Officers, Soldiers, Messengers, and other Attendants.
SCENE.-In several parts of the Roman Empire.

serve.

50

Cleo.

Excellent falsehood! 40 Let me be married to three kings in a forenoon, Why did he marry Fulvia and not love her ? and widow them all ; let me have a child at I'll seem the fool I am not ; Antony

;

fifty, to whom Herod of Jewry may do homage ; Will be himself.

find me to marry me with Octavius Cæsar, and Ant.

But stirr'd by Cleopatra. companion me with my mistress. Now, for the love of Love and her soft hours, Sooth. You shall outlive the lady whom you Let's not confound the time with conference harsh :

Char. O excellent ! I love long life better than There's not a minute of our lives should stretch figs. Without some pleasure now. What sport to- Sooth. You have seen and prov'd a fairer night?

former fortune Cleo. Hear the ambassadors.

Than that which is to approach. Ant.

Fie, wrangling queen! Char. Then, belike, my children shall hare Whom every thing becomes, to chide, to laugh, no names ; prithee, how many boys and wenches To weep; whose every passion fully strives must I have? To make itself, in thee, fair and admir'd.

Sooth. If every of your wishes had a womb, No messenger; but thine, and all alone, And fertile every wish, a million. To-night we'll wander through the streets and Char. Out, fool! I forgive thee for a witch. note

Alex. You think none but your sheets are The qualities of people. Come, my queen; privy to your wishes. Last night you did desire it : speak not to us. Char. Nay, come, tell Iras hers. E.ceunt ANTONY and CLEOPATRA with Alex. We'll know all our fortunes.

their Train. Eno, Mine, and most of our fortunes, toDem. Is Cæsar with Antonius priz'd so night, shall be--drunk to bed. slight?

Iras. There's a palm presages chastity, Phi. Sir, sometimes, when he is not Antony, nothing else. He comes too short of that great property

Char. E'en as the o'erflowing Nilus presageth Which still should go with Antony.

famine. Dem.

I am full sorry

Iras. Go, you wild bedfellow, you cannot That he approves the common liar, who 60 soothsay. Thus speaks of him at Rome; but I will hope Char. Nay, if an oily palm be not a fruitfal Of better deeds to-morrow. Rest you happy! prognostication, I cannot scratch mine ear,

Exeunt. Prithee, tell her but a worky-day fortune.

Sooth. Your fortunes are alike. SCENE II.- The Same. Another Room. Iras. But how? but how? give me parti.

culars. Enter CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, and a Sooth

Sooth. I have said. sayer.

Iras. Am I not an inch of fortune better Char. Lord Alexas, sweet Alexas, most any than she? thing Alexas, almost most absolute Alexas, Char. Well, if you were but an inch of for. where's the soothsayer that you praised so to tune better than I, where would you choose it? the queen ? 0! that I knew this husband, Iras. Not in my husband's nose. which, you say, must charge his horns with Char. Our worser thoughts heavens merd! garlands.

Alexas, --come, his fortune, his fortune, 0! Alex. Soothsaver !

let him marry a woman that cannot go, sweet Sooth. Your will!

Isis, I beseech thee; and let her die too, and Char. Is this the man? Is 't you, sir, ihat give him a worse ; and let worse follow wore, know things ?

till the worst of all follow him laughing to his Sooth. In nature's infinite book of secrecy 10 grave, fifty-fold a cuckold! Good Isis, liear A little I can read.

me this prayer, though thou deny me a matter dlex.

Show him your hand. of more weight; good Isis, I beseech thee! Enter ENOBARBUS.

Iras. Amen. Dear goddess, hear that prayer

of the people! for, as it is a heart-breaking to Eno. Bring in the banquet quickly; wine see a handsome man loose-wived, so it is a enough

deadly sorrow to behold a foul knare un. Cleopatra's health to drink.

cuckolded : therefore, dear Isis, keep decorum, Chur. Good sir, give me good fortune. and fortune him accordingly! Sooth, I make not, but foresee.

Char. Amen. Char. Pray then, foresee me one.

Alex. Lo, now! if it lay in their hands to Sooth. You shall be yet far fairer than you are. make me a cuckold, they would make them. Char. He means in flesh.

selves whores but they 'd do't. Iras. No, you shall paint when you are old. Eno, Hush ! here comes Antony. Char. Wrinkles forbid !

Char.

Not he; the queen Alex. Vex not his prescience; be attentive. Char. Hush!

Enter CLEOPATRA.
Sooth. You shall be more beloving than be.
lov'd.

Cleo. Saw you my lord ?
Char. I had rather heat my liver with drinking. Eno. No, lady.
Alex. Nay, hear him.

