3.13 Enter CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN and IRAS.

CLEOPATRA     What shall we do, Enobarbus?
ENOBARBUS     Think, and die.
CLEOPATRA     Is Antony or we in fault for this?
ENOBARBUS     Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges	5
Frighted each other? Why should he follow?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nicked his captainship, at such a point,
When half to half the world opposed, he being
The mered question. ’Twas a shame no less	10
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags
And leave his navy gazing.
CLEOPATRA     Prithee, peace.
Enter the Ambassador with ANTONY.
ANTONY     Is that his answer?
AMBASSADOR     Ay, my lord.
ANTONY     The Queen shall then have courtesy, so she	15
Will yield us up.
AMBASSADOR     He says so.
ANTONY     Let her know’t.
To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
With principalities.
CLEOPATRA     That head, my lord?
ANTONY     To him again! Tell him he wears the rose	20
Of youth upon him, from which the world should
note
Something particular. His coin, ships, legions,
May be a coward’s, whose ministers would prevail
Under the service of a child as soon
As i’th’ command of Caesar. I dare him therefore	25
To lay his gay caparisons apart
And answer me declined, sword against sword,
Ourselves alone. I’ll write it. Follow me.
Exeunt Antony and Ambassador.
ENOBARBUS     [aside]
Yes, like enough high-battled Caesar will
Unstate his happiness, and be staged to th’ show	30
Against a sworder! I see men’s judgements 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 Caesar will	35
Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued
His judgement too.
Enter a Servant.
SERVANT     A messenger from Caesar.
CLEOPATRA
What, no more ceremony? See, my women,
Against the blown rose they may stop their nose	40
That kneeled unto the buds. Admit him, sir.
Exit Servant.
ENOBARBUS     [aside]
Mine honesty and I begin to square.
The loyalty well held to fools does make
Our faith mere folly. Yet he that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fallen lord	45
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i’th’ story.
Enter THIDIAS.
CLEOPATRA     Caesar’s will?
THIDIAS     Hear it apart.
CLEOPATRA     None but friends. Say boldly.	50
THIDIAS     So haply are they friends to Antony.
ENOBARBUS     He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has,
Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master
Will leap to be his friend. For us, you know,
Whose he is we are, and that is Caesar’s.
THIDIAS     So.	55
Thus then, thou most renowned: Caesar entreats
Not to consider in what case thou stand’st
Further than he is Caesar.
CLEOPATRA     Go on; right royal.
THIDIAS     He knows that you embrace not Antony
As you did love, but as you feared him.
CLEOPATRA     O!	60
THIDIAS     The scars upon your honour, therefore, he
Does pity as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserved.
CLEOPATRA     He is a god and knows
What is most right. Mine honour was not yielded
But conquered merely.	65
ENOBARBUS     [aside]
To be sure of that, I will ask Antony.
Sir, sir, thou art so leaky
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee.     Exit Enobarbus.
THIDIAS     Shall I say to Caesar
What you require of him? For he partly begs	70
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 under his shroud,	75
The universal landlord.
CLEOPATRA     What’s your name?
THIDIAS     My name is Thidias.
CLEOPATRA     Most kind messenger,
Say to great Caesar this in deputation:
I kiss his conqu’ring hand. Tell him I am prompt
To lay my crown at’s feet, and there to kneel	80
Till from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.
THIDIAS     ’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	85
My duty on your hand.
CLEOPATRA     [Offers him her hand.]
Your Caesar’s father oft,
When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in,
Bestowed his lips on that unworthy place
As it rained kisses.
Enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS.
ANTONY     Favours? By Jove that thunders!	90
What art thou, fellow?
THIDIAS     One that but performs
The bidding of the fullest man and worthiest
To have command obeyed.
ENOBARBUS     [aside]     You will be whipped.
ANTONY     [Calls for servants.]
Approach there! – Ah, you kite! – Now, gods and
devils,
Authority melts from me. Of late when I cried ‘Ho!’,	95
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth
And cry ‘Your will?’
Enter servants.
Have you no ears? I am
Antony yet. Take hence the jack and whip him!
ENOBARBUS     [aside]
’Tis better playing with a lion’s whelp
Than with an old one dying.
ANTONY     Moon and stars!	100
Whip him! Were’t twenty of the greatest tributaries
That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them
So saucy with the hand of she here – what’s her
name
Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows,
Till like a boy you see him cringe his face	105
And whine aloud for mercy. Take him hence!
THIDIAS     Mark Antony –
ANTONY     Tug him away! Being whipped,
Bring him again. The jack of Caesar’s shall
Bear us an errand to him.
Exeunt servants with Thidias.
You were half blasted ere I knew you. Ha?	110
Have I my pillow left unpressed in Rome,
Forborne the getting of a lawful race,
And by a gem of women, to be abused
By one that looks on feeders?
CLEOPATRA     Good my lord –
ANTONY     You have been a boggler ever.	115
But when we in our viciousness grow hard –
O, misery on’t! – the wise gods seel our eyes,
In our own filth drop our clear judgements, make us
Adore our errors, laugh at’s while we strut
To our confusion.
CLEOPATRA     O, is’t come to this?	120
ANTONY     I found you as a morsel, cold upon
Dead Caesar’s trencher – nay, you were a fragment
Of Gnaeus Pompey’s, besides what hotter hours,
Unregistered in vulgar fame, you have
Luxuriously picked out. For I am sure,	125
Though you can guess what temperance should be,
You know not what it is.
CLEOPATRA     Wherefore is this?
ANTONY     To let a fellow that will take rewards
And say ‘God quit you!’ be familiar with
My playfellow, your hand, this kingly seal	130
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 haltered neck which does the hangman thank	135
For being yare about him.
Enter a Servant with THIDIAS.
Is he whipped?
SERVANT     Soundly, my lord.
ANTONY     Cried he? And begged ’a pardon?
SERVANT     He did ask favour.
ANTONY     [to Thidias]
If that thy father live, let him repent
Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry	140
To follow Caesar in his triumph, since
Thou hast been whipped for following him. Hence-
forth
The white hand of a lady fever thee;
Shake thou to look on’t. Get thee back to Caesar;
Tell him thy entertainment. Look thou say	145
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	150
Have empty left their orbs and shot their fires
Into th’abysm of hell. If he mislike
My speech and what is done, tell him he has
Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip or hang or torture,	155
As he shall like to quit me. Urge it thou.
Hence with thy stripes! Be gone!
Exit Thidias with Servant.
CLEOPATRA     Have you done yet?
ANTONY     Alack, our terrene moon is now eclipsed
And it portends alone the fall of Antony.
CLEOPATRA     I must stay his time.	160
ANTONY     To flatter Caesar would you mingle eyes
With one that ties his points?
CLEOPATRA     Not know me yet?
ANTONY     Cold-hearted toward me?
CLEOPATRA     Ah, dear, if I be so,
From my cold heart let heaven engender hail
And poison it in the source, and the first stone	165
Drop in my neck; as it determines, so
Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite,
Till by degrees the memory of my womb,
Together with my brave Egyptians all,
By the discandying of this pelleted storm	170
Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile
Have buried them for prey!
ANTONY     I am satisfied.
Caesar sets down in Alexandria, where
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Hath nobly held; our severed navy too	175
Have knit again, and fleet, threat’ning most sea-like.
Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear,
lady?
If from the field I shall return once more
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood.
I and my sword will earn our chronicle.	180
There’s hope in’t yet.
CLEOPATRA     That’s my brave lord!
ANTONY     I will be treble-sinewed, hearted, breathed,
And fight maliciously. For when mine hours
Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives	185
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 mock the midnight bell.
CLEOPATRA     It is my birthday.	190
I had thought t’have held it poor, but since my lord
Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.
ANTONY     We will yet do well.
CLEOPATRA     [to Charmian and Iras]
Call all his noble captains to my lord!
ANTONY
Do so, we’ll speak to them; and tonight I’ll force	195
The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my
queen,
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.
Exeunt all but Enobarbus.
ENOBARBUS
Now he’ll outstare the lightning. To be furious	200
Is to be frighted out of fear, and in that mood
The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still
A diminution in our captain’s brain
Restores his heart. When valour preys on reason,
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek	205
Some way to leave him.     Exit.

