ACT II. SCENE I. Messina. POMPEY'S house  Enter POMPEY, MENECRATES, and MENAS, in warlike manner    POMPEY. If the great gods be just, they shall assist     The deeds of justest men.   MENECRATES. Know, worthy Pompey,     That what they do delay they not deny.   POMPEY. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays     The thing we sue for.   MENECRATES. We, ignorant of ourselves,     Beg often our own harms, which the wise pow'rs     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 flatter'd; but he neither loves,     Nor either cares for him.   MENAS. Caesar and Lepidus     Are in the field. A mighty strength they carry.   POMPEY. Where have you this? 'Tis false.   MENAS. 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 wan'd 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-                         Enter VARRIUS      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 donn'd 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 warr'd upon him; although, I think,     Not mov'd 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.                                          Exeunt     SCENE II. Rome. The house of LEPIDUS  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 Antonius' beard,     I would not shave't to-day.   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.                  Enter ANTONY and VENTIDIUS    ENOBARBUS. And yonder, Caesar.              Enter CAESAR, MAECENAS, and AGRIPPA    ANTONY. If we compose well here, to Parthia.     Hark, Ventidius.   CAESAR. I do not know, Maecenas. Ask Agrippa.   LEPIDUS. Noble friends,     That which combin'd 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 arinies, and to fight,     I should do thus.                                 [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 laugh'd at     If, or for nothing or a little,     Should say myself offended, and with you     Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at that I should     Once name you derogately when to sound your name     It not concern'd 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- practis'd?   CAESAR. You may be pleas'd 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 your business; my brother never     Did urge me in his act. I did inquire 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 not to make it with,     It must not be with this.   CAESAR. You praise yourself     By laying defects of judgment to me; but     You patch'd 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 ask'd 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 lack'd it. But on, Caesar:     The article of my oath-   CAESAR. To lend me arms and aid when I requir'd 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 stanch, 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,     Admir'd Octavia. Great Mark Antony     Is now a widower.   CAESAR. Say not so, Agrippa.     If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof     Were well deserv'd 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 touch'd     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 is my hand.     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 Misenum.   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 talk'd 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.                    [Flourish]                      Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS, AGRIPPA, MAECENAS   MAECENAS. 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 stay'd 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 purs'd up his heart,     upon the river of Cydnus.   AGRIPPA. There she appear'd indeed! Or my reporter devis'd well for     her.   ENOBARBUS. I will tell you.     The barge she sat in, like a burnish'd throne,     Burn'd 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 beggar'd all description. She did lie     In her pavilion, cloth-of-gold, of tissue,     O'erpicturing that Venus where we see     The fancy out-work nature. On each side her     Stood pretty dimpled boys, like smiling Cupids,     With divers-colour'd 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,     Enthron'd 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 barber'd 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 cropp'd.   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, pow'r breathe 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.                    Exeunt     SCENE III. Rome. CAESAR'S house  Enter ANTONY, 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.   OCTAVIA. Good night, sir.   CAESAR. Good night.                  Exeunt CAESAR and OCTAVIA                          Enter SOOTHSAYER    ANTONY. Now, sirrah, you do wish yourself in Egypt?   SOOTHSAYER. Would I had never come from thence, nor you 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 a fear, as being o'erpow'r'd. 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.                                                  Exit SOOTHSAYER     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, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt;     And though I make this marriage for my peace,     I' th' East my pleasure lies.                         Enter VENTIDIUS      O, come, Ventidius,     You must to Parthia. Your commission's ready;     Follow me and receive't.                              Exeunt     SCENE IV. Rome. A street  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 th' Mount     Before you, Lepidus.   LEPIDUS. Your way is shorter;     My purposes do draw me much about.     You'll win two days upon me.   BOTH. Sir, good success!   LEPIDUS. Farewell.                                      Exeunt     SCENE V. Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace  Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS    CLEOPATRA. Give me some music- music, moody food     Of us that trade in love.   ALL. The music, ho!                      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 play'd     As with a woman. Come, you'll play with me, sir?   MARDIAN. As well as I can, madam.   CLEOPATRA. And when good will is show'd, 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-finn'd 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! Y'are caught.'   CHARMIAN. 'Twas merry when     You wager'd 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 laugh'd 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.                      Enter a MESSENGER      O! from Italy?     Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,     That long time have been barren.   MESSENGER. Madam, madam-   CLEOPATRA. Antony'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 lipp'd, 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- why so tart a favour     To trumpet such good tidings? If not well,     Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd 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. Th'art 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 gaoler 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 say'st; and, thou say'st, 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!                                               [Strikes him down]   MESSENGER. Good madam, patience.   CLEOPATRA. What say you? Hence,                  [Strikes him]     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 whipp'd with wire and stew'd 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 liv'd too long.    [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 afear'd to come.   CLEOPATRA. I will not hurt him.     These hands do lack nobility, that they strike     A meaner than myself; since I myself     Have given myself the cause.                      Enter the MESSENGER again      Come hither, sir.     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 submerg'd and made     A cistern for scal'd 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 art not what th'art 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!                         Exit MESSENGER   CHARMIAN. Good your Highness, patience.   CLEOPATRA. In praising Antony I have disprais'd 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.                                                      Exit ALEXAS     Let him for ever go- let him not, Charmian-     Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon,     The other way's a Mars.                         [To MARDIAN]     Bid you Alexas     Bring me word how tall she is.- Pity me, Charmian,     But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.        Exeunt     SCENE VI. Near Misenum  Flourish. Enter POMPEY and MENAS at one door, with drum and trumpet; at another, CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, 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 mov'd pale Cassius to conspire? and what     Made the all-honour'd honest Roman, Brutus,     With the arm'd 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 anger'd 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'er-count thee.   POMPEY. At land, indeed,     Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house.     But since the cuckoo builds not for himself,     Remain in't as thou mayst.   LEPIDUS. Be pleas'd 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 embrac'd.   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 unhack'd edges and bear back     Our targes undinted.   ALL. That's our offer.   POMPEY. Know, then,     I came before you here a man prepar'd     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.     I did not think, sir, to have met you here.   ANTONY. The beds i' th' East are soft; and thanks to you,     That call'd me timelier than my purpose hither;     For I have gained by't.   CAESAR. 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 seal'd 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 of 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.     I never hated thee; I have seen thee fight,     When I have envied thy behaviour.   