Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE,-Dispersedly in several Parts of the Roman Empire.

SCENE I.-Alexandria. A Room in Cleopa-Take in that kingdom, and enfranchise that;

Scene 2.

note

The qualities of people. Come, my queen;
Last night you did desire it :-speak not to us.

[Exeunt Ant. and Cleo., with their train. Dem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so slight?

Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony,
He comes too short of that great property
Which still should go with Antony,

I am full sorry
Dem.
That he approves the common liar, who
Thus speaks of him at Rome: but I will hope
Of better deeds to-morrow.

SCENE II.-Alexandria.

Rest you happy. [Exeunt. Another Room in

Sooth. You have seen and proved a fairer former fortune,

Than that which is to approach.

Char. Then, belike, my children shall have no names: pr'ythee, how many boys and wenches must I have?

Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, And fertile every wish, a million.

Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. Alex. You think none but your sheets are privy to your wishes.

Char. Nay, come, tell Iras hers.
Alex. We'll know all our fortunes.
Eno. Mine, and most of our fortunes, to-
night, shall be,-drunk to bed.

Iras. There's a palm presages chastity, if nothing else.

Char. Even as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth famine.

Iras. Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot soothsay.

Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitful
prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear.-
Pr'ythee, tell her but a worky-day fortune.
Sooth. Your fortunes are alike.

Iras. But how? but how? give me particu-
Sooth. I have said.

[lars.

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better she?

the Palace. Enter Charmian, Iras, Alexas, and a Soothsayer. Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any-than thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, where's the soothsayer that you praised so to the queen? O! that I knew this husband, which, you say, must charge his horns with [garlands! Alex. Soothsayer! Sooth. Your will?

Char. Is this the man? Is't you, sir, that know things?

Sooth. In nature's infinite book of secrecy A little I can read.

Alex.

Show him your hand.
Enter Enobarbus.
Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine
[enough
Cleopatra's health to drink.

Char. Good sir, give me good fortune.
Sooth. I make not, but foresee.
Char. Pray, then, foresee me one.
Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you
[are.
Char. He means, in flesh.
Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old.
Char. Wrinkles forbid !

Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive.
[lov'd.
Char. Hush!
Sooth. You shall be more beloving than be-
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drink-
Alex. Nay, hear him.

[ing.

Char. Good now, some excellent fortune! Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, and widow them all: let me have a child at fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage: find me to marry me with Octavius Cæsar, and companion me with my mistress. Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you [than figs. Char. O excellent! I love long life better]

serve.

Char. Well, if you were but an inch of fortune better than I, where would you choose it? Iras. Not in my husband's nose.

Char. Our worser thoughts heaven mend! Alexas,-come, his fortune, his fortune!-O, let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Isis, I beseech thee: and let her die too, and give him a worse! and let worse follow worse, till the worst of all follow him laughing to his grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, hear me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee !

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that
prayer of the people! for, as it is a heart-
breaking to see a handsome man loose-wived,
so it is a deadly sorrow to behold a foul knave
uncuckolded: therefore, dear Isis, keep de-
corum, and fortune him accordingly!
Char. Amen.

Alex. Lo, now, if it lay in their hands to
make me a cuckold, they would make them-
selves whores, but they'd do't!
Eno. Hush! here comes Antony.
Char.
Not he; the queen.
Enter Cleopatra.
Cleo. Saw you my lord?
Cleo. Was he not here?

A

Char. No, madam.

Eno. No, lady.

[sudden,

Cleo. He was dispos'd to mirth; but on the
Roman thought hath struck him. Enobar-
Eno. Madam?
[bus!

Cleo. Seek him, and bring him hither.
Where's Alexas?

Alex. Here, at your service. My lord ap-
proaches.

Enter Antony, with a Messenger and Attend- My idleness doth hatch. Ho, Enobarbus!

(This is stiff news) hath, with his Parthian force,
Extended Asia from Euphrates;
His conquering banner shook, from Syria
To Lydia, and to Iona; whilst-

Ant. Antony, thou wouldst say,-
Mess. O, my lord! [general tongue,
Ant. Speak to me home, mince not the
Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome;
Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase: and taunt my
faults

With such full licence, as both truth and malice
Have power to utter. O, then we bring forth
weeds,
[told us,
When our quick winds lie still; and our ills
Is as our earing.
Fare thee well awhile.

Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. What's your pleasure, sir?

Ant. I must with haste from hence. Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women : we see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if they suffer our departure, death's the word. Ant. I must be gone.

Eno. Under a compelling occasion, let women die: it were pity to cast them away for nothing; though, between them and a great cause, they should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra catching but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer moment: I do think there is mettle in death, which commits some loving act upon her, she hath such a celerity in dying.

Ant. She is cunning past man's thought. Eno. Alack, sir, no; her passions are made of nothing but the finest part of pure love: we cannot call her winds and waters, sighs and tears; they are greater storms and tempests than almanacs can report: this cannot be cunning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain as well as Jove.

