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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Anthony and Cleopatra.
347
Whether straight Ile lead you.
Anth. Let vs Lepidus not lacke your companie.
Lep. Noble Anthony, not sickenesse should detaine
me.
880
Flourish. Exit omnes.
Manet Enobarbus, Agrippa, Mecenas.
Mec. Welcome from Ægypt Sir.
Eno. Halfe the heart of Cæsar, worthy Mecenas. My
honourable Friend Agrippa.
885Agri. Good Enobarbus.
Mece. We haue cause to be glad, that matters are so
well disgested: you staid well by't in Egypt.
Enob. I Sir, we did sleepe day out of countenaunce:
and made the night light with drinking.
890Mece. Eight Wilde-Boares rosted whole at a break-
fast: and but twelue persons there. Is this true?
Eno. This was but as a Flye by an Eagle: we had much
more monstrous matter of Feast, which worthily deser-
ued noting.
895Mecenas. She's a most triumphant Lady, if report be
square to her.
Enob. When she first met Marke Anthony, she purst
vp his heart vpon the Riuer of Sidnis.
Agri. There she appear'd indeed: or my reporter de-
900uis'd well for her.
Eno. I will tell you,
The Barge she sat in, like a burnisht Throne
Burnt on the water: the Poope was beaten Gold,
Purple the Sailes: and so perfumed that
905The Windes were Loue-sicke.
With them the Owers were Siluer,
Which to the tune of Flutes kept stroke, and made
The water which they beate, to follow faster;
As amorous of their strokes. For her owne person,
910It beggerd all discription, she did lye
In her Pauillion, cloth of Gold, of Tissue,
O're-picturing that Venns, where we see
The fancie out-worke Nature. On each side her,
Stood pretty Dimpled Boyes, like smiling Cupids,
915With diuers coulour'd Fannes whose winde did seeme,
To gloue the delicate cheekes which they did coole,
And what they vndid did.
Agrip. Oh rare for Anthony.
Eno. Her Gentlewoman, like the Nereides,
920So many Mer-maides tended her i'th'eyes,
And made their bends adornings. At the Helme.
A seeming Mer-maide steeres: The Silken Tackle,
Swell with the touches of those Flower-soft hands,
That yarely frame the office. From the Barge
925A strange inuisible perfume hits the sense
Of the adiacent Wharfes. The Citty cast
Her people out vpon her: and Anthony
Enthron'd i'th'Market-place, did sit alone,
Whisling to'th'ayre: which but for vacancie,
930Had gone to gaze on Cleopater too,
And made a gap in Nature.
Agri. Rare Egiptian.
Eno. Vpon her landing, Anthony sent to her,
Inuited her to Supper: she replyed,
935It should be better, he became her guest:
Which she entreated, our Courteous Anthony,
Whom nere the word of no woman hard speake,
Being barber'd ten times o're, goes to the Feast;
And for his ordinary, paies his heart,
940For what his eyes eate onely.
Agri. Royall Wench:

She made great Cæsar lay his Sword to bed,
He ploughed her, and she cropt.
Eno. I saw her once
945Hop forty Paces through the publicke streete,
And hauing lost her breath, she spoke, and panted,
That she did make defect, perfection,
And breathlesse powre breath forth.
Mece. Now Anthony, must leaue her vtterly.
950Eno. Neuer he will not:
Age cannot wither her, nor custome stale
Her infinite variety: other women cloy
The appetites they feede, but she makes hungry,
Where most she satisfies. For vildest things
955Become themselues in her, that the holy Priests
Blesse her, when she is Riggish.
Mece If Beauty, Wisedome, Modesty, can settle
The heart of Anthony: Octauia is
A blessed Lottery to him.
960Agrip. Let vs go. Good Enobarbus, make your selfe
my guest, whilst you abide heere.
Eno. Humbly Sir I thanke you.
Exeunt

Enter Anthony, Cæsar, Octauia betweene them.

Anth. The world, and my great office, will
965Sometimes deuide me from your bosome.
Octa. All which time, before the Gods my knee shall
bowe my ptayers to them for you.
Anth. Goodnight Sir. My Octauia
Read not my blemishes in the worlds report:
970I haue not kept my square, but that to come
Shall all be done byth'Rule: good night deere Lady:
Good night Sir.
Cæsar. Goodnight.
Exit.
Enter Soothsaier.
975Anth. Now sirrah: you do wish your selfe in Egypt?
Sooth. Would I had neuer come from thence, nor you
thither.
Ant. If you can, your reason?
Sooth. I see it in my motion: haue it not in my tongue,
980But yet hie you to Egypt againe.
Antho. Say to me, whose Fortunes shall rise higher
Cæsars or mine?
Soot. Cæsars. Therefore (oh Anthony) stay not by his side
Thy Dæmon that thy spirit which keepes thee, is
985Noble, Couragious, high vnmatchable,
Where Cæsars is not. But neere him, thy Angell
Becomes a feare: as being o're-powr'd, therefore
Make space enough betweene you.
Anth. Speake this no more.
990Sooth. To none but thee no more but: when to thee,
If thou dost play with him at any game,
Thou art sure to loose: And of that Naturall lucke,
He beats thee 'gainst the oddes. Thy Luster thickens,
When he shines by: I say againe, thy spirit
995Is all affraid to gouerne thee neere him:
But he alway 'tis Noble.
Anth. Get thee gone:
Say to Ventigius I would speake with him.
Exit.
He shall to Parthia, be it Art or hap,
1000He hath spoken true. The very Dice obey him,
And in our sports my better cunning faints,
Vnder his chance, if we draw lots he speeds,
His Cocks do winne the Battaile, still of mine,
When it is all to naught: and his Quailes euer
1005Beate mine (in hoopt) at odd's. I will to Egypte:
And