AN1. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night: 20
Scant not my cups, and make as much of me
As when mine empire was your fellow too
And suffer'd my command.

CLEO. [Aside to Eno.] What does he mean?
ENO. [Aside to Cleo.] To make his followers weep.
ANT.
Tend me to-night;

May be it is the period of your duty:
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
Married to your good service, stay till death:
Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more,
And the gods yield you for 't!

ENO.

What mean you, sir, Look, they weep, And I, an ass, am onion-eyed: for shame,

To give them this discomfort?

Transform us not to women.

80

ANT.

Ho, ho, ho!

25 period] termination.

26-27 or if, A mangled shadow] or if you see me more, you will see me

a mangled shadow of what I was.

33 yield you] reward you.

35 onion-eyed] tearful as from the smell of onions. Enobarbus has already made ironical reference to this effect of onions, I, ii, 164, supra: “tears live in an onion.”

36 Ho, ho, ho!] Antony seems forcing a laugh, though this interjection has been interpreted as a call to stop, like the carter's

66

Whoa!

Now the witch take me, if I meant it thus!

Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends, You take me in too dolorous a sense;

For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire you 40
To burn this night with torches: know, my hearts,

I hope well of to-morrow, and will lead you
Where rather I'll expect victorious life

Than death and honour. Let's to supper, come,
And drown consideration.

[Exeunt.

SCENE III-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.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

FIRST SOLD. Nothing. What news?
SEC. SO D. Belike 't is but a rumour.

SEC. SOLD. Soldiers, have careful watch.

2 determine] come to an end.

Good night

THIRD SOLD. And you. Good night, good night. [They place themselves in every corner of the stage.

FOURTH SOLD. Here we: and if to-morrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope
Our landmen will stand up.
THIRD SOLD.

And full of purpose.
FOURTH SOLD.
FIRST SOLD.

"T is a brave army, [Music of hautboys as under the stage.

Peace! what noise?

10

List, list!

SEC. SOLD. Hark!

FIRST SOLD.

Music i' the air.

THIRD SOLD.

Under the earth.

THIRD SOLD.

No.

Peace, I say!

FOURTH SOLD. It signs well, does it not?

FIRST SOLD.

What should this mean?

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.

SEC. SOLD. How now, masters!

ALL. [Speaking together] How now! How now! Do 20 you hear this?

FIRST SOLD. Ay; is 't not strange?

THIRD SOLD. Do you hear, masters? do

14 It signs well] It is a good omen.

you hear?

16 the god Hercules . . . loved] Antony reckoned Hercules his ancestor. Cf. I, iii, 84, supra, and IV, xii, 44, infra: "Alcides, thou mine Ancestor."

Delightful

Domestic

FIRST SOLD. Follow the noise so far as we have

quarter;

Let's see how it will give off.

ALL. Content. "T is strange.

SCENE IV-THE SAME

A ROOM IN THE PALACE

[Exeunt.

Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN and others attending
ANT. Eros! mine armour, Eros!

CLEO.

Sleep a little.

ANT. No, my chuck. Eros, come; mine armour, Eros!
Enter EROS with armour

Come, good fellow, put mine iron on:

If fortune be not ours to-day, it is

Because we brave her: come.

CLEO.

What's this for?

ANT.

Nay, I'll help too.

Ah, let be, let be! thou art

The armourer of my heart: false, false; this, this.
CLEO. Sooth, la, I'll help: thus it must be.

ANT.

Well, well;

24 so far as we have quarter] so far as our bounds go, to the extent of our

beat.

25 give off] terminate, turn out.

3 mine iron] my armour. The Folios read thine iron, which would mean "the armour in thine hand."

5-8 Nay, I'll help too . . . thus it must be] The Folios give all these lines to Cleopatra, adding the word Anthony after help too in line 5. Malone's rearrangement is followed here.

8 Sooth, la] In truth, indeed.

We shall thrive now.

Go put on thy defences.

EROS.

Seest thou, my good fellow?

Briefly, sir.

10

Rarely, rarely:

CLEO. Is not this buckled well?

ANT.

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
More tight at this than thou: dispatch. O love,
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,

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.

10 Briefly] Quickly, immediately.
13 To daff't] To doff it, take it off.

15 tight] adroit, handy.

22 their riveted trim] their equipment of armour.

23 the port] the gate.

24 The morn is fair . . . general] The Folios give this piece to "Alexas,” but he had already revolted from Antony. See IV, vi, 12-16, infra.