ANTONY Set we our squadrons on yond1 side o'th'hill
In eye2 of Caesar's battle, from which place
We may the number of the ships behold
And so proceed accordingly.
Exeunt
[Act 3 Scene 10]
running scene 15 continues
* * *
Canidius marcheth with his land army one way over the stage, and Taurus, the lieutenant of Caesar, the other way. After their going in, is heard the noise of a sea-fight. Alarum
Enter Enobarbus
ENOBARBUS Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no
longer:
Th'Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral2,
With all their sixty3, fly and turn the rudder:
To see't mine eyes are blasted4.
Enter Scarrus
SCARRUS Gods and goddesses,
All the whole synod of them!
ENOBARBUS What's thy passion7?
SCARRUS The greater cantle8 of the world is lost
With very ignorance9. We have kissed away
Kingdoms and provinces.
ENOBARBUS How appears the fight?
SCARRUS On our side, like the tokened pestilence12
Where death is sure. Yon13 ribaudred nag of Egypt --
Whom leprosy o'ertake14! -- i'th'midst o'th'fight
When vantage15 like a pair of twins appeared
Both as the same16, or rather ours the elder,
The breeze17 upon her, like a cow in June,
Hoists sails and flies18.
ENOBARBUS That I beheld:
Mine eyes did sicken at the sight and could not
Endure a further view.
SCARRUS She once being loofed22,
The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,
Claps on his sea-wing24 and, like a doting mallard,
Leaving the fight in25 height, flies after her.
I never saw an action26 of such shame:
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
Did violate so itself.
ENOBARBUS Alack, alack!
Enter Canidius
CANIDIUS Our fortune on the sea is out of breath
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
Been what he knew himself32, it had gone well.
O, he has given example for our flight
Most grossly34 by his own!
ENOBARBUS Ay, are you thereabouts35? Why, then, goodnight
indeed.
CANIDIUS Toward Peloponnesus36 are they fled.
SCARRUS 'Tis easy to't37, and there I will attend
What further comes.
CANIDIUS To Caesar will I render39
My legions and my horse: six kings already
Show me the way of yielding.
ENOBARBUS I'll yet follow
The wounded chance43 of Antony, though my reason
Sits in the wind against44 me.
[Exeunt separately]
[Act 3 Scene 11]
running scene 16
Location: unspecific
* * *
Enter Antony with Attendants
ANTONY Hark! The land bids me tread no more upon't:
It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither.
I am so lated3 in the world that I
Have lost my way forever. I have a ship
Laden with gold: take that, divide it: fly
And make your peace with Caesar.
ALL Fly? Not we.
ANTONY I have fled myself and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone:
I have myself resolved upon a course
Which has no need of you. Be gone.
My treasure's in the harbour: take it. O,
I followed that13 I blush to look upon.
My very hairs do mutiny14, for the white
Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them15
For fear and doting. Friends, be gone. You shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way18 for you. Pray you look not sad
Nor make replies of loathness19: take the hint
Which my despair20 proclaims. Let that be left
Which leaves itself. To the seaside straightway:
I will possess you22 of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little23. Pray you now,
Nay do so, for indeed I have lost command24:
Therefore I pray you, I'll see you by and by.
Sits down
[Exeunt Attendants]
Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian, [Iras] and Eros
EROS Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.
IRAS Do, most dear queen.
CHARMIAN Do? Why, what else?
CLEOPATRA Let me sit down. O Juno29!
ANTONY No, no, no, no, no!
EROS See you here, sir?
ANTONY O fie32, fie, fie!
CHARMIAN Madam!
IRAS Madam, O good empress!
EROS Sir, sir--
ANTONY Yes, my lord36, yes; he at Philippi kept
His sword e'en like a dancer37 while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius, and 'twas I
That the mad39 Brutus ended: he alone
Dealt on lieutenantry40, and no practice had
In the brave squares41 of war: yet now, no matter.
CLEOPATRA Ah, stand by42.
EROS The queen, my lord, the queen!
IRAS Go to him, madam, speak to him:
He's unqualitied45 with very shame.
CLEOPATRA Well then, sustain46 me. O!
EROS Most noble sir, arise, the queen approaches.
Her head's declined48, and death will seize her, but
Your comfort49 makes the rescue.
ANTONY I have offended reputation50,
A most unnoble swerving51.
EROS Sir, the queen!
ANTONY O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
By looking back what I have left behind
'Stroyed56 in dishonour54.
CLEOPATRA O my lord, my lord,
Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
You would have followed.
ANTONY Egypt, thou knew'st too well
My heart was to thy rudder tied by th'strings61
And thou shouldst tow me after. O'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
Thy beck64 might from the bidding of the gods
Command me.
CLEOPATRA O, my pardon!