4.1 Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA and MAECENAS, with his army, Caesar reading a letter.

CAESAR     He calls me boy, and chides as he had power
To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger
He hath whipped with rods; dares me to personal
combat,
Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know
I have many other ways to die; meantime	5
Laugh at his challenge.
MAECENAS     Caesar must think,
When one so great begins to rage, he’s hunted
Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now
Make boot of his distraction. Never anger	10
Made good guard for itself.
CAESAR     Let our best heads
Know that tomorrow the last of many battles
We mean to fight. Within our files there are,
Of those that served Mark Antony but late,
Enough to fetch him in. See it done,	15
And feast the army. We have store to do’t
And they have earned the waste. Poor Antony!
Exeunt.

4.2 Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS with others.

ANTONY     He will not fight with me, Domitius?
ENOBARBUS     No.
ANTONY     Why should he not?
ENOBARBUS
He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,
He is twenty men to one.
ANTONY     Tomorrow, soldier,
By sea and land I’ll fight. Or I will live,	5
Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
Shall make it live again. Woo’t thou fight well?
ENOBARBUS     I’ll strike, and cry ‘Take all!’
ANTONY     Well said! Come on!
Call forth my household servants.     Exit Alexas.
Let’s tonight
Be bounteous at our meal.
Enter three or four servitors.
Give me thy hand.	10
Thou hast been rightly honest; so hast thou,
Thou, and thou, and thou. You have served me well
And kings have been your fellows.
CLEOPATRA     [aside to Enobarbus]     What means this?
ENOBARBUS     [aside to Cleopatra]
’Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots
Out of the mind.
ANTONY     And thou art honest too.	15
I wish I could be made so many men,
And all of you clapped up together in
An Antony, that I might do you service
So good as you have done.
ALL THE SERVANTS     The gods forbid!
ANTONY     Well, my good fellows, wait on me tonight;	20
Scant not my cups, and make as much of me
As when mine empire was your fellow too
And suffered my command.
CLEOPATRA     [aside to Enobarbus] What does he mean?
ENOBARBUS     [aside to Cleopatra]
To make his followers weep.
ANTONY     Tend me tonight.
May be it is the period of your duty.	25
Haply you shall not see me more, or if,
A mangled shadow. Perchance tomorrow
You’ll serve another master. I look on you
As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,
I turn you not away, but, like a master	30
Married to your good service, stay till death.
Tend me tonight two hours – I ask no more –
And the gods yield you for’t!
ENOBARBUS     What mean you, sir,
To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep,
And I, an ass, am onion-eyed. For shame!	35
Transform us not to women!
ANTONY     Ho, ho, ho!
Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!
Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty
friends,
You take me in too dolorous a sense,
For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire you	40
To burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts,
I hope well of tomorrow, and will lead you
Where rather I’ll expect victorious life
Than death and honour. Let’s to supper, come,
And drown consideration.     Exeunt.	45

4.3 Enter through one door, First Soldier and his Company, through the other door, Second Soldier.

1 SOLDIER     Brother, good night. Tomorrow is the day.
2 SOLDIER     It will determine one way. Fare you well.
Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?
1 SOLDIER     Nothing. What news?
2 SOLDIER     Belike ’tis but a rumour. Good night to you.	5
1 SOLDIER     Well sir, good night.
Other Soldiers enter and join Second Soldier.
2 SOLDIER     Soldiers, have careful watch.
3 SOLDIER     And you. Good night, good night.
[They place themselves in every corner of the stage.]
2 SOLDIER     Here we. And if tomorrow
Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope	10
Our landmen will stand up.
1 SOLDIER     ’Tis a brave army and full of purpose –
[Music of the hautboys is under the stage.]
2 SOLDIER     Peace! What noise?
1 SOLDIER     List, list!
2 SOLDIER     Hark!	15
1 SOLDIER     Music i’th’ air.
3 SOLDIER     Under the earth.
4 SOLDIER     It signs well, does it not?
3 SOLDIER     No.
1 SOLDIER     Peace, I say! What should this mean?	20
2 SOLDIER     ’Tis the god Hercules whom Antony loved
Now leaves him.
1 SOLDIER     Walk. Let’s see if other watchmen
Do hear what we do.
2 SOLDIER     How now, masters? [Speak together.]
ALL     How now? How now? Do you hear this?	25
1 SOLDIER     Ay. Is’t not strange?
3 SOLDIER     Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?
1 SOLDIER     Follow the noise so far as we have quarter.
Let’s see how it will give off.
ALL     Content. ’Tis strange.
Exeunt.

4.4 Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with CHARMIAN and others.

ANTONY     Eros! Mine armour, Eros!
CLEOPATRA     Sleep a little.
ANTONY
No, my chuck. Eros! Come, mine armour, Eros!
Enter EROS with armour.
Come, good fellow, put thine iron on.
If fortune be not ours today, it is
Because we brave her. Come!
CLEOPATRA     Nay, I’ll help too.	5
What’s this for?
ANTONY     Ah, let be, let be! Thou art
The armourer of my heart. False, false! This, this!
CLEOPATRA     Sooth, la, I’ll help. Thus it must be.
ANTONY     Well, well!
We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?
Go put on thy defences.
EROS     Briefly, sir.	10
CLEOPATRA     Is not this buckled well?
ANTONY     Rarely, rarely!
He that unbuckles this, till we do please
To doff ’t for our repose, shall hear a storm.
Thou fumblest, Eros, and my queen’s a squire
More tight at this than thou. Dispatch. O love,	15
That thou couldst see my wars today and knew’st
The royal occupation, thou shouldst see
A workman in’t.
Enter an armed Soldier.
Good morrow to thee! Welcome!
Thou look’st like him that knows a warlike charge.
To business that we love we rise betime	20
And go to’t with delight.
SOLDIER     A thousand, sir,
Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim
And at the port expect you.
[Shout. Trumpets flourish.]
Enter Captains and Soldiers.
CAPTAIN     The morn is fair. Good morrow, General!
ALL THE SOLDIERS     Good morrow, General!
ANTONY     ’Tis well blown, lads!	25
This morning, like the spirit of a youth
That means to be of note, begins betimes.
[to Cleopatra] So, so. Come, give me that. This way.
Well said.
Fare thee well, dame. Whate’er becomes of me,
This is a soldier’s kiss. [Kisses her.] Rebukable	30
And worthy shameful check it were, to stand
On more mechanic compliment. I’ll leave thee
Now like a man of steel. – You that will fight,
Follow me close, I’ll bring you to’t. Adieu.
Exeunt all but Cleopatra and Charmian
CHARMIAN     Please you retire to your chamber?
CLEOPATRA     Lead me.	35
He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might
Determine this great war in single fight!
Then Antony – but now –. Well, on.     Exeunt.

