worm’s an odd worm.
CLEOPATRA	Get thee hence, farewell.
CLOWN	I wish you all joy of the worm. CLEOPATRA Farewell.
CLOWN	You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
CLEOPATRA	Ay, ay; farewell.
CLOWN	Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm.
CLEOPATRA	Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
CLOWN	Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.
CLEOPATRA	Will it eat me?
CLOWN	You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman; I know that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods great harm in their women; for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five.
CLEOPATRA	Well, get thee gone, farewell.
CLOWN	Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o’th’ worm.
(didascalia)	Exit, leaving the basket
(didascalia)	Enter Iras with a robe, crown, and other jewels
CLEOPATRA	Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have Immortal longings in me. Now no more The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip. Charmian and Iras help her to dress Yare, yare, good Iras, quick—methinks I hear Antony call. I see him rouse himself To praise my noble act. I hear him mock The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come. Now to that name my courage prove my title. I am fire and air; my other elements I give to baser life. So, have you done? Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. She kisses them Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell. Iras falls and dies Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? If thou and nature can so gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, Which hurts and is desired. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world It is not worth leave-taking.
CHARMIAN	Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say The gods themselves do weep.
CLEOPATRA	This proves me base. If she first meet the curled Antony He’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss Which is my heaven to have. She takes an aspic from the basket and puts it to her breast Come, thou mortal wretch, With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie. Poor venomous fool, Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak, That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass Unpolicied!
CHARMIAN	O eastern star!
CLEOPATRA	Peace, peace. Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep?
CHARMIAN	O, break! O, break!
CLEOPATRA	As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle. O Antony! She puts another aspic to her arm Nay, I will take thee too. What should I stay— She dies
CHARMIAN	In this vile world? So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies A lass unparalleled. Downy windows, close, And golden Phoebus never be beheld Of eyes again so royal. Your crown’s awry. I’ll mend it, and then play—
(didascalia)	Enter the Guard, rustling in
FIRST GUARD	Where’s the Queen?
CHARMIAN	Speak softly. Wake her not.
FIRST GUARD	Caesar hath sent—
CHARMIAN	Too slow a messenger. She applies an aspic O come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.
FIRST GUARD	Approach, ho! All’s not well. Caesar’s beguiled.
SECOND GUARD	There’s Dolabella sent from Caesar. Call him.
(didascalia)	Exit a Guardsman
FIRST GUARD	What work is here, Charmian? Is this well done?
CHARMIAN	It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier! She dies
(didascalia)	Enter
CHARMIAN	Dolabella
DOLABELLA	How goes it here?
SECOND GUARD	All dead.
DOLABELLA	Caesar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming To see performed the dreaded act which thou So sought’st to hinder.
ALL	A way there, a way for Caesar!
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar and all his train, marching
DOLABELLA	(to Caesar) O sir, you are too sure an augurer. That you did fear is done.
CAESAR	Bravest at the last, She levelled at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed.
DOLABELLA	(to a Guardsman) Who was last with them?
FIRST GUARD	A simple countryman that brought her figs. This was his basket.
CAESAR	Poisoned, then.
FIRST GUARD	O Caesar, This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake. I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood, And on the sudden dropped.
CAESAR	O, noble weakness! If they had swallowed poison, ’twould appear By external swelling; but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony In her strong toil of grace.
DOLABELLA	Here on her breast There is a vent of blood, and something blown. The like is on her arm.
FIRST GUARD	This is an aspic’s trail, And these fig-leaves have slime upon them such As th’aspic leaves upon the caves of Nile.
CAESAR	Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursued conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed, And bear her women from the monument. She shall be buried by her Antony. No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them, and their story is No less in pity than his glory which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall In solemn show attend this funeral, And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all, soldiers bearing Cleopatra on her bed, Charmian, and Iras
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS	WELL All’s Well That Ends Well, first printed in the 1623 Folio, is often paired with Measure for Measure. Though we lack external evidence as to its date of composition, internal evidence suggests that it, too, is an early Jacobean play. Like Measure for Measure, it places its central characters in more painful situations than those in which the heroes and heroines of the earlier, more romantic comedies usually find themselves. The touching ardour with which Helen, ‘a poor physician’s daughter’, pursues the young Bertram, son of her guardian the Countess of Roussillon, creates embarrassments for both of them. When the King, whose illness she cures by her semi-magical skills, brings about their marriage as a reward, Bertram’s flight to the wars seems to destroy all her chances of happiness. She achieves consummation of the marriage only by the ruse (resembling Isabella’s ’bed-trick’ in Measure for Measure) of substituting herself for the Florentine maiden Diana whom Bertram believes himself to be seducing. The play’s conclusion, in which the deception is exposed and Bertram is shamed into acknowledging Helen as his wife, offers only a tentatively happy ending. Shakespeare based the story of Bertram and Helen on a tale from Boccaccio’s Decameron either in the original or in the version included in William Painter’s Palace of Pleasure (1566-7, revised 1575). But he created several important characters, including the Countess and the old Lord, Lafeu. He also invented the accompanying action exposing the roguery of Bertram’s flashy friend Paroles, a man of words (as his name indicates) descending from the braggart soldier of Roman comedy. Versions of the play performed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, mostly emphasizing either the comedy of Paroles or the sentimental appeal of Helen, had little success; but fine productions from the middle of the twentieth century onwards have shown it in a more favourable light, demonstrating, for example, that the role of the Countess is (in Bernard Shaw’s words) ‘the most beautiful old woman’s part ever written’, that the discomfiture of Paroles provides comedy that is subtle as well as highly laughable, and that the relationship of Bertram and Helen is profoundly convincing in its emotional reality.
THE PERSONS OF THE	PLAY The Dowager COUNTESS of Roussillon BERTRAM, Count of Roussillon, her son HELEN, an orphan, attending on the Countess LAVATCH, a Clown, the Countess’s servant REYNALDO, the Countess’s steward PAROLES, Bertram’s companion The KING of France LAFEU, an old lord INTERPRETER, a French soldier An AUSTRINGER The DUKE of Florence
WIDOW	Capilet DIANA, her daughter MARIANA, a friend of the Widow Lords, attendants, soldiers, citizens

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Demetrius and Philo
PHILO	Nay, but this dotage of our General’s O‘erflows the measure. Those his goodly eyes, That o’er the files and musters of the war Have glowed like plated Mars, now bend, now turn The office and devotion of their view Upon a tawny front. His captain’s heart, Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper, And is become the bellows and the fan To cool a gipsy’s lust.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, her ladies, the train, with eunuchs fanning her
PHILO	Look where they come. Take but good note, and you shall see in him The triple pillar of the world transformed Into a strumpet’s fool. Behold and see.
CLEOPATRA	(to Antony) If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
ANTONY	There’s beggary in the love that can be reckoned.
CLEOPATRA	I’ll set a bourn how far to be beloved.
ANTONY	Then must thou needs find out new heaven, new earth.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	News, my good lord, from Rome.
ANTONY	Grates me: the sum.
CLEOPATRA	Nay, hear them, Antony. Fulvia perchance is angry; or who knows If the scarce-bearded Caesar have not sent His powerful mandate to you: ‘Do this, or this, Take in that kingdom and enfranchise that. Perform’t, or else we damn thee.’
ANTONY	How, my love?
CLEOPATRA	Perchance? Nay, and most like. You must not stay here longer. Your dismission Is come from Caesar, therefore hear it, Antony. Where’s Fulvia’s process—Caesar’s, I would say— both? Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt’s queen, Thou blushest, Antony, and that blood of thine Is Caesar’s homager; else so thy cheek pays shame When shrill-tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
ANTONY	Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch Of the ranged empire fall. Here is my space. Kingdoms are clay. Our dungy earth alike Feeds beast as man. The nobleness of life Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair And such a twain can do’t—in which I bind On pain of punishment the world to weet— We stand up peerless.
(didascalia)	CLEOPATRA aside Excellent falsehood!
ANTONY	Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her? I’ll seem the fool I am not. (To Antony) Antony Will be himself.
ANTONY	But stirred by Cleopatra. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours Let’s not confound the time with conference harsh. There’s not a minute of our lives should stretch Without some pleasure now. What sport tonight?
CLEOPATRA	Hear the ambassadors.
ANTONY	Fie, wrangling queen, Whom everything becomes—to chide, to laugh, To weep; how every passion fully strives To make itself, in thee, fair and admired! No messenger but thine; and all alone Tonight we’ll wander through the streets and note The qualities of people. Come, my queen. Last night you did desire it. (To the Messenger) Speak not to us.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Antony and Cleopatra with the train, and by another door the Messenger
DEMETRIUS	Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
PHILO	Sir, sometimes when he is not Antony He comes too short of that great property Which still should go with Antony.
DEMETRIUS	I am full sorry That he approves the common liar who Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope Of better deeds tomorrow. Rest you happy.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Enobarbus, a Soothsayer, Charmian, Iras, Mardian the eunuch, Alexas, and attendants
CHARMIAN	Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most anything Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where’s the soothsayer that you praised so to th’ Queen? O that I knew this husband, which you say Must charge his horns with garlands!
ALEXAS	Soothsayer!
SOOTHSAYER	Your will?
CHARMIAN	Is this the man? Is’t you, sir, that know things?
SOOTHSAYER	In nature’s infinite book of secrecy A little I can read.
ALEXAS	(to Charmian) Show him your hand.
ENOBARBUS	(calling) Bring in the banquet quickly, Wine enough Cleopatra’s health to drink.
(didascalia)	Enter servants with food and wine, and exeunt
CHARMIAN	(to Soothsayer) Good sir, give me good fortune.
SOOTHSAYER	I make not, but foresee.
CHARMIAN	Pray then, foresee me one.
SOOTHSAYER	You shall be yet Far fairer than you are.
CHARMIAN	He means in flesh.
IRAS	No, you shall paint when you are old.
CHARMIAN	Wrinkles forbid!
ALEXAS	Vex not his prescience. Be attentive.
CHARMIAN	Hush!
SOOTHSAYER	You shall be more beloving than beloved.
CHARMIAN	I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
ALEXAS	Nay, hear him.
CHARMIAN	Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon and widow them all. Let me have a child at fifty to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage. Find me to marry me with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with my mistress.
SOOTHSAYER	You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.
CHARMIAN	O, excellent! I love long life better than figs.
SOOTHSAYER	You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune Than that which is to approach.
CHARMIAN	Then belike my children shall have no names. Prithee, how many boys and wenches must I have?
SOOTHSAYER	If every of your wishes had a womb, And fertile every wish, a million.
CHARMIAN	Out, fool—I forgive thee for a witch.
ALEXAS	You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.
CHARMIAN	(to the Soothsayer) Nay, come, tell Iras hers.
ALEXAS	We’ll know all our fortunes.
ENOBARBUS	Mine, and most of our fortunes, tonight shall be drunk to bed.
IRAS	(showing her hand to the Soothsayer) There’s a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.
CHARMIAN	E’s the o’erflowing Nilus presageth famine.
IRAS	Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.
CHARMIAN	Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. (To the Soothsayer) Prithee, tell her but a workaday fortune.
SOOTHSAYER	Your fortunes are alike.
IRAS	But how, but how? Give me particulars.
SOOTHSAYER	I have said.
IRAS	Am I not an inch of fortune better than she?
CHARMIAN	Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you choose it?
IRAS	Not in my husband’s nose.
CHARMIAN	Our worser thoughts heavens mend! Alexas—come, his fortune, his fortune. O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee, and let her die too, and give him a worse, and let worse follow worse till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fiftyfold a cuckold. Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee.
IRAS	Amen, dear goddess, hear that prayer of the people. For as it is a heart-breaking to see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave uncuckolded. Therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, and fortune him accordingly.
CHARMIAN	Amen.
ALEXAS	Lo now, if it lay in their hands to make me a cuckold, they would make themselves whores but they’d do’t.
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra
ENOBARBUS	Hush, here comes Antony.
CHARMIAN	Not he, the Queen.
CLEOPATRA	Saw you my lord?
ENOBARBUS	No, lady.
CLEOPATRA	Was he not here?
CHARMIAN	No, madam.
CLEOPATRA	He was disposed to mirth, but on the sudden A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!
ENOBARBUS	Madam?
CLEOPATRA	Seek him, and bring him hither. Where’s Alexas?
ALEXAS	Here at your service. My lord approaches.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony with a Messenger
CLEOPATRA	We will not look upon him. Go with us.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Antony and the Messenger
MESSENGER	Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.
ANTONY	Against my brother Lucius?
MESSENGER	Ay, but soon that war had end, and the time’s state Made friends of them, jointing their force ’gainst Caesar, Whose better issue in the war from Italy Upon the first encounter drave them.
ANTONY	Well, what worst?
MESSENGER	The nature of bad news infects the teller.
ANTONY	When it concerns the fool or coward. On. Things that are past are done. With me ’tis thus: Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, I hear him as he flattered.
MESSENGER	Labienus— This is stiff news—hath with his Parthian force Extended Asia; from Euphrates His conquering banner shook, from Syria To Lydia and to Ionia, Whilst— ANTONYAntony, thou wouldst say—
MESSENGER	O, my lord!
ANTONY	Speak to me home. Mince not the general tongue. Name Cleopatra as she is called in Rome. Rail thou in Fulvia’s phrase, and taunt my faults With such full licence as both truth and malice Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds When our quick winds lie still, and our ills told us Is as our earing. Fare thee well a while.
MESSENGER	At your noble pleasure.
(didascalia)	Exit Messenger
(didascalia)	Enter another Messenger
ANTONY	From Sicyon, ho, the news? Speak there.
(didascalia)	SECOND MESSENGER
ANTONY	The man from Sicyon—
(didascalia)	ANTONY Is there such a one?
(didascalia)	SECOND MESSENGER
ANTONY	He stays upon your will.
ANTONY	Let him appear.
(didascalia)	Exit Second Messenger
ANTONY	These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, Or lose myself in dotage.
(didascalia)	Enter another Messenger with a letter
ANTONY	What are you?
(didascalia)	THIRD MESSENGER
ANTONY	Fulvia thy wife is dead.
ANTONY	Where died she?
THIRD MESSENGER	In Sicyon. Her length of sickness, with what else more serious Importeth thee to know, this bears. He gives Antony the letter
ANTONY	Forbear me.
(didascalia)	Exit Third Messenger
ANTONY	There’s a great spirit gone. Thus did I desire it. What our contempts doth often hurl from us We wish it ours again. The present pleasure, By revolution low’ring, does become The opposite of itself. She’s good being gone; The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on. I must from this enchanting queen break off. Ten thousand harms more than the ills I know My idleness doth hatch. How now, Enobarbus!
(didascalia)	Enter Enobarbus
ENOBARBUS	What’s your pleasure, sir?
ANTONY	I must with haste from hence.
ENOBARBUS	Why, then we kill all our women. We see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suffer our departure, death’s the word.
ANTONY	I must be gone.
ENOBARBUS	Under a compelling occasion let women die. It were pity to cast them away for nothing, though between them and a great cause they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra catching but the least noise of this dies instantly. I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment. I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying.
ANTONY	She is cunning past man’s thought.
ENOBARBUS	Alack, sir, no. Her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love. We cannot call her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report. This cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.
ANTONY	Would I had never seen her!
ENOBARBUS	O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work, which not to have been blessed withal would have discredited your travel.
ANTONY	Fulvia is dead.
ENOBARBUS	Sir.
ANTONY	Fulvia is dead.
ENOBARBUS	Fulvia?
ANTONY	Dead.
ENOBARBUS	Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the earth; comforting therein that when old robes are worn out there are members to make new. If there were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the case to be lamented. This grief is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat, and indeed the tears live in an onion that should water this sorrow.
ANTONY	The business she hath broached in the state Cannot endure my absence.
ENOBARBUS	And the business you have broached here cannot be without you, especially that of Cleopatra’s, which wholly depends on your abode.
ANTONY	No more light answers. Let our officers Have notice what we purpose. I shall break The cause of our expedience to the Queen, And get her leave to part; for not alone The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches, Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too Of many our contriving friends in Rome Petition us at home. Sextus Pompeius Hath given the dare to Caesar and commands The empire of the sea. Our slippery people, Whose love is never linked to the deserver Till his deserts are past, begin to throw Pompey the Great and all his dignities Upon his son, who—high in name and power, Higher than both in blood and life—stands up For the main soldier; whose quality, going on, The sides o’th’ world may danger. Much is breeding Which, like the courser’s hair, hath yet but life, And not a serpent’s poison. Say our pleasure, To such whose place is under us, requires Our quick remove from hence.
ENOBARBUS	I shall do’t.
(didascalia)	Exeunt severally

