Ven.
Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck ^note; and now
Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
Make me revenger. Bear the king's son's body
Before our army ^note. ^note Thy Pacorus, Orodes ^note,

Pays this for Marcus Crassus.

Sil. ^note
Noble Ventidius,
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow; spur ^note through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither ^note
The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots ^note and
Put garlands on thy head.

Ven.
O Silius, ^note Silius,
I have ^note done enough: a lower place ^note, note well,
May make too great an act; for learn this, Silius,
Better to leave ^note undone than by our deed
Acquire too high a fame when him ^note we serve's ^note away. ^note
Cæsar and Antony have ever won
More in their officer than person ^note: Sossius ^note,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he ^note achieved by the minute, lost his favour.
Who does i' the wars more than his captain can
Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,
The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss
Than gain ^note which darkens him.
I could do more to do Antonius good,
But 'twould offend him, and in his offence
Should my performance perish. ^note

Sil. ^note
Thou hast, Ventidius, that

Without the ^note which a soldier and his sword
Grants ^note scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to Antony? ^{note note}

Ven.
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 ^note jaded out o' the field.

Sil.
Where is he now?

Ven.
He purposeth to Athens: whither ^note, with what haste
The weight we must convey with's will permit, ^note
We shall appear before him. On, there; ^note pass along! ^note [Exeunt. ^note Scene II. [Footnote: Rome. ^note An ^note ante-chamber in Cæsar's house. Enter Agrippa at one door, and Enobarbus at another. ^note

Agr.
What, are the brothers parted?

Eno.
They have dispatch'd with Pompey; he is gone;
The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
To part from Rome; Cæsar is sad, and Lepidus
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled
With the green sickness.

Agr.
'Tis a noble Lepidus.

Eno.
A very fine one: O, how he loves Cæsar!

Agr.
Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark Antony!

Eno.
Cæsar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.

Agr. ^note
What's Antony? The god of Jupiter. ^note

Eno.
Spake ^note you of Cæsar? How! ^note the nonpareil!

Agr.
O Antony! O thou ^note Arabian bird!

Eno.
Would you praise Cæsar, say ‘Cæsar’: go ^note no further.

Agr.
Indeed, he plied them both with excellent praises.

Eno.
But he loves Cæsar best; yet he loves Antony:
Ho! hearts, tongues, figures ^note, scribes, bards, poets, cannot ^note
Think ^note, speak, cast, write, sing, number ^note—ho ^note!—
His love ^note to Antony. But as for Cæsar,
Kneel down, kneel down ^note, and wonder.

Agr.
Both he loves.

Eno.
They are his shards, and he their beetle. [Trumpet within. ^note] So; ^note
This is to horse. Adieu, noble ^note Agrippa.

Agr.
Good fortune, worthy soldier, and farewell. Enter Cæsar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia.

Ant.
No further ^note, sir.

Cæs.
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 ^note my farthest ^note band ^note
Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,

Let not the piece of virtue which is set
Betwixt us as the cement ^note of our love,
To keep it builded, be the ram to batter
The fortress ^note of it ^note; for better ^note might we
Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.

Ant.
Make me not offended
In your distrust. ^note

Cæs.
I have said.

Ant.
You shall not find,
Though you be therein ^note curious, the least ^note 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.

Cæs.
Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:
The elements be kind to thee, and make
Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.

Octa.
My noble brother!

Ant.
The April's in her eyes: it is love's spring,
And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful.

Octa.
Sir, look well to my husband's house, and—

Cæs.
What, ^note
Octavia? ^note

Octa.
I'll tell you in your ear.

Ant.
Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
Her heart inform her tongue, the swan's down-feather ^{note note},
That ^note stands upon the swell at full ^note of tide
And neither way inclines.

Eno. [Aside to Agr.]
Will Cæsar weep?

Agr. [Aside to Eno.]
He has a cloud in's face.

Eno. [Aside to Agr.]
He were the worse for that, were he a horse;
So is he, being a man. ^note

Agr. [Aside to Eno.]
Why, Enobarbus, ^note
When Antony found Julius Cæsar dead,
He cried almost to roaring; and he wept
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.

Eno. [Aside to Agr.]
That year indeed he was troubled ^note with a rheum;
What willingly he did confound he wail'd, ^note
Believe't, till I wept ^note too.

Cæs.
No, sweet Octavia, ^note
You shall hear from me still; the time shall not
Out-go my thinking on you.