4.5 Trumpets sound. Enter ANTONY and EROS, a Soldier meeting them.

SOLDIER     The gods make this a happy day to Antony!
ANTONY
Would thou and those thy scars had once prevailed
To make me fight at land!
SOLDIER     Hadst thou done so,
The kings that have revolted and the soldier
That has this morning left thee would have still	5
Followed thy heels.
ANTONY     Who’s gone this morning?
SOLDIER     Who?
One ever near thee. Call for Enobarbus,
He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp
Say ‘I am none of thine.’
ANTONY     What sayest thou?
SOLDIER     Sir,
He is with Caesar.
EROS     Sir, his chests and treasure	10
He has not with him.
ANTONY     Is he gone?
SOLDIER     Most certain.
ANTONY     Go, Eros, send his treasure after. Do it.
Detain no jot, I charge thee. Write to him –
I will subscribe – gentle adieus and greetings.
Say that I wish he never find more cause	15
To change a master. O, my fortunes have
Corrupted honest men! Dispatch. – Enobarbus!
Exeunt.

4.6 Flourish. Enter AGRIPPA, CAESAR, with ENOBARBUS and DOLABELLA.

CAESAR     Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.
Our will is Antony be took alive.
Make it so known.
AGRIPPA     Caesar, I shall.     Exit.
CAESAR     The time of universal peace is near.	5
Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked world
Shall bear the olive freely.
Enter a Messenger.
MESSENGER     Antony
Is come into the field.
CAESAR     Go charge Agrippa
Plant those that have revolted in the van
That Antony may seem to spend his fury	10
Upon himself.     Exeunt all but Enobarbus.
ENOBARBUS     Alexas did revolt and went to Jewry on
Affairs of Antony; there did dissuade
Great Herod to incline himself to Caesar
And leave his master Antony. For this pains	15
Caesar hath hanged him. Canidius and the rest
That fell away have entertainment but
No honourable trust. I have done ill,
Of which I do accuse myself so sorely
That I will joy no more.	20
Enter a Soldier of Caesar’s.
SOLDIER     Enobarbus, Antony
Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
His bounty overplus. The messenger
Came on my guard, and at thy tent is now
Unloading of his mules.
ENOBARBUS     I give it you.	25
SOLDIER     Mock not, Enobarbus.
I tell you true. Best you safed the bringer
Out of the host. I must attend mine office
Or would have done’t myself. Your emperor
Continues still a Jove.     Exit.	30
ENOBARBUS     I am alone the villain of the earth,
And feel I am so most. O Antony,
Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
My better service, when my turpitude
Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my heart.	35
If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean
Shall outstrike thought, but thought will do’t, I feel.
I fight against thee? No, I will go seek
Some ditch wherein to die; the foul’st best fits
My latter part of life.     Exit.	40

4.7 Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter AGRIPPA and others.

AGRIPPA     Retire! We have engaged ourselves too far.
Caesar     himself has work, and our oppression
Exceeds what we expected.     Exeunt.
Alarums. Enter ANTONY, and SCARUS wounded.
SCARUS     O, my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!
Had we done so at first, we had droven them home	5
With clouts about their heads.
ANTONY     Thou bleed’st apace.
SCARUS     I had a wound here that was like a T
But now ’tis made an H.     [Sound retreat far off.]
ANTONY     They do retire.
SCARUS     We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes. I have yet
Room for six scotches more.	10
Enter EROS.
EROS     They’re beaten, sir, and our advantage serves
For a fair victory.
SCARUS     Let us score their backs
And snatch ’em up as we take hares – behind!
’Tis sport to maul a runner.
ANTONY     I will reward thee
Once for thy sprightly comfort, and tenfold	15
For thy good valour. Come thee on!
SCARUS     I’ll halt after.     Exeunt.

4.8 Alarum. Enter ANTONY again in a march; SCARUS with others.

ANTONY
We have beat him to his camp. Run one before
And let the Queen know of our gests.     Exit a Soldier.
Tomorrow,
Before the sun shall see’s, we’ll spill the blood
That has today escaped. I thank you all,
For doughty-handed are you, and have fought	5
Not as you served the cause, but as’t had been
Each man’s like mine. You have shown all Hectors.
Enter the city; clip your wives, your friends;
Tell them your feats, whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss	10
The honoured gashes whole.
Enter CLEOPATRA.
[to Scarus]     Give me thy hand.
To this great fairy I’ll commend thy acts,
Make her thanks bless thee.
[to Cleopatra]     O thou day o’th’ world,
Chain mine armed neck! Leap thou, attire and all,
Through proof of harness to my heart, and there	15
Ride on the pants triumphing! [They embrace.]
CLEOPATRA     Lord of lords!
O infinite virtue! Com’st thou smiling from
The world’s great snare uncaught?
ANTONY     My nightingale,
We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! Though
grey
Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet
have we	20
A brain that nourishes our nerves and can
Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man.
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand.
[She offers Scarus her hand.]
Kiss it, my warrior. He hath fought today
As if a god in hate of mankind had	25
Destroyed in such a shape.
CLEOPATRA     I’ll give thee, friend,
An armour all of gold. It was a king’s.
ANTONY     He has deserved it, were it carbuncled
Like holy Phoebus’ car. Give me thy hand.
Through Alexandria make a jolly march;	30
Bear our hacked targets like the men that owe them.
Had our great palace the capacity
To camp this host, we all would sup together
And drink carouses to the next day’s fate
Which promises royal peril. Trumpeters,	35
With brazen din blast you the city’s ear;
Make mingle with our rattling taborins
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds
together,
Applauding our approach.     Trumpets sound. Exeunt.

4.9 Enter a Sentry and his Company of Watch. ENOBARBUS follows.

SENTRY     If we be not relieved within this hour,
We must return to th’ court of guard. The night
Is shiny, and they say we shall embattle
By th’ second hour i’th’ morn.
1 WATCH     This last day was a shrewd one to’s.	5
ENOBARBUS     O bear me witness, night –
2 WATCH     What man is this?
1 WATCH     Stand close and list him. [They stand aside.]
ENOBARBUS     Be witness to me, O thou blessed moon,
When men revolted shall upon record	10
Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
Before thy face repent.
SENTRY     Enobarbus?
2 WATCH     Peace! Hark further.
ENOBARBUS     O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,	15
The poisonous damp of night disponge upon me,
That life, a very rebel to my will,
May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart
Against the flint and hardness of my fault,
Which, being dried with grief, will break to powder	20
And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
Nobler than my revolt is infamous,
Forgive me in thine own particular,
But let the world rank me in register
A master-leaver and a fugitive.	25
O Antony! O Antony! [He sinks down.]
1 WATCH     Let’s speak to him.
SENTRY     Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks may
concern Caesar.
2 WATCH     Let’s do so. But he sleeps.	30
SENTRY     Swoons rather, for so bad a prayer as his was
never yet for sleep.
1 WATCH     Go we to him.
2 WATCH     Awake sir! Awake! Speak to us!
1 WATCH     Hear you, sir?	35
SENTRY     The hand of death hath raught him. Hark!
[Drums afar off.]     The drums
Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
To th’ court of guard. He is of note. Our hour
Is fully out.
2 WATCH     Come on, then. He may recover yet.	40
Exeunt with the body.

