-Octa. Do not say so, my lord.

Cas. I have eyes upon him.

And his affairs come to me on the wind.
Where is he now?

Octa. My lord, in Athens.

Cus. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his em-
Up to a whore; who now are levying [pire
The kings o' the earth for war: He hath assembled
Bocchus, the king of Lybia; 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 Amintas,
The kings of Mede, and Lycaonia,
With a inore larger list of scepters.

Octa. Ah me most wretched,

That have my heart parted betwixt two friends,
That do afflict each other!

Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony. Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his

time,

What should not then be spar'd. He is already
5 Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome,
That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids,
Manage this war.

Cleo. Sink Rome; and their tongues rot, [war,
That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the
10 And, as the president of my kingdom, will
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;
I will not stay behind.
[peror.
Eno. Nay, I have done: Here comes the em-
Enter Antony, and Canidius.

15

20

25

Cas. 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 determin'd things to destiny
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
Nothing more dear to me. You are abus'd
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, 30
To do you justice, make their ministers

Of us, and those that love you. Be of comfort;
And ever welcome to us.

Ant. Is it not strange, Canidius,
That from Tarentum, and Brundusium,
He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,
And take in Toryne?-

sweet?

-You have heard on't,

Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off;
And so should you.

Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd:
Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people
Ingrost by swift impress; in Cæsar's fleet
Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought;
Their ships are yare'; yours, heavy: No disgrace
40 Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepar'd for land.

Ant. By sea, by sea.

Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw
away
The absolute soldiership you have by land;
45 Distract your army, which doth most consist
Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted
Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego
The way which promises assurance; and
Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard,
From firm security.

[wars; 50

Cleo. Thou hast forspoke my being in these

And say'st, it is not fit."

Eno. Well, is it, is it?

[not we

Cleo. Is't not denounc'd against us? Why should

Be there in person?

55

Eno. [Aside.] Well, I could reply:

If we should serve with horse and mares together,
The horse were merely lost; the mares would

A soldier, and his horse.

Cleo. What is 't you say?

[bear

Ant. I'll fight at sea.

Cleo, I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better. Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of

Actium

Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail,
We then can do’t at land.—Thy business?
Enter a Messenger.

Mes. The news is true, my lord; he is descried; 160 Casar has taken Toryne.

1Regiment is used for regimen or government, by most of our ancient writers. To forspeak is to contradict, to speak against, as forbid is to order negatively.

signifies dextrous, manageable.

3 E

Le. conquer. * Yare generally

Ant.

Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;
Strange, that his power should be.-Canidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
Andourt elvethousand horse:--We'll to our ship;
Away, my Thetis!-How now, worthy soldier?
Enter a Soldier.

Sold. O noble emperor, do not fight by sea;
Trust not to rotten planks: Do misdoubt
you
This sword, and these my wounds? Let the
Ægyptians,

And the Phoenicians, go a-ducking; we
Have us'd to conquer, standing on the earth,
And fighting foot to foot.

Ant. Well, well, away.

5

is heard the noise of a sea-fight. Alarum. Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold
no longer:

The Antoniad', the Egyptian admiral,
With all their sixty, fly, and turn the rudder:
To see 't, mine eyes are blasted.
Enter Scarus.

Scar. Gods, and goddesses,
10All the whole synod of them!
Eno. What's thy passion?

[Exeunt Ant ny, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus. 15
Sold. By Hercules, I think, I am i' the right.
Can. Soldier, thou art: but his whole actiongrows
Not in the power on 't': So our leader's led,
And we are women's men.

Sold. You keep by land

The legions and the horse whole, do you not?
Can. Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,
Publicola, and Cælius, are for sea:

But we keep whole by land. This speed of Cæsar's
Carries bevond belief.

Sold. While he was yet in Rome,

His power went out in such distractions2, as
Beguil'd all spies.

Can. Who's his lieutenant, hear you?
Sold. They say, one Taurus.

Can. Well I know the man.

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. The emperor calls Canidius.

Can. With news the time's with labour; andĮ,

Enter Canidius, marching with his land army one

Scar. The greater cantle of the world is lost With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away Kingdoms and provinces.

Eno. How appears the fight?

Scar. On our side like the token'd' pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon ribal'd nag of Egypt,
Whom leprosy 'o'ertake! i' the midst of the
fight,-

20 When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,-
The brize upon her, like a cow in June,
Hoists sails, and flies.

25

Eno. That I beheld:

Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not
Endure a further view.

Scar. She once being looft,

The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,

Claps on his sea-wing, and, like a doating mallard,
30 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.

35

Eno. Alack, alack!

Enter Canidius.

Can. 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,
40 Most grossly, by his own.

[night

Eno. Ay, are you thereabouts? Why then, good
Indeed.

Can. Towards Peloponnesus are they fled,
Scar. "Tis easy to't; and there will I attend

45 What further comes.

Can. To Cæsar will I render

My legions and my horse; six kings already
Shew me the way of yielding.

Eno. I'll yet follow

50 The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason Sits in the wind against me.

SCENE IX.

