Is now eclipsed; and it portends alone

The fall of Antony!

CLEO.

I must stay his time.

ANT. To flatter Cæsar, would you mingle eyes With one that ties his points?

CLEO.

Not know me yet?

ANT. Cold-hearted toward me?
CLEO.

Ah, dear, if I be so,

From my cold heart let heaven engender hail,
And poison it in the source; and the first stone
Drop in my neck: as it determines, so
Dissolve my life! The next Cæsarion smite!
Till, by degrees, the memory of my womb,
Together with my brave Egyptians all,

By the discandering of this pelleted storm,
Lie graveless; till the flies and gnats of Nile
Have buried them for prey!

ANT.
I am satisfied.
Cæsar sits down in Alexandria; where
I will oppose his fate. Our force by land
Hath nobly held: our sever'd navy too

Have knit again, and fleet, threat'ning most sealike.
Where hast thou been, my heart?-Dost thou hear, lady?
If from the field I shall return once more

To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood;
I and my sword will earn our chronicle;
There's hope in 't yet.

CLEO.

That's my brave lord!
ANT. I will be treble-sinew'd, hearted, breath'd,
And fight maliciously: for when mine hours
Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives
Of me for jests; but now, I'll set my teeth,
And send to darkness all that stop me.-Come,
Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me
All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more;
Let's mock the midnight bell.

CLEO.

It is my birthday:

I had thought to have held it poor; but, since my lord Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

ANT. We will yet do well.

CLEO. Call all his noble captains to my lord.

ANT. Do so, we 'll speak to them; and to-night I'll force The wine peep through their scars.- -Come on, my queen; There's sap in 't yet. The next time I do fight,

I'll make Death love me; for I will contend

Even with his pestilent scythe.

[Exeunt ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and Attendants. To be furious,

ENO. Now he'll outstare the lightning.

Is to be frighted out of fear: and in that mood,
The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still,
A diminution in our captain's brain

Restores his heart: When valour preys on reason,
It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek
Some way to leave him.

ما

H

[Exit.

ACT IV

SCENE I.-Cæsar's Camp at Alexandria.

Enter CAESAR, reading a letter; AGRIPPA, MECENAS, and others.

CES. He calls me boy; and chides, as he had power

To beat me out of Egypt: my messenger

He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal combat,
Cæsar to Antony: Let the old ruffian know,

I have many other ways to die; mean time,
Laugh at his challenge.

MEC.

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.

Let our best heads

CES.
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 done;
And feast the army: we have store to do 't,
And they have earn'd the waste.

SCENE II.-Alexandria.

Poor Antony!

[Exeunt.

A Room in the Palace.

Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and others.

ANT. He will not fight with me, Domitius?

ENO.

ANT. Why should he not?

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."

Well said; come on.

ANT.
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;-
Thou, and thou,-and thou:-you have serv'd me well,
And kings have been your fellows.

CLEO.

What means this?

ENO. "T is one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots

Out of the mind.

ANT.

And thou art honest too.

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!

ANT. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night:
Scant not my cups; and make as much of me
As when mine empire was your fellow too,

And suffer'd my command.

[Aside.

What does he mean?

CLEO.

ENO. To make his followers weep.
ANT.

Tend me to-night;

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 yield you for 't!

ENO.

To give them this discomfort?

What mean you, sir,

Look, they weep; And I, an ass, am onion-eyed; for shame,

Transform us not to women.

Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!

Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends,
You take me in too dolorous a sense,

For 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.

SCENE III.-The same.

[Exeunt.

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 well. Heard you of nothing strange about the streets? 1 SOLD. Nothing: What news?

Have careful watch.

3 SOLD.

And you: Good night, good night.

[The first two place themselves at their posts.

4 SOLD. Here we [they take their posts]: and if to-morrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

2 SOLD. "T is the god Hercules, whom Antony lov'd,

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.

SOLDIERS. [Several speaking.] Content: "T is 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!