Ant.
Come, sir, come;
I'll wrestle ^note with you in my strength of love: ^note
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
And give you to the gods.

Cæs.
Adieu; be happy!

Lep.
Let all the number of the stars give light
To thy fair way!

Cæs.
Farewell, farewell! [Kisses Octavia.

Ant.
Farewell! [Trumpets sound. ^note Exeunt.

^note Scene III. [Footnote: Alexandria. ^note Cleopatra's palace. Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo.
Where is the fellow?

Alex.
Half afeard ^note to come.

Cleo.
Go to, go to. ^note Enter Messenger. ^note
Come hither, sir.

Alex.
Good majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.

Cleo.
That Herod's head
I'll have: but how, when Antony is gone
Through ^note whom I might command it? ^{note note} Come thou near.

Mess.
Most gracious majesty,— ^note

Cleo.
Didst thou behold
Octavia? ^note

Mess.
Ay, dread queen.

Cleo.
Where?

Mess.
Madam, in Rome ^note
I look'd her in the face, and saw her led
Between her brother and Mark Antony. ^note

Cleo.
Is she as tall as me?

Mess.
She is not, madam.

Cleo.
Didst hear her speak? is she shrill-tongued or low? ^note

Mess.
Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-voiced.

Cleo.
That's not so good. He cannot like her long.

Char.
Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.

Cleo.
I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue and dwarfish ^note.
What majesty is in her gait ^note? Remember,
If e'er thou look'dst ^note on majesty.

Mess.
She creeps:
Her motion and her station are as one; ^note
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.

Cleo.
Is this certain?

Mess.
Or I have no observance.

Char.
Three in Egypt
Cannot ^note make better note. ^note

Cleo.
He's very knowing;
I do perceive't: ^note there's nothing in her yet:
The fellow has good judgement.

Char.
Excellent.

Cleo.
Guess at her years, I prithee.

Mess.
Madam, ^note
She was a widow ^note— ^note

Cleo.
Widow! Charmian, hark.

Mess.
And I do think she's thirty.

Cleo.
Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long or round? ^note

Mess.
Round even to faultiness.

Cleo.
For the most part, too, they are ^note foolish that are so.

Her hair, what colour? ^note

Mess.
Brown, madam: and her forehead
As ^note low as ^note she ^note would wish it.

Cleo.
There's ^note 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; ^note
Our letters are prepared. [Exit Messenger. ^note

Char.
A proper man.

Cleo.
Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, ^note methinks ^note, by him,
This creature's no such thing.

Char.
Nothing ^note, madam.

Cleo.
The man hath seen some majesty, and should know. ^{note note}

Char.
Hath he seen majesty? Isis ^note else defend,
And serving you so long! ^{note note}

Cleo.
I have ^note 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. ^note

Char.
I warrant you, madam. [Exeunt.

^note Scene IV. [Footnote: Athens. A room ^note in Antony's house. Enter Antony and Octavia.

Ant.
Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that,
That were excusable, that and thousands more
Of semblable import, but he hath waged
New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
To public ear:
Spoke scantly ^note of me: when perforce ^note he could not ^note
But pay me terms of honour, cold and sickly
He vented them; most narrow measure lent me; ^note
When the best hint was given him, ^note he not took't ^note,
Or did it from his teeth.

Octa.
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 ^note good ^note gods will mock me presently ^note,
When I shall pray ^note, ‘O, bless my lord and husband! ^note’
Undo ^note that prayer, by crying out as loud,
‘O, bless my brother!’ Husband win, win brother,
Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway
'Twixt these extremes at all.

Ant.
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 ^note so branchless. But, as you requested,
Yourself shall go between's: the mean time, lady,
I'll raise the preparation of a war ^note
Shall stain ^{note note} your brother ^note: make your soonest haste;
So your desires are yours.

Octa.
Thanks to my lord.
The Jove of power make me most weak, most weak, ^note
Your ^note reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men
Should solder ^note up the rift.

Ant.
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 ^note mind to. [Exeunt. ^note Scene V. [Footnote: The same. Another room. ^note Enter Enobarbus and Eros, meeting. ^note

Eno.

How now, friend Eros!

Eros.

There's strange news come, sir.

Eno.

What, ^note man?

Eros.

Cæsar and Lepidus have made wars ^note upon ^note Pompey.

Eno.

This ^note is old: what is ^note the success?

Eros.

