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copy^i JHAKESPEARE^S

ANTOM AMD CLEOPATRA

With Introduction and Noted

BY
MARGARET A. EATON, B. A*

EDUCATIONAL PUBLISHING COMPANY

BOSTON
New York Chicago San Francisco
 Copyrighted
By educational PUBLISHING COMPANY
1908

LI5RARYof€ONG'RESS
Tv.'O CoDi*p<^ Received

JUN 28»ttU9

CLASS ^^ >^"^<^ No.

:2^ o / 2^/
 hTts

CONTENTS

Page
Introduction i

Dramatis Personae lo

Antony and Cleopatra ii

Notes 133

ii
 INTRODUCTION

CHIEF FACTS OF SHAKESPEARE^S LIFE.

The date of Shakespeare's birth is not known, but,
according to tradition, he was bom April 2^, 1564, in
the town of Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England.
Very little is known w^ith certainty concerning his life,
and he tells us less about himself in his work than almost
any other writer.
His father was a well-to-do tradesman and his mother
was Mary Arden, who had a small estate in land. Their
son William was sent to the grammar school of Stratford,
where he received a fair education, although hardly of
such a kind as his plays would lead us to suppose. He
may have learned a little law from his uncle, who was a
lawyer in the town, but we know next to nothing about
his youthful days.
Shortly after his marriage to Anne Hathaway he is
said to have been reprimanded for poaching on the
estate of Sir Thomas Lucy, an episode which he after-
ward immortalized, and this fact, with his father's loss
of fortune, induced him to set out for London to make
his own way in life.

Possibly he may have seen some of the plays and

pageants given at Kenilworth Castle during his boyhood,
and cherished a secret liking for the stage. At all events,
he soon found friends among the London actors and
before long became an actor himself and the proprietor
of a theatre in Blackfriars.
His fame as a playwright soon eclipsed his reputation
as an actor, and he seemed equally great in tragedy,
5
6 INTRODUCTION

comedy, or historical drama. During his life in London

he produced about thirty -six plays, of which the following
are the chief:
Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Lear, Othello, Romeo
and Juliet.
Comedies: Tempest, Merchant of Venice, Midsummer
Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It, Much
Ado About Nothing, The Winter's Tale, Cymbeline.
Historical: Henry VL, Richard II., Richard III.,
Henry IV., Henry V., Henry VIIL, Coriolanus, Julius
Caesar, Antony and Cleopatra.
He also wrote two long poems and some of the most
beautiful sonnets in the language.
In 1610 he returned to his native town, where he lived
until hisdeath six years later. His grave is in Trinity
Church, Stratford -on -Avon,

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

Antony and Cleopatra is the work of Shakespeare's
maturer years, and by many critics is considered one of
his greatest plays. Although, historically, it is closely
connected with Julius Ccesar it bears little resemblance
to that play in treatment or characterization. Like the
Iliad, it is based on no great heroic motive, but, also like
the Iliad, the characters are so transcendently portrayed,
the style is so swift and brilliant, that the ordinary
standards of criticism hardly apply.
The play was written in 1607 or 1608, not long after
the writing of Macbeth, and it is based, as are the other
Roman plays of Shakespeare, on North's familiar trans-
lation of Plutarch. Indeed, for his facts Shakespeare
has followed Plutarch so closely that it is not necessary
to give the story here, although it is well to recall what
took place between the overthrow of Julius Caesar and
the situation of affairs as we find them here.
Julius Ccesar ends with the overthrow of Brutus and
Cassius at the battle of Philippi. After that event,
 INTRODUCTION 7

Octavius Caesar, Antony, and Lepidus found themselves

masters of the Roman Empire, which they portioned
among themselves. Antony took as his share the prov-
inces in the East and proceeded against the Parthians,
who were then in revolt. On his way thither he sum-
moned Cleopatra to a conference in Cilicia, for she had
given aid to Brutus and Cassius and so won the enmity
of Augustus. The result of this conference on the river
Cydmus is described in the play. Antony followed
Cleopatra to Alexandria and abandoned himself to the
pleasures of the Egyptian court. Here we find him
when the play opens.

CRITICAL COMMENTS.

Of Shakespeare's historical plays, Antony and Cleo-

all
patra isfar the most powerful.
by There is not one in
which he has followed history so minutely, and yet there
are few in which he impresses the notion of angelic
strength so much —
perhaps none in which he impresses
it morestrongly. This is greatly owing to the manner
in which the fiery force is sustained throughout, and to
the numerous momentary flashes of nature counteracting
the historic attractions. As a wonderful specimen of
the way in which Shakespeare lives up to the very end
of this play, read the last part of the concluding scene.
— Coleridge.
But independently of any other indications, it is cer-
tain that the ripe maturity of poetic mind pervades the
whole tone of the tragedy, the diction, imagery, char-
acters, thoughts. It exhibits itself everywhere, in a copi-
ous and varied magnificence; as from a mind and mem-
ory stored with the treasures acquired in its own past
intellectual efforts, as well as with the knowledge of life
and books, from all which the dramatic muse (to borrow
8 INTRODUCTION

the Oriental imagery which Milton has himself drawn

from this very tragedy), like

*'The gorgeous East, with liberal hand,

Showers on her kings barbaric pearl and gold.'*

Its poetry has an autumnal richness, such as can

succeed only to the vernal luxuriance of genius, or its
fiercer midsummer glow. We need no other proof than
that which its own abundance affords, that this tragedy
is the rich product of a mind where, as in Mark Antony's
own Egypt, his

"Nilus had swelled high,"

and
*'When it ebb'd, the seedsmen
Upon its slime and ooze scatter'd his grain,
Which shortly came to harvest."
— Verplanck.
It is marked beyond any other (play) by a super-
abundance of external workmanship, such as needs oft
repeated and most careful perusal to bring out full upon
the mind's eye. The great number and variety of
events crowded together in it, the rapidity with which
they pass before us, and, consequently, the frequent
changes of scene, hold curiosity on the stretch, and
somewhat overfill the mind with sensuous effect, so as
for a long time to distract and divert the thoughts from
those subtleties of characterization and delicacies of
poetry which everywhere accompany them. . . .

As regards the hero and heroine, it is a noteworthy

point how little we feel or think of any moral or immoral
quality in their doings. In their intoxication of empire,
of self-aggrandizement, and of mutual passion, they
fairly overshoot the whole region of duty and obligation.
To themselves and to each other, they are simply gods;
as such, their freedom is absolute; they transcend all
relative measures and know no centre or source of law
 INTRODUCTION 9

outside of their own personality: their own wills are

their ultimate reason, their supreme law; the moral
gravitation of the world having, as it were, no hold upon
them, nor any right to control them. —
Hudson,

Of all Shakespeare's female characters, Miranda and

Cleopatra appear to me most wonderful: the first un-
equalled as a poetic conception; the latter, miraculous
as a work of art. If we could make a regular classifica-
tion of his characters, these would form the two extremes
of simplicity and complexity; and all his other characters
would be found to fill up some shade or gradation be-
tween these two. . . .

I have not the slightestdoubt that Shakespeare's

Cleopatra is the real historical Cleopatra —
the "rare
Egyptian" — individualized and placed before us. Her
mental accomplishments, her unequalled grace, her
woman's wit and woman's wiles, her irresistible allure-
ments, her starts of irregular grandeur, her bursts of
ungovernable temper, her vivacity of imagination, her
petulant caprice, her fickleness and her falsehood, her
tenderness and her truth, her childish susceptibility to
flattery, her magnificent spirit, her royal pride, the
gorgeous Eastern coloring of her character: all these
contradictory elements has Shakespeare seized, mingled
them in their extremes, and focused them into one
brilliant impersonation of classical elegance. Oriental
voluptuousness, and gypsy sorcery. —
Mrs. Jameson.
 DRAMATIS PERSONS.

Mark Antony.
OCTAVIUS CiESAR. >- Triumvirs.
M. ^MiLius Lepidus.
Sextus Pompeius.
DoMiTius Enobarbus.
Ventidius. Eros.
Friends to Antony.
ScARUs. Dercetas.
Demetrius. Philo.
Mec^nas. Agrippa.
DOLABELLA. PrOCULEIUS, > Friends to Caesar.
Thyreus. Gallus.
.Menas.
Menecrates. Friends to Pompey.
Varrius.
Taurus, lieutenant-general to Caesar.
Canidius, lieutenant-general to Antony.
SiLius,an officer in Ventidius's army.
Euphronius, an ambassador from Antony to Caesar.
Alexas.
Mardian, a Eunuch.
Attendants on Cleopatra,
>

Seleucus.
DiOMEDES.
A Soothsayer.
A Clown.

Cleopatra, queen of Egypt.

OcTAViA, sister to Caesar and wife to Antony.

J
'
\ Attendants on Cleopati:ra.
Iras. j

Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants,

Scene: In several^arts of the Roman Empire.

lO
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

ACT I.

Scene I. Alexandria. A room in Cleopatra's

palace.

Enter Demetrius and Philo.

Phi, Nay, but this dotage of our general's

O'erfiows the measure: those his goodly eyes,
That o'er the files and musters of the war
Have glow'd like plated Mars, now bend, now turn,
The office and devotion of their view 5
Upon a tawny front: his captain's heart,
Which in the scuffles of great fights hath burst
The buckles on his breast, reneges all temper.
And is become the bellows and the fan
To cool a gipsy's lust.

Flourish. Enter Antony, Cleopatra, her Ladies,

the Train, with Eunuchs fanning her.

Look, where they come: lo

Take but good note, and you shall see in him
The triple pillar of the world transform'd
Into a strumpet's fool: behold and see.
II
12 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Cleo, If it be love indeed, tell me how much.
AnL There's beggary in the love that can be
reckoned. 15
Cleo. I '11 seta bourn how far to be beloved.
Ant. Then must thou needs find out new heaven,
new earth.

Enter an Attendant.

Att, News, my from Rome.

good lord,
Ant. Grates me: the sum.
Cleo. Nay, hear them, Antony:
Fulvia perchance is angry; or, who knows 20
If the scarce-bearded Csesar have not sent
His powerful mandate to you, *'Do this, or this;
Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;
Perform't, or else we damn thee.''
Ant. How, my love!
Cleo.Perchance! nay, and most like: 25
You must not stay here longer, your dismission
Is come from Caesar; therefore hear it, Antony.
Where's Fulvia 's process? Caesar's I would say?
both?
Call in the messengers. As I am Egypt's queen.
Thou blushest, Antony; and that blood of thine 30
Is Caesar's homager: else so thy cheek pays shame
When shrill- tongued Fulvia scolds. The messengers!
Ant. Let Rome in Tiber melt, and the wide arch
Of the ranged empire fall! Here is my space.
Kingdoms are clay: our durigy earth alike 35
Feeds beast as man: the nobleness of life
Is to do thus; when such a mutual pair [Embracing.
And such a twain can do 't, in which I bind,
On pain of punishment, the world to weet
We stand up peerless.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 13

Cleo, Excellent falsehood! 40

Why did he marry Fulvia, and not love her?
I'll seem the fool I am not; Antony
Will be himself.
Ant. But stirr'd by Cleopatra.
Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours,
Let's not confound the time with conference harsh:
There's not a minute of our lives should stietch 46
Without some pleasure now. What sport to-night ?
Cleo, Hear the ambassadors.
AnL Fie, wrangling queen!
Whom every thing becomes, to chide to laugh.
To weep; whose every passion fully strives 50
To make itself, in thee, fair and admired!
No messenger, but thine; and all alone
To-night we'll wander through the streets and note
The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it: speak not to us. 55
[Exeunt Ant. and Cleg, with their train,
Dem. Is Caesar with Antonius prized so slight?
Phi, Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony.
Dem, I am full sorry
That he approves the common liar, who 60
Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy!
[Exeunt,

Scene II. The same. Another room.

Enter Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and a Soothsayer.

Char, Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any thing

Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where 's the
soothsayer that you praised so to the queen ?
14 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Alex. Soothsayer!
Sooth, Your will ? 5
Char. Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know
things ?
Sooth. In nature's infinite book of secrecy
A little I can read.
Alex. Show him your hand. t

Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine enough

Cleopatra's health to drink. n
Char. Good sir, give me good fortune.
Sooth. I make not, but foresee.
Char. Pray, then, foresee me one.
Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are.
Char. He means in flesh. i6
Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old.
Char. Wrinkles forbid!
Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive.
Char. Hush! 20
Sooth. You shall be more loving than beloved.
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking.
Nay, hear him.
Alex.
Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! Let
me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and
widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to whom
Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry
me with Octavius Caesar, and companion me with
my mistress. 29
Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you serve.
Char. O excellent! I love long life better than
figs.
Sooth. You have seen and proved a fairer former
fortune
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 15

Than that which is to approach. 34

Char. Then belike my children shall have no
names: prithee, how many boys and wenches must
I have?
Sooth, If every of your wishes had a womb,
And every wish, a million.
fertile
Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch.
Nay, come, tell Iras hers. 41
Alex, We'll know all our fortunes.
Eno, Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-night,
shall be —
drunk to bed.
Iras. There 's a palm presages chastity, if nothing
else. 45
Char. E'en as the overflowing Nilus presageth
famine.
Iras, Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot sooth-
say.
Char. Nay, if anpalm be not a fruitful prog-
oily
nostication, I cannot scratch mine ear. Prithee,
tell her but a worky-day fortune. 50
Sooth, Your fortunes are alike.
Iras. But how, but how? give me particulars.
Sooth. I have said.
Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better than she ?
Char, Our worser thoughts heavens mend!
Alexas — come, his fortune, his fortune! O, let
him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I
beseech thee! and let her die, too, and give him a
worse! and let worse follow worse, till the worst of
all follow him laughing to his grave. Good Isis,
hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter
of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee!
Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer of
the people!
Char. Amen.
 6

1 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Eno. Hush! here comes Antony.
Char. Not he; the queen. 65

Enter Cleopatra.

Cleo. Saw you my lord?

Eno, No, lady.
Cleo. Was he not here?
Char. No, madam.
Cleo. He was disposed to mirth; but on the
sudden
A Roman thought hath struck him. Enobarbus!
Eno. Madam 70
Cleo. Seek him, and bring him hither. Where 's
Alexas ?
Alex. Here, at your service. My lord approaches.
Cleo. We will not look upon him: go with us.
[Exeunt.

Enter Antony with a Messenger and Attendants.

Mess. Fulvia thy wife first came into the field.

Ant. Against my brother Lucias? 75
Mess. Ay:
But soon that war had end, and the time's state
Made friends of them, jointing their force 'gainst
Caesar;
Whose better issue in the war, from Italy,
Upon the first encounter, drave them. 40
Ant. Well, what worst? 80
Mess. The nature of bad news infects the teller.
Ant. When it concerns the fool or coward. On
Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis thus;
Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death,
I hear him as he flatter'd.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 17

Mess, Labienus — 85
This is stiflf news —
hath, with his Parthian force,
Extended Asia from Euphrates;
His conquering banner shook from Syria
To Lydia and to Ionia;
Whilst —
Ant. Antony, thou wouldst say —
Mess. O, my lord! 90
Ant, Speak to me home, mince not the general
tongue:
Name Cleopatra as she is calPd in Rome;
Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase; and taunt my faults
With such full license as both truth and malice
Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth weeds,
When our quick minds lie still; and our ills told
us 96
Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile.
Mess. At your noble pleasure. [Exit.
Ant. From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak there!
First Att. The man from Sicyon —
is there such

an one? 100
Sec. Att. He stays upon your will.
Ant. Let him appear.
These strong Egyptian fetters I must break,
Or lose myself in dotage.

Enter another Messenger.

What are you ?

Sec, Mess, Fulvia thy wife is dead.
Ant, Where died she?
Sec. Mess, In Sicyon: 105
Her length of sickness, with what else more serious
Importeth thee to know, this bears. [Gives a letter.
iS ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Ant, Forbear me.
[Exit Sec. Messenger.
There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I desire it:
What our contempt doth often hurl from us,
We wish it ours again; the present pleasure, no
By revolution lowering, does become
The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone;
The hand could pluck her back that shoved her on.
I must from this enchanting queen break off:
Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know, 115
My idleness doth hatch. How now! Enobarbus!
'
Re-enter Enobarbus.

Eno, What's your pleasure, sir?

Ant, I must with haste from hence.
Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women: we see
how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suffer
our departure, death's the word. 121
Ant. I must be gone.
Eno. Under a compelling occasion, let women
die: it were pity to cast them away for nothing;
though, between them and a great cause, they should
be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catching but the
least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her
die twenty times upon far poorer moment: I do
think there is mettle in death, which commits some
loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying.
Ant. She is cunning past man's thought. 131
Eno. Alack, sir, no; her. passions are made of
nothing but the finest part of pure love: we cannot
call her winds and waters sighs and tears; they are
greater storms and tempests than almanacs can
report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she
makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 19

AnL Would I had never seen her!

Eno, O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful
piece of work; which not to have been blest withal
would have discredited your travel. 141
AnL Fulvia is dead.
Eno, Sir ?

AnL Fulvia is dead.

Eno. Fulvia! 145
AnL Dead.
Eno. Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice.
When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a
man from him, it shows to man the tailors of the
earth; comforting therein, that when old robes are
worn out, there are members to make new. If there
were no more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed
a cut, and the case to be lamented: this grief is
crowned with consolation; your old smock brings
forth a new petticoat: and indeed the tears live in an
onion that should water this sorrow. 156
AnL The business she hath broached in the state
Cannot endure my absence.
Eno, And the business you have broached here
cannot be without you; especially that of Cleopatra's,
which wholly depends on your abode. 161
Ant, No more light answers. Let our officers
Have notice what we purpose. I shall break
The cause of our expedience to the queen,
And get her leave to part. For not alone 165
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches.
Do strongly speak to us; but the letters too
Of many our contriving friends in Rome
Petition us at home; Sextus Pompeius
Hath given the dare to Caesar, and commands 17Q
The empire ot the sea our slippery people,
:

Whps^ Jov§ is nev^r linked to the deserver

so ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Till his deserts are past, begin to throw
Pompey the Great and all his dignities
Upon his son; who, high in name and power, 175
Higher than both in blood and life, stands up
For the main soldier: whose quality, going on.
The sides o' the world may danger: much is breeding
Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life.

And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure, 1 80

To such whose place is under us, requires
Our quick remove from hence.
Eno. I shall do 't. [Exeunt,

Scene III. The same. Another room.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo. Where is he ?
Char. I did not see him since.
Cleo. See where he is, who 's with him, what he

does:
I did not send you: if you find him sad,
Say am dancing;
I if in mirth, report
That I am sudden sick: quick, and return. 5
[Exit Alexas.
Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love him
dearly.
You do not hold the method to enforce
The like from him.
Cleo. What should I do, I do not ?
Char. In each thing give him way, cross him in
nothing.
Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool; the way to lose
him. 10
Char. Tempt him not so too far; I wish, forbear:
In time we hate that which we often fear.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 21

But here comes Antony.

Enter Antony.

Cleo. I am sick and sullen.

Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my purpose,
Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian; I shall
fall: 15
It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature
Will not sustain it.
Ant. Now, my dearest queen —
Cleo. Pray you, stand farther from me.
Ant. What's the matter?
Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some
good news.
What says the married woman? You may go: 20
Would she had never given you leave to come!
Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here:
I have no power upon you; hers you are.
Ant, The gods know best —
Cleo. O, never was there queen
So mightily betray 'd! yet at the first 25
I saw the treasons planted.
Ant. Cleopatra —
Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine and
true.
Though you in swearing shake the throned gods,
Who have been false to Fulvia? Riotous madness.
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, 30
Which break themselves in swearing!
Ant. Most sweet queen —
Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no color for your going.
But bid farewell, and go when you sued staying.
:

Then was the time for words: no going then;

Eternity was in our lips and eyes, 35
2i ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor,
But it was a race of heaven:
they are so still,
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
Art turn'd the greatest liar.
Ant, How now, lady!
Cleo. I would I had thy inches; thou shouldst
know 40
There was a heart in Egypt.
Ant, Hear me, queen:
The strong necessity of time commands
Our service awhile; but my full heart
Remains in use with you. Our Italy
Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius 45
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome:
Equality of two domestic powers
Breed scrupulous faction: the hated, grown to
strength,
Are newly grown to love: the condemned Pompey,
Rich in his father's honor, creeps apace 50
Into the heart of such as have not thrived
Upon the present state, whose numbers threaten;
And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
By any desperate change: my more particular.
And that which most with you should safe my going,
Is Fulvia's death. 56
Cleo. Though age from folly could not give me
freedom,
Itdoes from childishness: can Fulvia die?
Ant. She's dead, my queen:
Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read 60
The garboils she awaked; at the last, best:
See when and where she died.
Cleo. O most false love!
Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill

With sorrowful water ? Now I see, I see,

 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 23

In Fulvia's death, how mine received shall be. 65

Ant, Quarrel no more, but be prepared to know
The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
As you shall give the advice. By the fire
That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence
Thy soldier, servant; making peace or war 70
As thou affect'st.
Cleo, Cut thy lace, Charmian, come;
But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well.
So Antony loves.
AnL My precious queen, forbear;
And give true evidence to his love, which stands
An honorable trial.
Cleo. So Fulvia told me. 75
and weep for her;
I prithee, turn aside
Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
Belong Jto Egypt: good now, play one scene
Of excellent dissembling; and let it look
Like perfect honor.
AnL You'll heat my blood: no more. 80
Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is meetly.
Ant, Now, by my sword —
Cleo. And target. Still he mends;
But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian,
How this Herculean Roman does become
The carriage of his chafe. 85
Ant, I'll leave you, lady.
Cleo. Courteous lord, one word.
Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it:
Sir, you and I have loved, but there's not it;
That you know well something it is I would
:
—
O, my oblivion is a very Antony, 90
And I am all forgotten.
Ant. But that your royalty
Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
24 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
For idleness itself.

Cleo, 'Tis sweating labor

To bear such idleness so near the heart
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; 95
Since my becomings kill me, when they do not
Eye well to you: your honor calls you hence;
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly.
And all the gods go with you! upon your sword
Sit laurel victory! and smooth success 100
Be strew'd before your feel!
Ant. Let us go. Come;
Our separation so abides, and flies,
That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me,
And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.
Away! 105 [Exeunt.

Scene IV. Rome. Cczsafs house.

Enter Octavius Caesar, reading a letter^ Lepidus,

and their Train.

Cas. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth

know.
It is not Caesar's natural vice to hate
Our great competitor: from Alexandria
This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes

The lamps of night in revel is not more manlike

; 5
Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy
More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or
Vouchsafed to think he had partners: you shall find
there
A man who is the abstract of all faults
That all men follow.
Lep. I must not think there are 10
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 25

Evils enow to darken all hisgoodness: ^

His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven,
More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary,
Rather than purchased; what he cannot change.
Than what he chooses. 15
Cces, You are too indulgent. Let us grant, it is
not
Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy;
To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit
And keep the turn of tippling with a slave;
To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet 20
With knaves that smell of sweat: say this becomes
him —
As his composure must be rare indeed
Whom these things cannot blemish yet must —
Antony
No way excuse his soils, when we do bear
So great weight in his lightness. If he filPd 25
His vacancy with his voluptuousness,
Full surfeits, and the dryness of his bones,
Call on him for't: but to confound such time.
That drums him from his sport, and speaks as loud
As his own state and ours —
'tis to be chid 30
As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge,
Pawn their experience to their present pleasure,
And so rebel to judgment.

Enter a Messenger.

Lep, Here's more news.

Mess. Thy biddings have been done; and every
hour.
Most noble Caesar, shalt thou have report 35
How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea;
And it appears he is beloved of those
26 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
That only have fear'd Caesar: to the ports
The discontents repair, and men's reports
Give him much wrong 'd.
CcBs, I should have known no less. 40
Ithath been taught us from the primal state,
That he which is was wished until he were;
And the ebb'd man, ne'er loved till ne'er worth love,
Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common body,
Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, 45
Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide,
To rot itself with motion.
Mess. Caesar, I bring thee word,
Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates.
Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound
With keels of every kind: many hot inroads 50
They make in Italy; the borders maritime
Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth revolt:
No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon
Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more
Than coMld his war resisted.
C(BS. Antony, 55
Leave thy lascivious wassails. When
thou once
Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st
Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel
Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st against,
Though daintily brought up, with patience more 60
Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink
The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle
Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did
deign
The roughest berry on the rudest hedge;
Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, 65
The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the Alps
It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh,
Which some did die to look on and all this —- :
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 27

It wounds thine honor that I speak it now —

Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek 70
So much as lank'd not.
Lep, 'Tis pity of him.
C(Bs, Let his shames quickly
Drive him to Rome: 'tis time we twain
Did show ourselves the field; and to that end
i'

Assemble we immediate council: Pompey 75

Thrives in our idleness.
Lep, To-morrow, Caesar,
I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly
Both what by sea and land I can be able
To front this present time.
C(Bs, Till which encounter.
It is my business too. Farewell. 80
Lep, Farewell, my lord: what you shall know
meantime
Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir.