Ant. Would I had never seen her!

Eno. O, sir, you had then left unseen a wonderful piece of work; which not to have been blessed withal, would have discredited your travel. Ant. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Sir? Ant. Fulvia is dead. Eno. Fulvia ! Ant. Dead.

Eno. Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacrifice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the wife of a man from him, it shows to Mess. At your noble pleasure. [Exit. man the tailors of the earth; comforting thereAnt. From Sicyon, ho, the news! Speak in, that when old robes are worn out, there are [a one? members to make new. If there were no 1 Att. The man from Sicyon,--is there such more women but Fulvia, then had you indeed 2 Att. He stays upon your will. Ant. These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, Or lose myself in dotage.

there!

a cut, and the case to be lamented: this grief Let him appear.-is crowned with consolation; your old smock brings forth a new petticoat-and, indeed, the tears live in an onion that should water this

Enter another Messenger.

What are you?
Where died she?

2 Mess. Fulvia thy wife is dead.

Ant.

2 Mess. In Sicyon :
Her length of sickness, with what else more
Importeth thee to know, this bears. [serious
[Giving a letter.
Ant.
Forbear me.
[Exit second Messenger.
There's a great spirit gone! Thus did I de-
sire it:

What our contempts do often hurl from us,
We wish it ours again; the present pleasure,
By revolution lowering, does become
The opposite of itself: she's good, being gone;
The hand could pluck her back, that shov'd
her on.

I must from this enchanting queen break off:
Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,

sorrow.

Ant. The business she hath broached in the Cannot endure my absence.

[state

Eno. And the business you have broached
here cannot be without you; especially that of
Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your
abode.
[officers

Ant. No more light answers. Let our
Have notice what we purpose. I shall break
The cause of our expedience to the queen,
And get her love to part. For not alone
The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,
Do strongly speak to us; but the letters, too,
Of many our contriving friends in Rome
Petition us at home: Sextus Pompeius
Hath given the dare to Cæsar, and commands
The empire of the sea: our slippery people
(Whose love is never link'd to the deserver,
Till his deserts are past) begin to throw
Pompey the Great, and all his dignities,

Scene 3.

ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA.

Upon his son; who, high in name and power,
Higher than both in blood and life, stands up
For the main soldier; whose quality, going on,
The sides o' the world may danger: much is
breeding,

Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life,
And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure,
To such whose place is under us, requires
Our quick remove from hence.
Eno.

I shall do it.
[Exeunt.

SCENE III.-Another Room in the Palace.

Enter Cleopatra, Charmian, Iras, and Alexas.
Cleo. Where is he?
Char.

I did not see him since. Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what he does :

I did not send you. If you find him sad,
Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report
[Exit Alex.
That I am sudden sick : quick, and return.
Char. Madam, methinks, if you did love
him dearly,

You do not hold the method to enforce
The like from him.

What should I do, I do not?
Cleo.
Char. In each thing give him way, cross
him in nothing.

[bear:
Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool, the way to
lose him.
Char. Tempt him not so too far; I wish, for-
In time we hate that which we often fear.
But here comes Antony.

Enter Antony.

I am sick, and sullen.
Cleo.
Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my
purpose,-

Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for
your going,

staying,
But bid farewell, and go: when you su'd

[poor,
Then was the time for words: no going then ;-
Eternity was in our lips and eyes,
But was a race of heaven: they are so still,
Bliss in our brows bent; none our parts so
Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world,
liar.
greatest
Art turn'd the

Ant.

Cleo. I would
should'st know

How now, lady! had thy inches; thou

There were a heart in Egypt.
Ant.

Hear me, queen :

The strong necessity of time commands
Our services awhile; but my full heart
Shines o'er with civil swords: Sextus Pompeius
Remains in use with you. Our Italy
Makes his approaches to the port of Rome :
Equality of two domestic powers

Breeds scrupulous faction: the hated, grown
to strength,

Are newly grown to love: the condemn'd

Pompey,

Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace
Into the hearts of such as have not thriv'd
Upon the present state, whose numbers

threaten;

And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge
[going,
And that which most with you should safe my
By any desperate change: my more particular,
Is Fulvia's death.

Cleo. Though age from folly could not give
me freedom,

It does from childishness :-can Fulvia die? Ant. She's dead, my queen : [shall fall: The garboils she awak'd; at the last, best, Look here, and, at thy sovereign leisure, read Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian; I See when and where she died. It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature Will not sustain it.

Now, my dearest queen,-
Ant.
Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me.
What's the matter?"
Ant.
Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's

some good news.

What says the married woman? You may go:
Would she had never given you leave to come!
Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here,—
I have no power upon you; hers you are.
Ant. The gods best know,-
Cleo.