Cæsar, having made use of him in the ^note wars 'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality ^note; would not let him partake in the glory of the action ^note: and ^note not resting here, accuses him of letters he ^note had formerly wrote ^note to Pompey; upon his own ^note appeal, seizes ^note him: ^note so the poor third is up, till death enlarge his confine. ^note

Eno.
Then, world, thou hast ^note a pair of chaps, no ^note more;
And throw between them all the food thou hast,
They'll grind the one the other ^note. Where's ^note Antony? ^note

Eros.
He's walking in the garden—thus; ^note and spurns
The rush that lies before him; cries ‘Fool Lepidus!’
And threats ^note the throat of that his officer
That murder'd Pompey.

Eno.
Our great navy's ^note rigg'd.

Eros.
For Italy and Cæsar. More, ^note Domitius;
My lord desires you presently: my news

I might have told hereafter.

Eno.
'Twill be naught:
But let it be. Bring me to Antony. ^note

Eros.
Come, sir. [Exeunt. ^note Scene VI. [Footnote: Rome. Cæsar's house. ^note Enter ^note Cæsar, Agrippa, and Mæcenas.

Cæs.
Contemning Rome, he has ^note done ^note all this, and more, ^note
In Alexandria: here's the manner ^note of't:
I' the market-place, on a tribunal silver'd
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthroned: at the feet ^note sat
Cæsarion ^note, whom they call my father's ^note 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 ^note,
Absolute queen. ^note

Mæc.
This in ^note the public eye?

Cæs.
I' the common show-place, where they exercise.
His sons he there ^note proclaim'd the ^note kings of kings ^note:
Great Media, Parthia and Armenia,
He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy ^note he ^note assign'd
Syria, Cilicia and Phœnicia ^note: she
In the habiliments ^note of the goddess Isis

That day appear'd, and oft before gave audience,
As 'tis reported, so ^note.

Mæc.
Let Rome be thus
Inform'd. ^note

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

Cæs.
The people know ^note it, and have now received
His accusations. ^note

Agr.
Who ^note does he accuse?

Cæs.
Cæsar: and that, ^note 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 unrestored: lastly, he frets
That Lepidus of the triumvirate ^note
Should be deposed; and, being, that ^note we detain
All his revenue. ^note

Agr.
Sir, this should be answer'd.

Cæs.
'Tis done already, and the ^note messenger gone.
I have ^note told him, Lepidus was grown too cruel;
That he ^note his high authority abused
And did deserve his change ^note: for ^note what I have ^note conquer'd,
I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia
And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I
Demand the like. ^note

Mæc.
He'll never yield to that.

Cæs.
Nor must not ^note then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia, with her train. ^note

Octa.
Hail, Cæsar, and my lord ^note! hail, most dear Cæsar!

Cæs.
That ever I should call thee castaway!

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

Cæs.
Why have you ^note stol'n upon us ^note thus? You come ^note not
Like Cæsar's sister: the wife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven,
Raised by your populous troops: but you are come
A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
The ostentation ^note of our love, which, left unshown,
Is often left ^note unloved ^note: we should have met you
By sea and land, supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.

Octa.
Good my lord,
To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
On ^note my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
My grieved ^note ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
His pardon for return.

Cæs.
Which soon he granted,
Being an obstruct ^note 'tween his lust and him.

Octa.
Do not say so, my lord.

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

Octa.
My lord, in ^note Athens.

Cæs.
No ^note, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra
Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire
Up to a whore; who ^note now are ^note levying
The kings o' the earth for war: he ^note hath assembled
Bocchus ^note, the king of Libya; Archelaus ^note,
Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king
Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas ^note;
King Malchus ^note of Arabia; King of Pont ^{note note};
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Of Comagene ^note; Polemon ^note and Amyntas ^note,
The kings ^note of Mede ^note and Lycaonia ^note, ^note
With a ^note more ^note larger list of sceptres.

Octa.
Ay ^note me, most wretched,
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
That do ^note afflict each other!

Cæs.
Welcome hither:
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth, ^note

Till we perceived both how you were wrong led ^note
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 determined things to destiny
Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome;
Nothing more dear to me. You are abused
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods ^note,
To do you justice, make them ^note ministers
Of us and those that love you. Best ^note of comfort;
And ever welcome to us.

Agr.
Welcome, lady.

Mæc.
Welcome, dear madam.
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
Only the adulterous Antony, most large
In his abominations, turns you off;
And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
That noises ^note it against us.