To let me be partaker.
CcFs. Doubt not, sir;
I knew it for my bond. [Exeunt.

Scene V. Alexandria. Cleopatra^s palace.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian.

Cleo. Charmian!
Char, Madam ?
Cleo. Ha, ha!
Give me to drink mandragora.
Char. Why, madam?
Cleo. That I might sleep out this great gap of
time 5
My Antony is away.
Char. You think of him too much.
 ;

28 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Cleo, O, 'tis treason!
Char. Madam, I trust, not so.
Cleo. Thou, eunuch Mardian!
Mar. What 's your
highness' pleasure ?
Cleo. Not now hear thee sing. O Charmian,
to
Where think'st thou he is now? Stands he, or sits
he? lo
Or does he walk? he on his horse?
or is

O happy horse, to bear the weight of Antony!

Do bravely, horse! for wot'st thou whom thou
movest ?
The demi-Atlas of this earth, the arm
And burgonet of men. He's speaking now, 15
Or murmuring Where 's my serpent of old Nile ? "
"
For so he calls me: now I feed myself
With the most delicious poison. Think on me,
That am
with Phoebus' amorous pinches black,
And wrinkled deep in time! Broad-fronted Caesar,
When thou wast here above the ground, I was 21
A morsel for a monarch: and great Pompey
Would stand and make his eyes grow in my brow
There would he anchor his aspect and die
With looking on his life.

Enter Alexas.

Alex. Sovereign of Egypt, hail! 25

Cleo. How much unhke art thou Mark Antony!
Yet, coming from him, that great medicine hath
With his tinct gilded thee.
How goes it vv^ith my brave Mark Antony?
Alex. Last thing he did, dear queen, 3c
He kiss'd — the
last of many doubled kisses —
This orient pearl. His speech sticks in my heart.
Cleo. Mine ear must pluck it thence.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 29

Alex. *^Good friend/' quoth he,

"Say, the firm Roman to great Egypt sends
This treasure of an oyster; at whose foot, 35
To mend the petty present, I will piece
Her opulent throne with kingdom_s; ail the east,
Say thou, shall call her mistress." So he nodded.
And mount an arrogant steed,
soberly did
Who neigh'd so high, that what I would have spoke
Was beastly dumb'd by him.
Cleo. What, was he sad or merry? 41
Alex. Like to the time o' the year between the
extremes
Of hot and cold,he was nor sad nor merry.
Cleo. O well-divided disposition! Note him.
Note him, good Charmian, 'tis the man; but note
him: 45
He was not sad, for he w^ould shine on those
That make their looks by his; he was not merry,
Which seem'd to tell them his remembrance lay
In Egypt with his joy; but between both:
O heavenly mingle! Be'st thou sad or merry, 50
The violence of either thee becomes.
So does it no man else. Met'st thou my posts?
Alex. Ay, madam, twenty several messengers:
W'hy do you send so thick?
Cleo. Who's born that day
When I forget to send to Antony,
Shall die a beggar. Ink and paper, Charmian.
W'elcome, my good Alexas. Did I, Charmian,
Ever love Caesar so?
Char. O that brave Caesar! "

Cleo. Be choked with such another emphasis!

Say, the brave Antony.
Char. The valiant Caesan 60
Cleo. By Isis, I will give thee bloody teeth,
30 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
If thou with Casar paragon again
My man of men.
Char. By your most gracious pardon,
I sing but after you.
Cleo. My salad days,
When I was green in judgment: cold in blood,
To say as I said then! But, come, away;
Get me ink and paper:
He shall have every day a several greeting,
Or I'll unpeople Egypt. [Exeunt,

ACT II.

Scene I. Messina. Pompey^s house.

V
Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in war-
like manner.

Pom. If the great gods be just, they shall assist

The deeds of justest men.
Mene. Know, worthy Pompey,
That what they do delay, they not deny.
Pom. Whiles we are suitors to their throne, decays
The thing we sue for.
Mene. We, ignorant of ourselves, 5
Beg often our own harms, which the wise powers
Deny us for our good; so find we profit
By losing of our prayers. .

Pom. I shall do well:

The people and the sea is mine;
love me,
My powers are crescent, and my auguring hope 10
Says it will come to the full. Mark Antony
In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No wars without doors: Caesar gets money where
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 31

He loses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,

Of both is flattered;but he neither loves, 15
Nor either cares for him.
Mene, Caesar and Lepidus
Are in the field: a mighty strength they carry.
Pom. Where have you this ? 'tis false.
Mene, From Silvius, sir.
Pom. He dreams: I know they are in Rome
together,
Looking for Antony. But all the charms of love, 2o

Salt Cleopatra, soften thy waned lip!

Let witchcraft join with beauty, lust with both!
Tie up the libertine in a field of feasts.
Keep his brain fuming; Epicurean cooks
Sharpen with cloyless sauce his appetite; 25
That sleep and feeding may prorogue his honor
Even till a Lethe'd dulness!

Enter Varrius.

How now, Varrius!

Var, most certain that I shall deliver:
This is
Mark Antony every hour in Rome
is

Expected: since he went from Egypt His 30

A space for further travel.
Pom. I could have given less matter
A better ear. Menas, I did not think
This amorous surfeiter would have donn'd his helm
For such a petty war: his soldiership
Is twice the other twain: but let us rear 35
The higher our opinion, that our stirring
Can from the lap of Egypt's widow pluck
The ne'er-lust-wearied Antony.
Men. I cannot hope
Caesar and Antony shall well greet together:
32 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
His wife that's dead did trespass to Caesar; 40 ^

His brother warr'd upon him; although, I think,

Not moved by Antony.

Pom, I know not, Menas,
How lesser enmities may give way to greater.

Were't not that we stand up against them all,

'Twere pregnant they should square between them-
selves; 45
For they have entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the fear of us m
May cement their divisions and bind up I
The petty difference, we yet not know. ^\
Be 't as our gods will have only stands
't! 50
It

Our lives upon to use our strongest hands.

Come, Menas. [Exeunt,

Scene II. Rome. The house of Lepidus,

Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.

Lep, Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed;

And shall become you well, to entreat your captain
To soft and gentle speech.
Eno, I shall entreat him
To answer like himself: If Caesar move him, |

Let Antony look over Caesar's head ^

5
And speak as loud as Mars. By Jupiter,
Were I the wearer of Antonius' beard,
I would not shave 't to-day.
Lep, 'Tis not a time
For private stomaching.
Eno, Every time
10
Serves for the matter that is then born in't.
Lep. But small to greater matters must give way.
Eno, Not if the small come first.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 33

Lep. Your speech is passion:

But, pray you, stir no embers up. Here comes
The noble Antony.

Enter Antony and Ventidius.

Eno, And yonder, Caesar.

Enter C^sar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.

Ant. If we compose well here, to Parthia: 15

Hark, Ventidius.
C(Bs. I do not know,
Mecaenas; ask Agrippa.
Lep. Noble friends,
That which combined us was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend us. What's amiss.
May it be gently heard: when we debate 20
Our trivial difference loud, we do commit
Murder in heahng wounds: then, noble partners,
The rather, for I earnestly beseech.
Touch you the sourest points with sweetest terms,
Nor curstness grow to the matter.
Ant. 'Tis spoken well. 25
Were we before our armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.
Cces. Welcome to Rome.
Ant. Thank you.
Cces, Sit.
Ant. Sit, sir.
C(Es. Nay, then.
Ant. I learn, you take things ill which are not so.
Or being, concern you not.
Cces. I must be laugh'd at, 30
If,or for nothing or a little, I
Should say myself offended, and with you
34 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Chiefly i' the world; more laugh'd at, that I should
Once name you derogately, when to sound your name
It not concerned me.
Ant, My being in Egypt, Caesar, 35
What was 't you ?to
CcBs. No more than my residing here in Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet, if you there
Did practice on my state, your being at Egypt
Might be my question.
Ant, How intend you, practiced ? 40
CcBs. You may be
pleased to catch at mine intent
By what did here befall me. Your wife and brother
Made wars upon me; and their contestation
Was theme for you, you were the word of war.
Ant, You do mistake your business; my brother
never 45
Did urge me in his act: I did inquire it;
And have my learning from some true reports,
That drew their swords with you. Did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours;
And make the wars alike against my stomach, 50
Having alike your cause? Of this my letters
Before did satisfy you. If you'll patch a quarrel,
As matter whole you've not to make it with,
It must not be with this.
Cces, You praise yourself
By laying defects of judgment to me; but 55
You patch'd up your excuses.
Ant, Not so, not so;
I know you could not lack, I am certain on 't,
Very necessity of this thought, that I,
Your partner in the cause 'gainst which we fought,
Could not with graceful eyes attend those wars 60
Which fronted mine own peace. As for my wife,
I would you had her spirit in such another:
 ;

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 35

The third o' the world is yours; which with a snaffle

You may pace easy, but not such a mfe.
Eno. Would we had all such wives, that the
men might go to wars with the women! 66
A.nt. So much uncurbable, her garboils, Caesar,
Made out of her impatience, which not wanted
Shrewdness of policy too, I grieving grant
Did you too much disquiet: for that you must 70
But say, I could not help it.
C(Es. I wrote to you
When rioting in Alexandria; you
Did pocket up my letters, and with taunts
Did gibe my missive out of audience.
Ant. Sir,
He upon me ere admitted: then
fell 75
Three kings I had newly feasted, and did want
Of what I was i' the morning: but next day
I told him of myself; which was as much
As to have ask'd him pardon. Let this fellow
Be nothing of our strife; if we contend, 80
Out of our question wipe him.
C(Bs, You have broken
The article of your oath; which you shall never
Have tongue to charge me with.
Lep. Soft, Caesar!
Ant, No,
Lepidus, let him speak:
The honor is sacred which he talks on now, 85
Supposing that I lacked it. But, on, CaevSar;
The article of my oath.
C(Bs. To lend me arms and aid when I required
them
The which you both denied.
Ant, Neglected, rather;
And then when poison'd hours had bound me up 90
36 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
From mine own knowledge. As nearly as I may,
I'll play the penitent to you: but mine honesty
Shall not make poor my greatness, nor my power
Work without it. Truth is, that Fulvia,
To have me out of Egypt, made wars here; 95
For which myself, the ignorant motive, do
So far ask pardon as befits mine honor
To stoop in such a case.
Lep. 'Tis noble spoken.
Mec. If it might please you, to enforce no further
The griefs between ye: to forget them quite 100
Were to remember that the present need
Speaks to ator^e you.
Lep, Worthily spoken, Mecaenas.
Eno, Or, if you borrow one another's love for the
instant, you may, when you hear no more words of
Pompey, return it again: you shall have time to
wrangle in when you have nothing else to do. 106
Ant, Thou art a soldier only: speak no more.
Eno, That truth should be silent I had almost
forgot.
Ant, You wrong this presence; therefore speak
no more.
Eno, Go
to, then; your considerate stone, no
CcBs, do not much dislike the matter, but
I
The manner of his speech; for't cannot be
We shall remain in friendship, our conditions
So differing in their acts. Yet, if I knew
What hoop should hold us stanch, from edge to edge
O' the world I would pursue it.
Agr, Give me leave, Caesar 116—
Speak, Agrippa.
C(Bs.
Agr. Thou hast a sister by the mother's side,
Admired Octavia: great Mark Antony
In now a widower.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 37

C(Bs, Say not so, Agrippa: 120

If Cleopatra heard you, your reproof
Were well deserved of rashness.
Ant. I am not married, Caesar: let me hear
Agrippa further speak.
Agr, To hold you in perpetual amity, 125
To make you brothers, and to knit your hearts
With an unslipping knot, take Antony
Octavia to his wife; whose beauty claims
No worse a husband than the best of men;
Whose virtue and whose general graces speak 130
That which none else can utter. By this marriage^
All Uttle jealousies, which now seem great,
And all great fears, which now import their dangers,
Would then be nothing: truths would be tales,
Where now half tales be truths her love to both 1 3 5
:

Would, each to other and all loves to both.

Draw after her. Pardon what I have spoke;
For 'tis a studied, not a present thought,
By duty ruminated.
Ant, Will Caesar speak?
CcBs. Not till he hears how Antony is touched 1 40
With what is spoke already.
Ant. What power is in Agrippa,
If I would say, "Agrippa, be it so,''
To make this good?
CcEs. The power of Caesar, and
His power unto Octavia.
Ant. May I never
To this good purpose, that so fairly shows, 145
Dream of impediment! Let me have thy hand:
Further this act of grace; and from this hour
The heart of brothers govern in our loves
And sway our great designs!
 ;

38 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

C(BS. There is my hand.
A sister I bequeath you, whom no brother 150
Did ever love so dearly: let her live
To join our kingdoms and our
hearts; and never
Fly off our loves again!
Lep. Happily, amen!
Ant. I did not think to draw my sword 'gainst
Pompey
For he hathlaid strange courtesies and great 155
Of upon me: I must thank him only,
late
Lest my remembrance suffer ill report;
At heel of that, defy him.
Lep. Time calls upon 's:

Of us must Pompey presently be sought,

Or else he seeks us out.
Ant. Where lies he? 160
CcBs. About the Mount Misenum.
Ant. What is his strength by land?

CcBs. Great and increasing: but by sea

He is an absolute master.
Ant. So is the fame.
Would we had spoke together Haste we for it ! : 165
Yet, ere we put ourselves in arms, despatch we
The business we have talked of.
CcEs. With most gladness:
And do invite you to my sister's view.
Whither straight I'll lead you.
Ant. Let us, Lepidus,
Not lack your company.
Lep. Noble Antony, 170
Not sickness should detain me.
[Flourish. Exeunt Cesar, Antony, and Lepidus.
Mec. Welcome from Egypt, sir.
Eno. Half the heart of Caesar, worthy Mecaenas!
My honorable friend, Agrippa!
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 39

Agr. Good Enobarbus! 175

Mec. We have cause
be glad that matters are
to
so well digested. You stayed well by 't in Egypt.
Eno. Ay, sir; we did sleep day out of countenance
and made the night light with drinking.
Mec. Eight wild-boars roasted whole at a break-
fast, and but twelve persons there is this true ?
; 181
Eno. This was but as a fly by an eagle: we had
much more monstrous matter of feast, which worthily
deserved noting.
Mec. She 's a most triumphant lady, if report be
square to her. 186
Eno. When she first met Mark Antony she pursed
up his heart, upon the river of Cydnus.
Agr. my reporter
There she appeared indeed; or
devised well for her. 190
Eno. I will tell you.
The barge she sat in, like a burnished throne,
Burned on the water: the poop was beaten gold;
Purple the sails, and so perfumed that
The winds were love-sick with them; the oars were
silver, 195
Which to the tune of flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beat to follow faster.
As amorous of their strokes. For her own person,
Itbeggar'd all description: she did lie
In her pavilion —
cloth-of-gold of tissue — 200
O'er-picturing that Venus where we see
The fancy outwork nature: on each side her
Stood pretty dimpled boys, Hke smiling Cupids,
With divers-color'd fans, whose wind did seem
To glow the delicate cheeks which they did cool, 205
And what they undid did.
Agr. O, rare for Antony!
Eno. Her gentlewomen, like the Nereides,
40 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
So many mermaids, tended her i' the eyes,
And made their bends adornings: at the helm
A seeming mermaid steers: the silken tackle 210
Swell with the touches of those flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the barge
A Strang invisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adjacent wharfs. The city cast
Her people out upon her; and Antony, 215
Enthroned i' the market-place, did sit alone,
Whistling to the air; which, but for vacancy,
Had gone to gaze on Cleopatra too
And made a gap in nature. ^

Agr, Rare Egyptian!

Eno. Upon her landing, Antony sent to her, 220
Invited her to supper: she replied,
It should be better he became her guest;
Which she entreated: our courteous Antony,
Whom ne'er the word of " No " woman heard speak,
Being barber'd ten times o'er, goes to the feast, 225
And for his ordinary pays his heart
For what his eyes eat only.
Agr. Royal wench!
Eno. I saw her once
Hop forty paces through the public street;
And having lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect perfection, 231
And, breathless, power breathe forth.
Mec. Now Antony must leave her utterly.
Eno. Never; he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custom stale 235
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feed: but she makes hungry
Where most she satisfies: for vilest things
Become themselves in her; that the holy priests
Bless her when she is riggish. 240
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 41

Mec. wisdom, modesty, can

If beauty, settle
The heart of Antony, Octavia is
A blessed lottery to him.
Agr. Let us go.
Good Enobarbus, make yourself my guest
Whilst you abide here.
Eno, Humbly, sir, I thank you. [Exeunt,

Scene III. The same. Cesar's house.

Enter Antony, Caesar, Octavia between them,

and Attendants.

Ant. The world and my great office will some-

times
Divide me from your bosom.
Octa. All which time
Before the gods my knee shall bow my prayers
To them for you.
Ant. Good night, sir. My Octavia,
Read not my blemishes in the world's report: 5
I have not kept my square; but that to come
Shall all be done by the rule. Good night, dear lady.
Good night, sir.

Cces. Good night.

[Exeunt Caesar and Octavia.

Enter Soothsayer.

Ant. Now, sirrah; you do wish yourself in

Egypt? 10
Sooth. Would I had never come from thence,
nor you
Thither!
42 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Ant, If you can, your reason?
Sooth, I see it in
My motion, have it not in my tongue: but yet
Hie you to Egypt again.
Ant, Say to me, 15
Whose fortunes shall rise higher, Caesar's or mine?
Sooth. Caesar's.
Therefore, O
Antony, stay not by his side:
Thy demon, that's thy spirit which keeps thee, is
Noble, courageous, high, unmatchable, 20
Where Caesar's is not; but, near him, thy angel
Becomes a fear, as being o'erpower'd: therefore
Make space enough between you.
Ant. Speak this no more.
Sooth. To none but thee; no more, but when to
thee.
If thou dost play with him at any game, 25
Thou art sure to lose; and, of that natural luck,
He beats thee 'gainst the odds: thy lustre thickens,
When he shines by: I say again, thy spirit
Is all afraid to govern thee near him;
But, he away, 'tis noble.
Ant. Get thee gone: 30
Say to Ventidius I would speak with him:
[Exit Soothsayer.
He shall to Parthia. Be it art or hap.
He hath spoken true: the very dice obey him;
And in our sports my better cunning faints
Under his chance: if we draw lots,he speeds; 35
His cocks do win the battle still of mine.
When it is all to nought; and his quails ever
Beat mine, inhoop'd, at odds. I will to Egypt:
And though I make this marriage for my peace,
I' the east my pleasure lies.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 43

Enter Ventidius,

O, come, Ventidius, 40
You must to Parthia: your commission's ready;
Follow me, and receive 't. \Exeunt,

Scene IV. The same, A street.

Enter Lepidus, Mec^nas, and Agrippa.

Lep. Trouble yourselves no further: pray you,

hasten
Your generals after.
Agr, Sir, Mark Antony
Will e'en but kiss Octavia, and we'll follow.
Lep. Till I shall see you in your soldier's dress.
Which will become you both, farewell.
Mec, We shall. 5
As I conceive the journey, be at the Mount
Before you, Lepidus.
Lep, Your way is shorter;
My purposes do draw me much about:
You '11 win two days upon me.
Mec.
A
)
>
c
bir,
J
good success!
f

Lep, Farewell. [Exeunt, 10

Scene V. Alexandria, Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmlan, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo, Give me some music; music, moody food

Of us that trade in love.
Attend. The music, ho!
44 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Enter Mardian the Eunuch.

Let it alone; let's to billiards: come,

Cleo.
Charmian.
Char, My arm is sore; best play with Mardian.
Cleo. As well a woman with an eunuch played 5
As with a woman. Come, you '11 play with me, sir ?
Mar. As well as I can, madam.
Cleo. And when good will is show'd, though 't

come too short.

The actor may plead pardon. I'll none now:
Give me mine angle; we '11 to the river there, 10 :

My music playing far off, I will betray

Tawny-finn'd fishes; my bended hook shall pierce
Their slimy jaws; and, as I draw them up,
I '11 think them every one an Antony,
And say "Ah, ha! you're caught."
Char. 'Twas merry when 15
You wager'd on your angling; when your diver
Did hang a salt-fish on his hook, which he
With fervency drew up.
Cleo. That time O times! — —
I laugh'd him out of patience; and that night
I laugh'd him into patience: and next morn, 20
Ere the ninth hour, I drunk him to his bed;
Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst
I wore his sword Philippan.

Enter a Messenger.

O, from Italy!
Ram thou thy fruitful tidings in mine ears,
That long time have been barren.
Mess. Madam, madam 25 —
Cleo. Antonius dead! —
If thou say so, villain,
 —

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 45

Thou kill'st thy mistress: but well and free,

Ifthou so yield him, there is gold, and here
My bluest veins to kiss; a hand that kings
Have lipped, and trembled kissing. 3°
Mess, First, madam, he is well.
Cleo. Why, there's more gold.
But, sirrah, mark, we use
To say the dead are well: bring it to that.
The gold I give thee will I melt and pour
Down thy ill-uttering throat. 35
Mess. Good madam, hear me.
Cleo, Well, go to, I will;
But there's no goodness in thy face: if Antony
Be free and healthful —
so tart a favor
To trumpet such good tidings! If not well.
Thou shouldst come like a Fury crown'd with
snakes, 40
Not like a formal man.
Mess. Will 't please you hear me?
Cleo. 1 have a mind to strike thee ere thou
speak 'st:
Yet, thou say Antony lives, is well.
if

Or friends with Caesar, or not captive to him,

I'll set thee in a shower of gold, and hail 45
Rich pearls upon thee.
Mess. Madam, he's well.
Cleo. Well said.
Mess. And friends with Caesar.
Cleo. Thou'rt an honest man.
Mess. Caesar and he are greater friends than ever.
Cleo. Make thee a fortune from me.
Mess. But, yet madam
Cleo. I do not like "But yet," it does allay 50
The good precedence; fie upon "But yet"!
"But yet" k a gaoler to bring forth
 :

46 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Some monstrous malefactor. Prithee, friend,
Pour out the pack of matter to mine ear,
The good and bad together he 's friends with Caesar;
:

In state of health thou say'st; and thou say'st free. 56

Mess, Free, madam! no; I made no such report
He's bound unto Octavia.
Cleo. I am pale, Charmian.
Mess, Madam, he's married to Octavia.
Cleo, The most infectious pestilence upon thee!
[Strikes him down.
Mess. Good madam, patience.
Cleo, What say you? Hence, 61
[Strikes him again.
Horrible villain! or I'll spurn thine eyes
Like balls before me; I'll unhair thy head:
[She hales him up and down.
Thou shalt be whipp'd with wire, and stew'd in brine,
Smarting in lingering pickle.
Mess, Gracious madam, 65
I that do bring the news made not the match.
Cleo. Say 'tis not so, a province I will give thee,
And make thy fortunes proud the blow thou hadst
:

Shall make thy peace for moving me to rage;

And I will boot thee with what gift beside 70
Thy modesty can beg.
Mess, He's married, madam.
Cleo, Rogue, thou hast lived too long.
[Draws a knife.
Mess, Nay, then I '11 run.
What mean you, madam? I have made no fault.
[Exit.
Char. Good madam, keep yourself within your-
self:
The man is innocent. 75
Cleo. Some innocents 'scape not the thunderbolt.
 Antony and cleopatra 47

Melt Egypt into Nile! and kindly creatures

Turn all to serpents! Call the slave again:
Though I am mad, I will not bite him; call.
Char. He is afeard to come.
Cleo, I will not hurt him. 80
[Exit Charmian.
These hands do lack nobiUty, that they strike
A meaner than myself; since I myself
Have given myself the cause.

Re-enter Charmian and Messenger.

Come hither, sir.

Though it be honest, it is never good

To bring bad news: give to a gracious message 85

An host of tongues; but let ill tidings tell
Themselves when they be felt.
Mess, I have done my duty.
Cleo. Is he married ?
I cannot hate thee worser than I do,
If thou again say "Yes."
Mess. He's married, madam. 90
Cleo. The gods confound thee! dost thou hold
there still?
Mess. Should I lie, madam?
Cleo. O, I would thou didst,
So half my Egypt were submerged and made
A cistern for scaled snakes! Go, get thee hence:
Hadst thou Narcissus in thy face, to me 95
Thou wouldst appear most ugly. He is married?
Mess, I crave your highness' pardon.
Cleo. He is married?
Mess. Take no offence that I would not offend
you:
48 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
To punish me for what you make me do
Seems much unequal he 's married to Octavia. i oo
:

Cleo, O, that his fault should make a knave of

thee,
That art not what thou'rt sure of. Get thee hence:
The merchandise which thou hast brought from
Rome
Are all too dear for me: lie they upon thy hand,
And be undone by 'em! [Exit Messenger.
Char. Good your highness, patience. 105
Cleo, In praising Antony, I have dispraised
Caesar.
Char. Many times, madam.
Cleo. I am paid for 't now.
Lead me from hence;
I faint: O Iras, Charmian! 'tis no matter.
Go to the fellow, good Alexas; bid him no
Report the feature of Octavia, her years.
Her inclination, let him not leave out
The color of her hair: bring me word quickly.
[Exit Alexas.
Let him for ever go let him not
:
— Charmian, —
Though he be painted one way like a Gorgon, 115
The other way's a Mars. Bid you Alexas
[To Mardian.
Bring me word how tall she is. Pity me, Charmian,
But do not speak to me. Lead me to my chamber.
[Exeunt.

