Cæs.
CONTEMNING Rome, he did all this, and more.
In Alexandria—here's (Shewing papers.) the manner of it,—
I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself, in chains of gold,
Were publicly enthron'd: at the feet sat
Cæsarion, whom they call my father's son,
And all the unlawful issue, that their crime
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
He gave the 'stablishment of Ægypt; made her,
Of Lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia,
Absolute queen.

Mæc.
This in the public eye?

Cæs.
I' the common shew-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 Phœnicia: She,
In the habiliments of the goddess, Isis,
That day appear'd, and oft before gave audience,
As 'tis reported so.

Mæc.
Let Rome be thus
Inform'd.

Agr
Who, queasy with his insolence
Already, will their good thoughts call from him.

Cæs.
The people know it; and have now receiv'd
His accusations.

Agr.
Whom does he accuse?

Cæs.
Cæsar: and that having, in Sicily,
Sextus Pompeius spoil'd, we had not rated him
His part o'the 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.

Agr.
Sir, this should be answer'd.

Cæs.
'Tis done already, and the 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, I
Demand the like.

Mæc.
He'll never yield to that.

Cæs.
Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia.

Oct.
Hail, Cæsar, and my Lord! hail, most dear Cæsar!
Had not the adverse wind, and raging seas,
Prolong'd my voyage, and driv'n our labouring bark
Leagues from its course. I sooner had embraced you.

Cæs.
That ever I should call thee, cast-away!

Oct.
You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause.

Cæs.
Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not
Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach,

Long 'ere she did appear: But you are come
A market-maid to Rome; We should have met you
By sea, and land; supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.

Oct
Good my Lord,
To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
On my free will. My Lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
My grieving ear withal; whereon I beg'd
His pardon for return.

Cæs.
Which soon he granted,
Being an obstruct 'twixt his love and him.

Oct.
Do not say so, my Lord.

Cæs.
I have eyes upon him,
And his affairs come to me on the wind:
Where say you he is now?

Oct.
My Lord, in Athens.

Cæs.
No, no, my most wrong'd sister: Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her; and they are levying
The kings o'the earth for war against me. Now,
E'en now, they head their force at Actium;
But they have found, I trust, to their confusion,
Our fleet and armies there, prepared to meet them.

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

Cæs.
Welcome hither:
Your letters so far check'd our breaking forth,
Till we perceiv'd, both how you were wrong led,
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart:
Be you not troubl'd with the time, which drives
O'er your content these strong necessities;
But let determin'd things to destiny,
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome:
Nothing more dear to me.—You are abus'd
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods,
To do you justice, make them ministers

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

Agr.
Welcome, Lady.

Mæc.
Welcome, dear Madam.
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you.

Oct.
Is it so, Sir?

Cæs.
Most certain. Sister, welcome: 'Pray you, now,
Be ever known to patience. My dearest sister! [Exeunt. Scene 2 SCENE.—Near Actium.—The Outskirts of Antony's Camp. Enter Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.

Cle.
I will be even with thee, doubt it not.
And have command, here, while we stay in Actium.

Eno.
But why, why, why?

Cle.
Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars;
And say'st it is not fit.

Eno.
Well, is it? is it?

Cle.
Is't not denounced 'gainst Us? Why should not we
Be there in person?

Eno.
Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;
Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time,
What should not then be spar'd. He is already
Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said, in Rome,
You, and your maids, manage this war.

Cle.
Sink Rome, and their tongues rot,
That speak against us! A charge we bear i'the war,
And, as the President of my kingdom, will
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it,
I will be in the action.

Eno.
I have done.

Enter Antony, and Canidius.

Ant.
Canidius, we will fight with them by sea.

Cle.
By sea! what else?

Can.
Why will my Lord do so?

Ant.
For that he dares us to't.

Eno.
So hath my Lord dared him to single fight.

Can.
Ay, and to wage this battle in Pharsalia,
Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: But these offers,
Which serve not for his 'vantage, he shakes off,
And so should you.

Eno.
Your ships are not well mann'd;
Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people
Ingrost by swift impress: in Cæsar's fleet
Are those that, often, have 'gainst Pompey fought:
Their ships are yare, your's heavy:—No disgrace
Awaits you for refusing him by sea.

Ant.
By sea, by sea.

Eno.
Why, Sir, you throw away
The absolute soldiership you have by land;
Distract your army; leave unexecuted
Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego
The way which promises assurance; and
Give up yourself merely to chance and peril,
From firm security.

