Ant. To him again; Tell him, he wears therose Of youth upon him; from which, the world should note

Something particular: his coin, ships, legions, 5 May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail

10 [Exit Ambassador. To try thy eloquence, now 'tis time: Dispatch ;| From Antony win Cleopatra: promise,

[To Thyreus. And in our name, what she requires; add more, 15 From thine invention, offers: Women are not, In their best fortunes, strong; but want will perjure

[reus; The ne'er touch'd vestal: Try thy cunning, ThyMake thine own edict for thy pains, which we Will answer as a law.

The Palace in Alexandria.

Enter Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian, and Iras.
Cleo. What shall we do, Enobarbus?
Eno. Think, and die'.

Cleo. Is Antony, or we, in fault for this?

Eno. Antony only, that would make his will
Lord of his reason. What though you fled
From that great face of war, whose several ranges
Frighted each other? why should he follow?
The itch of his affection should not then
Have nick'd his captainship; at such a point,
When half to half the world oppos'd, he being
The meered question': 'Twas a shame no less
Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,
And leave his navy gazing.

Cleo. Pr'ythee, peace.

Enter Antony, with the Ambassador. Ant. Is that his answer?

The diadem.

20

25

30

Under the service of a child, as soon

As i' the command of Cæsar: I dare him therefore
To lay his gay comparisons apart,
And answer me declin'd', sword against sword,
Ourselves alone: I'll write it; follow me.

[Exeunt Antony and Amb.

Eno. Yes, like enough, high-battled Cæsar will
Unstate his happiness, and be stag'd to the shew
Against a sworder. I see, men's judgements are
A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward
Do draw the inward quality after them,
To suffer all alike. That he should dream,
Knowing all measures, the full Cæsar will
Answer his emptiness! Cæsar, thou hast subdu’d
His judgement too.

Enter an Attendant.

Attend. A messenger from Cæsar.

Cleo. What? no more ceremony? See, my

women!

Against the blown rose may they stop their nose,
That kneel'd unto the buds.-Admit him, sir.
Eno. Mine honesty, and I, begin to square.

[Aside.
The loyalty, well held to fools, does make
Our faith mere folly: Yet, he, that can endure
To follow with allegiance a fallen lord,
Does conquer him that did his master conquer,
35 And earns a place i' the story.

2 That is, how Antony conforms himself to this breach of his fortune. Think and die; that is, Reflect on your folly, and leave the world. 4 The meered question is a term we do not understand. Dr. Johnson says, mere is indeed a boundary, and the meered question, if it can mean any thing, may, with some violence of language, mean, the disputed boundary. The meaning is, I require of Casar not to depend on the superiority which the comparison of our different fortunes may exhibit to him, but to answer me man to man, in this decline of my age or power. ⚫ i, e. Cæsar intreats, that at the same time you consider your desperate fortunes, you would consider he is Cæsar; that is, generous and forgiving, able and willing to restore them.

Clco.

I will ask Antony.-Sir, sir, thou art so leaky,
That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for
Thy dearest quit thee. [Exit Enobarbus.
Thyr. Shall I say to Cæsar
What you require of him? for he partly begs
To be desir'd to give. It much would please him,
That of his fortunes you would 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 shrowd,
The universal landlord.

Cleo. What's your name?
Thyr. My name is Thyreus.
Cleo. Most kind messenger,

Say to great Cæsar this, In disputation

5

Have I my pillow left unprest in Rome,
Forborne the getting of a lawful race,
And by a gem of women, to be abus'd
By one that looks on feeders?

Cleo. Good my lord,

Ant. You have been a boggler ever:— But when we in our viciousness grow hard, (O misery on't!) the wise gods feel our eyes; In ourown filth drop our clear judgements;makeus 10 Adore our errors; laugh at us, while we strut To our confusion.

Cleo. O, is it come to this?

Ant. I found you as a morsel, cold upon Dead Cæsar's trencher: nay, you were a fragment 15 Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours Unregister'd in vulgar fame, you have Luxuriously pick'd out:-For, I am sure, Though you can guesswhat temperance should be You know not what it is.

I kiss his conquering hand': tell him, I am prompt 20
To lay my crown at his feet, and there to kneel:
Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear
The doom of Egypt.

Thyr. 'Tis your noblest course.

Wisdom and fortune combating together,
If that the former dare but what it can,

No chance may shake it. Give me grace' to lay
My duty on your hand.

Cleo. Your Cæsar's father oft,

When he hath mus'd of taking kingdoms in,
Bestow'd his lips on that unworthy place.
As it rain'd kisses.

Re-enter Antony, and Enobarbus.
Ant. Favours, by Jove that thunders !---
What art thou, fellow?

Thyr. One, that but performs

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest
To have command obey'd.
Eno. You will be whipp'd.

