Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed

Anthony and Cleopatra (Folio 1, 1623)

2575Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar, with Enobarbus,
and Dollabella.
Caes. Go forth Agrippa, and begin the fight:
Our will is Anthony be tooke aliue:
Make it so knowne.
2580Agrip. Caesar, I shall.
Caesar. The time of vniuersall peace is neere:
Proue this a prosp'rous day, the three nook'd world
Shall beare the Oliue freely.
Enter a Messenger.
2585Mes. Anthony is come into the Field.
Caes. Go charge Agrippa,
Plant those that haue reuolted in the Vant,
That Anthony may seeme to spend his Fury
Vpon himselfe. Exeunt.
2590Enob. Alexas did reuolt, and went to Iewrij on
Affaires of Anthony, there did disswade
Great Herod to incline himselfe to Caesar,
And leaue his Master Anthony. For this paines,
Caesar hath hang'd him: Camindius and the rest
2595That fell away, haue entertainment, but
No honourable trust: I haue done ill,
Of which I do accuse my selfe so forely,
That I will ioy no more.
Enter a Soldier of Caesars.
2600Sol. Enobarbus, Anthony
Hath after thee sent all thy Treasure, with
His Bounty ouer-plus. The Messenger
Came on my guard, and at thy Tent is now
Vnloading of his Mules.
2605Eno. I giue it you.
Sol. Mocke not Enobarbus,
I tell you true: Best you saf't the bringer
Out of the hoast, I must attend mine Office,
Or would haue done't my selfe. Your Emperor
2610Continues still a Ioue. Exit
Enob. I am alone the Villaine of the earth,
And feele I am so most. Oh Anthony,
Thou Mine of Bounty, how would'st thou haue payed
My better seruice, when my turpitude
2615Thou dost so Crowne with Gold. This blowes my hart,
If swift thought breake it not: a swifter meane
Shall out-strike thought, but thought will doo't. I feele
I fight against thee: No I will go seeke
Some Ditch, wherein to dye: the foul'st best fits
2620My latter part of life. Exit.