網頁圖片
PDF
ePub 版
[ocr errors]

Cas. That ever I should call thee, cast away!
Oct. You have not call'd me so, nor have you

cause.

Cas. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You

come not

Like Cæsar'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 the 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,
Rais'd by your populous troops: But you are come
A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
The ostent' of our love, which, left unshown,
Is often left unlov'd: we should have met you
By sea, and land; supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.

Oct.

Good my lord,

To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted
My griev'd ear withal'; whereon, I begg'd
His pardon for return.
Cas.
Which soon he granted,
Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.
Oct. Do not say so, my lord.
Cas.

[blocks in formation]

time,

What should not then be spar'd. He is already
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,
That speak against us! A charge we bear i'the war,
And, as the president of my kingdom, will

I have eyes upon him, Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;

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

Oct.

My lord, in Athens.

Cas. 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'the 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 Amintas,
The kings of Mede, and Lycaonia, with a
More larger list of sceptres.

Oct.
Ah me, most wretched,
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends,
That do afflict each other!

Cæs. Welcome hither: Your letters did withhold our breaking forth; Till we perceiv'd, 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, To do you justice, make them ministers

Of

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

Agr.

Welcome, lady.

Mac. Welcome, dear madam.

Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: Only the adulterous Antony, most large

In his abominations, turns you off;

And gives his potent regiment' to a trull,
That noises it against us.

Is it so, sir?

Oct. Cæs. Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you, Be ever known to patience: My dearest sister!

[blocks in formation]

[Exeunt.

(2) Obstruction. (4) Harlot. (5) Threatens. (7) Absolutely.

[blocks in formation]

By sea! What else? Can. Why will my lord do so? Ant. For he dares us to❜t. Eno. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Casar fought with Pompey: But these offers Which serves not for his vantage, he shakes off; And so should you.

Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd: Your mariners are muleteers, 10 reapers, people Ingross'd by swift impress;" in Caesar's fleet Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare; 12 yours, heavy. No disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepar'd for land. Ant.

[blocks in formation]

And, with the rest full mann'd, from the head off Actiuin

Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail,

Enter a Messenger.

We then can do't at land.-Thy business?
Mess. The news is true, my lord; he is descried;
Cæsar has taken Toryne.

Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;
Strange, that his power should be.'-Canidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
And our twelve thousand horse:-We'll to our ship;

Enter a Soldier.

Away, my Thetis !-How now, worthy soldier?
Sold. O noble emperor, do not fight by sea;
Trust not to rotten planks: Do you misdoubt
This sword, and these my wounds? Let the Egyp-
tians,

And the Phoenicians, go a ducking; we
Have used to conquer, standing on the earth,
And fighting foot to loot.

Ant.
Well, well, away.
[Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.
Sold. By Hercules, I think, I am i'the right.
Can. 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.

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 beyond belief.

Sold.

While he was yet in Rome, His power went out in such distractions, as Beguil'd all spies. Can.

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

Can.

Well I know the man.

[blocks in formation]

Alarum. Re-enter Enobarbus.

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

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

Scar.

Eno.

Enter Scarus.

Gods, and goddesses,

What's thy passion?

All the whole synod of them!
Eno.
Scar. The greater cantle1o of the world is lost
With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away
Kingdoms and provinces.
How appears the fight?
Scar. On our side like the token'd" pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon' ribald-rid nag of Egypt,
Whom leprosy o'ertake! i'the midst o'the fight,
When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,11
The brize' upon her, like a cow in June,
Hoists sails, and flies.

Eno.

That I beheld: mine eyes

Did sicken at the sight on't, and could not
Endure a further view.

Scar.

She once being loof'd,"
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.
Eno.

Alack, alack!

Enter Canidius.

Can. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
O, he has given example for our flight,
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well:
Most grossly, by his own.

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

Indeed.

[Aside.

Can. Towards Peloponnesus are they fled. Scar. 'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend What further comes.

Can. To Cæsar will I render My legions, and my horse; six kings already Show me the way of yielding.

Eno.

I'll yet follow

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

ace.

SCENE IX.-Alexandria. A room in the pal
Enter Antony and Attendants.
Ant. Hark, the land bids me tread no more upon't,
It is asham'd to bear me!-Friends, come hither,
I am so lated 16 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 Cæsar.
Att.

Fly! not we Ant. I have fled myself; and have instructed

cowards

To run, and show their shoulders.--Friends, be gone;

I have myself resolv'd upon a course,

[blocks in formation]

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 them
For fear and doting.-Friends, be gone: you shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness; take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway:
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little; 'pray you now :-
Nay, do so; for, indeed, I have lost command,
Therefore I pray you:-I'll see you by and by.

[Sits down. Enter Eros, and Cleopatra, led by Charmian and

Iras.

Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him:-Comfort him.
Iras. Do, most dear queen.
Char. Do? Why, what else?
Cleo. Let me sit down.

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

Eros. See you here, sir?

Ant. O fie, fie, fie.

Char. Madam,

O Juno!

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

Ant. Yes, my lord, ves;-He,' at Philippi, kept
His sword even like a dancer; while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I,
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry,2 and no practice had

In the brave squares of war: Yet now-No matter.
Cleo. Ah, stand by.