ANTONY Now I must
To the young man68 send humble treaties, dodge
And palter69 in the shifts of lowness, who
With half the bulk o'th'world played as I pleased,
Making and marring fortunes. You did know
How much you were my conqueror, and that
My sword73, made weak by my affection, would
Obey it on all cause74.
CLEOPATRA Pardon, pardon!
ANTONY Fall not a tear, I say. One of them rates76
All that is won and lost. Give me a kiss:
They kiss
Even this repays me.
We sent our schoolmaster79: is a come back?
Love, I am full of lead80. Some wine
Within there and our viands81! Fortune knows
We scorn her most when most she offers blows.
Exeunt
[Act 3 Scene 12]
running scene 17
Location: Caesar's camp outside Alexandria
* * *
Enter Caesar, Agrippa and [Thidias,] Dolabella with others
CAESAR Let him appear that's come from Antony.
Know you him?
DOLABELLA Caesar, 'tis his schoolmaster,
An argument4 that he is plucked, when hither
He sends so poor a pinion5 of his wing,
Which6 had superfluous kings for messengers
Not many moons gone by
.
Enter Ambassador from Antony
CAESAR Approach, and speak.
AMBASSADOR Such as I am, I come from Antony:
I was of late as petty10 to his ends
As is the morn-dew on the myrtle leaf11
To his grand sea12.
CAESAR Be't so. Declare thine office13.
AMBASSADOR Lord of his fortunes he salutes thee, and
Requires15 to live in Egypt, which not granted,
He lessens his requests, and to thee sues16
To let him breathe17 between the heavens and earth,
A private man in Athens: this for him.
Next, Cleopatra does confess thy greatness,
Submits her to thy might, and of thee craves
The circle of the Ptolemies21 for her heirs,
Now hazarded to thy grace22.
CAESAR For Antony,
I have no ears to his request. The queen
Of audience nor desire shall fail, so25 she
From Egypt drive her all-disgraced friend26
Or take his life there. This if she perform,
She shall not sue unheard. So to them both.
AMBASSADOR Fortune pursue thee!
CAESAR Bring30 him through the bands.--
[Exit Ambassador, attended]
To Thidias
To try thy eloquence now 'tis time. Dispatch31.
From Antony win Cleopatra32. Promise,
And in our name33, what she requires: add more,
From thine invention, offers. Women are not
In their best fortunes strong, but want will perjure
The ne'er touched vestal34. Try thy cunning36, Thidias:
Make thine own edict for thy pains37, which we
Will answer38 as a law.
THIDIAS Caesar, I go.
CAESAR Observe how Antony becomes his flaw40,
And what thou think'st his very action speaks41
In every power that moves42.
THIDIAS Caesar, I shall.
Exeunt
[Act 3 Scene 13]
running scene 18
Location: Alexandria
* * *
Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian and Iras
CLEOPATRA What shall we do, Enobarbus?
ENOBARBUS Think2, and die.
CLEOPATRA Is Antony or we3 in fault for this?
ENOBARBUS Antony only, that would make his will4
Lord of his reason. What though you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges6
Frighted each other? Why should he follow?
The itch of his affection8 should not then
Have nicked9 his captainship, at such a point,
When half to half the world opposed, he being
The meered question11. 'Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course12 your flying flags
And leave his navy gazing13.
CLEOPATRA Prithee, peace.
Enter the Ambassador with Antony
ANTONY Is that his answer?
AMBASSADOR Ay, my lord.
ANTONY The queen shall then have courtesy, so she
Will yield us up17.
AMBASSADOR He says so.
ANTONY Let her know't.
To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,
And he will fill thy wishes to the brim
With principalities.
CLEOPATRA That head, my lord?
ANTONY To him again. Tell him he wears the rose
Of youth upon him, from which the world should note
Something particular25: his coin, ships, legions,
May be a coward's, whose ministers28 would prevail
Under the service of a child as soon
As i'th'command of Caesar. I dare him therefore
To lay his gay caparisons31 apart
And answer me declined32, sword against sword,
Ourselves alone33. I'll write it: follow me.
[Exeunt Antony and Ambassador]
ENOBARBUS Yes, like enough, high-battled34 Caesar will
Aside
Unstate his happiness35, and be staged to th'show
Against a sworder36. I see men's judgements are
A parcel of37 their fortunes, and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them
To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing40 all measures, the full Caesar will
Answer41 his emptiness. Caesar, thou hast subdued
His judgement too.
Enter a Servant
SERVANT A messenger from Caesar.
CLEOPATRA What, no more ceremony? See, my women,
Against the blown45 rose may they stop their nose
That kneeled unto the buds. Admit him, sir.
[Exit Servant]
ENOBARBUS Mine honesty47 and I begin to square.
Aside
The loyalty well held to fools does make
Our faith49 mere folly. Yet he that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
And earns a place i'th'story52.