Scene VI. Near Misenum.

Flourish. Enter Pompey and Menas at one side,

with drum and trumpet: at another, C^sar,
Antony, Lepidus, Enobarbus, Mec^enas,
with Soldiers marching.
 ;

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 49

Pom. Your hostages I have, so have you mine;

And we shall talk before we fight.
Coes. Most meet
That first we come words; and therefore have
to we
Our written purposes before us sent;
Which, if thou hast consider'd, let us know
If 'twill tie up thy discontented sword,
And carry back to Sicily much tall youth
That else must perish here.
Pom. To you all three,
The senators alone of this great world,
Chief factors for the gods, I do not know 10
Wherefore my father should avengers want,
Having a son and friends ; since Julius Caesar,
Who good Brutus ghosted
at Philippi the
There saw you laboring for him. What was't
That moved pale Cassius to conspire; and what 15
Made the all-honor 'd, honest Roman, Brutus,
With the arm'd rest, courtiers of beauteous free-
dom,
To drench the Capitol; but that they would
Have one man but a man ? And that is it
Hath made me rig my navy; at whose burthen 20
The anger 'd ocean foams; with which I meant
To scourge the ingratitude that despiteful Rome
Cast on my noble father.
CcBS, Take your time.
Ant, Thou canst not fear us, Pompey, with thy
sails
We'll speak with thee at sea; at land, thou know'st 25
How much we do o'er-count thee.
Pom, At land, indeed,
Thou dost o'er-count me of my father's house:
But, since the cuckoo builds not for himself,
Remain in 't as thou mayst.
50 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Lep, Be pleased to tell us —
For this is from the present — how you take 30
The offers we have sent you.
CcBS. There's the point.
Ant. Which do not be entreated to, but weigh
What it is worth embraced.
CcBS. And what may follow,
To try a larger fortune.
Pom. You have made me offer
Of Sicily, Sardinia; and I must 35
Rid all the sea of pirates; then, to send
Measures of wheat to Rome; this 'greed upon,.
To part with unhack'd edges, and bear back
Our targes undinted.
CcEs. Ant. Lep. That's our offer.
Pom. Know, then 40
I came before you here a man prepared
To take this offer: but Mark Antony
Put me to some impatience: though I lose
The praise of it by telling, you must know,
When Caesar and your brother were at blows, 45
Your mother came to Sicily and did find
Her welcome friendly.
Ant. I have heard it, Pompey;
And am well studied for a liberal thanks
Which I do owe you.
Pom, Let me have your hand:
I did not think, sir, to have met you here. 50
Ant, The beds i' the east are soft and thanks
to you,
That calPd me timelier than my purpose hither;
For I have gain'd by 't.

CcBs. Since I saw you last.

There is a change upon you.
Pom, Well, I know not
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 51

What counts harsh fortune casts upon my face; 55

But my basom shall she never come,
in
To make my heart her vassal.
Lep. Well met here.
Pom. I hope so, Lepidus. Thus we are agreed:
I crave our composition may be v^ritten.
And seaPd between us.
CcBs. That's the next to do. 60
Pom. We feast each other ere we part and let's
'11 ;

Draw lots who shall begin.

Ant, That will I, Pompey.
Pom. No, Antony, take the lot: but, first
Or last, your fine Egyptian cookery
Shall have the fame. I have heard that Julius
Caesar
Grew fat with feasting there.
Ant. You have heard much 66
Pom. I have fair meanings, sir.

Ant. And fair words to them.

Pom. Then so much have I heard:
And have heard, Apollodorus carried
I —
Eno. No more of that: he did so.
Pom. What, I pray you ? 70
Eno. A certain queen to Caesar in a mattress.
Pom. I know thee now how: farest thou, soldier ?
Eno. Well;
And well am like to do; for, 1 perceive,
Four feasts are toward.
Pom, Let me shake thy hand;
I never hated thee: I have seen thee fight, 75
When I have envied thy behavior.
Eno. Sir,
I never lovedyou much; but I ha' praised ye.
When you have well deserved ten times as much
As I have said you did.
52 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Pom, Enjoy thy plainness.
It nothing ill becomes thee. 80
Aboard my galley I invite you all:
Will you lead, lords?
CcBs, Ant. Lepr Show us the way, sir.

Pom. Come.
[Exeunt all but Menas and Enobarbus.
Men. [Aside.] Thy father, Pompey, would ne'er
have made this treaty. — You and I have known, sir.
Eno. At sea, I think. 85
Men. We have, sir.

Eno. You have done well by water.

Men. And you by land.
Eno. I will praise any man that will praise me;
though cannot be denied what I have done by land.
it

Men, Nor what I have done by water. 91

Eno. Yes, something you can deny for your own
safety: you have been a great thief by sea.
Men. And you by land.
Eno. There I deny my land service. But give me
your hand, Menas: if our eyes had authority, here
they might take two thieves kissing. 97
Men. All men's faces are true, whatsoe'er their
hands are.
Eno. But there is never a fair woman has a true
face. loi
Men. No slander; they steal hearts.
Eno. We came thither to fight with you.
Men. For my part, I am sorry it is turned to a
drinking. Pompey doth this day laugh away his
fortune. 106
Eno. If he do, sure, he cannot weep't back again.
Men. You Ve said, sir. We looked not for Mark
Antony here: pray you^ is he married to Cleopatra?
MiiOi Csesat's sister is called Octavia* no
 :

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA S3

Men. True, sir; she was the wife of Caius Mar-

cellus.
Eno, But she is now the wife of Marcus Antonius.
Men. Pray ye, sir?
Eno. 'Tis true. 115
Men. Then is Caesar and he for ever knit together.
Eno. If I were bound to divine of this unity, I
would not prophesy so.
Men. I think the poHcy of that purpose made
more in the marriage than the love of the parties 120
Eno. I think so too. But you shall find, the band
that seems to tie their friendship together will be the
very strangler of their amity: Octavia is of a holy,
cold, and still conversation.
Men. Who would not have his wife so? 125
Eno. Not he that himself is not so; which is
Mark Antony. He will to his Egyptian dish again
then shall the sighs of Octavia blow the fire up in
Caesar; and, as I said before, that which is the
strength of their amity shall prove the immediate
author of their variance. Antony will use his affec-
tion where it is: he married but his occasion here.
Men. And thus it may be. Come, sir, will you
aboard? I have a health for you. 134
Eno. I shall take it, sir: we have used our throats
in Egypt.
Men. Come, let's away, [Exeunt.

Scene VII. On board Pompey's galley, off Misenum.

Music plays. Enter two or three Servants ivith a
banquet.

First Serv. Here they'll be, man. Some o' their

54 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
plants are ill-rooted already; the least wind i' the
world blow them down.
will
Sec, Serv, tepidus is high-colored.
First Serv, They made have drink alms-drink. 5
Sec, Serv, As they pinch one another by the dis-
position, he cries out *^No more"; reconciles them
to his entreaty, and himself to the drink.
First Serv, But it raises the greater war between
him and his discretion. 10
Sec, Serv, Why, this it is to have a name in great
men's fellowship I had as lief have a reed that will
:

do me no service as a partisan I could not heave.

First Serv. To be called into a huge sphere, and
not to be seen to move in't, are the holes where eyes
should be, which pitifully disaster the cheeks. 16

A sennet^ sounded. Enter C^sar, 'Antony, Lepi-

DUS, POMPEY, AgRIPPA, MeC^ENAS, EnOBAR-
Bus, Menas, with other Captains.

Ant.\To C^SAR.] Thus do they, sir: they take

the flow o' the Nile
By certain scales i' the pyramid; they know,
By the height, the lowness, or the mean, if dearth
Or foison follow: the higher Nilus svvells, 20
The more it promises: as it ebbs, the seedsman
Upon the slime and ooze scatters his grain,
And shortly comes to harvest.
Lep, You've strange serpents there.
Ant, Ay, Lepidus. 25
Lep, Yourserpent of Egypt is bred now of your
mud by the operation of your sun so is your croco-
:

dile.
Ant. They are so.
Pom. Sit —and some wine! A health to Lepidus!
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 55

Lep. I am not so well as I should be, but I'll

ne'er out.
Eno. Not till you have slept; I fear me you'll
be in till then. 34
Lep. Nay, certainly, I have heard the Ptolemies'
pyramises are very goodly things; v^ithout contradic-
tion, I have heard that.
Men. [Aside to Pom.] Pompey, a word.
Pom. [Aside to Men.] Say in mine ear what is't ?
:

Men. [Aside to Pom.] Forsake thy seat, I do

beseech thee, captain.
And hear me speak a word.
Pom. [Aside to yiY.^,'\ Forbear me till anon. 40
This wine for Lepidus!
Lep. What manner o' thing is your crocodile?
Ant, It is shaped, sir, like itself; and it is as broad
as it hath breadth it is just so high as it is, and moves
:

with it own organs: it lives by that which nourisheth

it; and the elements once out of it, it transmigrates.

Lep, What color is it of ? 47

Ant. Of its own color too.
Lep. 'Tis a strange serpent.
Ant, 'Tis so. And the tears of it are wet. 50
C(BS. Will this description satisfy him?
Ant, With the health that Pompey gives him,
else he is a very epicure.
Pom. [Aside to Men.] Go hang, sir, hang ! Tell
me of that? away!
Do as I bid you. Where 's this cup I call'd for ?
Men, [Aside to Pom.] If for the sake of merit
thou wilt hear me,
Rise from thy stool. 55
Pom, [Aside to Men.] I think thou'rt mad.
The matter? [Rises and walks aside.
^

Men, I have ever held my cap ofi' to thy fortunes.

56 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Pom, Thou hast served me with much faith.
What else's to say?
Be jolly, lords.
Ant. These quick-sands, Lepidus, 60
Keep off them, for you sink.
Men. Wilt thou be lord of all the world ?
Pom. What say'st thou?
Men. Wilt thou be lord of the whole world?
That's twice.
Pom, How should that be?
Men, But entertain it.

And, though you think me poor, I am the man 65

Will give thee all the world.
Pom. Hast thou drunk well ?
Men. No, Pompey, I have kept me from the cup.
Thou art, if thou darest be, the earthly Jove:
Whate'er the ocean pales, or sky inclips,
Is thine, if thou wilt ha't.
Pom. Show me which way. 70
Men. These three world-sharers, these competi-
tors
Are in thy vessel: let me cut the cable;
And, when we are put off, fall to their throats:
All there is thine.
Pom. Ah, this thou shouldst have done.
And not have spoken on't! In me 'tis villainy; 75
In thee 't had been good service. Thou must know
'Tis not my profit that does lead mine honor;
Mine honor, it. Repent that e'er thy tongue
Hath so betray 'd thine act: being done unknown,
I should have found it afterwards well done; 80
But must condemn it now. Desist, and drink.
Men. [Aside.] For this,
I '11 never follow thy pall'd fortunes more.
Who seeks, and will not take when once 'tis offer'd.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA •
57

Shall never findmore. it

Pom. This health to Lepidus! 85

Ant, Bear him ashore. I'll pledge it for him,
Pompey.
Eno, Here's to thee, Menas!
Men, Enobarbus, welcome!
Pom. Fill till the cup be hid.
Eno. There's a strong fellow, Menas.
[Pointing to the Attendant who carries off
Lepidus.
Men. Why? 90
Eno. A' bears the third part of the world, man;
see'st not?
Men. The third part, then, is drunk: would it
were all,
That might go on wheels!
Eno. Drink thou; increase the reels.
Men. Come. 95
Pom. This is not yet an Alexandrian feast.
Ant. It ripens towards it. Strike the vessels, ho!
Here is to Caesar!
CcBs. I could well forbear 't.
monstrous labor when I wash my brain,
It's
And it grows fouler.
Ant. Be a child o' the time. 100
C(Bs. Possess it, I'll make answer:
But I had rather from
all four days
fast
Than drink so much in one.
Eno. Ha, my brave emperor! [To Antony.
Shall we dance now the Egyptian Bacchanals,
And celebrate our drink?
Pom. Let's ha't, good soldier, 105
Ant. Come, let's all take hands,
Till that the conquering wine hath steep 'd our sense
In soft and deUcate Lethe.
58 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Eno. All take hands.
Make battery to our ears with the loud music:
The while I '11 place you then the boy shall sing
: no
The holding every man shall bear as loud
As his strong sides can volley.
[Music plays. Enobarbus places them hand
in hand.

The Song
Come, thou monarch of the vine,
Plumply Bacchus with pink eyne!
In thy fats our cares be drown'd, 115
With thy grapes our hairs be crown'd:
Cup us, till the world go round,
Cup us, till the world go round!

C(Zs. What would you more? Pompey, good

night.Good brother,
Let me request you our graver business
off: 120
Frowns Gentle
at this levity. lords, let's part;
You see we have burnt our cheeks: strong Enobarb
Is weaker than the wine; and mine own tongue
Splits what it speaks: the wild disguise hath almost
Ajitick'd us all. What needs more words? Good
night. 125
Good Antony, your hand.
Pom, I '11 try you on the shore.
Ant. And shall, sir: give's your hand.
Pom, O Antony,
You have my father's house. — But, what ? we are
friends.
Come, down into the boat.
Eno, Take heed you fall not.
[Exeunt all hut Enobarbus and Menas.
 ANTONY AND CLCOPATRA 59

Menas, 1 11 not on shore.

Men. No, to my cabin. 130
These drums! these trumpets, flutes! what!
Let Neptune hear we bid a loud farewell
To these great fellows sound and be hang'd, sound
:

out! [Sound a flourish, with drums,

Eno. Ho! says a'. There's my cap.
Men. Ho! Noble captain, come. [Exeunt.

ACT HI.

Scene I. A plain in Syria.

Enter Ventidius as it were in triumph, with Silius,

and Romans, Officers, and Soldiers;
other the
dead body of Pacurus borne before him.

Yen. Now, darting Parthia, art thou struck;

and now
Pleased fortune does of Marcus Crassus' death
Make me revenger. Bear the king's son's body
Before our army. Thy Pacorus, Orodes,
Pays this for Marcus Crassus.
Sil. Noble Ventidius, 5
Whilst yet with Parthian blood thy sword is warm,
The fugitive Parthians follow; spur through Media,
Mesopotamia, and the shelters whither
The routed fly: so thy grand captain Antony
Shall set thee on triumphant chariots and 10
Put garlands on thy head.
Ven. O Silius, Silius,
I have done enough; a lower place, note well.
May make too great an act: for learn this, Silius;
Better to leave undone, than by our deed 14
6o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Acquire too high a fame when him we serve 's away*
Caesar and Antony have ever won
More in their officer than person: Sossius,
One of my place in Syria, his lieutenant,
For quick accumulation of renown,
Which he achieved by the minute, lost his favor 20
Who does i' the wars more than his captain can
Becomes his captain's captain: and ambition,
The soldier's virtue, rather makes choice of loss,
Than gain which darkens him.
I could do more todo Antonius good, 25
But 'tw^ould offend him; and in his offence
Should my performance perish.
Sil. Thou hast, Ventidius, that
Without the which a soldier, and his sword,
Grants scarce distinction. Thou wilt write to
Antony ?
Ven. I'll humbly signify what in his name, 30
That magical word of war, we have effected;
How, with his banners and his well-paid ranks.
The ne'er-yet-beaten horse of Parthia
We have jaded out o' the field.
Sil. Where is he now?
Ven. He purposeth to Athens: whither, with
what haste 35
The weight we must convey with's will permit.
We shall appear before him. On, there; pass along!
[Exeunt.

Scene II. Rome, An ante-chamber in Cesar's

house.

Enter Agrippa at one door, Enobarbus at another.

Agr. What, are the brothers parted?

 !

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 6i

Eno, They have despatched with Pompey, he is

gone;
The other three are sealing. Octavia weeps
To part from Rome; Caesar is sad; and Lepidus,
Since Pompey's feast, as Menas says, is troubled 5
With the green sickness.
Agr, 'Tis a noble Lepidus.
Eno, A
very fine one: O, how he loves Caesar!
Agr. Nay, but how dearly he adores Mark An-
tony!
Eno. Caesar? Why, he's the Jupiter of men.
Agr. What 's Antony ? The god of Jupiter. 10
Eno. Spake you of Caesar ? How! the nonpareil
Agr. O Antony! O thou Arabian bird!
Eno. Would you praise Caesar, say "Caesar'':
go no further.
Agr. Indeed, he plied them both with excellent
praises.
Eno. But he loves Caesar best; yet he loves
Antony: 15
Ho! hearts, tongues, figures, scribes, bards, poets
cannot
Think, speak, cast, write, sing, number, ho!
His love to Antony. But as for Caesar,
Kneel down, kneel down, and wonder.
Agr, Both he loves.
Eno. They are his shards, and he their beetle.
I
[Trumpets within.'] So; 20
; This is to horse. Adieu, noble Agrippa.
Agr. Good fortune, worthy soldier; and farewell*

Enter Caesar, Antony, Lepidus, and Octavia.

Ant. No futthefj sir.

Cm. You take itom me a gtciat part of myself;

 —

62 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Use me well in't. Sister, prove such a wife 25
As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest band
Shall pass on thy approof. Most noble Antony,
Let not the piece of virtue, which is set
Betwixt us as the cement of our love,
To keep it builded, be the ram to batter 30
The fortress of it; for better might we
Have loved without this mean, if on both parts
This be not cherish'd.
AnL Make me not offended
In your distrust.
CcBS. I have said.
Ant. You shall not find.
Though you be therein curious, the least cause 35
For what you seem to fear: so, the gods keep
you,
And make the hearts of Romans serve your ends!
We will here part.
CcBs. Farewell, my dearest sister, fare thee well:
The elements be kind to thee, and make 40
Thy spirits all of comfort! fare thee well.
OcL My noble brother!
Ant. The ApriPs in her eyes: it is loves' spring,
And these the showers to bring it on. Be cheerful.
Oct, Sir, look well to my husband's house; and
C(Bs. What. 45
Octavia ?
Oct. I '11 tell you in your ear.
Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
Her heart inform her tongue the swan's down- —
feather,
That stands upon the swell at full tide,
And neither way inclines. 50
Eno. [Aside to Agr.] Will Caesar weep?
Agr. [Aside to Eno.] He has a cloud in 's face.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 63

Eno, [Aside Agr.] He were the worse for

to
that, were he a horse;
So is he, being a man.
Agr, [Aside to End.] Why, Enobarbus,
When Antony found JuUus Caesar dead.
He cried almost to roaring; and he wept 55
When at Philippi he found Brutus slain.
Eno. [Aside to Agr.] That year, indeed, he was
troubled with a rheum;
What willingly he did confound he waiPd,
Believe 't, till I wept too.
C(Es. No, sweet Octavia,
You shall hear from me still; the time shall not 60
Out-go my thinking on you.
Ant, Come, sir, come;
I'llwrestle with you in my strength of love:
Look, here I have you; thus I let you go,
And give you to the gods.
Cces. Adieu; be happy!
Lep. Let all the number of the stars give light 65
To thy fair way!
CcBs. Farewell, farewell! [Kisses Octavia.
Ant. Farewell!
[Trumpets sound. Exeunt^

Scene III. Alexandria, Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.

Cleo. Where is the fellow?

Alex, Half afeard to come.
Cho. Go to, go to.

Enter the Messenger as before.

Come hither, sir.

64 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Alex. Good majesty,
Herod of Jewry dare not look upon you
But when you are well pleased.
Cleo. That Herod's head
I '11 have but how, when Antony is gone
:
5
Through whom I might command it ? Come thou
near.
Mess. Most gracious majesty —
Cleo. Didst thou behold Octavia?
Mess. Ay, dread queen.
Cleo. Where? 10
Mess. Madam, in Rome;
and saw her led
I look'd her in the face,
Between her brother and Mark Antony.
Cleo. Is she as tall as me?
Mess. She is not, madam.
Cleo. Didst hear her speak ? is she shrill-tongued
or low? 15
Mess. Madam, I heard her speak; she is low-
voiced.
Cleo. That's not so good: he cannot like her
long.
Char. Like her! O Isis! 'tis impossible.
Cleo. I think so, Charmian: dull of tongue, and
dwarfish!
What majesty is in her gait? Remember, 20
If e'er thou look'dst on majesty.
Mess. She creeps:
Her motion and her station are as one;
She shows a body rather than a life,
A statue than a breather.
Cleo. Is this certain ? 'jJM
Mess. Or I have no observance. • -

Char. Three in Egypt 25

Cannot make better note.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 6s

Cleo, He's very knowing;

Ido perceive 't: there's nothing in her yet:
The fellow has good judgment.
Char, Excellent.
Cleo. Guess at her years, I prithee.
Mess. Madam,
She was a widow —
Cleo, Widow! Charmian, hark. 30
Mess. And I do think she 's thirty.
Cleo. Bear'st thou her face in mind? is't long
or round?
Mess. Round even to faultiness.
Cleo. For the most part, too, they are foolish
that are so.
Her hair, what color? 35
Mess. Brown, madam: and her forehead
As low as she would wish it.
Cleo. There's gold for thee.
Thou must not take my former sharpness ill:
I will employ thee back again; I find thee
More fit for business: go make thee ready; 40
Our letters are prepared. [Exit Messenger.
Char. A proper man.
Cleo.Indeed, he is so: I repent me much
That so I harried him. Why, methinks, by him.
This creature's no such thing.
Char. Nothing, madam.
Cleo. The man hath seen some majesty, and
should know. 45
Char. Hath he seen majesty? Isis else defend.
And serving you so long!
Cleo. I have one thing more to ask him yet, good
Charmian:
But 'tis no matter; thou shalt bring him to me
Where I will write. All may be well enough. 50
 "

66 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Char, I warrant you, madam. \ExeunL

Scene IV. Athens, A room in Antonyms house.

Enter Antony and Octavia.

Ant. Nay, nay, Octavia, not only that —
That were excusable, that, and thousands more
Of semblance import —
but he hath waged
New wars 'gainst Pompey; made his will, and read it
To public ear; 5
Spoke scantly of me: when perforce he could not
But pay me terms of honor, cold and sickly
He vented them; most narrow measure lent me:
When the best hint was given him, he not took 't.
Or did it from his teeth.
Oct. O my good lord, 10
Believe not all; or, if you must believe.
Stomach not all. A more unhappy lady,
If this division chance, ne'er stood between,
Prapng for both parts:
The good gods will mock me presently, 15
When I shall pray, " O, bless my lord and husband!
Undo that prayer, by crying out as loud,
*^
O, bless my brother
" Husband win, win brother.
!

Prays, and destroys the prayer; no midway

'Twixt these extremes at all.
. Ant. Gentle Octavia, 20
Let your best love draw to that point, which seeks
Best to preserve it: if I lose mine honor,
I lose myself: better I wer^ not yours
Than yours so branchless. But, as you requested.
Yourself shall go between 's the mean time, lady, 2 5
:

I '11 raise the preparation of a v/ar

Shall stain your brother: make your soonest haste;
 ; 1

ANTOKY AND CLEOPATRA 67

So your desires are yours.

Oct. Thanks to my lord.
The Jove of power make me most
weak, most weak,
Your reconciler! Wars 'twixt you twain would be
As if the world should cleave, and that slain men 3
Should solder up the rift.
Ant. When it appears to you w^here this begins.
Turn your displeasure that way; for our faults
Can never be so equal, that your love 35
Can equally move with them. Provide your going;
Choose your own company, and command what cost
Your heart has mind to. \Eoceunt.

Scene V. The same. Another room.

Enter Enobarbus and Eros, meeting.

Eno. How now, friend Eros!

Eros. There's strange news come, sir.

Eno. What, man?

