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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    352The Tragedie of
    Should my performance perish.
    1525Rom. Thou hast Ventidius that, without the which a
    Souldier and his Sword graunts scarce distinction: thou
    wilt write to Anthony.
    Ven. Ile humbly signifie what in his name,
    That magicall word of Warre we haue effected,
    1530How with his Banners, and his well paid ranks,
    The nere-yet beaten Horse of Parthia,
    We haue iaded out o'th'Field.
    Rom. Where is he now?
    Ven. He purposeth to Athens, whither with what hast
    1535The waight we must conuay with's, will permit:
    We shall appeare before him. On there, passe along.
    Exeunt.
    Enter Agrippa at one doore, Enobarbus at another.
    Agri. What are the Brothers parted?
    1540Eno. They haue dispatcht with Pompey, he is gone,
    The other three are Sealing. Octauia weepes
    To part from Rome: Caesar is sad, and Lepidus
    Since Pompey's feast, as Menas saies, is troubled
    With the Greene-Sicknesse.
    1545Agri. 'Tis a Noble Lepidus.
    Eno. A very fine one: oh, how he loues Caesar.
    Agri. Nay but how deerely he adores Mark Anthony.
    Eno. Caesar? why he's the Iupiter of men.
    Ant. What's Anthony, the God of Iupiter?
    1550Eno. Spake you of Caesar? How, the non-pareill?
    Agri. Oh Anthony, oh thou Arabian Bird!
    Eno. Would you praise Caesar, say Caesar go no further.
    Agr. Indeed he plied them both with excellent praises.
    Eno. But he loues Caesar best, yet he loues Anthony:
    1555Hoo, Hearts, Tongues, Figure,
    Scribes, Bards, Poets, cannot
    Thinke speake, cast, write, sing, number: hoo,
    His loue to Anthony. But as for Caesar,
    Kneele downe, kneele downe, and wonder.
    1560Agri. Both he loues.
    Eno. They are his Shards, and he their Beetle, so:
    This is to horse: Adieu, Noble Agrippa.
    Agri. Good Fortune worthy Souldier, and farewell.

    Enter Caesar, Anthony, Lepidus, and Octauia.
    1565Antho. No further Sir.
    Caesar. You take from me a great part of my selfe:
    Vse me well in't. Sister, proue such a wife
    As my thoughts make thee, and as my farthest Band
    Shall passe on thy approofe: most Noble Anthony,
    1570Let not the peece of Vertue which is set
    Betwixt vs, as the Cyment of our loue
    To keepe it builded, be the Ramme to batter
    The Fortresse of it: for better might we
    Haue lou'd without this meane, if on both parts
    1575This be not cherisht.
    Ant. Make me not offended, in your distrust.
    Caesar. I haue said.
    Ant. You shall not finde,
    Though you be therein curious, the lest cause
    1580For what you seeme to feare, so the Gods keepe you,
    And make the hearts of Romaines serue your ends:
    We will heere part.
    Caesar. Farewell my deerest Sister, fare thee well,
    The Elements be kind to thee, and make
    1585Thy spirits all of comfort: fare thee well.
    Octa. My Noble Brother.
    Anth. The Aprill's in her eyes, it is Loues spring,
    And these the showers to bring it on: be cheerfull.

    Octa. Sir, looke well to my Husbands house: and
    1590Caesar. What Octauia?
    Octa. Ile tell you in your eare.
    Ant. Her tongue will not obey her heart, nor can
    Her heart informe her tougue.
    The Swannes downe feather
    1595That stands vpon the Swell at the full of Tide:
    And neither way inclines.
    Eno. Will Caesar weepe?
    Agr. He ha's a cloud in's face.
    Eno. He were the worse for that were he a Horse, so is
    1600he being a man.
    Agri. Why Enobarbus:
    When Anthony found Iulius Caesar dead,
    He cried almost to roaring: And he wept,
    When at Phillippi he found Brutus slaine.
    1605Eno. That year indeed, he was trobled with a rheume,
    What willingly he did confound, he wail'd,
    Beleeu't till I weepe too.
    Caesar. No sweet Octauia,
    You shall heare from me still: the time shall not
    1610Out-go my thinking on you.
    Ant. Come Sir, come,
    Ile wrastle with you in my strength of loue,
    Looke heere I haue you, thus I let you go,
    And giue you to the Gods.
    1615Caesar. Adieu, be happy.
    Lep. Let all the number of the Starres giue light
    To thy faire way.
    Caesar. Farewell, farewell. Kisses Octauia.
    Ant. Farewell. Trumpets sound. Exeunt.

    1620Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.
    Cleo. Where is the Fellow?
    Alex. Halfe afeard to come.
    Cleo. Go too, go too: Come hither Sir.
    Enter the Messenger as before.
    1625Alex. Good Maiestie: Herod of Iury dare not looke
    vpon you, but when you are well pleas'd.
    Cleo. That Herods head, Ile haue: but how? When
    Anthony is gone, through whom I might commaund it:
    Come thou neere.
    1630Mes. Most gratious Maiestie.
    Cleo. Did'st thou behold Octauia?
    Mes. I dread Queene.
    Cleo. Where?
    Mes. Madam in Rome, I lookt her in the face: and
    1635saw her led betweene her Brother, and Marke Anthony.
    Cleo. Is she as tall as me?
    Mes. She is not Madam.
    Cleo. Didst heare her speake?
    Is she shrill tongu'd or low?
    1640Mes. Madam, I heard her speake, she is low voic'd.
    Cleo. That's not so good: he cannot like her long.
    Char. Like her? Oh Isis: 'tis impossible.
    Cleo. I thinke so Charmian: dull of tongue, & dwarfish
    What Maiestie is in her gate, remember
    1645If ere thou look'st on Maiestie. ,
    Mes. She creepes: her motion, & her station are as one.
    She shewes a body, rather then a life,
    A Statue, then a Breather.
    Cleo. Is this certaine?
    1650Mes. Or I haue no obseruance.
    Cha. Three in Egypt cannot make better note.
    Cleo. He's very knowing, I do perceiu't,
    There's nothing in her yet.
    The
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