ENOBARBUS. Sir,     I never lov'd you much; but I ha' prais'd ye     When you have well deserv'd 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?   ALL. Show's the way, sir.   POMPEY. Come.               Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS and MENAS   MENAS. [Aside] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er have made this     treaty.- 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.   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 turn'd to a drinking.     Pompey doth this day laugh away his fortune.   ENOBARBUS. If he do, sure he cannot weep't back again.   MENAS. Y'have said, sir. We look'd not for Mark Antony here. Pray     you, is he married to Cleopatra?   ENOBARBUS. Caesar' sister is call'd 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 us'd our throats in Egypt.   MENAS. Come, let's away.                                Exeunt  ACT_2|SC_7                            SCENE VII.              On board POMPEY'S galley, off Misenum       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-colour'd.   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 partizan I could not heave.   FIRST SERVANT. To be call'd 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.             A sennet sounded. Enter CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS,             POMPEY, AGRIPPA, MAECENAS, ENOBARBUS, MENAS,                          with other CAPTAINS    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. Y'have 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!   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. [ Whispers in's ear ] Forbear me till anon-     This wine for Lepidus!   LEPIDUS. What manner o' thing is your crocodile?   ANTONY. It is shap'd, 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. 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.- Where's this cup I call'd for?   MENAS. [Aside to POMPEY] If for the sake of merit thou wilt hear       me,     Rise from thy stool.   POMPEY. [Aside to MENAS] I think th'art mad. [Rises and walks     aside] The matter?   MENAS. I have ever held my cap off to thy fortunes.   POMPEY. Thou hast serv'd 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 say'st thou?   MENAS. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world? That's twice.   POMPEY. How should that be?   MENAS. But entertain it,     And though you 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 betray'd thine act. Being done unknown,     I should have found it afterwards well done,     But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.   MENAS. [Aside] For this,     I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.     Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd,     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.   ENOBARBUS. There's a strong fellow, Menas.                [Pointing to the servant who carries off LEPIDUS]   MENAS. Why?   ENOBARBUS. 'A bears the third part of the world, man; see'st 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     And it grows 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 steep'd 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 bear as loud     As his strong sides can volley.                [Music plays. ENOBARBUS places them hand in hand]                          THE SONG             Come, thou monarch of the vine,             Plumpy Bacchus with pink eyne!             In thy fats our cares be drown'd,             With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd.             Cup us till the world go round,             Cup us till the world go round!    CAESAR. What would you more? Pompey, good night. 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     Antick'd 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.   ENOBARBUS. Take heed you fall not.                               Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS and MENAS     Menas, I'll not on shore.   MENAS. 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 hang'd, sound out!                                   [Sound a flourish, with drums]   ENOBARBUS. Hoo! says 'a. There's my cap.   MENAS. Hoo! Noble Captain, come.                        Exeunt ACT_3|SC_1                      ACT III. SCENE I.                      A plain in Syria         Enter VENTIDIUS, as it were in triumph, with SILIUS       and other Romans, OFFICERS and soldiers; the dead body                 of PACORUS borne before him    VENTIDIUS. Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck, and now     Pleas'd 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 achiev'd by th' minute, lost his favour.     Who does i' th' wars more than his captain can     Becomes his captain's captain; and ambition,     The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss     Than gain which darkens him.     I could do more to do Antonius good,     But 'twould offend him; and in his offence     Should my performance perish.   SILIUS. Thou hast, Ventidius, that     Without the which a soldier and his sword     Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony?   VENTIDIUS. I'll humbly signify what in his name,     That magical word of war, we have effected;     How, with his banners, and his well-paid ranks,     The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia     We have jaded out o' th' field.   SILIUS. Where is he now?   VENTIDIUS. He purposeth to Athens; whither, with what haste     The weight we must convey with's will permit,     We shall appear before him.- On, there; pass along.                                                           Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_2                             SCENE II. Rome. CAESAR'S house          Enter AGRIPPA at one door, ENOBARBUS at another    AGRIPPA. What, are the brothers parted?   ENOBARBUS. They have dispatch'd 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. [Trumpets       within] So-     This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.   AGRIPPA. Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell.             Enter CAESAR, ANTONY, LEPIDUS, and OCTAVIA    ANTONY. No further, sir.   CAESAR. You take from me a great part of myself;     Use me well in't. Sister, prove such a wife     As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band     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 lov'd without this mean, if on both parts     This be not cherish'd.   ANTONY. Make me not offended     In your distrust.   CAESAR. I have said.   ANTONY. You shall not find,     Though you be therein curious, the least cause     For what you seem to fear. So the gods keep you,     And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!     We will here part.   CAESAR. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well.     The elements be kind to thee and make     Thy spirits all of comfort! Fare thee well.   OCTAVIA. My noble brother!   ANTONY. The April's in her eyes. It is love's spring,     And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful.   OCTAVIA. Sir, look well to my husband's house; and-   CAESAR. What, Octavia?   OCTAVIA. I'll tell you in your ear.   ANTONY. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can     Her heart inform her tongue- the swan's down feather,     That stands upon the swell at the full of tide,     And neither way inclines.   ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] Will Caesar weep?   AGRIPPA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] He has a cloud in's face.   ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] He were the worse for that, were he a       horse;     So is he, being a man.   AGRIPPA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] Why, Enobarbus,     When Antony found Julius Caesar dead,     He cried almost to roaring; and he wept     When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.   ENOBARBUS. [Aside to AGRIPPA] That year, indeed, he was troubled       with a rheum;     What willingly he did confound he wail'd,     Believe't- till I weep too.   CAESAR. No, sweet Octavia,     You shall hear from me still; the time shall not     Out-go my thinking on you.   ANTONY. Come, sir, come;     I'll wrestle with you in my strength of love.     Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,     And give you to the gods.   CAESAR. Adieu; be happy!   LEPIDUS. Let all the number of the stars give light     To thy fair way!   CAESAR. Farewell, farewell!                   [Kisses OCTAVIA]   ANTONY. Farewell!                       Trumpets sound. Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_3                           SCENE III.               Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace           Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and ALEXAS    CLEOPATRA. Where is the fellow?   ALEXAS. Half afeard to come.   CLEOPATRA. Go to, go to.                  Enter the MESSENGER as before      Come hither, sir.   ALEXAS. Good Majesty,     Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you     But when you are well pleas'd.   CLEOPATRA. That Herod's head     I'll have. But how, when Antony is gone,     Through whom I might command it? Come thou near.   MESSENGER. Most gracious Majesty!   CLEOPATRA. Didst thou behold Octavia?   MESSENGER. Ay, dread Queen.   CLEOPATRA. Where?   MESSENGER. Madam, in Rome     I look'd 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-tongu'd or low?   MESSENGER. Madam, I heard her speak: she is low-voic'd.   CLEOPATRA. That's not so good. He cannot like her long.   CHARMIAN. Like her? O Isis! 'tis impossible.   CLEOPATRA. I think so, Charmian. Dull of tongue and dwarfish!     What majesty is in her gait? Remember,     If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.   MESSENGER. She creeps.     Her motion and her station are as one;     She shows a body rather than a life,     A statue than a breather.   CLEOPATRA. Is this certain?   MESSENGER. Or I have no observance.   