Shakespeare's First Folio Part 658

Ant. By Sea, by Sea

Eno. Most worthy Sir, you therein throw away The absolute Soldiership you haue by Land, Distract your Armie, which doth most consist Of Warre-markt-footmen, leaue vnexecuted Your owne renowned knowledge, quite forgoe The way which promises a.s.surance, and Giue vp your selfe meerly to chance and hazard, From firme Securitie

Ant. Ile fight at Sea

Cleo. I haue sixty Sailes, Caesar none better

Ant. Our ouer-plus of shipping will we burne, And with the rest full mann'd, from th' head of Action Beate th' approaching Caesar. But if we faile, We then can doo't at Land.

Enter a Messenger.

Thy Businesse?

Mes. The Newes is true, my Lord, he is descried, Caesar ha's taken Toryne

Ant. Can he be there in person? 'Tis impossible Strange, that his power should be. Camidius, Our nineteene Legions thou shalt hold by Land, And our twelue thousand Horse. Wee'l to our Ship, Away my Thetis.

Enter a Soldiour.

How now worthy Souldier?

Soul. Oh n.o.ble Emperor, do not fight by Sea, Trust not to rotten plankes: Do you mis...o...b.. This Sword, and these my Wounds; let th' Egyptians And the Phoenicians go a ducking: wee Haue vs'd to conquer standing on the earth, And fighting foot to foot

Ant. Well, well, away.

exit Ant. Cleo. & En.o.b

Soul. By Hercules I thinke I am i'th' right

Cam. Souldier thou art: but his whole action growes Not in the power on't: so our Leaders leade, And we are Womens mens

Soul. You keepe by Land the Legions and the Horse whole, do you not?

Ven. Marcus Octauius, Marcus Iusteus, Publicola, and Celius, are for Sea: But we keepe whole by Land. This speede of Caesars Carries beyond beleefe

Soul. While he was yet in Rome, His power went out in such distractions, As beguilde all Spies

Cam. Who's his Lieutenant, heare you?

Soul. They say, one Towrus

Cam. Well, I know the man.

Enter a Messenger.

Mes. The Emperor cals Camidius

Cam. With Newes the times with Labour, And throwes forth each minute, some.

Exeunt.

Enter Caesar with his Army, marching.

Caes Towrus?

Tow. My Lord

Caes Strike not by Land, Keepe whole, prouoke not Battaile Till we haue done at Sea. Do not exceede The Prescript of this Scroule: Our fortune lyes Vpon this iumpe.

Enter.

Enter Anthony, and En.o.barbus.

Ant. Set we our Squadrons on yond side o'th' Hill, In eye of Caesars battaile, from which place We may the number of the Ships behold, And so proceed accordingly.

Enter.

Camidius Marcheth with his Land Army one way ouer the stage, and Towrus the Lieutenant of Caesar the other way: After their going in, is heard the noise of a Sea fight. Alarum. Enter En.o.barbus and Scarus.

Eno. Naught, naught, al naught, I can behold no longer: Thantoniad, the Egyptian Admirall, With all their sixty flye, and turne the Rudder: To see't, mine eyes are blasted.

Enter Scarrus.

Scar. G.o.ds, & G.o.ddesses, all the whol synod of them!

Eno. What's thy pa.s.sion

Scar. The greater Cantle of the world, is lost With very ignorance, we haue kist away Kingdomes, and Prouinces

Eno. How appeares the Fight?

Scar. On our side, like the Token'd Pestilence, Where death is sure. Yon ribaudred Nagge of Egypt, (Whom Leprosie o're-take) i'th' midst o'th' fight, When vantage like a payre of Twinnes appear'd Both as the same, or rather ours the elder; (The Breeze vpon her) like a Cow in Iune, Hoists Sailes, and flyes

Eno. That I beheld: Mine eyes did sicken at the sight, and could not Indure a further view

Scar. She once being looft, The n.o.ble ruine of her Magicke, Anthony, Claps on his Sea-wing, and (like a doting Mallard) Leauing the Fight in heighth, flyes after her: I neuer saw an Action of such shame; Experience, Man-hood, Honor, ne're before, Did violate so it selfe

En.o.b. Alacke, alacke.

Enter Camidius

Cam. Our Fortune on the Sea is out of breath, And sinkes most lamentably. Had our Generall Bin what he knew himselfe, it had gone well: Oh his ha's giuen example for our flight, Most grossely by his owne

En.o.b. I, are you thereabouts? Why then goodnight indeede

Cam. Toward Peloponnesus are they fled

Scar. 'Tis easie toot, And there I will attend what further comes

Camid. To Caesar will I render My Legions and my Horse, sixe Kings alreadie Shew me the way of yeelding

Eno. Ile yet follow The wounded chance of Anthony, though my reason Sits in the winde against me.

Enter Anthony with Attendants.

Ant. Hearke, the Land bids me tread no more vpon't, It is asham'd to beare me. Friends, come hither, I am so lated in the world, that I Haue lost my way for euer. I haue a shippe, Laden with Gold, take that, diuide it: flye, And make your peace with Caesar

Omnes. Fly? Not wee

Ant. I haue fled my selfe, and haue instructed cowards To runne, and shew their shoulders. Friends be gone, I haue my selfe resolu'd vpon a course, Which has no neede of you. Be gone, My Treasure's in the Harbour. Take it: Oh, I follow'd that I blush to looke vpon, My very haires do mutiny: for the white Reproue the browne for rashnesse, and they them For feare, and doting. Friends be gone, you shall Haue Letters from me to some Friends, that will Sweepe your way for you. Pray you looke not sad, Nor make replyes of loathnesse, take the hint Which my dispaire proclaimes. Let them be left Which leaues it selfe, to the Sea-side straight way; I will possesse you of that ship and Treasure.

Leaue me, I pray a little: pray you now, Nay do so: for indeede I haue lost command, Therefore I pray you, Ile see you by and by.

Sits downe