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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    360The Tragedie of
    He shall not heare thee, or from Caesars Campe,
    Say I am none of thine.
    Ant. What sayest thou?
    2565Sold. Sir he is with Caesar.
    Eros. Sir, his Chests and Treasure he has not with him.
    Ant. Is he gone?
    Sol. Most certaine.
    Ant. Go Eros, send his Treasure after, do it,
    2570Detaine no iot I charge thee: write to him,
    (I will subscribe) gentle adieu's, and greetings;
    Say, that I wish he neuer finde more cause
    To change a Master. Oh my Fortunes haue
    Corrupted honest men. Dispatch Enobarbus. Exit

    2575Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar, with Enobarbus,
    and Dollabella.

    Caes. Go forth Agrippa, and begin the fight:
    Our will is Anthony be tooke aliue:
    Make it so knowne.
    2580Agrip. Caesar, I shall.
    Caesar. The time of vniuersall peace is neere:
    Proue this a prosp'rous day, the three nook'd world
    Shall beare the Oliue freely.
    Enter a Messenger.
    2585Mes. Anthony is come into the Field.
    Caes. Go charge Agrippa,
    Plant those that haue reuolted in the Vant,
    That Anthony may seeme to spend his Fury
    Vpon himselfe. Exeunt.
    2590Enob. Alexas did reuolt, and went to Iewrij on
    Affaires of Anthony, there did disswade
    Great Herod to incline himselfe to Caesar,
    And leaue his Master Anthony. For this paines,
    Caesar hath hang'd him: Camindius and the rest
    2595That fell away, haue entertainment, but
    No honourable trust: I haue done ill,
    Of which I do accuse my selfe so forely,
    That I will ioy no more.
    Enter a Soldier of Caesars.
    2600Sol. Enobarbus, Anthony
    Hath after thee sent all thy Treasure, with
    His Bounty ouer-plus. The Messenger
    Came on my guard, and at thy Tent is now
    Vnloading of his Mules.
    2605Eno. I giue it you.
    Sol. Mocke not Enobarbus,
    I tell you true: Best you saf't the bringer
    Out of the hoast, I must attend mine Office,
    Or would haue done't my selfe. Your Emperor
    2610Continues still a Ioue. Exit
    Enob. I am alone the Villaine of the earth,
    And feele I am so most. Oh Anthony,
    Thou Mine of Bounty, how would'st thou haue payed
    My better seruice, when my turpitude
    2615Thou dost so Crowne with Gold. This blowes my hart,
    If swift thought breake it not: a swifter meane
    Shall out-strike thought, but thought will doo't. I feele
    I fight against thee: No I will go seeke
    Some Ditch, wherein to dye: the foul'st best fits
    2620My latter part of life. Exit.
    Alarum, Drummes and Trumpets.
    Enter Agrippa.
    Agrip Retire, we haue engag'd our selues too farre:
    Caesar himselfe ha's worke, and our oppression
    2625Exceeds what we expected. Exit.

    Alarums.
    Enter Anthony, and Scarrus wounded.

    Scar. O my braue Emperor, this is fought indeed,
    Had we done so at first, we had drouen them home
    2630With clowts about their heads. Far off.
    Ant. Thou bleed'st apace.
    Scar. I had a wound heere that was like a T,
    But now 'tis made an H.
    Ant. They do retyre.
    2635Scar. Wee'l beat 'em into Bench-holes, I haue yet
    Roome for six scotches more.
    Enter Eros.
    Eros. They are beaten Sir, and our aduantage serues
    For a faire victory.
    2640Scar. Let vs score their backes,
    And snatch 'em vp, as we take Hares behinde,
    'Tis sport to maul a Runner.
    Ant. I will reward thee
    Once for thy sprightly comfort, and ten-fold
    2645For thy good valour. Come thee on.
    Scar. Ile halt after. Exeunt

    Alarum. Enter Anthony againe in a March.
    Scarrus, with others.

    Ant. We haue beate him to his Campe: Runne one
    2650Before, & let the Queen know of our guests: to morrow
    Before the Sun shall see's, wee'l spill the blood
    That ha's to day escap'd. I thanke you all,
    For doughty handed are you, and haue fought
    Not as you seru'd the Cause, but as't had beene
    2655Each mans like mine: you haue shewne all Hectors.
    Enter the Citty, clip your Wiues, your Friends,
    Tell them your feats, whil'st they with ioyfull teares
    Wash the congealement from your wounds, and kisse
    The Honour'd-gashes whole.
    2660Enter Cleopatra.
    Giue me thy hand,
    To this great Faiery, Ile commend thy acts,
    Make her thankes blesse thee. Oh thou day o'th'world,
    Chaine mine arm'd necke, leape thou, Attyre and all
    2665Through proofe of Harnesse to my heart, and there
    Ride on the pants triumphing.
    Cleo. Lord of Lords.
    Oh infinite Vertue, comm'st thou smiling from
    The worlds great snare vncaught.
    2670Ant. Mine Nightingale,
    We haue beate them to their Beds.
    What Gyrle, though gray
    Do somthing mingle with our yonger brown, yet ha we
    A Braine that nourishes our Nerues, and can
    2675Get gole for gole of youth. Behold this man,
    Commend vnto his Lippes thy fauouring hand,
    Kisse it my Warriour: He hath fought to day,
    As if a God in hate of Mankinde, had
    Destroyed in such a shape.
    2680Cleo. Ile giue thee Friend
    An Armour all of Gold: it was a Kings.
    Ant. He has deseru'd it, were it Carbunkled
    Like holy Phoebus Carre. Giue me thy hand,
    Through Alexandria make a iolly March,
    2685Beare our hackt Targets, like the men that owe them.
    Had our great Pallace the capacity
    To Campe this hoast, we all would sup together,
    And drinke Carowses to the next dayes Fate
    Which
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