CHARMIAN. Three in Egypt     Cannot make better note.   CLEOPATRA. He's very knowing;     I do perceive't. There's nothing in her yet.     The fellow has good judgment.   CHARMIAN. Excellent.   CLEOPATRA. Guess at her years, I prithee.   MESSENGER. Madam,     She was a widow.   CLEOPATRA. Widow? Charmian, hark!   MESSENGER. And I do think she's thirty.   CLEOPATRA. Bear'st thou her face in mind? Is't long or round?   MESSENGER. Round even to faultiness.   CLEOPATRA. For the most part, too, they are foolish that are so.     Her hair, what colour?   MESSENGER. Brown, madam; and her forehead     As low as she would wish it.   CLEOPATRA. There's gold for thee.     Thou must not take my former sharpness ill.     I will employ thee back again; I find thee     Most fit for business. Go make thee ready;     Our letters are prepar'd.                   Exeunt MESSENGER   CHARMIAN. A proper man.   CLEOPATRA. Indeed, he is so. I repent me much     That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him,     This creature's no such thing.   CHARMIAN. Nothing, madam.   CLEOPATRA. The man hath seen some majesty, and should know.   CHARMIAN. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend,     And serving you so long!   CLEOPATRA. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good Charmian.     But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me     Where I will write. All may be well enough.   CHARMIAN. I warrant you, madam.                         Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_4                           SCENE IV.                   Athens. ANTONY'S house                   Enter ANTONY and OCTAVIA    ANTONY. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that-     That were excusable, that and thousands more     Of semblable import- but he hath wag'd     New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it     To public ear;     Spoke scandy 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 mid-way     'Twixt these extremes at all.   ANTONY. Gentle Octavia,     Let your best love draw to that point which seeks     Best to preserve it. If I lose mine honour,     I lose myself; better I were not yours     Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested,     Yourself shall go between's. The meantime, lady,     I'll raise the preparation of a war     Shall stain your brother. Make your soonest haste;     So your desires are yours.   OCTAVIA. Thanks to my lord.     The Jove of power make me, most weak, most weak,     Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be     As if the world should cleave, and that slain men     Should solder up the rift.   ANTONY. When it appears to you where this begins,     Turn your displeasure that way, for our faults     Can never be so equal that your love     Can equally move with them. Provide your going;     Choose your own company, and command what cost     Your heart has mind to.                               Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_5                            SCENE V.                    Athens. ANTONY'S house               Enter ENOBARBUS and EROS, meeting    ENOBARBUS. How now, friend Eros!   EROS. There's strange news come, sir.   ENOBARBUS. What, man?   EROS. Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon Pompey.   ENOBARBUS. This is old. What is the success?   EROS. Caesar, having made use of him in the wars 'gainst Pompey,     presently denied him rivality, would not let him partake in the     glory of the action; and not resting here, accuses him of letters     he had formerly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes him.     So the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine.   ENOBARBUS. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps- no more;     And throw between them all the food thou hast,     They'll grind the one the other. Where's Antony?   EROS. He's walking in the garden- thus, and spurns     The rush that lies before him; cries 'Fool Lepidus!'     And threats the throat of that his officer     That murd'red Pompey.   ENOBARBUS. Our great navy's rigg'd.   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  ACT_3|SC_6                           SCENE VI.                    Rome. CAESAR'S house               Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS    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 silver'd,     Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold     Were publicly enthron'd; 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 show-place, where they exercise.     His sons he there proclaim'd the kings of kings:     Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia,     He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assign'd     Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia. She     In th' habiliments of the goddess Isis     That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,     As 'tis reported, so.   MAECENAS. Let Rome be thus     Inform'd.   AGRIPPA. Who, queasy with his insolence     Already, will their good thoughts call from him.   CAESAR. The people knows it, and have now receiv'd     His accusations.   AGRIPPA. Who does he accuse?   CAESAR. Caesar; and that, having in Sicily     Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him     His part o' th' isle. Then does he say he lent me     Some shipping, unrestor'd. Lastly, he frets     That Lepidus of the triumvirate     Should be depos'd; and, being, that we detain     All his revenue.   AGRIPPA. Sir, this should be answer'd.   CAESAR. 'Tis done already, and messenger gone.     I have told him Lepidus was grown too cruel,     That he his high authority abus'd,     And did deserve his change. For what I have conquer'd     I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia     And other of his conquer'd kingdoms,     Demand the like.   MAECENAS. He'll never yield to that.   CAESAR. Nor must not then be yielded to in this.                  Enter OCTAVIA, with her train    OCTAVIA. Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear Caesar!   CAESAR. That ever I should call thee cast-away!   OCTAVIA. You have not call'd 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,     Rais'd 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 unlov'd. 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 constrain'd, but did it     On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,     Hearing that you prepar'd for war, acquainted     My grieved ear withal; whereon I begg'd     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 Manchus of Arabia; King of Pont;     Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king     Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,     The kings of Mede and Lycaonia, with     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 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 their ministers     Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort,     And ever welcome to us.   AGRIPPA. Welcome, lady.   MAECENAS. Welcome, dear madam.     Each heart in Rome does love and pity you;     Only th' adulterous Antony, most large     In his abominations, turns you off,     And gives his potent regiment to a trull     That noises it against us.   OCTAVIA. Is it so, sir?   CAESAR. Most certain. Sister, welcome. Pray you     Be ever known to patience. My dear'st sister!         Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_7                           SCENE VII.                   ANTONY'S camp near Actium                  Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS    CLEOPATRA. I will be even with thee, doubt it not.   ENOBARBUS. But why, why,   CLEOPATRA. Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,     And say'st it is not fit.   ENOBARBUS. Well, is it, is it?   CLEOPATRA. Is't not denounc'd against us? Why should not we     Be there in person?   ENOBARBUS. [Aside] Well, I could reply:     If we should serve with horse and mares together     The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear     A soldier and his horse.   CLEOPATRA. What is't you say?   ENOBARBUS. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;     Take from his heart, take from his brain, from's time,     What should not then be spar'd. He is already     Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome     That Photinus an eunuch and your maids     Manage this war.   CLEOPATRA. Sink Rome, and their tongues rot     That speak against us! A charge we bear i' th' war,     And, as the president of my kingdom, will     Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;     I will not stay behind.                     Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS    ENOBARBUS. Nay, I have done.     Here comes the Emperor.   ANTONY. Is it not strange, Canidius,     That from Tarentum and Brundusium     He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,     And take in Toryne?- You have heard on't, sweet?   CLEOPATRA. Celerity is never more admir'd     Than by the negligent.   ANTONY. A good rebuke,     Which might have well becom'd the best of men     To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we     Will fight with him by sea.   CLEOPATRA. By sea! What else?   CANIDIUS. Why will my lord do so?   ANTONY. For that he dares us to't.   ENOBARBUS. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight.   CANIDIUS. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia,     Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers,     Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off;     And so should you.   ENOBARBUS. Your ships are not well mann'd;     Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people     Ingross'd 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 prepar'd 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-mark'd 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-mann'd, from th' head of Actium     Beat th' approaching Caesar. But if we fail,     We then can do't at land.                         