4.10 Enter ANTONY and SCARUS with their army.

ANTONY     Their preparation is today by sea;
We please them not by land.
SCARUS     For both, my lord.
ANTONY
I would they’d fight i’th’ fire or i’th’ air;
We’d fight there too. But this it is: our foot
Upon the hills adjoining to the city	5
Shall stay with us – order for sea is given;
They have put forth the haven –
Where their appointment we may best discover
And look on their endeavour.     Exeunt.

4.11 Enter CAESAR and his army.

CAESAR     But being charged we will be still by land,
Which, as I take’t, we shall, for his best force
Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales,
And hold our best advantage.     Exeunt.

4.12 Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight. Enter ANTONY and SCARUS.

ANTONY
Yet they are not joined. Where yond pine does stand
I shall discover all. I’ll bring thee word
Straight how ’tis like to go.     Exit.
SCARUS     Swallows have built
In Cleopatra’s sails their nests. The augurs
Say they know not, they cannot tell; look grimly,	5
And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony
Is valiant and dejected, and by starts
His fretted fortunes give him hope and fear
Of what he has and has not.
Enter ANTONY.
ANTONY     All is lost!
This foul Egyptian hath betrayed me.	10
My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonder
They cast their caps up and carouse together
Like friends long lost. Triple-turned whore! ’Tis
thou
Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart
Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly!	15
For when I am revenged upon my charm,
I have done all. Bid them all fly! Be gone!
Exit Scarus.
O sun, thy uprise shall I see no more.
Fortune and Antony part here; even here
Do we shake hands. All come to this! The hearts	20
That spanieled me at heels, to whom I gave
Their wishes, do discandy, melt their sweets
On blossoming Caesar, and this pine is barked
That overtopped them all. Betrayed I am.
O this false soul of Egypt! This grave charm	25
Whose eye becked forth my wars and called them
home,
Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end,
Like a right gipsy hath at fast and loose
Beguiled me to the very heart of loss.
What, Eros, Eros!
Enter CLEOPATRA.
Ah, thou spell! Avaunt!	30
CLEOPATRA     Why is my lord enraged against his love?
ANTONY     Vanish, or I shall give thee thy deserving
And blemish Caesar’s triumph. Let him take thee
And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians!
Follow his chariot like the greatest spot	35
Of all thy sex; most monster-like be shown
For poor’st diminutives, for dolts, and let
Patient Octavia plough thy visage up
With her prepared nails!     Exit Cleopatra.
’Tis well thou’rt gone
If it be well to live. But better ’twere	40
Thou fell’st into my fury, for one death
Might have prevented many. Eros, ho!
The shirt of Nessus is upon me. Teach me
Alcides, thou mine ancestor, thy rage;
Let me lodge Lichas on the horns o’th’ moon,	45
And with those hands that grasped the heaviest club
Subdue my worthiest self. The witch shall die.
To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall
Under this plot. She dies for’t. Eros, ho!     Exit.

4.13 Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, MARDIAN.

CLEOPATRA     Help me, my women! O, he’s more mad
Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly
Was never so embossed.
CHARMIAN     To th’ monument!
There lock yourself and send him word you are dead.
The soul and body rive not more in parting	5
Than greatness going off.
CLEOPATRA     To th’ monument!
Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself.
Say that the last I spoke was ‘Antony’,
And word it, prithee, piteously. Hence, Mardian,
And bring me how he takes my death. To th’
monument!     Exeunt.	10

4.14 Enter ANTONY and EROS.

ANTONY     Eros, thou yet behold’st me?
EROS     Ay, noble lord.
ANTONY     Sometime we see a cloud that’s dragonish,
A vapour sometime like a bear or lion,
A towered citadel, a pendent rock,
A forked mountain, or blue promontory	5
With trees upon’t that nod unto the world
And mock our eyes with air. Thou hast seen these
signs?
They are black vesper’s pageants.
EROS     Ay, my lord.
ANTONY
That which is now a horse, even with a thought
The rack dislimns and makes it indistinct	10
As water is in water.
EROS     It does, my lord.
ANTONY     My good knave Eros, now thy captain is
Even such a body. Here I am Antony,
Yet cannot hold this visible shape, my knave.
I made these wars for Egypt, and the Queen –	15
Whose heart I thought I had, for she had mine,
Which, whilst it was mine, had annexed unto’t
A million more, now lost – she, Eros, has
Packed cards with Caesar, and false-played my glory
Unto an enemy’s triumph.	20
Nay, weep not, gentle Eros. There is left us
Ourselves to end ourselves.
Enter MARDIAN.
O thy vile lady!
She has robbed me of my sword.
MARDIAN     No, Antony,
My mistress loved thee and her fortunes mingled
With thine entirely.
ANTONY     Hence, saucy eunuch! Peace!	25
She hath betrayed me and shall die the death.
MARDIAN     Death of one person can be paid but once,
And that she has discharged. What thou wouldst do
Is done unto thy hand. The last she spake
Was ‘Antony! Most noble Antony!’	30
Then, in the midst, a tearing groan did break
The name of Antony; it was divided
Between her heart and lips. She rendered life,
Thy name so buried in her.
ANTONY     Dead, then?
MARDIAN     Dead.
ANTONY     Unarm, Eros. The long day’s task is done	35
And we must sleep.
[to Mardian] That thou depart’st hence safe
Does pay thy labour richly. Go.     Exit Mardian.
Off! Pluck off! [Eros unarms him.]
The sevenfold shield of Ajax cannot keep
The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!	40
Heart, once be stronger than thy continent;
Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace!
No more a soldier; bruised pieces go;
You have been nobly borne. From me awhile.
Exit Eros.
I will o’ertake thee, Cleopatra, and	45
Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now
All length is torture; since the torch is out,
Lie down and stray no farther. Now all labour
Mars what it does – yea, very force entangles
Itself with strength. Seal then, and all is done.	50
Eros! – I come, my queen. – Eros! – Stay for me.
Where souls do couch on flowers we’ll hand in hand
And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze.
Dido and her Aeneas shall want troops,
And all the haunt be ours. Come Eros! Eros!	55
Enter EROS.
EROS     What would my lord?
ANTONY     Since Cleopatra died,
I have lived in such dishonour that the gods
Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
Quartered the world and o’er green Neptune’s back
With ships made cities, condemn myself to lack	60
The courage of a woman; less noble mind
Than she which, by her death, our Caesar tells
‘I am conqueror of myself.’ Thou art sworn, Eros,
That when the exigent should come – which now
Is come indeed – when I should see behind me	65
Th’inevitable prosecution of
Disgrace and horror, that on my command
Thou then wouldst kill me. Do’t. The time is come.
Thou strik’st not me; ’tis Caesar thou defeat’st.
Put colour in thy cheek.
EROS     The gods withhold me!	70
Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts,
Though enemy, lost aim and could not?
ANTONY     Eros,
Wouldst thou be windowed in great Rome and see
Thy master thus with pleached arms, bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdued	75
To penetrative shame, whilst the wheeled seat
Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued?
EROS     I would not see’t.
ANTONY
Come, then! For with a wound I must be cured.
Draw that thy honest sword which thou hast worn	80
Most useful for thy country.
EROS     O sir, pardon me!
ANTONY
When I did make thee free, swor’st thou not then
To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once,
Or thy precedent services are all
But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come!	85
EROS     Turn from me then that noble countenance
Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.
ANTONY     [Turns from him.] Lo thee!
EROS     My sword is drawn.
ANTONY     Then let it do at once
The thing why thou hast drawn it.
EROS     My dear master,	90
My captain and my emperor, let me say,
Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
ANTONY     ’Tis said, man, and farewell.
EROS     Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
ANTONY     Now, Eros.
EROS     Why, there then! [Kills himself.]
Thus I do escape the sorrow	95
Of Antony’s death.
ANTONY     Thrice nobler than myself!
Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what
I should and thou couldst not! My queen and Eros
Have by their brave instruction got upon me
A nobleness in record. But I will be	100
A bridegroom in my death and run into’t
As to a lover’s bed. Come then! And, Eros,
Thy master dies thy scholar. To do thus
[Falls on his sword.]
I learned of thee. How? Not dead? Not dead?
The guard, ho! O, dispatch me.
Enter a Company of the Guard, one of them DERCETUS.
1 GUARD     What’s the noise?	105
ANTONY
I have done my work ill, friends. O make an end
Of what I have begun.
2 GUARD     The star is fallen.
1 GUARD     And time is at his period.
ALL THE GUARD     Alas and woe!
ANTONY     Let him that loves me strike me dead.
1 GUARD     Not I!
2 GUARD     Nor I!	110
3 GUARD     Nor any one!
Exeunt all the Guard but Dercetus.
DERCETUS
Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers fly.
This sword but shown to Caesar with this tidings
Shall enter me with him. [Takes up Antony’s sword.]
Enter DIOMEDES.
DIOMEDES     Where’s Antony?	115
DERCETUS     There, Diomed, there!
DIOMEDES     Lives he? Wilt thou not answer, man?
Exit Dercetus with the sword of Antony.
ANTONY
Art thou there, Diomed? Draw thy sword and give
me
Sufficing strokes for death.
DIOMEDES     Most absolute lord,
My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.	120
ANTONY     When did she send thee?
DIOMEDES     Now, my lord.
ANTONY     Where is she?
DIOMEDES
Locked in her monument. She had a prophesying
fear
Of what hath come to pass, for when she saw –
Which never shall be found – you did suspect
She had disposed with Caesar, and that your rage	125
Would not be purged, she sent you word she was
dead,
But fearing since how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth, and I am come,
I dread, too late.
ANTONY
Too late, good Diomed. Call my guard, I prithee.	130
DIOMEDES
What ho! The Emperor’s guard! The guard, what ho!
Come, your lord calls!
Enter four or five of the Guard of Antony.
ANTONY
Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra bides.
’Tis the last service that I shall command you.
1 GUARD
Woe, woe are we, sir! You may not live to wear	135
All your true followers out.
ALL THE GUARD     Most heavy day!
ANTONY
Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp fate
To grace it with your sorrows. Bid that welcome
Which comes to punish us, and we punish it,
Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up.	140
I have led you oft; carry me now, good friends,
And have my thanks for all.
Exeunt, bearing Antony and Eros.