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Alexas, and Iras
CLEOPATRA	Where is he?
CHARMIAN	I did not see him since.
(didascalia)	CLEOPATRA to Alexas
CHARMIAN	See where he is, who’s with him, what he does. I did not send you. If you find him sad, Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report That I am sudden sick. Quick, and return.
(didascalia)	Exit Alexas
CHARMIAN	Madam, methinks, if you did love him dearly, You do not hold the method to enforce The like from him.
CLEOPATRA	What should I do I do not?
CHARMIAN	In each thing give him way; cross him in nothing.
CLEOPATRA	Thou teachest like a fool, the way to lose him.
CHARMIAN	Tempt him not so too far. Iwis, forbear. In time we hate that which we often fear.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony
CHARMIAN	But here comes Antony.
CLEOPATRA	I am sick and sullen.
ANTONY	I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose.
CLEOPATRA	Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall fall. It cannot be thus long—the sides of nature Will not sustain it.
ANTONY	Now, my dearest queen.
CLEOPATRA	Pray you, stand farther from me.
ANTONY	What’s the matter?
CLEOPATRA	I know by that same eye there’s some good news. What says the married woman—you may go? Would she had never given you leave to come. Let her not say ’tis I that keep you here. I have no power upon you; hers you are.
ANTONY	The gods best know—
CLEOPATRA	O, never was there queen So mightily betrayed! Yet at the first I saw the treasons planted.
ANTONY	Cleopatra—
CLEOPATRA	Why should I think you can be mine and true— Though you in swearing shake the thronèd gods— Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows Which break themselves in swearing.
ANTONY	Most sweet queen—
CLEOPATRA	Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your going, But bid farewell and go. When you sued staying, Then was the time for words; no going then. Eternity was in our lips and eyes, Bliss in our brow’s bent; none our parts so poor But was a race of heaven. They are so still, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, Art turned the greatest liar.
ANTONY	How now, lady!
CLEOPATRA	I would I had thy inches. Thou shouldst know There were a heart in Egypt.
ANTONY	Hear me, Queen. The strong necessity of time commands Our services a while, but my full heart Remains in use with you. Our Italy Shines o’er with civil swords. Sextus Pompeius Makes his approaches to the port of Rome. Equality of two domestic powers Breed scrupulous faction. The hated, grown to strength, Are newly grown to love. The condemned Pompey, Rich in his father’s honour, creeps apace Into the hearts of such as have not thrived Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten; And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge By any desperate change. My more particular, And that which most with you should safe my going, Is Fulvia’s death.
CLEOPATRA	Though age from folly could not give me freedom, It does from childishness. Can Fulvia die?
ANTONY	She’s dead, my queen. He offers letters Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read The garboils she awaked. At the last, best, See when and where she died.
CLEOPATRA	O most false love! Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see, In Fulvia’s death how mine received shall be.
ANTONY	Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know The purposes I bear, which are or cease As you shall give th’advice. By the fire That quickens Nilus’ slime, I go from hence Thy soldier-servant, making peace or war As thou affects.
CLEOPATRA	Cut my lace, Charmian, come. But let it be. I am quickly ill and well; So Antony loves.
ANTONY	My precious queen, forbear, And give true evidence to his love, which stands An honourable trial.
CLEOPATRA	So Fulvia told me. I prithee turn aside and weep for her, Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one scene Of excellent dissembling, and let it look Like perfect honour.
ANTONY	You’ll heat my blood. No more.
CLEOPATRA	You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
ANTONY	Now by my sword—
CLEOPATRA	And target. Still he mends. But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian, How this Herculean Roman does become The carriage of his chafe.
ANTONY	I’ll leave you, lady.
CLEOPATRA	Courteous lord, one word. Sir, you and I must part; but that’s not it. Sir, you and I have loved; but there’s not it; That you know well. Something it is I would— O, my oblivion is a very Antony, And I am all forgotten.
ANTONY	But that your royalty Holds idleness your subject, I should take you For idleness itself.
CLEOPATRA	’Tis sweating labour To bear such idleness so near the heart As Cleopatra this. But sir, forgive me, Since my becomings kill me when they do not Eye well to you. Your honour calls you hence, Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly, And all the gods go with you. Upon your sword Sit laurel victory, and smooth success Be strewed before your feet.
ANTONY	Let us go. Come. Our separation so abides and flies That thou residing here goes yet with me, And I hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Away.
(didascalia)	Exeunt severally