Enter Thidias
CLEOPATRA Caesar's will?
THIDIAS Hear it apart54.
CLEOPATRA None but friends55: say boldly.
THIDIAS So, haply56, are they friends to Antony.
ENOBARBUS He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has,
Or needs not us58. If Caesar please, our master
Will leap to be his friend: for59 us, you know,
Whose he is we are, and that is Caesar's60.
THIDIAS So.
Thus then, thou most renowned: Caesar entreats
Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,
Further than he is Caesar63.
CLEOPATRA Go on: right royal65.
THIDIAS He knows that you embrace not Antony
As you did love, but as you feared him.
CLEOPATRA O!
THIDIAS The scars upon your honour, therefore, he
Does pity as constrained70 blemishes,
Not as deserved.
CLEOPATRA He is a god and knows
What is most right73: mine honour was not yielded,
But conquered merely74.
ENOBARBUS To be sure of that,
Aside
I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit78 thee.
Exit Enobarbus
THIDIAS Shall I say to Caesar
What you require80 of him? For he partly begs
To be desired81 to give. It much would please him
That of his fortunes you should make a staff
To lean upon. But it would warm his spirits
To hear from me you had left Antony
And put yourself under his shroud,
The universal landlord85.
CLEOPATRA What's your name?
THIDIAS My name is Thidias.
CLEOPATRA Most kind messenger,
Say to great Caesar this in deputation90:
I kiss his conqu'ring hand: tell him I am prompt
To lay my crown at's feet, and there to kneel:
Tell him from his all-obeying breath93 I hear
The doom94 of Egypt.
THIDIAS 'Tis your noblest course:
Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it97 can,
No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay
My duty on your hand.
CLEOPATRA Your Caesar's father100 oft --
Offers him her hand
When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in101 --
Bestowed his lips on that unworthy place
As103 it rained kisses.
Enter Antony and Enobarbus
ANTONY Favours?104 By Jove that thunders!
What art thou, fellow105?
THIDIAS One that but perf
orms
The bidding of the fullest107 man and worthiest
To have command obeyed.
ENOBARBUS You will be whipped.
Aside
Calls for Servants
ANTONY Approach there!--Ah, you kite110!--
Now, gods and devils,
Authority melts from me of late. When I cried 'Ho!',
Like boys unto a muss112, kings would start forth
And cry 'Your will?' Have you no ears? I am
Antony yet.--Take hence this jack114 and whip him.
Enter a Servant
Other Servants follow
ENOBARBUS 'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp115
Aside
Than with an old one dying.
ANTONY Moon and stars!
Whip him. Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries118
That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them
So saucy120 with the hand of she here -- what's her name,
Since she was121 Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows,
Till like a boy you see him cringe122 his face
And whine aloud for mercy. Take him hence.
THIDIAS Mark Antony!
ANTONY Tug him away: being whipped,
Bring him again. The jack of Caesar's shall
Bear us an errand to him.
Exeunt [Servants] with Thidias
You were half blasted128 ere I knew you: ha?
Have I my pillow left unpressed in Rome,
Forborne130 the getting of a lawful race,
And by a gem of women, to be abused
By one that looks on feeders132?
CLEOPATRA Good my lord--
ANTONY You have been a boggler134 ever,
But when we in our viciousness grow hard --
O, misery on't! -- the wise gods seel136 our eyes,
In our own filth drop our clear judgements, make us
Adore our errors, laugh at's while we strut
To our confusion139.
CLEOPATRA O, is't come to this?
ANTONY I found you as a morsel cold upon
Dead Caesar's trencher142: nay, you were a fragment
Of Gneius Pompey143's, besides what hotter hours
Unregistered in vulgar fame144 you have
Luxuriously145 picked out. For I am sure,
Though you can guess what temperance146 should be,
You know not what it is.
CLEOPATRA Wherefore is this?
ANTONY To let a fellow that will take rewards
And say 'God150 quit you!' be familiar with
My playfellow, your hand, this kingly seal151
And plighter152 of high hearts! O, that I were
Upon the hill of Basan153, to outroar
The horned herd! For I have savage cause154,
And to proclaim it civilly155, were like
A haltered neck156 which does the hangman thank
For being yare157 about him.--Is he whipped?
Enter a Servant with Thidias
SERVANT Soundly, my lord.
ANTONY Cried he? And begged a159 pardon?
SERVANT He did ask favour.
ANTONY If that thy father live, let him repent
To Thidias
Thou wast not made his daughter, and be thou sorry
To follow Caesar in his triumph163, since
Thou hast been whipped for following him. Henceforth
The white hand of a lady165 fever thee,
Shake thou to look on't. Get thee back to Caesar:
Tell him thy entertainment167: look thou say
Antony and Cleopatra (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series) Page 9