O'er your content these strong necessities; Hold unbewail'd their way. Nothing more dear to me. Welcome to Rome: You are abus'd Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort; Agr. Welcome, lady. Mec. Welcome, dear madam, Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: And gives his potent regiment 4 to a trull,5 Oct. Is it so, sir? Caes. Most certain. Sister, welcome: Pray you, Be ever known to patience: My dearest sister! [Exeunt. SCENE VII. Antony's Camp, near the Promontory of Actium. Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Eno. But why, why, why? Cleo. Thou hast forspoke7 my being in these wars; Cleo. Is't not? Denounce against us, why should not we Be there in person? Eno. [Aside.] Well, I could reply: 8 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 Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time, What should not then be spar'd. He is already Traduc'd for levity; and 'tis said in Rome, That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids, Cleo. Sink Rome; and their tongues rot, That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war, And, as the president of my kingdom, will Appear there for a man. Speak not against it; 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. 8 Absolutely. 9 Take, subdue. Ant. A good rebuke, Which might have well becom'd the best of men, To taunt at slackness.-Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea. Cleo. By sea! What else? For' 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 muleteers, reapers, people 2 Ingross'd by swift impress ;3 in Cæsar's fleet Being prepar'd for land. Ant. No disgrace By sea, by 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 footmen; 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. Cleo. I have sixty sails, Cæsar none better. 1 Because. 4 Ready. 2 Mule drivers. 3 Pressed in haste. 5 Incumbered. 6 Ships. 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? Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible; Enter a Soldier. Away, my Thetis! 7-How now, worthy soldier? Have used to conquer, standing on the earth, Ant. Well, well, away. [Exeunt ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, and ENO BARBUS. Sold. By Hercules, I think, I am i' the right. grows Not in the power on't: So our leader's led, And we are women's men. Sold. Strange that his forces should be there. 7 Cleopatra. Can. Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius, Publicola, and Cælius, are for sea: But we keep whole by land. This speed of Cæsar's Carries beyond belief. Sold. His power went out in such distractions,' as Beguil'd all spies. Can. While he was yet in Rome, Who's his lieutenant, hear you? Well I know the man. Sold. They say, one Taurus. Can. Enter a Messenger. Mess. The emperor calls for Canidius. Can. With news the time's with labour; and throes 2 forth, Each minute, some. SCENE VIII. A plain near Actium. [Exeunt. Enter CESAR, TAURUS, Officers, and Others. Cas. Taurus, Taur. Cæs. My lord. Strike not by land; keep whole: [Exeunt. Provoke not battle, till we have done at sea. Do not exceed the prescript of this scroll: $ Goes. 9 Forces. 2 Agonizes. ■ Detachments, separate bodies. 3 Hazard. |