William Shakespeare

“ Thy Souldier, Seruant, making Peace or Warre,
As thou affects
Cleo. Cut my Lace, Charmian come,
But let it be, I am quickly ill, and well,
So Anthony loues
Ant. My precious Queene forbeare,
And giue true euidence to his Loue, which stands
An honourable Triall
Cleo. So Fuluia told me.
I prythee turne aside, and weepe for her,
Then bid adiew to me, and say the teares
Belong to Egypt. Good now, play one Scene
Of excellent dissembling, and let it looke
Like perfect Honor
Ant. You'l heat my blood no more?
Cleo. You can do better yet: but this is meetly
Ant. ”

“ As I am Egypts Queene,
Thou blushest Anthony, and that blood of thine
Is Caesars homager: else so thy cheeke payes shame,
When shrill-tongu'd Fuluia scolds. The Messengers
Ant. Let Rome in Tyber melt, and the wide Arch
Of the raing'd Empire fall: Heere is my space,
Kingdomes are clay: Our dungie earth alike
Feeds Beast as Man; the Noblenesse of life
Is to do thus: when such a mutuall paire,
And such a twaine can doo't, in which I binde
One paine of punishment, the world to weete
We stand vp Peerelesse
Cleo. ”

“ The Doue will pecke the Estridge; and I see still
A diminution in our Captaines braine,
Restores his heart; when valour prayes in reason,
It eates the Sword it fights with: I will seeke
Some way to leaue him.
Exeunt.
Enter Caesar, Agrippa, & Mecenas with his Army, Caesar reading a Letter.
Caes He calles me Boy, and chides as he had power
To beate me out of Egypt. My Messenger
He hath whipt with Rods, dares me to personal Combat.
Caesar to Anthony: let the old Ruffian know,
I haue many other wayes to dye: meane time
Laugh at his Challenge
Mece. ”

“ Who haue beene false to Fuluia?
Riotous madnesse,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vowes,
Which breake themselues in swearing
Ant. Most sweet Queene
Cleo. Nay pray you seeke no colour for your going,
But bid farewell, and goe:
When you sued staying,
Then was the time for words: No going then,
Eternity was in our Lippes, and Eyes,
Blisse in our browes bent: none our parts so poore,
But was a race of Heauen. They are so still,
Or thou the greatest Souldier of the world,
Art turn'd the greatest Lyar
Ant. ”

“ From Anthony winne Cleopatra, promise
And in our Name, what she requires, adde more
From thine inuention, offers. Women are not
In their best Fortunes strong; but want will periure
The ne're touch'd Vestall. Try thy cunning Thidias,
Make thine owne Edict for thy paines, which we
Will answer as a Law
Thid. Caesar. I go
Caesar. Obserue how Anthony becomes his flaw,
And what thou think'st his very action speakes
In euery power that mooues
Thid. Caesar, I shall.
Exeunt.
Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, & Iras.
Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus?
Eno. Thinke, and dye
Cleo. ”

“ The Windes were Loue-sicke.
With them the Owers were Siluer,
Which to the tune of Flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beate, to follow faster;
As amorous of their strokes. For her owne person,
It beggerd all discription, she did lye
In her Pauillion, cloth of Gold, of Tissue,
O're-picturing that Venus, where we see
The fancie out-worke Nature. On each side her,
Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes, like smiling Cupids,
With diuers coulour'd Fannes whose winde did seeme,
To gloue the delicate cheekes which they did coole,
And what they vndid did
Agrip. ”

“ Your Wife Octauia, with her modest eyes,
And still Conclusion, shall acquire no Honour
Demuring vpon me: but come, come Anthony,
Helpe me my women, we must draw thee vp:
Assist good Friends
Ant. Oh quicke, or I am gone
Cleo. Heere's sport indeede:
How heauy weighes my Lord?
Our strength is all gone into heauinesse,
That makes the waight. Had I great Iuno's power,
The strong wing'd Mercury should fetch thee vp,
And set thee by Ioues side. Yet come a little,
Wishers were euer Fooles. Oh come, come, come,
They heaue Anthony aloft to Cleopatra. ”