Ant.
I'll fight by sea.

Cle.
I have sixty sail; Cæsar's none better.

Ant
Our overplus of shipping we will burn,
And, with the rest full mann'd, from the head of Actium,
Beat the approaching Cæsar.—If we fail,
We then can do't by land. Enter Messenger.
Thy business?

Mess.
The enemy, my Lord, is now descried.
Cæsar has taken Toryne.

Ant.
There in person!
Well, to our ships:—this speed of Cæsar carries
Beyond belief.

Mess.
While he was, yet, in Rome,
His power went out in such detatchments, as
Beguil'd all spies. [Retires.

Ant.
Canidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
And our twelve thousand horse. Haste to thy charge. [Exit Canidius.
So now on board—and cheerly!—Come, my I hetis! [To Cleop.
Away! Away! [Martial flourish. [Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, and followers. Scene 3 SCENE.—The Country near Actium. Enter Canidius, marching, with his Land Army.

Can.
Halt! breathe awhile, ere we ascend the steep.—
Set we our squadrons upon yonder hill,
In eye of Cæsar's battle;—from which place
We may the number of the ships behold,
And so proceed accordingly. [Alarum from the Sea.
The fleets
Draw near each other; Roman strains of war,
With Ægypt's timbrels mingling, on the sea,
Proclaim immediate action.—To the heights;
Steadily, soldiers.—March! [Exeunt. Scene 4 SCENE.—Sea Shore—Open Sea beyond it. A Grand Sea Fight; which ends in the defeat of Antony and Cleopatra.

Scene 5 SCENE.—Open Country, near Actium. Enter Philo.

Philo.
Lost! lost! all lost! I can behold no longer:
The Antoniad, the Ægyptian Admiral,
With all their sixty, fly, and turn the rudder;
Now, Enobarbus? Enter Enobarbus.

Eno.
Gods and goddesses!
The greater portion of the world is lost,
With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away
Provinces, kingdoms!

Philo.
How appears the fight?

Eno.
On our side like the spotted pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon ribald hag of Ægypt,
Whom leprosy o'ertake! i'the midst o'the sight,
When 'vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as the same, or rather our's the elder,
Hoists sail, and flies:—and she, once being looft,
The noble ruin of her magick, Antony,
Claps on his sea wing, like a doting mallard,
Leaving the battle, and flies after her.
I never saw an action of such shame;
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
Did violate so itself. Enter Canidius.

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

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

Can.
Towards Peloponnesus are they fled.

Philo.
And thence, no doubt, to Ægypt.

Can.
Doubtless so.
To the all conquering Cæsar I will render
My legions and my horse; six kings already
Shew me the way of yielding. [Shouts.

Eno.
Hark! the enemy!
I'll follow yet the wounded chance of Antony,
Although my reason sits i'the wind against me. [Shouts again. Exeunt, severally. Scene 6 SCENE.—Another part of the Country, near Actium. Enter Cæsar, and his Train.

Cæs.
Where is the man whom Antony, when flying,
Sent from his fleet to shore.

Atten.
Cæsar, he's here. Ambassador from Antony advances.

Cæs.
Approach, and speak.

Amb.
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 the vast ocean.

Cæs.
Well;—declare thine office.

Amb.
Lord of his fortunes, he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Ægypt: which not granted,
He sues to breathe between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens: This from him.
Next Cleopatra craves of thee her diadem;
For now she feels, if thou pursu'st the fall'n,
'Tis hazarded to thy grace.

Cæs.
For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
From Ægypt drive her all disgraced friend.

Amb.
Fortune attend thee!

Cæs.
In thy course to Ægypt,
A messenger of mine, to Cleopatra,
Must be thy fellow.—Bring him through the bands. [Exit Ambassador.
Thyreus,—

Thyr. (advancing.)
My Lord—

Cæs.
Thou must sail with him, Thyreus.
From Antony win Cleopatra; promise,
And in our name, what she requires; add more,
(From thine invention) offers. Try thy cunning;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
Will answer as a law.

Thyr.
Cæsar, I go.

Cæs.
Go quickly, then; and should thy vessel prove
A sluggard to the wind, I may set foot
On Afric's ground before thee. [Exit Thyreus.
Now, my friends,
We must, once more, embark to seek these runaways:
'Tis fit we take the lion we have driven
Into his last retreat. Therefore, for Ægypt.
Strike,—and march on! [Exeunt. Scene 7 SCENE.—Alexandria—The Interior of Cleopatra's Palace. Enter Antony, with Attendants.

