Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)
Not Peer Reviewed
¶
Enter Anthony, Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian,
2410Iras, Alexas, with others.
¶Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitian?
¶Eno. No?
¶Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,
2415He is twenty men to one.
¶Ant. To morrow Soldier,
¶By Sea and Land Ile fight: or I will liue,
¶Or bathe my dying Honor in the blood
¶Shall make it liue againe. Woo't thou fight well.
¶Call forth my Houshold Seruants, lets to night
¶
Enter 3 or 4 Seruitors.
¶Be bounteous at our Meale. Giue me thy hand,
¶Thou, and thou, and thou: you haue seru'd me well,
¶And Kings haue beene your fellowes.
¶Cleo. What meanes this?
2430Out of the minde.
¶And all of you clapt vp together, in
¶An Anthony: that I might do you seruice,
2435So good as you haue done.
¶Omnes. The Gods forbid.
¶Ant. Well, my good Fellowes, wait on me to night:
¶Scant not my Cups, and make as much of me,
¶As when mine Empire was your Fellow too,
2440And suffer'd my command.
¶Cleo. What does he meane?
¶Eno. To make his Followers weepe.
¶Ant. Tend me to night;
¶May be, it is the period of your duty,
¶A mangled shadow. Perchance to morrow,
¶As one that takes his leaue. Mine honest Friends,
¶I turne you not away, but like a Master
¶Tend me to night two houres, I aske no more,
¶And the Gods yeeld you for't.
¶Eno. What meane you (Sir)
¶To giue them this discomfort? Looke they weepe,
¶Transforme vs not to women.
¶Ant. Ho, ho, ho:
¶Now the Witch take me, if I meant it thus.
¶Grace grow where those drops fall (my hearty Friends)
¶To burne this night with Torches: Know (my hearts)
¶I hope well of to morrow, and will leade you,
¶Where rather Ile expect victorious life,
2465Then death, and Honor. Let's to Supper, come,
¶And drowne consideration.
Exeunt.