4.15 Enter CLEOPATRA and her maids aloft, with CHARMIAN and IRAS.

CLEOPATRA     O Charmian, I will never go from hence.
CHARMIAN     Be comforted, dear madam.
CLEOPATRA     No, I will not.
All strange and terrible events are welcome,
But comforts we despise. Our size of sorrow,
Proportioned to our cause, must be as great	5
As that which makes it.
Enter DIOMEDES below.
How now? Is he dead?
DIOMEDES     His death’s upon him, but not dead.
Look out o’th’ other side your monument;
His guard have brought him thither.
Enter below ANTONY borne by the Guard.
CLEOPATRA     O sun,	10
Burn the great sphere thou mov’st in! Darkling stand
The varying shore o’th’ world! O Antony,
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian! Help, Iras, help!
Help, friends below! Let’s draw him hither.
ANTONY     Peace!
Not Caesar’s valour hath o’erthrown Antony,	15
But Antony’s hath triumphed on itself.
CLEOPATRA     So it should be that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony, but woe ’tis so.
ANTONY     I am dying, Egypt, dying. Only
I here importune death awhile until	20
Of many thousand kisses the poor last
I lay upon thy lips.
CLEOPATRA     I dare not, dear.
Dear my lord, pardon. I dare not
Lest I be taken. Not th’imperious show
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall	25
Be brooched with me. If knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting or operation, I am safe.
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honour
Demuring upon me. But come, come Antony –	30
Help me, my women – we must draw thee up.
Assist, good friends! [They begin lifting.]
ANTONY     O quick, or I am gone!
CLEOPATRA
Here’s sport indeed! How heavy weighs my lord!
Our strength is all gone into heaviness;
That makes the weight. Had I great Juno’s power,	35
The strong-winged Mercury should fetch thee up
And set thee by Jove’s side. Yet come a little;
Wishers were ever fools. O come, come, come,
[They heave Antony aloft to Cleopatra.]
And welcome, welcome! Die when thou hast lived;
Quicken with kissing. Had my lips that power,	40
Thus would I wear them out. [Kisses him.]
ALL THE GUARD     Ah, heavy sight!
ANTONY     I am dying, Egypt, dying.
Give me some wine and let me speak a little –
CLEOPATRA     No, let me speak, and let me rail so high	45
That the false huswife Fortune break her wheel,
Provoked by my offence –
ANTONY     One word, sweet queen:
Of Caesar seek your honour with your safety. O!
CLEOPATRA     They do not go together.
ANTONY     Gentle, hear me.
None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.	50
CLEOPATRA     My resolution and my hands I’ll trust;
None about Caesar.
ANTONY     The miserable change now at my end,
Lament nor sorrow at, but please your thoughts
In feeding them with those my former fortunes	55
Wherein I lived the greatest prince o’th’ world,
The noblest; and do now not basely die,
Not cowardly put off my helmet to
My countryman; a Roman by a Roman
Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going;	60
I can no more.
CLEOPATRA     Noblest of men, woo’t die?
Hast thou no care of me? Shall I abide
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty? O see, my women,
The crown o’th’ earth doth melt. My lord!	65
[Antony dies.]
O withered is the garland of the war,
The soldier’s pole is fallen; young boys and girls
Are level now with men; the odds is gone
And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon. [She faints.]
CHARMIAN     O quietness, lady!	70
IRAS     She’s dead too, our sovereign.
CHARMIAN     Lady!
IRAS     Madam!
CHARMIAN     O madam, madam, madam!
IRAS     Royal Egypt! Empress! [Cleopatra stirs.]	75
CHARMIAN     Peace, peace, Iras.
CLEOPATRA
No more but e’en a woman, and commanded
By such poor passion as the maid that milks
And does the meanest chares. It were for me
To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods	80
To tell them that this world did equal theirs
Till they had stolen our jewel. All’s but naught;
Patience is sottish, and impatience does
Become a dog that’s mad. Then is it sin
To rush into the secret house of death	85
Ere death dare come to us? How do you, women?
What, what, good cheer! Why, how now, Charmian?
My noble girls! Ah, women, women! Look,
Our lamp is spent, it’s out. Good sirs, take heart.
We’ll bury him, and then what’s brave, what’s noble,	90
Let’s do’t after the high Roman fashion
And make death proud to take us. Come, away.
This case of that huge spirit now is cold.
Ah, women, women! Come, we have no friend
But resolution and the briefest end.	95
Exeunt, bearing off Antony’s body.

