Mac. Cæsar must think, When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now Make boot' of his distraction. Never anger Made good guard for itself.

Cæs. Let our best heads Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles We mean to fight:-Within our files there are Of those that serv'd Mark Antony but late, Enough to fetch him in. See it be done; And feast the army: we have store to do't, And they have earn'd the waste. Poor Antony!

[Exeunt.

You take me in too dolorous a sense:

I spake to you for your comfort: did desire you
To burn this night with torches: Know, my hearts,
I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead you,
Where rather I'll expect victorious life,
Than death and honour. Let's to supper; come,
And drown consideration.
[Exeunt.
SCENE III.-The same. Before the palace.
Enter two Soldiers, to their guard.

1 Sold. Brother, good night: to-morrow is the
day.
2 Sold. It will determine one way: fare you weh.

1 Sold. Nothing: What news?

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius.

Eno.

Ant. Why should he not?

Belike, 'tis but a rumour:

2 Sold.

Good night to you.

1 Sold.

Well, sir, good night.

No.

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune,

He is twenty men to one.

Ant.

To-morrow, soldier,

By sea and land I'll fight: or I will live,
Or bathe my dying honour in the blood
Shall make it live again. Woo't thou fight well?
Eno. I'll strike; and cry, Take all.
Ant.
Well said; come on.-
Call forth my household servants; let's to-night

Enter Servants.

Be bounteous at our meal.-Give me thy hand, Thou hast been rightly honest ;-so hast thou ;And thou, and thou,-and thou: you have serv'd me well,

And kings have been your fellows.

What means this?

Does't not?

Cleo. Eno. "Tis one of those odd tricks, which sorrow shoots

Out of the mind.

Ant.

I wish, I could be made so many men;
And all of you clapp'd up together in

An Antony; that I might do you service.
So good as you have done.

Serv.

The gods forbid !

May be, it is the period of your duty:
Haply, you shall not see me more; or if,
A mangled shadow: perchance, to-morrow
You'll serve another master. I look on you,
As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends,
I turn you not away; but, like a master
Married to your good service, stay till death:
Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more,
And the gods yield3 you for't!

Eno.
What mean you, sir,
To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep;
And I, an ass, am onion-ey'd; for shame,
Transform us not to women.

2 Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, whom Antony

lov'd,

2 Sold. Sold.

[They advance to another post. How now, masters?

How now? do you hear this?

How now?

[Several speaking together. 1 Sold: Ay; Is't not strange? 3 Sold. Do you hear, masters? do you hear?" 1 Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter; Let's see how't will give off.

Sold. [Several speaking.] Content: 'Tis strange. [Exeunt.

SCENE IV.-The same. A room in the palace. Enter Antony, and Cleopatra; Charmian, and others, attending.

Ant. Eros! mine armour, Eros!
Cleo.

Sleep a little. Ant. No, my chuck.-Eros, come; mine armour, Eros!

Enter Eros, with armour.
Come, my good fellow, put thine iron on:-
If fortune be not ours to-day, it is
Because we brave her.-Come.

Well, well; We shall thrive now.-See'st thou, my good fellow? Go, put on thy defences. Eros.

Briefly,' sir.

A workman in't.-Good morrow to thee; welcome
Thou look'st like him that knows a warlike charge:
To business that we love, we rise betime,
And go to it with delight.
1 Offi.
Early though it be, have on their riveted trim,*
And at the port expect you.

A thousand, sir,

[Shout. Trumpets. Flourish. Enter other Officers, and Soldiers. 2 Off. The morn is fair.-Good morrow, general. All. Good morrow, general. Ant. "Tis well blown, lads. This morning, like the spirit of a youth That means to be of note, begins betimes.So, so; come, give me that: this way; well said. Fare thee well, dame, whate'er becomes of me: This is a soldier's kiss: rebukable, [Kisses her. And worthy shameful check it were, to stand On more mechanic compliment; I'll leave thee Now, like a man of steel.-You, that will fight, Follow me close; I'll bring you to't.-Adieu.

