Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Editor: Randall Martin
Not Peer Reviewed

Anthony and Cleopatra (Modern)

[3.7]
Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus.
Cleopatra
I will be even with thee, doubt it not.
1860Enobarbus
But why, why, why?
Cleopatra
Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,
And say'st it is not fit.
Enobarbus
Well, is it, is it?
Cleopatra
If not denounced against us, why should not 1865we
Be there in person?
Enobarbus
[Aside] Well, I could reply:
If we should serve with horse and mares together,
The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear
A soldier and his horse.
Cleopatra
What is't you say?
1870Enobarbus
Your presence needs must puzzle Antony,
Take from his heart, take from his brain, from's time,
What should not then be spared. He is already
Traduced for levity, and 'tis said in Rome
That Photinus, an eunuch, and your maids
1875Manage this war.
Cleopatra
Sink Rome, and their tongues rot
That speak against us! A charge we bear i'th'war,
And as the president of my kingdom will
Appear there for a man. Speak not against it,
1880I will not stay behind.
Enobarbus
Nay, I have done.
Enter Antony and Camidius.
Here comes the emperor.
Antony
Is it not strange, Camidius,
That from Tarentum and Brundusium,
1885He could so quickly cut the Ionian Sea
And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, sweet?
Cleopatra
Celerity is never more admired
Than by the negligent.
Antony
A good rebuke,
1890Which might have well becomed the best of men,
To taunt at slackness. Camidius, we
Will fight with him by sea.
Cleopatra
By sea, what else?
Camidius
Why will my lord do so?
1895Antony
For that he dares us to't.
Enobarbus
So hath my lord dared him to single fight.
Camidius
Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia,
Where Caesar fought with Pompey. But these offers,
Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off,
1900And so should you.
Enobarbus
Your ships are not well manned.
Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people
Engrossed by swift impress. In Caesar's fleet
Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought;
1905Their ships are yare, yours heavy. No disgrace
Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,
Being prepared for land.
Antony
By sea, by sea!
Enobarbus
Most worthy sir, you therein throw away
1910The absolute soldiership you have by land,
Distract your army (which doth most consist
Of war-marked footmen), leave unexecuted
Your own renowned knowledge, quite forgo
The way which promises assurance, and
1915Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard
From firm security.
Antony
I'll fight at sea.
Cleopatra
I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.
Antony
Our over-plus of shipping will we burn,
1920And with the rest full-manned, from th'head of Actium
Beat th'approaching Caesar. But if we fail,
We then can do't at land.
Enter a Messenger.
Thy business?
Messenger
The news is true, my lord, he is descried.
1925Caesar has taken Toryne.
Antony
Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible;
Strange that his power should be. Camidius,
Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,
And our twelve thousand horse. We'll to our ship.
1930Away, my Thetis.
Enter [Scarrus] a Soldier.
How now, worthy soldier?
Scarrus
Oh, noble emperor, do not fight by sea.
Trust not to rotten planks. Do you misdoubt
1935This sword and these my wounds? Let th'Egyptians
And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we
Have used to conquer standing on the earth
And fighting foot to foot.
Antony
Well, well, away.
Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.
1940Scarrus
By Hercules, I think I am i'th'right.
Camidius
Soldier, thou art; but his whole action grows
Not in the power on't. So our leader's led,
And we are women's men.
Scarrus
You keep by land
The legions and the horse 1945whole, do you not?
Camidius
Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,
Publicola, and Caelius are for sea;
But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's
Carries beyond belief.
1950Scarrus
While he was yet in Rome,
His power went out in such distractions
As beguiled all spies.
Camidius
Who's his lieutenant, hear you?
Scarrus
They say one Taurus.
1955Camidius
Well I know the man.
Enter a Messenger.
Messenger
The emperor calls Camidius.
Camidius
With news the time's in labor,
And throws forth each minute some.
Exeunt.