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Octavius reading a letter, Lepidus, and their train
CAESAR	You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth know, It is not Caesar’s natural vice to hate Our great competitor. From Alexandria This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel; is not more manlike Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy More womanly than he; hardly gave audience Or vouchsafed to think he had partners. You shall find there A man who is the abstract of all faults That all men follow.
LEPIDUS	I must not think there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness. His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, More fiery by night’s blackness; hereditary Rather than purchased; what he cannot change Than what he chooses.
CAESAR	You are too indulgent. Let’s grant it is not Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy, To give a kingdom for a mirth, to sit And keep the turn of tippling with a slave, To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet With knaves that smells of sweat. Say this becomes him— As his composure must be rare indeed Whom these things cannot blemish—yet must Antony No way excuse his foils when we do bear So great weight in his lightness. If he filled His vacancy with his voluptuousness, Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones Call on him for’t. But to confound such time That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud As his own state and ours—’tis to be chid As we rate boys who, being mature in knowledge, Pawn their experience to their present pleasure, And so rebel to judgement.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
LEPIDUS	Here’s more news.
MESSENGER	Thy biddings have been done, and every hour, Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report How ’tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea, And it appears he is beloved of those That only have feared Caesar. To the ports The discontents repair, and men’s reports Give him much wronged.
(didascalia)	Exit
CAESAR	I should have known no less. It hath been taught us from the primal state That he which is was wished until he were, And the ebbed man, ne‘er loved till ne’er worth love, Comes deared by being lacked. This common body, Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, Goes to, and back, lackeying the varying tide, To rot itself with motion.
(didascalia)	Enter a second Messenger
SECOND MESSENGER	Caesar, I bring thee word Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Makes the sea serve them, which they ear and wound With keels of every kind. Many hot inroads They make in Italy. The borders maritime Lack blood to think on‘t, and flush youth revolt. No vessel can peep forth but ’tis as soon Taken as seen; for Pompey’s name strikes more Than could his war resisted.
(didascalia)	Exit
CAESAR	Antony, Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once Was beaten from Modena, where thou slew‘st Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel Did famine follow, whom thou fought’st against— Though daintily brought up—with patience more Than savages could suffer. Thou didst drink The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle Which beasts would cough at. Thy palate then did deign The roughest berry on the rudest hedge. Yea, like the stag when snow the pasture sheets, The barks of trees thou browsed. On the Alps It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, Which some did die to look on; and all this— It wounds thine honour that I speak it now— Was borne so like a soldier that thy cheek So much as lanked not.
LEPIDUS	’Tis pity of him.
CAESAR	Let his shames quickly Drive him to Rome. ‘Tis time we twain Did show ourselves i’th’ field; and to that end Assemble we immediate council. Pompey Thrives in our idleness.
LEPIDUS	Tomorrow, Caesar, I shall be furnished to inform you rightly Both what by sea and land I can be able To front this present time.
CAESAR	Till which encounter It is my business, too. Farewell.
LEPIDUS	Farewell, my lord. What you shall know meantime Of stirs abroad I shall beseech you, sir, To let me be partaker.
CAESAR	Doubt not, sir. I knew it for my bond.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter
(didascalia)	Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian
CLEOPATRA	Charmian!
CHARMIAN	Madam?
CLEOPATRA	(yawning) Ha, ha. Give me to drink mandragora.
CHARMIAN	Why, madam?
CLEOPATRA	That I might sleep out this great gap of time My Antony is away.
CHARMIAN	You think of him too much.
CLEOPATRA	O, ’tis treason!
CHARMIAN	Madam, I trust not so.
CLEOPATRA	Thou, eunuch Mardian!
MARDIAN	What’s your highness’ pleasure?
CLEOPATRA	Not now to hear thee sing. I take no pleasure In aught an eunuch has. ’is well for thee That, being unseminared, thy freer thoughts May not fly forth of Egypt. Hast thou affections?
MARDIAN	Yes, gracious madam.
CLEOPATRA	Indeed?
MARDIAN	Not in deed, madam, for I can do nothing But what indeed is honest to be done. Yet have I fierce affections, and think What Venus did with Mars.
CLEOPATRA	O, Charmian, Where think‘st thou he is now? Stands he or sits he? Or does he walk? Or is he on his horse? O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony! Do bravely, horse, for wot’st thou whom thou mov’st?— The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm And burgonet of men. He’s speaking now, Or murmuring ‘Where’s my serpent of old Nile?’— For so he calls me. Now I feed myself With most delicious poison. Think on me, That am with Phoebus’ amorous pinches black, And wrinkled deep in time. Broad-fronted Caesar, When thou wast here above the ground I was A morsel for a monarch, and great Pompey Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow. There would he anchor his aspect, and die With looking on his life.
(didascalia)	Enter Alexas
ALEXAS	Sovereign of Egypt, hail!
CLEOPATRA	How much unlike art thou Mark Antony! Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath With his tinct gilded thee. How goes it With my brave Mark Antony?
ALEXAS	Last thing he did, dear Queen, He kissed—the last of many doubled kisses— This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.
CLEOPATRA	Mine ear must pluck it thence.
ALEXAS	‘Good friend,’ quoth he, ‘Say the firm Roman to great Egypt sends This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, To mend the petty present, I will piece Her opulent throne with kingdoms. All the East, Say thou, shall call her mistress.’ So he nodded, And soberly did mount an arm-jaunced steed, Who neighed so high that what I would have spoke Was beastly dumbed by him.
CLEOPATRA	What, was he sad or merry?
ALEXAS	Like to the time o’th’ year between the extremes Of hot and cold, he was nor sad nor merry.
CLEOPATRA	O well divided disposition! Note him, Note him, good Charmian, ‘tis the man; but note him. He was not sad, for he would shine on those That make their looks by his; he was not merry, Which seemed to tell them his remembrance lay In Egypt with his joy; but between both. O heavenly mingle! Be’st thou sad or merry, The violence of either thee becomes; So does it no man else. Met’st thou my posts?
ALEXAS	Ay, madam, twenty several messengers. Why do you send so thick?
CLEOPATRA	Who’s born that day When I forget to send to Antony Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian! I Welcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian, Ever love Caesar so?
CHARMIAN	O, that brave Caesar!
CLEOPATRA	Be choked with such another emphasis! Say ‘the brave Antony’.
CHARMIAN	The valiant Caesar.
CLEOPATRA	By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth If thou with Caesar paragon again My man of men.
CHARMIAN	By your most gracious pardon, I sing but after you.
CLEOPATRA	My salad days, When I was green in judgement, cold in blood, To say as I said then. But come, away, Get me ink and paper. He shall have every day a several greeting, Or I’ll unpeople Egypt.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in warlike manner
POMPEY	If the great gods be just, they shall assist The deeds of justest men.
(didascalia)	MENECRATES Know, worthy Pompey,
POMPEY	That what they do delay they not deny.
POMPEY	Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays The thing we sue for.
(didascalia)	MENECRATES
POMPEY	We, ignorant of ourselves, Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers Deny us for our good; so find we profit By losing of our prayers.
POMPEY	I shall do well. The people love me, and the sea is mine. My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope Says it will come to th’ full. Mark Antony In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make No wars without doors. Caesar gets money where He loses hearts. Lepidus flatters both, Of both is flattered; but he neither loves, Nor either cares for him.
(didascalia)	MENAS
POMPEY	Caesar and Lepidus Are in the field; a mighty strength they carry.
POMPEY	Where have you this? ’Tis false.
(didascalia)	MENAS
POMPEY	From Silvius, sir.
POMPEY	He dreams. I know they are in Rome together, Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip. Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both Tie up the libertine, in a field of feasts Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite, That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honour Even till a Lethe’d dullness—
(didascalia)	Enter Varrius
POMPEY	How now, Varrius?
VARRIUS	This is most certain that I shall deliver: Mark Antony is every hour in Rome Expected. Since he went from Egypt, ’tis A space for farther travel.
POMPEY	I could have given less matter A better ear. Menas, I did not think This amorous surfeiter would have donned his helm For such a petty war. His soldiership Is twice the other twain. But let us rear The higher our opinion, that our stirring Can from the lap of Egypt’s widow pluck The ne’er lust-wearied Antony.
MENAS	I cannot hope Caesar and Antony shall well greet together. His wife that’s dead did trespasses to Caesar, His brother warred upon him, although, I think, Not moved by Antony.
POMPEY	I know not, Menas, How lesser enmities may give way to greater. Were’t not that we stand up against them all, ’Twere pregnant they should square between themselves, For they have entertained cause enough To draw their swords. But how the fear of us May cement their divisions, and bind up The petty difference, we yet not know. Be’t as our gods will have’t; it only stands Our lives upon to use our strongest hands. Come, Menas.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus
LEPIDUS	Good Enobarbus, ’tis a worthy deed, And shall become you well, to entreat your captain To soft and gentle speech.
ENOBARBUS	I shall entreat him To answer like himself. If Caesar move him, Let Antony look over Caesar’s head And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter, Were I the wearer of Antonio’s beard I would not shave’t today.
LEPIDUS	’Tis not a time For private stomaching.
ENOBARBUS	Every time Serves for the matter that is then born in’t.
LEPIDUS	But small to greater matters must give way.
ENOBARBUS	Not if the small come first.
LEPIDUS	Your speech is passion. But pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes The noble Antony.
(didascalia)	Enter at one door Antony and Ventidius
ENOBARBUS	And yonder Caesar.
(didascalia)	Enter at another door Caesar, Maecenas, and Agrippa
ANTONY	(to Ventidius) If we compose well here, to Parthia. Hark, Ventidius.
CAESAR	I do not know, Maecenas; ask Agrippa.
LEPIDUS	(to Caesar and Antony) Noble friends, That which combined us was most great; and let not A leaner action rend us. What’s amiss, May it be gently heard. When we debate Our trivial difference loud, we do commit Murder in healing wounds. Then, noble partners, The rather for I earnestly beseech, Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms, Nor curstness grow to th’ matter.
ANTONY	’Tis spoken well. Were we before our armies, and to fight, I should do thus.
(didascalia)	Antony and Caesar embrace. Flourish
CAESAR	Welcome to Rome.
ANTONY	Thank you.
CAESAR	Sit.
ANTONY	Sit, sir.
CAESAR	Nay then. They sit
ANTONY	I learn you take things ill which are not so, Or being, concern you not.
CAESAR	I must be laughed at If or for nothing or a little I Should say myself offended, and with you Chiefly i’th’ world; more laughed at that I should Once name you derogately, when to sound your name It not concerned me.
ANTONY	My being in Egypt, Caesar, what was’t to you?
CAESAR	No more than my residing here at Rome Might be to you in Egypt. Yet if you there Did practise on my state, your being in Egypt Might be my question.
ANTONY	How intend you ‘practised’?
CAESAR	You may be pleased to catch at mine intent By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother Made wars upon me, and their contestation Was theme for you. You were the word of war.
ANTONY	You do mistake the business. My brother never Did urge me in his act. I did enquire it, And have my learning from some true reports That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather Discredit my authority with yours, And make the wars alike against my stomach, Having alike your cause? Of this, my letters Before did satisfy you. If you’ll patch a quarrel, As matter whole you have to make it with, It must not be with this.
CAESAR	You praise yourself By laying defects of judgement to me, but You patched up your excuses.
ANTONY	Not so, not so. I know you could not lack, I am certain on’t, Very necessity of this thought, that I, Your partner in the cause ’gainst which he fought, Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife, I would you had her spirit in such another. The third o’th’ world is yours, which with a snaffle You may pace easy, but not such a wife.
ENOBARBUS	Would we had all such wives, that the men might go to wars with the women.
ANTONY	So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar, Made out of her impatience—which not wanted Shrewdness of policy too—I grieving grant Did you too much disquiet, for that you must But say I could not help it.
CAESAR	I wrote to you When, rioting in Alexandria, you Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts Did gibe my missive out of audience.
ANTONY	Sir, he fell upon me ere admitted, then. Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want Of what I was i’th’ morning; but next day I told him of myself, which was as much As to have asked him pardon. Let this fellow Be nothing of our strife. If we contend, Out of our question wipe him.
CAESAR	You have broken The article of your oath, which you shall never Have tongue to charge me with.
LEPIDUS	Soft, Caesar.
ANTONY	No, Lepidus, let him speak. The honour is sacred which he talks on now, Supposing that I lacked it. But on, Caesar: The article of my oath—
CAESAR	To lend me arms and aid when I required them, The which you both denied.
ANTONY	Neglected, rather, And then when poisoned hours had bound me up From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may I’ll play the penitent to you, but mine honesty Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power Work without it. Truth is that Fulvia, To have me out of Egypt, made wars here, For which myself, the ignorant motive, do So far ask pardon as befits mine honour To stoop in such a case.
LEPIDUS	’Tis noble spoken.
MAECENAS	If it might please you to enforce no further The griefs between ye; to forget them quite Were to remember that the present need Speaks to atone you.
LEPIDUS	Worthily spoken, Maecenas.
ENOBARBUS	Or if you borrow one another’s love for the instant, you may, when you hear no more words of Pompey, return it again. You shall have time to wrangle in when you have nothing else to do.
ANTONY	Thou art a soldier only. Speak no more.
ENOBARBUS	That truth should be silent I had almost forgot.
ANTONY	You wrong this presence, therefore speak no more. ENOBARBUS Go to, then; your considerate stone.
CAESAR	I do not much dislike the matter, but The manner of his speech, for’t cannot be We shall remain in friendship, our conditions So diff‘ring in their acts. Yet if I knew What hoop should hold us staunch, from edge to edge O’th’ world I would pursue it.
AGRIPPA	Give me leave, Caesar.
CAESAR	Speak, Agrippa.
AGRIPPA	Thou hast a sister by the mother’s side, Admired Octavia. Great Mark Antony Is now a widower.
CAESAR	Say not so, Agrippa. If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof Were well deserved of rashness.
ANTONY	I am not married, Caesar. Let me hear Agrippa further speak.
AGRIPPA	To hold you in perpetual amity, To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts With an unslipping knot, take Antony Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims No worse a husband than the best of men; Whose virtue and whose general graces speak That which none else can utter. By this marriage All little jealousies which now seem great, And all great fears which now import their dangers, Would then be nothing. Truths would be tales Where now half-tales be truths. Her love to both Would each to other and all loves to both Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke, For ’tis a studied, not a present thought, By duty ruminated.
ANTONY	Will Caesar speak?
CAESAR	Not till he hears how Antony is touched With what is spoke already.
ANTONY	What power is in Agrippa, If I would say ‘Agrippa, be it so’, To make this good?
CAESAR	The power of Caesar, And his power unto Octavia.
ANTONY	May I never To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand. Further this act of grace, and from this hour The heart of brothers govern in our loves And sway our great designs.
CAESAR	There’s my hand. Antony and Caesar clasp hands A sister I bequeath you whom no brother Did ever love so dearly. Let her live To join our kingdoms and our hearts; and never Fly off our loves again.
LEPIDUS	Happily, amen.
ANTONY	I did not think to draw my sword ’gainst Pompey, For he hath laid strange courtesies and great Of late upon me. I must thank him only, Lest my remembrance suffer ill report; At heel of that, defy him.
LEPIDUS	Time calls upon’s. Of us must Pompey presently be sought, Or else he seeks out us.
ANTONY	Where lies he?
CAESAR	About the Mount Misena.
ANTONY	What is his strength By land?
CAESAR	Great and increasing, but by sea He is an absolute master.
ANTONY	So is the fame. Would we had spoke together. Haste we for it; Yet ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talked of.
CAESAR	With most gladness, And do invite you to my sister’s view, Whither straight I’ll lead you.
ANTONY	Let us, Lepidus, Not lack your company.
LEPIDUS	Noble Antony, Not sickness should detain me.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Exeunt all but Enobarbus, Agrippa, and Maecenas
MAECENAS	(to Enobarbus) Welcome from Egypt, sir.
ENOBARBUS	Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Maecenas! My honourable friend, Agrippa!
AGRIPPA	Good Enobarbus!
MAECENAS	We have cause to be glad that matters are so well digested. You stayed well by’t in Egypt.
ENOBARBUS	Ay, sir, we did sleep day out of countenance, and made the night light with drinking.
MAECENAS	Eight wild boars roasted whole at a breakfast and but twelve persons there—is this true?
ENOBARBUS	This was but as a fly by an eagle. We had much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily deserved noting.
MAECENAS	She’s a most triumphant lady, if report be square to her.
ENOBARBUS	When she first met Mark Antony, she pursed up his heart upon the river of Cydnus. AGRiPPA There she appeared indeed, or my reporter devised well for her.
ENOBARBUS	I will tell you. The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne Burned on the water. The poop was beaten gold; Purple the sails, and so perfumed that The winds were love-sick with them. The oars were silver, Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made The water which they beat to follow faster, As amorous of their strokes. For her own person, It beggared all description. She did lie In her pavilion—cloth of gold, of tissue— O’er-picturing that Venus where we see The fancy outwork nature. On each side her Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids, With divers-coloured fans whose wind did seem To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, And what they undid did.
AGRIPPA	O, rare for Antony!
ENOBARBUS	Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides, So many mermaids, tended her i‘th’ eyes, And made their bends adornings. At the helm A seeming mermaid steers. The silken tackle Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands That yarely frame the office. From the barge A strange invisible perfume hits the sense Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast Her people out upon her, and Antony, Enthroned i’th’ market-place, did sit alone, Whistling to th’air, which but for vacancy Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too, And made a gap in nature.
AGRIPPA	Rare Egyptian!
ENOBARBUS	Upon her landing Antony sent to her, Invited her to supper. She replied It should be better he became her guest, Which she entreated. Our courteous Antony, Whom ne‘er the word of ‘No’ woman heard speak, Being barbered ten times o’er, goes to the feast, And for his ordinary pays his heart For what his eyes eat only.
AGRIPPA	Royal wench! She made great Caesar lay his sword to bed. He ploughed her, and she cropped.
ENOBARBUS	I saw her once Hop forty paces through the public street, And having lost her breath, she spoke and panted, That she did make defect perfection, And breathless, pour breath forth.
MAECENAS	Now Antony Must leave her utterly.
ENOBARBUS	Never. He will not. Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale Her infinite variety. Other women cloy The appetites they feed, but she makes hungry Where most she satisfies. For vilest things Become themselves in her, that the holy priests Bless her when she is riggish.
MAECENAS	If beauty, wisdom, modesty can settle The heart of Antony, Octavia is A blessed lottery to him.
AGRIPPA	Let us go. Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest Whilst you abide here.
ENOBARBUS	Humbly, sir, I thank you.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Caesar; Octavia between them
ANTONY	The world and my great office will sometimes Divide me from your bosom.
OCTAVIA	All which time, Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers To them for you.
ANTONY	Good night, sir. My Octavia, Read not my blemishes in the world’s report. I have not kept my square, but that to come Shall all be done by th’ rule. Good night, dear lady. Good night, sir.
CAESAR	Good night.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Caesar and Octavia
(didascalia)	Enter Soothsayer
ANTONY	Now, sirrah. You do wish yourself in Egypt?
SOOTHSAYER	Would I had never come from thence, nor you Gone thither.
ANTONY	If you can, your reason?
SOOTHSAYER	I see it in my motion, have it not in my tongue. But yet hie you to Egypt again.
ANTONY	Say to me Whose fortunes shall rise higher: Caesar’s or mine?
SOOTHSAYER	Caesar’s. Therefore, O Antony, stay not by his side. Thy daemon, that thy spirit which keeps thee, is Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, Where Caesar’s is not. But near him thy angel Becomes afeard, as being o’erpowered. Therefore Make space enough between you.
ANTONY	Speak this no more.
SOOTHSAYER	To none but thee; no more but when to thee. If thou dost play with him at any game Thou art sure to lose; and of that natural luck He beats thee ‘gainst the odds. Thy lustre thickens When he shines by. I say again, thy spirit Is all afraid to govern thee near him; But he away, ’tis noble.
ANTONY	Get thee gone. Say to Ventidius I would speak with him.
(didascalia)	Exit Soothsayer
ANTONY	He shall to Parthia; be it art or hap, He hath spoken true. The very dice obey him, And in our sports my better cunning faints Under his chance. If we draw lots, he speeds. His cocks do win the battle still of mine When it is all to nought, and his quails ever Beat mine, inhooped, at odds. I will to Egypt; And though I make this marriage for my peace, I’th’ East my pleasure lies.
(didascalia)	Enter Ventidius
ANTONY	O, come, Ventidius. You must to Parthia, your commission’s ready. Follow me, and receive’t.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Lepidus, Maecenas, and Agrippa
LEPIDUS	Trouble yourselves no further. Pray you, hasten Your generals after.
AGRIPPA	Sir, Mark Antony Will e’en but kiss Octavia, and we’ll follow.
LEPIDUS	Till I shall see you in your soldier’s dress, Which will become you both, farewell.
MAECENAS	We shall, As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount Before you, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS	Your way is shorter. My purposes do draw me much about. You’ll win two days upon me.
MAECENAS	and
AGRIPPA	Sir, good success.
LEPIDUS	Farewell.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Maecenas and Agrippa at one door, Lepidus at another