Eros. Caesar and Lepidus have made wars upon
Pompey.
Eno. This is old: the success?
w^hat is 5
Eros. Caesar, having made
use of him in the wars
'gainst Pompey, presently denied him rivality would ;

not let him partake in the glory of the action: and

not resting here, accuses him of letters he had for-
merly wrote to Pompey; upon his own appeal, seizes
him: so the poor third is up, till death enlarge his
confine. 12
Eno. Then, world, thou hast a pair of chaps, no
more
And throw between them all the food thou hast
They '11 grind the one the other. Where 's Antony ?
 6

68 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Eros, He's walking in the garden —
thus; and
spurns I

The rush that Ues before him; cries, " Fool Lepidus!"
And threats the throat of that his officer
That murder'd Pompey.
Eno. Our great navy's rigg'd.
Eros. For Italy and Caesar. More, Domitius; 20
My lord desires you presently: my news
I might have told hereafter.
Eno. 'Twill be naught:
But let it be. Bring me to Antony.
Eros, Come, sir. {Exeunt,

Scene VI. Rome, Ccesafs house.

Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Mec^enas.

Contemning Rome, he has done

C(BS, all this,
and more.
In Alexandria: here's the manner oft:
I' the market place, on a tribunal silver'd,
Cleopatra and himself in chairs of gold
Were publicly enthroned: at the feet sat 5
Caesarion, they call my father's son,
whom
And all the unlawful issue that their lust
Since then hath made between them. Unto her
He gave the stablishment of Egypt; made her
Of Lower Syria, Cyprus, Lydia, 10
Absolute queen.
Mec. This in the. public eye?
Cces, V the common show-place, where they
exercise.
His son he there proclaim 'd the king of kings:
Great Media, Parthia, and Armenia,
He gave to Alexander; to Ptolemy he assigned 15
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 69

Syria, Cilicia, and Phoenicia: she

In the habiliments of the goddess Isis
That day appear'd; and oft before gave audience,
As 'tis reported, so.
Mec. Let Rome be thus
Informed.
Agr. Who, queasy with his insolence 20
Already, will their good thoughts call from him.
CcBs. The people know it; and have now received
His accusations.
Agr. Who
does he accuse?
CcBs. Caesar: andhaving in Sicily
that,
Sextus Pompeius spoiPd, we had not rated him 25
His part o' the isle: then does he say, he lent me
Some shipping unrestored: lastly, he frets
That Lepidus of the triumvirate
Should be deposed; and, being, that we detain
All his revenue.
Agr. should be answered.
Sir, this 30
CcBs, 'Tis done already, and the messenger gone.
I have told him, Lepidus w^as grown too cruel;
That he his high authority abused.
And did deserve his change: for what I have con-
quered,
I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, 35
And other of his conquered kingdoms, I
Demand the like.
Mec. He'll never yield to that.
C(ZS. Nor must not then be yielded to in this.

Enter Octavia with her train.

Oct. Hail, Caesar, and my lord! hail, most dear

Caesar!
C(Es. That ever I should call thee castaway! 40
70 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Oct. You have not calPd me so, nor have you
cause.
C(Bs, Why have you stoPn upon us thus? You
come not
Like Caesar's sister: the v^ife of Antony
Should have an army for an usher, and
The neighs of horse to tell of her approach 45
Long ere she did appear; the trees by the way
Should have borne men; and expectation fainted,
Longing for what it had not; nay, the dust
Should have ascended to the roof of heaven.
Raised by your populous troops: but you are
come 50
A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented
The ostentation of our love, which, unshown.
left
Is often left unloved: we should have met you
By sea and land; supplying every stage
With an augmented greeting.
Oct. Good my lord, 55
To come thus was I not constrained, but did
On my free will. My lord, Mark Antony,
Hearing that you prepared for war, acquainted
My grieved ear withal; whereon, I begg'd
His pardon for return.
Cces. Which soon he granted, 60
Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.
Oct. Do not say so, my lord.
Cc^s. I have eyes upon him
And his affairs come to me on the wind.
Where is he now?
Oct. My lord, in Athens.
No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra 65
C(BS.
Hath nodded him to her; who now are levying
The kings o' the earth for war: he hath assembled
Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 71

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas; 70
King Malchus of Arabia; King of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amyntas,
The kings of Mede and Lycaonia,
With a more larger list of spectres.
Oct. Ah me, most wretched, 75
That have my heart parted betwixt two friends
That do afflict each other!
C(Bs, Welcome hither:
Your letters did withhold our breaking forth;
Till we perceived, both how you were wrong led.
And we in negligent danger. Cheer your heart 80 :

Be you not troubled with the time, which drives

O'er your content these strong necessities;
But let determined things to destiny
Hold unbewaiPd their way. Welcome to Rome;
Nothing more dear to me. You are abused 85
Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods.
To do you justice, make them ministers
Of us and those that love you. Best of comfort;
And ever welcome to us.
Agr. Welcome, lady.
Mer, Welcome, dear madam. 90
Each heart in Rome does love and pity you:
Only the adulterous Antony, most large
In his abominations, turns you off;
And gives his potent regiment to a trull,
That noises it against us.
Oct. Is it so, sir? 95
Cc^s. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,
Be ever known to patience: my dear'st sister!
[Exeunt.
72 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Scene VII. Near AcHum. Antony's camp.

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,
And say'st it is not fit.

Eno. Well, is it, is it?

Cleo. If now denounced against us, why should
not we 5
Be there in person?
Eno. [Aside.] Well, I could reply.
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 spared. He is already lo
Traduced for levity; and 'tis said in Rome
That Photinus an 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 15
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;

I will not stay behind.

Eno. Nay, I have done.
Here comes the emperor.

Enter Antony and Canidius.

Ant. Is it not strange, Canidius,

That from Tarentum and Brundusium
He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, 20
And take in Toryne ? You have heard on 't, sweet ?
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 73

Cleo. Celerity is never more admired

Than by the negligent.
Ant, A good rebuke,
Which might have well becomed the best of men,
To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we 25
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 dared him to single fight.
Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia,
Where Caesar fought with Pompey: but these offers.
Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; 31
And so should you.
Eno, Your ships are not well manned;
Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people
Ingross'd by swift impress; in Caesar's fleet
Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought 35 :

Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: no disgrace

Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepared for land.
Ant. By
sea, by sea.
Eno. Most worthy you therein throw away
sir,

The absolute soldiership you have by land; 40

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, 45
From firm security.
Ant. I'll fight at sea.
Cleo. I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.
Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn;
And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of
Actium
 ;

74 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail, 50
We then can do't at land.
Enter a Messenger.

Thy business?
Mess. The news is true, my lord; he is descried;
Caesar has taken Toryne.
Ant. Can he be there in person ? 'tis impossible
Strange that his power should be. Canidius, 55
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!
Sold. O noble emperor, do not fight by sea;
Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt 60
This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyp-
tians
And the Phoenicians go a-ducking: we
Have used to conquer, standing on the earth.
And fighting foot to foot.
Ant. Well, well: away!
[Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.
Sold. By Hercules, I think I am i' the right. 65
Can. Soldier, thou art: but his whole action
grows
Not power on't: so our leader's led,
in the
And we are women's men.
Sold. You keep by land
The legions and the horse whole, do you not?
Can. Marcus Octavius, Maricus Justeius, 70
Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea:
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 75

But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's

Carries beyond belief.
Sold. While he was yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions as
Beguiled all spies.
Can. Who's his lieutenant, hear you? 75
Sold. They say, one Taurus.
Can Well I know the man.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess. The emperor calls Canidius.

Can. With news the time 's with labor, and throes
forth.
Each minute, some. [Exeunt.

Scene VIII. A plain near Actium.

Enter Caesar, and Taurus, with his army, marching

CcEs. Taurus!
Taur, My lord ?
Cces. Strike not by land; keep whole: provoke
not battle,
Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed
The prescript of. this scroll : our fortune lies 5
Upon this jump. [Exeunt.

Scene IX. Another part of the plain.

Enter Antony and Enobarbus.

Ant. Set we our squadrons on yond side o' the

hill
In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place
 —1

76 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

We may the number of the ships behold,
And so proceed accordingly. [Exeunt,

Scene X. Another part of the plain

Canidius marcheth with his land army one way over

the stage; and Taurus, the lieutenant of Caesar
the other way. After their going in, is heard
the noise of a sea-fight.

Alarum, Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. Naught, naught, naught! I can hold no

longer :

The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral.

With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder:
To see't mine eyes are blasted.

Enter Scarus.

Scar, Gods and goddesses,

All the whole synod of them!
Eno. What 's thy passion ? 5
Scar, The greater cantle of the v/orld is lost

With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away

Kingdoms and provinces.
Eno. How
appears the fight?
Scar. On our side like the token 'd pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt
—
Whom leprosy overtake! i' the midst o' the fight, 1
When vantage Hke a pair of'tvv^ins appeared.
Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,
The breese upon her, like a cow in June,
Hoists sails and flies. 15
Eno. That I beheld:
 :

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 77

Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not

Endure a further view.
Scar, She once being loof'd,
The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,
Claps on his sea- wing, and, like a doting mallard, 20
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her:
I never saw an action of such shame;
Experience, manhood, honor, ne'er before
Did violate so itself.
Eno, Alack, alack!

Enter Canidius.

Can. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath, 25

And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well
O, he has given example for our flight.
Most grossly, by his own!
Eno, Ay, are you thereabouts?
Why, then, good night indeed. 30
Can, Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
Scar. 'Tis easy to't; and there I will attend
What further comes.
Can. To Caesar will I render
My legions and my horse: six kings already
Show me the way of yielding.
Eno. I'll yet follow 35
The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
Sits in the wind against me. \Exeunt.

Scene XL Alexandria, Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Antony with Attendants.

Ant. Hark! the land bids me tread no more

upon't;
 5

78 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

It is ashamed to bear me! Friends, come hither:
I am so lated in the world, that I
Have lost my way for ever: I have a ship
Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly, 5
And make your peace with Caesar.
All. Fly! not we.
Ant, I have fled myself; and have instructed
cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;
Ihave myself resolved upon a course
Which has no need of you; be gone: 10
My treasure's in the harbor, take it. O,
I follow 'd that I blush to look upon:
My very hairs do mutiny; for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting. Friends, be gone you shall 1 :

Have letters from me to some friends that will

Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway: 20
I will possess you and treasure.
of that ship
Leave me, I pray, a little: pray you now:
Nay, do so; for indeed, I have lost command.
Therefore I pray you: I'll see you by and by.
[Sits down.

Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian and Iras;

Eros following.

Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

Iras. Do, most dear queen. 26
Char. Do! why: what else?
Cleo. Let me sit down. O Juno!
Ant, No, no, no, no, no.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 79

Eros, See you here, sir? 30

Ant. O fie, fie, fie!

Char. Madam!
Iras. Madam, O good empress!
Eros. Sir, sir —
Ant. Yes, my lord, yes; he at Philippi kept 35
His sword e'en like a dancer: while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry, and no practice had
In the brave squares of war yet now :No matter. —
Cleo. Ah, stand by. 41
Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen.
Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him:
He unquaUtied with very shame.
is
Cleo. Well then, sustain me: O! 45
Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen ap-
proaches :

Her head's declined, and death will seize her, but

Your comfort makes the rescue.
Ant. I have offended reputation,
A most unnoble swerving.
Eros. Sir, the queen. 50
Ant. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt ? See,
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
By looking back what I have left behind
Stroy'd in dishonor.
Cleo. O my lord, my lord.
Forgive my fearful sails! I Httle thought 55
You would have followed.
Ant. Egypt, thou knew'st too well
My heart was to my rudder tied by the strings.
And thou shouldst tow me after: o'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods 60
8o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Command me.
Cleo, O, my pardon!
Ant. Now I must
To the young man send humble treaties, dodge
And palter in the shifts of lowness; who
With half the bulk o' the world played as I pleased,
Making and marring fortunes. You did know 65
How much you were my conqueror; and that
My sword, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause.
Cleo, Pardon, pardon!
Ant. Fall not a tear, I say; one of them rates
All that is won and lost: give mea kiss; 70
Even this repays me. We sent our schoolmaster;
Is he come back? Love, I am full of lead.
Some wine, within there, and our viands! Fortune
knows
We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
[Exeunt.

Scene XII. Egypt. Ccesafs camp.

Enter Cesar, Dolabella, Thyreus, with others.

Cces. Let him appear that 's come from Antony.

Know you him?
Dol. Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster:
An argument that he is pluck'd, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion of his wing.
Which had superfluous kings for messengers 5
Not many moons gone byl

Enter Euphronius, ambassador from Antony.

Cces. Approach, and speak.

 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 8i

Euph, Such as I am, I come from Antony:

I was of late as petty to his ends
As is the morn-dew on the myrtle-leaf
To his grand sea.
Cas. Be't so: declare thine office. lo
Euph. Lord he salutes thee, and
of his fortunes
Requires to live in Egypt: which not granted,
He lessens his requests; and to thee sues
To let him breathe between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens: this for him. 15
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness;
Submits her to thy might; and of thee craves
The circle of the Ptolemies for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace.
Cas. For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen 20
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend,
Or take his life there: this if she perform.
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
Euph. Fortune pursue thee!
CcBs. Bring him through the bands. 25
[Exit EUPHRONIUS.
[To Thyreus.] To try thy eloquence, now 'tis
despatch;
time:
From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,
And in our name, what she requires; add more.
From thine invention, offers: women are not
In their best fortunes strong; but want will perjure
The ne'er-touch'd vestal: try thy cunning, Thyreus;
Make thine own edict for thy pains, which we
Will answer as a law.
Thyr. Caesar, I go.
C(Bs. Observe how Antony becomes his flaw,
And what thou think'st his very action speaks 35
 5

82 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

In every power that moves.
Thyr, Caesar, I shall. [Exeunt.

Scene XIII. Alexandria, Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmlvn, and

Iras.

Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus?

Eno. Think, and die.
Cleo Antony or we in fault for this?
Is
Eno, 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 nick'd his captainship; at such a point.
When half to half the world opposed, he being
The meered question: 'twas a shame no less 10
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.
Cleo, Prithee, peace.

Enter Antony with Euphronius, the Ambassador.

Ant, Is that his answer?

Euph, Ay, my lord.
A nt. The queen shall then have courtesy, so she 1

Will yield us up.

Euph, He says so.
Ant. Let her know't.
To the boy Caesar send this grizzled 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 20
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 83

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' the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore
To lay his gay comparisons apart, 26
And answer me declined, sword against sword.
Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me.
{Exeunt Antony and Euphronius.
Eno, [Aside.'] Yes, like enough, high-battled
Caesar will
Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show, 30
Against a sworder! I see men's judgments are
A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them,
To suffer all aHke. That he should dream.
Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will
Answer his emptiness: Caesar, thou hast subdued
His judgment too.

Enter an Attendant.

Att, A messenger from Caesar.

Cleo,What, no more ceremony? See, my wo-
men!
Against the blown rose may they stop their nose
That kneel'd unto the buds. Admit him, sir, 40
[Exit Attendant.
Eno. [Aside."] Mine honesty and I begin to
square.
The loyalty well held to fools does make
Our faith mere yet he that can endure
folly:
To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord
 1

84 ANTONY AND CLEOEATRA

Does conquer him that did his master conquer, 45
And earns a place i' the story.

Enter Thyreus.

Cleo, Caesar's will?

Thyr. Hear it apart.
Cleo, None but friends: say boldly.
Thyr, So, haply, are they friends to Antony.
Eno. He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has;
Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master 50
Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know
Whose he is we are, and that is, Caesar.
Thyr, So.
Thus then, thou most renowned: Caesar entreats.
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st.
Further than he is Caesar.
Cleo. Go on: right royal. 55
Thyr, He knows that you embrace not Antony
As you did love, but as you fear'd him.
Cleo, O!
Thyr. The scars upon your honor, therefore, he
Does pity, as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserved.
Cleo, He is a god, and knows 60
What is most right: mine honor was not yielded,
But conquer'd merely.
Eno, [A side. To be sure of that,
I will ask Antony. thou art so leaky,
Sir, sir,
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit.
Thyr, Shall I say to Caesar 65
What you require of him ? for he partly begs
To be desired to give. It much would please him,
That of his fortunes you should make a staff
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 85

To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits,

To hear from me you had left Antony, 70
And put yourself under his shrowd,
The universal landlord.
Cleo. What 's your name ?
Thyr, My name is Thyreus.
Cleo, Most kind messenger,
Say to the great Caesar this: in deputation
I kiss his tell him, I am prompt
conquering hand : 75
To lay my
crown at's feet, and there to kneel:
Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.
Thyr. 'Tis your noblest course.
Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can, 80
No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
My duty on your hand.
Cleo. Your Caesar's father oft,
When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in,
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place.
As it rain'd kisses.

Re-enter Antony and Enobarbus.

Ant. Favors, by Jove that thunders! 85

What art thou, fellow?
Thyr. One that but performs
The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have command obey'd.
Eno. [Aside.'l You will be whipped.
Ant. Approach there Ah, you kite Now, gods
! !

and devils!
Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried
"Ho!" 90
Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth,
86 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
And cry ''Your will?" Have you no ears? I am
Antony yet.

Enter Attendants.

Take hence this Jack, and whip him.

Eno, [Aside. 1 'Tis better playing with a lion's
whelp
Than with an old one dying.
Ant. Moon and stars! 95
Whip him. Were 't twenty of the greatest tributaries
That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them
So saucy wdth 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, 100
And whine aloud for mercy: take him hence.
Thyr. Mark Antony!
Ant, '
Tug him away:
being whipp'd,
Bring him again: this Jack of Caesar's shall
Bear us an errand to him.
[Exeunt Attendants with Thyreus.
You were half blasted ere I knew you: ha! 105
Have I my pillow left unpress'd in Rome,
Forborne the getting of a lawful race.
And by a gem of women, to be abused
By one that looks on feeders?
Cleo, Good my lord —
Ant. You have been a boggier ever: no
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 judgments; make us
Adore our errors; laugh at's, while we strut
To our confusion.
Cleo. O, is't come to this? 115
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 87

Ant. I found you as a morsel cold upon

Dead Caesar ^s trencher; nay, you were a fragment
Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours,
Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have
Luxuriously picked out: for, I am sure, 120
Though you can guess what temperance should be,
You know not what it is.
Cleo, Wherefore is this?
Ant. To let a fellow that will take rewards
And say "God quit you!" be familiar with
My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal 125
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 halter 'd neck which does the hangman thank 1 30
For being yare about him.

Re-enter Attendants with Thyreus.

Is he whipped?
First Att. Soundly, my lord.
Ant. Cried he? and begg'd a' pardon?
First Att. He did ask favor.
Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent
Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou
sorry 135
^ ^

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 140
He makes me angry with him; for he seems
Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am,
88 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
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,

Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires 146
Into the 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, 150
As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou:
Hence with thy stripes, begone! [Exit Thyruse.
Cleo, Have you done yet ?
AnL Alack, our terrene moon
Isnow eclipsed; and it portends alone
The fall of Antony!
Cleo. I must stay his time. 155
Ant. To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes
With one that ties his points?
Cleo. Not know me yet ?
Ant. Cold-hearted toward me?
Cleo. Ah, dear, if I be so,
From my cold heart let heaven engender hail.
And poison it in the source and the first stone
; 1 60
Drop in my neck: as it determines, so
Dissolve my life! The next Csesarion smite!
Till by degrees the memory of my womb,
Together with my brave Egyptians all,

By the discandying of this pelleted storm, 165

Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile
Have buried them for prey!
Ant. I am satisfied.
Caesar sits down where
in Alexandria;
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Hath nobly held; our severed navy too 170
Have knit again, and fleet, threatening most sea-
like.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 89

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: 175
There 's hope in 't yet.
Cleo. That's my brave lord!
AnL I will be treble-sinew 'd, hearted, breathed.
And fight maliciously: for when mine hours
Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives 180
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.
Cleo. It is my birth-day: 185
I had thought to have held it poor but, since my lord
;

Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

Ant. We will yet do well.
Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord.
Ant. Do so, we'll speak to them; and to-night
I'll force 190
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.
Eno. Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be
furious, 195
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 valor preys on reason.
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek 200
Some way to leave him. [Exit.
90 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
ACT IV.

Scene I. Before Alexandria. C^sar^s camp.

Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Mec^nas, with his
Army; Caesar reading a letter.
CcBs. He calls me boy; and chides, as he had
power
To beat out of Egypt; my messenger
me
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal
combat,
Caesar to Antony: let the old ruffian know
I have other ways to die; meantime 5
Laugh at his challenge.
Mec. 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
Made good guard for itself.
Cces, Let our best heads 10
Know, that to-morrow 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:
And feast the army; we have stores to do't, 15
And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!
[Exeunt.

Scene II. Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Antony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Char-

MIAN, Iras, Alexas, with others.

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius.

Eno. No.
Ant. Why should he not?
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 91

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better

fortune,
He is twenty men to one.
Ant, To-morrow, soldier,
By sea and land I fight or I will live,
'11 :
5
Or bathe my dying honor in the blood
Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well?
Eno. I'll strike, and cry "Take all."
Ant. Well said; come on.
Call forth my household servants: let's to-night
Be bounteous at our meal.

Enter three or jour 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.
Cleo. [Aside to ^^o.] What means this?
Eno. [Aside to Cleo.] 'Tis one of those odd
tricks which sorrow shoots
Out of the mind.
Ant. And thou art honest too. 15
I wish I could be made so many men,
And all of you clapp'd up together in
An Antony, that I might do you ser.vice
So good as you have done.
All. The gods forbid!
Ant. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night:
Scant not my cups; and make as much of me 21
As when mine empire was your fellow too.
And suffered my command.
Cleo. [Aside to Eno.] What does he mean ?
 1

92 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Eno, [Aside to Cleo.] To make his followers
weep.
Ant. Tend me to-night;
May be it is the period of your duty: 25
Haply you shall not see me more; or if,
A mangled shadow: perchance to-morrow
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 to-night two hojLirs, I ask no more.
And the gods yield you for't!
Eno, What mean you, sir.
To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep;
And I, an ass, am onion-eyed: fpr shame, 35
Transform us not to women.
Ant. Ho, ho, ho J
Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus!
Grace grow where those drops fall! hearty My
friends,
You take me in too dolorous a sense;
For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you
To burn this night with torches know, my hearts, 4
:

I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you

Where rather I '11 expect victorious life
Than death and honor. Let's to supper, come.
And drown consideration. [Exeunt. 45

Sc£ne hi. The same. Before the palace.

Enter two Soldiers to their guard.

First Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is

the day.
Sec. Sold. It will determine one way : fare you well.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 93

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

First Sold, Nothing. What news?
Sec. Sold. Belike 'tis but a rumor. Good night
to you. 5
First Sold. Well sir, good night.

Enter two other Soldiers.

Sec. Sold. Soldiers, have careful watch.

Third Sold. And you. Good night, good night.
[They place themselves in every corner 0} the stage.
Fourth Sold. Here we: and if to-morrow
Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope 10
Our landmen will stand up.
Third Sold. 'Tis a brave army.
And full of purpose.
[Music of the hautboys^ as under the stage.
Fourth Sold. Peace! what noise?
First Sold. List, list!
Sec. Sold. Hark!
First Sold. Music i' the air.
Third Sold. Under the earth.
Fourth Sold. It signs wellj ,
does it not ?
Third Sold. No.
First Sold. Peace, I say!
Tiat should this mean ? ^5
Sec. Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony
loved.
Now leaves him.
First Sold. Walk; let's see if other watchmen
Do hear what we do. [They advance to another post.
Sec. Sold. How now, masters!
All. [Speaking together.] How now!
How now! do you hear this?
First Sold. Ay; is't not strange? 20
94 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Third Sold, Do you hear, masters ? do you hear ?
First Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have
quarter;
Let's see how it will give off.
AIL Content. 'Tis strange. [Exeunt,

Scene IV. The same. A room in the palace.

Enter Antony and Cleopatra, Charmian, and

others attending.

Ant. Eros! mine armour, Eros!

Cleo. Sleep a Uttle.
Ant. No, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armor,
Eros!

Enter Eros with armor.

Come, good fellow, put mine iron on:

be not ours to-day, it is
If fortune
Because we brave her: come.
Cleo. Nay, I '11 help too. 5
What's this for?
Ant. Ah, let be, let be! thou art
The armorer of my heart: false, false; this, this.
Cleo. Sooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be.
Ant. WeU, well:
We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow ?
Go put on thy defences.
Eros. Briefly, sir. 10
Cleo. Is not this buckled well ?
Ant. Rarely, rarely:
He that unbuckles this, till we do please
To daff 't for our repose, shall hear a storm.
Thou fumblest, Eros; and my queen's a squire
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 95

More than thou: despatch. O love 15

tight at this
That thou couldst see my wars to-day, 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.
Sold. 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.

Capt. The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.

All. Good morrow, general.
Ant. 'Tis well blown, lads: 25
This morning, a youth
like the spirit of
That means to be of note, begins betimes.
So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said.
Fare thee well, dame, whatever becomes of me:
This is a soldier's kiss: rebukable [Kisses her. 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 Antony, Eros, Captains, and Soldiers.
Char. Please you, retire to your chamber.
Cleo. Lead me. 35
He goes forth gallantly. That he and Caesar might
 !