Octa.
Is it so, sir?

Cæs.
Most ^note certain. Sister, welcome: pray you, ^note
Be ever known ^note to patience: my dear'st ^note sister! [Exeunt. ^note Scene VII. [Footnote: Near Actium. Antony's camp. ^note Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus.

Cleo.
I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

Eno.
But why, why, why?

Cleo.
Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,

And say'st it is not fit.

Eno.
Well, is it, is it? ^note

Cleo.
If not denounced ^note against ^note us, ^note why should not we
Be there in person? ^note

Eno. [Aside ^note]
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. ^note

Cleo.
What is't you say?

Eno.
Your presence ^note needs must puzzle Antony;
Take from his heart, take from his brain, from 's ^note time,
What should not then ^note be spared. He is already
Traduced for levity; and 'tis said in Rome
That Photinus, an ^note eunuch and your maids
Manage this war.

Cleo.
Sink Rome, and their tongues rot
That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war,
And, as the president of my kingdom, will ^note
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;
I will not stay behind.

Eno.
Nay, I have done.
Here comes the emperor. ^note Enter ^note Antony and Canidius.

Ant.
Is it ^note not strange, Canidius ^note, ^note
That from Tarentum and Brundusium ^note

He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,
And take in Toryne? ^note You have heard on't, sweet?

Cleo.
Celerity is never more admired
Than by the negligent.

Ant.
A good rebuke,
Which might have well becomed ^note the best of men,
To taunt at slackness. Canidius ^note, we ^note
Will fight with him by sea.

Cleo.
By sea: ^note what else?

Can. ^note
Why will my lord do so?

Ant.
For that he dares us to't ^note.

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

Can. ^note
Ay, and to wage this battle at 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 muleters, reapers ^note, people
Ingross'd by swift impress; in Cæsar's fleet
Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought:
Their ships are yare, yours heavy: no disgrace
Shall ^note fall ^note you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepared for land.

Ant.
By sea, by sea.

Eno.
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 forego
The way which promises assurance, and
Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard

From firm security.

Ant.
I'll fight at sea.

Cleo.
I have ^note sixty sails ^note, Cæsar ^note none better. ^note

Ant.
Our ^note overplus of shipping will we burn;
And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actium ^note
Beat the approaching Cæsar. But ^note if we fail,
We then can do't at land. Enter a Messenger.
Thy business?

Mess.
The news is true, my lord; he is descried;
Cæsar has taken ^note Toryne.

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

Sold.
O noble emperor, do not fight by sea;
Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt
This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians
And the Phœnicians go a-ducking: we
Have used to conquer, standing on the earth
And fighting foot to foot.

Ant.
Well, well: away! [Exeunt ^note Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.

Sold.
By Hercules, I think I am i' the right ^note.

Can. ^note
Soldier, thou art: but his ^note whole action grows
Not in the power on't: so ^note our leader's led ^note,
And we are women's men.

Sold.
You keep by land
The legions and the horse whole, do you not? ^note

Can. ^{note note}
Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius ^note,
Publicola and Cælius ^note, are for sea:
But we keep whole by land. This speed of Cæsar's
Carries beyond belief.

Sold.
While he was ^note yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions as
Beguiled all spies. ^note

Can. ^note
Who's his lieutenant, hear you?

Sold.
They say, one Taurus ^note.

Can. ^note
Well I ^note know the man. Enter a Messenger.

Mess.
The emperor calls ^note Canidius ^note.

Can. ^note
With news the time's ^note with labour ^note, and throes ^note forth
Each minute some. ^note [Exeunt.

^note Scene VIII. [Footnote: A plain ^note near Actium. Enter ^note Cæsar, and Taurus, with his army, marching.

Cæs.
Taurus! ^note

Taur.
My lord? ^note

Cæs.
Strike not by land; keep whole: provoke not battle, ^note
Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed
The prescript of this scroll: our fortune lies
Upon this jump ^note. [Exeunt. ^{note note} Scene IX. [Footnote: Another part of the plain. ^note Enter Antony and Enobarbus. ^note

Ant.
Set we our squadrons on yond side o' the hill,
In eye of Cæsar's battle; from which place
We may the number of the ships behold,
And so proceed accordingly. [Exeunt. ^note

^note Scene X. [Footnote: Another part of the plain. ^note Enter Canidius, marching with his land army one way; and Taurus, the lieutenant of Cæsar, with his army, ^note the other way. After their going in, is heard the noise of a sea-fight. ^note Alarum. ^note Enter Enobarbus. ^note

Eno.
Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer:
The Antoniad ^note, the Egyptian admiral,
With all their sixty, fly and turn ^note the rudder:
To see't mine eyes are blasted. Enter Scarus. ^note

Scar.
Gods and goddesses,
All the whole synod of them! ^note

Eno.
What's thy passion? ^note

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

Eno.
How appears the fight?