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Give me some music—music, moody food Of us that trade in love. CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS The music, ho!
(didascalia)	Enter Mardian, the eunuch
CLEOPATRA	Let it alone. Let’s to billiards. Come, Charmian.
CHARMIAN	My arm is sore. Best play with Mardian.
CLEOPATRA	As well a woman with an eunuch played As with a woman. Come, you’ll play with me, sir?
MARDIAN	As well as I can, madam.
CLEOPATRA	And when good will is showed, though’t come too short The actor may plead pardon. I’ll none now. Give me mine angle. We’ll to th’ river. There, My music playing far off, I will betray Tawny-finned fishes. My bended hook shall pierce Their slimy jaws, and as I draw them up I’ll think them every one an Antony, And say ‘Ah ha, you’re caught!’
CHARMIAN	’Twas merry when You wagered on your angling, when your diver Did hang a salt fish on his hook, which he With fervency drew up.
CLEOPATRA	That time—O times!— I laughed him out of patience, and that night I laughed him into patience, and next morn, Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed, Then put my tires and mantles on him whilst I wore his sword Philippan.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
CLEOPATRA	O, from Italy. Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears, That long time have been barren.
MESSENGER	Madam, madam!
CLEOPATRA	Antonio’s dead. If thou say so, villain, Thou kill’st thy mistress; but well and free, If thou so yield him, there is gold, and here My bluest veins to kiss—a hand that kings Have lipped, and trembled kissing.
MESSENGER	First, madam, he is well.
CLEOPATRA	Why, there’s more gold. But, sirrah, mark: we use To say the dead are well. Bring it to that, The gold I give thee will I melt and pour Down thy ill-uttering throat.
MESSENGER	Good madam, hear me.
CLEOPATRA	Well, go to, I will. But there’s no goodness in thy face. If Antony Be free and healthful, so tart a favour To trumpet such good tidings! If not well, Thou shouldst come like a Fury crowned with snakes, Not like a formal man.
MESSENGER	Will’t please you hear me?
CLEOPATRA	I have a mind to strike thee ere thou speak’st. Yet if thou say Antony lives, is well, Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him, I’ll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail Rich pearls upon thee.
MESSENGER	Madam, he’s well.
CLEOPATRA	Well said.
MESSENGER	And friends with Caesar.
CLEOPATRA	Thou’rt an honest man.
MESSENGER	Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
CLEOPATRA	Make thee a fortune from me.
MESSENGER	But yet, madam—
CLEOPATRA	I do not like ‘But yet’; it does allay The good precedence. Fie upon ‘But yet’. ‘But yet’ is as a jailer to bring forth Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend, Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear, The good and bad together. He’s friends with Caesar, In state of health, thou sayst; and, thou sayst, free.
MESSENGER	Free, madam? No, I made no such report. He’s bound unto Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	For what good turn?
MESSENGER	For the best turn i’th’ bed.
CLEOPATRA	I am pale, Charmian.
MESSENGER	Madam, he’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	The most infectious pestilence upon thee! She strikes him down
MESSENGER	Good madam, patience!
CLEOPATRA	What say you? She strikes him Hence, horrible villain, or I’ll spurn thine eyes Like balls before me. I’ll unhair thy head, She hales him up and down Thou shalt be whipped with wire and stewed in brine, Smarting in ling’ring pickle.
MESSENGER	Gracious madam, I that do bring the news made not the match.
CLEOPATRA	Say ’tis not so, a province I will give thee, And make thy fortunes proud. The blow thou hadst Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage, And I will boot thee with what gift beside Thy modesty can beg.
MESSENGER	He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA	Rogue, thou hast lived too long. She draws a knife
MESSENGER	Nay then, I’ll run. What mean you, madam? I have made no fault. Exit
CHARMIAN	Good madam, keep yourself within yourself. The man is innocent.
CLEOPATRA	Some innocents ’scape not the thunderbolt. Melt Egypt into Nile, and kindly creatures Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again. Though I am mad I will not bite him. Call!
CHARMIAN	He is afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA	I will not hurt him.
(didascalia)	Exit Charmian
CLEOPATRA	These hands do lack nobility that they strike A meaner than myself, since I myself Have given myself the cause.
(didascalia)	Enter the Messenger again With Charmian Come hither, sir.
CLEOPATRA	Though it be honest, it is never good To bring bad news. Give to a gracious message An host of tongues, but let ill tidings tell Themselves when they be felt.
MESSENGER	I have done my duty.
CLEOPATRA	Is he married? I cannot hate thee worser than I do If thou again say ‘Yes’.
MESSENGER	He’s married, madam.
CLEOPATRA	The gods confound thee! Dost thou hold there still?
MESSENGER	Should I lie, madam?
CLEOPATRA	O, I would thou didst, So half my Egypt were submerged and made A cistern for scaled snakes. Go, get thee hence. Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
MESSENGER	I crave your highness’ pardon.
CLEOPATRA	He is married?
MESSENGER	Take no offence that I would not offend you. To punish me for what you make me do Seems much unequal. He’s married to Octavia.
CLEOPATRA	O that his fault should make a knave of thee, That act not what thou‘rt sure of! Get thee hence. The merchandise which thou hast brought from Rome Are all too dear for me. Lie they upon thy hand, And be undone by ’em.
(didascalia)	Exit Messenger
CHARMIAN	Good your highness, patience.
CLEOPATRA	In praising Antony I have dispraised Caesar.
CHARMIAN	Many times, madam.
CLEOPATRA	I am paid for’t now. Lead me from hence. I faint. O Iras, Charmian—’tis no matter. Go to the fellow, good Alexas, bid him Report the feature of Octavia: her years, Her inclination; let him not leave out The colour of her hair. Bring me word quickly.
(didascalia)	Exit Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Let him for ever go—let him not, Charmian; Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,
(didascalia)	The other way’s a Mars. To Mardian Bid you Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian, But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one door, with a drummer and a trumpeter; at another, Caesar, Lepidus, Antony, Enobarbus, Maecenas, Agrippa, with soldiers marching
POMPEY	Your hostages I have, so have you mine, And we shall talk before we fight.
CAESAR	Most meet That first we come to words, and therefore have we Our written purposes before us sent, Which if thou hast considered, let us know If ’twill tie up thy discontented sword And carry back to Sicily much tall youth That else must perish here.
POMPEY	To you all three, The senators alone of this great world, Chief factors for the gods: I do not know Wherefore my father should revengers want, Having a son and friends, since Julius Caesar, Who at Philippi the good Brutus ghosted, There saw you labouring for him. What was’t That moved pale Cassius to conspire? And what Made the all-honoured, honest Roman Brutus, With the armed rest, courtiers of beauteous freedom, To drench the Capitol but that they would Have one man but a man? And that is it Hath made me rig my navy, at whose burden The angered ocean foams; with which I meant To scourge th’ingratitude that despiteful Rome Cast on my noble father.
CAESAR	Take your time.
ANTONY	Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy sails. We’ll speak with thee at sea. At land thou know’st How much we do o’ercount thee.
POMPEY	At land indeed Thou dost o’ercount me of my father’s house, But since the cuckoo builds not for himself, Remain in’t as thou mayst.
LEPIDUS	Be pleased to tell us— For this is from the present—how you take The offers we have sent you.
CAESAR	There’s the point.
ANTONY	Which do not be entreated to, but weigh What it is worth, embraced.
CAESAR	And what may follow, To try a larger fortune?
POMPEY	You have made me offer Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must Rid all the sea of pirates; then to send Measures of wheat to Rome; this ’greed upon, To part with unhacked edges, and bear back Our targes undinted. CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS That’s our offer.
POMPEY	Know, then, I came before you here a man prepared To take this offer. But Mark Antony Put me to some impatience. Though I lose The praise of it by telling, you must know, When Caesar and your brother were at blows, Your mother came to Sicily, and did find Her welcome friendly.
ANTONY	I have heard it, Pompey, And am well studied for a liberal thanks Which I do owe you.
POMPEY	Let me have your hand. Pompey and Antony shake hands I did not think, sir, to have met you here.
ANTONY	The beds i’th’ East are soft; and thanks to you, That called me timelier than my purpose hither; For I have gained by’t.
CAESAR	(to Pompey) Since I saw you last There is a change upon you.
POMPEY	Well, I know not What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face, But in my bosom shall she never come To make my heart her vassal.
LEPIDUS	Well met here.
POMPEY	I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed. I crave our composition may be written And sealed between us.
CAESAR	That’s the next to do.
POMPEY	We’ll feast each other ere we part, and let’s Draw lots who shall begin.
ANTONY	That will I, Pompey.
POMPEY	No, Antony, take the lot. But, first or last, your fine Egyptian cookery Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius Caesar Grew fat with feasting there.
ANTONY	You have heard much.
POMPEY	I have fair meanings, sir.
ANTONY	And fair words to them.
POMPEY	Then so much have I heard, And I have heard Apollodorus carried—
ENOBARBUS	No more o’ that, he did so.
POMPEY	What, I pray you?
ENOBARBUS	A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
POMPEY	I know thee now. How far’st thou, soldier?
ENOBARBUS	Well, and well am like to do, for I perceive Four feasts are toward.
POMPEY	Let me shake thy hand. Pompey and Enobarbus shake hands I never hated thee. I have seen thee fight When I have envied thy behaviour.
ENOBARBUS	Sir, I never loved you much, but I ha’ praised ye When you have well deserved ten times as much As I have said you did.
POMPEY	Enjoy thy plainness. It nothing ill becomes thee. Aboard my galley I invite you all. Will you lead, lords? CAESAR, ANTONY, and LEPIDUS Show’s the way, sir.
POMPEY	Come.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas
MENAS	(aside) Thy father, Pompey, would ne’er have made this treaty. (To Enobarbus) You and I have known, sir.
ENOBARBUS	At sea, I think.
MENAS	We have, sir.
ENOBARBUS	You have done well by water.
MENAS	And you by land.
ENOBARBUS	I will praise any man that will praise me, though it cannot be denied what I have done by land.
MENAS	Nor what I have done by water.
ENOBARBUS	Yes, something you can deny for your own safety. You have been a great thief by sea.
MENAS	And you by land.
ENOBARBUS	There I deny my land service; but give me your hand, Menas. If our eyes had authority, here they might take two thieves kissing. They shake hands
MENAS	All men’s faces are true, whatsome’er their hands are.
ENOBARBUS	But there is never a fair woman has a true face.
MENAS	No slander; they steal hearts.
ENOBARBUS	We came hither to fight with you.
MENAS	For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.
ENOBARBUS	If he do, sure he cannot weep’t back again.
MENAS	You’ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark Antony here. Pray you, is he married to Cleopatra?
ENOBARBUS	Caesar’s sister is called Octavia.
MENAS	True, sir. She was the wife of Caius Marcellus.
ENOBARBUS	But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
MENAS	Pray ye, sir?
ENOBARBUS	’Tis true.
MENAS	Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
ENOBARBUS	If I were bound to divine of this unity I would not prophesy so.
MENAS	I think the policy of that purpose made more in the marriage than the love of the parties.
ENOBARBUS	I think so, too. But you shall find the band that seems to tie their friendship together will be the very strangler of their amity. Octavia is of a holy, cold, and still conversation.
MENAS	Who would not have his wife so?
ENOBARBUS	Not he that himself is not so, which is Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again; then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in Caesar, and, as I said before, that which is the strength of their amity shall prove the immediate author of their variance. Antony will use his affection where it is. He married but his occasion here.
MENAS	And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you aboard? I have a health for you.
ENOBARBUS	I shall take it, sir. We have used our throats in Egypt.
MENAS	Come, let’s away.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Music plays. Enter two or three Servants with a banquet
FIRST SERVANT	Here they’ll be, man. Some o’ their plants are ill rooted already; the least wind i’th’ world will blow them down.
SECOND SERVANT	Lepidus is high-coloured.
FIRST SERVANT	They have made him drink alms-drink.
SECOND SERVANT	As they pinch one another by the disposition, he cries out ‘No more!’—reconciles them to his entreaty and himself to th’ drink.
FIRST SERVANT	But it raises the greater war between him and his discretion.
SECOND SERVANT	Why, this it is to have a name in great men’s fellowship. I had as lief have a reed that will do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.
FIRST SERVANT	To be called into a huge sphere and not to be seen to move in’t, are the holes where eyes should be which pitifully disaster the cheeks.
(didascalia)	A sennet sounded. Enter Caesar, Antony, Pompey, Lepidus, Agrippa, Maecenas,.Enobarbus, and Menas, with other captains and a boy
ANTONY	(to Caesar) Thus do they, sir: they take the flow o’th’ Nile By certain scales i’th’ pyramid. They know By th’ height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth Or foison follow. The higher Nilus swells The more it promises; as it ebbs, the seedsman Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain, And shortly comes to harvest.
LEPIDUS	You’ve strange serpents there?
ANTONY	Ay, Lepidus.
LEPIDUS	Your serpent of Egypt is bred now of your mud by the operation of your sun; so is your crocodile.
ANTONY	They are so.
POMPEY	Sit, and some wine. A health to Lepidus!
(didascalia)	Antony, Pompey, and Lepidus sit
LEPIDUS	I am not so well as I should be, but I’ll ne’er out.
ENOBARBUS	Not till you have slept—I fear me you’ll be in till then.
LEPIDUS	Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies’ pyramises are very goodly things: without contradiction I have heard that.
MENAS	(aside to Pompey) Pompey, a word.
POMPEY	(aside to Menas) Say in mine ear; what is’t?
MENAS	(aside to Pompey) Forsake thy seat, I do beseech thee, captain, And hear me speak a word.
POMPEY	(aside to Menas) Forbear me till anon. (Aloud) This wine for Lepidus! Menas whispers in Pompey’s ear
LEPIDUS	What manner o’ thing is your crocodile?
ANTONY	It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad as it hath breadth. It is just so high as it is, and moves with it own organs. It lives by that which nourisheth it, and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.
LEPIDUS	What colour is it of?
ANTONY	Of it own colour, too.
LEPIDUS	’Tis a strange serpent.
ANTONY	’Tis so, and the tears of it are wet.
CAESAR	(to Antony) Will this description satisfy him?
ANTONY	With the health that Pompey gives him; else he is a very epicure.
POMPEY	(aside to Menas) Go hang, sir, hang! Tell me of that? Away, Do as I bid you. (Aloud) Where’s this cup I called for?
MENAS	(aside to Pompey) If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear me, Rise from thy stool.
(didascalia)	POMPEY rising I think thou’rt mad. The matter?
(didascalia)	Menas and Pompey stand apart
MENAS	I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.
POMPEY	Thou hast served me with much faith. What’s else to say? Be jolly, lords.
ANTONY	These quicksands, Lepidus, Keep off them, for you sink.
MENAS	Wilt thou be lord of all the world?
POMPEY	What sayst thou?
MENAS	Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That’s twice.
POMPEY	How should that be?
MENAS	But entertain it And, though thou think me poor, I am the man Will give thee all the world.
POMPEY	Hast thou drunk well?
MENAS	No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup. Thou art, if thou dar‘st be, the earthly Jove. Whate’er the ocean pales or sky inclips Is thine, if thou wilt ha’t.
POMPEY	Show me which way!
MENAS	These three world-sharers, these competitors, Are in thy vessel. Let me cut the cable; And when we are put off, fall to their throats. All there is thine.
POMPEY	Ah, this thou shouldst have done And not have spoke on’t. In me ‘tis villainy, In thee ’t had been good service. Thou must know ’Tis not my profit that does lead mine honour; Mine honour, it. Repent that e’er thy tongue Hath so betrayed thine act. Being done unknown, I should have found it afterwards well done, But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink. He returns to the others
MENAS	(aside) For this, I’ll never follow thy palled fortunes more. Who seeks and will not take when once ’tis offered, Shall never find it more.
POMPEY	This health to Lepidus!
ANTONY	Bear him ashore.—I’ll pledge it for him, Pompey.
ENOBARBUS	Here’s to thee, Menas!
MENAS	Enobarbus, welcome.
POMPEY	Fill till the cup be hid. One lifts Lepidus, drunk, and carries him off
ENOBARBUS	There’s a strong fellow, Menas.
MENAS	Why? 86
ENOBARBUS	A bears the third part of the world, man; seest not?
MENAS	The third part then is drunk. Would it were all, That it might go on wheels.
ENOBARBUS	Drink thou, increase the reels.
MENAS	Come.
POMPEY	This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
ANTONY	It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho! Here’s to Caesar!
CAESAR	I could well forbear’t. It’s monstrous labour when I wash my brain, An it grow fouler.
ANTONY	Be a child o’th’ time.
CAESAR	Possess it, I’ll make answer. But I had rather fast from all, four days, Than drink so much in one.
ENOBARBUS	(to Antony) Ha, my brave Emperor, Shall we dance now the Egyptian bacchanals, And celebrate our drink?
POMPEY	Let’s ha’t, good soldier.
ANTONY	Come, let’s all take hands Till that the conquering wine hath steeped our sense In soft and delicate Lethe.
ENOBARBUS	All take hands. Make battery to our ears with the loud music. The while I’ll place you, then the boy shall sing. The holding every man shall beat as loud As his strong sides can volley.
(didascalia)	Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand in hand
(didascalia)	Boy (sings)
ENOBARBUS	Come, thou monarch of the vine, Plumpy Bacchus, with pink eyne! In thy vats our cares be drowned, With thy grapes our hairs be crowned! Cup us till the world go round, Cup us till the world go round!
CAESAR	What would you more? Pompey, good night. (To Antony) Good-brother, Let me request you off. Our graver business Frowns at this levity. Gentle lords, let’s part. You see we have burnt our cheeks. Strong Enobarb Is weaker than the wine, and mine own tongue Splits what it speaks. The wild disguise hath almost Anticked us all. What needs more words? Good night. Good Antony, your hand.
POMPEY	I’ll try you on the shore.
ANTONY	And shall, sir. Give’s your hand.
POMPEY	O Antony, You have my father’s house. But what, we are friends! Come down into the boat.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Enobarbus and Menas
ENOBARBUS	Take heed you fall not, Menas.
MENAS	I’ll not on shore. No, to my cabin. These drums, these trumpets, flutes, what! Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell To these great fellows. Sound and be hanged, sound out!
(didascalia)	Sound a flourish, with drums
ENOBARBUS	(throwing his cap in the air) Hoo, says a! There’s my cap.
MENAS	Ho, noble captain, come!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Ventidius, with Silius and other Roman soldiers, as it were in triumph; 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 4’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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 green-sickness.
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.
(didascalia)	Trumpet within
ENOBARBUS	So, This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
AGRIPPA	Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell.
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia
ANTONY	(to Caesar) 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	(weeping) 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. She whispers to Caesar
ANTONY	Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can Her heart inform her tongue—the swan’-down feather, That stands upon the swell at 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’, till I wept 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 (embracing Caesar); 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. He kisses Octavia
ANTONY	Farewell.
(didascalia)	Trumpets sound. Exeunt Antony, Octavia, and Enobarbus at one door, Caesar, Lepidus, and Agrippa at another

