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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, & Iras.
Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus?
Eno. Thinke, and dye.
2155Cleo. Is Anthony, or we in fault for this?
Eno. Anthony onely, that would make his will
Lord of his Reason. What though you fled,
From that great face of Warre, whose seuerall ranges
Frighted each other? Why should he follow?
2160The itch of his Affection should not then
Haue nickt his Captain-ship, at such a point,
When halfe to halfe the world oppos'd, he being
The meered question? 'Twas a shame no lesse
Then was his losse, to course your flying Flagges,
2165And leaue his Nauy gazing.
Cleo. Prythee peace.
Enter the Ambassador, with Anthony.
Ant. Is that his answer? Amb. I my Lord.
Ant. The Queene shall then haue courtesie,
2170So she will yeeld vs vp.
Am. He sayes so.
Antho. Let her know't. To the Boy Cæsar send this
grizled head, and he will fill thy wishes to the brimme,
With Principalities.
2175Cleo. That head my Lord?
Ant. To him againe, tell him he weares the Rose
Of youth vpon him: from which, the world should note
Something particular: His Coine, Ships, Legions,
May be a Cowards, whose Ministers would preuaile
2180Vnder the seruice of a Childe, as soone
As i'th'Command of Cæsar. I dare him therefore
To lay his gay Comparisons a-part,
And answer me declin'd, Sword against Sword,
Our selues alone: Ile write it: Follow me.
2185Eno. Yes like enough: hye battel'd Cæsar will
Vnstate his happinesse, and be Stag'd to'th'shew
Against a Sworder. I see mens Iudgements are
A parcell of their Fortunes, and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them
2190To suffer all alike, that he should dreame,
Knowing all measures, the full Cæsar will
Answer his emptinesse; Cæsar thou hast subdu'de
His iudgement too.
Enter a Seruant.
2195Ser. A Messenger from Cæsar.
Cleo. What no more Ceremony? See my Women,
Against the blowne Rose may they stop their nose,
That kneel'd vnto the Buds. Admit him sir.
Eno. Mine honesty, and I, beginne to square,
2200The Loyalty well held to Fooles, does make
Our Faith meere folly: yet he that can endure
To follow with Allegeance a falne Lord,
Does conquer him that did his Master conquer,
And earnes a place i'th'Story.
2205
Enter Thidias.
Cleo. Cæsars will.
Thid. Heare it apart.
Cleo. None but Friends: say boldly.
Thid. So haply are they Friends to Anthony.
2210Enob. He needs as many (Sir) as Cæsar ha's,
Or needs not vs. If Cæsar please, our Master
Will leape to be his Friend: For vs you know,
Whose he is, we are, and that is Caesars.
Thid. So. Thus then thou most renown'd, Cæsar intreats,
2215Not to consider in what case thou stand'st
Further then he is Cæsars.
Cleo. Go on, right Royall.
Thid. He knowes that you embrace not Anthony
As you did loue, but as you feared him.
2220Cleo. Oh.
Thid. The scarre's vpon your Honor, therefore he
Does pitty, as constrained blemishes,
Not as deserued.
Cleo. He is a God,
2225And knowes what is most right. Mine Honour
Was not yeelded, but conquer'd meerely.
Eno. To be sure of that, I will aske Anthony.
Sir, sir, thou art so leakie
That we must leaue thee to thy sinking, for
2230Thy deerest quit thee.
Exit Enob.
Thid. Shall I say to Cæsar,
What you require of him: for he partly begges
To be desir'd to giue. It much would please him,
That of his Fortunes you should make a staffe
2235To leane vpon. But it would warme his spirits
To heare from me you had left Anthony,
And put your selfe vnder his shrowd, the vniuersal Land-
Cleo. What's your name?
Thid. My name is Thidias.
2240Cleo. Most kinde Messenger,
Say to great Cæsar this in disputation,
I kisse his conqu'ring hand: Tell him, I am prompt
To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
Tell him, from his all-obeying breath, I heare
2245The doome of Egypt.
Thid. 'Tis your Noblest course:
Wisedome and Fortune combatting together,
If that the former dare but what it can,
No chance may shake it. Giue me grace to lay
2250My dutie on your hand.
Cleo. Your Cæsars Father oft,
(When he hath mus'd of taking kingdomes in)
Bestow'd his lips on that vnworthy place,
As it rain'd kisses.
2255
Enter Anthony and Enobarbus.
Ant. Fauours? By Ioue that thunders. What art thou
Thid. One that but performes
The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To haue command obey'd.
2260Eno. You will be whipt.
Ant. Approch there: ah you Kite. Now Gods & diuels
Authority melts from me of late. When I cried hoa,
Like Boyes vnto a musse, Kings would start forth,
And cry, your will. Haue you no eares?
2265I am Anthony yet. Take hence this Iack, and whip him.
Enter a Seruant.
Eno. 'Tis better playing with a Lions whelpe,
Then with an old one dying.
Ant. Moone and Starres,
2270Whip him: wer't twenty of the greatest Tributaries
That do acknowledge Caesar, should I finde them
So sawcy with the hand of she heere, what's her name
Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him Fellowes,
Till like a Boy you see him crindge his face,
2275And whine aloud for mercy. Take him hence.