Enter a MESSENGER      Thy business?   MESSENGER. The news is true, my lord: he is descried;     Caesar has taken Toryne.   ANTONY. Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible-     Strange that his power should be. Canidius,     Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,     And our twelve thousand horse. We'll to our ship.     Away, my Thetis!                         Enter a SOLDIER      How now, worthy soldier?   SOLDIER. O noble Emperor, do not fight by sea;     Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt     This sword and these my wounds? Let th' Egyptians     And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we     Have us'd to conquer standing on the earth     And fighting foot to foot.   ANTONY. Well, well- away.                          Exeunt ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and ENOBARBUS   SOLDIER. By Hercules, I think I am i' th' right.   CANIDIUS. Soldier, thou art; but his whole action grows     Not in the power on't. So our leader's led,     And we are women's men.   SOLDIER. You keep by land     The legions and the horse whole, do you not?   CANIDIUS. Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,     Publicola, and Caelius are for sea;     But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's     Carries beyond belief.   SOLDIER. While he was yet in Rome,     His power went out in such distractions as     Beguil'd all spies.   CANIDIUS. Who's his lieutenant, hear you?   SOLDIER. They say one Taurus.   CANIDIUS. Well I know the man.                          Enter a MESSENGER    MESSENGER. The Emperor calls Canidius.   CANIDIUS. With news the time's with labour and throes forth     Each minute some.                                     Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_8                           SCENE VIII.                       A plain near Actium               Enter CAESAR, with his army, marching    CAESAR. Taurus!   TAURUS. My lord?   CAESAR. Strike not by land; keep whole; provoke not battle     Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed     The prescript of this scroll. Our fortune lies     Upon this jump.                                       Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_9                            SCENE IX.                   Another part of the plain                    Enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS    ANTONY. Set we our squadrons on yon side o' th' hill,     In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place     We may the number of the ships behold,     And so proceed accordingly.                           Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_10                            SCENE X.                  Another part of the plain          CANIDIUS marcheth with his land army one way         over the stage, and TAURUS, the Lieutenant of       CAESAR, the other way. After their going in is heard                    the noise of a sea-fight                      Alarum. Enter ENOBARBUS    ENOBARBUS. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer.     Th' Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral,     With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder.     To see't mine eyes are blasted.                          Enter SCARUS    SCARUS. Gods and goddesses,     All the whole synod of them!   ENOBARBUS. What's thy passion?   SCARUS. The greater cantle of the world is lost     With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away     Kingdoms and provinces.   ENOBARBUS. How appears the fight?   SCARUS. On our side like the token'd pestilence,     Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt-     Whom leprosy o'ertake!- i' th' midst o' th' fight,     When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,     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 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.   ENOBARBUS. Alack, alack!                         Enter CANIDIUS    CANIDIUS. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,     And sinks most lamentably. Had our general     Been what he knew himself, it had gone well.     O, he has given example for our flight     Most grossly by his own!   ENOBARBUS. Ay, are you thereabouts?     Why then, good night indeed.   CANIDIUS. Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.   SCARUS. 'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend     What further comes.   CANIDIUS. To Caesar will I render     My legions and my horse; six kings already     Show me the way of yielding.   ENOBARBUS. I'll yet follow     The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason     Sits in the wind against me.                          Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_11                          SCENE XI.               Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace                 Enter ANTONY With attendants    ANTONY. Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;     It is asham'd to bear me. Friends, come hither.     I am so lated in the world that I     Have lost my way for ever. I have a ship     Laden with gold; take that; divide it. Fly,     And make your peace with Caesar.   ALL. Fly? Not we!   ANTONY. I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards     To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;     I have myself resolv'd upon a course     Which has no need of you; be gone.     My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,     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 straight way.     I will possess you of that ship and treasure.     Leave me, I pray, a little; pray you now;     Nay, do so, for indeed I have lost command;     Therefore I pray you. I'll see you by and by.    [Sits down]              Enter CLEOPATRA, led by CHARMIAN and IRAS,                          EROS following    EROS. Nay, gentle madam, to him! Comfort him.   IRAS. Do, most dear Queen.   CHARMIAN. Do? Why, what else?   CLEOPATRA. Let me sit down. O Juno!   ANTONY. No, no, no, no, no.   EROS. See you here, sir?   ANTONY. O, fie, fie, fie!   CHARMIAN. Madam!   IRAS. Madam, O good Empress!   EROS. Sir, sir!   ANTONY. Yes, my lord, yes. He at Philippi kept     His sword e'en like a dancer, while I struck     The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I     That the mad Brutus ended; he alone     Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had     In the brave squares of war. Yet now- no matter.   CLEOPATRA. Ah, stand by!   EROS. The Queen, my lord, the Queen!   IRAS. Go to him, madam, speak to him.     He is unqualitied with very shame.   CLEOPATRA. Well then, sustain me. O!  EROS. Most noble sir, arise; the Queen approaches.     Her head's declin'd, and death will seize her but     Your comfort makes the rescue.   ANTONY. I have offended reputation-     A most unnoble swerving.   EROS. Sir, the Queen.   ANTONY. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See     How I convey my shame out of thine eyes     By looking back what I have left behind     'Stroy'd 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 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.   CLEOPATRA. Pardon, pardon!   ANTONY. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates     All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss;     Even this repays me.     We sent our schoolmaster; is 'a come back?     Love, I am full of lead. Some wine,     Within there, and our viands! Fortune knows     We scorn her most when most she offers blows.         Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_12                          SCENE XII.                    CAESAR'S camp in Egypt     Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, THYREUS, with others    CAESAR. Let him appear that's come from Antony.     Know you him?   DOLABELLA. Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster:     An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither     He sends so poor a pinion of his wing,     Which had superfluous kings for messengers     Not many moons gone by.              Enter EUPHRONIUS, Ambassador from ANTONY    CAESAR. Approach, and speak.   EUPHRONIUS. 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.   EUPHRONIUS. Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and     Requires to live in Egypt; which not granted,     He lessens his requests and to thee sues     To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,     A private man in Athens. This for him.     Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness,     Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves     The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,     Now hazarded to thy grace.   CAESAR. For Antony,     I have no ears to his request. The Queen     Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she     From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,     Or take his life there. This if she perform,     She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.   EUPHRONIUS. Fortune pursue thee!   CAESAR. Bring him through the bands.           Exit EUPHRONIUS     [To THYREUS] To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time. Dispatch;     From Antony win Cleopatra. Promise,     And in our name, what she requires; add more,     From thine invention, offers. Women are not     In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure     The ne'er-touch'd vestal. Try thy cunning, Thyreus;     Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we     Will answer as a law.   THYREUS. Caesar, I go.   CAESAR. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,     And what thou think'st his very action speaks     In every power that moves.   THYREUS. Caesar, I shall.                               Exeunt  ACT_3|SC_13                            SCENE XIII.                Alexandria. CLEOPATRA'S palace          Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, and IRAS    CLEOPATRA. What shall we do, Enobarbus?   ENOBARBUS. Think, and die.   CLEOPATRA. Is Antony or we in fault for this?   ENOBARBUS. Antony only, that would make his will     Lord of his reason. What though you fled     From that great face of war, whose several ranges     Frighted each other? Why should he follow?     The itch of his affection should not then     Have nick'd his captainship, at such a point,     When half to half the world oppos'd, he being     The mered question. 'Twas a shame no less     Than was his loss, to course your flying flags     And leave his navy gazing.   CLEOPATRA. Prithee, peace.            Enter EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador; with ANTONY    ANTONY. Is that his answer?   EUPHRONIUS. Ay, my lord.   ANTONY. The Queen shall then have courtesy, so she     Will yield us up.   EUPHRONIUS. He says so.   ANTONY. Let her know't.     To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,     And he will fill thy wishes to the brim     With principalities.   CLEOPATRA. That head, my lord?   ANTONY. To him again. Tell him he wears the rose     Of youth upon him; from which the world should note     Something particular. His coin, ships, legions,     May be a coward's whose ministers would prevail     Under the service of a child as soon     As i' th' command of Caesar. I dare him therefore     To lay his gay comparisons apart,     And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,     Ourselves alone. I'll write it. Follow me.                                     Exeunt ANTONY and EUPHRONIUS   EUPHRONIUS. [Aside] Yes, like enough high-battled Caesar will     Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to th' show     Against a sworder! I see men's judgments are     A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward     Do draw the inward quality after them,     To suffer all alike. That he should dream,     Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will     Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdu'd     His judgment too.                         Enter a SERVANT    SERVANT. A messenger from Caesar.   CLEOPATRA. What, no more ceremony? See, my women!     Against the blown rose may they stop their nose     That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir.     Exit SERVANT   ENOBARBUS. [Aside] Mine honesty and I begin to square.     The loyalty well held to fools does make     Our faith mere folly. Yet he that can endure     To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord     Does conquer him that did his master conquer,     And earns a place i' th' story.                         Enter THYREUS    CLEOPATRA. Caesar's will?   THYREUS. Hear it apart.   CLEOPATRA. None but friends: say boldly.   THYREUS. 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.   THYREUS. So.     Thus then, thou most renown'd: Caesar entreats     Not to consider in what case thou stand'st     Further than he is Caesar.   CLEOPATRA. Go on. Right royal!   THYREUS. He knows that you embrace not Antony     As you did love, but as you fear'd him.   CLEOPATRA. O!   THYREUS. The scars upon your honour, therefore, he     Does pity, as constrained blemishes,     Not as deserv'd.   CLEOPATRA. He is a god, and knows     What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,     But conquer'd merely.   ENOBARBUS. [Aside] To be sure of that,     I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky     That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for     Thy dearest quit thee.                                  Exit   THYREUS. Shall I say to Caesar     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 shroud,     The universal landlord.   CLEOPATRA. What's your name?   THYREUS. My name is Thyreus.   CLEOPATRA. Most kind messenger,     Say to great Caesar this: in deputation     I kiss his conquring hand. Tell him I am prompt     To lay my crown at 's feet, and there to kneel.     Tell him from his all-obeying breath I hear     The doom of Egypt.   THYREUS. 'Tis your noblest course.     Wisdom and fortune combating together,     If that the former dare but what it can,     No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay     My duty on your hand.   CLEOPATRA. Your Caesar's father oft,     When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in,     Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,     As it rain'd kisses.                  Re-enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS    ANTONY. Favours, by Jove that thunders!     What art thou, fellow?   THYREUS. One that but performs     The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest     To have command obey'd.   ENOBARBUS. [Aside] You will be whipt.   ANTONY. Approach there.- Ah, you kite!- Now, gods and devils!     Authority melts from me. Of late, when I cried 'Ho!'     Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth     And cry 'Your will?' Have you no ears? I am     Antony yet.                         Enter servants      Take hence this Jack and whip him.   ENOBARBUS. 'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp     Than with an old one dying.   ANTONY. Moon and stars!     Whip him. Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries     That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them     So saucy with the hand of she here- what's her name     Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows,     Till like a boy you see him cringe his face,     And whine aloud for mercy. Take him hence.   THYMUS. Mark Antony-   ANTONY. Tug him away. Being whipt,     Bring him again: the Jack of Caesar's shall     Bear us an errand to him.       Exeunt servants 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?   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 judgments, make us     Adore our errors, laugh at's while we strut     To our confusion.   CLEOPATRA. O, is't come to this?   ANTONY. I found you as a morsel cold upon     Dead Caesar's trencher. Nay, you were a fragment     Of Cneius Pompey's, besides what hotter hours,     Unregist'red in vulgar fame, you have     Luxuriously pick'd out; for I am sure,     Though you can guess what temperance should be,     You know not what it is.   CLEOPATRA. Wherefore is this?   ANTONY. To let a fellow that will take rewards,     And say 'God quit you!' be familiar with     My playfellow, your hand, this kingly seal     And plighter of high hearts! O that I were     Upon the hill of Basan to outroar     The horned herd! For I have savage cause,     And to proclaim it civilly were like     A halter'd neck which does the hangman thank     For being yare about him.                Re-enter a SERVANT with THYREUS      Is he whipt?   SERVANT. Soundly, my lord.   ANTONY. Cried he? and begg'd 'a pardon?   SERVANT. He did ask favour.   ANTONY. If that thy father live, let him repent     Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry     To follow Caesar in his triumph, since     Thou hast been whipt for following him. Henceforth     The white hand of a lady fever thee!     Shake thou to look on't. Get thee back to Caesar;     Tell him thy entertainment; look thou say     He makes me angry with him; for he seems     Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am,     Not what he knew I was. He makes me angry;     And at this time most easy 'tis to do't,     When my good stars, that were my former guides,     Have empty left their orbs and shot their fires     Into th' abysm of hell. If he mislike     My speech and what is done, tell him he has     Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom     He may at pleasure whip or hang or torture,     As he shall like, to quit me. Urge it thou.     Hence with thy stripes, be gone.                Exit THYREUS   CLEOPATRA. Have you done yet?   ANTONY. Alack, our terrene moon     Is now eclips'd, and it portends alone     The fall of Antony.   CLEOPATRA. I must stay his time.   ANTONY. To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes     With one that ties his points?   CLEOPATRA. Not know me yet?   ANTONY. Cold-hearted toward me?   CLEOPATRA. Ah, dear, if I be so,     From my cold heart let heaven engender hail,     And poison it in the source, and the first stone     Drop in my neck; as it determines, so     Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite!     Till by degrees the memory of my womb,     Together with my brave Egyptians all,     By the discandying of this pelleted storm,     Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile     Have buried them for prey.   ANTONY. I am satisfied.     Caesar sits down in Alexandria, where     I will oppose his fate. Our force by land     Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy to     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-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd,     And fight maliciously. For when mine hours     Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives     Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth,     And send to darkness all that stop me. Come,     Let's have one other gaudy night. Call to me     All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more;     Let's mock the midnight bell.   CLEOPATRA. It is my birthday.     I had thought t'have held it poor; but since my lord     Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.   ANTONY. We will yet do well.   CLEOPATRA. Call all his noble captains to my lord.   ANTONY. Do so, we'll speak to them; and to-night I'll force     The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my queen,     There's sap in't yet. The next time I do fight     I'll make death love me; for I will contend     Even with his pestilent scythe.     Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS   ENOBARBUS. Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious     Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood     The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still     A diminution in our captain's brain     Restores his heart. When valour preys on reason,     It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek     Some way to leave him.                                  Exit  ACT_4|SC_1                       ACT IV. SCENE I.               CAESAR'S camp before Alexandria        Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS, with his army;                  CAESAR reading a letter    CAESAR. He calls me boy, and chides as he had power     To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger     He hath whipt 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 to-morrow the last of many battles     We mean to fight. Within our files there are     Of those that serv'd 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 earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!          Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_2                           SCENE II.                Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace        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. 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?   ENOBARBUS. I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'   ANTONY. 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,     Thou has been rightly honest. So hast thou;     Thou, and thou, and thou. You have serv'd me well,     And kings have been your fellows.   CLEOPATRA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] What means this?   ENOBARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] 'Tis one of those odd tricks which       sorrow shoots     Out of the mind.   ANTONY. And thou art honest too.     I wish I could be made so many men,     And all of you clapp'd up together in     An Antony, that I might do you service     So good as you have done.   SERVANT. The gods forbid!   ANTONY. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night.     Scant not my cups, and make as much of me     As when mine empire was your fellow too,     And suffer'd my command.   CLEOPATRA. [Aside to ENOBARBUS] What does he mean?     ENOBARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep.   ANTONY. 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     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 to-night 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-ey'd. 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 to-morrow, and will lead you     Where rather I'll expect victorious life     Than death and honour. Let's to supper, come,     And drown consideration.                              Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_3                           SCENE III.              Alexandria. Before CLEOPATRA's palace                   Enter a company of soldiers    FIRST SOLDIER. Brother, good night. To-morrow 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.                                       [They meet other soldiers]   SECOND SOLDIER. Soldiers, have careful watch.   FIRST SOLDIER. And you. Good night, good night.                 [The two companies separate and place themselves                                    in every corner of the stage]   SECOND SOLDIER. Here we. And if to-morrow     Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope     Our landmen will stand up.   THIRD SOLDIER. 'Tis a brave army,     And full of purpose.                       [Music of the hautboys is under the stage]   SECOND SOLDIER. Peace, what noise?   THIRD SOLDIER. List, list!   SECOND SOLDIER. Hark!   THIRD SOLDIER. Music i' th' air.   FOURTH SOLDIER. Under the earth.   THIRD SOLDIER. It signs well, does it not?   FOURTH SOLDIER. No.   THIRD SOLDIER. Peace, I say!     What should this mean?   SECOND SOLDIER. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd,     Now leaves him.   THIRD SOLDIER. Walk; let's see if other watchmen     Do hear what we do.   SECOND SOLDIER. How now, masters!   SOLDIERS. [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.   SOLDIERS. Content. 'Tis strange.                        Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_4                            SCENE IV.                Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace           Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS,                           with others    ANTONY. Eros! mine armour, Eros!   CLEOPATRA. Sleep a little.   ANTONY. No, my chuck. Eros! Come, mine armour, Eros!                     Enter EROS with armour      Come, good fellow, put mine iron on.     If fortune be not ours to-day, 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.   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 daff'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 to-day, and knew'st     The royal occupation! Thou shouldst see     A workman in't.                     Enter an armed SOLDIER      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.                             [Shout. Flourish of trumpets within]                   Enter CAPTAINS and soldiers    CAPTAIN. The morn is fair. Good morrow, General.   ALL. 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. Rebukeable,     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.                       Exeunt ANTONY, EROS, CAPTAINS and soldiers   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.                      Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_5                           SCENE V.                   Alexandria. ANTONY'S camp          Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS, a SOLDIER                        meeting them    SOLDIER. The gods make this a happy day to Antony!   ANTONY. Would thou and those thy scars had once prevail'd     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 say'st thou?   SOLDIER. Sir,     He is with Caesar.   EROS. 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     To change a master. O, my fortunes have     Corrupted honest men! Dispatch. Enobarbus!            Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_6                          SCENE VI.                  Alexandria. CAESAR'S camp         Flourish. Enter AGRIPPA, CAESAR, With DOLABELLA                        and ENOBARBUS    CAESAR. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.     Our will is Antony be took alive;     Make it so known.   AGRIPPA. Caesar, I shall.                                 Exit   CAESAR. The time of universal peace is near.     Prove this a prosp'rous day, the three-nook'd world     Shall bear the olive freely.                       Enter A MESSENGER    MESSENGER. Antony     Is come into the field.   CAESAR. Go charge Agrippa     Plant those that have revolted in the vant,     That Antony may seem to spend his fury     Upon himself.                       Exeunt all but ENOBARBUS   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     Casaer hath hang'd him. Canidius and the rest     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.                    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 saf'd the bringer     Out of the host. I must attend mine office,     Or would have done't myself. Your emperor     Continues still a Jove.                                 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.                                 Exit  ACT_4|SC_7                           SCENE VII.              Field of battle between the camps           Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA                         and others    AGRIPPA. Retire. We have engag'd ourselves too far.     Caesar himself has work, and our oppression     Exceeds what we expected.                             Exeunt            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.   ANTONY. They do retire.   SCARUS. We'll beat'em into bench-holes. I have yet     Room for six scotches more.                          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. I will reward thee     Once for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfold     For thy good valour. Come thee on.     SCARUS. I'll halt after.                              Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_8                          SCENE VIII.                Under the walls of Alexandria          Alarum. Enter ANTONY, again in a march; SCARUS                         with others    ANTONY. We have beat him to his camp. Run one before     And let the Queen know of our gests. To-morrow,     Before the sun shall see's, we'll spill the blood     That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;     For doughty-handed are you, and have fought     Not as you serv'd the cause, but as't had been     Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.     Enter the city, clip your wives, your friends,     Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears     Wash the congealment from your wounds and kiss     The honour'd gashes whole.                   Enter CLEOPATRA, attended      [To SCARUS] Give me thy hand-     To this great fairy I'll commend thy acts,     Make her thanks bless thee. O thou day o' th' world,     Chain mine arm'd 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. Mine 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- he hath fought to-day     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 deserv'd it, were it carbuncled     Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand.     Through Alexandria make a jolly march;     Bear our hack'd 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 tabourines,     That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together     Applauding our approach.                              Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_9                          SCENE IX.                       CAESAR'S camp        Enter a CENTURION and his company; ENOBARBUS follows    CENTURION. If we be not reliev'd 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!   