96 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Determine this great war in single fight!
Then, Antony —
but now —
Well, on. [Exeunt.

Scene V. Alexandria. Antony's camp.

Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros; a

Soldier meeting them.

Sold. The gods make this a happy day to Antony

Ant. Would thou and those thy scars had once
prevaiPd
To make me fight at land!
Sold. 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.
Ant. Who's gone this morning?
Sold. Who!
One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus,
He shall not hear thee; or from Caesar's camp
Say "I am none of thine."
Ant. What say'st thou?
Sold. Sir,
He is with Caesar.
Eros. Sir, his chests and treasure 10
He has not with him.
Ant. Is he gone?
Sold. Most certain.
Go, Eros, send his treasure after; do
Ant. it;

Detain no jot, I charge thee: write to him —

I will subscribe — gentle adieus and greetings;
Say that he never find more cause
I wish 15
To change a master. O, my fortunes have
Corrupted honest men! Despatch. Enobarbus! —
[Exeunt.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 97

Scene VI. Alexandria. Ccesar^s camp.

Flourish. Enter Cesar, Agrippa, with Enobar-

Bus, and others,

CcBS, Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight:

Our will is Anton'y be took alive;
Make it so known.
Agr, Caesar, I shall. [Exit,
Cces. The
time of universal peace is near: 5
Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world
Shall bear the olive freely.

Enter a Messenger.

Mess, Antony
Is come into the field.
Cces. 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.
Eno. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry on
Affairs of Antony; there did persuade
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 honorable trust. I have done ill:
Of which I do accuse myself so sorely,
That I will joy no more.

Enter a Soldier of Cesar s.

Sold. Enobarbus, Antony 20

Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
98 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
His bounty overplus: the messenger
Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now
Unloading of his mules.
Eno. I give it you.
Sold, Mock not, Enobarbus. 25
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.
Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth, 30
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
If swift thought break it not, a swifter mean 35
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.

Scene VII. Field of battle between the camps.

Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter Agrippa and

others.

Agr. 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.

Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!

Had we done so at first, we had droven them home s
With clouts about their heads.
Ant. Thou bleed'st apace.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 99

Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T,

But now 'tis made an H.
Ant, They do retire.

Enter Eros.

Eros, They are beaten, sir; and our advantage

serves
For a fair victory.
Scar. Let us score their backs, 10
And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind:
'Tis sport tomaul a runner.
Ant. I will reward thee
Once for thy spritely comfort, and ten-fold
For thy good valor. Come thee on.
Scar. I '11 halt after. [Exeunt.

Scene VIII. Under the walls of Alexandria.

Alarum. Enter Antony, in a march; Scarus, with

others.

Ant. We have beat him to his camp: run one

before.
And let the queen know of our gests. To-morrow,
Before the sun shall see's, we'll spill the blood
That has to-day 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 likeyou have shown all Hectors.
mine ;

Enter the your wives, your friends.

city, clip
Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
The honor'd gashes whole. [To Scarus.] Give me
thy hand; 11

Enter Cleopatra, attended.

loo ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
To this great fairy I commend thy acts,
'11

Make her thanks bless thee. [To Cleo.] O thou

day o' the world,
Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all,

Through proof of harness to my heart, and there i s

Ride on the pants triumphing!
Cleo. Lord of lords!
G comest thou smiling from
infinite virtue,
The world's great snare uncaught ?
AnL My nightingale,
We have beat them to their beds. What, girl!
though gray
Do something mingle with our younger brown, yet
ha' we 20
A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
Commend unto his lips thy favoring hand:
Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought to-day
As if a god, in hate of mankind, had 25
Destroy'd in such a shape.
Cleo, I'll give thee, friend.
An armor all of gold; it was a king's.
AnL He has deserved it, were it carbuncled
Like holy Phoebus' car. Give me thy hand:
Through Alexandria make a jolly march; 30
Bear our hack'd 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 tabourines;
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds
together,
Applauding our approach. [Exeunt.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA loi

Scene IX. Cesar's camp.

Sentinels at their post.

First Sold.If we be not relieved within this

hour,
We must return to the court of guard: the night
Is shiny; and they say we shall embattle
By the second hour i' the morn.
Sec. Sold. This last day was
A shrewd one to 's.

Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. O, bear me witness, night — 5

Third Sold. What man is this ?

Sec Sold. Stand close, and list him.

Eno. Be
witness to me, O
thou blessed moon,
When men revolted shall upon record
Bear hateful memory, poor Enobarbus did
Before thy face repent!
First Sold. Enobarbus!
Third Sold. Peace* 10
Hark further.
Eno. O sovereign mistress of true melancholy,
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 15
Against the flint and hardness of my fault;
Which, being dried with grief, vnll break to powder,
And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
Nobler than thy revolt is infamous,
Forgive me in thine own particular; 20
But let the world rank me in register
I02 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
A master-leaver and a fugitive:
O Antony! O Antony! [Dies.
Sec. Sold. Let's speak
To- him.
Let's hear him, for the things he
First Sold.
speaks 25

May concern Caesar.

Third Sold. Let's do so. But he sleeps.
First Sold. Swoons rather; for so bad a prayer
as his
Was never yet for sleep.
Sec. Sold. Go we to him.
Third Sold. Awake, sir, awake; speak to us.
Sec. Sold. Hear you, sir?
First Sold. The hand of death hath raught him.
[Dnims afar off.] Hark! the drums 30
Demurely wake the sleepers. Let us bear him
To the court of guard; he is of note: our hour
Is fully out.
Third Sold. Come on, then;
He may recover yet. [Exeunt with the body.

Scene X. Between the two camps.

Ant. Their preparation is to-day by sea;

We please them not by land.
Scar. For both, my lord.
Ant. I would they 'Id fight i' the fire or i' the
air;
We 'Id 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 —
forward then,
Where their appointment we may best discover
And look on their endeavor. [Exeunt.
'

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 103

Scene XI. Another part of the same.

Enter Antony and Scarus, with their Army.

Enter Cesar and his Army.

CcBs, 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.

Scene XII. Another part of the same.

Enter Antony and Scarus.

Ant, Yet they are not join'd: where yond pine

does stand,
I shall discover all : I '11 bring thee word
Straight, how 'tis like to go. [Exit,
Scar, Swallows have built
In Cleopatra's sails their nests: the augurers
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.
[Alarum afar off, as at a sea fight.

Re-enter Antony.

Ant, 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
I04 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Like friends long lost. Triple- turn 'd 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; begone.
[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
That spaniePd me at heels, to whom I gave 21
Their wishes, so discandy, melt their sweets
On blossoming Caesar; and this pine is bark'd,
That overtopp'd them all. Betray'd I am:
O this false soul of Egypt! this grave charm 25 —
Whose eye beck'd forth my wars, and call'd 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

Cleo, Why is my lord enraged against his love?
Ant. 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,
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 105

If it be well to but better 'twere

live; 40
Thou felPst into my one death
fury, for
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' the moon; 45
And with those hands that grasp'd 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.

Scene XIII. Alexandria, Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Mardian.

Cleo, Help me, my women!

O, he is more mad
Than Telamon for his shield; the boar of Thessaly
Was never so emboss'd!
Char. To the 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.
Cleo. To the 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 the
moniunent! [Exeunt. 10

Scene XIV. The same. Another room.

Enter Antony and Eros.

Ant. Eros, thou yet behold'st me?
Eros. Ay, noble lord.
Ant. Sometime we see a cloud that's dragonish;
io6 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
A vapor sometime like a bear or lion,
A tower'd 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.
Ant. 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.
Ant. 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
Pack'd cards with Caesar, and false-play'd 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 robb'd me of my sword.
Mar. No, Antony;
My mistress loved thee, and her fortunes mingled
With thine entirely.
Ant. Hence, saucy eunuch; peace! 25
She hath betray'd me and shall die the death.
Mar. Death of one person can be paid but once.
 1

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 107

And that she has discharged: what thou wouldst do

Isdone unto thy hand: the last she spake
Was "Antony! most noble Antony!" 30
Then ii\.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.
AnL Dead, then?
Mar, Dead.
Unarm, Eros; the long day's task is done,
Ant.
And we must sleep. [To Mar.] That thou de-
part'st hence safe, 36
Does pay thy labor richly; go. [Exit Mardian.
Off, pluck off:
The seven-fold shield of Ajax cannot keep
The battery from my heart. O, cleave, my sides!
Heart, once be stronger than thy continent, 40
Crack thy frail case! Apace, Eros, apace.
No more a soldier: bruised pieces, go;
You have been nobly borne. For me awhile.
[Exit Eros.
I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now 45
All length is torture: since the torch is out.
Lie down, and stray no farther: now all labor
Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles
Itself with strength: seal then, and all is done.
Eros! — I come, my queen: Eros! — —
Stay for me:
Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in
hand, 5
And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze:
Dido and her ^neas shall want troops.
And all the haunt be ours. Come, Eros, Eros!

Re-enter Eros.
 :

io8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

Eros. What would my lord?
Ant. Since Cleopatra died, 55
I have lived in such dishonor, 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
The courage of a woman; less noble mind 60
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
The inevitable prosecution of 65
Disgrace and horror, that, on my command.
Thou then wouldst kill me do't; the time is come
:

Thou strikest not me, 'tis Caesar thou defeat'st.

Put color in thy cheek.
Eros. The gods withhold me!
Shall I do that which all the Parthian darts, 70
Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?
Ant. Eros,
Wouldst thou be window 'd in great Rome and see
Thy master thus with pleach 'd arms, bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdued
To penetrative shame, whilst the wheel'd seat 75
Of fortunate Caesar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued?
Eros. I would not see't.
Ant. Come, then; for with a wound I must be
cured.
Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn
Most useful for thy country.
Eros. O, sir, pardon me! 80
Ant. When I did make thee free, sworest thou
not then
To do this when I bade thee? Do it at once;
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 109

Or thy precedent services are all

But accidents unpurposed. Draw, and come.
Eros. Turn from me, then, that noble counte-
nance, 85
Wherein the worship of the whole world lies.
Ant, Lo thee! [Turning from him.
Eros. My sword is drawn.
Ant. Then let it do at once
The thing why thou hast drawn it.

Eros. My dear master.

My captain, and my
emperor, let me say, 90
Before I strike this bloody stroke, farewell.
Ant. 'Tis said, man; and farewell.
Eros. Farewell great chief. Shall I strike now ?
Ant. Now, Eros.
Eros. Why, there then: thus I do escape the
sorrow
Of Antony's death. [Kills himself.
Ant. Thrice-nobler than myself! 95
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
A bridegroom in my death, and run into't 100
As to a lover's bed. Come, then; and, Eros,
Thy master dies thy scholar: to do thus
[Falling on his sword.
I learn'd of thee. How! not dead? not dead?
The guard, ho! O, despatch me!
Enter Dercetas and Guard.
First Guard. What 's the noise ?

Ant. I have done my work ill, friends: O, make

an end 105
Of what I have begun.
no ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Sec, Guard. The star is falPn. .

First Guard, And time is at his period.

All. Alas, and woe!
Ant. Let him that loves me strike me dead.
First Guard. Not I.
Second Guard, Nor I.
Third Guard. Nor any one. [Exeunt Guard.
Der. Thy death and fortunes bid thy followers
fly. Ill
This sword but shown to Caesar, with this tidings,
Shall enter me with him.

Enter Diomedes.

Dio. Where's Antony?

Der. There, Diomed, there.
Dio. Lives he ?
Wilt thou not answer, man? [Exit Dercetas. 115
Ant. Art thou there, Diomed ? Draw thy sword,
and give me
Sufficing strokes for death.
Dio. Most absolute lord,
My mistress Cleopatra sent me to thee.
Ant. When did she send thee?
Dio, Now, my lord.
Ant. Where is she?

Dio. Lock'd in her monument. She had a

prophesying fear 120
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
Would not be purged, she sent you word she was
dead;
But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent 125
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
I dread, too late.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA iii

Ant. Too late, good Diomed: call my guard, I

prithee.
Dio. What, ho, the emperor's guard ! The guard,
what, ho!
Come, your lord calls! 130

Enter four or jive of the Guard 0} Antony.

Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra

bides;
'Tis the last service that I shall command you.
First Guard. Woe, woe are we, sir, you may not
live to wear
All your true followers out.
All. Most heavy day!
Ant. Nay, good my fellows, do not please sharp
fate 135
To grace with your sorrows: bid that welcome
it

Which comes to punish us, and we punish it

Seeming to bear it lightly. Take me up:
I have led you oft carry me now, good friends.
:

And have my thanks for all. 140

[Exeunt hearing Antony J

Scene XV. The same. A monument.

Enter Cleopatra, and her Maids aloft, with Char-

mian and Iras.

Cleo. O Charmian, I will never go from hence.

Char. Be comforted, dear madam.
Cleo. No, I will not:
All strange and terrible events are welcome.
But comforts we despise; our size of sorrow,
112 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Proportion'd to our cause, must be as great 5
As that which makes it.

Enter, below] Diomedes.

How now! is he dead?

T>io. His death's upon him, but not dead.
Look out o' the other side your monument;
His guard have brought him thither.

Enter, below, Antony, borne by the Guard.

Cleo. O sun,
Burn the great sphere thou movest in! darkling
stand 10
The varying shore o' the world. O Antony,
Antony, Antony! Help, Charmian, help, Iras, help;
Help, friends below; let's draw him hither.
Ant. Peace!
Nor Caesar's valor hath o'er thrown Antony,
But Antony's hath triumph'd on itself. 15
Cleo. So it should be, that none but Antony
Should conquer Antony; but woe 'tis so!
Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying; only
I here importune death awhile, until
Of many thousand kisses the poor last 20
I lay upon thy lips.
Cleo. I dare not, dear —
Dear my lord, pardon —
I dare not.
Lest I be taken: not the imperious show
Of the full-fortuned Caesar ever shall
Be brooch'd with me; if knife, drugs, serpents, have
Edge, sting, or operation, I am safe: 26
Your wife Octavia, with her modest eyes
And still conclusion, shall acquire no honor
 ! 5

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 113

Demnring upon me. But come, come, Antony —

Help me, my women —
we must draw thee up: 30
Assist, good friends.
Ant. O, quick, or I am gone.
Cleo. 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,
:

The strong- wing'd Mercury should fetch thee up, 3

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 where thou hast lived:
Quicken with kissing: had my lips that power,
Thus would I wear them out.
All. A heavy sight! 40
Ant. I am dying, Egypt, dying:
Give me some wine, and let me speak a little.

Cleo. No, let me speak; and let me rail so high.

That the false housewife Fortune break her wheel,
Provoked by my offence.
Ant. One word, sweet queen: 45
Of Caesar seek your honor, with your safety. O
Cleo. They do not go together.
Ant. Gentle, hear me:
None about Caesar trust but Proculeius.
Cleo. My resolution and my hands I'll trust;

None about Caesar. 50

Ant. The miserable change now at my end
Lament nor sorrow at; but please your thoughts
In feeding them with those my former fortunes,
Wherein I lived the greatest prince o' the world.
The noblest; and do now not basely die, 55
Not cowardly put off my helmet to
—
My countryman a Roman by a Roman
114 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Valiantly vanquished. Now my spirit is going;
I can no more.
Cleo. Noblest of men, woo't die?
Hast thou no care of me ? shall I abide 60
In this dull world, which in thy absence is
No better than a sty ? O, see, my women,
[Antony dies.
The crown o' earthdoth melt. My lord!
O, withered is the garland of the war,
The soldier's pole is falPn young boys and girls 65
:

Are level now with men; the odds is gone.

And there is nothing left remarkable
Beneath the visiting moon. [Faints,
Char. O, quietness, lady!
Iras. She is dead too, our sovereign.
Char. Lady!
Iras. Madam 1

Char. O, madam, madam, madam!

Iras. Royal Egypt, 70
Empress!
Char. Peace, peace, Iras!
Cleo. No more, but e'en a woman, and com-
manded
By such poor passion as the maid that milks
And does the meanest chares. It were for me 75
To throw my sceptre at the injurious gods;
To tell them that this world did equal theirs
had stoPn our jewel. All's but naught;
Till they
Patience and impatience does
is sottish,
Become a dog that's mad: then is it sin 80
To rush into the secret house of death.
Ere death dare come to us ? How do you, women ?
What, what! good cheer! Why, how now, Char-
mian!
My noble girls! Ah, women, women, look,
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA ii5

Our lamp is spent, it's out! Good sirs,take heart:

We'll bury him; and then, what's brave, what's
noble, 86
Let's do it 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 90
But resolution,and the briefest end.
[Exeunt; those above bearing off Antony's body.

ACT V.

Scene I. Alexandria, Caesar's camp.

Enter Agrippa, Dolabella, Mec^nas,

Caesar,
Gallus, Proculeius, and others, his council
of war.

CcBs, Go to him, Dolabella, bid him yield:

Being so frustrate, tell him he mocks
The pauses that he makes.
Dol, Csesar, I shall. [Exit,

Enter Dercetas, with the sword of Antony.

Cces, Wherefore is that ? and what art thou that

darest
Appear thus to us ?
Der, I am call'd Dercetas: 5
Mark Antony I served, who
was worthy best
Best to be served: whilst he stood up and spoke,
He was my master; and I vvore my life
To spend upon his haters. If thou please
ii6 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
To take me to thee, as I was to him lo
I'll be to Caesar; if thou pleasest not,
I yield thee up my life.

C(Bs, What
thou say'st?
is't
Der. I say, O Caesar, Antony
dead. is

C(Bs. 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.
Der. He is dead, Caesar;
Not by a public minister of justice, 20
Nor by a hired knife; but that self hand,
Which writ his honor in the acts it did.
Hath, with the courage which the heart did lend it,
Splitted the heart. This is his sword;
I robb'd his wound of it; behold it stain'd 25
With his most noble blood.
Cces. Look you sad, friends?
The gods rebuke me, but it is tidings
To wash the eyes of kings.
Agr. And strange it is,

That nature must compel us to lament

Our most persisted deeds.
Mec. His taints and honors 30
Waged equal with him.
Agr. A rarer spirit never
Did steer humanity: but you, gods, will give us
Some faults to make us men. Caesar is touch'd.
Mec, When such a spacious mirror's set before
him
He needs must see himself.
C(^$. O Antony! 35
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA ti;

I have followed thee to this; but we do lance

Diseases in our bodies: I must perforce
Have shown to thee such a dechning 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 —
But I will tell you at some meeter season:
Enter an Egyptian.
The business of this man
looks out of him; 50
We '11 hear him what he says. Whence are you ?
Egyp. A poor Egyptian yet. The queen my
rnistress,
Confined in all she has, her monument.
Of thy intents desires instruction.
That she preparedly may frame herself 55
To the way she's forced to.
CcBs. Bid her have good heart:
She soon shall know of us, by some of ours.
How honorable and how
kindly we
Determine for her; for Caesar cannot live
To be ungentle.
Egyp. So the gods preserve thee! [Exit. 60
CcBS. 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
ii8 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Would be eternal in our triumph: go,
And with your speediest bring us what she says,
And how you find of her.
Pro. Caesar, I shall. [Exit.
C(Bs, Gallus, go you along. [Exit Gallus.]
Where's Dolabella,
To second Proculeius ?
AIL Dolabella! 70
Cces.Let him alone, for I remember now
How he's employ 'd: 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.

Scene II. Alexandria. A room in the monument.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, and Iras.

Cleo. My
desolation does begin to make
A better 'Tis paltry to be Caesar;
life.

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 dug.
The beggar's nurse and Caesar's.

Enter, to the gates 0} the monument^ Proculeius,

Gallus, and Soldiers.

Pro. 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.
Cleo. What's thy name?
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 119

Pro. My name is Proculeius.

Cleo. 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.
Pro. Be of good cheer;
You're falPn 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 kneePd to.
Cleo, 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' the face.
Pro. This 1 11 report, dear lady.
Have comfort, for I know your pHght is pitied
Of him that caused it.
GaL You see how easily she may be surprised 3 5 :

[Here Proculeius and two of the Guard as-

scend the monument by a ladder placed
against a window^ and, having descended,
come behind Cleopatra. Some of the
Guard unbar and open the gates.
.

[To Proculeius and the Guard.] Guard her till

Caesar come. [Exit.
I20 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Iras, Royal queen!
Char, O Cleopatra! thou art taken, queen.
Cleo, Quick, quick, good hands.
[Drawing a dagger.
Pro, Hold, worthy lady, hold:
{Seizes and disarms her.
Do not yourself such wrong, who are in this 40
ReHeved, but not betrayed.
Cleo. What, of death too,
That rids our dogs of languish ?
Pro. Cleopatra,
Do not abuse my
master's bounty by
The undoing of yourself: let the world see
His nobleness well acted, which your death 45
Will never let come forth.
Cleo. Where art thou, death ?
Come hither, come! come, come, and take a
queen
Worth many babes and beggars!
Pro, O, temperance, lady!
Cleo, Sir, I will eat no meat, I'll not drink,
sir;
If idle talk will once be necessary, -
50
111 not sleep neither: this mortal house I'll
ruin.
Do Caesar what he can. Know, sir, that I
Will not wait pinion'd at your master's court;
Nor once be chastised with the sober eye
Of dull Octavia. Shall they hoist me up 55
And show me to the shouting varletry
Of censuring Rome ? Rather a ditch in Egypt
Be gentle grave unto me! rather on Nilus' mud
Lay me stark-nak'd, and let the water-flies
Blow me into abhorring! rather make 6q
My country's high pyramides my gibbet.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 121

And hang me up in chains!

Pro. You do extend
These thoughts of horror further than you shall
Find cause in Caesar.

Enter Dolabella.

DoL Proculeius,
What thou hast done thy master Caesar knows, 65
And he hath sent for thee: for the queen,
I take her to
'11 my guard.
Pro, So, Dolabella,
It shall content me best: be gentle to her.
\To Cleo.] To Caesar I will speak what you shall
please.
If you'll employ me to him.
Cleo, Say, I would die. 70
[Exeunt Proculeius and Soldiers.
Dol. Most noble empress, you have heard of me ?
Cleo, I cannot tell.
Dol, Assuredly you know me.
Cleo, No matter, sir, what I have heard or known.
You laugh when boys or women tell their dreams;
Is 't not your trick ?
Dol. I understand not, madam. 75
Cleo. I dream'd there was an Emperor Antony:
O, such another sleep, that I might see
But such another man!
Dol, If it might please ye —
Cleo, His face was as the heavens; and therein
stuck
A sun and moon, which kept their course, and lighted
The little O, the earth.
Dol. Most sovereign creature — 81
Cleo. His legs bestrid the ocean: his reared arni
122 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
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, 85
He was as rattling thunder. For his bounty.
There was no winter in't; an autumn 'twas
That grew the more by reaping: his delights
Were dolphin-like; they show'd his back above
The element they lived in: in his livery 90
Walk'd crowns and crownets; realms and islands
were
As plates dropped from his pocket.
Dol, Cleopatra!
Cleo, Think you there was, or might be, such a
man
As this I dream'd of ?
DoL Gentle madam, no.
Cleo, You lie, up to the hearing of the gods. 95
But, there be, or ever were, one such.
if

It's past the size of dreaming: nature wants stuff

To vie strange forms with fancy; yet, to imagine
An Antony, were nature's piece 'gainst fancy,
Condemning shadows quite.
Dol. Hear me, good madam. 100
Your loss is as yourself, great; and you bear it
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.
Cleo, I thank you, sir. 105
Know you what Caesar means to do with me ?
DoL I am loath to tell you what I would you
knew.
Cleo. Nay, pray you, sir —
Dol. Though he be honorable —
Cleo, He'll lead me, then, in triumph?
 "

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 123

Dol. Madam, he will; I know't. no

{Flourish and shout within,
*^
Make way there : Caesar !

Enter Caesar, Gallus, Proculeius, Mec^nas,

Seleucus, and others 0} his Train.
Cces. Which is Queen of Egypt ?
the
Dol. It is the emperor, madam.
[Cleopatra kneels,
CcBs. Arise, you shall not kneel:
I pray you, rise; rise, Egypt.
Cleo, Sir, the gods 115
Will have it thus; my master and my lord
I must obey.
C(Bs. 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.
Cleo. Sole sir o' the world, 120
I cannot projectmine own cause so well
To make it clear; but do confess I have
Been laden with like frailties which before
Have often shamed our sex.
C(Es. Cleopatra, know.
We will extenuate rather than enforce: 125
If you apply yourself to our intents.
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 130
Of my good purposes, and put your children
To that destruction which I'll guard them from.
If thereon you rely. I'll take my leave.
Cleo. And may, through all the world: 'tis yours;
and we,
124 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Your scutcheons and your signs of conquest, shall
Hang in what place you please. Here, my good
lord. 13^
CcEs. You shall advise me in all for Cleopatra.
Cleo. This is the brief of money, plate, and jewels
I am possessed of: 'tis exactly valued;
Not petty things admitted. WTiere 's Seleucus ?
Set. Here, madam. 141
Cleo, This is my treasurer: let him speak, my
lord.
Upon his peril, that I have reserved
To myself nothing. Speak the truth, Seleucus.
Sel. Madam, 145
I had rather seal my lips, than, to my peril.
Speak that which is not.
Cleo. What have I kept back?
Sel. Enough to purchase what you have made
known.
Cces. Nay, blush not, Cleopatra; I approve
Your wisdom in the deed.
Cleo. O, behold,
See, Caesar! 150
How pomp is now be yours;
followed! mine will
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, goest thou back?
thou shalt 155
Go back, w^arrant thee but I '11 catch thine eyes.
;

Though they had wings: slave, soulless villain, dog!