Cleo. Was he not here?
Chur. Good now, some excellent fortune! Char. No, madam.

20

:

141

On ;

Cleo. He was dispos’d to mirth; but on the

Ant.

Forbear me sudden

Exit Second Messenger. A Roman thought bath struck him. Eno. There's a great spirit gone. Thus did I desire it: barbus!

What our contempts do often hurl from us Eno. Madam!

We wish it ours again ; the present pleasure, Cleo. Seek him, and bring him hither. By revolution lowering, does become Where's Alexas ?

The opposite of itself : she's good, being gone; Aler. Here, at your service. My lord ap- The hand could pluck her back' that shová proaches.

her on.

I must from this enchanting queen break off ; Enter ANTONY with a Messenger and Attendants.

Ten thousand harms, more than the ills I know,
Cleo. We will not look upon him ; go with us. My idleness doth hatch. How now! Enoba'rbus !
Exeunt CLEOPATRA, ENOBARBUS, ALEXAS,
IRAS, CHARMIAN, Soothsayer, and

Re-enter ENOBARBUS.
Attendants.

Eno. What's your pleasure, sir ? Mess. Fulvia thy wife first came into the Ant. I must with haste from hence. field.

Eno. Why, then, we kill all our women. We Ant. Against my brother Lucius?

see how mortal an unkindness is to them; if M€88. Ar:

they suffer our departure, death 's the word. But soon that war had end, and the time's state Ant. I must be gone. Made friends of them, jointing their force Eno. Under a compelling occasion let women 'gainst Cæsar,

101 die ; it were pity to cast them away for nothing ; Whose better issue in the war, from Italy though between them and a great cause they Upon the first encounter drave them.

should be esteemed nothing. Cleopatra, catch. Ant.

Well, what worst ? ing but the least noise of this, dies instantly; I Mess. The nature of bad news infects the have seen her die twenty times upon far poorer teller.

moment. I do think there is mettle in death Ant. When it concerns the fool or coward. which commits some loving act upon her, she

hath such a celerity in dying. Things that are past are done with me. 'Tis Ant. She is cunning past man's thought. thus :

Eno. Alack! sir, no; her passions are made Who tells me true, though in his tale lie death, of nothing but the finest part of pure love. We I hear him as he flatter'd.

cannot call her winds and waters sighs and Mess.

Labienus,

tears ; they are greater storms and tempests This is stiff news, hath with his Parthian force than almanacs can report : this cannot be cun. Extended Asia ; from Euphrates

110 ning in her; if it be, she makes a shower of rain His conquering banner shook from Syria as well as Jove. To Lydia and to Ionia : whilst

Ant. Would I had never seen her! Ant. Antony, thou would'st say,

Eno. O, sir! you had then left unseen a wonMess. 0! my lord.

derful piece of work, which not to have been Ant. Speak to me home, mince not the general blessed withal would have discredited your tongue;

travel. Name Cleopatra as she is call'd in Rome ;

Ant. Fulvia is dead.
Rail thou in Fulvia's phrase ; and taunt my Eno. Sir ?
faults

Ant. Fulvia is dead.
With such full license as both truth and malice Eno. Fulvia !
Have power to utter. 0! then we bring forth Ant. Dead.
weeds

Eno. Why, sir, give the gods a thankful sacriWhen our quick winds lie still ; and our ills fice. When it pleaseth their deities to take the

120 wife of a man from him, it shows to man the Is as our earing. Fare thee well awhile. tailors of the earth ; comforting therein, that Mess. At your noble pleasure.

Exit. when old robes are worn out, there are members Ant. From Sicyon, ho, the news ! Speak to make new. If there were no more women there !

but Fulvia, then had you indeed a cut, and the Pirst Att. The man from Sicyon, is there such case to be lamented: this grief is crowned with an one ?

consolation ; your old smock brings forth a new Second Att. He stays upon your will.

petticoat ; and indeed the tears live in an onion Ant.

Let him appear. that should water this sorrow.
These strong Egyptian fetters I must break, Ant. The business she hath broached in the
Or lose myself in dotage.

Cannot endure my absence.
Enter another Messenger.

Eno. And the business you have broached What are you? here cannot be without you; especially that Second Mess. Fulvia thy wife is dead.

of Cleopatra's, which wholly depends on your Ant.

Where died she? abode. Second Mess. In Sicyon :

Ant. No more light answers. Let our officers Her length of sickness, with what else more Have notice what we purpose. I shall break serious

The cause of our expedience to the queen, Importeth thee to know, this bears.

| And get her leave to part. For not alone Gives a letter The death of Fulvia, with more urgent touches,

a

163

170

told us

state

190

130

210

30

Do strongly speak to us, but the letters too Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Of many our contriving friends in Rome Who have been false to Fulvia ? Riotous Petition us at home. Sextus Pompeius

madness, Hath given the dare to Cæsar, and commands To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, The empire of the sea ; our slippery people, 200 Which break themselves in swearing! Whose love is never link'd to the deserver

Ant.