Ant.
This land of Ægypt bids me tread no more on'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 one ship,
Laden with gold:—take that, divide it;—fly,—
And make your peace with Cæsar.

All.
Fly? not we!

Ant.
I fled myself; and have instructed others
To run and shew their shoulders.

Atten.
Sir, the Queen. Enter Cleopatra, and Attendants.

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

Ant.
Ægypt, thou knew'st too well
My heart was to thy rudder ty'd by the strings,
And thou should'st tow me after.

Cle.
Pardon, pardon!

Ant.
Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
All that is won and lost!—Now, kiss me, sweet!
Even this repays—Oh, I am full of lead.
Some wine there, and our viands. Thou wilt follow;
Wilt thou not, soon?—Oh! [Exit. Enter a Male Attendant.

Atten.
A messenger from Cæsar.

Cle.
What, no more ceremony!—See, my women,
They treat with negligence the rose, when blown,
That kneel'd unto the buds—Admit him, Sir. Enter Thyreus.
Cæsar's will?

Thyr.
Hear it apart.

Cle.
None but friends; say on boldly.

Thyr.
Thus then;—the most renown'd Cæsar intreats
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,

(For soon his forces will set foot on Ægypt)
Further than he is Cæsar.

Cle.
On—right royal.

Thyr.
He knows that you embrace not Antony
As you did love, but as you fear'd him.

Cle.
O!—

Thyr.
The scars upon your honour, therefore, he
Does pity, as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserv'd.

Cle.
He is a god; and knows
What is most right.

Thyr.
Shall I, then, say to Cæsar,
What you require of him? for he partly begs
To be desir'd to give. It much would please him,
That of his fortunes you should make a staff
To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits
To hear from me you had left Antony,
And put yourself under his shroud, the great,
The universal landlord.

Cle.
What's your name?

Thyr.
My name is Thyreus.

Cle.
Most kind messenger,
Say to great Cæsar this. By deputation
I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt
To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel;
And from his all-obeying breath to hear
The doom of Ægypt.

Thyr.
'Tis your noblest course.
Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can,
No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
My duty on your hand.

Cle.
Your Cæsar's father, oft, (giving her hand.)
When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in,
Bestow'd his lip on that unworthy place,
As it rain'd kisses.

Re-enter Antony.

Ant.
Why tarries thus my Cleopatra?—Ha?
Favours, by Jove that thunders!
What art thou, fellow?

Thyr.
One that but performs
The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have command obey'd.

Ant.
Approach there: What, have you no ears?
I am Enter Attendants.
Antony yet—Take hence this Jack, and whip him,
Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face,
And whine aloud for mercy: Take him hence.

Thyr.
Mark Antony,—

Ant.
Tug him away. This Jack of Cæsar's shall
Bear us an errand to him. [Exeunt Attendants with Thyreus.

Cle.
O, is it come to this? Wherefore is this?

Ant.
To let a fellow that will take rewards,
And say, “God quit you,” be familiar with
My play-fellow, your hand: this kingly seal,
And plighter of high hearts! Re-enter Attendants with Thyreus.
Henceforth,
The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou to look on't! Get thee back to Cæsar,
Tell him thy entertainment; look thou say,
He makes me angry; harping on what I am,
Not what he knew I was: He makes me angry;
And at this time, most easy 'tis to do't;

When my good stars, that were my former guides,
Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires,
Into the abyss of hell.
Hence with thy stripes, begone! [Exit Thyreus.

Cle.
Have you done yet?

Ant.
Alack! our terrene moon
Is now eclips'd, and it portends alone
The fall of Antony.

Cle.
I must stay his time.

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

Cle.
Not know me yet?

Ant.
Cold-hearted toward me?

Cle.
Ah, dear! if it 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!

Ant.
I am satisfi'd.
Cæsar will soon sit down in Alexandria;
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Will nobly hold; our sever'd navy, too,
May knit again, our fleet, threat'ning most sea-like.
Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear, Lady?
When in the field I enter, and return
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood;
I and my sword will earn our chronicle;
There is hope in it yet.

Cle.
That's my brave Lord!

Ant.
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.

Cle.
It is my birth-day:
I had thought to have held it poor; but since my Lord
Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

Ant.
We'll yet do well.

Cle.
Call all his noble captains to my Lord.

Ant.
Do so; we'll speak to them; 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 Antony, Cleopatra, and Attendants.

Previous section

Next section