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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, & Iras.
    Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus?
    Eno. Thinke, and dye.
    2155Cleo. Is Anthony, or we in fault for this?
    Eno. Anthony onely, that would make his will
    Lord of his Reason. What though you fled,
    From that great face of Warre, whose seuerall ranges
    Frighted each other? Why should he follow?
    2160The itch of his Affection should not then
    Haue nickt his Captain-ship, at such a point,
    When halfe to halfe the world oppos'd, he being
    The meered question? 'Twas a shame no lesse
    Then was his losse, to course your flying Flagges,
    2165And leaue his Nauy gazing.
    Cleo. Prythee peace.
    Enter the Ambassador, with Anthony.
    Ant. Is that his answer? Amb. I my Lord.
    Ant. The Queene shall then haue courtesie,
    2170So she will yeeld vs vp.
    Am. He sayes so.
    Antho. Let her know't. To the Boy Caesar send this
    grizled head, and he will fill thy wishes to the brimme,
    With Principalities.
    2175Cleo. That head my Lord?
    Ant.
    Anthony and Cleopatra. 357
    Ant. To him againe, tell him he weares the Rose
    Of youth vpon him: from which, the world should note
    Something particular: His Coine, Ships, Legions,
    May be a Cowards, whose Ministers would preuaile
    2180Vnder the seruice of a Childe, as soone
    As i'th'Command of Caesar. I dare him therefore
    To lay his gay Comparisons a-part,
    And answer me declin'd, Sword against Sword,
    Our selues alone: Ile write it: Follow me.
    2185Eno. Yes like enough: hye battel'd Caesar will
    Vnstate his happinesse, and be Stag'd to'th'shew
    Against a Sworder. I see mens Iudgements are
    A parcell of their Fortunes, and things outward
    Do draw the inward quality after them
    2190To suffer all alike, that he should dreame,
    Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will
    Answer his emptinesse; Caesar thou hast subdu'de
    His iudgement too.
    Enter a Seruant.
    2195Ser. A Messenger from Caesar.
    Cleo. What no more Ceremony? See my Women,
    Against the blowne Rose may they stop their nose,
    That kneel'd vnto the Buds. Admit him sir.
    Eno. Mine honesty, and I, beginne to square,
    2200The Loyalty well held to Fooles, does make
    Our Faith meere folly: yet he that can endure
    To follow with Allegeance a falne Lord,
    Does conquer him that did his Master conquer,
    And earnes a place i'th'Story.
    2205Enter Thidias.
    Cleo. Caesars will.
    Thid. Heare it apart.
    Cleo. None but Friends: say boldly.
    Thid. So haply are they Friends to Anthony.
    2210Enob. He needs as many (Sir) as Caesar ha's,
    Or needs not vs. If Caesar please, our Master
    Will leape to be his Friend: For vs you know,
    Whose he is, we are, and that is Caesars.
    Thid. So. Thus then thou most renown'd, Caesar intreats,
    2215Not to consider in what case thou stand'st
    Further then he is Caesars.
    Cleo. Go on, right Royall.
    Thid. He knowes that you embrace not Anthony
    As you did loue, but as you feared him.
    2220Cleo. Oh.
    Thid. The scarre's vpon your Honor, therefore he
    Does pitty, as constrained blemishes,
    Not as deserued.
    Cleo. He is a God,
    2225And knowes what is most right. Mine Honour
    Was not yeelded, but conquer'd meerely.
    Eno. To be sure of that, I will aske Anthony.
    Sir, sir, thou art so leakie
    That we must leaue thee to thy sinking, for
    2230Thy deerest quit thee. Exit Enob.
    Thid. Shall I say to Caesar,
    What you require of him: for he partly begges
    To be desir'd to giue. It much would please him,
    That of his Fortunes you should make a staffe
    2235To leane vpon. But it would warme his spirits
    To heare from me you had left Anthony,
    And put your selfe vnder his shrowd, the vniuersal Land- (lord.
    Cleo. What's your name?
    Thid. My name is Thidias.
    2240Cleo. Most kinde Messenger,
    Say to great Caesar this in disputation,
    I kisse his conqu'ring hand: Tell him, I am prompt
    To lay my Crowne at's feete, and there to kneele.
    Tell him, from his all-obeying breath, I heare
    2245The doome of Egypt.
    Thid. 'Tis your Noblest course:
    Wisedome and Fortune combatting together,
    If that the former dare but what it can,
    No chance may shake it. Giue me grace to lay
    2250My dutie on your hand.
    Cleo. Your Caesars Father oft,
    (When he hath mus'd of taking kingdomes in)
    Bestow'd his lips on that vnworthy place,
    As it rain'd kisses.
    2255Enter Anthony and Enobarbus.
    Ant. Fauours? By Ioue that thunders. What art thou (Fellow?
    Thid. One that but performes
    The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
    To haue command obey'd.
    2260Eno. You will be whipt.
    Ant. Approch there: ah you Kite. Now Gods & diuels
    Authority melts from me of late. When I cried hoa,
    Like Boyes vnto a musse, Kings would start forth,
    And cry, your will. Haue you no eares?
    2265I am Anthony yet. Take hence this Iack, and whip him.
    Enter a Seruant.
    Eno. 'Tis better playing with a Lions whelpe,
    Then with an old one dying.
