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William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
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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,

-- 79 --


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

-- 80 --


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

-- 81 --


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.

-- 82 --

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.

-- 83 --

note
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William Aldis Wright [1863–1866], The works of William Shakespeare edited by William George Clark... and John Glover [and William Aldis Wright] (Macmillan and Co., London) [word count] [S10701].
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