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Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed
Enter Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.
Cleo. I will be euen with thee, doubt it not.
1860Eno. But why, why, why?
Cleo. Thou hast forespoke my being in these warres,
And say'st it it not fit.
Eno. Well: is it, is it.
Cleo. If not, denounc'd against vs, why should not
1865we be there in person.
Enob. Well, I could reply: if wee should serue with
Horse and Mares together, the Horse were meerly lost:
the Mares would beare a Soldiour and his Horse.
Cleo. What is't you say?
1870Enob. Your presence needs must puzle Anthony,
Take from his heart, take from his Braine, from's time,
What should not then be spar'd. He is already
Traduc'd for Leuity, and 'tis said in Rome,
That Photinus an Eunuch, and your Maides
1875Mannage this warre.
Cleo. Sinke Rome, and their tongues rot
That speake against vs. A Charge we beare i'th'Warre,
And as the president of my Kingdome will
Appeare there for a man. Speake not against it,
1880I will not stay behinde.
Enter Anthony and Camidias.
Eno. Nay I haue done, here comes the Emperor.
Ant. Is it not strange Camidius,
That from Tarrentum, and Brandusium,
1885He could so quickly cut the Ionian Sea,
And take in Troine. You haue heard on't (Sweet?)
Cleo. Celerity is neuer more admir'd,
Then by the negligent.
Ant. A good rebuke,
1890Which might haue well becom'd the best of men
To taunt at slacknesse. Camidius, wee
Will fight with him by Sea.
Cleo. By Sea, what else?
Cam. Why will my Lord, do so?
1895Ant. For that he dares vs too't.
Enob. So hath my Lord, dar'd him to single fight.
Cam. I, and to wage this Battell at Pharsalia,
Where Cæsar fought with Pompey. But these offers
Which serue not for his vantage, he shakes off,
1900And so should you.
Enob. Your Shippes are not well mann'd,
Your Marriners are Militers, Reapers, people
Ingrost by swift Impresse. In Cæsars Fleete,
Are those, that often haue 'gainst Pompey fought,
1905Their shippes are yare, yours heauy: no disgrace
Shall fall you for refusing him at Sea,
Being prepar'd for Land.
Ant. By Sea, by Sea.
Eno. Most worthy Sir, you therein throw away
1910The absolute Soldiership you haue by Land,
Distract your Armie, which doth most consist
Of Warre-markt-footmen, leaue vnexecuted
Your owne renowned knowledge, quite forgoe
The way which promises assurance, and
1915Giue vp your selfe meerly to chance and hazard,
From firme Securitie.
Ant. Ile fight at Sea.
Cleo. I haue sixty Sailes, Caesar none better.
Ant. Our ouer-plus of shipping will we burne,
1920And with the rest full mann'd, from th'head of Action
Beate th'approaching Cæsar. But if we faile,
We then can doo't at Land.
Enter a Messenger.
Thy Businesse?
Mes. The Newes is true, my Lord, he is descried,
1925Cæsar ha's taken Toryne.
Ant, Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible
Strange, that his power should be. Camidius,
Our nineteene Legions thou shalt hold by Land,
And our twelue thousand Horse. Wee'l to our Ship,
1930Away my Thetis.
Enter a Soldiour.
How now worthy Souldier?
Soul. Oh Noble Emperor, do not fight by Sea,
Trust not to rotten plankes: Do you misdoubt
1935This Sword, and these my Wounds; let th'Egyptians
And the Phœnicians go a ducking: wee
Haue vs'd to conquer standing on the earth,
And fighting foot to foot.
Ant. Well, well, away.
exit Ant. Cleo. & Enob.
1940Soul. By Hercules I thinke I am i'th' right.
Cam. Souldier thou art: but his whole action growes
Not in the power on't: so our Leaders leade,
And we are Womens men.
Soul. You keepe by Land the Legions and the Horse
1945whole, do you not?
Ven. Marcus Octauius, Marcus Iusteus,
Publicola, and Celius, are for Sea:
But we keepe whole by Land. This speede of Cæsars
Carries beyond beleefe.
1950Soul. While he was yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions,
As beguilde all Spies.
Cam. Who's his Lieutenant, heare you?
Soul. They say, one Towrus.
1955Cam. Well, I know the man.
Enter a Messenger.
Mes. The Emperor cals Camidius.
Cam. With Newes the times with Labour,
And throwes forth each minute, some.
exeunt