A workman24 in’t.—
Enter an armed Soldier
Good morrow to thee! Welcome!
Thou look’st like him25 that knows a warlike charge:
To business that we love we rise betime26
And go to’t with delight.
SOLDIER A thousand, sir,
Early though’t be, have on their riveted trim29
And at the port30 expect you.
Shout. Trumpets flourish
Enter Captains and Soldiers
CAPTAIN The morn is fair. Good morrow, general.
ALL Good morrow, general.
ANTONY ’Tis well blown33, lads.
This morning, like the spirit of a youth
That means to be of note35, begins betimes.—
So, so. Come, give me that. This way, well said.
To Cleopatra
Fare thee well, dame37. Whate’er becomes of me,
This is a soldier’s kiss: rebukable
Kisses her
And worthy shameful check39 it were, to stand
On more mechanic compliment40. I’ll leave thee
Now, like a man of steel.—You that will41 fight,
Follow me close. I’ll bring you to’t.—Adieu.
Exeunt. [Cleopatra and Charmian remain]
CHARMIAN Please you retire to your
chamber?
CLEOPATRA Lead me.
He goes forth gallantly. That45 he and Caesar might
Determine46 this great war in single fight!
Then Antony — but now … Well, on.
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 5]
running scene 23
Location: Antony’s camp outside Alexandria
* * *
Trumpets sound. Enter Antony and Eros
A Soldier meets them
SOLDIER The gods make this a happy1 day to Antony!
ANTONY Would2 thou and those thy scars had once prevailed
To make me fight at land!
SOLDIER Hadst thou done so,
The kings that have revolted5 and the soldier
That has this morning left thee would have still
Followed thy heels.
ANTONY Who’s gone this morning?
SOLDIER Who?
One ever near thee: call for Enobarbus,
He shall not hear thee, or from Caesar’s camp
Say ‘I am none of thine.’
ANTONY What say’st thou?
SOLDIER Sir,
He is with Caesar.
EROS Sir, his chests and treasure
He has not with him.
ANTONY Is he gone?
SOLDIER Most certain.
ANTONY Go, Eros, send his treasure after: do it:
Detain no jot, I charge21 thee. Write to him —
I will subscribe22 — gentle adieus and greetings;
Say that I wish he never find more cause
To change a master. O, my fortunes have
Corrupted honest men! Dispatch25.—Enobarbus!
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 6]
running scene 24
Location: Caesar’s camp outside Alexandria
* * *
Flourish. Enter Agrippa, Caesar, with Enobarbus and Dolabella
CAESAR Go forth, Agrippa, and begin the fight.
Our will is Antony be took2 alive:
Make it so known.
AGRIPPA Caesar, I shall.
[Exit]
CAESAR The time of universal peace5 is near:
Prove this a prosp’rous day, the three-nooked6 world
Shall bear the olive7 freely.
Enter a Messenger
MESSENGER Antony is come into the field.
CAESAR Go charge Agrippa
Plant those that have revolted in the van10
That Antony may seem to spend his fury
Upon himself.
Exeunt. [Enobarbus remains]
ENOBARBUS Alexas did revolt, and went to Jewry13 on
Affairs of Antony, there did dissuade14
Great Herod15 to incline himself to Caesar
And leave his master Antony. For this pains
Caesar hath hanged him. Canidius and the rest
That fell away18 have entertainment but
No honourable trust. I have done ill,
Of which I do accuse myself so sorely,
That I will joy no more.
Enter a Soldier of Caesar’s
SOLDIER Enobarbus, Antony
Hath after thee sent all thy treasure, with
His bounty overplus24. The messenger
Came on my guard25, and at thy tent is now
Unloading of his mules.
ENOBARBUS I give it you.
SOLDIER Mock not, Enobarbus.
I tell you true: best you safed29 the bringer
Out of the host30. I must attend mine office
Or would have done’t myself. Your emperor
Continues still a Jove.
Exit
ENOBARBUS I am alone33 the villain of the earth,
And feel I am so most34. O Antony,
Thou mine of bounty, how wouldst thou have paid
My better service, when my turpitude36
Thou dost so crown with gold! This blows37 my heart.
If swift thought38 break it not, a swifter mean
Shall outstrike39 thought, but thought will do’t, I feel.
I fight against thee? No, I will go seek
Some ditch wherein to die: the foul’st41 best fits
My latter part of life.
Exit
[Act 4 Scene 7]
running scene 25
Location: the battlefield outside Alexandria
* * *
Alarum. Drums and trumpets. Enter Agrippa [and others]
AGRIPPA Retire1, we have engaged ourselves too far:
Caesar himself has work2, and our oppression
Exceeds what we expected.
Exit
Alarums. Enter Antony, and Scarrus wounded
SCARRUS O my brave emperor, this is fought indeed!