O rarely base!
CcEs, Good queen, let us entreat you.
Cleo. O Caesar, what a wounding shame is this.
That thou, vouchsafing here to visit me, 160
Doing the honor of thy lordliness
To one so meek, that mine own servant should
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 125

Parcel the sum my

disgraces by
of
Addition of his envy! Say, good Caesar,
That I some lady trifles have reserved, 165
Immoment toys, things of such dignity
As we greet modern friends withal; and say,
Some nobler token I have kept apart
For Li\ia and Octavia, to induce
Their mediation; must I be unfolded 170
With one that I have bred? The gods I it smites
me
Beneath the fall I have. [To Sel.] Prithee, go
hence;
Or I shall know the cinders of my spirits
Through the ashes of my chance: wert thou a man.
Thou wouldst have mercy on me.
C(es. Forbear, Seleucus. 175
[Exit Seleucus.
Cleo. Be it known, that we, the greatest, are
misthought
For things that others do; and, when we fall.

We answer others' merits in our name.

Are therefore to be pitied.
C(Bs, Cleopatra,
Not what you have reserved, nor what acknowledged.
Put we i' the roll of conquest: still be't yours, 181
Bestow it at your pleasure; and beUeve,
Caesar's no merchant, to make prize mth you
Of things that merchants sold. Therefore be
cheer 'd;
Make not your thoughts your prisons:no, dear
queen; 185
For we intend so to dispose you as
Yourself shall give us counsel. Feed, and sleep:
Our care arid pity is so much upon you.
That we remain your friend; and so, adieu.
 !

126 ANTOKY AND CLEOPATRA

Cleo. My master, and my lord!
C(Bs. Not so. Adieu. 190
{Flourish, Exeunt Caesar and his train.
Cleo. He words me, girls, he words me, that I
should not
Be noble to myself: but, hark thee, Charmim.
\Whispers Charmian.
Iras. Finish, good lady; the bright day is done,
And we are for the dark.
Cleo. Hie thee again:
Ihave spoke already, and it is provided; 195
Go put it to the haste.
Char. Madam, I will.

Re-enter Dolabella.

Dol. Where is the queen?

Char. Behold, sir. {Exit.
Cleo. Dolabella
Dol. Madam, as thereto sworn by your command
Which my love makes religion to obey,
I tell you this: Caesar through Syria 200
Intends his journey; and within three days
You with your children will he send before:
Make your best use of this: I have performed
Your pleasure and my promise.
Cleo. Dolabella,
I shall remain your debtor.
Dol. I your servant. 205
Adieu, good queen; I must attend on Caesar.
Cleo. Farewell, and thanks. {Exit Dolabella.
Now, Iras, w^hat think'st thou?
Thou, an Egyptian puppet, shalt be shown
In Rome, as well as I: mechanic slaves
With greasy aprons, rules, and hammers, shall 210
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 127

Uplift us to the view; in their thick breaths,

Rank of gross diet, shall we be enclouded.
And forced to drink their vapor.
Iras. The gods forbid!
Cleo. Nay, 'tis most certain, Iras; saucy lie tors

Will catch at us, like strumpets; and scald rhymers

Ballad us out o' tune: the quick comedians 216
Extemporally will stage us, and present
Our Alexandrian Antony
revels;
Shall be brought drunken forth,and I shall see
Some squeaking Cleopatra boy my greatness. 220
Iras. O the good gods!
Cleo. Nay, that's certain.
Iras. I'll never see't; for, I am sure, my nails
Are stronger than mine eyes.
Cleo. Why, that's the way
To fool their preparation, and to conquer 225
Their most absurd intents.

Re-enter Charmian.
Now, Charmian!
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 despatch indeed; 230
And, when thou hast done this chare, I '11 give thee
leave
To play till doomsday. Bring our crown and all.

Wherefore 's this noise ? {Exit Iras. A noise within.

Enter a Guardsman.

Guard. Here is a rural fellow

That will not be denied your highness' presence:
He brings you figs. 235
128 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Cleo. Let him come in. [Exit Guardsman.
What poor an instrument
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
Iam marble-constant; now the fleeting moon 240
No planet is of mine.

Re-enter Guardsman, with Clown bringing in a

basket.

Guard. This the man.

is

Cleo. 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 immortal; those that do die of it do
seldom or never recover. 248
Cleo. Rememberest 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 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' the worm;
but he that will believe all that they say, shall never
be saved by half that they do but this is most falli-
:

ble, the worm's an odd worm.

Cleo. Get thee hence; farewell.
Clown. I wish you all joy of the worm. 260
[Setting down his basket.
Cleo. Farewell.
Clown. You must think this, look you, that the
worm will do his kind.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 129

Cleo. 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 worm.
in the
Cleo, Take thou no care; it shall be heeded.
Clown, Very good. Give it nothing, I pray you,
for not worth the feeding.
it is 270
Cleo.Will it eat me?
Clown. You must not think I am so simple but I
know 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 devils do the gods
great harm in their women for in every ten that they
;

make, the devils mar five. 277

Cleo. Well, get thee gone; farewell.
Clown. Yes, forsooth: I wish you joy o' the worm.
[Exit.

Re-enter Iras with a robe, crown, etc.

Cleo. Give me my robe, put on my crown; I have

Immortal longings in me: now no more 281
The juice of Egypt's grape shall moist this lip:
Yare, yare, good Iras; quick. Methinks I hear
Antony call; I see him rouse himself
To praise my noble act; I hear him mock 285
The luck of Caesar, which the gods give men
To excuse their after wrath: husband, I come:
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? 290
Come and take the last warmth
then, of my lips.

Farewell, kind Charmian; Iras, long farewell.

[Kisses them. Iras falls and di^.
Have I the aspic in my lips ? Dost fall ?
I30 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
If thou and nature can so gently part,
The stroke of death is as a lover's pinch, 295
Which hurts, and is Dost thou he still?
desired.
If thus thou vanishest, thou tell'st the world
It is not worth leave-taking.

Char, Dissolve, thick cloud, and rain; that I may

say.
The gods themselves do weep!
Cleo. This proves me base: 300
If she first meet the curled Antony,
He'll make demand of her, and spend that kiss
Which is my heaven to have. Come, thou mortal
wretch,
\To an asp, which she applies to her breast.
With thy sharp teeth this knot intrinsicate
Of life at once untie: poor venomous fool, 305
Be angry, and despatch. O, couldst thou speak,
That I might hear thee call great Caesar ass
Unpolicied.
Char, O eastern star!
Cleo. Peace, peace!
Dost thou not see my baby at my breast.
That sucks the nurse asleep?
Char. O, break! O, break! 310
Cleo. As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle —
—
O Antony! Nay, I will take thee too:
[Applying another asp to her arm.
What should I stay — [Dies.
Char. In this vile world? So, fare thee well.
Now boast thee, death, in thy possession lies 315
A Downy windows, close;
lass unparellel'd.
And golden Phcebus never be beheld
Of eyes again so royal! Your crown's awry;
I'll mend it, and then play.
 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA 131

Enter the Guards rushing in.

First Guard, Where is the queen ?

Char, Speak softly, wake her not. 320
First Guard, Caesar hath sent —
Char, Too slow a messenger.
[Applies an asp.
O, come apace, despatch! I partly feel thee.
First Guard, Approach, ho! All's not well:
Caesar's beguiled.
Sec, Guard. There's Dolabella sent from Caesar;
him.
call
First Guard. What work is here! Charmian, is
this well done? 325
Char, It is well done, and fitting for a princess
Descended of so many royal kings.
Ah, soldier! [Dies,

Re-enter Dolabella.
Dol, How goes it here ?
Sec, Guurd. All dead.
Dol. Caesar, thy thoughts
Touch their effects in this: thyself art coming 330
To see perform 'd the dreaded act which thou
So sought'st to hinder.
[Within] "A wav there, a way for Caesar!"

Re-enter C^sar and all his train marching.

DoL O sir, you are too sure an augurer*

That you did fear is done.
Cces, Bravest at the last.
She levell'd at our purposes, and, being royal, 335
Took her own way. The manner of their deaths ?
I do not see them bleed.
Dol. Who was last with them?
132 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
First Guard. A simple countryman, that brought
her figs:
This was his basket.
CcBs, Poisoned, then.
First Guard. O Caesar,
This Charmian lived but now; she stood and spake:
I found her trimming up the diadem 341
On her dead mistress; tremblingly she stood
And on the sudden dropp'd.
Cces. O noble weakness!
If they had swallow'd poison, 'twould appear
By external swelling: but she looks like sleep, 345
As she would catch another Antony
In her strong toil of grace.
DoL Here, on her breast,
There is a vent of blood and something blown:
The like is on her arm.
First Guard. This is an aspic's trail: and these
fig-leaves 350
Have slime upon them, such as the aspic leaves
Upon the caves of Nile.
C(Bs, 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; 355
And bear her women from the monument:
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 360
No than his glory which
less in pity
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,
 NOTES

ACT I.

Scene I.

1. Dotage, Foolishness, like that of a childish old man.

2. Measure. Exceeds all limits.
2. Goodly, Fine.
3. Musters, The troops drawn up in battle array.
4. Plated Mars, The god of war arrayed in armor.
Coats-of-mail were made of plates of steel.
5. Office, That is, bend their looks in devoted service.
6. Tawny front. Dark countenance. Cleopatra was a
Greek, but she is usually represented as swarthy of visage.
8. Reneges, Disclaims, renounces.
8. Temper. Moderation, equanimity.
ID. Gipsy. Used here contemptuously, not in a literal
sense.
12. Triple pillar. Third. At this time Antony, Caesar,
and Lepidus formed the second triumvirate, or group of
men to rule Rome.
15. Beggary, Her love small enough to be reckoned is
but beggary.
16. Bourne, Limit.
17. New heaven. That is, the present heaven and earth
are not wide enough to limit my love.
18. Grates. It annoys me; tell me briefly.
21. Scarce -bearded. A
taunt at Antony by reminding
him how young is the man he calls master.
23. Take in. Conquer, subdue.
23. Enfranchise. Set free.
24. Damn. Condemn.
28. Process. A legal summons calling a man into court.
31. Homager. Vassal, bond servant.
31. Shame, Pays the tribute of shame or fear.
133

I
134 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
32. Shrill'tongiied. Plutarch says that Fulvia was **of
a peevish, crooked, and troublesome nature."
34. Ranged, Well ordered.
34. Space, Place where I would be.
37. Thus, Love as we love.
37. Mutual. When two people in such complete sym-
pathy.
39. Weet, To know; weet is a corruption of 'Svit."
40. Falsehood, That is, false man.
43. Himself, Show
himself in his true character.
43. Stirred, Inspired, influenced by.
44. Love, The goddess of love, Venus.
44. Sofl, Luxurious.
45. Confound, Waste, consume.
49. Becomes, Whose every act is becoming.
50. Fully, Some read "fitly" here.
54. Qualities, Characters. See quotation from Plu-
tarch in Introduction.
55. Speak J
Addressed to the messenger from Rome.
etc.
57. Not Antony, That is, when he is not in his proper
frame of mind, he lacks too much those great qualities which
should always be his.
61. Common liar. Proves false report to be true report.
63. Of, For.

Scene II.

2. Absolute, Complete, perfect.

19. Prescience, One who knows all things; used here
jokingly as a title.
22. Liver, Heart. Liver was often used as the seat of
love.
26. Widow, Outlive them.
27. Herod of Jewry, A reference to Herod's slaughter
of the innocents. He is represented in the old mystery plays
as a fierce tyrant.
27. Find me. Find out that it may be my destiny.
28. Companion, Make me an equal with.
35. Belike, It is likely I shall have no children to name.
38. Every, Every one.
40. For a witch. If this is the best you can do you will
never be burned for a witch.
46. E'en, As little as, etc.
46. Nilus, Nile.
 NOTES I3S

47. Wild, Extravagant.

48. Prognostication. A sign of fruitfulness.
50. Worky-day. Common, ordinary.
56. Come. Come, tell me his fortune.
57. I sis. The Egyptian goddess of the earth and of
fertility.
69. Roman. A thought about Rome.
74. Into the field. Took up arms.
77. Timers state. The state of afifairs made friendship
necessary.
78. Jointing. Joining.
79. Issue. Fortune, success.
80. Drave. An old form not commonly used by Shake-
speare.
85. As. As if.

86. Stiff. Hard to tell.

87. Extended. A legal term meaning to seize upon.

87. Ev.rphrates. Here accented on the first syllable.
^i. Syria, etc. Provinces of Asia Minor.
91. Home. Frankly, without reserve.
96. Quick. Active.
97. Earing. Ploughing. That is, the knowledge of our
faults is like ploughing the mind for bringing forth a new
and worthy crop instead of weeds.
99. Sicyon. One of the most ancient cities in southern
Greece.
loi. Stays. Awaits your pleasure.
107. Importeth. It is of importance for you to know.
107. Forbear, Have patience with me.
108. Great Spirit. A noble mind.
109. Contempt. What we fling away with careless con-
tempt.
111. Revolution, What at the moment seems pleasure
to us, by the changes of time and events, often becomes
pain.
112. Being gone. Though I prized her little when alive,
being gone, she seems of value.
113. Could. Could willingly, would.
121. Word. Will be the result.
128. Moment. For far /ess reason.
129. Mettle. Spirit.
135. Almanacs. The old almanacs used to predict
changes in the weather.
137. Jove. The god of thunder.
136 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
141. Discredited. That is, made you seem but a poor
traveler.
147. Thankful. Sacrifice of thanksgiving.
149. shows the deities as tailors of the earth
Tailors. It
who, when old robes are worn out, can make him new. So
the gods can supply men with a new wife.
154. Smock. Coat.
156. Onion. Mock tears are all you need.
157. Broached. The affairs she has set on foot.
161. Abode. Abiding.
164. Expedience. Expedition.
165. Part. Depart.
166. Touches. Other matters which affect us more
strongly.
168. Contriving. Our many friends who are contriving
or plotting in our interests.
169. Petition. Petition us to come home.
170. Dare. Declared defiance.
171. Slippery. Fickle, changeable.
173. Deserts are past. The time has gone by for giving
him his deserts.
174. Pompey. Invest the son with all the dignities of the
father. Pompey was a famous Roman general.
176. Blood. Courage.
177. Main. Chief soldier of the world.
177. Quality. Disposition.
178. Sides. The whole empire of Rome.
179. Coursers. A
reference to the old superstition that
a horse hair, when put into water, will turn into a snake.
179. But. Only.
180. Say. Give our commands to our subordinates.

Scene III.

I.' Since. The use of since with the imperfect tense is

not uncommon in Shakespeare.
3. Did. That is, you must appear as if I did not send
you.
6. Did Implying that she does not.
love.
8. Do. Supply ''which."
10. The way. That is the way.
11. / wish. I wish you would forbear; I pray you,
forbear.
12. Ojte7i. Are frequently obliged to fear.
 NOTES 137

13. Sullen. That is, I mean to pretend to be sick and

melancholy.
14. Breathing. To put my purpose in words.
16. Sides. As illustrative of her meaning, Stevens quotes
the lines:

''There is no woman's sides

Can hide the beating of so strong a passion."
19. Eye. By your very appearance.
20. Married. A scornful reference to Fulvia.
26. Treasons. The treachery you intended against me.
30. Mouth-made. Empty, false.
32. Color. Excuse, pretext.
33. Sued. Sued that you might stay.
35. Eternity. This is a mocking echo of what Antony
has previously said.
36. Bent. The arch of our eyebrow.
36. None. None of our parts.
37. Race. Had a heavenly origin.
44. I71 use. In a legal term.
trust,
45. Civil swords. Is torn by civil wars.
46. Port. Probably Ostia, which was the harbor of
Rome.
48. Breed. Agrees with " powers," rather than with its
subject, "equaUty."
48. Scrupulous. Factions that keep narrow watch on
each other. By a confusion of ideas "breed" agrees with
the nearest noun.
49. Condemned, It is necessary to accent this word on
the first syllable.
53. Purge. Would be cured, changed.
54. Particular. More private reasons.
55. Saje. Make safe; render you secure regarding me.
58. Childishness. That is, from being so childish as to
believe that Fulvia is really dead.
61. Garhoils. Commotions, turmoils. The word is
adopted from the French.
61. Best. This remark has been variously interpreted.
Some take it to mean that the last part of the letter, telHng
the good news of Fulvia 's death, is the best part; some that
nothing in Fulvia' s life so became her as her death, Cleo-
patra's reply seems to favor the first interpretation.
63. Sacred vials. The Romans sometimes placed bottles
of tears, or lachrymatory vials, in the urns of their friends.
138 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
67. Bear. My intentions.
67. Cease. Which shall be carried out or not.
68. Fire. That is, by the sun that brings verdure out of
the Nile mud.
71. AffecVst. As it may please thee.
71. Lace. Stay lace, lest I faint.
73. So. If.

74. Evidence, Testimony.

75. Trial. Test.
78, Egypt. That is, Egypt's queen.
78. Good now. A common vocative, my good lord.
81. Meetly. Very well.
82. Target. Shield.
84. Herculanean. According to Plutarch, Antony claimed
descent from Anton, a son of Hercuies.
85. Chafe. How well he maintains his pretended anger.
90. Oblivion. My forgetfulness. That is, my memory
plays me as false as does Antony himself, and I have forgotten
all I would say.
92. Idleness. But that your royalty holds idleness in
subjection to your purposes, I should think you were the
very spirit of idleness yourself.
94. Heart. It is hard work to carry on such trifling
when it covers such a sorry heart.
96. Becomings. Graces and charms.
97. Eye. Appear becoming in your eyes.
100. Laurel. Laurel crowned victory. Laurel has al-
ways been the symbol of the victor.
102. Abide. That is, we both remain with and yet fly
from each other, since you, though rem^aining here, yet go
with me, and I, though going hence, still in spirit am here
with you.

Scene IV.

3. Competitor. Partner, associate.

3. Alexandria. The capital of Egypt.
4. Fishes. Plutarch says that Antony when fishing with
Cleopatra was vexed at his want of success and^ on one
occasion, hired divers to fasten a live fish on his hook.
Cleopatra found out the trick, and next time she ordered her
own divers to be quicker than Antony's and place a salt fish
on the hook. When the latter drew it up in triumph, she
and her attendants were vastly amused.
 NOTES 139

6. Ptolomy. Cleopatra belonged to the line of the

Ptolomies, a famous dynasty of Egyptian rulers.
9. Abstract. The epitome, the very embodiment.
II. Enow. This is an old form of the plural of "enough."
14. Purchased. Inherited rather than acquired by him-
self.
18. Mirth, A revel, a feast.
19. Turn. To at table and drink with a slave.
sit
20. Reel. That is, to go reeling along.
20. Buffet. Play the part of buffet.
22. As. Although.
22. Composure. Composition, nature.
24. Soils. Faults.
25. Lightness. When our burden is so much the greater
for his levity.
26. Vacancy. Times of leisure.
27. Surfeits. Satiety and physical pains would be the
natural punishments.
28. Confound. But to waste a time such as this, when
his own interests and ours demand his attention, is a fault
that ought to be reprimanded as we chide boys.
31. Mature. Old enough to know better.
32. Pawn. Sacrifice their better judgment.
33. Rebel to. Rebel against their judgment.
33. News. Shakespeare sometimes treats this word as
singular.
39. Discontents. Malcontents, the dissatisfied ones.
40. Give him. Represent, speak of him as one who has
been wronged.
42. Is. The man who has power was desired by the
people only until he actually acquired power.
43. Ebb'd. One whose fortunes have declined.
44. Beared. Becomes dear.
46. Lackeying. Waiting upon, going back and forth with.
49. Ear. Plough.
52. Lack blood. Grow pale with fright.
52. Flush youth. Hot-blooded youth, or youth at its
prime.
55. War. That is, his name strikes more terror than it

would were his war resisted.

56. Wassails, Revels.
58. Consuls, The name of the ruling officers of Rome.
61. Suffer. With fortitude greater than that with which
savages could suffer.
I40 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
62 Gilded. Covered with scum.
66 Browsed^ st. Fed on
71 Lank^d. Grew thin.
71 Of. As regards.
75 Assemble. Let us assemble a council at once.
79 Front. Encounter.
79 Encounter. Meeting.
80 It. That is, to take account of my resources.
82 Stirs. Outbreaks.
84 Bond. I know that I am bound to do so.

Scene V.
4. Mandragora. Mandrake, a plant inducing sleep.
13. Wot' St. Knowest thou.
14. Demi-Atlas. The Atlas who holds up half the world.
Atlas was one who made war
of the Titans, or race of giants,
upon Zeus and, as a punishment, was condemned to bear up
the heavens on his shoulders.
15. Burgonet. A kind of helmet first worn by the
Burgundians.
19. Phoebus. God of the sun. That is, tanned by the
sun.
20. In time. By time.
20. Broad-fronted. With a wide forehead.
23. Grow. That is, fix them on my face.
24. Aspect. Countenance.
27. Medicine. The famous
elixir of the old alchemists
that was supposed to turn base metal into gold.
32. Orient. Eastern; that is, bright, radiant.
34. Firm. That is, constant.
35. Foot. In addition to which.
37. .Opulent. Commanding many kingdoms.
39. Arrogant. Some editions read ''rampaunt." The
word in the folio is *' arm-gaunt," an obvious misprint.
41. Beastly. A
peculiar adverbial use of the word.
50. Mingle. Mixture. The word is here a noun.
52. Post. Messengers.
53. Several. Separate.
54. Thick. So many in succession.
59. Emphasis. Emphatic praise.
62. Paragon. Here a verb, meaning to compare favor-
ably.
64. Salad. Youthful, green.
 NOTES 141

65. Cold. That is, you are cold in blood.

69. Unpeople. By sending everybody as a messenger.

ACT II.

Scene I.

I. Will, can not but assist.

Shall.
3. Not
deny. Do not necessarily deny.
4. Whiles. While; that is, while we are praying, the
thing for which we are praying is losing in value through
delay.
6. Harms. For things that would harm us.
8. Of. We
should say by "the losing of."
10. Crescent. Waxing greater.
10. Auguring. Prophetic.
18. Have. Where did you learn this?
21. Salt. Wanton.
21. Waned. Faded in beauty.
24. Epicurean, Accented on the antipenult. Epicurus
was a philosopher who
taught that the pursuit of pleasure
was the highest good in life. He meant, however, mental
rather than physical pleasures.
25. Cloy less. That is, not cloying; that sharpen rather
than satisfy the appetite.
26. Prorogue. Keep his honor languishing, prevent it
from asserting itself.

27. Lethe' d. Lethe was a river of Hades whose waters

brought forgetfulness to everyone who drank of them.
31. Space. It is time enough even for a longer journey
than that from Egypt to Rome.
;^^. Helm. Helmet.
37. Widow. Young Ptolemy, to whom Caesar had mar-
ried Cleopatra, had been drowned.
38. Hope. Expect.
39. Well greet. Greet on good terms.
40. Trespasses. Committed ofifenses.
45. Pregnant. Likely, probable.
45. Square. Quarrel.
49. Yet not. Do not yet.
51. Our lives upon. It is necessary if we value our
lives.
142 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Scene II.