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas
CLEOPATRA	Where is the fellow?
ALEXAS	Half afeard to come.
CLEOPATRA	Go to, go to.
(didascalia)	Enter the Messenger as before
CLEOPATRA	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? (To the Messenger) 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, ’is impossible!
CLEOPATRA	I think so, Charmian. Dull of tongue, and dwarfish. What majesty is in her gait? Remember If e‘er thou looked’st 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 judgement.
CHARMIAN	Excellent.
CLEOPATRA	(to the Messenger) 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	(giving money) 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.
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 chops, 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

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 the 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.
(didascalia)	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 stol’n 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 obstruct ’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 Malchus 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, makes 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!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 sayst 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?
(didascalia)	ENOBARBUS aside Well, I could reply
CLEOPATRA	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.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Camidius
ENOBARBUS	Nay, I have done. Here comes the Emperor.
ANTONY	Is it not strange, Camidius, That from Tarentum and Brundisium 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. Camidius, we Will fight with him by sea.
CLEOPATRA	By sea—what else?
CAMIDIUS	Why will my lord do so?
ANTONY	For that he dares us to’t.
ENOBARBUS	So hath my lord dared him to single fight.
CAMIDIUS	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 muleters, reapers, people 35 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.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
ANTONY	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. Camidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse. We’ll to our ship. Away, my Thetis!
(didascalia)	Enter a Soldier
ANTONY	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!
(didascalia)	Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus
SOLDIER	By Hercules, I think I am i’th’ right.
CAMIDIUS	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?
CAMIDIUS	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.
CAMIDIUS	Who’s his lieutenant, hear you?
SOLDIER	They say, one Taurus.
CAMIDIUS	Well I know the man.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	The Emperor calls Camidius.
CAMIDIUS	With news the time’s in labour, and throws forth Each minute some.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar with his army, marching, and Taurus CAESAR Taurus!
TAURUS	My lord?
CAESAR	Strike not by land. Keep whole. Provoke not battle Till we have done at sea. (Giving a scroll) Do not exceed The prescript of this scroll. Our fortune lies Upon this jump.
(didascalia)	Exit Caesar and his army at one door, Taurus at another

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Camidius marcheth with his land army over the stage, and taurus, the lieutenant of caesar, with his
NOBARBUS	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.
(didascalia)	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 riband-red 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 breese 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 luffed, 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!
(didascalia)	Enter Camidius
CAMIDIUS	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!
CAMIDIUS	Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
SCARUS	’Tis easy to’t, and there I will attend What further comes.
CAMIDIUS	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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt severally

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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.
ATTENDANTS	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 seaside 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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt attendants
ANTONY	He sits down.
(didascalia)	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! She sits down
ANTONY	No, no, no, no, no.
EROS	(to Antony) 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.
(didascalia)	CLEOPATRA (rising, to Charmian and Iras) Ah, stand by.
EROS	The Queen, my lord, the Queen.
IRAS	Go to him, madam. Speak to him. He’s 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.
(didascalia)	ANTONY rising
EROS	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. He kisses her Even this repays me. (To an Attendant) We sent our schoolmaster; Is a come back? (To Cleopatra) Love, I am full of lead. (Calling) Some wine
(didascalia)	Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows
ANTONY	We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar, Agrippa, Thidias, and 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.
(didascalia)	Enter Ambassador from Antony
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-disgracèd 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.
(didascalia)	Exit Ambassador, attended
CAESAR	(To Thidias) To try thy eloquence now ‘tis time. Dispatch. From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise, And in our name, what she requires. Add more As thine invention offers. Women are not In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure The ne’er-touched 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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Caesar and his train at one door, and Thidias at another

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	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 mooted question. ’Twas a shame no less Than was his loss, to course your flying flags And leave his navy gazing.
CLEOPATRA	Prithee, peace.
(didascalia)	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 Cleopatra) 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 the Ambassador) 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 caparisons apart And answer me declined, sword against sword, Ourselves alone. I’ll write it. Follow me.
(didascalia)	Exeunt Antony and Ambassador
ENOBARBUS	(aside) Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will Unstate his happiness and be staged to th’ show Against a sworder! I see men’s judgements 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 judgement, too.
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	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 fall’n lord Does conquer him that did his master conquer, And earns a place i’th’ story.
(didascalia)	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. (To Cleopatra) 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 embraced not Antony As you did love, but as you feared him.
CLEOPATRA	0.
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.
(didascalia)	Exit
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 your self 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 Till 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. He kisses Cleopatra’s 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.
(didascalia)	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	You will be whipped.
ANTONY	(calling) 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.
(didascalia)	Enter servants
ANTONY	Take hence this jack, and whip him.
(didascalia)	ENOBARBUS aside to Thidias
ANTONY	’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 whipped, Bring him again. This jack of Caesar’s shall Bear us an errand to him.
(didascalia)	Exeunt servants with Thidias
ANTONY	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 seel our eyes, In our own filth drop our clear judgements, 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 Gnaeus Pompey’s, besides what hotter hours Unregistered in vulgar fame you have Luxuriously picked 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 hornèd 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.
(didascalia)	Enter a Servant with Thidias
ANTONY	Is he whipped?
SERVANT	Soundly, my lord.
ANTONY	Cried he, and begged a pardon?
SERVANT	He did ask favour.
ANTONY	(to Thidias) 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’abyss of hell. If he mislike My speech and what is done, tell him he has Hipparchus, my enfranchèd 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!
(didascalia)	Exit Servant with Thidias
CLEOPATRA	Have you done yet?
ANTONY	Alack, our terrene moon Is now eclipsed, and it portends alone The fall of Antony.
CLEOPATRA	(aside) 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 to’ve 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.
(didascalia)	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.
(didascalia)	Exit