    Ant. Moone and Starres,
    2270Whip him: wer't twenty of the greatest Tributaries
    That do acknowledge Caesar, should I finde them
    So sawcy with the hand of she heere, what's her name
    Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him Fellowes,
    Till like a Boy you see him crindge his face,
    2275And whine aloud for mercy. Take him hence.
    Thid. Marke Anthony.
    Ant. Tugge him away: being whipt
    Bring him againe, the Iacke of Caesars shall
    Beare vs an arrant to him. Exeunt with Thidius.
    2280You were halfe blasted ere I knew you: Ha?
    Haue I my pillow left vnprest in Rome,
    Forborne the getting of a lawfull Race,
    And by a Iem of women, to be abus'd
    By one that lookes on Feeders?
    2285Cleo. Good my Lord.
    Ant. You haue beene a boggeler euer,
    But when we in our viciousnesse grow hard
    (Oh misery on't) the wise Gods seele our eyes
    In our owne filth, drop our cleare iudgements, make vs
    2290Adore our errors, laugh at's while we strut
    To our confusion.
    Cleo. Oh, is't come to this?
    Ant. I found you as a Morsell, cold vpon
    Dead Caesars Trencher: Nay, you were a Fragment
    2295Of Gneius Pompeyes, besides what hotter houres
    Vnregistred in vulgar Fame, you haue
    Luxuriously pickt out. For I am sure,
    Though you can guesse what Temperance should be,
    You know not what it is.
    2300Cleo. Wherefore is this?
    Ant. To let a Fellow that will take rewards,
    And say, God quit you, be familiar with
    My play-fellow, your hand; this Kingly Seale,
    And plighter of high hearts. O that I were
    2305Vpon the hill of Basan, to out-roare
    The horned Heard, for I haue sauage cause,
    And to proclaime it ciuilly, were like
    y 3 A
    358The Tragedie of
    A halter'd necke, which do's the Hangman thanke,
    For being yare about him. Is he whipt?
    2310Enter a Seruant with Thidias.
    Ser. Soundly, my Lord.
    Ant. Cried he? and begg'd a Pardon?
    Ser. He did aske fauour.
    Ant. If that thy Father liue, let him repent
    2315Thou was't not made his daughter, and be thou sorrie
    To follow Caesar in his Triumph, since
    Thou hast bin whipt. For following him, henceforth
    The white hand of a Lady Feauer thee,
    Shake thou to looke on't. Get thee backe to Caesar,
    2320Tell him thy entertainment: looke thou say
    He makes me angry with him. For he seemes
    Proud and disdainfull, harping on what I am,
    Not what he knew I was. He makes me angry,
    And at this time most easie 'tis to doo't:
    2325When my good Starres, that were my former guides
    Haue empty left their Orbes, and shot their Fires
    Into th'Abisme of hell. If he mislike,
    My speech, and what is done, tell him he has
    Hiparchus, my enfranched Bondman, whom
    2330He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
    As he shall like to quit me. Vrge it thou:
    Hence with thy stripes, be gone. Exit Thid.
    Cleo. Haue you done yet?
    Ant. Alacke our Terrene Moone is now Eclipst,
    2335And it portends alone the fall of Anthony.
    Cleo. I must stay his time?
    Ant. To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes
    With one that tyes his points.
    Cleo. Not know me yet?
    2340Ant. Cold-hearted toward me?
    Cleo. Ah (Deere) if I be so,
    From my cold heart let Heauen ingender haile,
    And poyson it in the sourse, and the first stone
    Drop in my necke: as it determines so
    2345Dissolue my life, the next Caesarian smile,
    Till by degrees the memory of my wombe,
    Together with my braue Egyptians all,
    By the discandering of this pelleted storme,
    Lye grauelesse, till the Flies and Gnats of Nyle
    2350Haue buried them for prey.
    Ant. I am satisfied:
    Caesar sets downe in Alexandria, where
    I will oppose his Fate. Our force by Land,
    Hath Nobly held, our seuer'd Nauie too
    2355Haue knit againe, and Fleete, threatning most Sea-like.
    Where hast thou bin my heart? Dost thou heare Lady?
    If from the Field I shall returne once more
    To kisse these Lips, I will appeare in Blood,
    I, and my Sword, will earne our Chronicle,
    2360There's hope in't yet.
    Cleo. That's my braue Lord.
    Ant. I will be trebble-sinewed, hearted, breath'd,
    And fight maliciously: for when mine houres
    Were nice and lucky, men did ransome liues
    2365Of me for iests: But now, Ile set my teeth,
    And send to darkenesse all that stop me. Come,
    Let's haue one other gawdy night: Call to me
    All my sad Captaines, fill our Bowles once more:
    Let's mocke the midnight Bell.
    2370Cleo. It is my Birth-day,
    I had thought t'haue held it poore. But since my Lord
    Is Anthony againe, I will be Cleopatra.
    Ant. We will yet do well.
    Cleo. Call all his Noble Captaines to my Lord.
    2375Ant. Do so, wee'l speake to them,
    And to night Ile force
    The Wine peepe through their scarres.
    Come on (my Queene)
    There's sap in't yet. The next time I do fight
    2380Ile make death loue me: for I will contend
    Euen with his pestilent Sythe. Exeunt.
    Eno. Now hee'l out-stare the Lightning, to be furious
    Is to be frighted out of feare, and in that moode
    The Doue will pecke the Estridge; and I see still
    2385A diminution in our Captaines braine,
    Restores his heart; when valour prayes in reason,
    It eates the Sword it fights with: I will seeke
    Some way to leaue him. Exeunt.
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