6. Mars. The god of war.

8. ShareH. I would not show him even so small a mark
of respect.
9. Stomaching. Resentment, quarreling.
15. Compose. Agree well together, come to terms.
15. Parthia. We will set out for Parthia.
16. I do not know. Said in answer to some question
without the scenes.
18. Combined. United.
19. Leaner. Lesser, more trivial.
21. Loud, In angry words.
23. Rather. All the more because.
25. Curstness, Do not let anger make our differences
greater.
26. To fight. About to fight.
34. Derogately. In disparaging terms.
35. It, Did.
39. Practice. Plotted against me.
40. Question. That is, a question that concerned me.
40. Intend. What do you mean by "practiced"?
43. Contestation. Quarrel.
44. Theme. Had you for its theme or cause.
44. Word. Watchword of the war.
45. Business, Misunderstood the matter.
46. Urge me. Urge my name as a pretext for making
war.
46. Inquire, Make inquiries about it.
47. Reports. Reporters, people who supported you.
49. Discredit, Throw discredit over me as well as you.
50. Stomach. Desire.
51. Alike. Since I am engaged in the same cause with
yourself.
52. Patch. If you insist upon patching up a quarrel
with me out of mere trivialities, for you have no real cause,
you must find some better ground than this.
56. Patched. You had just as little real ground for your
excuses.
57. Lack. I know you could not help thinking.
60. Graceful eyes. Look favorably upon.
61. Fronted. Opposed.
63. Snaffle. Light rein.
64. Pace, Teach to go lightly. ^;.^. ,:
'
 NOTES 143

64. Wife. That is, if you were married to a woman of

such spirit you would find that, although you may easily
govern a third of the world, you cannot govern her.
67. Uncurhahle. Ungovernable as she was, her com-
motions, etc.
70. Did you. Gave you too much reason for disquiet.
70. For that. As for all that.
74. Gihe. Drive out with gibes.
74. Missive. The bearer of my missive.
76. Want. Was not myself.
78. Myself. What my condition had been,
81. Question. Let us put him out of the question.
82. Article. The promise, that to which you swore.
85. Sacred. My honor, about which he is now speaking,
is a sacred matter; let him say all that he has to say, therefore,
that I mayvindicate it.
90. Poisoned. Tainted with slothfulness and pleasure.
94. //. That is, my honesty.
98. Noble. Nobly.
99. Enforce. Lay stress upon, urge.
100. Grieves. Grievances.
102. Atone. Reconcile, make friends.
104. Instant. Time being.
no. Stone. That is, I will be as silent as a stone; I am
discretion itself.
113. Conditions. Dispositions, temperaments.
115. Hoop. Bond would hold us in friendship.
122. Rashness. That is, your rashness would deserve
reproof.
127. Unslipping. A
slip knot is one that will come un-
tied if one of its ends is pulled.
128.To. For.
General.
130. All her various virtues.
133. Import. Carry with them dangers.
134. Tales. Only idle reports.
138. Studied. One that has been duly pondered.
138. Present. Uttered on the spur of the moment.
139. Ruminated. One which my sense of duty has made
me carefully consider.
144. Unto. Over.
145. Fairly. Shows so fair, plausible.
147. Further. Help on.
153. Fly off. May our affections never become es-
tranged again.
 144 .\NTONY AND CLEOPATRA

156. Only. I must just thank him, lest I seem forgetful

of his courtesies.
158. Calls. Presses.
159. Of. By.
161. Misenum. A promontory in the province of Cam-
pania where there was an excellent harbor.
164. Fame, Report.
167. Most. The utmost.
168. View. To come to see my sister.
177. Digested. Settled.
177. Well by't. Had a capital time.
180. Wild-boars. Plutarch says: "When he (Philotus)
was in the kitchen and saw . . eight wild boars roasted
.

whole, he began to wonder at it, and said: 'Sure you have

a great number of guests to supper.' 'No,' quoth
. . .

he (the cook), *not many guests, not above twelve in all.' "
182. By. In comparison with.
186. Square. Do her justice.
187. Pursed. Took it captive.
188. Cydnus. A river flowing through the city of Tarsus.
"Upon" means "on the banks of."
189. Reporter. Informant made up the story.
192. The barge, etc. This follows Plutarch's description.
193. Poop. Stem.
200. Of tissue. Probably cloth of gold on a ground-work
of tissue.
201. O^er-picturing. Outdoing that picture of Venus.
According to Warburton, this was the Venus of Protogenes,
a celebrated Greek painter, mentioned by the Latin poet,
Pliny.
202. Outwork. Where the fancy of the artist exceeds the
beauty of nature.
203. Cupids. Cupid was god of love.
206. Undid did. That is, made the cheeks glow whose
warmth they were intended to cool.
207. Nereides. Mermaids, the fifty daughters of Nereus.
208. /' the eyes. Waited upon her, observant of her
every look.
209. Bends adornings. Pages of commentary have been
written on this passage, but the simplest explanation seems
the best. Their very acts of observance in waiting upon
her were so graceful as to add a fresh charrn to their beauty.
210. Tackle, Ropes, sails, etc,
311, ^welU Vibrate.
 NOTES 145^

212. Yarely. Deftly, nimbly.

212. Office.Perform the duty.
214. Wharfs. Banks.
215. Upon. Rushed forth to greet her.
217. Vacancy. An allusion to the doctrine then in vogue,
that nature abhors a vacuum.
222. Should. Would.
225. Barhefd. A
sign of great respect.
226. Ordinary. Meal.
228. Wench. Girl, not necessarily in a bad sense.
231. Defect perfection. That is, her breathlessness only
made her seem more lovely.
235. Stale. Render stale, destroy the charm.
239. Becomes. Seem becoming.
239. That. So that.
240. Riggish. Wanton. Rig means a frolic.
241. Settle. Content.
243. Lottery, Prize.

Scene III.

I. Office, Affairs of state.

6. Square. That is, I have not squared or ordered my
conduct well.
10. Sirrah. Sir. This word is generally addressed to
inferiors.
14. Motion. Mind, mental vision.
19. Demon. Familiar spirit, the spirit that watches over
a man.
22. Fear. Becomes the very personification of fear; is
utterly afraid.
27. ^Gainst the odds. In spite of the odds being in your
favor.
27. Thickens. Grows dull.
32. Parthia. A province in western Asia.
32. Hap. Chance.
2,7,. Dice. Even when he throws dice, he turns up the
lucky numbers.
34. Cunning. Skill.

35. Chance. Good luck.

35. Speeds. Is successful.
36. Cocks. Cock fights were popular sports in England.
36. Still. Always.
 .

146 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

37. Nought. Even when the odds are as much in my
favor as everything to nothing.
37. Quails. These birds were often used in place of
.
cocks as fighters.
38. Inhoop^d. The birds were confined within a hoop to
keep them fighting.
38. At odds. Though the odds were in my favor.

Scene IV.
3. E'en hut. But just.
6. Conceive. Calculate the time the journey will take
us.
6. Mount. Museum.
8. About. Draw me a roundabout route.

Scene V.
I. Moody, Grave, melancholy.
3. An English, not an Egyptian, game.
Billiards.
8. Short. Though the result is not a success.
10. Angle. Fishing rod.
12. Tawny. Yellow.
17, Salt-fish. See previous note.
18. Fervency. Eagerness.
21. Ninth. Nine o'clock.
22 Tires.
. Head-dresses
23. Philippan. The sword was so named because An-
tony won the battle of Philippi, his greatest victory. It was
an English, not a Roman custom, to name swords for a great
victory.
28. Yield, Report.
32. Use. Are accustomed to say.
36. Go to. Here in the sense of "go on."
38. Tart a favor. So gloomy an expression.
41. Formal. Ordinary; not in the form of a man.
51. Precedence. What has gone before.
54. Pack. That is, the whole cpntents of your bundle of
news.
63. Unhair. Tear out every hair.
65. Lingering. That is, you shall linger in pickle.
70. Boot. Give you to boot, give you in addition.
71. Modesty. Moderation.
73. Made. Committed.
 NOTES 147

74. Within yourself. Do you get beside yourself; con-

trol yourself.
78. All. That is, all kindly creatures.
81. Nobility. That is, it is beneath their dignity to
strike a menial.
89. Worser. Shakespeare often uses this form of the
comparative.
91. Hold. Stick to your word.
95. Narcissus. That is, the beauty of Narcissus, the
son of Cephissus, a river god. He Was so beautiful that the
nymph Echo pined away and died for love of him.
96. Ugly. On
account of your news.
100. Unequal. Very unfair.
102. That art not what thou' rt sure of. This is the read-
ing of the folios and seems to mean. You are only the mes-
senger, not the evil message itself of which you are so sure.
Some editors change the line to read thus:

"That art not; what? thou'rt sure of it?" etc.

103. Merchandise. Goods. The word is treated here as

plural.
104. Hand, That is, you must be responsible for them.

111. Feature. Personal appearance.

112. Inclination. Disposition.
115. Medusa, a fabulous monster, who turned
Gorgon.
everyone to stone who looked upon her. The meaning is
that he resembles one of the 'double" pictures formerly in
vogue, which represented one subject on the front and
another on the back. On one side he is as ugly as a Gorgon,
on the other as splendid as Mars.

Scene VI.

4. Purposes. What terms we are ready to make.

7. Tall. Sturdy, courageous.
9. Senators. You whose wisdom rules the world*
10. Factors. Agents;
13. Ghosted. Haunted.
14. For him. That is, to avenge him.
15. Cassius. One of the chief conspirators against
Caesar.
17* Rest. That is, with the rest who took up arms.
X 7* Courtier s> That is, lured on by their love of freedom.
148 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
19. But a man. Except that they would have Caesar but
an ordinary citizen, not a despot.
20. Burthen. Burden.
22. Despiteful. Ungrateful.
24. Fear. Frighten.
27. O'er count me of. Pompey evidently means that An-
tony not only outnumbers him, but has over-reached him in
business. Plutarch tells us that Antony bought the elder
Pompey's house v^^hen it was put up for public sale, but when
he was asked for the money "he made it very strange, and
was offended with them."
28. Cuckoo. The cuckoo builds no nest for itself, but
takes possession of that built by some other bird. The
meaning is, since, like the cuckoo, you have invaded the
house of another, remain in it while you can.
30. Present. This has nothing to do with the matter on
which we are at present engaged.
34. Larger fortune. By trying to gain more in opposition
to us.
37. Measures. Supplies.
37. Greed. Agreed.
38. Unhack'd edges. That is, without hacking the edges
of our shields; without fighting.
39. Targes. Shields.
43. Impatience. Has somewhat irritated me.
48. Studied. Am prepared, earnestly desire.
52. Timelier, Sooner than I intended coming.
55. Counts. Marks, lines, as one ''casts accounts."
57. Vassal. Servant.
59. Composition. Agreement, treaty.
60. Next. Next thing.
65. Fame. Praise.
73. Do. That is, fare well.
74. Toward. In preparation.
81. Galley. A
boat propelled by rowers sitting in tiers.
84. Known. is, we have known each other.
That
98. True. Honest.
98. Whatsome'er. Whatsoever.
114. Pray, etc. Pray, is that true?
116. Is. Shakespeare sometimes uses a singular verb
when it precedes two singular subjects.
117. Divine. Predict concerning.
1 19. Purpose. That is, the purpose to make Caesar and
Antony friends.
 NOTES 149

124. Conversation, Temperament, behavior.

132. Occasion, Necessity, good policy.

Scene VII.
* Banquet. This word generally means the dessert.
2. Plants. A
play on words, as plants also means the
soles of the feet.
5. Alms^ drink. The leavings, liquor that one drinks to
accommodate a companion.
6. Disposition. That is, banter one another.
13. Partisan. A
kind of halberd or battle axe.
14. Huge sphere.The comparison is expressed ellipti-
cally. The meaning is, for a man such as Lepidus to be
called to a high position, and remain a mere nonentity in it,
is to be no better than are empty sockets where eyes should
be, which only disfigure the face.
* Sennet. A series of notes sounded on the trumpet or
cornet.
18. Scales. That is, they measure the rise of the Nile
by marks made on the pyramid for that purpose.
19. Mean. That is, the average height, neither very high
nor very low.
20. Poison. Plenty.
23. Shortly comes. That is, is soon rewarded by a har-
vest without any further trouble on his part.
26. Your. A colloquial use of the pronoun, not indicat-
ing, of course, actual possession.
32. Out, Never refuse to drink a toast.
34. In. That is, in a state of drunkenness; a play on the
word "out.'*
36. Pyramises, This form of the plural is of Shake-
speare's owncoining, although the singular, pyramis —
the
Greek form for pyramid —
was in common use. Shake-
speare probably uses it here to show that Lepidus was
already fast getting "in."
40. Anon. For a few moments.
45. It own. It was an old provincial genitive, usually
used with own.
46. Elements. Principles of life.
46. Transmigrates. The ancients beheved that the spirit,
on leaving the body, passed into some other body to live
again.
53. Epicure, A
skillful judge of physical delights.
ISO ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
55. Merit. That is, out of regard for my merit.
580 Cap off. That is, I have ever been your faithful
follower.
68. Jove. That is, ruler of the world, as Jove is ruler
of the heavens.
69. Pales, Encloses, bounds.
69. Inclips. Embraces.
71. Competitors. Associates.
74. There. This has been variously explained; some
change it to then or theirs, some think it means "by that
act," and some simply, ''All there is in the vessel is
thine/'
78. Mine honor. Mine honor leads it.
^2,' Paird, Waning, declining.
84. Seeks, Compare the proverb, *
' He who Vv^ill not when
he may, when he will, he shall have nay."
91. A\ He.
93. Wheels. "The World Goes Upon Wheels" was
the title of a pamphlet written by Taylor, a poet of the
period.
94. Reels. That is, help to make the world go round
.

faster.
96. Alexandrian. It cannot compare with Cleopatra's
feasts at Alexandria.
97. Strike the vessels. Open fresh casks of wine.
98. Forbear H. Desist.
loi. Possess. That is, master the times rather than be
guided by them.
102. From, That is, from drinking.
104. Bacchanals. Dances performed in honor of Bac-
chus, the god of wine; wild orgies.
III. Holding. The burden or refrain of a song.
III. Bear, Shout the refrain.
114. Pink eyen. Eyen is the old plural of "eye." Pink
probably means small or half -closed eyes.
115. Fats, A dialect form of "vats."
120. Off. To be off, to leave the vessel.
122. Burnt, Flushed them with wine.
125. Anticked, This motley dress of drunkenness has
made buffoons, or fools, of us.
• 126. Try, That is, test your friendship.
 NOTES 151

ACT III.

Scene I. .

1. Darting Parthia. The Parthian horsemen, as they

fled, turned in their saddles discharging darts at the enemy.
2. Marcus Crassus. A Roman general who was de-
feated by the Parthians in 53 B.C., and treacherously put
to death.
4. Pacorus. Son of Orodes, king of Parthia.
10. Chariots. The plural is used simply to amplify the
picture.
14. Too great. Too great because it may excite the
jealousy of his superior.
18. In their officer. By their generals than by their own
deeds.
20. By Every minute.
the minute.
24. Obscure his fame.
Darken.
29. Grants. Affords. That is, you have that wisdom
without which there is little difference between a soldier and
his sw^ord.
34. Jaded. Driven out like ]ades^ a name given to worn-
out horses.
35. Purposeth to. That is, purposes to make for Athens.

Scene II.

2. Despatched. Come to an agreement.

3. Sealing.Putting their seals to the agreement.
6. ^Tis. The use of ''it" is contemptuous here.
11. Nonpareil. One that has no equal.
12. Arabian. The phoenix which, according to fable,
after death rose again from its own ashes.
17. Cast. Compute in figures.
17. Number, That tell in numbers or verses.
is,

20. Shards, The horny wing cases of the beetle. He

means Caesar and Antony are the wings which raise the dull
and sluggish Lepidus.
27. Approoj. And as I am ready to venture my strongest
bond (band) as security for your conduct proving good.
28. Piece. Masterpiece.
29. Cement. Accent on the first syllable.
30. Ram. Battering rams were common implements of
war before the days of firearms.
152 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
32. Mean. Means; that is, this alliance.
34. In. By your distrust of me.
35. Curious. Careful, anxious.
40. That is, on her voyage to Egypt.
jklements.
48. Inform. Give it utterance.
51. Cloud. If a horse has a dark spot between his eyes
he is said to have a cloud in his face, which is regarded as
a blemish, as it is supposed to indicate bad temper.
57. Rheum, Was addicted to weeping.
58. Confound. Destroy.
58. Waird. Bewailed.
60. Still. Constantly, continually.
61. Out-go. That is, I will think of you as long as I
live.

Scene III.

14. As. This word had somewhat the force of a preposi-

tion; hence the objective case following.
15. Sprightly, lively of speech.
Shrill.
22. Manner of standing still.
Station.
24. Breather. A
living being.
25. Observance. Powers of observation.
26. Note. Observation. That is, there are not three
persons in Egypt who are better qualified to observe.
27. Yet. So far as he has described her.
29. Prithee. Pray thee.
37. As low as. Slang for ''as low as it could be."
41. Proper. A
fine fellow.
43. Harried. Scolded, used roughly.
44. No such thing. Nothing very remarkable.
46. Defend. Forbid.

Scene IV.
Semblable.
3. Similar, the same.
Scantly.
6. Slightingly, grudgingly.
9. TookH. Refused to take it.
10. From his teeth. That is, took it only in a half-hearted
way, for form's sake, not with sincerity.
12. Stomach. Receive with anger, resent.
15. Presently. At once, immediately.
22. Best. That is, is best able to preserve it his honor. —
25. Between' s. Act as mediator between us.
26. Preparation. That is, a force prepared for war.
 NOTES 153

27. Stain. Throw into the shade, outshine.

27. Soonest. Utmost.
28. Desires are yours. In this way you have what you
desire.
32. Solder. That is, the rift could only be closed by an
appalling amount of bloodshed.

Scene V.
5. Success. Result.
7. Rivality. Partnership. The primary meaning of
rivals is ''associates."
10. Wrote. An unusual form of the past participle which
was more commonly ''writ" or "written."
10. Appeal. A criminal charge, impeachment.
11. Up. Shut up.
12. Pair of chaps. That is, the world is now divided
between Caesar and Antony, and they will fight it out between
them.
17. Rush. That is, every little thing that comes in his
way.
20. For. That is, it is hired for Italy against Caesar.
20. More. There is more to tell, namely, that Antony
desires you instantly.
22. Naught. Of no importance.

Scene VI.
I. Contemning. To show his contempt of Rome.
3. Market Public square.
place.
3. Tribunal. A raised platform, so called because in the
days of the Roman republic, the tribunes used to sit on such
a platform when transacting public business.
9. Stablishment. Established her queen of Egypt, gave
her Egypt as an inheritance.
12. Exercise. That is, in the area where the athletic
exercises were held.
18. Gave audience. Received complaints and petitions.
20. Who. That is, the Roman people.
20. Queasy. Disgusted, sick of his insolence.
21. Call. Recall their good opinion.
25. Spoird. Despoiled.
25. Rated. Assigned him a just share.
27. Unrestored. Which has not been restored to him.
154 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
28. Of. From.
29. Being. That is, being deposed.
34. Change. That is, changed position.
34. For. As regards what.
40. Castaway. That is, cast off by her husband.
47. Borne men. That is, been crowded with spectators.
47. Expectation fainted. That is, the spectators should
have fainted with expectation.
50. Populous. Numerous.
51. Market-maid. That is, Hke a maid on her way to
market.
52. Ostentation. Display, manifestation.
53. Unloved. That
is, love which is denied opportunity

for showing itself often ceases to be felt.

54. Stage. In your journey.
55. Augmented. That is, a greeting by increasing num-
bers of persons.
61. Obstruct. Obstruction.
66. Nodded. Hath summoned him with a mere nod.
66. Who. That is, both Antony and Cleopatra.
68. BocchuSj etc. This list of kings Shakespeare gets
from Plutarch.
75. More larger. A double comparative.
77. Afflict. Injure.
78. Withhold. Prevent.
79. Wrong Wrongly led, misled.
led.
80. Negligent. That is, in danger from being negligent.
82. Content. That is, spoils your peace by the necessity
for strong measures.
^^. Determined. That is, determined by fate.
88. Best of comfort. This may either mean, ''May the
best of comfort be yours," or, ''You are my greatest com-
fort,"
94. Potent regiment. Powerful sway.
94. Trull. Infamous woman.
95. Noises it. Uses it for making a disturbance.

Scene VII.

3. Forspoke. Spoken against, opposed.

5. Denounced. Pronounced; if the war is declared
against us why, etc.
II. Traduced. Accused of.
 NOTES 155

12. Eumich. Mardian.

14. Charge. Have a part in the expenses and supplies.
16. For, As if I were a man.
21. Take in. Capture.
24. Becomed. This form of the participle occurs several
times in Shakespeare.
27. For that. For the reason that, because.
31. Vantage. Advantage.
33. Muleters. Muleteers, mule-drivers.
34. Ingross'd^ etc. Levied or ''impressed" into service
hurriedly.
36. Yare. Light and easily managed.
37. Fall. Fall upon you.
44. Assurance. That is, assurance of success.
45. Merely. Altogether.
46. Fro?n. Away from.
48. Overplus. Superfluous ships.
49. Head of Actium. The promontory of Actium.
52. Descried. His approach is observed.
55. Power. His army.
56. Legions. The Roman army consisted of legions,
each containing five thousand men.
56. Hold. Command.
58. Thetis. My sea nymph. Thetis was one of the
Nereides or nymphs.
60. Misdoubt. Have you lost confidence in.
62. Phoenicians. In ancient times the Phoenicians were
noted sailors.
62. Go-a-du^king. Take to the water as ducks do.
63. Used. Have been accustomed to.
Power onH. That is, his whole plan of action is
67.
based not upon his greatest strength —
i.e., his land force —
but upon the whims of a woman.
73. Carries. Goes.
74. Distractions. That is, his forces marched in so many
different divisions.
75. Beguiled. Deceived.

Scene VIII.

5. Prescript. Instructions.
6. Jump, Risk, hazard.
156 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
Scene IX.
7. Squadrons. Fleet.
. 7. Yond. Yonder. The word is really an adverb
formed on the old adjective yon.
8. Battle. Battle array, army.

Scene X.
2. Antoniad. Cleopatra's own ship, named for Antony-
3. Sixty. That is, sixty vessels.
5. Synod. Assembly. The word was formerly applied
chiefly to the gods, but later it was used largely of ecclesiasti-
cal assemblies.
6. Cantle. Portion; the word originally meant " corner."
9. Tokened. Spotted. The marks of the plague vv'ere
popularly called ''God's tokens."
10. Rihaudred. Profligate woman.
12. Vantage. Advantage.
14. Breeze. As if stung by a gadfly.
18. Loofd. Luffed, having turned her vessel toward the
wind.
19. Magic. Charms, fascinations.
20. Sea-wing. Raises his sails.
20. Mallard. Drake, the male wild duck.
27. Knew himself. Displayed the courage he knows he
possesses.
29. Thereabouts. Is that what you think?
31. Peloponnesus. The southern peninsula of Greece.
32. Easy toH. Easy to reach it.
32. Attend. Await.
36. Wounded chance. "Broken fortunes."
37. Sits in the wind. Opposes such a course.

Scene XL
3. Lated. Belated.
17. Sweep your way. Make your reconciliation with
Caesar easy.
18. Loathness. Unwillingness to leave me.
21. Possess you. Put you in possession of them.
23. Command. That is, I have lost the power to com-
mand you.
36. Dancer. Caesar, at the Battle of Philippi, did not
draw his sword, but wore it as if he were at a dance.
 NOTES 157

38. Ended. That is, it was I that ended the mad

Brutus.
39. Lieutenantry Acted by means of his lieutenants
.

instead of fighting himself.

40. Squares. Squadrons.
44. Unqualitied. Has lost his natural qualities, is not
himself.
47. Bid. Except, unless.
49. Offended. Sinned against my reputation.
50. Unnohle. Ignoble.
53. Looking hack. Some editors explain this passage by
"See, how by looking another way, I withdrav,- my ignominy
from your sight." Others give it a wider meaning: "See
how I am trying to hide my shame from you by holding
myself aloof and bitterly meditating on the ruin of my power
and reputation."
54. Stroyed. Destroyed.
57. Strings. That is, by the heart strings.
62. Treaties. Entreaties, proposals of peace.
63. Palter. Equivocate, use tricks.
69. Fall. Do not let fall.
69. Rates. Equals in value.
71. Schoolmaster. One Euphronius, the teacher of An-
tony and Cleopatra's children.
72. Lead. Heavy of heart.

Scene XII.

3. Argument. A proof that he is hard hit.

5. Which. Who.
10. His. Its.
10 Sea. The ocean.
10 Office. The duty you have come to perform.
12 Requires. Requests that he be allowed.
15 Private. That is, as a private citizen.
18 Circle. That is, the crown of Egypt.
25 Bands. Troops.
28 Add more etc. And in addition, make
J
her more
offers as they may suggest themselves to vou.
30. Perjure. Cause to be false to themselves.
31. Vestal. Vestals were priestesses of the goddess Vesta
who were vowed to a life of celibacy.
32. Edict. That is, name your own reward.
158 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
34. Becomes his flaw. How he bears himself under his
fallen fortunes.
36. Power. That is, in every one of his faculties.