“ I should haue found it afterwards well done,
But must condemne it now: desist, and drinke
Men. For this, Ile neuer follow
Thy paul'd Fortunes more,
Who seekes and will not take, when once 'tis offer'd,
Shall neuer finde it more
Pom. This health to Lepidus
Ant. Beare him ashore,
Ile pledge it for him Pompey
Eno. Heere's to thee Menas
Men. Enobarbus, welcome
Pom. Fill till the cup be hid
Eno. There's a strong Fellow Menas
Men. Why?
Eno. A beares the third part of the world man: seest
not?
Men. The third part, then he is drunk: would it were
all, that it might go on wheeles
Eno. ”

“ Most Noble Caesar, shalt thou haue report
How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at Sea,
And it appeares, he is belou'd of those
That only haue feard Caesar: to the Ports
The discontents repaire, and mens reports
Giue him much wrong'd
Caes I should haue knowne no lesse,
It hath bin taught vs from the primall state
That he which is was wisht, vntill he were:
And the ebb'd man,
Ne're lou'd, till ne're worth loue,
Comes fear'd, by being lack'd. This common bodie,
Like to a Vagabond Flagge vpon the Streame,
Goes too, and backe, lacking the varrying tyde
To rot it selfe with motion
Mes. ”

“ Enter Anthony and Enobarbus.
Ant. Fauours? By Ioue that thunders. What art thou Fellow?
Thid. One that but performes
The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To haue command obey'd
Eno. You will be whipt
Ant. Approch there: ah you Kite. Now Gods & diuels
Authority melts from me of late. When I cried hoa,
Like Boyes vnto a musse, Kings would start forth,
And cry, your will. Haue you no eares?
I am Anthony yet. Take hence this Iack, and whip him.
Enter a Seruant.
Eno. 'Tis better playing with a Lions whelpe,
Then with an old one dying
Ant. ”

“ What thou hast done, thy Master Caesar knowes,
And he hath sent for thee: for the Queene,
Ile take her to my Guard
Pro. So Dolabella,
It shall content me best: Be gentle to her,
To Caesar I will speake, what you shall please,
If you'l imploy me to him.
Exit Proculeius
Cleo. Say, I would dye
Dol. Most Noble Empresse, you haue heard of me
Cleo. I cannot tell
Dol. Assuredly you know me
Cleo. No matter sir, what I haue heard or knowne:
You laugh when Boyes or Women tell their Dreames,
Is't not your tricke?
Dol. I vnderstand not, Madam
Cleo. I dreampt there was an Emperor Anthony. ”

“ Enter Caesar, Anthony, Pompey, Lepidus,
Agrippa,
Mecenas, Enobarbus, Menes, with other Captaines.
Ant. Thus do they Sir: they take the flow o'th' Nyle
By certaine scales i'th' Pyramid: they know
By'th' height, the lownesse, or the meane: If dearth
Or Foizon follow. The higher Nilus swels,
The more it promises: as it ebbes, the Seedsman
Vpon the slime and Ooze scatters his graine,
And shortly comes to Haruest
Lep. Y'haue strange Serpents there?
Anth. I Lepidus
Lep. Your Serpent of Egypt, is bred now of your mud
by the operation of your Sun: so is your Crocodile
Ant. ”

“ Making, and marring Fortunes. You did know
How much you were my Conqueror, and that
My Sword, made weake by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause
Cleo. Pardon, pardon
Ant. Fall not a teare I say, one of them rates
All that is wonne and lost: Giue me a kisse,
Euen this repayes me.
We sent our Schoolemaster, is a come backe?
Loue I am full of Lead: some Wine
Within there, and our Viands: Fortune knowes,
We scorne her most, when most she offers blowes.
Exeunt.
Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Dollabello, with others.
Caes Let him appeare that's come from Anthony.
Know you him
Dolla. ”

“ I haue done my worke ill Friends:
Oh make an end of what I haue begun
2 The Starre is falne
1 And time is at his Period
All. Alas, and woe
Ant. Let him that loues me, strike me dead
1 Not I
2 Nor I
3 Nor any one.
Exeunt.
Decretus. Thy death and fortunes bid thy folowers fly
This sword but shewne to Caesar with this tydings,
Shall enter me with him.
Enter Diomedes.
Dio. Where's Anthony?
Decre. There Diomed there
Diom. Liues he: wilt thou not answer man?
Ant. Art thou there Diomed?
Draw thy sword, and giue mee,
Suffising strokes for death
Diom. ”