[Exeunt,

The Palace in Alexandria. way over the stage; and Taurus, the lieutenant 55 Enter Antony, with Eros, and other Attendants. of Casar, the other way. After their going in, Ant.Hark,thelandbids me tread no moreupon't,

That is, his whole conduct becomes ungoverned by the right, or by reason. i. e. detachments; separate bodies. 3 Which, Plutarch says, was the name of Cleopatra's ship. * Cantle is a corner. ' i, e. spotted. The death of those visited by the plague was certain when particular eruptions appeared on the skin; and these were called God's tokens. "A ribald is a lewd fellow.→ Yon ribald nag means, Yon strumpet, who is common to every wanton fellow. Leprosy was one of the various names by which the Lues venerea was distinguished. The brize is the gad-fly. loof (or luff) is to bring a ship close to the wind,

7

To

Ant. I have fled myself; and have instructed To run, and shew their shoulders.-Friends, be gone:

By looking back on what I have left behind
'Stroy'd in dishonour.

Cleo. O my lord, my lord!
Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought,
5 You would have follow'd.

Ant. Egypt, thou knew'st too well,
My heart was to thy rudder ty'd by the strings?,
And thou should'st tow me after: O'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st; and that
10 Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods
Command me.

I have myself resolv'd upon a course,
Which has no need of you; be gone:
My treasure's in the harbour, take it.-0,
I follow'd that I blush to look upon:
My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them15
For fear and doating.--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 lothness: take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway:
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little: pray you now :-
Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command,
Therefore I pray you:-I'll see you by-and-by.
Enter Eros,and Cleopatra, led by Charmian and Iras.
Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him:-Comfort
Iras. Do, most dear queen.
Char. Do! Why, what else?
Cleo. Let me sit down.

O Juno!

Ant. No, no, no, no, no.

Eros. See you here, sir?

Ant. O fye, fye, fye.

Char. Madam,

Iras. Madam; O good empress!-
Eros. Sir, sir,-

[him.

Ant. Yes, my lord, yes;-He, at Philippi, kept
His sword even like a dancer'; while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I,
That the mad3 Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
In the brave squares of war: Yet now-No mat-
Cleo. Ah, stand by.

Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen.
Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him;

He is unquality'd with

very

shame.

[ter.

[es;

Cleo. Well then,—Sustain me :—0 !
Eros. Most noble sir,arise; the queen approach-
Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her, but"
Your comfort makes the rescue.

Ant. I have offended reputation;

A most unnoble swerving.

Eros. Sir, the queen.

Ant. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See How I convey my shame out of thine eyes,

20

25

30

35

Cleo. O, my pardon.

Ant. Now, I must

To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness; who
With half the bulk of the world play'd as I pleas'd,
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.

Cleo. Pardon, pardon.

Ant. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates All that is won and lost: Give me a kiss; Even this repays me.e.-We sent our school-master, Is he come back?-Love, I am full of lead :Some wine, there, and our viands :-Fortune knows,

We scorn her most, when most she offers blows. [Exeunt.

Cæsar's Camp, in Egypt.

Enter Cæsar, Dolabella, Thyreus, with others.
Cæs. Let him appear that's come from An-
tony.-
Know you him?

Dol. Cæsar, 'tis his school-master® :

An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,

40 Which had superfluous kings for messengers,
Not many moons gone by.

Enter Ambassador from Antony.

Cas. Approach, and speak.

Amb. Such as I am, I come from Antony:

45I was of late as petty to his ends,

As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf
To his grand sea'.

Cæs. Be it so; Declare thine office.

Amb. Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and 50 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;
[55]Submits her to thy might! and of thee craves

'Alluding to a benighted traveller. 2 Antony means, that Cæsar never offered to draw his sword, but kept it in the scabbard, like one who dances with a sword on, which was formerly the custom in England. Nothing, says Dr. Warburton, can be more in character, tlfan for an infainous debauched tyrant to call the heroic love of one's country and public liberty, madness. Meaning, perhaps, that Casar only fought by proxy, made war by his lieutenants, or, on the strength of his lieutenants. i. e. except or unless. i. e. how, by looking another way, I withdraw my ignominy from your sight. 'That is, by the heart-string. The name of this person was His grand sea may mean his full tide of prosperity. 3 E 2

Euphronius.

The

The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace.

Cas. For Antony,

I have no ears to his request.

The queen
Of audience, nor desire, shall fail; so she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there: This if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both,
Amb. Fortune pursue thee!

Cas, Bring him through the bands,
[Exit Ambassador.
To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Dispatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,

[To Thyreus. And in our name, what she requires; add more, From thine invention, offers; Women are not, In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjure

[reus;

Ant. To him again; Tell him, he wears therose Of youth upon him; from which, the world should note

Something particular: his coin, ships, legions, 5 May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail

15

Under the service of a child, as soon

As i' the command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore
To lay his gay comparisons apart,

10 And answer me declin'd', sword against sword,
Ourselves alone: I'll write it; follow me.
[Exeunt Antony and Amb.
Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the shew
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 Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness! Cæsar, thou hast subdu'd
His judgement too.

The ne'er touch'd vestal; Try thy cunning, Thy-
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we 120
Will answer as a law.

