Cleo. O, is 't 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, I 20 Though you can guess what temperance should be, You know not what it is. Cleo. *Wantonly. Wherefore is this? The horned herd! for I have savage cause; A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank Re-enter Attendants with THYREUS. Is he whipp'd? First Att. Soundly, my lord. Ant. First Att. *Ready. 131 Cried he? and begg'd a' pardon? 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, 140 Shake thou to look on 't. Get thee back to Cæsar, 151 [Exit Thyreus. As he shall like, to quit* me: urge it thou: Cleo. *Requite. Alack, our terrene* moon Is now eclipsed; and it portends alone *Earthly. The fall of Antony! I must stay his time. Cleo. Ant. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle eyes With one that ties his points? Cleo. Not know me yet? Ant. Cold-hearted toward me? Ah, dear, if I be so, From my cold heart let heaven engender hail, By the discandying of this pelleted storm, Ant. 170 *Float. 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; Cleo. That's my brave lord! 180 Ant. I will be treble-sinew'd, 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. Cleo. *Festive. It is my birth-day: I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my lord Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra. Ant. We will yet do well. Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord. Ant. Do so, we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll force The wine peep through their scars. queen; 190 Come on, my There's sap in 't yet. The next time I do fight, I'll make death love me; for I will contend Even with his pestilent scythe. [Exeunt all but Enobarbus. Eno. Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious, *Ostrich. Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood ACT IV. 200 [Exit. SCENE I. Before Alexandria. Cæsar's camp. Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECENAS, with his Army; CÆSAR reading a letter. 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 Mec. Cæsar must think, When one so great begins to rage, he's huntea Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now Make boot of his distraction: never anger Made good guard for itself. Cæs. Let our best heads IO Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHAR- Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius. Ant. Why should he not? Eno. No. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one. Ant. To-morrow, 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. Woo't thou fight well? Eno. I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.' Ant. Well said; come on. Call forth my household servants: let's to-night Be bounteous at our meal. Enter three or four Servitors. Give me thy hand, ΙΟ Thou hast been rightly honest;—so hast thou:Thou, and thou,-and thou:-you have served me well, And kings have been your fellows. Cleo. [Aside to Eno.] What means this? Eno. [Aside to Cleo.] 'Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots Out of the mind. And thou art honest too. Ant. All. The gods forbid! Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight: Scant not my cups; and make as much of me 20 Cleo. [Aside to Eno.] What does he mean? Eno. Aside to Cleo.] To make his followers weep. Ant. Tend me to-night; May be it is the period of your duty: Haply you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow I look on you 30 As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, *Reward. Eno. 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. Ant. 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 40 To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts, I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you Where rather I'll expect victorious life Than death and honour. And drown consideration. Let's to supper, come, [Exeunt. SCENE III. The same. Before the palace. First Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the day. Sec. Sold. It will determine one way: fare you well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? |