[Exeunt Antony, Eros, Officers, and Sold. Char. Please you, retire to your chamber? Cleo. Lead me: He goes forth gallantly. That he and Cæsar might Determine this great war in single fight! Then, Antony,-But now,-Well, on. [Exeunt.

SCENE V.-Antony's camp near Alexandria. Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros; Soldier meeting them.

:

a

SCENE VI.-Cæsar's camp before Alexandria. Flourish. Enter Cæsar with Agrippa, Enobarbus, and others.

Our will is, Antony be took alive;
Cas. Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight:

Make it so known.

Agr. Cæsar, I shall.

[Exit Agrippa. Caes. The time of universal peace is near: Prove this a prosperous day, the three-nook'd world Shall bear the olive freely. Enter a Messenger.

Mess.

Is come into the field.

Antony

Cæs.
Go, charge Agrippa
Plant those that have revolted in the van,
That Antony may seem to spend his fury
Upon himself.

[Exeunt Cæsar and his train.
Eno. Alexas did revolt; and went to Jewry,
On affairs of Antony; there did persuade
Great Herod to incline himself to Cæsar,
And leave his master Antony: for this pains,
Cæsar hath hang'd him. Canidius, and the rest
That fell away, have entertainment, but
No honourable trust. I have done ill;
Of which I do accuse myself so sorely,
That I will joy no more.

Sold.

Enter a Soldier of Cæsar's.
Enobarbus, Antony
Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
His bounty overplus: The messenger
Came on my guard; and at thy tent is now,
Unloading of his mules.
Eno. I give it you.
Sold.

Mock me not, Enobarbus.
I tell you true: Best that you saf'd the bringer
Out of the host; I must attend mine office,
Or would have done't myself. Your emperor
Continues still a Jove.
[Exit Soldier.
Eno. I am alone the villain of the earth,
And feel I am so most. O Antony,
Thou mine of bounty, how would'st thou have paid
My better service, when my turpitude
Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows my

heart:

Alarum. Enter Antony and Scarus, wounded.
Scar. O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!
Had we done so at first, we had driven them home
With clouts about their heads.
Ant.
Thou bleed'st apace.
Scar. I had a wound here that was like a T,
But now 'tis made an H.

Ant.
They do retire.
Scar. We'll beat 'em into bench-holes; I have yet

(4) Riveted dress, armour. (5) Swells.

Room for six scotches' more.

Enter Eros.

serves

Ant. We have beat him to his camp; Run one before,

And let the queen know of our guests.-To-morrow,
Before the sun shall see us, we'll spill the blood
That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all;
For doughty-handed are you; and have fought
Not as you serv'd the cause, but as it had been
Each man's like mine; you have shown all Hectors.
Enter the city, clip3 your wives, your friends,
Tell them your feats; whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment from your wounds, and kiss
The honour'd gashes whole.-Give me thy hand;
[To Scarus.

Enter Cleopatra, attended.

To this great fairy4 I'll commend thy acts, Make her thanks bless thee.-0 thou day o'the world,

Chain mine arm'd neck; leap thou, attire and all, Through proof of harness to my heart, and there Ride on the pants triumphing.

Cleo.

Lord of lords!

Do something mingle with our brown; yet have we
A brain that nourishes our nerves, and can
Get goal for goal of youth. Behold this man;
Commend unto his lips thy favouring hand ;-
Kiss it, my warrior: -He hath fought to-day,
As if a god, in hate of mankind, had
Destroy'd in such a shape.

Cleo.

I'll give thee, friend, An armour all of gold; it was a king's.

Ant. He has deserv'd it, were it carbuncled
Like holy Phoebus' car.-Give me thy hand;
Through Alexandria make a jolly march;
Bear our hack'd targets like the men that owe them:
Had our great palace the capacity

To camp this host, we all would sup together;
And drink carouses to the next day's fate,
Which promises royal peril.-Trumpeters,
With brazen din blast you the city's ear;
Make mingle with our rattling tabourines ;"
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds to-
gether,

Applauding our approach.