5.1 Enter CAESAR with his Council of War: AGRIPPA, DOLABELLA, MAECENAS, PROCULEIUS, GALLUS.

CAESAR     Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield.
Being so frustrate, tell him, he mocks
The pauses that he makes.
DOLABELLA     Caesar, I shall.     Exit.
Enter DERCETUS with the sword of Antony.
CAESAR
Wherefore is that? And what art thou that dar’st
Appear thus to us?
DERCETUS     I am called Dercetus.	5
Mark Antony I served, who best was worthy
Best to be served. Whilst he stood up and spoke
He was my master, and I wore my life
To spend upon his haters. If thou please
To take me to thee, as I was to him	10
I’ll be to Caesar. If thou pleasest not,
I yield thee up my life.
CAESAR     What is’t thou say’st?
DERCETUS     I say, O Caesar, Antony is dead.
CAESAR     The breaking of so great a thing should make
A greater crack. The round world	15
Should have shook lions into civil streets
And citizens to their dens. The death of Antony
Is not a single doom; in the name lay
A moiety of the world.
DERCETUS     He is dead, Caesar,
Not by a public minister of justice,	20
Nor by a hired knife, but that self hand
Which writ his honour in the acts it did
Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,
Splitted the heart. This is his sword;
I robbed his wound of it. Behold it stained	25
With his most noble blood.
CAESAR     [Points to the sword.] Look you, sad friends.
The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings
To wash the eyes of kings.
AGRIPPA     And strange it is
That nature must compel us to lament
Our most persisted deeds.
MAECENAS     His taints and honours	30
Waged equal with him.
AGRIPPA     A rarer spirit never
Did steer humanity; but you gods will give us
Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touched.
MAECENAS
When such a spacious mirror’s set before him,
He needs must see himself.
CAESAR     O Antony,	35
I have followed thee to this; but we do launch
Diseases in our bodies. I must perforce
Have shown to thee such a declining day
Or look on thine. We could not stall together
In the whole world. But yet let me lament	40
With tears as sovereign as the blood of hearts
That thou, my brother, my competitor
In top of all design, my mate in empire,
Friend and companion in the front of war,
The arm of mine own body, and the heart	45
Where mine his thoughts did kindle, that our stars,
Unreconciliable, should divide
Our equalness to this. Hear me, good friends –
Enter an Egyptian.
But I will tell you at some meeter season.
The business of this man looks out of him;	50
We’ll hear him what he says. Whence are you?
EGYPTIAN
A poor Egyptian yet. The Queen, my mistress,
Confined in all she has, her monument,
Of thy intents desires instruction,
That she preparedly may frame herself	55
To th’ way she’s forced to.
CAESAR     Bid her have good heart.
She soon shall know of us, by some of ours,
How honourable and how kindly we
Determine for her. For Caesar cannot lean
To be ungentle.
EGYPTIAN     So the gods preserve thee!     Exit.	60
CAESAR     Come hither, Proculeius. Go and say
We purpose her no shame. Give her what comforts
The quality of her passion shall require,
Lest, in her greatness, by some mortal stroke
She do defeat us. For her life in Rome	65
Would be eternal in our triumph. Go,
And with your speediest bring us what she says
And how you find of her.
PROCULEIUS     Caesar, I shall.
CAESAR     Gallus, go you along.
Exeunt Proculeius and Gallus.
Where’s Dolabella
To second Proculeius?
ALL BUT CAESAR     Dolabella!	70
CAESAR     Let him alone, for I remember now
How he’s employed. He shall in time be ready.
Go with me to my tent, where you shall see
How hardly I was drawn into this war,
How calm and gentle I proceeded still	75
In all my writings. Go with me and see
What I can show in this.     Exeunt.

5.2 Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN and IRAS.

