With an augmented greeting.

Good my lord,

Oct.
To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it
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.

Ca.

Which soon he granted, Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him.

Oct. Do not say so, my lord.

Ca.

I have eyes upon him,

And his affairs come to me on the wind.

Where is he now?

Oct.

My lord, in Athens.

Ca. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire Up to a whore; who now are levying

The kings o' the earth for war. He hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus,

Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king

Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas;
King Malchus, of Arabia; king of Pont;
Herod of Jewry; Mithridates, king
Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas,
The kings of Mede and Lycaonia, with a
More larger list of sceptres.

Oct.

Ah me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends, That do afflict each other!

Ca.

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:
Be
you not troubled with the time, which drives
O'er your content these strong necessities;

But let determined things to destiny

Hold unbewail'd their way.

Nothing more dear to me.

Welcome to Rome:

You are abused

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.

Mec. Welcome, dear madam.

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 1 to a trull,
That noises it against us.

Oct.

Ca. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you,

Is it so, sir?

My dearest sister!

[Exeunt.

Be ever known to patience.

SCENE VII.

Antony's camp, near the promontory of Actium.

Enter CLEOPatra and enOBARBUS.

Cle. I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

1 Authority, government,

Eno. But why, why, why?

1

Cle. Thou hast forspoke 1 my being in these wars, And say'st it is not fit.

Eno.

Well, is it, is it?

Cle. If not denounced against us, why should

not we

Be there in person ?

Eno. [aside.] Well, I could reply

:

If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier and his horse.

Cle.

What is 't

you say ?

Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his

time,

What should not then be spared. He is already
Traduced for levity; and 'tis said in Rome,

That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids,
Manage this war.

Cle.

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

Appear there for a man. Speak not against it;
I will not stay behind.

Eno.

Nay, I have done :

Here comes the emperor.

1 Forbid.

Ant.

Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS.

Is 't not strange, Canidius,

That from Tarentum and Brundusium,

He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,

And take in Toryne?-You have heard on 't, sweet?

Cle. Celerity is never more admired

Than by the negligent.

Which might have well becomed the best of men,

To taunt at slackness.-Canidius, we

Will fight with him by sea.

Cle.

By sea! What else?

For that he dares us to 't.

Can. Why will my lord do so?
Ant.

Eno. So hath my lord dared him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: but these

offers,

Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off;
And so should you.

Eno.

Your ships are not well mann'd;

Your mariners are muliters, reapers, people

Ingross'd by swift impress: in Cæsar's fleet

Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare,3 yours heavy. No disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,

Being prepared for land.

1 Subdue.

2 Because.

3 Manageable.

Ant.

By sea, by sea.

Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowlege; quite forego The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security.

Cle. I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better.
Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn;

And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of

Actium

Beat the approaching Cæsar: but if we fail,

Enter MESSENGER.

We then can do 't at land.—Thy business?
Mes. The news is true, my lord: he is descried;
Cæsar has taken Toryne.

Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;
Strange, that his power should be.-Canidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
And our twelve thousand horse; we'll to our ship:

Enter SOLDIER.

Away, my Thetis ! 1-How now, worthy soldier?

1 He calls Cleopatra by the name of the sea goddess.