The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Part 37

ACT_4|SC_1 ACT IV. SCENE I.

CAESAR'S camp before Alexandria

Enter CAESAR, AGRIPPA, and MAECENAS, with his army; CAESAR reading a letter

CAESAR. He calls me boy, and chides as he had power To beat me out of Egypt. My messenger He hath whipt with rods; dares me to personal combat, Caesar to Antony. Let the old ruffian know I have many other ways to die, meantime Laugh at his challenge.

MAECENAS. Caesar must think When one so great begins to rage, he's hunted Even to falling. Give him no breath, but now Make boot of his distraction. Never anger Made good guard for itself.

CAESAR. Let our best heads 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! Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_2 SCENE II.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

Enter ANTONY, CLEOPATRA, En.o.bARBUS, CHARMIAN, IRAS, ALEXAS, with others

ANTONY. He will not fight with me, Domitius?

En.o.bARBUS. No.

ANTONY. Why should he not?

En.o.bARBUS. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one.

ANTONY. 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?

En.o.bARBUS. I'll strike, and cry 'Take all.'

ANTONY. Well said; come on.

Call forth my household servants; let's to-night Be bounteous at our meal.

Enter three or four servitors

Give me thy hand, Thou has been rightly honest. So hast thou; Thou, and thou, and thou. You have serv'd me well, And kings have been your fellows.

CLEOPATRA. [Aside to En.o.bARBUS] What means this?

En.o.bARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] 'Tis one of those odd tricks which sorrow shoots Out of the mind.

ANTONY. And thou art honest too.

I wish I could be made so many men, And all of you clapp'd up together in An Antony, that I might do you service So good as you have done.

SERVANT. The G.o.ds forbid!

ANTONY. Well, my good fellows, wait on me to-night.

Scant not my cups, and make as much of me As when mine empire was your fellow too, And suffer'd my command.

CLEOPATRA. [Aside to En.o.bARBUS] What does he mean?

En.o.bARBUS. [Aside to CLEOPATRA] To make his followers weep.

ANTONY. Tend me to-night; May be it is the period of your duty.

Haply you shall not see me more; or if, A mangled shadow. Perchance to-morrow You'll serve another master. I look on you As one that takes his leave. Mine honest friends, I turn you not away; but, like a master Married to your good service, stay till death.

Tend me to-night two hours, I ask no more, And the G.o.ds yield you for't!

En.o.bARBUS. What mean you, sir, To give them this discomfort? Look, they weep; And I, an a.s.s, am onion-ey'd. For shame!

Transform us not to women.

ANTONY. Ho, ho, ho!

Now the witch take me if I meant it thus!

Grace grow where those drops fall! My hearty friends, You take me in too dolorous a sense; For I spake to you for your comfort, did desire you To burn this night with torches. Know, my hearts, I hope well of to-morrow, and will lead you Where rather I'll expect victorious life Than death and honour. Let's to supper, come, And drown consideration. Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_3 SCENE III.

Alexandria. Before CLEOPATRA's palace

Enter a company of soldiers

FIRST SOLDIER. Brother, good night. To-morrow is the day.

SECOND SOLDIER. It will determine one way. Fare you well.

Heard you of nothing strange about the streets?

FIRST SOLDIER. Nothing. What news?

SECOND SOLDIER. Belike 'tis but a rumour. Good night to you.

FIRST SOLDIER. Well, sir, good night.

[They meet other soldiers]

SECOND SOLDIER. Soldiers, have careful watch.

FIRST SOLDIER. And you. Good night, good night.

[The two companies separate and place themselves in every corner of the stage]

SECOND SOLDIER. Here we. And if to-morrow Our navy thrive, I have an absolute hope Our landmen will stand up.

THIRD SOLDIER. 'Tis a brave army, And full of purpose.

[Music of the hautboys is under the stage]

SECOND SOLDIER. Peace, what noise?

THIRD SOLDIER. List, list!

SECOND SOLDIER. Hark!

THIRD SOLDIER. Music i' th' air.

FOURTH SOLDIER. Under the earth.

THIRD SOLDIER. It signs well, does it not?

FOURTH SOLDIER. No.

THIRD SOLDIER. Peace, I say!

What should this mean?

SECOND SOLDIER. 'Tis the G.o.d Hercules, whom Antony lov'd, Now leaves him.

THIRD SOLDIER. Walk; let's see if other watchmen Do hear what we do.

SECOND SOLDIER. How now, masters!

SOLDIERS. [Speaking together] How now!

How now! Do you hear this?

FIRST SOLDIER. Ay; is't not strange?

THIRD SOLDIER. Do you hear, masters? Do you hear?

FIRST SOLDIER. Follow the noise so far as we have quarter; Let's see how it will give off.

SOLDIERS. Content. 'Tis strange. Exeunt

ACT_4|SC_4 SCENE IV.

Alexandria. CLEOPATRA's palace

Enter ANTONY and CLEOPATRA, CHARMIAN, IRAS, with others

ANTONY. Eros! mine armour, Eros!

CLEOPATRA. Sleep a little.

ANTONY. No, my chuck. Eros! Come, mine armour, Eros!

Enter EROS with armour

Come, good fellow, put mine iron on.

If fortune be not ours to-day, it is Because we brave her. Come.

CLEOPATRA. Nay, I'll help too.

What's this for?

ANTONY. Ah, let be, let be! Thou art The armourer of my heart. False, false; this, this.

CLEOPATRA. Sooth, la, I'll help. Thus it must be.

ANTONY. Well, well; We shall thrive now. Seest thou, my good fellow?

Go put on thy defences.