“ Why did he marry Fuluia, and not loue her?
Ile seeme the Foole I am not. Anthony will be himselfe
Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra.
Now for the loue of Loue, and her soft houres,
Let's not confound the time with Conference harsh;
There's not a minute of our liues should stretch
Without some pleasure now. What sport to night?
Cleo. Heare the Ambassadors
Ant. Fye wrangling Queene:
Whom euery thing becomes, to chide, to laugh,
To weepe: who euery passion fully striues
To make it selfe (in Thee) faire, and admir'd. ”

“ Vpon his owne appeale seizes him, so the poore third is vp, till death enlarge his Confine
Eno. Then would thou hadst a paire of chaps no more, and throw betweene them all the food thou hast, they'le grinde the other. Where's Anthony? Eros. He's walking in the garden thus, and spurnes The rush that lies before him. Cries Foole Lepidus, And threats the throate of that his Officer, That murdred Pompey
Eno. Our great Nauies rig'd
Eros. For Italy and Caesar, more Domitius,
My Lord desires you presently: my Newes
I might haue told heareafter
Eno. ”

“ Sol. Mocke not Enobarbus,
I tell you true: Best you saf't the bringer
Out of the hoast, I must attend mine Office,
Or would haue done't my selfe. Your Emperor
Continues still a Ioue.
Exit
Enob. I am alone the Villaine of the earth,
And feele I am so most. Oh Anthony,
Thou Mine of Bounty, how would'st thou haue payed
My better seruice, when my turpitude
Thou dost so Crowne with Gold. This blowes my hart,
If swift thought breake it not: a swifter meane
Shall out-strike thought, but thought will doo't. ”

“ Ant. What sayest thou?
Sold. Sir he is with Caesar
Eros. Sir, his Chests and Treasure he has not with him
Ant. Is he gone?
Sol. Most certaine
Ant. Go Eros, send his Treasure after, do it,
Detaine no iot I charge thee: write to him,
(I will subscribe) gentle adieu's, and greetings;
Say, that I wish he neuer finde more cause
To change a Master. Oh my Fortunes haue
Corrupted honest men. Dispatch Enobarbus.
Exit
Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar, with Enobarbus, and Dollabella.
Caes Go forth Agrippa, and begin the fight:
Our will is Anthony be tooke aliue:
Make it so knowne
Agrip. ”

“ The wounded chance of Anthony, though my reason
Sits in the winde against me.
Enter Anthony with Attendants.
Ant. Hearke, the Land bids me tread no more vpon't,
It is asham'd to beare me. Friends, come hither,
I am so lated in the world, that I
Haue lost my way for euer. I haue a shippe,
Laden with Gold, take that, diuide it: flye,
And make your peace with Caesar
Omnes. Fly? Not wee
Ant. I haue fled my selfe, and haue instructed cowards
To runne, and shew their shoulders. Friends be gone,
I haue my selfe resolu'd vpon a course,
Which has no neede of you. ”

“ Haue comfort, for I know your plight is pittied
Of him that caus'd it
Pro. You see how easily she may be surpriz'd:
Guard her till Caesar come
Iras. Royall Queene
Char. Oh Cleopatra, thou art taken Queene
Cleo. Quicke, quicke, good hands
Pro. Hold worthy Lady, hold:
Doe not your selfe such wrong, who are in this
Releeu'd, but not betraid
Cleo. What of death too that rids our dogs of languish
Pro. Cleopatra, do not abuse my Masters bounty, by
Th' vndoing of your selfe: Let the World see
His Noblenesse well acted, which your death
Will neuer let come forth
Cleo. ”

“ From mine owne knowledge, as neerely as I may,
Ile play the penitent to you. But mine honesty,
Shall not make poore my greatnesse, nor my power
Worke without it. Truth is, that Fuluia,
To haue me out of Egypt, made Warres heere,
For which my selfe, the ignorant motiue, do
So farre aske pardon, as befits mine Honour
To stoope in such a case
Lep. 'Tis Noble spoken
Mece. If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefes betweene ye: to forget them quite,
Were to remember: that the present neede,
Speakes to attone you
Lep. ”

