Cleo.
What shall we do, Enobarbus?

Eno.
Think, and dye.

Cleo.
Is Antony, or we, in fault for this?

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

Frighted each other? why should he follow you?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nickt his captainship at such a point,
When half to half the world oppos'd, he being
The meered question. 'Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

Cleo.
Pr'ythee peace. Enter Antony, with the Ambassador.

Ant.
Is that his answer?

Amb.
Ay, my lord.

Ant.
The Queen shall then have courtesie,
So she will yield us up.

Amb.
He says so.

Ant.
Let her know't.
To the boy Cæsar send this grizled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim,
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 coyn, ships, legions,
May be a coward's, whose ministers would prevail
Under the service of a child, as soon
As i'th' comand of Cæsar. I dare him therefore
To lay his gay ^{a note}caparisons apart,
And answer me declin'd, sword against sword,
Our selves alone; I'll write it, follow me. [Exit Antony.

Eno.
Yes, like enough: high-battel'd Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to th' shew
Against a sworder. I see mens 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 Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness; Cæsar thou hast subdu'd
His judgment too. Enter a Servant.

Ser.
A messenger from Cæsar.

Cleo.
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.

Eno.
Mine honesty and I begin to square;
The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith meer folly: yet he that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord,
Do's conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i'th' story. Enter Thidias.

Cleo.
Cæsar's will.

Thid.
Hear it apart.

Cleo.
None but friends; say boldly.

Thid.
So haply are they friends to Antony.

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

Thid.
So.
Thus then thou most renown'd, Cæsar intreats
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st
Further than he is Cæsar.

Cleo.
Go on, right royal.

Thid.
He knows that you embrace not Antony

As you did love, but as you feared him.

Cleo.
Oh! [Aside.

Thid.
The scars upon your honour, therefore he
Do's pity, as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserv'd.

Cleo.
He is a God, and knows
What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded,
But conquer'd meerly.

Eno.
To be sure of that,
I will ask Antony. Sir, thou'rt so leaky
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit Eno.

Thid.
Shall I say to Cæsar,
What you require of him? he partly begs
To be desir'd to give. It much would please him,
That of his fortunes you would make a staff
To lean upon. But it would warm his spirits,
To hear from me you had left Antony,
And put your self under his shrowd, the universal landlord.

Cleo.
What's your name?

Thid.
My name is Thidias.

Cleo.
Most kind messenger;
Say to great Cæsar this in disputation,
I kiss his conqu'ring hand: tell him, I'm prompt
To lay my crown at's feet, and there to kneel.
Tell him, that from his all-obeying breath
I hear the doom of Ægypt.

Thid.
'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.

Cleo.
Your Cæsar'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.

Previous section

Next section