Cleo. Wherefore is this?

Ant. To let a fellow that will take rewards,
And say, God quit you! be familiar with
My play-fellow, your hand, this kingly seal,
And plighter of high hearts! O, that I were
25 Upon the hill of Basan, to out-roar
The horned herd! for I have savage cause;
And to proclaim it civilly, were like

30

A halter'd neck, which does the hangman thank
For being yare about him.-Is he whipp'd?
Re-enter Attendants, with Thyrcus.
Attend. Soundly, my lord.

Ant. Cry'd he? and begg'd he pardon?
Attend. He did ask favour.

Ant. If that thy father live, let him repent

[forth,

35 Thou wast not made his daughter; andbethousorry
To follow Cæsar in his triumph, since
Thou hast been whipp'd for following him: hence-
The white hand of a lady fever thee,
Shake thou to look on't.-Get thee back to Cæsar,
Tell him thy entertainment: Look, thou say,
He makes me angry with him: for he seems
Proud and disdainful; harping on what I am,
Not what he knew I was: He makes me angry;
And at this time most easy 'tis to do't;

Ant. Approach, there:-Ah, you kite!-Now, 40 gods and devils!

[ho!
Authority melts from me: Of late, when I cry'd
Like boys unto a muss', kings would start forth,
And cry, Your will? Have you no ears? I am
Enter Attendants.

Antony yet. Take hence this Jack, and whip him.
Eno. "Tis better playing with a lion's whelp,
Than with an old one dying.

45 When my good stars, that were my former guides, Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires Into the abism of hell. If he mislike

Ant. Moon and stars!—
[butaries
Whip him:-Were 't twenty of the greatest tri-50
That do acknowledge Casar, should I find them
So saucy with the hand of she here, (What's her

My speech, and what is done; tell him, he has
Hipparchus, my enfranchis'd bondman, whom
He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,
As he shall like, to quit me: Urge it thou:
Hence with thy stripes, begone. [Exit Thyreus.
Cleo, Have you done yet?

Ant. Alack, our terrene moon

55 Is now eclips'd; and it portends alone
The fall of Antony!

1i. e. I own he has the better in the controversy,-I confess my inability to dispute or contend with him. i. e. Grant me the favour,

3i. e. a scramble, 4i. e. to requite ine.
3 E3

From

Cæsar sits down in Alexandria; where

[like.

5

10

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 sea-
Where hast thou been, my heart?-Dost thou 15
hear, lady?

If from the field I should return once more
To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood;
I and my sword will earn my chronicle;
There is hope in it 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,

Is to be frighted out of fear: and in that mood,
20 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.

[Exit.

SCENE I.

Casar's Camp at Alexandria.

Enter Casar, reading aletter; Agrippa, Mecanas; 35

&c.

Cas. HE calls me boy; and chides, as he

had power

To beat me out of Egypt: my messenger [combat,
He hath whipp'd with rods; dares me to personal 40
Cæsar to Antony: Let the old ruffian know,
I have many other ways to die; mean time,
Laugh at his challenge.

Eno. No.

Ant. Why should he not?

[fortune,

Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better 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.
Ant. Well said; come on.-
Call forth my household servants; let's to-night
Enter Sercants.

45 Be bounteous at our meal.-Give me thy hand,
Thou hast been rightly honest;-so hast thou;—
And thou;-and thou;--and thou:-you have
serv'd me well,

50

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. Poor Antony ! 55

SCENE II.

The Palace at Alexandria.

[Exeunt.

Enter Antony,and Cleopatra, Enobarbus, Charmian,
Iras, Alexas, with others.

Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitius.

'Cæsarion was Cleopatra's son by Julius Cæsar.

60

mcans trifling. This epithet is still bestowed on feast-days in the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge,

i. e. take advantage of.

As

For I spake to you for your comfort; did desire you
To burn this night with torches: Know, my hearts, 25
I hope well of to-morrow; and will lead
Where rather I'll expect victorious life,
Than death and honour'. Let's to supper; come,
And drown consideration.

2 i. e. reward you.

'i. e. I have my eyes as full of tears 4 That is, an honourable death. i. e. it bodes well.

3 E 4

Trumpets sound. Enter Antony, and Eros; a Soldier meeting them.

Sold. The gods make this a happy day toAntony!

Ant. 'Would, thou and those thy scars had once 10 Out of the host; I must attend mine office, [prevail'd Or would have done 't myself.

45 And snatch 'em up, as we take hares, behind; "Tis sport to maul a runner.

1501

55

Ant. We have beat him to his camp: Run one before, [row, And let the queen know of our guests. To morBefore the sun shall see us, we'll spill the blood 60 That has to-day escap'd. I thank you all; For doughty-handed are you; and have fought Not as you serv'd the cause, but as it had been

* Oppression for opposition.