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar, reading a letter, with Agrippa, Maecenas, and his army
CAESAR	He calls me boy, and chides as he had power To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger He hath whipped with rods, dares me to personal combat, Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know I have many other ways to die; meantime, Laugh at his challenge.
MAECENAS	Caesar 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.
CAESAR	Let our best heads Know that tomorrow the last of many battles We mean to fight. Within our files there are, Of those that served 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 earned the waste. Poor Antony!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, with others
ANTONY	He will not fight with me, Domitius?
ENOBARBUS	No.
ANTONY	Why should he not?
ENOBARBUS	He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one.
ANTONY	Tomorrow, 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. Woot thou fight well?
ENOBARBUS	I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all!’
ANTONY	Well said. Come on! Call forth my household servants. Let’s tonight Be bounteous at our meal.
(didascalia)	Enter Servitors
ANTONY	Give me thy hand. Thou hast been rightly honest; so hast thou, Thou, and thou, and thou; you have served me well, And kings have been your fellows.
CLEOPATRA	(to Enobarbus) What means this?
ENOBARBUS	(to Cleopatra) ’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots Out of the mind.
ANTONY	(to a Servitor) And thou art honest too. I wish I could be made so many men, And all of you clapped up together in An Antony, that I might do you service So good as you have done.
SERVITORS	The gods forbid!
ANTONY	Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight. Scant not my cups, and make as much of me As when mine empire was your fellow too, And suffered my command.
CLEOPATRA	(aside to Enobarbus) What does he mean?
ENOBARBUS	(aside to Cleopatra) To make his followers weep.
ANTONY	Tend me tonight. Maybe it is the period of your duty. Haply you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrow 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 Married to your good service, stay till death. Tend me tonight two hours. I ask no more; And the gods yield you for’t!
ENOBARBUS	What mean you, sir, To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep, And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame, Transform us not to women.
ANTONY	Ho, ho, ho, 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, I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead you Where rather I’ll expect victorious life Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come, And drown consideration.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter
(didascalia)	a company of Soldiers
FIRST SOLDIER	Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.
SECOND SOLDIER	It will determine one way. Fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?
FIRST SOLDIER	Nothing. What news?
SECOND SOLDIER	Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you.
FIRST SOLDIER	Well, sir, good night.
(didascalia)	Enter other Soldiers, meeting them
SECOND SOLDIER	Soldiers, have careful watch.
THIRD SOLDIER	And you. Good night, good night. They place themselves in every corner of the stage
SECOND SOLDIER	Here we; an if tomorrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope Our landmen will stand up.
FIRST SOLDIER	’Tis a brave army, And full of purpose.
(didascalia)	Music of the hautboys is under the stage
SECOND SOLDIER	Peace, what noise?
FIRST SOLDIER	List, list!
SECOND SOLDIER	Hark!
FIRST SOLDIER	Music i’th’ air.
THIRD SOLDIER	Under the earth.
FOURTH SOLDIER	It signs well, does it not?
THIRD SOLDIER	No.
FIRST SOLDIER	Peace, I say! What should this mean?
SECOND SOLDIER	’Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony loved, Now leaves him.
FIRST SOLDIER	Walk. Let’s see if other watchmen Do hear what we do.
SECOND SOLDIER	How now, masters?
ALL	(speaking together) How now? How now? Do you hear this?
FIRST SOLDIER	Ay. Is’t not strange?
THIRD SOLDIER	Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?
FIRST SOLDIER	Follow the noise so far as we have quarter. Let’s see how it will give off.
ALL	Content. ’Tis strange.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Cleopatra, with Charmian and others
ANTONY	(calling) Eros, mine armour, Eros!
CLEOPATRA	Sleep a little.
ANTONY	No, my chuck. Eros, come, mine armour, Eros!
(didascalia)	Enter Eros with armour
ANTONY	Come, good fellow, put thine iron on. If fortune be not ours today, it is Because we brave her. Come.
CLEOPATRA	Nay, I’ll help, too. What’s this for?
ANTONY	Ah, let be, let be! Thou art The armourer of my heart. False, false! This, this!
CLEOPATRA	Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be. She helps Antony to arm
ANTONY	Well, well, We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow? Go put on thy defences.
EROS	Briefly, sir.
CLEOPATRA	Is not this buckled well?
ANTONY	Rarely, rarely. 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 couldst see my wars today, and knew’st The royal occupation! Thou shouldst see A workman in’t.
(didascalia)	Enter an armed Soldier
ANTONY	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.
SOLDIER	A thousand, sir, Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim, And at the port expect you.
(didascalia)	Shout within. Trumpets flourish. Enter Captains and Soldiers
CAPTAIN	The morn is fair. Good morrow, General.
SOLDIERS	Good morrow, General.
ANTONY	’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. He kisses Cleopatra 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.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all but Cleopatra and Charmian
CHARMIAN	Please you retire to your chamber?
CLEOPATRA	Lead me. He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might Determine this great war in single fight! Then, Antony—but now! Well, on.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros, meeting a Soldier
SOLDIER	The gods make this a happy day to Antony!
ANTONY	Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed To make me fight at land!
SOLDIER	Hadst thou done so, The kings that have revolted, and the soldier That has this morning left thee, would have still Followed thy heels.
ANTONY	Who’s gone this morning?
SOLDIER	Who? One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus, He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp Say ‘I am none of thine’.
ANTONY	What sayest thou?
SOLDIER	Sir, he is with Caesar.
EROS	(to Antony) Sir, his chests and treasure He has not with him.
ANTONY	Is he gone?
SOLDIER	Most certain.
ANTONY	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 15 To change a master. O, my fortunes have Corrupted honest men! Dispatch. Enobarbus!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar, witih Enobarbus and Dolabella
CAESAR	Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight. Our will is Antony be took alive. Make it so known.
AGRIPPA	Caesar, I shall.
(didascalia)	Exit
CAESAR	The time of universal peace is near. Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked world Shall bear the olive freely.
(didascalia)	Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER	Antony Is come into the field.
CAESAR	Go charge Agrippa Plant those that have revolted in the van, That Antony may seem to spend his fury Upon himself. 10
(didascalia)	Exeunt Messenger at one door, Caesar and Dolabella at another
ENOBARBUS	Alexas did revolt, and went to Jewry on Affairs of Antony; there did dissuade Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar And leave his master, Antony. For this pains, Caesar hath hanged him. Camidius and the rest 15 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.
(didascalia)	Enter a Soldier of Caesar’s
SOLDIER	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.
ENOBARBUS	I give it you.
SOLDIER	Mock not, Enobarbus, 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.
(didascalia)	Exit
ENOBARBUS	I am alone the villain of the earth, And feel I am so most. O Antony, Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid My better service, when my turpitude Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart. If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean Shall outstrike thought; but thought will do‘t, I feel. I fight against thee? No, I will go seek Some ditch wherein to die. The foul’st best fits My latter part of life.
(didascalia)	Exit

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Alarum. Enter Agrippa with drummers and trumpeters
AGRIPPA	Retire! We have engaged our selves too far. Caesar himself has work, and our oppression Exceeds what we expected.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Alarums. Enter Antony, and Scarus wounded
SCARUS	O my brave Emperor, this is fought indeed! Had we done so at first, we had droven them home With clouts about their heads.
ANTONY	Thou bleed’st apace.
SCARUS	I had a wound here that was like a T, But now ’tis made an H.
(didascalia)	Retreat sounded far off
ANTONY	They do retire.
SCARUS	We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have yet Room for six scotches more.
(didascalia)	Enter Eros
EROS	They are beaten, sir, and our advantage serves For a fair victory.
SCARUS	Let us score their backs And snatch ‘em up as we take hares, behind. ’Tis sport to maul a runner.
ANTONY	(to Eros) I will reward thee Once for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfold For thy good valour. Come thee on.
SCARUS	I’ll halt after.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Alarum. Enter Antony again in a march; drummers and trumpeters; Scarus, with others
ANTONY	We have beat him to his camp. Run one before, And let the Queen know of our gests.
(didascalia)	Exit a soldier
ANTONY	Tomorrow, Before the sun shall see’s, we’ll spill the blood That has today escaped. I thank you all, For doughty-handed are you, and have fought Not as you served the cause, but as’t had been Each man’s like mine. You have shown all Hectors.
(didascalia)	Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,
ANTONY	Tell them your feats whilst they with joyful tears Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss The honoured gashes whole.
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra
ANTONY	(To Scarus) Give me thy hand. To this great fairy I’ll commend thy acts, Make her thanks bless thee. (To Cleopatra, embracing her) O’thou day o’th’ world, Chain mine armed neck; leap thou, attire and all, Through proof of harness to my heart, and there Ride on the pants triumphing.
CLEOPATRA	Lord of lords! O infinite virtue, com’st thou smiling from The world’s great snare uncaught?
ANTONY	My nightingale, We have beat them to their beds. What, girl, though grey Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet ha’ we 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. Scarus kisses Cleopatra’s hand He hath fought today As if a god, in hate of mankind, had Destroyed in such a shape.
CLEOPATRA	I’ll give thee, friend, An armour all of gold. It was a king’s.
ANTONY	He has deserved it, were it carbuncled Like holy Phoebus’ car. Give me thy hand. Through Alexandria make a jolly march. Bear our hacked targets like the men that owe them. Had our great palace the capacity To camp this host, we all would sup together And drink carouses to the next day’s fate, Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters, With brazen din blast you the city’s ear; Make mingle with our rattling taborins, That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together, Applauding our approach.
(didascalia)	Trumpets sound. Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter a Sentry and his company; Enobarbus follows
SENTRY	If we be not relieved within this hour We must return to th’ court of guard. The night Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle By th’ second hour i’th’ morn.
FIRST WATCH	This last day was A shrewd one to’s.
ENOBARBUS	O bear me witness, night—
SECOND WATCH	What man is this?
FIRST WATCH	Stand close, and list him.
ENOBARBUS	Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon, When men revolted shall upon record Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did Before thy face repent.
SENTRY	Enobarbus?
SECOND WATCH	Peace; hark further.
ENOBARBUS	O sovereign mistress of true melancholy, The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me, That life, a very rebel to my will, May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart Against the flint and hardness of my fault, Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder, And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony, Nobler than my revolt is infamous, Forgive me in thine own particular, But let the world rank me in register A master-leaver and a fugitive. O Antony! O Antony! He dies
FIRST WATCH	Let’s speak to him.
SENTRY	Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks May concern Caesar.
SECOND WATCH	Let’s do so. But he sleeps.
SENTRY	Swoons, rather; for so bad a prayer as his Was never yet for sleep.
FIRST WATCH	Go we to him.
SECOND WATCH	Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.
FIRST WATCH	Hear you, sir?
SENTRY	The hand of death hath raught him.
(didascalia)	Drums afar off
SENTRY	Hark, the drums Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him To th’ court of guard; he is of note. Our hour Is fully out.
SECOND WATCH	Come on, then. He may recover yet.
(didascalia)	Exeunt with the body

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Scarus with their army
ANTONY	Their preparation is today by sea; We please them not by land.
SCARUS	For both, my lord.
ANTONY	I would they’d fight i‘th’ fire or i’th’ air; We’d fight there too. But this it is: our foot Upon the hills adjoining to the city Shall stay with us. Order for sea is given. They have put forth the haven— Where their appointment we may best discover, And look on their endeavour.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar and his army
CAESAR	But being charged, we will be still by land— Which, as I take’t, we shall, for his best force Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, And hold our best advantage.
(didascalia)	Exeunt
(didascalia)	4.13 Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight. Enter Antony and Scarus
ANTONY	Yet they are not joined. Where yon pine does stand I shall discover all. I’ll bring thee word Straight how ’tis like to go.
(didascalia)	Exit
SCARUS	Swallows have built In Cleopatra’s sails their nests. The augurs Say they know not, they cannot tell, look grimly, And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony Is valiant, and dejected, and by starts His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear Of what he has and has not.
(didascalia)	Enter Antony
ANTONY	All is lost. This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me. My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonder They cast their caps up, and carouse together Like friends long lost. Triple-turned whore! ’Tis thou Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly; For when I am revenged upon my charm, I have done all. Bid them all fly. Be gone.
(didascalia)	Exit Scarus
ANTONY	O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more. Fortune and Antony part here; even here Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts That spanieled me at heels, to whom I gave Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is barked That overtopped them all. Betrayed I am. O this false soul of Egypt! This grave charm, Whose eye becked forth my wars and called them home, Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end, Like a right gipsy hath at fast and loose Beguiled me to the very heart of loss. What, Eros, Eros!
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra
ANTONY	Ah, thou spell! Avaunt.
CLEOPATRA	Why is my lord enraged against his love?
ANTONY	Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving And blemish Caesar’s triumph. Let him take thee And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians; Follow his chariot, like the greatest spot Of all thy sex; most monster-like be shown For poor’st diminutives, for dolts, and let Patient Octavia plough thy visage up With her prepared nails.
(didascalia)	Exit Cleopatra
ANTONY	’Tis well thou’rt gone, If it be well to live. But better ’twere Thou fell’st into my fury, for one death Might have prevented many. Eros, ho! The shirt of Nessus is upon me. Teach me, Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage. Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o’th’ moon, And with those hands that grasped the heaviest club Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die. To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall Under this plot. She dies for’t. Eros, ho!
(didascalia)	Exit

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, Mardian
CLEOPATRA	Help me, my women! O, he’s more mad Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly Was never so embossed.
CHARMIAN	To th’ monument! There lock yourself, and send him word you are dead. The soul and body rive not more in parting Than greatness going off.
CLEOPATRA	To th’ monument! Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself. Say that the last I spoke was ‘Antony’, And word it, prithee, piteously. Hence, Mardian, And bring me how he takes my death. To th’ monument!
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Antony and Eros
ANTONY	Eros, thou yet behold’st me?
EROS	Ay, noble lord.
ANTONY	Sometime we see a cloud that’s dragonish, A vapour sometime like a bear or lion, A towered citadel, a pendent rock, A forked mountain, or blue promontory With trees upon’t that nod unto the world And mock our eyes with air. Thou hast seen these signs; They are black vesper’s pageants.
EROS	Ay, my lord.
ANTONY	That which is now a horse even with a thought The rack distains, and makes it indistinct As water is in water.
EROS	It does, my lord.
ANTONY	My good knave Eros, now thy captain is Even such a body. Here I am Antony, Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave. I made these wars for Egypt, and the Queen— Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine, Which whilst it was mine had annexed unto’t A million more, now lost—she, Eros, has Packed cards with Caesar, and false-played my glory Unto an enemy’s triumph. Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left us Ourselves to end ourselves.
(didascalia)	Enter Mardian
ANTONY	O thy vile lady, She has robbed me of my sword!
MARDIAN	No, Antony, My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled With thine entirely.
ANTONY	Hence, saucy eunuch, peace! She hath betrayed me, and shall die the death.
MARDIAN	Death of one person can be paid but once, And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst do Is done unto thy hand. The last she spake Was ‘Antony, most noble Antony!’ Then in the midst a tearing groan did break The name of Antony. It was divided Between her heart and lips. She rendered life, Thy name so buried in her.
ANTONY	Dead, then?
MARDIAN	Dead.
ANTONY	Unarm, Eros. The long day’s task is done, And we must sleep. (To Mardian) That thou depart’st hence safe Does pay thy labour richly. Go.
(didascalia)	Exit Mardian
ANTONY	Off, pluck off. Eros helps Antony to unarm The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides! Heart, once be stronger than thy continent; Crack thy frail case. Apace, Eros, apace. No more a soldier. Bruised pieces, go; You have been nobly borne.—From me a while.
(didascalia)	Exit Eros
ANTONY	I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now All length is torture. Since the torch is out, Lie down, and stray no farther. Now all labour Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles Itself with strength. Seal, then, and all is done. Eros!-I come, my queen.-Eros!-Stay for me. Where souls do couch on flowers we’ll hand in hand, And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze. Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops, And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros!
(didascalia)	Enter Eros
EROS	What would my lord?
ANTONY	Since Cleopatra died I have lived in such dishonour that the gods Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword Quartered the world, and o’er green Neptune’s back With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack The courage of a woman; less noble mind Than she which by her death our Caesar tells ‘I am conqueror of myself.’ Thou art sworn, Eros, That when the exigent should come, which now Is come indeed—when I should see behind me Th’inevitable prosecution of Disgrace and horror—that on my command Thou then wouldst kill me. Do’t. The time is come. Thou strik‘st not me; ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st. Put colour in thy cheek.
EROS	The gods withhold me! Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, Though enemy, lost aim and could not?
ANTONY	Eros, Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and see Thy master thus with pleached arms, bending down His corrigible neck, his face subdued To penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seat Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded His baseness that ensued?
EROS	I would not see’t.
ANTONY	Come then; for with a wound I must be cured. Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn Most useful for thy country.
EROS	O sir, pardon me! 80
ANTONY	When I did make thee free, swor’st thou not then To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once, Or thy precedent services are all But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.
EROS	Turn from me then that noble countenance Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.
ANTONY	(turning away) Lo thee!
EROS	My sword is drawn.
ANTONY	Then let it do at once The thing why thou hast drawn it.
EROS	My dear master, My captain, and my Emperor: let me say, Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
ANTONY	’Tis said, man; and farewell.
EROS	Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
ANTONY	Now, Eros.
(didascalia)	Eros stabs himself
EROS	Why, there then, thus I do escape the sorrow Of Antony’s death. He dies
ANTONY	Thrice nobler than myself, Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what I should and thou couldst not. My queen and Eros Have by their brave instruction got upon me A nobleness in record. But I will be A bridegroom in my death, and run into’t As to a lover’s bed. Come then, and, Eros, Thy master dies thy scholar. To do thus I learned of thee. He stabs himself How, not dead? Not dead? The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!
(didascalia)	Enter a guard and Decretas
FIRST GUARD	What’s the noise?
ANTONY	I have done my work ill, friends. O, make an end Of what I have begun!
SECOND GUARD	The star is fall’n.
FIRST GUARD	And time is at his period.
ALL THE GUARDS	Alas And woe!
ANTONY	Let him that loves me strike me dead.
FIRST GUARD	Not I.
SECOND GUARD	Nor I.
THIRD GUARD	Nor anyone.
(didascalia)	Exeunt the guard
DECRETAS	Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly. He takes Antony’s sword This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings, Shall enter me with him.
(didascalia)	Enter Diomedes
DIOMEDES	Where’s Antony?
DECRETAS	There, Diomed, there.
DIOMEDES	Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?
(didascalia)	Exit Decretas
ANTONY	Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword, and give me Sufficing strokes for death.
DIOMEDES	Most absolute lord, My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.
ANTONY	When did she send thee?
DIOMEDES	Now, my lord.
ANTONY	Where is she?
DIOMEDES	Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying fear Of what hath come to pass; for when she saw— Which never shall be found—you did suspect She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage Would not be purged, she sent word she was dead; But fearing since how it might work, hath sent Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come, I dread, too late.
ANTONY	Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.
DIOMEDES	What ho, the Emperor’s guard! The guard, what hot Come, your lord calls.
(didascalia)	Enter four or five of the guard of Antony
ANTONY	Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides. ’Tis the last service that I shall command you.
FIRST GUARD	Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not live to wear All your true followers out.
ALL THE GUARDS	Most heavy day!
ANTONY	Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate To grace it with your sorrows. Bid that welcome Which comes to punish us, and we punish it, Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up. I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends, And have my thanks for all.
(didascalia)	Exeunt bearing Antony and Eros