Scar.
On our side like the token'd pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag ^note of Egypt—

Whom leprosy o'ertake!— ^notei' the midst o' the fight,
When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as ^note the same, or rather ours the elder,—
The breese ^note upon her, ^note like a cow in June ^note!—
Hoists sails ^note and flies.

Eno.
That I beheld: ^note
Mine eyes did sicken at the sight ^note, and could not
Endure a further view.

Scar.
She once being loof'd ^note,
The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,
Claps on his sea-wing, and ^note like a doting mallard,
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her:
I never saw an action of such shame;
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
Did violate so itself.

Eno.
Alack, alack! Enter Canidius.

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

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

Can.
Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.

Scar.
'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend ^note
What further comes. ^note

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

Eno.
I'll yet follow
The wounded chance ^note of Antony, though my reason
Sits in the wind against me. [Exeunt. ^{note note} Scene XI. [Footnote: Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace. ^note Enter ^note Antony with Attendants.

Ant.
Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon't;
It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither:
I am so lated in the world that I
Have lost my way for ever. I have ^note a ship
Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly,
And make your peace with Cæsar.

All. ^note
Fly! not we.

Ant.
I have ^note fled myself, and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;
I have myself resolved upon a course
Which has no need of you; be gone ^note:
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 ^note, 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 ^note that be left
Which leaves itself ^note: to the ^note sea-side straightway: ^note
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 ^note lost command,
Therefore I pray you: I'll see you by and by. [Sits down. ^note Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian and Iras; Eros following. ^note

Eros.
Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

Iras.
Do, most dear queen.

Char.
Do! why, what else?

Cleo.
Let me sit down. O Juno! ^note

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

Eros.
See you here, sir?

Ant.
O fie, fie, fie!

Char.
Madam!

Iras.
Madam, O good empress!

Eros.
Sir, sir! ^note

Ant.
Yes, my lord, ^note yes; he at Philippi kept
His sword e'en like a dancer; while I struck ^note

The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
That the mad ^note Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry and no practice had
In the brave squares of war: yet now— ^noteNo matter. ^note

Cleo.
Ah ^note! stand by.

Eros.
The queen, my lord, the queen. ^note

Iras.
Go to him, madam, speak to him:
He is ^note unqualitied ^{note note} with very shame.

Cleo.
Well then, sustain me: O!

Eros.
Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches:
Her head's declined, and death will seize ^note her, but
Your comfort makes ^note the rescue.

Ant.
I have offended reputation,
A most ^note unnoble swerving. ^note

Eros.
Sir, the queen. ^note

Ant.
O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See,
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
By looking back what ^note I have ^note left behind
Stroy'd ^note in dishonour.

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

Ant.
Egypt, thou knew'st too well
My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings ^note,
And thou shouldst tow ^note me after: o'er my spirit
Thy full ^note supremacy thou knew'st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods

Command me.

Cleo.
O, my pardon!

Ant.
Now I must
To the young man send humble treaties ^note, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness; who
With half the bulk o' the world play'd as I pleased,
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 ^note all cause ^note.

Cleo.
Pardon ^note, pardon!

Ant.
Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
All that is won and lost: give me a kiss;
Even this repays me ^note. We sent our schoolmaster;
Is he ^note come back? Love, I am full of lead.
Some wine, within ^note there, and our viands! Fortune knows ^note
We scorn her most when most she offers blows. [Exeunt. ^note Scene XII. [Footnote: Egypt. Cæsar's camp. ^note Enter Cæsar, Dolabella, Thyreus, with others. ^note

Cæs.
Let him appear that's come from ^note Antony.
Know you him?

Dol.
Cæsar, 'tis his schoolmaster ^note:
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 ^note, ambassador from Antony.

Cæs.
Approach, and speak.

Euph. ^note
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 ^note
To his ^note grand sea.

Cæs.
Be't ^note so: declare thine office.