Scene XIII.
I. Think, and die. Take thought, despair and die.
5. Ranges. Ranks.
8. Nick'd. Disfigure, mark with folly.
10. Meered. The whole question, the only cause of
dispute. The etymology of this word is somewhat doubtful.
II. Course. Follow as a hunter courses after game.
12. Gazing. That is, gazing after him in consternation.
19. Principalities. Kingdoms.
26. Comparisons. Some editors think this means his
advantages as compared with mine; others take it as a
misprint for ''caparisons."
27. Declined. Fallen in estate.
29. High-battled. The commander of proud and vic-
torious armies.
30. Unstate. Divest himself of his advantages.
30. Staged. Exhibit himself on a stage.
31. Sworder. A gladiator, a slave who fought in the
arena at public shows.
32. Parcel. Of a piece with, correspond with.
34. Suffer. To suffer the same ruin.
35. Measures. So well able to guage men's measures or
capacities.
39. Blown. Full blown.
41. Square. Quarrel.
42. Loyalty. Loyalty to a fool becomes mere folly.
46. /' the story. Wins renown when the story is told.

48. Haply. Perhaps.

51. Leap. Is eager to be friends.
52. He is. We acknowledge Antony's master, that is,

Caesar.
55. Right royal. Gracious sir.

59. Constrained. Faults forced upon you.

63. Leaky. So like a leaky ship.
71. Shrowd. Protection. The word originally meam
any kind of garment or covering.
74. Deputation. By deputy or proxy.
77. All'Oheying. Whose commands are obeyed by all
men*
 NOTES 159

81. Grace. Allow men

the favor of kissing your hand.
82. C Cesar's father. The
great general, Julius Caesar,
who had adopted Octavius, his grandnephew.
8^. Kingdoms in. Conquering kingdoms.
85. As. As if.

87. Fullest. Most complete or perfect, fullest of good

qualities.
91. Muss. A scramble after some object that had been
thrown down.
93. Jack. Impudent fellow.
98. She here. Used contemptuously. Of this woman
here who was once Cleopatra.
100. Cringe. Distort his face in pain or fear.
109. Feeders. Parasites, those who live on the bounty
of others. Some think it means merely servants.
no. Boggier. Bungler, blunderer.
112. Blind.
Seel.
117. Trencher. A
large plate.
118. Cneius Pompey, The present Pompey's father, a
great Roman general.
120. Luxuriously. Wantonly.
121. Temperance, Here, chastity.
124. Quit. Requite. A common phrase of beggars.
127. Basan. We find in the Psalms, ''As the hill of
Basan, so is God's hill; even an high hill, as the hill of
Basan." And again, "Many oxen have come about me:
fat bulls of Basan close me in on every side."
131. Yare. Prompt and skillful.

132. A\ Our.
138. Fever. Give you a fever.
146. Orhs. Spheres.
147. Ahysm. Abyss.
147. Mislike. is angry at.
Dislike,
149. Enjranched. Enfranchised; a slave who has been
set free.
151. Quit. Requhe, get even with me.
152. Stripes. Lashings.
153. Terrene. Earthly moon; that is, Cleopatra. .

154. Portends. Foretells, indicates.

157. Ties his points. One who does the duty of a ser-
vant; hterally, fastens the tagged lacings of his garments, or
his points, as they were called.
161. Determines. As the stone dissolves.
162. CcBsarion. Her son by Julius Caesar.
i6o ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
165. Discandying. Melting.
165. Pelleted. Storm
of pellets or hail stones.
171. Fleet,Float, in sea trim.
175. Chronicle, Will perform acts that deserve to be
chronicled.
178 Breathed, Endowed with treble breath.
179, Maliciously. Without mercy.
180. Nice. Dainty, luxurious.
183. Gatidy. Joyous, festive.
192. Sap, Life.
197. Estridge, Ostrich.

ACT IV.

Scene I.

5. I have many other. Said ironically.

9. Make hoot.Take advantage.
14. Fetch him. Take him captive.
15. Store. Abundance of means.
16. Waste, Lavishness.

Scene II.

7. WooH. Would thou. A provincial form.

8. Take all. That is, I would give no quarter.
17. Clapped, That is, I wish I could be made into many
persons while you all became Antony.
21. Scant. Do not stint the wine.
22. Fellow. That is, when I had an empire at my
command as well as you.
25. Period. End.
26. Haply. Perhaps.
26. //. That is, if you do see me, it may be as a mangled
corpse.
33. Yield. Give you reward.'
35. Onion-eyed. Have tears in my eyes.
36. Ho, etc. Said in mockery and perhaps rebuke.
39. Dolorous. Doleful, melancholy.
41. Burn this night. That is, burn out; feast all night
long.
 NOTES i6i

44. Death and honor. An honorable death.

45. Consideration, Serious thoughts.

Scene III.

5. Belike. Very Hkely.

10. Absolute. Certain.
* Hautboys. A wind instrument made of wood.
14. Signs. It is a good omen.
16. Hercules. A legendary Greek hero who was in later
times regarded as a god.
22. Quarter. As far as the Hmits of our beat.
23. Give off. Cease.
23. Content. Very good, all right.

Scene IV.
2. Chu^k. Chick; a term of endearment.
5. Brave. Defy.
7. Armourer. Armor bearer.
10. Briefly. Immediately.
13. Daff't. Doff it, remove it.
14. Squire. In feudal times, the attendant of a knight
15. Tight. Skillful, handy.
23. Port. Gate.
23. Expect. Await.
25. Blown. Some editors take this word to refer to the
trumpets, and others to the morning. The former inter-
pretation seems rather more in keeping with Antony's mood.
28. Well said. Rather, well done.
31. Check. Rebuke.
32. Mechanic, Vulgar^, like what a mechanic would use.

Scene V.
14. Subscribe. Sign the letter.
17. Enobarbus. That he of all men should desert me.

Scene VI.
2. Took. Taken.
6. Three-nook'd. That is, one divided between Caesar,
Antony and Lepidus.
9. Plant. That is, to plant or place.
i62 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
II. Jewry, That is, Judea.
15. Pains. That is, for the pains or trouble he took.
17. Entertainment, Are allowed to serve him but are not
trusted.
22. Overplus, That is, with presents added to it.
23. On my guard. That is, where I was on guard.
26. Sajed, Give him safe conduct out of the army.
33. Turpitude,
Baseness.
34. Breaks. The figure seems to be that this
Blows.
act ofAntony fills his heart with remorse almost to bursting.
35. Thought, Bitter reflections.

Scene VIL
2. Oppression, That is, we have ventured too far and
met more opposition than we expected.
5. Droven, An old form of "driven.*'
6. Clouts. That is, with their heads tied up in bandages.
7. T. Shaped like a T.
8. H. A pun is intended here on the word "ache,"
which was formerly pronounced like the letter H.
II. Snatch, Catch them by the neck as dogs catch hares.
13. Spritely. Spirited, encouraging.

Scene VIII.
2. Gests. Valorous acts, exploits.
5. Doughty -handed.
Stout-handed, brave soldiers.
7. Hectors. You have all shown yourselves as brave as
Hector —
the great hero of the Trojans during their ten
years* war with the Greeks.
8. Clip. Embrace.
11. Until they are whole again.
Whole,
12. Mistress of the fairies, enchantress.
Fairy,
15. Prooj of harness. Armor of proof, or metal that had
been "proved" by being subjected to a severe test.
17. Virtue. Here, valor, which .was the original meaning
of the word.
20. Something. Somewhat.
22. Goal for goal. That is, for every goal youth wins of
us we can win one from them.
28. Carbuncled. Set with carbuncle stones like the wheels
of Phoebus Apollo's car, as described by Ovid.
31. Targets. Shields.
 NOTES 163-

31. Owe. That is, bear our hack'd targets as becomes

those who own them. The expression may very possibly
mean, however, ''targets hack'd like themen that own
them."
37. Tambourines. Here, drimis.

Scene IX.
2. Court of guard. The guard room where the sentinels
muster.
3. Shiny. Clear.
3. Embattle. Muster for battle.
5. Shrewd. Bad, unfortunate.
6. List. Listen to him.
8. Revolted. Who have revolted, been traitors.
12. Melancholy. The influence of the moon was sup-
posed to produce madness.
13. Disponge. Shed like a sponge.
15. Throw my heart. Johnson regards this line as a
conceit unworthy of Shakespeare.
20. Particular. That is, as far as you yourself are con-
cerned, but let the world call me a traitor.
30. Raught. Reached him.
31. Demurely. That is, gravely, with measured beat of
drums, as befits so serious a day as the one before us.
32. Note. Importance, rank.

Scene X.
7. The Haven. They have sailed out of the harbor.
The rest of the line is mere conjecture.
8. Appointment. Preparation and equipment.

Scene XI.
10. Charged. That is, but for the fact that we may be,
unless we are charged.
11. Shall. That is, shall be allowed to be.
12. Vales. Valleys.
13. Best advantage. And secure the best positions.

Scene XII.
I. Yet. As yet.
3. Swallows. This anecdote is related by Plutarch.
8. Fretted, Mingled of success and failure.
 .

r64 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA

13. Triple-turned. Three times faithless, to Caesar, to
Pompey, and now me.
to
14. Novice, Innocent youth.
16. Charm. Charmer.
2 1 SpanieVd, Followed and fawned on me like spaniels.
22. Discandy. Melt away, as above.
25. Grave. Deadly, poisonous charm.
26. Becked, Beckoned, called forth wars by a mere
gesture.
27. Crownet. Crown.
28. True, one who deserves the name.
Right.
28. Fast and loose. An old game used to cheat the
trusting out of pennies.
30. Avaunt. Out of my sight.
34. Plebeians. The common people. Accented on the
first syllable here.
36. Monster. Monstrosity, something unnatural.
36. Be shown, etc. That is, be made a show for the
sport of the commonest and meanest rabble. Some editors
change "dolt" to "doit," and read, "Be exhibited for the
smallest fee, like some strange monster at a show."
39. Prepared. Which have grown long for the purpose.
43. Nessus. A centaur whom Hercules had slain with a
poisoned arrow. He sent to his wife for a garment in which
to offer sacrifice and she, being angry with him at the time,
sent him a robe dipped in the poisonous blood of Nessus.
The garment caused him such intense agony that he seized
his faithful attendant, Lichas, and threw him into the sea.
44. Alcides. Another name for Hercules, who was the
son of Alceus.
47. Worthiest. That is, my
very worthy self — worthy
in the sense of being your descendant.

Scene XIII.
2. Thetis, the mother of Achilles, had prom-
Telamon.
ised a suit of to the bravest of the Greeks who were
armor
besieging Troy. In the contest for it, Ajax, son of Telamon,
was defeated by Ulysses, and slew himself in a fit of madness;
caused by his disappointment.
2. Thessaly. A
reference to the story of MelQager, a
Greek hero who slew a savage boar, sent by Artemis to ravage
the kingdom of Calydon.
3. EmhQss'd. Foaming at the mouth.
 NOTES 165

5. Rive. The severing (rive) of soul and body is not

more dreadful than the departure of greatness from the
proud man.
9. Piteously. That is, full of pathos.

Scene XIV.
2. Dragonish. That is, shaped like a dragon.
8. Vesper's. Evening's.
8. Pageants, Spectacles common at public festivals in
which events were represented by animals and other scenery
of wood.
10. Rack dislimns. The vapor dissolves and floats away.
14. Knave. Boy, fellow; not necessarily in a bad sense.
19. Pack'd cards. To pack cards is to shuffle them un-
fairly so that the best cards come to the dealer or to his
partner.
26. Die the death. That is, the death deserved by
traitors. The same expression is used in the New Testa-
ment.
^^. Rendered. Rendered up, offered up.
39. Battery from my heart. The sevenfold shield of Ajax
cannot confine the beatings of my heart.
40. Continent. What contains thee.
46. Length. That is, all lengthening of life.
49. Seal. Complete the work. SeaHng a legal document
was the final act that completed it.
52. Port. Demeanor.
53. Dido. The Queen of Carthage, who fell in love with
iEneas, a fugitive from Troy, when he landed in her kingdom,
and who put an end to her Hfe when he took his departure.
Virgil represents her as avoiding ^Eneas in Hades.
53. Troops. That is, troops of attendants.
58. Neptune. God of the sea.
60. Less noble mind. That is, I, possessing a less noble
mind, etc.
63. Exigent. The moment for immediate action.
65. ProsectUion. Used in its literal meaning of "pur-
suit."
68. Defeatist. Disappointed of his prey.
72. Windowed. Stand at a window.
73. Pleach'd. Folded.
74. Corrigible. Submissive.
75. Penetrative, To pain which had pentrated deeply.
i66 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
77. Ensued, Branded more deeply with disgrace the one
who followed.
80. Useful. Here, an adverb.
S^. Precedent. Former.
89. Why. For which.
98. Got upon me. Literally, got ahead of m_e in making
a noble record, forestalled me in making a noble ending.
107. Period. End.
113. Enter me. Recommend me to his favor.
117. Sufficing. That is, strokes sufficient to cause death.
122. Found. That is, found to be true.
123. Disposed. Made terms with.
136. To gruce. By gracing it.

Scene XV.
10. Great sphere. The sun would then fall from his place
and the earth become dark.
10. Darkling. In the dark.
19. Importunate. Beg him to delay.
21. Dare not. That is, dare not come down from the
monument.
23. Imperious. Triumphal entry into Rome.
25. Broached. Adorned as with a brooch or large pin.
28. Still conclusion. Her quietly disdainful way of ob-
serving and drawing conclusions.
29. Demuring. Looking demurely.
32. Sport. Said, of course, with pathetic and bitter
irony.
33. Heaviness. A
play upon the word, both literally
and in the figurative sense of '* sorrow."
35. Mercury. The messenger of the gods.
39, Quicken. Revive, make alive.
43. High. Violently.
44. Housewife. Housewife was often used as a term of
contempt.
59. WooH.Wouldest thou.
64. He who was the glory of war.
Garland.
65. Pole. The one about whom they rally. Shake-
speare was probably thinking of the pole decked with
garlands about which village festivities were held.
66. Odds. The favor of fortune.
67. Remarkable. In Shakespeare's day this word was
 NOTES 167

stronger than it is now, and meant something singular and

impressive.
75. Chares, Drudgery. Compare the modern word
"chores."
76. Injurious. Working injury, malignant.
78. Naught. Worthless, of no use.
79. Sottish. Stupid.
85. Sirs. We
find this word applied to women in
Beaumont and Fletcher also.
91, Briefest. Quickest.

ACT V.

Scene I.

2. Frustrate, Frustrated, worsted.

3. Pauses.His hesitation is a mere farce.
5. Thus. With Antony's drawn and bloody sword.
16. Civil. That is, so great a shock should have rent
the world and shaken lions out of their dens into the streets
of the town.
18. Single. Not the doom of Antony only.
19. Moiety. Half.
21. Self. That is, self same.
27. But That is, if this news be not.
it is.

30. Persisted. Those deeds which we have persisted

most to do.
31. Waged. That is, his good and bad qualities were
equally balanced, like the stakes in a wager.
32. Steer. Control a human being.
37. Perforce. Necessarily.
39. Stall. Dwell side by side.
43. In top of all design. That is, my rival in loftiness of
purpose and endeavor.
46. His. Its. That is, Caesar's heart.
48. Equalness. That is, should cause us, who started
out equal in fortune, to come to such different ends.
49. Meeter. More fitting.
50. Looks out of him. That is, shows in his looks.
52. Yet. The force of this word is a matter of conjecture.
Probably the meaning is "Still an Egyptian, even though
conquered by Rome."
i68 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
59. Live. That is, however long he lives, he cannot be
ungentle.
66. Eternal. That is, to have her aUve in Rome would
be an eternal triumph.
74. Hardly. Reluctantly, only on the greatest provoca-
tion.
76. Writings, That is, letters.

Scene II.

3. Knave. Servant.
5. That thing. That is, commit suicide.
6. Shackles. Prevents accidents and changes of fortune
from touching us.
7. Which sleeps.Which causes sleep.
7. Palates. Makes it unnecessary to taste.
8. Beggar^ s nurse. That is, life, the nourisher of rich and
poor alike.
10. Study. Carefully consider.
17. Decorum. To do what is becoming for it.

20. As I, etc. For which I will kneel to him with

thanks.
26. Dependency. That you acknowledge yourself de-
pendent on him.
27. Pray in aid. That is, will be glad to add kindness
to clemency. Pray in aid is a law term signifying a petition
made in court for calling in help from another who has an
interest in the case.
29. Vassal. Slave.
29. Send him. That is, send him the submission he has
conquered.
31. Doctrine. Lesson.
42. Languish. Disease, suffering.
45. Acted. Displayed.
48. Worth, etc. That is, who is worth more than the
babes and beggars you are so ready to take.
48. Temperance. Control yourself.
50. // idle talk. The meaning is not quite clear. Per-
haps it is "Even if idle talk be necessary to keep me awake,
I'll not sleep neither."
56. Varletry. Rabble.
59. Nak^d. Pronounced as one syllable.
61. Pyramides. The Latin form of the plural is some-
times used, as here, for the sake of the metre.
 NOTES 169

67. To my gtcard. I will take charge of her.

70. Employ. Use me as your messenger.
81. O. A common term for a sphere.
83. Crested. a crest for the world. A raised arm
Made
was often used as a family crest or coat-of-arms.
S^. Propertied. Endowed with the qualities, etc.
84. Tuned. According to the philosopher, Pythagoras,
the spheres made music as they moved through space.
85. Quail. That is, causes the world to quail.
^d>. Grew. Yielded more the more it was reaped.
89. Dolphin4ike. That is, in his delights he was like the
dolphin, that leap out of the water in their gambols.
91. Crownets. Coronets, the insignia of noblemen.
That is, he had kings and nobles for his servants.
92. Plates. Silver coins, so called because they were flat.
95. Hearing. That is, your lie is so great it reaches the
ears of the gods.
98. Vie. Rival. That is, nature cannot produce forms
so strange as those of fancy.
99. Piece. Masterpiece. Yet, were nature to conceive
an Antony, it would be a masterpiece with which imagination
could not vie.
102. Weight. With a fortitude as great as is the burden.
103. Purstced. Coveted.
103. But I do feel. If I do not feel.
120. Sole sir. Sole master.
121. Project.Shape my case, plead it.
122. To make. As to make.
123. Like, etc. Like followed by "which" is equivalent
to our "such" followed by "as."
125. Enforce. Lay stress upon, exaggerate.
126. Adapt yourself to our purposes.
Apply.
135. Scutcheons. Symbols of conquest. Literally, a
shield on which was painted the coat-of-arms of a family.
138. Brief. Brief account, list.

140. Not petty things, etc. That is, a few trifling things
excepted.
154. Wild. Mad.
155. Goest thou hack. This phrase is used in a double
sense to signify that Seleucus retreats before her as she is
about to strike him, and also that he has deserted her.
161. Lordliness. Honoring by their lordly presence.
162. Meek. Humbled by misfortune.
163. Parcel. Item. That is, add the item of his malice
(envy) to the sum of my disgraces.
I70 ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
1 66. Immoment, Of no moment, unimportant.
167. Modern. Ordinary.
169. Livia. Caesar's wife.
170. Unfolded. Exposed by.
172. Cinders. The smouldering embers.
173. Chance. Fortune.
176. Misthought. Misjudged.
178. Merits, That is, we pay the penalties which are the
deserts of others.
185. Make not your thoughts. That is, do not make
yourself a prisoner in imagination when really you are free.
186. Dispose you. Dispose of you.
191. Words me. Cajoles or flatters me with words.
193. Finish. Make haste to die.
196.Put it to the haste. Make utmost haste.
199. Makes religion. Makes as binding as a religious
obligation.
209. Mechanic slave. Artisans.
212. Rank of. Rank with.
213. Vapor. Breath.
214. Officers, something like police who at-
Lictors.
tended on magistrates, to clear the road, inflict punishment
on criminals, etc.
215. Scald. Literally, scurvy, aflSicted with an eruption
of the skin.
216. Ballad. Sing ballads in mockery of us.
216. Quick. Quick-witted.
217. Extemporally. Extemporaneously.
217. Present. Represent.
220. Boy. The female parts in a play were taken by
boys in the time of Shakespeare.
225. Conquer. Upset, bring to nothing.
227. Show. Attire me like a queen.
228. Cydnus. I will imagine that I am again going to
set sail for Cydnus.
229. Sirrah. See former note on this form of address.
230.Despatch. Make haste.
231.Chare. Task.
236.What poor an instrument. The article in Shake-
speare is not infrequently placed after instead of before the
adjective.
238. Placed. Fixed, determined.
240. Marble-constant. That is, as firm and hard as
marble.
242. Avoid. Depart.
 NOTES 171

243. Worm. Shakespeare often uses this word for

"snake."
247. Im ortal. Causes death.
257. Fallible. Infallible, sure.
263. Do his kind. That is, act as nature impels it.
281. Immortal. Longings for death.
283. Yare. Quick.
289. Fire and air. The old belief was that man was
composed of the four elements, fire and air, earth and water,
the latter being the baser.
293. Aspic. The poison of the asp. Iras has already
secretly applied the snake to herself.
294. Nature. Life.
301. Curled. That is, nobly attired.
302. Make demand. Inquire concerning me.
303. Mortal. Deadly, giving death.
304. Intrinsicate. Intricate, hard to loose.
308. Unpolicied. Without policy, stupid.
314. Vile. The folios have "wild," which many editors
retain.
316. Lass. Used as a term of endearment for a young
girl,generally.
316. Windows. Eyelids soft as dov/n.
318. Of. By.
319. Mend. Set it right.
319. Play. Compare Cleopatra's words above, "I'll give
thee leave to play till doomsday."
323. Beguiled. Deceived.
330. Tou^h their effects. Your thoughts, or anticipations,
are realized.
^^^. Augurer. You foresee too truly.
335. LeveVd. Guessed.
346. As she. As if she.
347. Toil. In the fascinations of her graces.
348. Vent. A slight flow.
348. Blown. Somewhat swollen.
350. Aspic^s trail. The mark left by an asp.
352. Caves. Some editors think this word should be
"canes" or "reeds."
354. Conclusions. Experiments without number.
358. Clip. Hold, enclose.
359. High events. Such high events have their effect on
those who bring them to pass.
365. High order. Fitting ceremony.
 LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

mh^ii 1909
 IRVING. History of New York.^ Vol. I.
History of New York. Vol. II.
Sketch Book. Part I.
Sketch Book. Part II.
Tales of a Traveller. Parts I. and II.
Tales of a Traveller. Parts III. and IV.
JOHNSON. Rasselas, the Prince of Abyssinia.'
Lives of the Poets.
Addison, Savage, Swift.
Gay, Thompson, Young, GRAY,*etc.
Waller, Milton, Cowley,
Prior, Congreve, Blackmore, Pope.
Butler, Denham, Dryden, Roscommon,
etc.

LONGFELLOW. Hiawatha.
Evangeline.
Courtship of Miles Standish.
Tales of a Wayside Inn.
LOWELL. Vision of Sir Launfal.
LAMB. Essays of Eli a.
Tales from Shakespeare. Vol. L
Tales from Shakespeare. Vol. IL
MACAU LAY. Life of Johnson.
Life of Goldsmith.
Essay on Milton.
Essay on Addison.
Francis Bacon.
Warren Hastings.
Lays of Ancient Rome.
t
MULOCK. Little Lame Prince.
MILTON. Paradise Lost. Books L and IL
Minor Poems.
MITCHELL. Reveries of a Bachelor.
i PLUTARCH'S LIVES.
^
Alexander the Great and Jultos Caesar^
Pericles, Cicero, etc.
Alcibiades and Coriolanus, Aristides, etc
Agesilaus, Pompey and Phocion.
FOE. Raven and Other Poems.
Tales.
 POPE. Rape of the Lock. _
Translation of xhx Iuaix
Poems. .

Essay on Man.
RUSKIN. King of the Goldbk Rivbe.
Sesame and Lilies.
SHAKESPEARE Macbeth.
Merchant of Venick.
Twelfth Night.
Henry VIII.
The Tempest. f
'
Midsummer Night's Drsail
As You Like It. <

Julius Caesar, |

Hamlet. \

King John. i

King Richard XL J
Coriolanus. J
King Henry V. ^ f
King Lear.
Cymbeline.
King Richard III.
Othello.
RviMEO and Juliet.
SOU THEY. Life of Nelson.
• SEWELL. Black Beauty.

J SCOTT. Marmion.
T Lay of the Last Minstrel.
^ Lady of the Lake.
^ STEELE. Isaac Bickerstaff, Physician and Astiologsr.
T SWIFT. Gulliver's Travels. Voyage to Lilliput
4k Gulliver Among the Giants.
% SPENSER. The Faery Queene. Book I., Vol. I.

J5
The Faery Queene. Book I., Vol, IL
% TENNYSON. The Princess.
Idylls of the King. I
Idylls of the King. II.
Enoch Arden.
WHITE. Natural History of Selbornk. L
Natural History of Selborne. II.

i^' WEBSTER. Bunker Hill Orations.