CLEOPATRA     My desolation does begin to make
A better life. ’Tis paltry to be Caesar.
Not being Fortune, he’s but Fortune’s knave,
A minister of her will. And it is great
To do that thing that ends all other deeds,	5
Which shackles accidents and bolts up change,
Which sleeps and never palates more the dung,
The beggar’s nurse and Caesar’s.
Enter PROCULEIUS.
PROCULEIUS
Caesar sends greeting to the Queen of Egypt,
And bids thee study on what fair demands	10
Thou mean’st to have him grant thee.
CLEOPATRA     What’s thy name?
PROCULEIUS     My name is Proculeius.
CLEOPATRA     Antony
Did tell me of you, bade me trust you, but
I do not greatly care to be deceived
That have no use for trusting. If your master	15
Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him
That majesty, to keep decorum, must
No less beg than a kingdom. If he please
To give me conquered Egypt for my son,
He gives me so much of mine own as I	20
Will kneel to him with thanks.
PROCULEIUS     Be of good cheer.
You’re fallen into a princely hand; fear nothing.
Make your full reference freely to my lord,
Who is so full of grace that it flows over
On all that need. Let me report to him	25
Your sweet dependency, and you shall find
A conqueror that will pray in aid for kindness
Where he for grace is kneeled to.
CLEOPATRA     Pray you tell him
I am his fortune’s vassal and I send him
The greatness he has got. I hourly learn	30
A doctrine of obedience, and would gladly
Look him i’th’ face.
PROCULEIUS     This I’ll report, dear lady.
Have comfort, for I know your plight is pitied
Of him that caused it.
Enter GALLUS and Roman soldiers.
[to the soldiers] You see how easily she may be
surprised.	35
Guard her till Caesar come.
IRAS     Royal queen!
CHARMIAN     O Cleopatra, thou art taken, queen!
CLEOPATRA     Quick, quick, good hands.
[Draws a dagger.]
PROCULEIUS     Hold, worthy lady, hold!
[Disarms her.]
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this
Relieved, but not betrayed.
CLEOPATRA     What, of death too,	40
That rids our dogs of languish?
PROCULEIUS     Cleopatra,
Do not abuse my master’s bounty by
Th’undoing of yourself. Let the world see
His nobleness well acted, which your death
Will never let come forth.
CLEOPATRA     Where art thou, Death?	45
Come hither, come! Come, come and take a queen
Worth many babes and beggars!
PROCULEIUS     O temperance, lady!
CLEOPATRA     Sir, I will eat no meat; I’ll not drink, sir;
If idle talk will once be necessary,
I’ll not sleep neither. This mortal house I’ll ruin,	50
Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Will not wait pinioned at your master’s court,
Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up
And show me to the shouting varletry	55
Of censuring Rome? Rather a ditch in Egypt
Be gentle grave unto me! Rather on Nilus’ mud
Lay me stark naked, and let the water-flies
Blow me into abhorring! Rather make
My country’s high pyramides my gibbet	60
And hang me up in chains!
PROCULEIUS     You do extend
These thoughts of horror further than you shall
Find cause in Caesar.
Enter DOLABELLA.
DOLABELLA     Proculeius,
What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows,
And he hath sent for thee. For the Queen,	65
I’ll take her to my guard.
PROCULEIUS     So, Dolabella,
It shall content me best. Be gentle to her.
[to Cleopatra] To Caesar I will speak what you shall
please,
If you’ll employ me to him.
CLEOPATRA     Say I would die.
Exit Proculeius with Gallus and soldiers.
DOLABELLA
Most noble empress, you have heard of me?	70
CLEOPATRA     I cannot tell.
DOLABELLA     Assuredly you know me.
CLEOPATRA
No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
Is’t not your trick?
DOLABELLA     I understand not, madam.
CLEOPATRA     I dreamt there was an emperor Antony.	75
O, such another sleep, that I might see
But such another man!
DOLABELLA     If it might please ye –
CLEOPATRA
His face was as the heavens, and therein stuck
A sun and moon which kept their course and lighted
The little O, the earth.
DOLABELLA     Most sovereign creature –	80
CLEOPATRA     His legs bestrid the ocean; his reared arm
Crested the world; his voice was propertied
As all the tuned spheres, and that to friends;
But when he meant to quail and shake the orb,
He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty,	85
There was no winter in’t; an autumn it was
That grew the more by reaping. His delights
Were dolphin-like: they showed his back above
The element they lived in. In his livery
Walked crowns and crownets; realms and islands
were	90
As plates dropped from his pocket.
DOLABELLA     Cleopatra –
CLEOPATRA
Think you there was or might be such a man
As this I dreamt of?
DOLABELLA     Gentle madam, no.
CLEOPATRA     You lie up to the hearing of the gods!
But if there be nor ever were one such,	95
It’s past the size of dreaming. Nature wants stuff
To vie strange forms with fancy; yet t’imagine
An Antony were nature’s piece ’gainst fancy,
Condemning shadows quite.
DOLABELLA     Hear me, good madam.
Your loss is as yourself, great, and you bear it	100
As answering to the weight. Would I might never
O’ertake pursued success, but I do feel,
By the rebound of yours, a grief that smites
My very heart at root.
CLEOPATRA     I thank you, sir.
Know you what Caesar means to do with me?	105
DOLABELLA
I am loath to tell you what I would you knew.
CLEOPATRA     Nay, pray you, sir.
DOLABELLA     Though he be honourable –
CLEOPATRA     He’ll lead me, then, in triumph.
DOLABELLA     Madam, he will. I know’t.
Flourish. Enter PROCULEIUS, CAESAR, GALLUS, MAECENAS and others of his train.
ALL     Make way there! Caesar!	110
CAESAR     Which is the Queen of Egypt?
DOLABELLA     It is the Emperor, madam.
[Cleopatra kneels.]
CAESAR     Arise! You shall not kneel.
I pray you rise. Rise, Egypt.
CLEOPATRA     Sir, the gods
Will have it thus. My master and my lord	115
I must obey. [She stands.]
CAESAR     Take to you no hard thoughts.
The record of what injuries you did us,
Though written in our flesh, we shall remember
As things but done by chance.
CLEOPATRA     Sole sir o’th’ world,
I cannot project mine own cause so well	120
To make it clear, but do confess I have
Been laden with like frailties which before
Have often shamed our sex.
CAESAR     Cleopatra, know
We will extenuate rather than enforce.
If you apply yourself to our intents,	125
Which towards you are most gentle, you shall find
A benefit in this change; but if you seek
To lay on me a cruelty by taking
Antony’s course, you shall bereave yourself
Of my good purposes, and put your children	130
To that destruction which I’ll guard them from
If thereon you rely. I’ll take my leave.
CLEOPATRA
And may through all the world! ’Tis yours, and we,
Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good lord.	135
[Hands him a paper.]
CAESAR     You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
CLEOPATRA     This is the brief of money, plate and jewels
I am possessed of. ’Tis exactly valued,
Not petty things admitted. Where’s Seleucus?
Enter SELEUCUS.
SELEUCUS     Here, madam.	140
CLEOPATRA
This is my treasurer. Let him speak, my lord,
Upon his peril, that I have reserved
To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
SELEUCUS     Madam,
I had rather seel my lips than to my peril	145
Speak that which is not.
CLEOPATRA     What have I kept back?
SELEUCUS
Enough to purchase what you have made known.
CAESAR     Nay, blush not, Cleopatra. I approve
Your wisdom in the deed.
CLEOPATRA     See, Caesar! O behold
How pomp is followed! Mine will now be yours	150
And, should we shift estates, yours would be mine.
The ingratitude of this Seleucus does
Even make me wild. O slave, of no more trust
Than love that’s hired! What, go’st thou back?
Thou shalt
Go back, I warrant thee! But I’ll catch thine eyes	155
Though they had wings! Slave! Soulless villain! Dog!
O rarely base!
CAESAR     Good queen, let us entreat you.
CLEOPATRA
O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this,
That – thou vouchsafing here to visit me,
Doing the honour of thy lordliness	160
To one so meek – that mine own servant should
Parcel the sum of my disgraces by
Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
That I some lady trifles have reserved,
Immoment toys, things of such dignity	165
As we greet modern friends withal; and say
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Livia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation, must I be unfolded
With one that I have bred? The gods! It smites me	170
Beneath the fall I have. [to Seleucus] Prithee go hence,
Or I shall show the cinders of my spirits
Through th’ashes of my chance. Wert thou a man,
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
CAESAR     Forbear, Seleucus.
Exit Seleucus.
CLEOPATRA
Be it known that we, the greatest, are misthought	175
For things that others do, and when we fall,
We answer others’ merits in our name,
Are therefore to be pitied.
CAESAR     Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved nor what acknowledged
Put we i’th’ roll of conquest. Still be’t yours;	180
Bestow it at your pleasure, and believe
Caesar’s no merchant to make prize with you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be cheered;
Make not your thoughts your prisons. No, dear
queen,
For we intend so to dispose you as	185