Euph. ^note
Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,
He lessens ^note his requests ^note, and to thee ^note sues
To let him breathe ^note 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 ^note.

Cæs.
For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail ^note, 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.

Euph. ^note
Fortune pursue thee! ^note

Cæs.
Bring him through the bands. [Exit Euphronius. ^note

[To Thyreus. ^note]
To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time ^note: dispatch;
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,
And in our name, what ^note she requires; add more,
From thine invention, offers ^{note note note}: women are not
In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure
The ne'er-touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus ^note;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
Will answer as a law.

Thyr. ^note
Cæsar, I go.

Cæs.
Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
And what thou think'st ^note his very action speaks
In every power that moves.

Thyr. ^note
Cæsar, I shall. [Exeunt. ^{note note} Scene XIII. [Footnote: Alexandria. ^note Cleopatra's palace. ^note Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, and Iras.

Cleo.
What shall we do ^note, Enobarbus?

Eno.
Think ^note, and die.

Cleo.
Is Antony or we in fault for this?

Eno.
Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though ^note you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges ^note

Frighted each other, why should he follow ^note?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nick'd ^note his captainship; at ^note such a point,
When half to half the world opposed, he being
The mered ^note question: ^note 'twas ^note a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags
And leave his navy gazing.

Cleo.
Prithee, peace. Enter ^note Antony, with Euphronius the Ambassador.

Ant.
Is that ^note his answer?

Euph. ^note
Ay, my lord.

Ant.
The queen shall then have courtesy, so she
Will yield us up. ^note

Euph. ^note
He ^note says so.

Ant.
Let ^note her know't ^note.
To the boy Cæsar send this grizzled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim ^note
With principalities.

Cleo.
That head, my lord?

Ant.
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 ^note would prevail
Under the service of a child as soon
As i' the command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore

To lay his gay comparisons ^note apart
And answer me declined, sword against sword ^note,
Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me. [Exeunt ^note Antony and Euphronius.

Eno. [Aside ^note]
Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness and be staged to the show
Against a sworder! ^note I see men's judgements are
A parcel of their fortunes, and things outward
Do draw the inward quality ^note after them,
To suffer all alike. That ^note he should dream,
Knowing all measures ^note, the full Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness! Cæsar, thou hast subdued
His judgement too. Enter an Attendant. ^note

Att. ^note
A messenger from Cæsar.

Cleo.
What, no more ceremony? See, my women,
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose ^note
That kneel'd unto the buds. ^note Admit him, sir. [Exit Attend. ^note

Eno. [Aside ^note]
Mine honesty and I begin to square. ^note
The ^note 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' the story. Enter Thyreus.

Cleo.
Cæsar's will? ^note

Thyr.
Hear it apart.

Cleo.
None ^note but friends: say ^note boldly.

Thyr.
So, haply, are they friends to Antony.

Eno. ^note
He needs as many, sir, as Cæsar has,
Or needs not us. If Cæsar please, our ^note master
Will leap to be his friend: for us, you ^note know,
Whose he is we are, and that is ^note Cæsar's.

Thyr.
So ^note.
Thus then, thou most renown'd: ^note Cæsar entreats ^note
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st
Further than he is Cæsar. ^note

Cleo.
Go on: right ^note royal ^note.

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

Cleo.
O! ^note

Thyr.
The scars ^note upon your honour therefore he
Does pity as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserved.

Cleo.
He is ^note a god and knows
What is most right: mine honour was not yielded,
But conquer'd merely. ^note

Eno. [Aside ^note]
To be sure of that,
I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art ^note so leaky ^note
That we must leave thee to ^note thy sinking, for

Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit. ^note

Thyr.
Shall I say to Cæsar
What you require of him? ^note for ^note he partly begs
To be desired 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 ^note under his shrowd ^note,
The universal landlord. ^{note note}

Cleo.
What's your name?

Thyr.
My name is Thyreus.

Cleo.
Most kind messenger,
Say to great Cæsar this: in deputation ^note
I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am ^note prompt
To lay my crown at's ^note feet, and there to kneel:
Tell him, from ^note his all-obeying ^note breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.

Thyr.
'Tis ^note 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 ^note
My duty on your hand.

Cleo.
Your Cæsar's father oft ^note,
When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in ^note,
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place,
As it rain'd kisses.

^noteRe-enter ^note Antony and Enobarbus. ^note

Ant.
Favours, by Jove that thunders!
What art thou, fellow? ^note

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

Eno. [Aside ^note]
You will be whipp'd.

