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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    Not Peer Reviewed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. 359
    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,
    2445Haply you shall not see me more, or if,
    A mangled shadow. Perchance to morrow,
    You'l serue another Master. I looke on you,
    As one that takes his leaue. Mine honest Friends,
    I turne you not away, but like a Master
    2450Married to your good seruice, stay till death:
    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,
    2455And I an Asse, am Onyon-ey'd; for shame,
    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)
    2460You take me in too dolorous a sense,
    For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire you
    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.

    Enter a Company of Soldiours.

    1.Sol. Brother, goodnight: to morrow is the day.
    2.Sol. It will determine one way: Fare you well.
    2470Heard you of nothing strange about the streets.
    1 Nothing: what newes?
    2 Belike 'tis but a Rumour, good night to you.
    1 Well sir, good night.
    They meete other Soldiers.
    24752 Souldiers, haue carefull Watch.
    1 And you: Goodnight, goodnight.
    They place themselues in euery corner of the Stage.
    2 Heere we: and if to morrow
    Our Nauie thriue, I haue an absolute hope
    2480Our Landmen will stand vp.
    1 'Tis a braue Army, and full of purpose.
    Musicke of the Hoboyes is vnder the Stage.
    2 Peace, what noise?
    1 List list.
    24852 Hearke.
    1 Musicke i'th'Ayre.
    3 Vnder the earth.
    4 It signes well, do's it not?
    3 No.
    24901 Peace I say: What should this meane?
    2 'Tis the God Hercules, whom Anthony loued,
    Now leaues him.
    1 Walke, let's see if other Watchmen
    Do heare what we do?
    24952 How now Maisters? Speak together.
    Omnes. How now? how now? do you heare this?
    1 I, is't not strange?
    3 Do you heare Masters? Do you heare?
    1 Follow the noyse so farre as we haue quarter.

    2500Let's see how it will giue off.
    Omnes. Content: 'Tis strange. Exeunt.

    Enter Anthony and Cleopatra, with others.

    Ant. Eros, mine Armour Eros.
    Cleo. Sleepe a little.
    2505Ant. No my Chucke. Eros, come mine Armor Eros.
    Enter Eros.
    Come good Fellow, put thine Iron on,
    If Fortune be not ours to day, it is
    Because we braue her. Come.
    2510Cleo. Nay, Ile helpe too, Anthony.
    What's this for? Ah let be, let be, thou art
    The Armourer of my heart: False, false: This, this,
    Sooth-law Ile helpe: Thus it must bee.
    Ant. Well, well, we shall thriue now.
    2515Seest thou my good Fellow. Go, put on thy defences.
    Eros. Briefely Sir.
    Cleo. Is not this buckled well?
    Ant. Rarely, rarely:
    He that vnbuckles this, till we do please
    2520To daft for our Repose, shall heare a storme.
    Thou fumblest Eros, and my Queenes a Squire
    More tight at this, then thou: Dispatch. O Loue,
    That thou couldst see my Warres to day, and knew'st
    The Royall Occupation, thou should'st see
    2525A Workeman in't.
    Enter an Armed Soldier.
    Good morrow to thee, welcome,
    Thou look'st like him that knowes a warlike Charge:
    To businesse that we loue, we rise betime,
    2530And go too't with delight.
    Soul. A thousand Sir, early though't be, haue on their
    Riueted trim, and at the Port expect you. Showt.
    Trumpets Flourish.
    Enter Captaines, and Souldiers.
    2535Alex. The Morne is faire: Good morrow Generall.
    All. Good morrow Generall.
    Ant. 'Tis well blowne Lads.
    This Morning, like the spirit of a youth
    That meanes to be of note, begins betimes.
    2540So, so: Come giue me that, this way, well-sed.
    Fare thee well Dame, what ere becomes of me,
    This is a Soldiers kisse: rebukeable,
    And worthy shamefull checke it were, to stand
    On more Mechanicke Complement, Ile leaue thee.
    2545Now like a man of Steele, you that will fight,
    Follow me close, Ile bring you too't: Adieu. Exeunt.
    Char. Please you retyre to your Chamber?
    Cleo. Lead me:
    He goes forth gallantly: That he and Caesar might
    2550Determine this great Warre in single fight;
    Then Anthony; but now. Well on. Exeunt

    Trumpets sound. Enter Anthony, and Eros.

    Eros. The Gods make this a happy day to Anthony.
    Ant. Would thou, & those thy scars had once preuaild
    2555To make me fight at Land.
    Eros. Had''st thou done so,
    The Kings that haue reuolted, and the Soldier
    That has this morning left thee, would haue still
    Followed thy heeles.
    2560Ant. Whose gone this morning?
    Eros. Who? one euer neere thee, call for Enobarbus,
    Hee
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