O, never was there queen
So mightily betray'd! yet at the first
I saw the treasons planted.

Ant.

Cleopatra,

[gods,
Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine,
and true,
Riotous
Though you in swearing shake the throned
Who have been false to Fulvia?
madness,
To be entangled with those mouth-made vows,
Which break themselves in swearing!
Most sweet queen,

Ant.

O most false love!
Cleo.
Where be the sacred vials thou shouldst fill
In Fulvia's death, how mine receiv'd shall be.
With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see,
Ant. Quarrel no more, but be prepar'd to

know

The purposes I bear; which are, or cease,
As you shall give the advice: by the fire
Thy soldier, servant; making peace, or war,
As thou affect'st.
That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence

Cut my lace, Charmian, come :-
Cleo.
But let it be :-I am quickly ill, and well;
So Antony loves.

Ant.

My precious queen, forbear;
[stands
And give true evidence to his love, which
So Fulvia told me.
Cleo.
An honourable trial.
Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears
Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene
I pr'ythee, turn aside, and weep for her;
Like perfect honour.
Of excellent dissembling; and let it look

Ant.

You'll heat my blood: no more.

Cleo. You can do better yet; but this is
Ant. Now, by my sword,-
[meetly.
Cleo.
And target.-Still he mends;
But this is not the best :-look, pr'ythee, Char-
mian,

How this Herculean Roman does become
The carriage of his chafe.
Ant. I'll leave you, lady.
Cleo.
Courteous lord, one word.
Sir, you and I must part-but that's not it:
Sir, you and I have loved-but there's not it;
That you know well: something it is I would,
O, my oblivion is a very Antony,
And I am all forgotten.

Ant.
But that your royalty
Holds idleness your subject, I should take you
For idleness itself.

Cleo.

"Tis sweating labour
To bear such idleness so near the heart,
As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me ;
Since my becomings kill me, when they do not
Eye well to you: your honour calls you hence;
Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,
And all the gods go with you! upon your sword
Sit laurel'd victory! and smooth success
Be strew'd before your feet!
Ant.

No way excuse his soils, when we do bear
So great a weight in his lightness. If he fill'd
His vacancy with his voluptuousness,
Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones
Call on him for't: but, to confound such time,
That drums him from his sport, and speaks as
loud

As his own state and ours,-'tis to be chid
As we rate boys; who, being mature in know-
ledge,

Pawn their experience to their present pleasure,
And so rebel to judgment.
Enter a Messenger.

Lep.

Here's more news. Mess. Thy biddings have been done; and every hour,

Most noble Cæsar, shalt thou have report
How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea;
And it appears, he is belov'd of those
That only have fear'd Cæsar: to the ports
The discontents repair, and men's reports
Give him much wrong'd.

Cæs. I should have known no less: It hath been taught us from the primal state, That he which is, was wish'd, until he were ; And the ebb'd man ne'er lov'd, till ne'er worth Let us go. Come; love, [body, Our separation so abides, and flies, Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee.Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, Away! [Exeunt. To rot itself with motion. Mess. Cæsar, I bring thee word, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, Make the sea serve them, which they ear and wound

SCENE IV.-Rome. Cæsar's House. Enter Octavius Cæsar, Lepidus, and Attend

ants.

Ces. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth It is not Cæsar's natural vice to hate [know, Our great competitor: from Alexandria

This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes The lamps of night in revel: is not more manlike

or

Than Cleopatra; nor the queen of Ptolemy
More womanly than he hardly gave audience,
[shall find there
Vouchsafd to think he had partners: you
A man, who is the abstract of all faults
That all men follow.
Lep.
I must not think there are
Evils enow to darken all his goodness:
His faults, in him, seem as the spots of heaven,
More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary,
Rather than purchas'd; what he cannot
Than what he chooses.
[change,
Cas. You are too indulgent. Let us grant,
it is not

Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy;
To give a kingdom for a mirth; to sit
And keep the turn of tippling with a slave ;
To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet
With knaves that smell of sweat: say, this
becomes him,

(As his composure must be rare indeed,
Whom these things cannot blemish,) yet must
Antony

With keels of every kind: many hot inroads
They make in Italy; the borders maritime
Lack blood to think on't, and flush youth

Cæs.

revolt :

No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon
Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes
Than could his war resisted.
[more,
Antony,
Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once
Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st
Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel
Did famine follow; whom thou fought'st
against,

[more Though daintily brought up, with patience Than savages could suffer: thou didst drink The stale of horses, and the gilded puddle, Which beasts would cough at: thy palate then did deign

The roughest berry on the rudest hedge;
Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture
sheets,
[Alps,
The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the
It is reported, thou didst eat strange flesh,
Which some did die to look on and all this
(It wounds thy honour, that I speak it now)
Was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek
So much as lank'd not.

Lep.
'Tis pity of him.
Cas. Let his shames quickly