Had we done so at first, we had droven5 them home
With clouts6 about their heads.
Far off A retreat sounds
ANTONY Thou bleed’st apace.
SCARRUS I had a wound here that was like a T,
But now ’tis made an H9.
ANTONY They do retire.
SCARRUS We’ll beat ’em into bench-holes11. I have yet
Room for six scotches12 more.
Enter Eros
EROS They are beaten, sir, and our advantage serves13
For a fair victory.
SCARRUS Let us score15 their backs
And snatch ’em up, as we take hares behind16!
’Tis sport to maul a runner17.
ANTONY I will reward thee
Once for thy sprightly comfort19, and tenfold
For thy good valour. Come thee on.
SCARRUS I’ll halt21 after.
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 8]
running scene 25 continues
* * *
Alarum. Enter Antony again, in a march, Scarrus with others
ANTONY We have beat him to his camp: run one before
And let the queen know of our gests2. Tomorrow,
[Exit a Soldier]
Before the sun shall see’s, we’ll spill the blood
That has today escaped. I thank you all,
For doughty-handed5 are you, and have fought
Not as you served the cause6, but as’t had been
Each man’s like mine: you have shown all Hectors7.
Enter the city, clip8 your wives, your friends,
Tell them your feats, whilst they with joyful tears
Wash the congealment10 from your wounds, and kiss
The honoured gashes whole11.—
Enter Cleopatra
Give me thy hand.
To Scarrus
To this great fairy12
I’ll commend thy acts,
Make her thanks bless thee.—
O thou day13 o’th’world,
To Cleopatra
Chain mine armed neck14, leap thou, attire and all,
Through proof of harness15 to my heart, and there
Ride on the pants triumphing16!
They embrace
CLEOPATRA Lord of lords!
O infinite virtue18, com’st thou smiling from
The world’s great snare uncaught?
She offers Scarrus her hand
ANTONY My nightingale,
We have beat them to their beds. What, girl! Though grey
Do something22 mingle with our younger brown, yet ha’ we
A brain that nourishes our nerves23 and can
Get goal for goal of youth24. Behold this man:
Commend25 unto his lips thy favouring hand.
Kiss it, my warrior: he hath fought today
As if a god in hate of mankind had
Destroyed in such a shape28.
CLEOPATRA I’ll give thee, friend,
An armour all of gold: it was a king’s.
ANTONY He has deserved it, were it carbuncled31
Like holy Phoebus’ car32. Give me thy hand:
Through Alexandria make a jolly march,
Bear our hacked targets34 like the men that owe them.
Had our great palace the capacity
To camp36 sup this host, we all would sup together
And drink carouses37 to the next day’s fate
Which promises royal peril38. Trumpeters,
With brazen39 din blast you the city’s ear,
Make mingle40 with rattling taborins,
That heaven and earth may strike their sounds together41,
Applauding our approach.
Exeunt Trumpets sound
[Act 4 Scene 9]
running scene 26
Location: Caesar’s camp outside Alexandria
* * *
Enter a Sentry and his Company, Enobarbus follows
SENTRY If we be not relieved within this hour,
We must return to th’court of guard2: the night
Is shiny3 and they say we shall embattle
By th’second hour i’th’morn.
FIRST WATCH This last day was a shrewd5 one to’s.
ENOBARBUS O, bear me witness, night—
SECOND WATCH What man is this?
FIRST WATCH Stand close8, and list him.
They stand aside
ENOBARBUS Be witness to me — O thou blessèd moon —
When men revolted shall upon record
Bear hateful memory10, poor Enobarbus did
Before thy face repent!
SENTRY Enobarbus?
SECOND WATCH Peace! Hark further.
ENOBARBUS O sovereign mistress of true melancholy15,
The poisonous damp of night16 disponge upon me,
That life, a very rebel to my will17,
May hang no longer on me. Throw my heart
Against the flint19 and hardness of my fault,
Which, being dried with grief20, will break to powder
And finish all foul thoughts. O Antony,
Nobler than my revolt is infamous,
Forgive me in thine own particular23,
But let the world rank me in register24
A master-leaver and a fugitive25.
O Antony! O Antony!
He sinks down and dies
FIRST WATCH Let’s speak to him.
SENTRY Let’s hear him, for the things he speaks
May concern Caesar.
SECOND WATCH Let’s do so. But he sleeps.
SENTRY Swoons31 rather, for so bad a prayer as his
Was never yet for sleep.
FIRST WATCH Go we to him.
SECOND WATCH Awake, sir, awake! Speak to us!
FIRST WATCH Hear you, sir?
SENTRY The hand of death hath raught36 him.
Drums afar off
Hark! The drums demurely37 wake the sleepers.
Let us bear him to th’court of guard:
He is of note39: our hour is fully out.
SECOND WATCH Come on, then,
He may recover yet.
