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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    Not Peer Reviewed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. 361
    Which promises Royall perill, Trumpetters
    2690With brazen dinne blast you the Citties eare,
    Make mingle with our ratling Tabourines,
    That heauen and earth may strike their sounds together,
    Applauding our approach. Exeunt.

    Enter a Centerie, and his Company, Enobarbus followes.

    2695Cent. If we be not releeu'd within this houre,
    We must returne to'th'Court of Guard: the night
    Is shiny, and they say, we shall embattaile
    By'th'second houre i'th'Morne.
    1. Watch. This last day was a shrew'd one too's.
    2700Enob. Oh beare me witnesse night.
    2 What man is this?
    1 Stand close, and list him.
    Enob. Be witnesse to me (O thou blessed Moone)
    When men reuolted shall vpon Record
    2705Beare hatefull memory: poore Enobarbus did
    Before thy face repent.
    Cent. Enobarbus?
    2 Peace: Hearke further.
    Enob. Oh Soueraigne Mistris of true Melancholly,
    2710The poysonous dampe of night dispunge vpon me,
    That Life, a very Rebell to my will,
    May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart
    Against the flint and hardnesse of my fault,
    Which being dried with greefe, will breake to powder,
    2715And finish all foule thoughts. Oh Anthony,
    Nobler then my reuolt is Infamous,
    Forgiue me in thine owne particular,
    But let the world ranke me in Register
    A Master leauer, and a fugitiue:
    2720Oh Anthony! Oh Anthony!
    1 Let's speake to him.
    Cent. Let's heare him, for the things he speakes
    May concerne Caesar.
    2 Let's do so, but he sleepes.
    2725Cent. Swoonds rather, for so bad a Prayer as his
    Was neuer yet for sleepe.
    1 Go we to him.
    2 Awake sir, awake, speake to vs.
    1 Heare you sir?
    2730Cent. The hand of death hath raught him.
    Drummes afarre off.
    Hearke the Drummes demurely wake the sleepers:
    Let vs beare him to'th'Court of Guard: he is of note:
    Our houre is fully out.
    27352 Come on then, he may recouer yet. exeunt

    Enter Anthony and Scarrus, with their Army.
    Ant. Their preparation is to day by Sea,
    We please them not by Land.
    Scar. For both, my Lord.
    2740Ant. I would they'ld fight i'th'Fire, or i'th'Ayre,
    Wee'ld fight there too. But this it is, our Foote
    Vpon the hilles adioyning to the Citty
    Shall stay with vs. Order for Sea is giuen,
    They haue put forth the Hauen:
    2745Where their appointment we may best discouer,
    And looke on their endeuour. exeunt

    Enter Caesar, and his Army.
    Caes. But being charg'd, we will be still by Land,
    Which as I tak't we shall, for his best force
    2750Is forth to Man his Gallies. To the Vales,
    And hold our best aduantage. exeunt.
    Alarum afarre off, as at a Sea-fight.
    Enter Anthony, and Scarrus.
    Ant. Yet they are not ioyn'd:
    2755Where yon'd Pine does stand, I shall discouer all.
    Ile bring thee word straight, how 'ris like to go. exit.
    Scar. Swallowes haue built
    In Cleopatra's Sailes their nests. The Auguries
    Say, they know not, they cannot tell, looke grimly,
    2760And dare not speake their knowledge. Anthony,
    Is valiant, and deiected, and by starts
    His fretted Fortunes giue him hope and feare
    Of what he has, and has not.
    Enter Anthony.
    2765Ant. All is lost:
    This fowle Egyptian hath betrayed me:
    My Fleete hath yeelded to the Foe, and yonder
    They cast their Caps vp, and Carowse together
    Like Friends long lost. Triple-turn'd Whore, 'tis thou
    2770Hast sold me to this Nouice, and my heart
    Makes onely Warres on thee. Bid them all flye:
    For when I am reueng'd vpon my Charme,
    I haue done all. Bid them all flye, be gone.
    Oh Sunne, thy vprise shall I see no more,
    2775Fortune, and Anthony part heere, euen heere
    Do we shake hands? All come to this? The hearts
    That pannelled me at heeles, to whom I gaue
    Their wishes, do dis-Candie, melt their sweets
    On blossoming Caesar: And this Pine is barkt,
    2780That ouer-top'd them all. Betray'd I am.
    Oh this false Soule of Egypt! this graue Charme,
    Whose eye beck'd forth my Wars, & cal'd them home:
    Whose Bosome was my Crownet, my chiefe end,
    Like a right Gypsie, hath at fast and loose
    2785Beguil'd me, to the very heart of losse.
    What Eros, Eros?
    Enter Cleopatra.
    Ah, thou Spell! Auaunt.
    Cleo. Why is my Lord enrag'd against his Loue?
    2790Ant. Vanish, or I shall giue thee thy deseruing,
    And blemish Caesars Triumph. Let him take thee,
    And hoist thee vp to the shouting Plebeians,
    Follow his Chariot, like the greatest spot
    Of all thy Sex. Most Monster-like be shewne
    2795For poor'st Diminitiues, for Dolts, and let
    Patient Octauia, plough thy visage vp
    With her prepared nailes. exit Cleopatra.
    'Tis well th'art gone,
    If it be well to liue. But better 'twere
    2800Thou fell'st into my furie, for one death
    Might haue preuented many. Eros, hoa?
    The shirt of Nessus is vpon me, teach me
    Alcides, thou mine Ancestor, thy rage.
    Let me lodge Licas on the hornes o'th'Moone,
    2805And with those hands that graspt the heauiest Club,
    Subdue my worthiest selfe: The Witch shall die,
    To the young Roman Boy she hath sold me, and I fall
    Vnder this plot: She dyes for't. Eros hoa? exit.

    Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, Mardian.

    2810Cleo. Helpe me my women: Oh hee's more mad
    Then Telamon for his Shield, the Boare of Thessaly
    Was neuer so imbost.
    Char. To'th'Monument, there locke your selfe,
    And send him word you are dead:
    The
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