“ How lesser Enmities may giue way to greater,
Were't not that we stand vp against them all:
'Twer pregnant they should square between themselues,
For they haue entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the feare of vs
May Ciment their diuisions, and binde vp
The petty difference, we yet not know:
Bee't as our Gods will haue't; it onely stands
Our liues vpon, to vse our strongest hands
Come Menas.
Exeunt.
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.
Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
And shall become you well, to intreat your Captaine
To soft and gentle speech
Enob. ”

“ Looke you, the Worme is not to bee trusted, but in the keeping of wise people: for indeede, there is no goodnesse in the Worme
Cleo. Take thou no care, it shall be heeded
Clow. Very good: giue it nothing I pray you, for it is not worth the feeding
Cleo. Will it eate me? Clow. You must not think I am so simple, but I know the diuell himselfe will not eate a woman: I know, that a woman is a dish for the Gods, if the diuell dresse her not. But truly, these same whorson diuels doe the Gods great harme in their women: for in euery tenne that they make, the diuels marre fiue
Cleo. ”

“ You, and I haue knowne sir
Enob. At Sea, I thinke
Men. We haue Sir
Enob. You haue done well by water
Men. And you by Land
Enob. I will praise any man that will praise me, thogh it cannot be denied what I haue done by Land
Men. Nor what I haue done by water
Enob. Yes some-thing you can deny for your owne safety: you haue bin a great Theefe by Sea
Men. And you by Land
Enob. There I deny my Land seruice: but giue mee your hand Menas, if our eyes had authority, heere they might take two Theeues kissing
Men. All mens faces are true, whatsomere their hands
are
Enob. ”

“ This is the newes: He fishes, drinkes, and wastes
The Lampes of night in reuell: Is not more manlike
Then Cleopatra: nor the Queene of Ptolomy
More Womanly then he. Hardly gaue audience
Or vouchsafe to thinke he had Partners. You
Shall finde there a man, who is th' abstracts of all faults,
That all men follow
Lep. I must not thinke
There are, euils enow to darken all his goodnesse:
His faults in him, seeme as the Spots of Heauen,
More fierie by nights Blacknesse; Hereditarie,
Rather then purchaste: what he cannot change,
Then what he chooses
Caes You are too indulgent. ”

“ That so I harried him. Why me think's by him,
This Creature's no such thing
Char. Nothing Madam
Cleo. The man hath seene some Maiesty, and should
know
Char. Hath he seene Maiestie? Isis else defend: and
seruing you so long
Cleopa. I haue one thing more to aske him yet good Charmian: but 'tis no matter, thou shalt bring him to me where I will write; all may be well enough
Char. I warrant you Madam.
Exeunt.
Enter Anthony and Octauia.
Ant. Nay, nay Octauia, not onely that,
That were excusable, that and thousands more
Of semblable import, but he hath wag'd
New Warres 'gainst Pompey. ”

“ Ingrost by swift Impresse. In Caesars Fleete,
Are those, that often haue 'gainst Pompey fought,
Their shippes are yare, yours heauy: 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 haue by Land,
Distract your Armie, which doth most consist
Of Warre-markt-footmen, leaue vnexecuted
Your owne renowned knowledge, quite forgoe
The way which promises assurance, and
Giue vp your selfe meerly to chance and hazard,
From firme Securitie
Ant. ”

“ This Wine for Lepidus
Lep. What manner o' thing is your Crocodile? Ant. It is shap'd sir like it selfe, and it is as broad as it hath bredth; It is iust so high as it is, and mooues with it owne organs. It liues by that which nourisheth it, and the Elements once out of it, it Transmigrates
Lep. What colour is it of?
Ant. Of it owne colour too
Lep. 'Tis a strange Serpent
Ant. 'Tis so, and the teares of it are wet
Caes Will this description satisfie him?
Ant. With the Health that Pompey giues him, else he
is a very Epicure
Pomp. ”