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