CENTURION. 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!                                   [Dies]   FIRST WATCH. Let's speak to him.   CENTURION. Let's hear him, for the things he speaks     May concern Caesar.   SECOND WATCH. Let's do so. But he sleeps.   CENTURION. 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?   CENTURION. The hand of death hath raught him.     [Drums afar off ] 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.                     Exeunt with the body  ACT_4|SC_10                           SCENE X.                     Between the two camps              Enter ANTONY and SCARUS, with their army    ANTONY. Their preparation is to-day 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.                          Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_11                          SCENE XI.                     Between the camps                  Enter CAESAR and his army    CAESAR. But being charg'd, 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.                          Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_12                          SCENE XII.                   A hill near Alexandria                    Enter ANTONY and SCARUS    ANTONY. Yet they are not join'd. Where yond pine does stand     I shall discover all. I'll bring thee word     Straight how 'tis like to go.                           Exit   SCARUS. Swallows have built     In Cleopatra's sails their nests. The augurers     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.                             [Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight]                        Re-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-turn'd 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 reveng'd upon my charm,     I have done all. Bid them all fly; begone.       Exit SCARUS     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 spaniel'd me at heels, to whom I gave     Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets     On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd     That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am.     O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm-     Whose eye beck'd forth my wars and call'd them home,     Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end-     Like a right gypsy hath at fast and loose     Beguil'd me to the very heart of loss.     What, Eros, Eros!                        Enter CLEOPATRA      Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!   CLEOPATRA. Why is my lord enrag'd 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 doits, and let     Patient Octavia plough thy visage up     With her prepared nails.                      Exit CLEOPATRA     'Tis well th'art 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 grasp'd 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!              Exit  ACT_4|SC_13                           SCENE XIII.                Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace        Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, and MARDIAN    CLEOPATRA. Help me, my women. O, he is more mad     Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly     Was never so emboss'd.   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!                                                           Exeunt  ACT_4|SC_14                           SCENE XIV.                      CLEOPATRA'S palace                     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 tower'd 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 dislimns, 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 annex'd unto't     A million moe, now lost- she, Eros, has     Pack'd cards with Caesar, and false-play'd my glory     Unto an enemy's triumph.     Nay, weep not, gentle Eros; there is left us     Ourselves to end ourselves.                           Enter MARDIAN      O, thy vile lady!     She has robb'd me of my sword.   MARDIAN. No, Antony;     My mistress lov'd thee, and her fortunes mingled     With thine entirely.   ANTONY. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace!     She hath betray'd me, and shall die the death.   MARDIAN. Death of one person can be paid but once,     And that she has discharg'd. 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 rend'red 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. That thou depart'st hence safe     Does pay thy labour richly. Go.                 Exit MARDIAN     Off, pluck off!     The sevenfold 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 awhile.        Exit EROS     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!                         Re-enter EROS    EROS. What would my lord?   ANTONY. Since Cleopatra died,     I have liv'd in such dishonour that the gods     Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword     Quarter'd 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 window'd in great Rome and see     Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down     His corrigible neck, his face subdu'd     To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd 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 cur'd.     Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn     Most useful for thy country.   EROS. O, sir, pardon me!   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 unpurpos'd. Draw, and come.   EROS. Turn from me then that noble countenance,     Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.   ANTONY. Lo thee!                            [Turning from him]   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.   EROS. Why, there then! Thus do I escape the sorrow     Of Antony's death.                            [Kills himself   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                                           [Falling on his sword]     I learn'd of thee. How? not dead? not dead?-     The guard, ho! O, dispatch me!                    Enter DERCETAS and a guard    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. Alas, and woe!   ANTONY. Let him that loves me, strike me dead.   FIRST GUARD. Not I.   SECOND GUARD. Nor I.   THIRD GUARD. Nor any one.                         Exeunt guard   DERCETAS. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.     This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings,     Shall enter me with him.                         Enter DIOMEDES    DIOMEDES. Where's Antony?   DERCETAS. There, Diomed, there.   DIOMEDES. Lives he?     Wilt thou not answer, man?                     Exit DERCETAS   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. Lock'd 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 dispos'd with Caesar, and that your rage     Would not be purg'd, she sent you 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 ho!     Come, your lord calls!               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. 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.           Exeunt, hearing ANTONY ACT_4|SC_15                          SCENE XV.                    Alexandria. A monument        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,     Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great     As that which makes it.                     Enter DIOMEDES, below      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.              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,     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 triumph'd 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. Not th' imperious show     Of the full-fortun'd Caesar ever shall     Be brooch'd 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-wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up,     And set thee by Jove's side. Yet come a little.     Wishers were ever fools. O come, come,                           [They heave ANTONY aloft to CLEOPATRA]     And welcome, welcome! Die where thou hast liv'd.     Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,     Thus would I wear them out.   ALL. 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 huswife Fortune break her wheel,     Provok'd 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 liv'd 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 vanquish'd. Now my spirit is going     I can no more.   CLEOPATRA. Noblest of men, woo't die?     Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide     In this dull world, which in thy absence is     No better than a sty? O, see, my women,        [Antony dies]     The crown o' th' earth doth melt. My lord!     O, wither'd 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.                          [Swoons]   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. No more but e'en a woman, and commanded     By such poor passion as the maid that milks     And does the meanest chares. 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 nought;     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.                    Exeunt; those above hearing off ANTONY'S body  ACT_5|SC_1                        ACT V. SCENE I.                   Alexandria. CAESAR'S camp        Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MAECENAS, GALLUS,           PROCULEIUS, and others, his Council of War    CAESAR. Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield;     Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks     The pauses that he makes.   DOLABELLA. Caesar, I shall.                               Exit               Enter DERCETAS With the sword of ANTONY    CAESAR. Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar'st     Appear thus to us?   DERCETAS. I am call'd Dercetas;     Mark Antony I serv'd, who best was worthy     Best to be serv'd. 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 say'st?   DERCETAS. I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.   