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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Anthony and Cleopatra.
345
he shall haue euery day a seuerall greeting, or Ile vnpeo-
ple Egypt.
Exeunt
Enter Pompey, Menecrates, and Menas, in
615warlike manner.
Pom. If the great Gods be iust, they shall assist
The deeds of iustest men.
Mene. Know worthy Pompey, that what they do de-
lay, they not deny.
620Pom. Whiles we are sutors to their Throne, decayes
the thing we sue for.
Mene. We ignorant of our selues,
Begge often our owne harmes, which the wise Powres
Deny vs for our good: so finde we profit
625By loosing of our Prayers.
Pom. I shall do well:
The people loue me, and the Sea is mine;
My powers are Cressent, and my Auguring hope
Sayes it will come to'th'full. Marke Anthony
630In Egypt sits at dinner, and will make
No warres without doores. Cæsar gets money where
He looses hearts: Lepidus flatters both,
Of both is flatter'd: but he neither loues,
Nor either cares for him.
635Mene. Cæsar and Lepidus are in the field,
A mighty strength they carry.
Pom. Where haue you this? 'Tis false.
Mene. From Siluius, Sir.
Pom He dreames: I know they are in Rome together
640Looking for Anthony: but all the charmes of Loue,
Salt Cleopatra soften thy wand lip,
Let Witchcraft ioyne with Beauty, Lust with both,
Tye vp the Libertine in a field of Feasts,
Keepe his Braine fuming. Epicurean Cookes,
645Sharpen with cloylesse sawce his Appetite,
That sleepe and feeding may prorogue his Honour,
Euen till a Lethied dulnesse---
Enter Varrius.
How now Varrius?
650Var. This is most certaine, that I shall deliuer:
Marke Anthony is euery houre in Rome
Expected. Since he went from Egypt, 'tis
A space for farther Trauaile.
Pom. I could haue giuen lesse matter
655A better eare. Menas, I did not thinke
This amorous Surfetter would haue donn'd his Helme
For such a petty Warre: His Souldiership
Is twice the other twaine: But let vs reare
The higher our Opinion, that our stirring
660Can from the lap of Egypts Widdow, plucke
The neere Lust-wearied Anthony.
Mene. I cannot hope,
Cæsar and Anthony shall well greet together;
His Wife that's dead, did trespasses to Cæsar,
665His Brother wan'd vpon him, although I thinke
Not mou'd by Anthony.
Pom. I know not Menas,
How lesser Enmities may giue way to greater,
Were't not that we stand vp against them all:
670'Twer pregnant they should square between themselues,
For they haue entertained cause enough
To draw their swords: but how the feare of vs
May Ciment their diuisions, and binde vp
The petty difference, we yet not know:
675Bee't as our Gods will haue't; it onely stands
Our liues vpon, to vse our strongest hands
Come Menas.
Exeunt.
Enter Enobarbus and Lepidus.
Lep. Good Enobarbus, 'tis a worthy deed,
680And shall become you well, to intreat your Captaine
To soft and gentle speech.
Enob. I shall intreat him
To answer like himselfe: if Cæsar moue him,
Let Anthony looke ouer Cæsars head,
685And speake as lowd as Mars. By Iupiter,
Were I the wearer of Anthonio's Beard,
I would not shaue't to day.
Lep. 'Tis not a time for priuate stomacking.
Eno. Euery time serues for the matter that is then
690borne in't.
Lep. But small to greater matters must giue way.
Eno. Not if the fmall come first.
Lep. Your speech is passion: but pray you stirre
No Embers vp. Heere comes the Noble Anthony.
695
Enter Anthony and Ventidius.
Eno. And yonder Cæsar.
Enter Cæsar, Mecenas, and Agrippa.
Ant. If we compose well heere, to Parthia:
Hearke Ventidius.
700Cæsar. I do not know Mecenas, aske Agrippa.
Lep. Noble Friends:
That which combin'd vs was most great, and let not
A leaner action rend vs. What's amisse,
May it be gently heard. When we debate
705Our triuiall difference loud, we do commit
Murther in healing wounds. Then Noble Partners,
The rather for I earnestly beseech,
Touch you the sowrest points with sweetest tearmes,
Nor curstnesse grow to'th'matter.
710Ant. 'Tis spoken well:
Were we before our Armies, and to fight,
I should do thus.
Flourish.
Cæs. Welcome to Rome.
Ant. Thanke you.
715Cæs. Sit.
Ant, Sit sir.
Cæs. Nay then.
Ant. I learne, you take things ill, which are not so:
Or being, concerne you not.
720Cæs. I must be laught at, if or for nothing, or a little, I
Should say my selfe offended, and with you
Chiefely i'th'world. More laught at, that I should
Once name you derogately: when to sound your name
It not concern'd me.
725Ant. My being in Egypt Caesar, what was't to you?
Cæs. No more then my reciding heere at Rome
Might be to you in Egypt: yet if you there
Did practise on my State, your being in Egypt
Might be my question.
730Ant. How intend you, practis'd?
Cæs. You may be pleas'd to catch at mine intent,
By what did heere befall me. Your Wife and Brother
Made warres vpon me, and their contestation
Was Theame for you, you were the word of warre.
735Ant. You do mistake your busines, my Brother neuer
Did vrge me in his Act: I did inquire it,
And haue my Learning from some true reports
That drew their swords with you, did he not rather
Discredit my authority with yours,
740And make the warres alike against my stomacke,
Hauing alike your cause. Of this, my Letters
Before did satisfie you. If you'l patch a quarrell,
As matter whole you haue to make it with,
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