Ant.
Approach, there! Ah ^note, you kite! Now, gods and devils!
Authority melts from me: of late, when ^note I cried ‘Ho!’
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth,
And cry ‘Your will? ^note’ Have you no ears?
I am ^note Antony yet. Enter Attendants. ^note
Take hence this Jack, and whip him. ^{note note}

Eno. [Aside ^note]
'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp
Than with an old one dying.

Ant.
Moon and stars!
Whip him. Were't ^note twenty of the greatest tributaries
That do acknowledge Cæsar, should I find them
So saucy with the hand of she ^note here,—what's her name,
Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows,
Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face,
And whine aloud for mercy: take him hence.

Thyr.
Mark Antony,— ^note

Ant.
Tug him away: being whipp'd,
Bring him again: this ^note Jack of Cæsar's shall
Bear us an errand ^note to him. [Exeunt ^note Attendants with Thyreus. ^note
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 ^note of women, to be abused
By one that looks on feeders?

Cleo.
Good my lord,— ^note

Ant.
You have been a boggler ^note ever:
But when we in our viciousness grow ^note hard—
O misery on't!—the wise gods seel ^note our eyes;
In our own filth ^note drop ^note our clear judgements; make us
Adore our errors; laugh at's ^note while we strut
To our confusion.

Cleo.
O, is't come to this?

Ant.
I found you as a morsel cold upon
Dead Cæsar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment
Of Cneius ^note Pompey's ^note; besides what hotter hours,
Unregister'd 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.

Cleo.
Wherefore is this?

Ant.
To let a fellow that will take rewards
And say ‘God quit you!’ be familiar with
My playfellow, your hand, this ^note 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 ^note Attendants with Thyreus.
Is he whipp'd?

First Att. ^note
Soundly, my lord.

Ant.
Cried he? and begg'd he ^note pardon?

First Att. ^note
He did ask favour.

Ant.
If that thy father live, let him repent
Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry
To follow Cæsar in his triumph, since
Thou hast been whipp'd for ^note following him: henceforth
The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou ^note to look on't. Get ^note thee back to Cæsar,
Tell him thy entertainment: look thou say
He makes me angry with him; for he seems
Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am,
Not what he knew I was: he makes me angry;
And at this time most easy 'tis to do't,
When my good stars that were my former guides
Have empty left their orbs and shot ^note their fires
Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike
My speech and what is done, tell him he has
Hipparchus, my enfranched ^note bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou:

Hence with thy stripes, begone! [Exit Thyreus. ^note

Cleo.
Have you done yet?

Ant.
Alack, our terrene moon
Is now eclipsed, and it portends alone ^note
The fall of Antony. ^note

Cleo.
I must stay his time. ^note

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

Cleo.
Not know me yet?

Ant.
Cold-hearted toward me?

Cleo.
Ah, dear, ^note if I be so,
From my cold heart let heaven engender hail,
And poison it ^note in the source, and the first stone
Drop in my neck: as it determines, so
Dissolve my life! The next Cæsarion smite! ^note
Till by degrees the memory of my womb,
Together with my brave Egyptians all,
By the discandying ^note of this pelleted storm
Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile
Have buried them for prey!

Ant.
I am ^note satisfied.
Cæsar sits down in ^note Alexandria, where
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Hath nobly held; our ^note sever'd navy too
Have knit again, and fleet ^note, threatening most sea-like.
Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear, lady?
If from the field I shall ^note return once more
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood;
I and ^note my sword will earn our ^note chronicle:

There's hope in't ^note yet.

Cleo.
That's my brave lord!

Ant.
I will be treble-sinew'd ^note, 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 ^note mock the midnight bell.

Cleo.
It is my birth-day:
I had thought to have ^note held it poor, but since my lord
Is Antony again ^note, I will be Cleopatra. ^note

Ant.
We will ^note yet do well.

Cleo.
Call all his noble captains to my lord.

Ant.
Do so, we'll speak to them ^note; and to night I'll force
The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my queen; ^note
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 ^note. [Exeunt ^note all but Enobarbus.

Eno.
Now he'll outstare ^note the lightning. To be furious
Is to be ^note frighted ^note out of fear; and ^note in that mood
The dove will peck the estridge; and I ^note see still,
A diminution in our captain's brain
Restores his heart: when valour preys on ^note reason,

It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
Some way to leave him. [Exit. ^note

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