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

Eno.
But why, why, why?

Cleo.
Thou hast forespoke my being in these wars;
And say'st, it is not fit.

Eno.
Well; is it, is it?

Cleo.

Is't not denounc'd against us? why should not we be there in person?

Eno.

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.

Cleo.

What is't you say?

Eno.
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.

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

Eno.
Nay, I have done: here comes the Emperor.

Ant.
Is it not strange, Canidius,
That from Tarentum, and Brundusium,
He could so quickly cut th' Ionian sea,
And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, Sweet?

Cleo.
Celerity is never more admir'd
Than by the negligent.

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

Cleo.
By sea, what else?

Can.
Why will my lord do so?

Ant.
For That he dares us to't.

Eno.
So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight.

Can.
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 muliteers, reapers, people
Ingrost by swift impress. In Cæsar's fleet
Are those that often have against Pompey fought;
Their ships are yare, yours heavy: no disgrace
Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepar'd 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 sixty sails, Cæsar none better.

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

Mes.
The news is true, my lord; he is descried;
Cæsar has taken Toryne.

Ant.
Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible.
Strange, that his power should be so. 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?

Sol.
Oh noble Emperor, do not fight by sea,

Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt
This sword, and these my wounds? let the Ægyptians
And the Phœnicians go a ducking: we
Have us'd to conquer standing on the earth,
And fighting foot to foot.

Ant.
Well, well, away. [Exeunt Ant. Cleo. and Enob.

Sol.
By Hecrules, I think, I am i' th' right.

Can.
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.

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

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

Sol.
While he was yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions as
Beguil'd all spies.

Can.
Who's his lieutenant, hear you?

Sol.
They say, one Taurus.

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

Mes.
The Emperor calls Canidius.

Can.
With news the time's in labour, and throws forth,
Each minute, some. [Exeunt. Enter Cæsar, with his army marching.

Cæs.
Taurus?

Taur.
My lord.

Cæs.
Strike not by land. Keep whole, provoke not battle,
'Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed
The prescript of this scroul: our fortune lyes
Upon this jump. [Exeunt.

Enter Antony and Enobarbus.

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

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