And did deserve his change; for what I have con quer'd, I grant him part; but then, in his Armenia, And other of his conquer'd kingdoms, I Demand the like. Mac. He'll never yield to that. Cæs. Nor must not then be yielded to in this. Enter Octavia. Oct. Hail, Cæsar, and my lord! hail, most dear Cæsar! Cæs. That ever I should call thee, cast-away! Oct. You have not call'd me so, nor have you cause. Cas. Why have you stol'n upon us thus? You come not Like Cæsar's sister: The wife of Antony The neighs of horse to tell of her approach, come A market-maid to Rome; and have prevented Good my lord, Oct. Sick, disgusted. + Assigned. Cas. Which soon he granted, Being an obstruct 'tween his lust and him. Oct. Do not say so, my lord. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind. Where is he now? Oct. My lord, in Athens, Cas. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his empire Up to a whore; who now are levying The kings o'the earth for war: He hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus, Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas: Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas, Oct. Ah me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends, That do afflict each other! Welcome hither: Cas. Hold unbewail'd their way. Nothing more dear to me. Welcome to Rome: Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort; Agr. Welcome, lady. Mac. Welcome, dear madam, Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: • Obstruction. Only the adulterous Antony, most large And gives his potent regiment to a trullt, Oct. Is it so, sir? Caes. Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you, Be ever known to patience: My dearest sister! [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Autony's camp, near the promontory of Actium. Enter Cleopatra and Enobarbus. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Cleo. Thou hast forspokes my being in these wars; And say'st, it is not fit. Eno. Well, is it, is it? Cleo. Is't not? Denounce against us, why should not we Be there in person? Eno. [Aside.] Well, I could reply: If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier, and his horse. Cleo. What is't you say? Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Autony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time, What should not then be spar'd. He is already • Government. § Forbid. + Harlot. Threatens. Cleo. Sink Rome; and their tongues rot, That speak against us! A charge we bear i'the war, Eno. Here comes the emperor. Ant. Nay, I have done: Enter Antony and Canidius. Is't not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum, and Brundusium, He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea, And take in* Toryne?—You have heard on't, sweet? Cleo. Celerity is never more admir'd, Than by the negligent. Ant. A good rebuke, Which might have well becom'd the best of men, Will fight with him by sea. Cleo. By sea! What else? Fort he dares us to't. Can. Why will my lord do so? Eno. So hath my lord dar'd him to single fight. Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd: Your mariners are muleteerst, reapers, people Ingross'd by swift impress §; in Cæsar's fleet Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: Their ships are yare ||; yours, heavy¶. No disgrace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Eno. Most worthy sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-mark'd foot-men; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, From firm security. Ant. I'll fight at sea. Cleo. I have sixty sails*, Cæsar none better. Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full mann'd, from the head of Actium Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail, Enter a Messenger. We then can do't at land.-Thy business? Mess. The news is true, my lord; he is descried; Cæsar has taken Toryne. Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible; Strange, that his power should bet.-Canidius, Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land, And our twelve thousand horse:- We'll to our ship; Enter a Soldier. Away, my Thetis !-How now, worthy soldier? And the Phoenicians, go a ducking; we Have used to conquer, standing on the earth, Ant. Well, well, away. [Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus. * Ships. + Strange that his forces should be there. + Cleopatra. |