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

He is unqualitied with very shame.
Cleo. Well then,-Sustain me :-

:-0!

Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen

ap

[blocks in formation]

Her head's declined, and death will seize her; 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,
By looking back on what I have left behind,
'Strov'd in dishonour.

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

Ant.
Egypt, thou knew'st too well,
My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings,
And thou should'st 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.

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 o'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

(1) Cæsar. (2) Fought by his officers. (3) Divested of his faculties. (4) Unless. (5) Values.

(6) Euphronius, schoolmaster to Antony's children.

O pardon, pardon.

Obey it on all cause.
Cleo.
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.-We sent our schoolmaster,
Is he come back?-Love, I am full of lead:
Some wine, within there, and our viands:-For-
tune knows,

We scorn her most, when most she offers blows.
[Exeunt.
SCENE X-Cæsar's camp, in Egypt. Enter
Cæsar, Dolabella, Thyreus, and others.
Cas. Let him appear that's come from Antony.
Know you him?

Dol.
Cæsar, 'tis his schoolmaster:
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,
An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
Which had superfluous kings for messengers,
Not many moons gone by.

[blocks in formation]

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.
Eup. Fortune pursue thee!
Cas.

[ocr errors]

Bring him through the bands. [Exit Euphronius. To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Despatch; 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 The ne'er-touch'd vestal: Try thy cunning, Thy

[blocks in formation]

VOL. II.

SA

268

[blocks in formation]

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'the command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore
To lay his gay comparisons apart,
And answer me declin'd,' sword against sword,
Ourselves alone: I'll write it; follow me.

[Exeunt Antony and Euphronius.
Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the show,
Against a sworder.—I see, men's judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them,
To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness?-Cæsar, thou hast subdu'd
His judgment too.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

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'rt 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'd to give. It much would please him,
That of his fortunes you should make a staff
To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits,
To hear from me you had left Antony,
And put yourself under his 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"
I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt
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,10 Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place, As it rain'd kisses.

Ant.

Re-enter Antony and Enobarbus.

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. You will be whipp'd. Ant. Approach, there:-Ay, you kite!-Now

Eno.

gods and devils!

Authority melts from me: Of late, when I cry'd, ho, Like boys unto a muss, 12 kings would start forth, And cry, Your will? Have you no ears? I am

Enter Attendants.

Antony yet. Take hence this Jack,13 and whip him. Eno. Tis better playing with a lion's whelp, Than with an old one dying.

Ant.' Moon and stars! Whip him :-Were't twenty of the greatest tribu

taries

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,

(7) Supposed to be an error for deputation, i. e. by proxy.

(8) Obeyed. (9) Grant me the favour. (10) Conquering. (11) Most complete and perfect. (12) Scramble. (13) A term of contempt.

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 Attend. with Thyreus.
You were half blasted ere I knew you:-Ha!
Have I my pillow left unpress'd 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?'

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

I am satisfied. lord,-Cæsar sits down in Alexandria; where I will oppose his fate. Our force by land Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too Ilave knit again, and fleet,1° threat'ning most sealike,

Ant. You have been a boggler ever:But when we in our viciousness grow hard, (0 misery on't!) the wise gods seel2 our eyes; In our own filth drop our clear judgments; make us Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we strut 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 fragment Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours, Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have

Luxuriously pick'd out :-For I am sure,

1

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 is hope in it yet.

Cleo.
That's my brave lord! el
Ant. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd,

Though you can guess what temperance should be, And fight maliciously: for when mine hours
You know not what it is.

[blocks in formation]

Ant. 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!-0, that I were
Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar

The horned herd! for I have savage cause;
And to proclaim it civilly, were like

A halter'd neck, which does the hangman thank
For being yare about him.-Is he whipp'd?

Re-enter Attendants, with Thyreus.

1 Att. Soundly, my lord.

Ant.

Cry'd he? and begg'd he pardon?

1 Att. He did ask favour. Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry To follow Cæsar in his triumph, since Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: henceforth,

The white hand of a lady fever thee,

Shake thou to look on't.-Get thee back to Cæsar,
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 the abysm of hell. If he mislike

My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has
Hipparchus, my enfranchis'd 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, begone. [Exit Thyreus.
Cleo. Have you done yet?
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 eyes With one that ties his points?

Cleo.

Not know me yet?

(1) Servants, (2) Close up. (3) Wantonly. (4) Ready, handy. (5) Requite. (6) Earthly. (7) Dissolves. (8) Her son by Julius Cæsar.

[blocks in formation]

queen;

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

[Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Attend. Eno. Now he'll out-stare the lightning. To be furious,

Is, to be frighted out of fear: and in that mood,
The dove will peck the estridge; 13 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.

ACT IV.

[Exit.

En

SCENE I-Cæsar's camp at Alexandria. ter Cæsar, reading a letter; Agrippa, Mæcenas, and others.

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

To beat me out of Egypt: my messenger
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal

combat,

Cæsar to Antony: Let the old ruffian know,
I have many other ways to die; mean time,
Laugh at his challenge.

(9) Melting. (10) Float.
12) Feasting. (13) Ostrich.

(11) Trifling.

« 上一頁繼續 »