Thid. Marke Anthony.
Ant. Tugge him away: being whipt
Bring him againe, the Iacke of Cæsars shall
Beare vs an arrant to him.
Exeunt with Thidius.
2280You were halfe blasted ere I knew you: Ha?
Haue I my pillow left vnprest in Rome,
Forborne the getting of a lawfull Race,
And by a Iem of women, to be abus'd
By one that lookes on Feeders?
2285Cleo. Good my Lord.
Ant. You haue beene a boggeler euer,
But when we in our viciousnesse grow hard
(Oh misery on't) the wise Gods seele our eyes
In our owne filth, drop our cleare iudgements, make vs
2290Adore our errors, laugh at's while we strut
To our confusion.
Cleo. Oh, is't come to this?
Ant. I found you as a Morsell, cold vpon
Dead Cæsars Trencher: Nay, you were a Fragment
2295Of Gneius Pompeyes, besides what hotter houres
Vnregistred in vulgar Fame, you haue
Luxuriously pickt out. For I am sure,
Though you can guesse what Temperance should be,
You know not what it is.
2300Cleo. Wherefore is this?
Ant. To let a Fellow that will take rewards,
And say, God quit you, be familiar with
My play-fellow, your hand; this Kingly Seale,
And plighter of high hearts. O that I were
2305Vpon the hill of Basan, to out-roare
The horned Heard, for I haue sauage cause,
And to proclaime it ciuilly, were like
A halter'd necke, which do's the Hangman thanke,
For being yare about him. Is he whipt?
2310
Enter a Seruant with Thidias.
Ser. Soundly, my Lord.
Ant. Cried he? and begg'd a Pardon?
Ser. He did aske fauour.
Ant. If that thy Father liue, let him repent
2315Thou was't not made his daughter, and be thou sorrie
To follow Cæsar in his Triumph, since
Thou hast bin whipt. For following him, henceforth
The white hand of a Lady Feauer thee,
Shake thou to looke on't. Get thee backe to Cæsar,
2320Tell him thy entertainment: looke thou say
He makes me angry with him. For he seemes
Proud and disdainfull, harping on what I am,
Not what he knew I was. He makes me angry,
And at this time most easie 'tis to doo't:
2325When my good Starres, that were my former guides
Haue empty left their Orbes, and shot their Fires
Into th'Abisme of hell. If he mislike,
My speech, and what is done, tell him he has
Hiparchus, my enfranched Bondman, whom
2330He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like to quit me. Vrge it thou:
Hence with thy stripes, be gone.
Exit Thid.
Cleo. Haue you done yet?
Ant. Alacke our Terrene Moone is now Eclipst,
2335And it portends alone the fall of Anthony.
Cleo. I must stay his time?
Ant. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle eyes
With one that tyes his points.
Cleo. Not know me yet?
2340Ant. Cold-hearted toward me?
Cleo. Ah (Deere) if I be so,
From my cold heart let Heauen ingender haile,
And poyson it in the sourse, and the first stone
Drop in my necke: as it determines so
2345Dissolue my life, the next Cæsarian smile,
Till by degrees the memory of my wombe,
Together with my braue Egyptians all,
By the discandering of this pelleted storme,
Lye grauelesse, till the Flies and Gnats of Nyle
2350Haue buried them for prey.
Ant. I am satisfied:
Cæsar sets downe in Alexandria, where
I will oppose his Fate. Our force by Land,
Hath Nobly held, our seuer'd Nauie too
2355Haue knit againe, and Fleete, threatning most Sea-like.
Where hast thou bin my heart? Dost thou heare Lady?
If from the Field I shall returne once more
To kisse these Lips, I will appeare in Blood,
I, and my Sword, will earne our Chronicle,
2360There's hope in't yet.
Cleo. That's my braue Lord.
Ant. I will be trebble-sinewed, hearted, breath'd,
And fight maliciously: for when mine houres
Were nice and lucky, men did ransome liues
2365Of me for iests: But now, Ile set my teeth,
And send to darkenesse all that stop me. Come,
Let's haue one other gawdy night: Call to me
All my sad Captaines, fill our Bowles once more:
Let's mocke the midnight Bell.
2370Cleo. It is my Birth-day,
I had thought t'haue held it poore. But since my Lord
Is Anthony againe, I will be Cleopatra.
Ant. We will yet do well.
Cleo. Call all his Noble Captaines to my Lord.
2375Ant. Do so, wee'l speake to them,
And to night Ile force
The Wine peepe through their scarres.
Come on (my Queene)
There's sap in't yet. The next time I do fight
2380Ile make death loue me: for I will contend
Euen with his pestilent Sythe.
Exeunt.
Eno. Now hee'l out-stare the Lightning, to be furious
Is to be frighted out of feare, and in that moode
The Doue will pecke the Estridge; and I see still
2385A diminution in our Captaines braine,
Restores his heart; when valour prayes in reason,
It eates the Sword it fights with: I will seeke
Some way to leaue him.
Exeunt.