(1) Cuts. (2) Brave.

[Exeunt. (3) Embrace.

(5) Armour of proof.

them.

2 Sold.

Eno.

This last day was

O, bear me witness, night,—

Enobarbus!

Peace;

Ant. I would they'd fight i'the fire, or in the air; We'd fight there too. But this it is; Our foot Upon the hills adjoining to the city, Shall stay with us: order for sea is given ; They have put forth the haven: Further on, Where their appointment we may best discover, And look on their endeavour."1 [Exeunt.

Enter Cæsar, and his forces, marching. Cæs. But being charg'd, we will be still by land, Which, as I tak't, we shall; for his best force Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales, And hold our best advantage.

I will o'ertake thee, Cleopatra, and
Weep for my pardon. So it must be, for now
At length is torture:-Since the torch is out,
Lie down, and stray no further: Now all labour
Mars what it does; yea, very force entangles
Itself with strength: Seal then, and all is done.-
Eros!-I come, my queen :-Eros!-Stay for me:
Where souls do couch on flowers, we'll hand in
hand,

And with our sprightly port make the ghosts gaze:
Dido and her Æneas shall want troops,
And all the haunt be ours.-Come, Eros, Eros!
Re-enter Eros.

Eros. What would my lord?
Ant.
Since Cleopatra died,
I have liv'd in such dishonour, that the gods
Detest my baseness. I, that with my sword
Quarter'd the world, and o'er green Neptune's back
With ships made cities, condemn myself, to lack
The courage of a woman; less noble mind
Than she, which, by her death, our Cæsar tells,
I am conqueror of myself. Thou art sworn, Eros,
That, when the exigent should come (which now
Is come, indeed,) when I should see behind me
The inevitable prosecution of

Disgrace and horror, that on my command,
Thou then would'st kill me: do't; the time is come:
Thou strik'st not me, 'tis Cæsar thou defeat'st.
Put colour in thy cheek.

Eros.

The gods withhold me!

Eros,

Shall I do that, which all the Parthian darts,
Though enemy, lost aim, and could not?
Ant.

Would'st thou be window'd in great Rome, and see
Thy master thus with pleach'd arms, bending down
His corrigible neck, his face subdued

To penetrative' shame; whilst the wheel'd seat
Of fortunate Cæsar, drawn before him, branded
His baseness that ensued ?

Eros.
I would not see't.
Ant. Come then; for with a wound I must be
cur'd.

Draw that thy honest sword, which thou hast worn.
Most useful for thy country.
Eros.

O, sir, pardon me. Ant. When I did make thee free, swor'st thou

not then

Eros. Farewell, great chief. Shall I strike now?
Ant.
Now, Eros.
Eros. Why, there then :-[Falls on his sword.
Thus do I escape the sorrow

Of Antony's death.

Ant.

[Dies.

Thrice nobler than myself! Thou teachest me, O valiant Eros, what

I should, and thou could'st not. My queen and Eros
Have, by their brave instruction, got upon me
A nobleness in record: But I will be

A bridegroom in my death, and run into't
As to a lover's bed. Come then; and, Eros
Thy master dies thy scholar; to do thus
[Falling on his sword.
I learn'd of thee. How! not yet dead? not dead ?—
The guard ?-ho!-0, despatch me.

Enter Dercetas and Guard.

phesying fear

Of what hath come to pass: for when she saw
(Which never shall be found,) you did suspect
She had dispos'd with Cæsar, and that your rage
Would not be purg'd, she sent you word she was
dead;

But, fearing since how it might work, hath sent
Me to proclaim the truth; and I am come,
I dread, too late.

Ant. Too late, good Diomed:-Call my guard,
I pr'ythee.

Dio. What, ho! the emperor's guard! The guard, what, ho!

Come, your lord calls.

Enter some of the Guard.

Ant. Bear me, good friends, where Cleopatra

bides;

wear

(3) Folded. (4) Corrected. (6) Followed. (7) Dignity.