ACT IV.

SCENE I. CÆSAR'S Camp at Alexandria.

Enter CESAR, reading a letter; AGRIPPA, MECÆNAS, and others.

Cæs. 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've many other ways to die; meantime
Laugh at his challenge.

Mec.

Cæsar, we 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

Cæs.
Know, that to-morrow the last of many battles
We mean to fight. Within our files there are,
Of those that served Mark Antony but late,
Enough to fetch him in. See it be done :
And feast the army; we have store to do't,

And they have earn'd the waste.3 Poor Antony! [Exeunt.

1 The passage of North's Plutarch on which this is founded is equivocally expressed. See page 98, note 4. But Plutarch's true meaning is, that "Antony has many other ways to die."

"

2 Boot is advantage or profit. Make capital," we should say.

8 The waste here means the expense, the cost.

SCENE II.

Alexandria. A Room in CLEOPATRA's 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's 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.4

Ant.

Well said; come on.

Call forth my household servants : let's to-night
Be bounteous at our meal.

Eno. [Aside to CLEO.] 'Tis 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

4 Let the survivor take all: no composition; victory or death.

So good as you've done me.

Servants.

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.

Cleo. [Aside to ENO.]

What does he mean?

Tend me to-night;

Eno. [Aside to CLEO.] To make his followers weep.
Ant.

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 5 for't!

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:

I spake t' 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.

[Exeunt.

5" The gods yield you" is the gods reward you. A frequent usage.

SCENE III.

The Same. Before CLEOPATRA's 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? 2 Sold. Belike 'tis but a rumour. 1 Sold. Well, sir, good night.

Good night to you.

Enter two other Soldiers.

2 Sold. Soldiers, have careful watch.

3 Sold. And you.

Good night, good night.

3 Sold.

And full of purpose.

4 Sold.

[The first and second go to their posts.

4 Sold. Here we : [The third and fourth go to their posts.]

and, if to-morrow

Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope

Our landmen will stand up.

'Tis a brave army,

[Music as of hautboys underground. Peace! what noise?

2 Sold. 'Tis the god Hercules, who Antony loved, Now leaves him.

1 Meaning it bodes well, or it is a good sign; auspicious.

3 Sold. Do you hear, masters? do you hear?

1 Sold. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter;2 Let's see how't will give off.3

Soldiers. [Speaking together.] Content. 'Tis strange.

[Exeunt.

2 Sentinels on guard have each their particular beat, as it is called, that is, space of ground, or quarter, assigned them, and are not allowed to pass beyond it.

3 That is, how it will terminate, or what sort of a finale it will have.— Plutarch: "Being at supper, he commanded his officers and household servants that waited on him at his board, that they should fill his cups full, and make as much of him as they could. For,' said he, 'you know not whether you shall do so much for me to-morrow or not, or whether you shall serve another master; and it may be that you shall see me no more, but a dead body.' This notwithstanding, perceiving that his friends fell a-weeping to hear him say so, to salve that he had spoken, he added this more unto it, that he would not lead them to battle, where he thought not rather safely to return with victory than valiantly to die with honour. Furthermore, the self-same night, within a little of midnight, when all the city was quiet, full of fear and sorrow, thinking what would be issue and end of this war, it is said that suddenly they heard a marvellous sweet harmony of sundry sorts of instruments of music, with the cry of a multitude of people, as they had been dancing, and had sung, as they use in Bacchus' feasts, with movings and turnings after the manner of the Satyrs; and it seemed that this dance went through the city unto the gate that opened to the enemies, and that all the troop, that made the noise they heard, went out of the city at the gate. Now, such as in reason sought the depth of the interpretation of this wonder thought that it was the god unto whom Antonius bare singular devotion to counterfeit and resemble him, that did forsake them."