Exeunt [with the body]
[Act 4 Scene 10]
running scene 27
Location: the battlefield outside Alexandria
* * *
Enter Antony and Scarrus with their Army
ANTONY Their preparation is today by sea,
We please them not by land.
SCARRUS For both3, my lord.
ANTONY I would they’d fight i’th’fire or i’th’air4,
We’d fight there too. But this it is: our foot5
Upon the hills adjoining to the city
Shall stay with us. Order for sea is given:
They have put forth the haven8,
Where their appointment9 we may best discover,
And look on their endeavour.
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 11]
running scene 27 continues
Enter Caesar and his Army
CAESAR But being charged1 we will be still by land,
Which, as I take’t, we shall2, for his best force
Is forth to man his galleys. To the vales3,
And hold our best advantage4.
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 12]
running scene 27 continues
Alarum afar off, as at a sea-fight. Enter Antony and Scarrus
ANTONY Yet they are not joined1: where yond pine does stand,
I shall discover all. I’ll bring thee word
Straight, how ’tis like to go.
Exit
SCARRUS Swallows have built
In Cleopatra’s sails their nests. The augurers5
Say they know not, they cannot tell, look grimly,
And dare not speak their knowledge. Antony
Is valiant and dejected, and by starts8
His fretted9 fortunes give him hope and fear
Of what he has and has not.
Enter Antony
ANTONY All is lost:
This foul Egyptian hath betrayèd me:
My fleet hath yielded to the foe, and yonder
They cast their caps up, and carouse together
Like friends long lost. Triple-turned whore!15 ’Tis thou
Hast sold me to this novice, and my heart
Makes only wars on thee. Bid them all fly:
For when I am revenged upon my charm18,
I have done all. Bid them all fly. Be gone!
[Exit Scarrus]
O sun, thy uprise20 shall I see no more.
Fortune and Antony part here, even here
Do we shake hands. All come to this? The hearts
That spanieled23 me at heels, to whom I gave
Their wishes, do discandy24, melt their sweets
On blossoming Caesar, and this pine25 is barked
That overtopped them all. Betrayed I am.
O this false soul of Egypt! This grave27 charm
Whose eye becked28 forth my wars and called them home,
Whose bosom was my crownet, my chief end29,
Like a right gipsy30 hath at fast and loose
Beguiled31 me to the very heart of loss.
What, Eros, Eros!—
Enter Cleopatra
Ah, thou spell32! Avaunt!
CLEOPATRA Why is my lord enraged against his love?
ANTONY Vanish or I shall give thee thy deserving
And blemish Caesar’s triumph35. Let him take thee
And hoist thee up to the shouting plebeians36.
Follow his chariot like the greatest spot37
Of all thy sex. Most monster-like, be shown38
For39 poor’st diminutives, for dolts, and let
Patient40 Octavia plough thy visage up
With her preparèd41 nails!
Exit Cleopatra
’Tis well thou’rt gone
&
nbsp; If it be well to live. But better ’twere
Thou fell’st into43 my fury, for one death
Might have prevented many. Eros, ho!
The shirt of Nessus45 is upon me. Teach me,
Alcides46, thou mine ancestor, thy rage:
Let me lodge Lichas47 on the horns o’th’moon,
And with those hands that grasped the heaviest club48
Subdue my worthiest49 self. The witch shall die.
To the young Roman boy she hath sold me, and I fall
Under this plot. She dies for’t. Eros, ho!
Exit
[Act 4 Scene 13]
running scene 27 continues
Location: Alexandria
* * *
Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, Mardian
CLEOPATRA Help me, my women! O, he’s more mad
Than Telamon for his shield2: the boar of Thessaly
Was never so embossed3.
CHARMIAN To th’monument4!
There lock yourself and send him word you are dead:
The soul and body rive6 not more in parting
Than greatness going off7.
CLEOPATRA To th’monument!
Mardian, go tell him I have slain myself:
Say that the last I spoke was ‘Antony’,
And word it — prithee — piteously. Hence, Mardian,
And bring me how he takes my death. To th’monument!
Exeunt
[Act 4 Scene 14]
running scene 27 continues
* * *
Enter Antony and Eros
ANTONY Eros, thou yet behold’st me1?
EROS Ay, noble lord.
ANTONY Sometimes we see a cloud that’s dragonish3,
A vapour sometime like a bear or lion,
A towered citadel, a pendent5 rock,
A forkèd mountain, or blue promontory6
With trees upon’t that nod unto the world
And mock8 our eyes with air. Thou hast seen these signs:
They are black vesper’s9 pageants.
EROS Ay, my lord.
ANTONY That which is now a horse, even with a thought11
The rack12 dislimns and makes it indistinct
As water is in water.
EROS It does, my lord.
ANTONY My good knave15 Eros, now thy captain is
Antony and Cleopatra Page 11