Eno. Think, and die'.

Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this?
Eno. Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What 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 nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
When half to half the world oppos'd, he being
The meered question*: 'Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

Cleo. Pr'ythee, peace.

Enter Antony, with the Ambassador. Ant. Is that his answer?

Amb. Ay, my lord.

Ant. The queen shall then have courtesy,

So she will yield us up.

Amb. He says so.

Ant. Let her know it.

To the boy Cæsar send this grizzled head,

And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
With principalities.

Cleo. That head, my lord?

2

25

130

Enter an Attendant.

Attend. A messenger from Cæsar.
Cleo, What? no more ceremony? See, my

women!

Against the blown rose may they stop their nose,
That kneel'd unto the buds.—Ådmit him, sir.
Eno. Mine honesty, and I, begin to square.
[Aside,
The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith mere folly: Yet, he, that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fallen lord,
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
35 And earns a place i' the story.

'The diadem. That is, how Antony conforms himself to this breach of his fortune. Think and die; that is, Reflect on your folly, and leave the world. 4 The meered question is a term we do not understand. Dr. Johnson says, mere is indeed a boundary, and the meered question, if it cau mean any thing, may, with some violence of language, mean, the disputed boundary. The meaning is, I require of Cæsar not to depend on the superiority which the comparison of our different fortunes may exhibit to him, but to answer me man to man, in this decline of my age or power. i. e. Cæsar intreats, that at the same time you consider your desperate fortunes, you would consider he is Cæsar; that is, generous and forgiving, able and willing to restore them.

Clee.

Cleo. He is a god, and knows

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

Eno. To be sure of that,

[Aside.

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

Cleo. What's your name?
Thyr. My name is Thyreus.
Cleo. Most kind messenger,

Say to great Cæsar this, In disputation

5

Have I my pillow left unprest in Rome,
Forborne the getting of a lawful race,
And by a gem of women, to be abus'd
By one that looks on feeders ?

Cleo. Good my lord,

Ant. You have been a boggler ever:But when we in our viciousness grow hard, (O misery on't!) the wise gods feel our eyes In ourown filth drop our clear judgements;mak 10 Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we stru To our confusion.

Cleo. O, is it come to this?

Ant. I found you as a morsel, cold upon Dead Cæsar's trencher: nay, you were a iragm 15 Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter ho Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have Luxuriously pick'd out:-For, I am sure, Though you can guesswhattemperance should You know not what it is.

I kiss his conquering hand': tell him, I am prompt 20
To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel:
Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.

Thyr. '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.

Cleo. Your Cæsar's father oft,

When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in,
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place.
As it rain'd kisses.

Re-enter Antony, and Enobarbus.
Ant. Favours, by Jove that thunders!-
What art thou, fellow?

Thyr. One, that but performs

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have command obey'd.

Eno. You will be whipp'd.

Cleo. Wherefore is this?

Ant. To let a fellow that will take rewards
And say, God quit you! be familiar with
My play-fellow, your hand, this kingly seal,
And plighter of high hearts! O, that I were
25 Upon the bill of Basan, to out-roar
The horned herd! for I have savage cause;
And to proclaim it civilly, were like
A halter'd neck, which does the hangman than
For being yare about him.-Is he whipp'd?
Re-enter Attendants, with Thyreus.
Attend. Soundly, my lord.

30

Ant. Approach, there:-Ah, you kite!-Now, 40 gods and devils!

[ho!
Authority melts from me: Of late, when I cry'd
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth,
And cry, Your will? Have you no ears? I am
Enter Attendants.

Antony yet. Take hence this Jack, and whip him.
Eno. Tis better playing with a lion's whelp,
Than with an old one dying.

Ant. Moon and stars!—

Ant. Cry'd he? and begg'd he pardon?
Attend. He did ask favour.

Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent

35 Thou wast not made his daughter; andbethouse
To follow Cæsar in his triumph, since [fo
Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: her
The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou to look on't.-Get thee back to Ca
Tell him thy entertainment: Look, thou say
He makes me angry with him: for he seem
Proud and disdainful; harping on what I am
Not what he knew I was: He makes me angr
And at this time most easy 'tis to do't;
45 When my good stars, that were my former guid
Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fir
Into the abism of hell. If he mislike
My speech, and what is done; tell him, he
Hipparchus, my enfranchis'd bondman, who
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture
As he shall like, to quit me: Urge it thou:
Hence with thy stripes, begone. [Exit Thyr
Cleo. Have done
you yet?

[butaries Whip him:-Were 't twenty of the greatest tri-50 That do acknowledge Cæsar, should I find them So saucy with the hand of she here, (What's her

name,

Since she was Cleopatra?)-Whip him, fellows,
"Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face,
And whine aloud for mercy: Take him hence.
Thyr. Mark Antony,-

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

[Exeunt Att. with Thyreus. You were half blasted ere I knew you: Ha!

55

60

Ant. Alack, our terrene moon

Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone
The fall of Antony!

Cleo. I must stay his time.

Ant. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle e With one that ties his points?

Cleo. Not know me yet?

Ant. Cold-hearted toward me?

Cleo. Ah, dear, if I be so,