Can. With news the time 's with labour, and throes forth

Each minute some.

[Exeunt.

Scene VIII.

A plain near Actium.

Enter Cæsar, Taurus, with his army, marching.

Cas. Taurus!

Taur. My lord?

Cas. Strike not by land; keep whole: provoke not battle,
Till we have done at sea. Do not exceed

The prescript of this scroll: our fortune lies
Upon this jump.

[Exeunt.

Scene IX.

Another part of the plain.

Enter Antony and Enobarbus.

Ant. Set we our squadrons on yond side o' the hill,
In eye of Cæsar's battle; from which place

We may the number of the ships behold,
And so proceed accordingly.

[Exeunt.

Scene X.

Another part of the plain.

Enter Canidius, marching with his land army one way; and Taurus, the lieutenant of Cæsar, with his army, the other way. After their going in, is heard the noise of a sea-fight.

Alarum. Enter Enobarbus.

Eno. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer!
The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral,

With all their sixty, fly and turn the rudder:
To see 't mine eyes are blasted.

Enter Scarus.

Scar.

Gods and goddesses,

All the whole synod of them!

Eno.

What's thy passion?

Scar. The greater cantle of the world is lost.
With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away
Kingdoms and provinces.

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Eno.
How appears the fight?
Scar. On our side like the token'd pestilence,
Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred nag of Egypt-
Whom leprosy o'ertake!-i' the midst o' the fight,
When vantage like a pair of twins appear'd,
Both as the same, or rather ours the elder,—

The breese upon her, like a cow in June!—
Hoists sails and flies.

Eno. That I beheld:

Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not
Endure a further view.

Scar.

She once being loof'd,

The noble ruin of her magic, Antony,

Claps on his sea-wing, and like a doting mallard, 20
Leaving the fight in height, flies after her:

I never saw an action of such shame;
Experience, manhood, honour, ne'er before
Did violate so itself.

Eno.

Alack, alack!

Enter Canidius.

Can. Our fortune on the sea is out of breath,
And sinks most lamentably. Had our general
Been what he knew himself, it had gone well:
O, he has given example for our flight
Most grossly by his own!

Eno. Ay, are you thereabouts? Why then good night

Indeed.

Can. Toward Peloponnesus are they fled.

Scar. 'Tis easy to 't; and there I will attend

Can.

Eno.

What further comes.

To Cæsar will I render
My legions and my horse: six kings already
Show me the way of yielding.

I'll yet follow

The wounded chance of Antony, though my reason
Sits in the wind against me.

Scene XI.

Alexandria. Cleopatra's palace.

Enter Antony with Attendants.

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[Exeunt.

Ant. Hark! the land bids me tread no more upon 't; It is ashamed to bear me. Friends, come hither: I am so lated in the world that I

Have lost my way for ever.
I have a ship
Laden with gold; take that, divide it; fly,
And make your peace with Cæsar.

All.
Fly! not we.
Ant. I have fled myself, and have instructed cowards
To run and show their shoulders. Friends, be gone;
I have myself resolved upon a course
Which has no need of you; be gone:

My treasure's in the harbour, take it. O,
I follow'd that I blush to look upon:
My very hairs do mutiny, for the white

ΙΟ

Reprove the brown for rashness, and they them
For fear and doting. Friends, be gone: you shall
Have letters from me to some friends that will
Sweep your way for you. Pray you, look not sad,
Nor make replies of loathness: take the hint
Which my despair proclaims; let that be left
Which leaves itself: to the sea-side straightway: 20
I will possess you of that ship and treasure.
Leave me, I pray, a little: pray you now:
Nay, do so; for indeed I have lost command,
Therefore I pray you: I'll see you by and by.

[Sits down.

Enter Cleopatra led by Charmian and Iras; Eros

following.

Eros. Nay, gentle madam, to him, comfort him.

Iras. Do, most dear queen.

Char. Do! why, what else?

Cleo. Let me sit down. O Juno!

Ant. No, no, no, no, no.

Eros. See you here, sir?

Ant. O fie, fie, fie!

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Char. Madam!

Iras. Madam, O good empress!

Eros. Sir, sir!

Ant. Yes, my lord, yes; he at Philippi kept

His sword e'en like a dancer; while I struck
The lean and wrinkled Cassius; and 'twas I
That the mad Brutus ended: he alone

Dealt on lieutenantry and no practice had

In the brave squares of war: yet now-No matter. Cleo. Ah! stand by.

Eros. The queen, my lord, the queen.
Iras. Go to him, madam, speak to him:

He is unqualitied with very shame.

Cleo. Well then, sustain me: O!

Eros. Most noble sir, arise; the queen approaches:
Her head's declined, and death will seize her, but
Your comfort makes the rescue.

Ant. I have offended reputation,

Eros.

A most unnoble swerving.

Sir, the queen.

Ant. O, whither hast thou led me, Egypt? See,
How I convey my shame out of thine eyes
By looking back what I have left behind.
Stroy'd in dishonour.

Cleo.

O my lord, my lord,

Forgive my fearful sails! I little thought
You would have follow'd.

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50

Ant.
Egypt, thou knew'st too well
My heart was to thy rudder tied by the strings,
And thou shouldst tow me after: o'er my spirit
Thy full supremacy thou knew'st, and that
Thy beck might from the bidding of the gods

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