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  • Title: Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: Randall Martin

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-433-2

    Copyright Randall Martin. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: Randall Martin
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

    356The Tragedie of
    Leaue me, I pray a little: pray you now,
    Nay do so: for indeede I haue lost command,
    Therefore I pray you, Ile see you by and by. Sits downe
    Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian and Eros.
    2050Eros. Nay gentle Madam, to him, comfort him.
    Iras. Do most deere Queene.
    Char. Do, why, what else?
    Cleo. Let me sit downe: Oh Iuno.
    Ant. No, no, no, no, no.
    2055Eros. See you heere, Sir?
    Ant. Oh fie, fie, fie.
    Char. Madam.
    Iras. Madam, oh good Empresse.
    Eros. Sir, sir.
    2060Ant. Yes my Lord, yes; he at Philippi kept
    His sword e'ne like a dancer, while I strooke
    The leane and wrinkled Cassius, and 'twas I
    That the mad Brutus ended: he alone
    Dealt on Lieutenantry, and no practise had
    2065In the braue squares of Warre: yet now: no matter.
    Cleo. Ah stand by.
    Eros. The Queene my Lord, the Queene.
    Iras. Go to him, Madam, speake to him,
    Hee's vnqualited with very shame.
    2070Cleo. Well then, sustaine me: Oh.
    Eros. Most Noble Sir arise, the Queene approaches,
    Her head's declin'd, and death will cease her, but
    Your comfort makes the rescue.
    Ant. I haue offended Reputation,
    2075A most vnnoble sweruing.
    Eros. Sir, the Queene.
    Ant. Oh whether hast thou lead me Egypt, see
    How I conuey my shame, out of thine eyes,
    By looking backe what I haue left behinde
    2080Stroy'd in dishonor.
    Cleo. Oh my Lord, my Lord
    Forgiue my fearfull sayles, I little thought
    You would haue followed.
    Ant. Egypt, thou knew'st too well,
    2085My heart was to thy Rudder tyed by'th'strings,
    And thou should'st stowe me after. O're my spirit
    The full supremacie thou knew'st, and that
    Thy becke, might from the bidding of the Gods
    Command mee.
    2090Cleo. Oh my pardon.
    Ant. Now I must
    To the young man send humble Treaties, dodge
    And palter in the shifts of lownes, who
    With halfe the bulke o'th'world plaid as I pleas'd,
    2095Making, and marring Fortunes. You did know
    How much you were my Conqueror, and that
    My Sword, made weake by my affection, would
    Obey it on all cause.
    Cleo. Pardon, pardon.
    2100Ant Fall not a teare I say, one of them rates
    All that is wonne and lost: Giue me a kisse,
    Euen this repayes me.
    We sent our Schoolemaster, is a come backe?
    Loue I am full of Lead: some Wine
    2105Within there, and our Viands: Fortune knowes,
    We scorne her most, when most she offers blowes. Exeunt

    Enter Caesar, Agrippa, and Dollabello, with others.

    Caes. Let him appeare that's come from Anthony.
    Know you him.

    2110Dolla. Caesar, 'tis his Schoolemaster,
    An argument that he is pluckt, when hither
    He sends so poore a Pinnion of his Wing,
    Which had superfluous Kings for Messengers,
    Not many Moones gone by.
    2115Enter Ambassador from Anthony.
    Caesar. Approach, and speake.
    Amb. Such as I am, I come from Anthony:
    I was of late as petty to his ends,
    As is the Morne-dew on the Mertle leafe
    2120To his grand Sea.
    Caes. Bee't so, declare thine office.
    Amb. Lord of his Fortunes he salutes thee, and
    Requires to liue in Egypt, which not granted
    He Lessons his Requests, and to thee sues
    2125To let him breath betweene the Heauens and Earth
    A priuate man in Athens: this for him.
    Next, Cleopatra does confesse thy Greatnesse,
    Submits her to thy might, and of thee craues
    The Circle of the Ptolomies for her heyres,
    2130Now hazarded to thy Grace.
    Caes. For Anthony,
    I haue no eares to his request. The Queene,
    Of Audience, nor Desire shall faile, so shee
    From Egypt driue her all-disgraced Friend,
    2135Or take his life there. This if shee performe,
    She shall not sue vnheard. So to them both.
    Amb. Fortune pursue thee.
    Caes. Bring him through the Bands:
    To try thy Eloquence, now 'tis time, dispatch,
    2140From Anthony winne Cleopatra, promise
    And in our Name, what she requires, adde more
    From thine inuention, offers. Women are not
    In their best Fortunes strong; but want will periure
    The ne're touch'd Vestall. Try thy cunning Thidias,
    2145Make thine owne Edict for thy paines, which we
    Will answer as a Law.
    Thid. Caesar. I go.
    Caesar. Obserue how Anthony becomes his flaw,
    And what thou think'st his very action speakes
    2150In euery power that mooues.
    Thid. Caesar, I shall. exeunt.
    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 Caesar send this
    grizled head, and he will fill thy wishes to the brimme,
    With Principalities.
    2175Cleo. That head my Lord?
    Ant.
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