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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Anthony and Cleopatra. 355
    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 Caesar. 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,
    1925Caesar 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 Phoenicians 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 Caesars
    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

    1960Enter Caesar with his Army, marching.

    Caes. Towrus?
    Tow. My Lord.
    Caes. Strike not by Land,
    Keepe whole, prouoke not Battaile
    1965Till we haue done at Sea. Do not exceede
    The Prescript of this Scroule: Our fortune lyes
    Vpon this iumpe. exit.
    Enter Anthony, and Enobarbus.
    Ant. Set we our Squadrons on yond side o'th'Hill,
    1970In eye of Caesars battaile, from which place
    We may the number of the Ships behold,
    And so proceed accordingly. exit.

    Camidius Marcheth with his Land Army one way ouer the
    stage, and Towrus the Lieutenant of Caesar the other way:
    1975After their going in, is heard the noise of a Sea-fight.
    Alarum. Enter Enobarbus and Scarus.

    Eno. Naught, naught, al naught, I can behold no longer:
    Thantoniad, the Egyptian Admirall,
    With all their sixty flye, and turne the Rudder:

    1980To see't, mine eyes are blasted.
    Enter Scarrus.
    Scar. Gods, & Goddesses, all the whol synod of them!
    Eno. What's thy passion.
    Scar. The greater Cantle of the world, is lost
    1985With very ignorance, we haue kist away
    Kingdomes, and Prouinces.
    Eno. How appeares the Fight?
    Scar. On our side, like the Token'd Pestilence,
    Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred Nagge of Egypt,
    1990(Whom Leprosie o're-take) i'th'midst o'th'fight,
    When vantage like a payre of Twinnes appear'd
    Both as the same, or rather ours the elder;
    (The Breeze vpon her) like a Cow in Inne,
    Hoists Sailes, and flyes.
    1995Eno. That I beheld:
    Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not
    Indure a further view.
    Scar. She once being looft,
    The Noble ruine of her Magicke, Anthony,
    2000Claps on his Sea-wing, and (like a doting Mallard)
    Leauing the Fight in heighth, flyes after her:
    I neuer saw an Action of such shame;
    Experience, Man-hood, Honor, ne're before,
    Did violate so it selfe.
    2005Enob. Alacke, alacke.
    Enter Camidius.
    Cam. Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath,
    And sinkes most lamentably. Had our Generall
    Bin what he knew himselfe, it had gone well:
    2010Oh his ha's giuen example for our flight,
    Most grossely by his owne.
    Enob. I, are you thereabouts? Why then goodnight
    indeede.
    Cam. Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.
    2015Scar. 'Tis easie toot,
    And there I will attend what further comes.
    Camid. To Caesar will I render
    My Legions and my Horse, sixe Kings alreadie
    Shew me the way of yeelding.
    2020Eno. Ile yet follow
    The wounded chance of Anthony, though my reason
    Sits in the winde against me.
    Enter Anthony with Attendants.
    Ant. Hearke, the Land bids me tread no more vpon't,
    2025It is asham'd to beare me. Friends, come hither,
    I am so lated in the world, that I
    Haue lost my way for euer. I haue a shippe,
    Laden with Gold, take that, diuide it: flye,
    And make your peace with Caesar.
    2030Omnes. Fly? Not wee.
    Ant. I haue fled my selfe, and haue instructed cowards
    To runne, and shew their shoulders. Friends be gone,
    I haue my selfe resolu'd vpon a course,
    Which has no neede of you. Be gone,
    2035My Treasure's in the Harbour. Take it: Oh,
    I follow'd that I blush to looke vpon,
    My very haires do mutiny: for the white
    Reproue the browne for rashnesse, and they them
    For feare, and doting. Friends be gone, you shall
    2040Haue Letters from me to some Friends, that will
    Sweepe your way for you. Pray you looke not sad,
    Nor make replyes of loathnesse, take the hint
    Which my dispaire proclaimes. Let them be left
    Which leaues it selfe, to the Sea-side straight way;
    2045I will possesse you of that ship and Treasure.
    y 2 Leaue
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