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra and her maids aloft, with Charmian and Iras
CLEOPATRA	O Charmian, I will never go from hence.
CHARMIAN	Be comforted, dear madam.
CLEOPATRA	No, I will not. All strange and terrible events are welcome, But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow, Proportioned to our cause, must be as great As that which makes it.
(didascalia)	Enter Diomedes below
CLEOPATRA	How now? Is he dead?
DIOMEDES	His death’s upon him, but not dead. Look out o’th’ other side your monument. His guard have brought him thither.
(didascalia)	Enter below Antony, borne by the guard
CLEOPATRA	O sun, Burn the great sphere thou mov‘st in; darkling stand The varying shore o’th’ world! O Antony, 11 Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, Help, Iras, help, help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.
ANTONY	Peace. Not Caesar’s valour Hath o’erthrown Antony, but Antony’s Hath triumphed on itself.
CLEOPATRA	So it should be, That none but Antony should conquer Antony. But woe ’tis so!
ANTONY	I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only I here importune death awhile until Of many thousand kisses the poor last I lay upon thy lips.
CLEOPATRA	I dare not, dear, Dear, my lord, pardon. I dare not, Lest I be taken. Nor th’imperious show Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall Be brooched with me, if knife, drugs, serpents, have Edge, sting, or operation. I am safe. Your wife, Octavia, with her modest eyes And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour Demuring upon me. But come, come, Antony.— Help me, my women.—We must draw thee up. Assist, good friends.
ANTONY	O quick, or I am gone!
CLEOPATRA	Here’s sport indeed. How heavy weighs my lord! Our strength is all gone into heaviness, That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little. Wishers were ever fools. O come, come, come! They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived, Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power, Thus would I wear them out. They kiss
ALL THE LOOKERS-ON	A heavy sight.
ANTONY	I am dying, Egypt, dying. Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.
CLEOPATRA	No, let me speak, and let me rail so high That the false hussy Fortune break her wheel, Provoked by my offence.
ANTONY	One word, sweet queen. Of Caesar seek your honour, with your safety. O!
CLEOPATRA	They do not go together.
ANTONY	Gentle, hear me. None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.
CLEOPATRA	My resolution and my hands I’ll trust, None about Caesar.
ANTONY	The miserable change now at my end Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts In feeding them with those my former fortunes, Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’th’ world, The noblest; and do now not basely die, Not cowardly put off my helmet to My countryman; a Roman by a Roman Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going; I can no more.
CLEOPATRA	Noblest of men, woot die? Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide In this dull world, which in thy absence is No better than a sty? Antony dies O see, my women, The crown o’th’ earth doth melt. My lord! O, withered is the garland of the war. The soldier’s pole is fall’n. Young boys and girls Are level now with men. The odds is gone, And there is nothing left remarkable Beneath the visiting moon. She falls
CHARMIAN	O, quietness, lady!
IRAS	She’s dead, too, our sovereign.
CHARMIAN	Lady!
IRAS	Madam!
CHARMIAN	O, madam, madam, madam!
IRAS	Royal Egypt, Empress!
CHARMIAN	Peace, peace, Iras!
CLEOPATRA	(recovering) No more but e’en a woman, and commanded By such poor passion as the maid that milks And does the meanest chores. It were for me To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods, To tell them that this world did equal theirs Till they had stol’n our jewel. All’s but naught. Patience is sottish, and impatience does Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin To rush into the secret house of death Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women? What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian? My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look, Our lamp is spent, it’s out. Good sirs, take heart; We’ll bury him, and then what’s brave, what’s noble, Let’s do it after the high Roman fashion, And make death proud to take us. Come, away. This case of that huge spirit now is cold. Ah, women, women! Come. We have no friend But resolution, and the briefest end.
(didascalia)	Exeunt, those above bearing off Antony’s body

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar with his council of war: Agrippa, Dolabella, Maecenas, Gallus, Proculeius
CAESAR	Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield. Being so frustrate, tell him, he but mocks The pauses that he makes.
DOLABELLA	Caesar, I shall. Exit
(didascalia)	Enter Decretas with the sword of Antony
CAESAR	Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar’st Appear thus to us?
DECRETAS	I am called Decretas. Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy Best to be served. Whilst he stood up and spoke He was my master, and I wore my life To spend upon his haters. If thou please To take me to thee, as I was to him I’ll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not, I yield thee up my life.
CAESAR	What is’t thou sayst?
DECRETAS	I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.
CAESAR	The breaking of so great a thing should make A greater crack. The rived world Should have shook lions into civil streets, And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony Is not a single doom; in that name lay A moiety of the world.
DECRETAS	He is dead, Caesar, Not by a public minister of justice, Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand Which writ his honour in the acts it did Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it, Splitted the heart. This is his sword; I robbed his wound of it. Behold it stained With his most noble blood.
CAESAR	(weeping) Look you, sad friends, The gods rebuke me; but it is a tidings To wash the eyes of kings.
(didascalia)	AGRIPPA
CAESAR	And strange it is That nature must compel us to lament Our most persisted deeds.
MAECENAS	His taints and honours Waged equal with him.
(didascalia)	AGRIPPA
MAECENAS	A rarer spirit never Did steer humanity; but you gods will give us Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touched.
MAECENAS	When such a spacious mirror’s set before him He needs must see himself.
CAESAR	O Antony, I have followed thee to this. But we do lance Diseases in our bodies. I must perforce Have shown to thee such a declining day, Or look on thine. We could not stall together In the whole world. But yet let me lament, With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts, That thou, my brother, my competitor In top of all design, my mate in empire, Friend and companion in the front of war, The arm of mine own body, and the heart Where mine his thoughts did kindle—that our stars, Unreconciliable, should divide Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends—
(didascalia)	Enter an Egyptian
CAESAR	But I will tell you at some meeter season. The business of this man looks out of him; We’ll hear him what he says.—Whence are you?
EGYPTIAN	A poor Egyptian, yet the Queen my mistress, Confined in all she has, her monument, Of thy intents desires instruction, That she preparèdly may frame herself To th’ way she’s forced to.
CAESAR	Bid her have good heart. She soon shall know of us, by some of ours, How honourable and how kindly we Determine for her. For Caesar cannot live To be ungentle.
EGYPTIAN	So; the gods preserve thee! Exit
CAESAR	Come hither, Proculeius. Go, and say We purpose her no shame. Give her what comforts The quality of her passion shall require, Lest in her greatness, by some mortal stroke, She do defeat us; for her life in Rome Would be eternal in our triumph. Go, And with your speediest bring us what she says And how you find of her.
PROCULEIUS	Caesar, I shall. Exit
CAESAR	Gallus, go you along.
(didascalia)	Exit Gallus
CAESAR	Where’s Dolabella, To second Proculeius?
ALL BUT CAESAR	Dolabella!
CAESAR	Let him alone; for I remember now How he’s employed. He shall in time be ready. Go with me to my tent, where you shall see How hardly I was drawn into this war, How calm and gentle I proceeded still In all my writings. Go with me, and see What I can show in this.
(didascalia)	Exeunt