Most sweet queen, Till his deserts are past, begin to throw

Cleo. Nay, pray you, seek no colour for your Pompey the Great and all his dignities

going, Upon his son; who, high in name and power, But bid farewell, and go: when you sued staying Higher than both in blood and life, stands up Then was the time for words; no going then: For the main soldier, whose quality, going on, Eternity was in our lips and eyes, The sides o' the world may danger. Much is Bliss in our brows' bent; none our parts so poor breeding,

But was a race of heaven ; they are so still, Which, like the courser's hair, hath yet but life, Or thou, the greatest soldier of the world, And not a serpent's poison. Say, our pleasure, Art turn'd the greatest liar. To such whose place is under us, requires

Ant.

How now, lady! Our quick remove from hence.

Cleo. I would I had thy inches; thou should'st Eno. I shall do't.

Exeunt. know

There were a heart in Egypt.
Ant.

Hear me, queen ; SCENE III.-The Same. Another Room.

The strong necessity of time commands

Our services awhile, but my full heart
Enter CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAs, and

Remains in use with you. Our Italy
ALEXAS.

Shines o'er with civil swords ; Sextus Pompeius Cleo. Where is he?

Makes his approaches to the port of Rome; Char.

I did not see him since. Equality of two domestic powers Cleo. See where he is, who's with him, what Breed scrupulous faction. The hated, grown to he does ;

strength, I did not send you: if you find him sad, Are newly grown to love; the condemn'd Say I am dancing; if in mirth, report

Pompey, That I am sudden sick : quick, and return.

Rich in his father's honour, creeps apace

Erit ALEXAS. Into the hearts of such as have not thrir'd Char. Madam, methinks if you did love him Upon the present state, whose numbersthreaten; dearly,

And quietness, grown sick of rest, would purge You do not hold the method to enforce

By any desperate change. My more particular, The like from him.

And that which most with you should safe my Cleo.

What should I do I do not? going, Char. In each thing give him way, cross him Is Fulvia's death. in nothing.

Cleo. Though age from folly could not give Cleo. Thou teachest like a fool ; the way to me freedom, lose him.

10 It does from childishness; can Fulvia die ! Char. Tempt him not so too far; I wish, for- Ant. She's dead, my queen. bear:

Look here, and at thy sovereign leisure read In time we hate that which we often fear. The garboils she awak'd ; at the last, best,

See when and where she died.
Enter ANTONY.

Cleo.

O most false love! But here comes Antony.

Where be the sacred vials thou shouli'st fill Cleo.

I am sick and sullen. With sorrowful water? Now I see, I see, Ant. I am sorry to give breathing to my In Fulvia's death, how mine receiv'd shall be. purpose,

Ant. Quarrel no more, but be prepar'd to know Cleo. Help me away, dear Charmian, I shall The purposes I bear, which are or cease fall :

As you shall give the advice. By the fire It cannot be thus long, the sides of nature That quickens Nilus' slime, I go from hence Will not sustain it.

Thy soldier, servant, making peace or war Ant.

Now, my dearest queen,- As thou affect'st. Cleo. Pray you, stand further from me.

Clco.

Cut my lace, Charmian, come ; Ant.

What's the matter? | But let it be: I am quickly ill, and well ; Cleo. I know, by that same eye, there's some So Antony loves. good news.

Ant.

My precious queen, forbear, What says the married woman? You may go: And give true evidence to his love which stands Would she had never given you leave to come! An honourable trial. Let her not say 'tis I that keep you here ;

Cleo.

So Fulvia told me. I have no power upon you ; hers you are. I pritee, turn aside and weep for her ; Ant. The gods best know,

Then bid adieu to me, and say the tears Cleo.

O! never was there queen Belong to Egypt: good now, play one scene So mightily betray'd ; yet at the first

Of excellent dissembling, and let it look I saw the treasons planted.

Like perfect honour. Ant.

Cleopatra,

Ant. You 'll heat my blood : no more. $ Cleo. Why should I think you can be mine Cleo. You can do better yet, but this is meetly.

Ant. Now, by my sword,

and true,

30

90

Cleo.

And target. Still he mends ; | As his own state and ours, 'tis to be chid
But this is not the best. Look, prithee, Charmian, As we rate boys, who, being mature in knowledge,
How this Herculean Roman does become Pawn their experience to their present pleasure,
The carriage of his chafe.