CAESAR. The breaking of so great a thing should make     A greater crack. The round world     Should have shook lions into civil streets,     And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony     Is not a single doom; in the name lay     A moiety of the world.   DERCETAS. 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 robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd     With his most noble blood.   CAESAR. Look you sad, friends?     The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings     To wash the eyes of kings.   AGRIPPA. And strange it is     That nature must compel us to lament     Our most persisted deeds.   MAECENAS. His taints and honours     Wag'd equal with him.   AGRIPPA. A rarer spirit never     Did steer humanity. But you gods will give us     Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch'd.   MAECENAS. When such a spacious mirror's set before him,     He needs must see himself.   CAESAR. O Antony,     I have follow'd 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-                      Enter an EGYPTIAN      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,     Confin'd in all she has, her monument,     Of thy intents desires instruction,     That she preparedly may frame herself     To th' way she's forc'd 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 learn     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 her.   PROCULEIUS. Caesar, I shall.                              Exit   CAESAR. Gallus, go you along.                      Exit GALLUS     Where's Dolabella, to second Proculeius?   ALL. Dolabella!   CAESAR. Let him alone, for I remember now     How he's employ'd; 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.                              Exeunt  ACT_5|SC_2                          SCENE II.                 Alexandria. The monument        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 dug,     The beggar's nurse and Caesar's.         Enter, to the gates of the monument, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS,                           and soldiers    PROCULEIUS. Caesar sends greetings 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 deceiv'd,     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 conquer'd 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;     Y'are 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 kneel'd 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 caus'd it.   GALLUS. You see how easily she may be surpris'd.        Here PROCULEIUS and two of the guard ascend the        monument by a ladder placed against a window,        and come behind CLEOPATRA. Some of the guard                 unbar and open the gates      Guard her till Caesar come.                             Exit   IRAS. Royal Queen!   CHARMIAN. O Cleopatra! thou art taken, Queen!   CLEOPATRA. Quick, quick, good hands.        [Drawing a dagger]   PROCULEIUS. Hold, worthy lady, hold,             [Disarms her]     Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this     Reliev'd, but not betray'd.   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 pinion'd at your master's court,     Nor once be chastis'd 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-nak'd, and let the water-flies     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.                        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.                                   Exeunt PROCULEIUS and soldiers   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, the earth.   DOLABELLA. Most sovereign creature-   CLEOPATRA. His legs bestrid the ocean; his rear'd 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 show'd his back above     The element they liv'd in. In his livery     Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands were     As plates dropp'd 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 nor ever were one such,     It's past the size of drearning. 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 pursu'd 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.                [Flourish]                               [Within: 'Make way there-Caesar!']         Enter CAESAR; GALLUS, PROCULEIUS, MAECENAS, SELEUCUS,                      and others of his train    CAESAR. Which is the Queen of Egypt?   DOLABELLA. It is the Emperor, madam.        [CLEOPATPA kneels]   CAESAR. Arise, you shall not kneel.     I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.   CLEOPATRA. 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 sham'd 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. 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 possess'd of. 'Tis exactly valued,     Not petty things admitted. Where's Seleucus?   SELEUCUS. Here, madam.   CLEOPATRA. This is my treasurer; let him speak, my lord,     Upon his peril, that I have reserv'd     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 hir'd! 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 reserv'd,     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.                       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 reserv'd, nor what acknowledg'd,     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 cheer'd;     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.                            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!                                              [Whispers CHARMIAN]   IRAS. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,     And we are for the dark.   CLEOPATRA. Hie thee again.     I have spoke already, and it is provided;     Go put it to the haste.   CHARMIAN. Madam, I will.                        Re-enter DOLABELLA    DOLABELLA. Where's the Queen?   CHARMIAN. Behold, sir.                                    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 perform'd     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.                Exit DOLABELLA     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 forc'd 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 mine nails     Are stronger than mine eyes.   CLEOPATRA. Why, that's the way     To fool their preparation and to conquer     Their most absurd intents.                        Enter CHARMIAN      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 chare, I'll give thee leave     To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all.                                        Exit IRAS. A noise within     Wherefore's this noise?                       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.                     Exit GUARDSMAN     What poor an instrument     May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty.     My resolution's plac'd, 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.            Re-enter GUARDSMAN and CLOWN, with a basket    GUARDSMAN. This is the man.   CLEOPATRA. Avoid, and leave him.                Exit GUARDSMAN     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.                                           [Sets down the basket]   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.         Exit               Re-enter IRAS, with a robe, crown, &c.    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.     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.     Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell.                               [Kisses them. IRAS falls and dies]     Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?     If thus thou and nature can so gently part,     The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch,     Which hurts and is desir'd. Dost thou lie still?     If 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. Come, thou mortal wretch,                     [To an asp, which she applies to her breast]     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! Nay, I will take thee too:                                [Applying another asp to her arm]     What should I stay-                                   [Dies]   CHARMIAN. In this vile world? So, fare thee well.     Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies     A lass unparallel'd. 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-                    Enter the guard, rushing in    FIRST GUARD. Where's the Queen?   CHARMIAN. Speak softly, wake her not.   FIRST GUARD. Caesar hath sent-   CHARMIAN. Too slow a messenger.               [Applies an asp]     O, come apace, dispatch. I partly feel thee.   FIRST GUARD. Approach, ho! All's not well: Caesar's beguil'd.   SECOND GUARD. There's Dolabella sent from Caesar; call him.   FIRST GUARD. What work is here! Charmian, is this well done?   CHARMIAN. It is well done, and fitting for a princes     Descended of so many royal kings.     Ah, soldier!                                 [CHARMIAN dies]                        Re-enter DOLABELLA    DOLABELLA. How goes it here?   SECOND GUARD. All dead.   DOLABELLA. Caesar, thy thoughts     Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming     To see perform'd the dreaded act which thou     So sought'st to hinder.                       [Within: 'A way there, a way for Caesar!']                Re-enter CAESAR and all his train    DOLABELLA. O sir, you are too sure an augurer:     That you did fear is done.   CAESAR. Bravest at the last,     She levell'd at our purposes, and being royal,     Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?     I do not see them bleed.   DOLABELLA. Who was last with them?   FIRST GUARD. A simple countryman that brought her figs.     This was his basket.   CAESAR. Poison'd then.   FIRST GUARD. O Caesar,     This Charmian liv'd but now; she stood and spake.     I found her trimming up the diadem     On her dead mistress. Tremblingly she stood,     And on the sudden dropp'd.   CAESAR. O noble weakness!     If they had swallow'd 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 pursu'd 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.                   Exeunt   THE END