Speaker	Line
(didascalia)	Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian
CLEOPATRA	My desolation does begin to make A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar. Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave, A minister of her will. And it is great To do that thing that ends all other deeds, Which shackles accidents and bolts up change, Which sleeps and never palates more the dung, The beggar’s nurse, and Caesar’s.
(didascalia)	Enter Proculeius
PROCULEIUS	Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt, And bids thee study on what fair demands Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.
CLEOPATRA	What’s thy name?
PROCULEIUS	My name is Proculeius.
CLEOPATRA	Antony Did tell me of you, bade me trust you; but I do not greatly care to be deceived, That have no use for trusting. If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him That majesty, to keep decorum, must No less beg than a kingdom. If he please To give me conquered Egypt for my son, He gives me so much of mine own as I Will kneel to him with thanks.
PROCULEIUS	Be of good cheer. You’re fall’n into a princely hand; fear nothing. Make your full reference freely to my lord, Who is so full of grace that it flows over On all that need. Let me report to him Your sweet dependency, and you shall find A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness, Where he for grace is kneeled to.
CLEOPATRA	Pray you, tell him I am his fortune’s vassal, and I send him The greatness he has got. I hourly learn A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly Look him i’th’ face.
PROCULEIUS	This I’ll report, dear lady; Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied Of him that caused it.
(didascalia)	Enter Roman soldiers from behind
PROCULEIUS	(to the soldiers) You see how easily she may be surprised. Guard her till Caesar come.
IRAS	Royal Queen-
CHARMIAN	O Cleopatra, thou art taken, Queen!
CLEOPATRA	(drawing a dagger) Quick, quick, good hands!
PROCULEIUS	(disarming Cleopatra) Hold, worthy lady, hold! Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this Relieved but not betrayed.
CLEOPATRA	What, of death too, That rids our dogs of languish?
PROCULEIUS	Cleopatra, Do not abuse my master’s bounty by Th’undoing of yourself. Let the world see His nobleness well acted, which your death Will never let come forth.
CLEOPATRA	Where art thou, death? Come hither, come. Come, come, and take a queen Worth many babes and beggars.
PROCULEIUS	O temperance, lady!
CLEOPATRA	Sir, I will eat no meat. I’ll not drink, sir. If idle talk will once be necessary, I’ll not sleep, neither. This mortal house I’ll ruin, Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I Will not wait pinioned at your master’s court, Nor once be chastised with the sober eye Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up And show me to the shouting varletry Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt Be gentle grave unto me; rather on Nilus’ mud Lay me stark naked, and let the waterflies Blow me into abhorring; rather make My country’s high pyramides my gibbet, And hang me up in chains.
PROCULEIUS	You do extend These thoughts of horror further than you shall Find cause in Caesar.
(didascalia)	Enter Dolabella
DOLABELLA	Proculeius, What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, And he hath sent for thee. For the Queen, I’ll take her to my guard.
PROCULEIUS	So, Dolabella, It shall content me best. Be gentle to her. (To Cleopatra) To Caesar I will speak what you shall please, If you’ll employ me to him.
CLEOPATRA	Say I would die.
(didascalia)	Exit Proculeius
DOLABELLA	Most noble Empress, you have heard of me.
CLEOPATRA	I cannot tell.
DOLABELLA	Assuredly you know me.
CLEOPATRA	No matter, sir, what I have heard or known. You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams; Is’t not your trick?
DOLABELLA	I understand not, madam.
CLEOPATRA	I dreamt there was an Emperor Antony. O, such another sleep, that I might see But such another man!
DOLABELLA	If it might please ye—
CLEOPATRA	His face was as the heav‘ns, and therein stuck A sun and moon, which kept their course and lighted The little O o’th’ earth.
DOLABELLA	Most sovereign creature—
CLEOPATRA	His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm Crested the world. His voice was propertied As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends; But when he meant to quail and shake the orb, He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty, There was no winter in’t; an autumn ’twas, That grew the more by reaping. His delights Were dolphin-like; they showed his back above The element they lived in. In his livery Walked crowns and crownets. Realms and islands were As plates dropped from his pocket.
DOLABELLA	Cleopatra—
CLEOPATRA	Think you there was, or might be, such a man As this I dreamt of?
DOLABELLA	Gentle madam, no.
CLEOPATRA	You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. But if there be, or ever were one such, It’s past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff To vie strange forms with fancy; yet t‘imagine An Antony were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy, Condemning shadows quite.
DOLABELLA	Hear me, good madam: Your loss is as yourself, great, and you bear it As answering to the weight. Would I might never O’ertake pursued success but I do feel, By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites My very heart at root.
CLEOPATRA	I thank you, sir. Know you what Caesar means to do with me?
DOLABELLA	I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
CLEOPATRA	Nay, pray you, sir.
DOLABELLA	Though he be honourable—
CLEOPATRA	He’ll lead me then in triumph.
DOLABELLA	Madam, he will, I know’t.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Enter Caesar, with Proculeius, Gallus, Maecenas, and others of his train
ALL	Make way, there! Caesar!
CAESAR	Which is the Queen of Egypt?
DOLABELLA	(to Cleopatra) It is the Emperor, madam. Cleopatra kneels
CAESAR	Arise! You shall not kneel. I pray you rise, rise, Egypt.
CLEOPATRA	(rising) Sir, the gods Will have it thus. My master and my lord I must obey.
CAESAR	Take to you no hard thoughts. The record of what injuries you did us, Though written in our flesh, we shall remember As things but done by chance.
CLEOPATRA	Sole sir o’th’ world, I cannot project mine own cause so well To make it clear, but do confess I have Been laden with like frailties which before Have often shamed our sex.
CAESAR	Cleopatra, know We will extenuate rather than enforce. If you apply yourself to our intents, Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find A benefit in this change; but if you seek To lay on me a cruelty by taking Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself Of my good purposes and put your children To that destruction which I’ll guard them from, If thereon you rely. I’ll take my leave.
CLEOPATRA	And may through all the world! ’Tis yours, and we, Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall Hang in what place you please. (Giving a paper) Here, my good lord.
CAESAR	You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
CLEOPATRA	This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels I am possessed of. ’Tis exactly valued, Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus?
(didascalia)	Enter Seleucus
SELEUCUS	Here, madam.
CLEOPATRA	(to Caesar) This is my treasurer. Let him speak, my lord, Upon his peril, that I have reserved To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
SELEUCUS	Madam, I had rather seal my lips Than to my peril speak that which is not.
CLEOPATRA	What have I kept back?
SELEUCUS	Enough to purchase what you have made known.
CAESAR	Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve Your wisdom in the deed.
CLEOPATRA	See, Caesar! O, behold How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours, And should we shift estates, yours would be mine. The ingratitude of this Seleucus does Even make me wild.—O slave, of no more trust Than love that’s hired! What, goest thou back? Thou shalt Go back, I warrant thee; but I’ll catch thine eyes Though they had wings. Slave, soulless villain, dog! O rarely base!
CAESAR	Good Queen, let us entreat you.
CLEOPATRA	O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this, That thou vouchsafing here to visit me, Doing the honour of thy lordliness To one so meek—that mine own servant should Parcel the sum of my disgraces by Addition of his envy. Say, good Caesar, That I some lady trifles have reserved, Immoment toys, things of such dignity As we greet modern friends withal; and say Some nobler token I have kept apart For Livia and Octavia, to induce Their mediation—must I be unfolded With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me Beneath the fall I have. (To Seleucus) Prithee, go hence, Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits Through th’ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
CAESAR	Forbear, Seleucus.
(didascalia)	Exit Seleucus
CLEOPATRA	Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought For things that others do; and when we fall We answer others’ merits in our name, Are therefore to be pitied.
CAESAR	Cleopatra, Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged Put we i’th’ roll of conquest. Still be’t yours. Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe Caesar’s no merchant, to make prize with you Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered. Make not your thoughts your prisons. No, dear Queen; For we intend so to dispose you as Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep. Our care and pity is so much upon you That we remain your friend; and so adieu.
CLEOPATRA	My master and my lord!
CAESAR	Not so. Adieu.
(didascalia)	Flourish. Exeunt Caesar and his train
CLEOPATRA	He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not Be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian. She whispers to Charmian
IRAS	Finish, good lady. The bright day is done, And we are for the dark.
CLEOPATRA	(to Charmian) Hie thee again. I have spoke already, and it is provided. Go put it to the haste.
CHARMIAN	Madam, I will.
(didascalia)	Enter Dolabella
DOLABELLA	Where’s the Queen?
CHARMIAN	Behold, sir.
(didascalia)	Exit
CLEOPATRA	Dolabella!
DOLABELLA	Madam, as thereto sworn by your command— Which my love makes religion to obey— I tell you this: Caesar through Syria Intends his journey, and within three days You with your children will he send before. Make your best use of this. I have performed Your pleasure, and my promise.
CLEOPATRA	Dolabella, I shall remain your debtor.
DOLABELLA	I your servant. Adieu, good Queen. I must attend on Caesar.
CLEOPATRA	Farewell, and thanks.
(didascalia)	Exit Dolabella
CLEOPATRA	Now, Iras, what think’st thou? Thou, an Egyptian puppet shall be shown In Rome, as well as I. Mechanic slaves With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers shall Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths, Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded, And forced to drink their vapour.
IRAS	The gods forbid!
CLEOPATRA	Nay, ‘tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers Ballad us out o’ tune. The quick comedians Extemporally will stage us, and present Our Alexandrian revels. Antony Shall be brought drunken forth, and I shall see Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness I’th’ posture of a whore.
IRAS	O, the good gods!
CLEOPATRA	Nay, that’s certain.
IRAS	I’ll never see’t! For I am sure my nails Are stronger than mine eyes.
CLEOPATRA	Why, that’s the way To fool their preparation and to conquer Their most absurd intents.
(didascalia)	Enter Charmian
CLEOPATRA	Now, Charmian! Show me, my women, like a queen. Go fetch My best attires. I am again for Cydnus To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go. Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch indeed, And when thou hast done this chore I’ll give thee leave To play till doomsday.—Bring our crown and all.
(didascalia)	Exit Iras
(didascalia)	A noise within
CLEOPATRA	Wherefore’s this noise?
(didascalia)	Enter a Guardsman
GUARDSMAN	Here is a rural fellow That will not be denied your highness’ presence. He brings you figs.
CLEOPATRA	Let him come in.
(didascalia)	Exit Guardsman
CLEOPATRA	What poor an instrument May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty. My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing Of woman in me. Now from head to foot I am marble-constant. Now the fleeting moon No planet is of mine.
(didascalia)	Enter Guardsman, and Clown with a basket
GUARDSMAN	This is the man.
CLEOPATRA	Avoid, and leave him.
(didascalia)	Exit Guardsman
CLEOPATRA	Hast thou the pretty worm Of Nilus there, that kills and pains not?
CLOWN	Truly, I have him; but I would not be the party that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is immortal; those that do die of it do seldom or never recover.
CLEOPATRA	Remember’st thou any that have died on’t?
CLOWN	Very many, men, and women too. I heard of one of them no longer than yesterday, a very honest woman, but something given to lie, as a woman should not do but in the way of honesty, how she died of the biting of it, what pain she felt. Truly, she makes a very good report o’th’ worm; but he that will believe all that they say shall never be saved by half that they do; but this is most falliable: the worm’s an odd worm.
CLEOPATRA	Get thee hence, farewell.
CLOWN	I wish you all joy of the worm. CLEOPATRA Farewell.
CLOWN	You must think this, look you, that the worm will do his kind.
CLEOPATRA	Ay, ay; farewell.
CLOWN	Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in the keeping of wise people; for indeed there is no goodness in the worm.
CLEOPATRA	Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
CLOWN	Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding.
CLEOPATRA	Will it eat me?
CLOWN	You must not think I am so simple but I know the devil himself will not eat a woman; I know that a woman is a dish for the gods, if the devil dress her not. But truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods great harm in their women; for in every ten that they make, the devils mar five.
CLEOPATRA	Well, get thee gone, farewell.
CLOWN	Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o’th’ worm.
(didascalia)	Exit, leaving the basket
(didascalia)	Enter Iras with a robe, crown, and other jewels
CLEOPATRA	Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have Immortal longings in me. Now no more The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip. Charmian and Iras help her to dress Yare, yare, good Iras, quick—methinks I hear Antony call. I see him rouse himself To praise my noble act. I hear him mock The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come. Now to that name my courage prove my title. I am fire and air; my other elements I give to baser life. So, have you done? Come then, and take the last warmth of my lips. She kisses them Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell. Iras falls and dies Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall? If thou and nature can so gently part, The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch, Which hurts and is desired. Dost thou lie still? If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world It is not worth leave-taking.
CHARMIAN	Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say The gods themselves do weep.
CLEOPATRA	This proves me base. If she first meet the curled Antony He’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss Which is my heaven to have. She takes an aspic from the basket and puts it to her breast Come, thou mortal wretch, With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate Of life at once untie. Poor venomous fool, Be angry, and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak, That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass Unpolicied!
CHARMIAN	O eastern star!
CLEOPATRA	Peace, peace. Dost thou not see my baby at my breast, That sucks the nurse asleep?
CHARMIAN	O, break! O, break!
CLEOPATRA	As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle. O Antony! She puts another aspic to her arm Nay, I will take thee too. What should I stay— She dies
CHARMIAN	In this vile world? So, fare thee well. Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies A lass unparalleled. Downy windows, close, And golden Phoebus never be beheld Of eyes again so royal. Your crown’s awry. I’ll mend it, and then play—
(didascalia)	Enter the Guard, rustling in
FIRST GUARD	Where’s the Queen?
CHARMIAN	Speak softly. Wake her not.
FIRST GUARD	Caesar hath sent—
CHARMIAN	Too slow a messenger. She applies an aspic O come apace, dispatch! I partly feel thee.
FIRST GUARD	Approach, ho! All’s not well. Caesar’s beguiled.
SECOND GUARD	There’s Dolabella sent from Caesar. Call him.
(didascalia)	Exit a Guardsman
FIRST GUARD	What work is here, Charmian? Is this well done?
CHARMIAN	It is well done, and fitting for a princess Descended of so many royal kings. Ah, soldier! She dies
(didascalia)	Enter
CHARMIAN	Dolabella
DOLABELLA	How goes it here?
SECOND GUARD	All dead.
DOLABELLA	Caesar, thy thoughts Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming To see performed the dreaded act which thou So sought’st to hinder.
ALL	A way there, a way for Caesar!
(didascalia)	Enter Caesar and all his train, marching
DOLABELLA	(to Caesar) O sir, you are too sure an augurer. That you did fear is done.
CAESAR	Bravest at the last, She levelled at our purposes, and, being royal, Took her own way. The manner of their deaths? I do not see them bleed.
DOLABELLA	(to a Guardsman) Who was last with them?
FIRST GUARD	A simple countryman that brought her figs. This was his basket.
CAESAR	Poisoned, then.
FIRST GUARD	O Caesar, This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake. I found her trimming up the diadem On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood, And on the sudden dropped.
CAESAR	O, noble weakness! If they had swallowed poison, ’twould appear By external swelling; but she looks like sleep, As she would catch another Antony In her strong toil of grace.
DOLABELLA	Here on her breast There is a vent of blood, and something blown. The like is on her arm.
FIRST GUARD	This is an aspic’s trail, And these fig-leaves have slime upon them such As th’aspic leaves upon the caves of Nile.
CAESAR	Most probable That so she died; for her physician tells me She hath pursued conclusions infinite Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed, And bear her women from the monument. She shall be buried by her Antony. No grave upon the earth shall clip in it A pair so famous. High events as these Strike those that make them, and their story is No less in pity than his glory which Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall In solemn show attend this funeral, And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see High order in this great solemnity.
(didascalia)	Exeunt all, soldiers bearing Cleopatra on her bed, Charmian, and Iras
ALL’S WELL THAT ENDS	WELL All’s Well That Ends Well, first printed in the 1623 Folio, is often paired with Measure for Measure. Though we lack external evidence as to its date of composition, internal evidence suggests that it, too, is an early Jacobean play. Like Measure for Measure, it places its central characters in more painful situations than those in which the heroes and heroines of the earlier, more romantic comedies usually find themselves. The touching ardour with which Helen, ‘a poor physician’s daughter’, pursues the young Bertram, son of her guardian the Countess of Roussillon, creates embarrassments for both of them. When the King, whose illness she cures by her semi-magical skills, brings about their marriage as a reward, Bertram’s flight to the wars seems to destroy all her chances of happiness. She achieves consummation of the marriage only by the ruse (resembling Isabella’s ’bed-trick’ in Measure for Measure) of substituting herself for the Florentine maiden Diana whom Bertram believes himself to be seducing. The play’s conclusion, in which the deception is exposed and Bertram is shamed into acknowledging Helen as his wife, offers only a tentatively happy ending. Shakespeare based the story of Bertram and Helen on a tale from Boccaccio’s Decameron either in the original or in the version included in William Painter’s Palace of Pleasure (1566-7, revised 1575). But he created several important characters, including the Countess and the old Lord, Lafeu. He also invented the accompanying action exposing the roguery of Bertram’s flashy friend Paroles, a man of words (as his name indicates) descending from the braggart soldier of Roman comedy. Versions of the play performed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, mostly emphasizing either the comedy of Paroles or the sentimental appeal of Helen, had little success; but fine productions from the middle of the twentieth century onwards have shown it in a more favourable light, demonstrating, for example, that the role of the Countess is (in Bernard Shaw’s words) ‘the most beautiful old woman’s part ever written’, that the discomfiture of Paroles provides comedy that is subtle as well as highly laughable, and that the relationship of Bertram and Helen is profoundly convincing in its emotional reality.
THE PERSONS OF THE	PLAY The Dowager COUNTESS of Roussillon BERTRAM, Count of Roussillon, her son HELEN, an orphan, attending on the Countess LAVATCH, a Clown, the Countess’s servant REYNALDO, the Countess’s steward PAROLES, Bertram’s companion The KING of France LAFEU, an old lord INTERPRETER, a French soldier An AUSTRINGER The DUKE of Florence
WIDOW	Capilet DIANA, her daughter MARIANA, a friend of the Widow Lords, attendants, soldiers, citizens