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed and sleep.
Our care and pity is so much upon you
That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.
CLEOPATRA     My master and my lord!
CAESAR     Not so. Adieu.
Flourish. Exeunt Caesar and his train.
CLEOPATRA
He words me, girls, he words me, that I should not	190
Be noble to myself. But hark thee, Charmian.
[Whispers to Charmian.]
CHARMIAN     Finish, good lady. The bright day is done
And we are for the dark.
CLEOPATRA     Hie thee again.
I have spoke already and it is provided.
Go put it to the haste.
CHARMIAN     Madam, I will.	195
Enter DOLABELLA.
DOLABELLA     Where’s the Queen?
CHARMIAN     Behold, sir.     Exit.
CLEOPATRA     Dolabella!
DOLABELLA
Madam, as thereto sworn by your command,
Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this: Caesar through Syria
Intends his journey, and within three days	200
You with your children will he send before.
Make your best use of this. I have performed
Your pleasure and my promise.
CLEOPATRA     Dolabella,
I shall remain your debtor.
DOLABELLA     I, your servant.
Adieu, good queen. I must attend on Caesar.	205
CLEOPATRA     Farewell and thanks.     Exit Dolabella.
Now, Iras, what think’st thou?
Thou an Egyptian puppet shall be shown
In Rome as well as I. Mechanic slaves
With greasy aprons, rules and hammers shall
Uplift us to the view. In their thick breaths,	210
Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded
And forced to drink their vapour.
IRAS     The gods forbid!
CLEOPATRA     Nay, ’tis most certain, Iras. Saucy lictors
Will catch at us like strumpets, and scald rhymers
Ballad us out o’tune. The quick comedians	215
Extemporally will stage us and present
Our Alexandrian revels; Antony
Shall be brought drunken forth; and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness
I’th’ posture of a whore.
IRAS     O the good gods!	220
CLEOPATRA     Nay, that’s certain.
IRAS     I’ll never see’t, for I am sure my nails
Are stronger than mine eyes!
CLEOPATRA     Why, that’s the way
To fool their preparation and to conquer
Their most absurd intents.
Enter CHARMIAN.
Now, Charmian!	225
Show me, my women, like a queen. Go fetch
My best attires. I am again for Cydnus
To meet Mark Antony. Sirrah Iras, go.
Now, noble Charmian, we’ll dispatch indeed,
And when thou hast done this chare, I’ll give thee
leave	230
To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all.
Exit Iras.
[a noise within]
Wherefore’s this noise?
Enter a Guardsman.
GUARDSMAN     Here is a rural fellow
That will not be denied your highness’ presence.
He brings you figs.
CLEOPATRA     Let him come in.     Exit Guardsman.
What poor an instrument	235
May do a noble deed! He brings me liberty.
My resolution’s placed, and I have nothing
Of woman in me. Now from head to foot
I am marble-constant. Now the fleeting moon
No planet is of mine.
Enter Guardsman and Clown with a basket.
GUARDSMAN     This is the man.	240
CLEOPATRA     Avoid, and leave him.     Exit Guardsman.
Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there
That kills and pains not?
CLOWN     Truly, I have him; but I would not be the party
that should desire you to touch him, for his biting is	245
immortal. Those that do die of it do seldom or never
recover.
CLEOPATRA     Remember’st thou any that have died on’t?
CLOWN     Very many; men and women too. I heard of one
of them no longer than yesterday – a very honest	250
woman, but something given to lie, as a woman should
not do but in the way of honesty – how she died of the
biting of it, what pain she felt. Truly, she makes a very
good report o’th’ worm; but he that will believe all
that they say shall never be saved by half that they do.	255
But this is most falliable, the worm’s an odd worm.
CLEOPATRA     Get thee hence. Farewell.
CLOWN     I wish you all joy of the worm.
[Sets down his basket.]
CLEOPATRA     Farewell.
CLOWN     You must think this, look you, that the worm	260
will do his kind.
CLEOPATRA     Ay, ay. Farewell.
CLOWN     Look you, the worm is not to be trusted but in
the keeping of wise people; for, indeed, there is no
goodness in the worm.	265
CLEOPATRA     Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
CLOWN     Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you, for it is
not worth the feeding.
CLEOPATRA     Will it eat me?
CLOWN     You must not think I am so simple but I know	270
the devil himself will not eat a woman. I know that a
woman is a dish for the gods if the devil dress her not.
But truly, these same whoreson devils do the gods
great harm in their women, for in every ten that they
make, the devils mar five.	275
CLEOPATRA     Well, get thee gone. Farewell.
CLOWN     Yes, forsooth. I wish you joy o’th’ worm. Exit.
Enter IRAS with a robe, crown and other jewels.
CLEOPATRA
Give me my robe. Put on my crown. I have
Immortal longings in me. Now no more
The juice of Egypt’s grape shall moist this lip.	280
[The women dress her.]
Yare, yare, good Iras! Quick! Methinks I hear
Antony call. I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act. I hear him mock
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath. Husband, I come!	285
Now to that name my courage prove my title!
I am fire and air; my other elements
I give to baser life. So, have you done?
Come, then, and take the last warmth of my lips.
Farewell, kind Charmian. Iras, long farewell.	290
[Kisses them. Iras falls and dies.]
Have I the aspic in my lips? Dost fall?
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover’s pinch
Which hurts and is desired. Dost thou lie still?
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell’st the world	295
It is not worth leave-taking.
CHARMIAN
Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain, that I may say
The gods themselves do weep!
CLEOPATRA     This proves me base.
If she first meet the curled Antony,
He’ll make demand of her, and spend that kiss	300
Which is my heaven to have.
[to the asp; applying it to her breast]
Come, thou mortal wretch,
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
Of life at once untie. Poor venomous fool,
Be angry and dispatch. O, couldst thou speak,
That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass	305
Unpolicied!
CHARMIAN     O eastern star!
CLEOPATRA     Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast
That sucks the nurse asleep?
CHARMIAN     O break! O break!
CLEOPATRA     As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle –
O Antony! – Nay, I will take thee too.	310
[Applies another asp to her arm.]
What should I stay – [Dies.]
CHARMIAN     In this vile world? So fare thee well.
Now boast thee, Death, in thy possession lies
A lass unparalleled. Downy windows, close,
And golden Phoebus, never be beheld	315
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown’s awry;
I’ll mend it, and then play.
Enter the Guard, rustling in.
1 GUARD     Where’s the Queen?
CHARMIAN     Speak softly. Wake her not.
1 GUARD     Caesar hath sent –
CHARMIAN     Too slow a messenger.
[Applies an asp.]
O come apace! Dispatch! I partly feel thee.	320
1 GUARD
Approach ho! All’s not well. Caesar’s beguiled.
2 GUARD
There’s Dolabella sent from Caesar. Call him.
Exit a Guardsman.
1 GUARD
What work is here, Charmian? Is this well done?
CHARMIAN     It is well done, and fitting for a princess
Descended of so many royal kings.	325
Ah, soldier! [Charmian dies.]
Enter DOLABELLA.
DOLABELLA     How goes it here?
2 GUARD     All dead.
DOLABELLA     Caesar, thy thoughts
Touch their effects in this. Thyself art coming
To see performed the dreaded act which thou
So sought’st to hinder.	330
Enter CAESAR and all his train, marching.
ALL BUT CAESAR     A way there! A way for Caesar!
DOLABELLA     O sir, you are too sure an augurer:
That you did fear is done.
CAESAR     Bravest at the last,
She levelled at our purposes and, being royal,
Took her own way. The manner of their deaths?	335
I do not see them bleed.
DOLABELLA     Who was last with them?
1 GUARD
A simple countryman that brought her figs.
This was his basket.
CAESAR     Poisoned, then.
1 GUARD     O Caesar,
This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake.
I found her trimming up the diadem	340
On her dead mistress. Tremblingly she stood,
And on the sudden dropped.
CAESAR     O noble weakness!
If they had swallowed poison, ’twould appear
By external swelling; but she looks like sleep,
As she would catch another Antony	345
In her strong toil of grace.
DOLABELLA     Here on her breast
There is a vent of blood, and something blown;
The like is on her arm.
1 GUARD     This is an aspic’s trail, and these fig leaves
Have slime upon them such as th’aspic leaves	350
Upon the caves of Nile.
CAESAR     Most probable
That so she died, for her physician tells me
She hath pursued conclusions infinite
Of easy ways to die. Take up her bed,
And bear her women from the monument.	355
She shall be buried by her Antony.
No grave upon the earth shall clip in it
A pair so famous. High events as these
Strike those that make them, and their story is
No less in pity than his glory which	360
Brought them to be lamented. Our army shall
In solemn show attend this funeral,
And then to Rome. Come, Dolabella, see
High order in this great solemnity.
Exeunt omnes, the soldiers bearing the dead bodies.