And so rebel to judgment.
Ant. I 'll leave you, lady.
Cleo.
Courteous lord, one word.

Enter a Messenger.
Sir, you and I must part, but that's not it : Lep.

Here's more news. Sir, you and I have lov’d, but there's not it ; Mess. Thy biddings have been done, and every That you know well: something it is I would, hour, 0! my oblivion is a very Antony,

Most noble Cæsar, shalt thou have report And I am all forgotten.

How 'tis abroad. Pompey is strong at sea, Ant.

But that your royalty And it appears he is belov'd of those Holds idieness your subject, I should take you That only have fear'd Cæsar ; to the ports For idleness itself.

The discontents repair, and men's reports Cleo.

"Tis sweating labour Give him much wrong'd. To bear such idleness so near the heart

Cas.

I should have known no less. 40 As Cleopatra this. But, sir, forgive me; It hath been taught us from the primal state, Since my becomings kill me when they do not That he which is was wish'd until he were; Eye well to you : your honour calls you hence; And the ebb'd man, ne'erlov'dtill ne'erworth love, Therefore be deaf to my unpitied folly,

Comes dear'd by being lack'd. This common And all the gods go with you! Upon your sword body, Sit laurel victory, and smooth success 100 Like to a vagabond flag upon the stream, Be strew'd before your feet!

Goes to and back, lackeying the varying tide, Ant.

Let us go. Come; To rot itself with motion. Our separation so abides and flies,

Mess.

Cæsar, I bring thee word, That thou, residing here, go'st yet with me, Menecrates and Menas, famous pirates, And I, hence fleeting, here remain with thee. Make the sea serve them, which they ear and Away!

Exeunt. wound

With keels of every kind : many hot inroads 50

They make in Italy; the borders maritime SCENE IV.-Rome. A Room in CÆSAR'S House. Lack blood to think on 't, and flush youth revolt; Enter OCTAVIUS CÆSAR, LEPIDUS, and

No vessel can peep forth, but 'tis as soon
Attendants.

Taken as seen; for Pompey's name strikes more

Than could his war resisted. Cres. You may see, Lepidus, and henceforth

Caes.

Antony, know,

Leave thy lascivious wassails. When thou once It is not Cæsar's natural wise to hate

Wast beaten from Modena, where thou slew'st Our great competitor. From Alexandria Hirtius and Pansa, consuls, at thy heel This is the news: he fishes, drinks, and wastes Did famine follow, whom thou fought'st against, The lamps of night in revel; is not more man-like Though daintily brought up, with patience more Than Cleopatra, nor the queen of Ptolemy Than savages could suffer; thou didst drink More womanly than he; hardly gave audience, or The stale of horses and the gilded puddle Vouchsaf'd to think he had partners : you shall Which beasts would cough at; thy palate then find there

did deign A man who is the abstract of all faults

The roughest berry on the rudest hedge; That all men follow.

Yea, like the stag, when snow the pasture sheets, Lep.

I must not think there are The barks of trees thou browsed'st; on the Alps Evils enow to darken all his goodness ;

It is reported thou didst eat strange flesh, His faults in him seem as the spots of heaven, Which some did die to look on; and all this, More fiery by night's blackness; hereditary It wounds thine honour that I speak it now, Rather than purchas'd ; what he cannot change was borne so like a soldier, that thy cheek Than what he chooses.

So much as lank'd not. Coes. You are too indulgent. Let us grant it Lep. 'Tis pity of him. is not

Cæs. Let his shames quickly Amiss to tumble on the bed of Ptolemy,

Drive him to Rome. 'Tis time we twain To give a kingdom for a mirth, to sit

Did show ourselves i' the field; and to that end And keep the turn of tippling with a slave, Assemble we immediate council; Pompey To reel the streets at noon, and stand the buffet | Thrives in our idleness. With knaves that smell of sweat ; say this be- Lep.

To-morrow,

Cæsar, comes him,

I shall be furnish'd to inform you rightly
As his composure must be rare indeed

Both what by sea and land I can be able
Whom these things cannot blemish, yet must To front this present time.
Antony

Cres.

Till which encounter, 80
No way excuse his soils, when we do bear It is my business too. Farewell.
So great weight in his lightness. If he fill'd Lep. Farewell, my lord. What you shall know
His vacancy with his voluptuousness,

meantime
Full surfeits and the dryness of his bones Of stirs abroad, I shall beseech you, sir,
Call on him for 't; but to confound such time To let me be partaker.
That drums him from his sport, and speaks as Cæs.

Doubt not, sir; loud

I knew it for my bond.

Exeunt.

61

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70

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