And poison it in the source; and the first stone
Drop in my neck: as it determines, so
Dissolve my life! The next Cæsarion smite!
Till by degrees the memory of my womb,
Together with my brave Egyptians all,
By the discandying of this pelleted storm,
Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile
Have buried them for prey!

Ant.

I am satisfied. Cæsar sits down in Alexandria, where

I will oppose his fate.

Our force by land

160

Hath nobly held; our sever'd navy too

Have knit again, and fleet, threatening most sealike.

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:
There's hope in 't yet.

Cleo. That's my brave lord!

Ant. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breathed,
And fight maliciously: for when mine hours
Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives
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: 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.

170

186

162. Cæsarion smite; Hanmer's correction for Ff 'C.smile.'

165. discandying, thawing.
183. gaudy, festive.

VOL. IX

353

2 A

Cleo. Call all his noble captains to my lord.
Ant. Do so, we 'll speak to them; and to-night

I'll force

The wine peep through their scars.

queen ;

190

Come on, my

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,

Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood
The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still,
A diminution in our captain's brain

Restores his heart: when valour preys on reason,
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
Some way to leave him.

[Exit.

200

ACT IV.

Cæsar's camp.

SCENE I. Before Alexandria.

Enter CESAR, AGRIPPA, and MECENAS, with his
Army; CÆSAR reading a letter.

Cæs. He calls me boy, and chides, as he had

power

To beat me out of Egypt; my messenger

He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,

Cæsar to Antony: let the old ruffian know

I have many other ways to die; meantime
Laugh at his challenge.

197. estridge, ostrich.

Mec.

Cæsar 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.

Cæs.
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:

Let our best heads ΤΟ

And feast the army; we have store to do 't,
And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. Alexandria.

Cleopatra's palace.

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

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius.
Eno.

Ant. Why should he not?

No.

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better

fortune,

He is twenty men to one.

Ant.

By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live,

Or bathe my dying honour in the blood

Shall make it live again.

To-morrow, soldier,

Woo't thou fight well?

Well said; come on.

Eno. I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'

Ant.

Call forth my household servants: let's to-night

Be bounteous at our meal.

Enter three or four Servitors.

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 Eno.] 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.

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 service
So good as you have done.

All.

The gods forbid !

Ant. 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: Tend me to-night;

Ant.

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.

To give them this discomfort?
And I, an ass, am onion-eyed:
Transform us not to women.
Ant.

What mean you, sir,

Look, they weep, for shame,

30

Ho, ho, ho!

25. period, close.

33. yield, repay.

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.

And drown consideration.

Let's to supper, come,

[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. Sold. Belike' tis but a rumour. Good

night to you.

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 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.

'Tis a brave army,

[Music of the hautboys as under the stage.

ΤΟ