Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    346The Tragedie of
    It must not be with this.
    745Caes. You praise your selfe, by laying defects of iudge-
    ment to me: but you patcht vp your excuses.
    Anth. Not so, not so:
    I know you could not lacke, I am certaine on't,
    Very necessity of this thought, that I
    750Your Partner in the cause 'gainst which he fought,
    Could not with gracefull eyes attend those Warres
    Which fronted mine owne peace. As for my wife,
    I would you had her spirit, in such another,
    The third oth'world is yours, which with a Snaffle,
    755You may pace easie, but not such a wife.
    Enobar. Would we had all such wiues, that the men
    might go to Warres with the women.
    Anth. So much vncurbable, her Garboiles (Caesar)
    Made out of her impatience: which not wanted
    760Shrodenesse of policie to: I greeuing grant,
    Did you too much disquiet, for that you must,
    But say I could not helpe it.
    Caesar. I wrote to you, when rioting in Alexandria you
    Did pocket vp my Letters: and with taunts
    765Did gibe my Misiue out of audience.
    Ant. Sir, he fell vpon me, ere admitted, then:
    Three Kings I had newly feasted, and did want
    Of what I was i'th'morning: but next day
    I told him of my selfe, which was as much
    770As to haue askt him pardon. Let this Fellow
    Be nothing of our strife: if we contend
    Out of our question wipe him.
    Caesar. You haue broken the Article of your oath,
    which you shall neuer haue tongue to charge me with.
    775Lep. Soft Caesar.
    Ant. No Lepidus, let him speake,
    The Honour is Sacred which he talks on now,
    Supposing that I lackt it: but on Caesar,
    The Article of my oath.
    780Caesar. To lend me Armes, and aide when I requir'd
    them, the which you both denied.
    Anth. Neglected rather:
    And then when poysoned houres had bound me vp
    From mine owne knowledge, as neerely as I may,
    785Ile play the penitent to you. But mine honesty,
    Shall not make poore my greatnesse, nor my power
    Worke without it. Truth is, that Fuluia,
    To haue me out of Egypt, made Warres heere,
    For which my selfe, the ignorant motiue, do
    790So farre aske pardon, as befits mine Honour
    To stoope in such a case.
    Lep. 'Tis Noble spoken.
    Mece. If it might please you, to enforce no further
    The griefes betweene ye: to forget them quite,
    795Were to remember: that the present neede,
    Speakes to attone you.
    Lep. Worthily spoken Mecenas.
    Enobar. Or if you borrow one anothers Loue for the
    instant, you may when you heare no more words of
    800Pompey returne it againe: you shall haue time to wrangle
    in, when you haue nothing else to do.
    Anth. Thou art a Souldier, onely speake no more.
    Enob. That trueth should be silent, I had almost for-
    got.
    805Anth. You wrong this presence, therefore speake no
    more.
    Enob. Go too then: your Considerate stone.
    Caesar. I do not much dislike the matter, but
    The manner of his speech: for't cannot be,

    810We shall remaine in friendship, our conditions
    So diffring in their acts. Yet if I knew,
    What Hoope should hold vs staunch from edge to edge
    Ath'world: I would persue it.
    Agri. Giue me leaue Caesar.
    815Caesar. Speake Agrippa.
    Agri. Thou hast a Sister by the Mothers side, admir'd
    Octauia: Great Mark Anthony is now a widdower.
    Caesar. Say not, say Agrippa; if Cleopater heard you, your
    proofe were well deserued of rashnesse.
    820Anth. I am not marryed Caesar: let me heere Agrippa
    further speake.
    Agri. To hold you in perpetuall amitie,
    To make you Brothers, and to knit your hearts
    With an vn-slipping knot, take Anthony,
    825Octauia to his wife: whose beauty claimes
    No worse a husband then the best of men: whose
    Vertue, and whose generall graces, speake
    That which none else can vtter. By this marriage,
    All little Ielousies which now seeme great,
    830And all great feares, which now import their dangers,
    Would then be nothing. Truth's would be tales,
    Where now halfe tales be truth's: her loue to both,
    Would each to other, and all loues to both
    Draw after her. Pardon what I haue spoke,
    835For 'tis a studied not a present thought,
    By duty ruminated.
    Anth. Will Caesar speake?
    Caesar. Not till he heares how Anthony is toucht,
    With what is spoke already.
    840Anth. What power is in Agrippa,
    If I would say Agrippa, be it so,
    To make this good?
    Caesar. The power of Caesar,
    And his power, vnto Octauia.
    845Anth. May I neuer
    (To this good purpose, that so fairely shewes)
    Dreame of impediment: let me haue thy hand
    Further this act of Grace: and from this houre,
    The heart of Brothers gouerne in our Loues,
    850And sway our great Designes.
    Caesar. There's my hand:
    A Sister I bequeath you, whom no Brother
    Did euer loue so deerely. Let her liue
    To ioyne our kingdomes, and our hearts, and neuer
    855Flie off our Loues againe.
    Lepi. Happily, Amen.
    Ant. I did not think to draw my Sword 'gainst Pompey,
    For he hath laid strange courtesies, and great
    Of late vpon me. I must thanke him onely,
    860Least my remembrance, suffer ill report:
    At heele of that, defie him.
    Lepi. Time cals vpon's,
    Of vs must Pompey presently be sought,
    Or else he seekes out vs.
    865Anth. Where lies he?
    Caesar. About the Mount-Mesena.
    Anth. What is his strength by land?
    Caesar. Great, and encreasing:
    But by Sea he is an absolute Master.
    870Anth. So is the Fame,
    Would we had spoke together. Hast we for it.
    Yet ere we put our selues in Armes, dispatch we
    The businesse we haue talkt of.
    Caesar. With most gladnesse,
    875And do inuite you to my Sisters view,
    Whe-
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC