ACTISCENEI。Alexandria。AroominCLEOPATRA’spalace。EnterDEMETRIUSandPHILOPHILONay,butthisdotageofourgeneral’sO’erflowsthemeasure:thosehisgoodlyeyes,Thato’erthefilesandmustersofthewarHaveglow’dlikeplatedMars,nowbend,nowturn,TheofficeanddevotionoftheirviewUponatawnyfront:hiscaptain’sheart,WhichinthescufflesofgreatfightshathburstThebucklesonhisbreast,renegesalltemper,AndisbecomethebellowsandthefanTocoolagipsy’slust。
Flourish。EnterANTONY,CLEOPATRA,herLadies,theTrain,withEunuchsfanningherLook,wheretheycome:
Takebutgoodnote,andyoushallseeinhim。
Thetriplepillaroftheworldtransform’dIntoastrumpet’sfool:beholdandsee。CLEOPATRAIfitbeloveindeed,tellmehowmuch。MARKANTONYThere’sbeggaryinthelovethatcanbereckon’d。CLEOPATRAI’llsetabournhowfartobebeloved。MARKANTONYThenmustthouneedsfindoutnewheaven,newearth。
EnteranAttendantAttendantNews,mygoodlord,fromRome。MARKANTONYGratesme:thesum。CLEOPATRANay,hearthem,Antony:
Fulviaperchanceisangry;or,whoknowsIfthescarce—beardedCaesarhavenotsentHispowerfulmandatetoyou,’Dothis,orthis;
Takeinthatkingdom,andenfranchisethat;
Perform’t,orelsewedamnthee。’MARKANTONYHow,mylove!CLEOPATRAPerchance!nay,andmostlike:
Youmustnotstayherelonger,yourdismissionIscomefromCaesar;thereforehearit,Antony。
Where’sFulvia’sprocess?Caesar’sIwouldsay?
both?
Callinthemessengers。AsIamEgypt’squeen,Thoublushest,Antony;andthatbloodofthineIsCaesar’shomager:elsesothycheekpaysshameWhenshrill—tonguedFulviascolds。Themessengers!MARKANTONYLetRomeinTibermelt,andthewidearchOftherangedempirefall!Hereismyspace。
Kingdomsareclay:ourdungyearthalikeFeedsbeastasman:thenoblenessoflifeIstodothus;whensuchamutualpairEmbracingAndsuchatwaincando’t,inwhichIbind,Onpainofpunishment,theworldtoweetWestanduppeerless。CLEOPATRAExcellentfalsehood!
WhydidhemarryFulvia,andnotloveher?
I’llseemthefoolIamnot;AntonyWillbehimself。MARKANTONYButstirr’dbyCleopatra。
Now,fortheloveofLoveandhersofthours,Let’snotconfoundthetimewithconferenceharsh:
There’snotaminuteofourlivesshouldstretchWithoutsomepleasurenow。Whatsporttonight?CLEOPATRAHeartheambassadors。MARKANTONYFie,wranglingqueen!
Whomeverythingbecomes,tochide,tolaugh,Toweep;whoseeverypassionfullystrivesTomakeitself,inthee,fairandadmired!
Nomessenger,butthine;andallaloneTo—nightwe’llwanderthroughthestreetsandnoteThequalitiesofpeople。Come,myqueen;
Lastnightyoudiddesireit:speaknottous。
ExeuntMARKANTONYandCLEOPATRAwiththeirtrainDEMETRIUSIsCaesarwithAntoniusprizedsoslight?PHILOSir,sometimes,whenheisnotAntony,HecomestooshortofthatgreatpropertyWhichstillshouldgowithAntony。DEMETRIUSIamfullsorryThatheapprovesthecommonliar,whoThusspeaksofhimatRome:butIwillhopeOfbetterdeedsto—morrow。Restyouhappy!
ExeuntSCENEII。Thesame。Anotherroom。EnterCHARMIAN,IRAS,ALEXAS,andaSoothsayerCHARMIANLordAlexas,sweetAlexas,mostanythingAlexas,almostmostabsoluteAlexas,where’sthesoothsayerthatyoupraisedsotothequeen?O,thatIknewthishusband,which,yousay,mustchargehishornswithgarlands!ALEXASSoothsayer!SoothsayerYourwill?CHARMIANIsthistheman?Is’tyou,sir,thatknowthings?SoothsayerInnature’sinfinitebookofsecrecyAlittleIcanread。ALEXASShowhimyourhand。
EnterDOMITIUSENOBARBUSDOMITIUSENOBARBUSBringinthebanquetquickly;wineenoughCleopatra’shealthtodrink。CHARMIANGoodsir,givemegoodfortune。SoothsayerImakenot,butforesee。CHARMIANPray,then,foreseemeone。SoothsayerYoushallbeyetfarfairerthanyouare。CHARMIANHemeansinflesh。IRASNo,youshallpaintwhenyouareold。CHARMIANWrinklesforbid!ALEXASVexnothisprescience;beattentive。CHARMIANHush!SoothsayerYoushallbemorebelovingthanbeloved。CHARMIANIhadratherheatmyliverwithdrinking。ALEXASNay,hearhim。CHARMIANGoodnow,someexcellentfortune!Letmebemarriedtothreekingsinaforenoon,andwidowthemall:
letmehaveachildatfifty,towhomHerodofJewrymaydohomage:findmetomarrymewithOctaviusCaesar,andcompanionmewithmymistress。SoothsayerYoushalloutlivetheladywhomyouserve。CHARMIANOexcellent!Ilovelonglifebetterthanfigs。SoothsayerYouhaveseenandprovedafairerformerfortuneThanthatwhichistoapproach。CHARMIANThenbelikemychildrenshallhavenonames:
prithee,howmanyboysandwenchesmustIhave?SoothsayerIfeveryofyourwisheshadawomb。
Andfertileeverywish,amillion。CHARMIANOut,fool!Iforgivetheeforawitch。ALEXASYouthinknonebutyoursheetsareprivytoyourwishes。CHARMIANNay,come,tellIrashers。ALEXASWe’llknowallourfortunes。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSMine,andmostofourfortunes,to—night,shallbe——drunktobed。IRASThere’sapalmpresageschastity,ifnothingelse。CHARMIANE’enastheo’erflowingNiluspresagethfamine。IRASGo,youwildbedfellow,youcannotsoothsay。CHARMIANNay,ifanoilypalmbenotafruitfulprognostication,Icannotscratchmineear。Prithee,tellherbutaworky—dayfortune。SoothsayerYourfortunesarealike。IRASButhow,buthow?givemeparticulars。SoothsayerIhavesaid。IRASAmInotaninchoffortunebetterthanshe?CHARMIANWell,ifyouwerebutaninchoffortunebetterthanI,wherewouldyouchooseit?IRASNotinmyhusband’snose。CHARMIANOurworserthoughtsheavensmend!Alexas,——come,hisfortune,hisfortune!O,lethimmarryawomanthatcannotgo,sweetIsis,Ibeseechthee!andletherdietoo,andgivehimaworse!andletworstfollowworse,tilltheworstofallfollowhimlaughingtohisgrave,fifty—foldacuckold!GoodIsis,hearmethisprayer,thoughthoudenymeamatterofmoreweight;goodIsis,Ibeseechthee!IRASAmen。Deargoddess,hearthatprayerofthepeople!
for,asitisaheartbreakingtoseeahandsomemanloose—wived,soitisadeadlysorrowtobeholdafoulknaveuncuckolded:therefore,dearIsis,keepdecorum,andfortunehimaccordingly!CHARMIANAmen。ALEXASLo,now,ifitlayintheirhandstomakemeacuckold,theywouldmakethemselveswhores,butthey’lddo’t!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHush!herecomesAntony。CHARMIANNothe;thequeen。
EnterCLEOPATRACLEOPATRASawyoumylord?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNo,lady。CLEOPATRAWashenothere?CHARMIANNo,madam。CLEOPATRAHewasdisposedtomirth;butonthesuddenARomanthoughthathstruckhim。Enobarbus!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSMadam?CLEOPATRASeekhim,andbringhimhither。
Where’sAlexas?ALEXASHere,atyourservice。Mylordapproaches。CLEOPATRAWewillnotlookuponhim:gowithus。
ExeuntEnterMARKANTONYwithaMessengerandAttendantsMessengerFulviathywifefirstcameintothefield。MARKANTONYAgainstmybrotherLucius?MessengerAy:
Butsoonthatwarhadend,andthetime’sstateMadefriendsofthem,joiningtheirforce’gainstCaesar;
Whosebetterissueinthewar,fromItaly,Uponthefirstencounter,dravethem。MARKANTONYWell,whatworst?MessengerThenatureofbadnewsinfectstheteller。MARKANTONYWhenitconcernsthefoolorcoward。On:
Thingsthatarepastaredonewithme。’Tisthus:
Whotellsmetrue,thoughinhistaleliedeath,Ihearhimasheflatter’d。MessengerLabienus——
Thisisstiffnews——hath,withhisParthianforce,ExtendedAsiafromEuphrates;
HisconqueringbannershookfromSyriaToLydiaandtoIonia;Whilst——MARKANTONYAntony,thouwouldstsay,——MessengerO,mylord!MARKANTONYSpeaktomehome,mincenotthegeneraltongue:
NameCleopatraassheiscall’dinRome;
RailthouinFulvia’sphrase;andtauntmyfaultsWithsuchfulllicenceasbothtruthandmaliceHavepowertoutter。O,thenwebringforthweeds,Whenourquickmindsliestill;andourillstoldusIsasourearing。Faretheewellawhile。MessengerAtyournoblepleasure。
ExitMARKANTONYFromSicyon,ho,thenews!Speakthere!FirstAttendantThemanfromSicyon,——istheresuchanone?SecondAttendantHestaysuponyourwill。MARKANTONYLethimappear。
ThesestrongEgyptianfettersImustbreak,Orlosemyselfindotage。
EnteranotherMessengerWhatareyou?SecondMessengerFulviathywifeisdead。MARKANTONYWherediedshe?SecondMessengerInSicyon:
Herlengthofsickness,withwhatelsemoreseriousImporteththeetoknow,thisbears。
GivesaletterMARKANTONYForbearme。
ExitSecondMessengerThere’sagreatspiritgone!ThusdidIdesireit:
Whatourcontemptdothoftenhurlfromus,Wewishitoursagain;thepresentpleasure,Byrevolutionlowering,doesbecomeTheoppositeofitself:she’sgood,beinggone;
Thehandcouldpluckherbackthatshovedheron。
Imustfromthisenchantingqueenbreakoff:
Tenthousandharms,morethantheillsIknow,Myidlenessdothhatch。Hownow!Enobarbus!
Re—enterDOMITIUSENOBARBUSDOMITIUSENOBARBUSWhat’syourpleasure,sir?MARKANTONYImustwithhastefromhence。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWhy,then,wekillallourwomen:
weseehowmortalanunkindnessistothem;
iftheysufferourdeparture,death’stheword。MARKANTONYImustbegone。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSUnderacompellingoccasion,letwomendie;itwerepitytocastthemawayfornothing;though,betweenthemandagreatcause,theyshouldbeesteemednothing。Cleopatra,catchingbuttheleastnoiseofthis,diesinstantly;Ihaveseenherdietwentytimesuponfarpoorermoment:Idothinkthereismettleindeath,whichcommitssomelovingactuponher,shehathsuchacelerityindying。MARKANTONYSheiscunningpastman’sthought。
ExitALEXASDOMITIUSENOBARBUSAlack,sir,no;herpassionsaremadeofnothingbutthefinestpartofpurelove:wecannotcallherwindsandwaterssighsandtears;theyaregreaterstormsandtempeststhanalmanacscanreport:
thiscannotbecunninginher;ifitbe,shemakesashowerofrainaswellasJove。MARKANTONYWouldIhadneverseenher。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSO,sir,youhadthenleftunseenawonderfulpieceofwork;whichnottohavebeenblestwithalwouldhavediscreditedyourtravel。MARKANTONYFulviaisdead。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSSir?MARKANTONYFulviaisdead。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSFulvia!MARKANTONYDead。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWhy,sir,givethegodsathankfulsacrifice。
Whenitpleaseththeirdeitiestotakethewifeofamanfromhim,itshowstomanthetailorsoftheearth;
comfortingtherein,thatwhenoldrobesarewornout,therearememberstomakenew。IftherewerenomorewomenbutFulvia,thenhadyouindeedacut,andthecasetobelamented:thisgriefiscrownedwithconsolation;youroldsmockbringsforthanewpetticoat:andindeedthetearsliveinanonionthatshouldwaterthissorrow。MARKANTONYThebusinessshehathbroachedinthestateCannotenduremyabsence。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAndthebusinessyouhavebroachedherecannotbewithoutyou;especiallythatofCleopatra’s,whichwhollydependsonyourabode。MARKANTONYNomorelightanswers。LetourofficersHavenoticewhatwepurpose。IshallbreakThecauseofourexpediencetothequeen,Andgetherleavetopart。FornotaloneThedeathofFulvia,withmoreurgenttouches,Dostronglyspeaktous;buttheletterstooOfmanyourcontrivingfriendsinRomePetitionusathome:SextusPompeiusHathgiventhedaretoCaesar,andcommandsTheempireofthesea:ourslipperypeople,Whoseloveisneverlink’dtothedeserverTillhisdesertsarepast,begintothrowPompeytheGreatandallhisdignitiesUponhisson;who,highinnameandpower,Higherthanbothinbloodandlife,standsupForthemainsoldier:whosequality,goingon,Thesideso’theworldmaydanger:muchisbreeding,Which,likethecourser’shair,hathyetbutlife,Andnotaserpent’spoison。Say,ourpleasure,Tosuchwhoseplaceisunderus,requiresOurquickremovefromhence。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIshalldo’t。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Thesame。Anotherroom。EnterCLEOPATRA,CHARMIAN,IRAS,andALEXASCLEOPATRAWhereishe?CHARMIANIdidnotseehimsince。CLEOPATRASeewhereheis,who’swithhim,whathedoes:
Ididnotsendyou:ifyoufindhimsad,SayIamdancing;ifinmirth,reportThatIamsuddensick:quick,andreturn。
ExitALEXASCHARMIANMadam,methinks,ifyoudidlovehimdearly,YoudonotholdthemethodtoenforceThelikefromhim。CLEOPATRAWhatshouldIdo,Idonot?CHARMIANIneachthinggivehimway,crosshimnothing。CLEOPATRAThouteachestlikeafool;thewaytolosehim。CHARMIANTempthimnotsotoofar;Iwish,forbear:
Intimewehatethatwhichweoftenfear。
ButherecomesAntony。
EnterMARKANTONYCLEOPATRAIamsickandsullen。MARKANTONYIamsorrytogivebreathingtomypurpose,——CLEOPATRAHelpmeaway,dearCharmian;Ishallfall:
Itcannotbethuslong,thesidesofnatureWillnotsustainit。MARKANTONYNow,mydearestqueen,——CLEOPATRAPrayyou,standfurtherfromme。MARKANTONYWhat’sthematter?CLEOPATRAIknow,bythatsameeye,there’ssomegoodnews。
Whatsaysthemarriedwoman?Youmaygo:
Wouldshehadnevergivenyouleavetocome!
Lethernotsay’tisIthatkeepyouhere:
Ihavenopoweruponyou;hersyouare。MARKANTONYThegodsbestknow,——CLEOPATRAO,neverwastherequeenSomightilybetray’d!yetatthefirstIsawthetreasonsplanted。MARKANTONYCleopatra,——CLEOPATRAWhyshouldIthinkyoucanbemineandtrue,Thoughyouinswearingshakethethronedgods,WhohavebeenfalsetoFulvia?Riotousmadness,Tobeentangledwiththosemouth—madevows,Whichbreakthemselvesinswearing!MARKANTONYMostsweetqueen,——CLEOPATRANay,prayyou,seeknocolourforyourgoing,Butbidfarewell,andgo:whenyousuedstaying,Thenwasthetimeforwords:nogoingthen;
Eternitywasinourlipsandeyes,Blissinourbrows’bent;noneourpartssopoor,Butwasaraceofheaven:theyaresostill,Orthou,thegreatestsoldieroftheworld,Artturn’dthegreatestliar。MARKANTONYHownow,lady!CLEOPATRAIwouldIhadthyinches;thoushouldstknowTherewereaheartinEgypt。MARKANTONYHearme,queen:
ThestrongnecessityoftimecommandsOurservicesawhile;butmyfullheartRemainsinusewithyou。OurItalyShineso’erwithcivilswords:SextusPompeiusMakeshisapproachestotheportofRome:
EqualityoftwodomesticpowersBreedscrupulousfaction:thehated,growntostrength,Arenewlygrowntolove:thecondemn’dPompey,Richinhisfather’shonour,creepsapace,IntotheheartsofsuchashavenotthrivedUponthepresentstate,whosenumbersthreaten;
Andquietness,grownsickofrest,wouldpurgeByanydesperatechange:mymoreparticular,Andthatwhichmostwithyoushouldsafemygoing,IsFulvia’sdeath。CLEOPATRAThoughagefromfollycouldnotgivemefreedom,Itdoesfromchildishness:canFulviadie?MARKANTONYShe’sdead,myqueen:
Lookhere,andatthysovereignleisurereadThegarboilssheawaked;atthelast,best:
Seewhenandwhereshedied。CLEOPATRAOmostfalselove!
WherebethesacredvialsthoushouldstfillWithsorrowfulwater?NowIsee,Isee,InFulvia’sdeath,howminereceivedshallbe。MARKANTONYQuarrelnomore,butbepreparedtoknowThepurposesIbear;whichare,orcease,Asyoushallgivetheadvice。BythefireThatquickensNilus’slime,IgofromhenceThysoldier,servant;makingpeaceorwarAsthouaffect’st。CLEOPATRACutmylace,Charmian,come;
Butletitbe:Iamquicklyill,andwell,SoAntonyloves。MARKANTONYMypreciousqueen,forbear;
Andgivetrueevidencetohislove,whichstandsAnhonourabletrial。CLEOPATRASoFulviatoldme。
Iprithee,turnasideandweepforher,Thenbidadieutome,andsaythetearsBelongtoEgypt:goodnow,playonesceneOfexcellentdissembling;andletitlookLifeperfecthonour。MARKANTONYYou’llheatmyblood:nomore。CLEOPATRAYoucandobetteryet;butthisismeetly。MARKANTONYNow,bymysword,——CLEOPATRAAndtarget。Stillhemends;
Butthisisnotthebest。Look,prithee,Charmian,HowthisHerculeanRomandoesbecomeThecarriageofhischafe。MARKANTONYI’llleaveyou,lady。CLEOPATRACourteouslord,oneword。
Sir,youandImustpart,butthat’snotit:
Sir,youandIhaveloved,butthere’snotit;
Thatyouknowwell:somethingitisIwould,O,myoblivionisaveryAntony,AndIamallforgotten。MARKANTONYButthatyourroyaltyHoldsidlenessyoursubject,IshouldtakeyouForidlenessitself。CLEOPATRA’TissweatinglabourTobearsuchidlenesssoneartheheartAsCleopatrathis。But,sir,forgiveme;
Sincemybecomingskillme,whentheydonotEyewelltoyou:yourhonourcallsyouhence;
Thereforebedeaftomyunpitiedfolly。
Andallthegodsgowithyou!uponyourswordSitlaurelvictory!andsmoothsuccessBestrew’dbeforeyourfeet!MARKANTONYLetusgo。Come;
Ourseparationsoabides,andflies,Thatthou,residinghere,go’styetwithme,AndI,hencefleeting,hereremainwiththee。
Away!
ExeuntSCENEIV。Rome。OCTAVIUSCAESAR’shouse。EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,readingaletter,LEPIDUS,andtheirTrainOCTAVIUSCAESARYoumaysee,Lepidus,andhenceforthknow,ItisnotCaesar’snaturalvicetohateOurgreatcompetitor:fromAlexandriaThisisthenews:hefishes,drinks,andwastesThelampsofnightinrevel;isnotmoreman—likeThanCleopatra;northequeenofPtolemyMorewomanlythanhe;hardlygaveaudience,orVouchsafedtothinkhehadpartners:youshallfindthereAmanwhoistheabstractofallfaultsThatallmenfollow。LEPIDUSImustnotthinkthereareEvilsenowtodarkenallhisgoodness:
Hisfaultsinhimseemasthespotsofheaven,Morefierybynight’sblackness;hereditary,Ratherthanpurchased;whathecannotchange,Thanwhathechooses。OCTAVIUSCAESARYouaretooindulgent。Letusgrant,itisnotAmisstotumbleonthebedofPtolemy;
Togiveakingdomforamirth;tositAndkeeptheturnoftipplingwithaslave;
Toreelthestreetsatnoon,andstandthebuffetWithknavesthatsmellofsweat:saythisbecomeshim,——
AshiscomposuremustberareindeedWhomthesethingscannotblemish,——yetmustAntonyNowayexcusehissoils,whenwedobearSogreatweightinhislightness。Ifhefill’dHisvacancywithhisvoluptuousness,Fullsurfeits,andthedrynessofhisbones,Callonhimfor’t:buttoconfoundsuchtime,Thatdrumshimfromhissport,andspeaksasloudAshisownstateandours,——’tistobechidAswerateboys,who,beingmatureinknowledge,Pawntheirexperiencetotheirpresentpleasure,Andsorebeltojudgment。
EnteraMessengerLEPIDUSHere’smorenews。MessengerThybiddingshavebeendone;andeveryhour,MostnobleCaesar,shaltthouhavereportHow’tisabroad。Pompeyisstrongatsea;
AnditappearsheisbelovedofthoseThatonlyhavefear’dCaesar:totheportsThediscontentsrepair,andmen’sreportsGivehimmuchwrong’d。OCTAVIUSCAESARIshouldhaveknownnoless。
Ithathbeentaughtusfromtheprimalstate,Thathewhichiswaswish’duntilhewere;
Andtheebb’dman,ne’erlovedtillne’erworthlove,Comesdear’dbybeinglack’d。Thiscommonbody,Liketoavagabondflaguponthestream,Goestoandback,lackeyingthevaryingtide,Torotitselfwithmotion。MessengerCaesar,Ibringtheeword,MenecratesandMenas,famouspirates,Maketheseaservethem,whichtheyearandwoundWithkeelsofeverykind:manyhotinroadsTheymakeinItaly;thebordersmaritimeLackbloodtothinkon’t,andflushyouthrevolt:
Novesselcanpeepforth,but’tisassoonTakenasseen;forPompey’snamestrikesmoreThancouldhiswarresisted。OCTAVIUSCAESARAntony,Leavethylasciviouswassails。WhenthouonceWastbeatenfromModena,wherethouslew’stHirtiusandPansa,consuls,atthyheelDidfaminefollow;whomthoufought’stagainst,Thoughdaintilybroughtup,withpatiencemoreThansavagescouldsuffer:thoudidstdrinkThestaleofhorses,andthegildedpuddleWhichbeastswouldcoughat:thypalatethendiddeignTheroughestberryontherudesthedge;
Yea,likethestag,whensnowthepasturesheets,Thebarksoftreesthoubrowsed’st;ontheAlpsItisreportedthoudidsteatstrangeflesh,Whichsomediddietolookon:andallthis——
ItwoundsthinehonourthatIspeakitnow——
Wasbornesolikeasoldier,thatthycheekSomuchaslank’dnot。LEPIDUS’Tispityofhim。OCTAVIUSCAESARLethisshamesquicklyDrivehimtoRome:’tistimewetwainDidshowourselvesi’thefield;andtothatendAssembleweimmediatecouncil:PompeyThrivesinouridleness。LEPIDUSTo—morrow,Caesar,Ishallbefurnish’dtoinformyourightlyBothwhatbyseaandlandIcanbeableTofrontthispresenttime。OCTAVIUSCAESARTillwhichencounter,Itismybusinesstoo。Farewell。LEPIDUSFarewell,mylord:whatyoushallknowmeantimeOfstirsabroad,Ishallbeseechyou,sir,Toletmebepartaker。OCTAVIUSCAESARDoubtnot,sir;
Iknewitformybond。
ExeuntSCENEV。Alexandria。CLEOPATRA’spalace。EnterCLEOPATRA,CHARMIAN,IRAS,andMARDIANCLEOPATRACharmian!CHARMIANMadam?CLEOPATRAHa,ha!
Givemetodrinkmandragora。CHARMIANWhy,madam?CLEOPATRAThatImightsleepoutthisgreatgapoftimeMyAntonyisaway。CHARMIANYouthinkofhimtoomuch。CLEOPATRAO,’tistreason!CHARMIANMadam,Itrust,notso。CLEOPATRAThou,eunuchMardian!MARDIANWhat’syourhighness’pleasure?CLEOPATRANotnowtoheartheesing;ItakenopleasureInaughtaneunuchhas:’tiswellforthee,That,beingunseminar’d,thyfreerthoughtsMaynotflyforthofEgypt。Hastthouaffections?MARDIANYes,graciousmadam。CLEOPATRAIndeed!MARDIANNotindeed,madam;forIcandonothingButwhatindeedishonesttobedone:
YethaveIfierceaffections,andthinkWhatVenusdidwithMars。CLEOPATRAOCharmian,Wherethink’stthouheisnow?Standshe,orsitshe?
Ordoeshewalk?orisheonhishorse?
Ohappyhorse,tobeartheweightofAntony!
Dobravely,horse!forwot’stthouwhomthoumovest?
Thedemi—Atlasofthisearth,thearmAndburgonetofmen。He’sspeakingnow,Ormurmuring’Where’smyserpentofoldNile?’
Forsohecallsme:nowIfeedmyselfWithmostdeliciouspoison。Thinkonme,ThatamwithPhoebus’amorouspinchesblack,Andwrinkleddeepintime?Broad—frontedCaesar,Whenthouwasthereabovetheground,IwasAmorselforamonarch:andgreatPompeyWouldstandandmakehiseyesgrowinmybrow;
TherewouldheanchorhisaspectanddieWithlookingonhislife。
EnterALEXAS,fromOCTAVIUSCAESARALEXASSovereignofEgypt,hail!CLEOPATRAHowmuchunlikeartthouMarkAntony!
Yet,comingfromhim,thatgreatmedicinehathWithhistinctgildedthee。
HowgoesitwithmybraveMarkAntony?ALEXASLastthinghedid,dearqueen,Hekiss’d,——thelastofmanydoubledkisses,——
Thisorientpearl。Hisspeechsticksinmyheart。CLEOPATRAMineearmustpluckitthence。ALEXAS’Goodfriend,’quothhe,’Say,thefirmRomantogreatEgyptsendsThistreasureofanoyster;atwhosefoot,Tomendthepettypresent,IwillpieceHeropulentthronewithkingdoms;alltheeast,Saythou,shallcallhermistress。’Sohenodded,Andsoberlydidmountanarm—gauntsteed,Whoneigh’dsohigh,thatwhatIwouldhavespokeWasbeastlydumb’dbyhim。CLEOPATRAWhat,washesadormerry?ALEXASLiketothetimeo’theyearbetweentheextremesOfhotandcold,hewasnorsadnormerry。CLEOPATRAOwell—divideddisposition!Notehim,NotehimgoodCharmian,’tistheman;butnotehim:
Hewasnotsad,forhewouldshineonthoseThatmaketheirlooksbyhis;hewasnotmerry,Whichseem’dtotellthemhisremembrancelayInEgyptwithhisjoy;butbetweenboth:
Oheavenlymingle!Be’stthousadormerry,Theviolenceofeithertheebecomes,Sodoesitnomanelse。Met’stthoumyposts?ALEXASAy,madam,twentyseveralmessengers:
Whydoyousendsothick?CLEOPATRAWho’sbornthatdayWhenIforgettosendtoAntony,Shalldieabeggar。Inkandpaper,Charmian。
Welcome,mygoodAlexas。DidI,Charmian,EverloveCaesarso?CHARMIANOthatbraveCaesar!CLEOPATRABechokedwithsuchanotheremphasis!
Say,thebraveAntony。CHARMIANThevaliantCaesar!CLEOPATRAByIsis,Iwillgivetheebloodyteeth,IfthouwithCaesarparagonagainMymanofmen。CHARMIANByyourmostgraciouspardon,Isingbutafteryou。CLEOPATRAMysaladdays,WhenIwasgreeninjudgment:coldinblood,TosayasIsaidthen!But,come,away;
Getmeinkandpaper:
Heshallhaveeverydayaseveralgreeting,OrI’llunpeopleEgypt。
ExeuntACTIISCENEI。Messina。POMPEY’shouse。EnterPOMPEY,MENECRATES,andMENAS,inwarlikemannerPOMPEYIfthegreatgodsbejust,theyshallassistThedeedsofjustestmen。MENECRATESKnow,worthyPompey,Thatwhattheydodelay,theynotdeny。POMPEYWhileswearesuitorstotheirthrone,decaysThethingwesuefor。MENECRATESWe,ignorantofourselves,Begoftenourownharms,whichthewisepowersDenyusforourgood;sofindweprofitBylosingofourprayers。POMPEYIshalldowell:
Thepeopleloveme,andtheseaismine;
Mypowersarecrescent,andmyauguringhopeSaysitwillcometothefull。MarkAntonyInEgyptsitsatdinner,andwillmakeNowarswithoutdoors:CaesargetsmoneywhereHeloseshearts:Lepidusflattersboth,Ofbothisflatter’d;butheneitherloves,Noreithercaresforhim。MENASCaesarandLepidusAreinthefield:amightystrengththeycarry。POMPEYWherehaveyouthis?’tisfalse。MENASFromSilvius,sir。POMPEYHedreams:IknowtheyareinRometogether,LookingforAntony。Butallthecharmsoflove,SaltCleopatra,softenthywanedlip!
Letwitchcraftjoinwithbeauty,lustwithboth!
Tieupthelibertineinafieldoffeasts,Keephisbrainfuming;EpicureancooksSharpenwithcloylesssaucehisappetite;
ThatsleepandfeedingmayproroguehishonourEventillaLethe’ddulness!
EnterVARRIUS
Hownow,Varrius!VARRIUSThisismostcertainthatIshalldeliver:
MarkAntonyiseveryhourinRomeExpected:sincehewentfromEgypt’tisAspaceforfurthertravel。POMPEYIcouldhavegivenlessmatterAbetterear。Menas,IdidnotthinkThisamoroussurfeiterwouldhavedonn’dhishelmForsuchapettywar:hissoldiershipIstwicetheothertwain:butletusrearThehigherouropinion,thatourstirringCanfromthelapofEgypt’swidowpluckThene’er—lust—weariedAntony。MENASIcannothopeCaesarandAntonyshallwellgreettogether:
Hiswifethat’sdeaddidtrespassestoCaesar;
Hisbrotherwarr’duponhim;although,Ithink,NotmovedbyAntony。POMPEYIknownot,Menas,Howlesserenmitiesmaygivewaytogreater。
Were’tnotthatwestandupagainstthemall,’Twerepregnanttheyshouldsquarebetweenthemselves;
FortheyhaveentertainedcauseenoughTodrawtheirswords:buthowthefearofusMaycementtheirdivisionsandbindupThepettydifference,weyetnotknow。
Be’tasourgodswillhave’t!ItonlystandsOurlivesupontouseourstrongesthands。
Come,Menas。
ExeuntSCENEII。Rome。ThehouseofLEPIDUS。EnterDOMITIUSENOBARBUSandLEPIDUSLEPIDUSGoodEnobarbus,’tisaworthydeed,Andshallbecomeyouwell,toentreatyourcaptainTosoftandgentlespeech。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIshallentreathimToanswerlikehimself:ifCaesarmovehim,LetAntonylookoverCaesar’sheadAndspeakasloudasMars。ByJupiter,WereIthewearerofAntonius’beard,Iwouldnotshave’tto—day。LEPIDUS’TisnotatimeForprivatestomaching。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSEverytimeServesforthematterthatisthenbornin’t。LEPIDUSButsmalltogreatermattersmustgiveway。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNotifthesmallcomefirst。LEPIDUSYourspeechispassion:
But,prayyou,stirnoembersup。HerecomesThenobleAntony。
EnterMARKANTONYandVENTIDIUSDOMITIUSENOBARBUSAndyonder,Caesar。
EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,MECAENAS,andAGRIPPAMARKANTONYIfwecomposewellhere,toParthia:
Hark,Ventidius。OCTAVIUSCAESARIdonotknow,Mecaenas;askAgrippa。LEPIDUSNoblefriends,Thatwhichcombineduswasmostgreat,andletnotAleaneractionrendus。What’samiss,Mayitbegentlyheard:whenwedebateOurtrivialdifferenceloud,wedocommitMurderinhealingwounds:then,noblepartners,Therather,forIearnestlybeseech,Touchyouthesourestpointswithsweetestterms,Norcurstnessgrowtothematter。MARKANTONY’Tisspokenwell。
Werewebeforeourarmies,andtofight。
Ishoulddothus。
FlourishOCTAVIUSCAESARWelcometoRome。MARKANTONYThankyou。OCTAVIUSCAESARSit。MARKANTONYSit,sir。OCTAVIUSCAESARNay,then。MARKANTONYIlearn,youtakethingsillwhicharenotso,Orbeing,concernyounot。OCTAVIUSCAESARImustbelaugh’dat,If,orfornothingoralittle,I
Shouldsaymyselfoffended,andwithyouChieflyi’theworld;morelaugh’dat,thatI
shouldOncenameyouderogately,whentosoundyournameItnotconcern’dme。MARKANTONYMybeinginEgypt,Caesar,Whatwas’ttoyou?OCTAVIUSCAESARNomorethanmyresidinghereatRomeMightbetoyouinEgypt:yet,ifyouthereDidpractiseonmystate,yourbeinginEgyptMightbemyquestion。MARKANTONYHowintendyou,practised?OCTAVIUSCAESARYoumaybepleasedtocatchatmineintentBywhatdidherebefalme。YourwifeandbrotherMadewarsuponme;andtheircontestationWasthemeforyou,youwerethewordofwar。MARKANTONYYoudomistakeyourbusiness;mybrotherneverDidurgemeinhisact:Ididinquireit;
Andhavemylearningfromsometruereports,Thatdrewtheirswordswithyou。DidhenotratherDiscreditmyauthoritywithyours;
Andmakethewarsalikeagainstmystomach,Havingalikeyourcause?OfthismylettersBeforedidsatisfyyou。Ifyou’llpatchaquarrel,Asmatterwholeyouhavenottomakeitwith,Itmustnotbewiththis。OCTAVIUSCAESARYoupraiseyourselfBylayingdefectsofjudgmenttome;butYoupatch’dupyourexcuses。MARKANTONYNotso,notso;
Iknowyoucouldnotlack,Iamcertainon’t,Verynecessityofthisthought,thatI,Yourpartnerinthecause’gainstwhichhefought,CouldnotwithgracefuleyesattendthosewarsWhichfrontedmineownpeace。Asformywife,Iwouldyouhadherspiritinsuchanother:
Thethirdo’theworldisyours;whichwithasnaffleYoumaypaceeasy,butnotsuchawife。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWouldwehadallsuchwives,thatthemenmightgotowarswiththewomen!MARKANTONYSomuchuncurbable,hergarboils,CaesarMadeoutofherimpatience,whichnotwantedShrewdnessofpolicytoo,IgrievinggrantDidyoutoomuchdisquiet:forthatyoumustButsay,Icouldnothelpit。OCTAVIUSCAESARIwrotetoyouWhenriotinginAlexandria;youDidpocketupmyletters,andwithtauntsDidgibemymissiveoutofaudience。MARKANTONYSir,Hefelluponmeereadmitted:thenThreekingsIhadnewlyfeasted,anddidwantOfwhatIwasi’themorning:butnextdayItoldhimofmyself;whichwasasmuchAstohaveask’dhimpardon。LetthisfellowBenothingofourstrife;ifwecontend,Outofourquestionwipehim。OCTAVIUSCAESARYouhavebrokenThearticleofyouroath;whichyoushallneverHavetonguetochargemewith。LEPIDUSSoft,Caesar!MARKANTONYNo,Lepidus,lethimspeak:
Thehonourissacredwhichhetalksonnow,SupposingthatIlack’dit。But,on,Caesar;
Thearticleofmyoath。OCTAVIUSCAESARTolendmearmsandaidwhenIrequiredthem;
Thewhichyoubothdenied。MARKANTONYNeglected,rather;
Andthenwhenpoison’dhourshadboundmeupFrommineownknowledge。AsnearlyasImay,I’llplaythepenitenttoyou:butminehonestyShallnotmakepoormygreatness,normypowerWorkwithoutit。Truthis,thatFulvia,TohavemeoutofEgypt,madewarshere;
Forwhichmyself,theignorantmotive,doSofaraskpardonasbefitsminehonourTostoopinsuchacase。LEPIDUS’Tisnoblespoken。MECAENASIfitmightpleaseyou,toenforcenofurtherThegriefsbetweenye:toforgetthemquiteWeretorememberthatthepresentneedSpeakstoatoneyou。LEPIDUSWorthilyspoken,Mecaenas。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSOr,ifyouborrowoneanother’slovefortheinstant,youmay,whenyouhearnomorewordsofPompey,returnitagain:youshallhavetimetowrangleinwhenyouhavenothingelsetodo。MARKANTONYThouartasoldieronly:speaknomore。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThattruthshouldbesilentIhadalmostforgot。MARKANTONYYouwrongthispresence;thereforespeaknomore。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSGoto,then;yourconsideratestone。OCTAVIUSCAESARIdonotmuchdislikethematter,butThemannerofhisspeech;for’tcannotbeWeshallremaininfriendship,ourconditionsSodifferingintheiracts。YetifIknewWhathoopshouldholdusstanch,fromedgetoedgeO’theworldIwouldpursueit。AGRIPPAGivemeleave,Caesar,——OCTAVIUSCAESARSpeak,Agrippa。AGRIPPAThouhastasisterbythemother’sside,AdmiredOctavia:greatMarkAntonyIsnowawidower。OCTAVIUSCAESARSaynotso,Agrippa:
IfCleopatraheardyou,yourreproofWerewelldeservedofrashness。MARKANTONYIamnotmarried,Caesar:letmehearAgrippafurtherspeak。AGRIPPAToholdyouinperpetualamity,Tomakeyoubrothers,andtoknityourheartsWithanunslippingknot,takeAntonyOctaviatohiswife;whosebeautyclaimsNoworseahusbandthanthebestofmen;
WhosevirtueandwhosegeneralgracesspeakThatwhichnoneelsecanutter。Bythismarriage,Alllittlejealousies,whichnowseemgreat,Andallgreatfears,whichnowimporttheirdangers,Wouldthenbenothing:truthswouldbetales,Wherenowhalftalesbetruths:herlovetobothWould,eachtootherandalllovestoboth,Drawafterher。PardonwhatIhavespoke;
For’tisastudied,notapresentthought,Bydutyruminated。MARKANTONYWillCaesarspeak?OCTAVIUSCAESARNottillhehearshowAntonyistouch’dWithwhatisspokealready。MARKANTONYWhatpowerisinAgrippa,IfIwouldsay,’Agrippa,beitso,’
Tomakethisgood?OCTAVIUSCAESARThepowerofCaesar,andHispoweruntoOctavia。MARKANTONYMayIneverTothisgoodpurpose,thatsofairlyshows,Dreamofimpediment!Letmehavethyhand:
Furtherthisactofgrace:andfromthishourTheheartofbrothersgoverninourlovesAndswayourgreatdesigns!OCTAVIUSCAESARThereismyhand。
AsisterIbequeathyou,whomnobrotherDideverlovesodearly:letherliveTojoinourkingdomsandourhearts;andneverFlyoffourlovesagain!LEPIDUSHappily,amen!MARKANTONYIdidnotthinktodrawmysword’gainstPompey;
ForhehathlaidstrangecourtesiesandgreatOflateuponme:Imustthankhimonly,Lestmyremembrancesufferillreport;
Atheelofthat,defyhim。LEPIDUSTimecallsupon’s:
OfusmustPompeypresentlybesought,Orelseheseeksoutus。MARKANTONYWherelieshe?OCTAVIUSCAESARAboutthemountMisenum。MARKANTONYWhatishisstrengthbyland?OCTAVIUSCAESARGreatandincreasing:butbyseaHeisanabsolutemaster。MARKANTONYSoisthefame。
Wouldwehadspoketogether!Hasteweforit:
Yet,ereweputourselvesinarms,dispatchweThebusinesswehavetalk’dof。OCTAVIUSCAESARWithmostgladness:
Anddoinviteyoutomysister’sview,WhitherstraightI’llleadyou。MARKANTONYLetus,Lepidus,Notlackyourcompany。LEPIDUSNobleAntony,Notsicknessshoulddetainme。
Flourish。ExeuntOCTAVIUSCAESAR,MARKANTONY,andLEPIDUSMECAENASWelcomefromEgypt,sir。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHalftheheartofCaesar,worthyMecaenas!
Myhonourablefriend,Agrippa!AGRIPPAGoodEnobarbus!MECAENASWehavecausetobegladthatmattersaresowelldigested。Youstayedwellby’tinEgypt。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAy,sir;wedidsleepdayoutofcountenance,andmadethenightlightwithdrinking。MECAENASEightwild—boarsroastedwholeatabreakfast,andbuttwelvepersonsthere;isthistrue?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThiswasbutasaflybyaneagle:wehadmuchmoremonstrousmatteroffeast,whichworthilydeservednoting。MECAENASShe’samosttriumphantlady,ifreportbesquaretoher。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWhenshefirstmetMarkAntony,shepurseduphisheart,upontheriverofCydnus。AGRIPPATheresheappearedindeed;ormyreporterdevisedwellforher。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIwilltellyou。
Thebargeshesatin,likeaburnish’dthrone,Burn’donthewater:thepoopwasbeatengold;
Purplethesails,andsoperfumedthatThewindswerelove—sickwiththem;theoarsweresilver,Whichtothetuneoffluteskeptstroke,andmadeThewaterwhichtheybeattofollowfaster,Asamorousoftheirstrokes。Forherownperson,Itbeggar’dalldescription:shedidlieInherpavilion——cloth—of—goldoftissue——
O’er—picturingthatVenuswhereweseeThefancyoutworknature:oneachsideherStoodprettydimpledboys,likesmilingCupids,Withdivers—colour’dfans,whosewinddidseemToglowthedelicatecheekswhichtheydidcool,Andwhattheyundiddid。AGRIPPAO,rareforAntony!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHergentlewomen,liketheNereides,Somanymermaids,tendedheri’theeyes,Andmadetheirbendsadornings:atthehelmAseemingmermaidsteers:thesilkentackleSwellwiththetouchesofthoseflower—softhands,Thatyarelyframetheoffice。FromthebargeAstrangeinvisibleperfumehitsthesenseOftheadjacentwharfs。ThecitycastHerpeopleoutuponher;andAntony,Enthronedi’themarket—place,didsitalone,Whistlingtotheair;which,butforvacancy,HadgonetogazeonCleopatratoo,Andmadeagapinnature。AGRIPPARareEgyptian!DOMITIUSENOBARBUSUponherlanding,Antonysenttoher,Invitedhertosupper:shereplied,Itshouldbebetterhebecameherguest;
Whichsheentreated:ourcourteousAntony,Whomne’erthewordof’No’womanheardspeak,Beingbarber’dtentimeso’er,goestothefeast,AndforhisordinarypayshisheartForwhathiseyeseatonly。AGRIPPARoyalwench!
ShemadegreatCaesarlayhisswordtobed:
Heplough’dher,andshecropp’d。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIsawheronceHopfortypacesthroughthepublicstreet;
Andhavinglostherbreath,shespoke,andpanted,Thatshedidmakedefectperfection,And,breathless,powerbreatheforth。MECAENASNowAntonymustleaveherutterly。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNever;hewillnot:
Agecannotwitherher,norcustomstaleHerinfinitevariety:otherwomencloyTheappetitestheyfeed:butshemakeshungryWheremostshesatisfies;forvilestthingsBecomethemselvesinher:thattheholypriestsBlessherwhensheisriggish。MECAENASIfbeauty,wisdom,modesty,cansettleTheheartofAntony,OctaviaisAblessedlotterytohim。AGRIPPALetusgo。
GoodEnobarbus,makeyourselfmyguestWhilstyouabidehere。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSHumbly,sir,Ithankyou。
ExeuntSCENEIII。Thesame。OCTAVIUSCAESAR’shouse。EnterMARKANTONY,OCTAVIUSCAESAR,OCTAVIAbetweenthem,andAttendantsMARKANTONYTheworldandmygreatofficewillsometimesDividemefromyourbosom。OCTAVIAAllwhichtimeBeforethegodsmykneeshallbowmyprayersTothemforyou。MARKANTONYGoodnight,sir。MyOctavia,Readnotmyblemishesintheworld’sreport:
Ihavenotkeptmysquare;butthattocomeShallallbedonebytherule。Goodnight,dearlady。
Goodnight,sir。OCTAVIUSCAESARGoodnight。
ExeuntOCTAVIUSCAESARandOCTAVIA
EnterSoothsayerMARKANTONYNow,sirrah;youdowishyourselfinEgypt?SoothsayerWouldIhadnevercomefromthence,noryouThither!MARKANTONYIfyoucan,yourreason?SoothsayerIseeitinMymotion,haveitnotinmytongue:butyetHieyoutoEgyptagain。MARKANTONYSaytome,Whosefortunesshallrisehigher,Caesar’sormine?SoothsayerCaesar’s。
Therefore,OAntony,staynotbyhisside:
Thydemon,that’sthyspiritwhichkeepsthee,isNoble,courageoushigh,unmatchable,WhereCaesar’sisnot;but,nearhim,thyangelBecomesafear,asbeingo’erpower’d:thereforeMakespaceenoughbetweenyou。MARKANTONYSpeakthisnomore。SoothsayerTononebutthee;nomore,butwhentothee。
Ifthoudostplaywithhimatanygame,Thouartsuretolose;and,ofthatnaturalluck,Hebeatsthee’gainsttheodds:thylustrethickens,Whenheshinesby:Isayagain,thyspiritIsallafraidtogoverntheenearhim;
But,heaway,’tisnoble。MARKANTONYGettheegone:
SaytoVentidiusIwouldspeakwithhim:
ExitSoothsayerHeshalltoParthia。Beitartorhap,Hehathspokentrue:theverydiceobeyhim;
AndinoursportsmybettercunningfaintsUnderhischance:ifwedrawlots,hespeeds;
Hiscocksdowinthebattlestillofmine,Whenitisalltonought;andhisquailseverBeatmine,inhoop’d,atodds。IwilltoEgypt:
AndthoughImakethismarriageformypeace,I’theeastmypleasurelies。
EnterVENTIDIUS
O,come,Ventidius,YoumusttoParthia:yourcommission’sready;
Followme,andreceive’t。
ExeuntSCENEIV。Thesame。Astreet。EnterLEPIDUS,MECAENAS,andAGRIPPALEPIDUSTroubleyourselvesnofurther:prayyou,hastenYourgeneralsafter。AGRIPPASir,MarkAntonyWille’enbutkissOctavia,andwe’llfollow。LEPIDUSTillIshallseeyouinyoursoldier’sdress,Whichwillbecomeyouboth,farewell。MECAENASWeshall,AsIconceivethejourney,beattheMountBeforeyou,Lepidus。LEPIDUSYourwayisshorter;
Mypurposesdodrawmemuchabout:
You’llwintwodaysuponme。MECAENASAGRIPPASir,goodsuccess!LEPIDUSFarewell。
ExeuntSCENEV。Alexandria。CLEOPATRA’spalace。EnterCLEOPATRA,CHARMIAN,IRAS,andALEXASCLEOPATRAGivemesomemusic;music,moodyfoodOfusthattradeinlove。AttendantsThemusic,ho!
EnterMARDIANCLEOPATRALetitalone;let’stobilliards:come,Charmian。CHARMIANMyarmissore;bestplaywithMardian。CLEOPATRAAswellawomanwithaneunuchplay’dAswithawoman。Come,you’llplaywithme,sir?MARDIANAswellasIcan,madam。CLEOPATRAAndwhengoodwillisshow’d,though’tcometooshort,Theactormaypleadpardon。I’llnonenow:
Givememineangle;we’lltotheriver:there,Mymusicplayingfaroff,IwillbetrayTawny—finn’dfishes;mybendedhookshallpierceTheirslimyjaws;and,asIdrawthemup,I’llthinkthemeveryoneanAntony,Andsay’Ah,ha!you’recaught。’CHARMIAN’TwasmerrywhenYouwager’donyourangling;whenyourdiverDidhangasalt—fishonhishook,whichheWithfervencydrewup。CLEOPATRAThattime,——Otimes!——
Ilaugh’dhimoutofpatience;andthatnightIlaugh’dhimintopatience;andnextmorn,Eretheninthhour,Idrunkhimtohisbed;
Thenputmytiresandmantlesonhim,whilstIworehisswordPhilippan。
EnteraMessengerO,fromItalyRamthouthyfruitfultidingsinmineears,Thatlongtimehavebeenbarren。MessengerMadam,madam,——CLEOPATRAAntoniusdead!——Ifthousayso,villain,Thoukill’stthymistress:butwellandfree,Ifthousoyieldhim,thereisgold,andhereMybluestveinstokiss;ahandthatkingsHavelipp’d,andtrembledkissing。MessengerFirst,madam,heiswell。CLEOPATRAWhy,there’smoregold。
But,sirrah,mark,weuseTosaythedeadarewell:bringittothat,ThegoldIgivetheewillImeltandpourDownthyill—utteringthroat。MessengerGoodmadam,hearme。CLEOPATRAWell,goto,Iwill;
Butthere’snogoodnessinthyface:ifAntonyBefreeandhealthful,——sotartafavourTotrumpetsuchgoodtidings!Ifnotwell,ThoushouldstcomelikeaFurycrown’dwithsnakes,Notlikeaformalman。MessengerWill’tpleaseyouhearme?CLEOPATRAIhaveamindtostriketheeerethouspeak’st:
YetifthousayAntonylives,iswell,OrfriendswithCaesar,ornotcaptivetohim,I’llsettheeinashowerofgold,andhailRichpearlsuponthee。MessengerMadam,he’swell。CLEOPATRAWellsaid。MessengerAndfriendswithCaesar。CLEOPATRAThou’rtanhonestman。MessengerCaesarandhearegreaterfriendsthanever。CLEOPATRAMaketheeafortunefromme。MessengerButyet,madam,——CLEOPATRAIdonotlike’Butyet,’itdoesallayThegoodprecedence;fieupon’Butyet’!
’Butyet’isasagaolertobringforthSomemonstrousmalefactor。Prithee,friend,Pouroutthepackofmattertomineear,Thegoodandbadtogether:he’sfriendswithCaesar:
Instateofhealththousay’st;andthousay’stfree。MessengerFree,madam!no;Imadenosuchreport:
He’sbounduntoOctavia。CLEOPATRAForwhatgoodturn?MessengerForthebestturni’thebed。CLEOPATRAIampale,Charmian。MessengerMadam,he’smarriedtoOctavia。CLEOPATRAThemostinfectiouspestilenceuponthee!
StrikeshimdownMessengerGoodmadam,patience。CLEOPATRAWhatsayyou?Hence,StrikeshimagainHorriblevillain!orI’llspurnthineeyesLikeballsbeforeme;I’llunhairthyhead:
ShehaleshimupanddownThoushaltbewhipp’dwithwire,andstew’dinbrine,Smartinginlingeringpickle。MessengerGraciousmadam,Ithatdobringthenewsmadenotthematch。CLEOPATRASay’tisnotso,aprovinceIwillgivethee,Andmakethyfortunesproud:theblowthouhadstShallmakethypeaceformovingmetorage;
AndIwillboottheewithwhatgiftbesideThymodestycanbeg。MessengerHe’smarried,madam。CLEOPATRARogue,thouhastlivedtoolong。
DrawsaknifeMessengerNay,thenI’llrun。
Whatmeanyou,madam?Ihavemadenofault。
ExitCHARMIANGoodmadam,keepyourselfwithinyourself:
Themanisinnocent。CLEOPATRASomeinnocents’scapenotthethunderbolt。
MeltEgyptintoNile!andkindlycreaturesTurnalltoserpents!Calltheslaveagain:
ThoughIammad,Iwillnotbitehim:call。CHARMIANHeisafeardtocome。CLEOPATRAIwillnothurthim。
ExitCHARMIAN
Thesehandsdolacknobility,thattheystrikeAmeanerthanmyself;sinceImyselfHavegivenmyselfthecause。
Re—enterCHARMIANandMessengerComehither,sir。
Thoughitbehonest,itisnevergoodTobringbadnews:givetoagraciousmessage。
Anhostoftongues;butletilltidingstellThemselveswhentheybefelt。MessengerIhavedonemyduty。CLEOPATRAIshemarried?
IcannothatetheeworserthanIdo,Ifthouagainsay’Yes。’MessengerHe’smarried,madam。CLEOPATRAThegodsconfoundthee!dostthouholdtherestill?MessengerShouldIlie,madam?CLEOPATRAO,Iwouldthoudidst,SohalfmyEgyptweresubmergedandmadeAcisternforscaledsnakes!Go,gettheehence:
HadstthouNarcissusinthyface,tomeThouwouldstappearmostugly。Heismarried?MessengerIcraveyourhighness’pardon。CLEOPATRAHeismarried?MessengerTakenooffencethatIwouldnotoffendyou:
Topunishmeforwhatyoumakemedo。
Seemsmuchunequal:he’smarriedtoOctavia。CLEOPATRAO,thathisfaultshouldmakeaknaveofthee,Thatartnotwhatthou’rtsureof!Gettheehence:
ThemerchandisewhichthouhastbroughtfromRomeArealltoodearforme:lietheyuponthyhand,Andbeundoneby’em!
ExitMessengerCHARMIANGoodyourhighness,patience。CLEOPATRAInpraisingAntony,IhavedispraisedCaesar。CHARMIANManytimes,madam。CLEOPATRAIampaidfor’tnow。
Leadmefromhence:
Ifaint:OIras,Charmian!’tisnomatter。
Gotothefellow,goodAlexas;bidhimReportthefeatureofOctavia,heryears,Herinclination,lethimnotleaveoutThecolourofherhair:bringmewordquickly。
ExitALEXAS
Lethimforevergo:——lethimnot——Charmian,ThoughhebepaintedonewaylikeaGorgon,Theotherway’saMars。BidyouAlexasToMARDIAN
Bringmewordhowtallsheis。Pityme,Charmian,Butdonotspeaktome。Leadmetomychamber。
ExeuntSCENEVI。NearMisenum。Flourish。EnterPOMPEYandMENASatonedoor,withdrumandtrumpet:atanother,OCTAVIUSCAESAR,MARKANTONY,LEPIDUS,DOMITIUS
ENOBARBUS,MECAENAS,withSoldiersmarchingPOMPEYYourhostagesIhave,sohaveyoumine;
Andweshalltalkbeforewefight。OCTAVIUSCAESARMostmeetThatfirstwecometowords;andthereforehaveweOurwrittenpurposesbeforeussent;
Which,ifthouhastconsider’d,letusknowIf’twilltieupthydiscontentedsword,AndcarrybacktoSicilymuchtallyouthThatelsemustperishhere。POMPEYToyouallthree,Thesenatorsaloneofthisgreatworld,Chieffactorsforthegods,IdonotknowWhereforemyfathershouldrevengerswant,Havingasonandfriends;sinceJuliusCaesar,WhoatPhilippithegoodBrutusghosted,Theresawyoulabouringforhim。Whatwas’tThatmovedpaleCassiustoconspire;andwhatMadetheall—honour’d,honestRoman,Brutus,Withthearm’drest,courtiersandbeauteousfreedom,TodrenchtheCapitol;butthattheywouldHaveonemanbutaman?AndthatisitHathmademerigmynavy;atwhoseburthenTheanger’doceanfoams;withwhichImeantToscourgetheingratitudethatdespitefulRomeCastonmynoblefather。OCTAVIUSCAESARTakeyourtime。MARKANTONYThoucanstnotfearus,Pompey,withthysails;
We’llspeakwiththeeatsea:atland,thouknow’stHowmuchwedoo’er—countthee。POMPEYAtland,indeed,Thoudosto’er—countmeofmyfather’shouse:
But,sincethecuckoobuildsnotforhimself,Remainin’tasthoumayst。LEPIDUSBepleasedtotellus——
Forthisisfromthepresent——howyoutakeTheofferswehavesentyou。OCTAVIUSCAESARThere’sthepoint。MARKANTONYWhichdonotbeentreatedto,butweighWhatitisworthembraced。OCTAVIUSCAESARAndwhatmayfollow,Totryalargerfortune。POMPEYYouhavemademeofferOfSicily,Sardinia;andImustRidalltheseaofpirates;then,tosendMeasuresofwheattoRome;this’greeduponTopartwithunhack’dedges,andbearbackOurtargesundinted。OCTAVIUSCAESARMARK
ANTONYLEPIDUSThat’souroffer。POMPEYKnow,then,IcamebeforeyouhereamanpreparedTotakethisoffer:butMarkAntonyPutmetosomeimpatience:thoughIloseThepraiseofitbytelling,youmustknow,WhenCaesarandyourbrotherwereatblows,YourmothercametoSicilyanddidfindHerwelcomefriendly。MARKANTONYIhaveheardit,Pompey;
AndamwellstudiedforaliberalthanksWhichIdooweyou。POMPEYLetmehaveyourhand:
Ididnotthink,sir,tohavemetyouhere。MARKANTONYThebedsi’theeastaresoft;andthankstoyou,Thatcall’dmetimelierthanmypurposehither;
ForIhavegain’dby’t。OCTAVIUSCAESARSinceIsawyoulast,Thereisachangeuponyou。POMPEYWell,IknownotWhatcountsharshfortunecastsuponmyface;
Butinmybosomshallshenevercome,Tomakemyhearthervassal。LEPIDUSWellmethere。POMPEYIhopeso,Lepidus。Thusweareagreed:
Icraveourcompositionmaybewritten,Andseal’dbetweenus。OCTAVIUSCAESARThat’sthenexttodo。POMPEYWe’llfeasteachothererewepart;andlet’sDrawlotswhoshallbegin。MARKANTONYThatwillI,Pompey。POMPEYNo,Antony,takethelot:but,firstOrlast,yourfineEgyptiancookeryShallhavethefame。IhaveheardthatJuliusCaesarGrewfatwithfeastingthere。MARKANTONYYouhaveheardmuch。POMPEYIhavefairmeanings,sir。MARKANTONYAndfairwordstothem。POMPEYThensomuchhaveIheard:
AndIhaveheard,Apollodoruscarried——DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNomoreofthat:hedidso。POMPEYWhat,Iprayyou?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAcertainqueentoCaesarinamattress。POMPEYIknowtheenow:howfarestthou,soldier?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWell;
Andwellamliketodo;for,Iperceive,Fourfeastsaretoward。POMPEYLetmeshakethyhand;
Ineverhatedthee:Ihaveseentheefight,WhenIhaveenviedthybehavior。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSSir,Ineverlovedyoumuch;butIha’praisedye,WhenyouhavewelldeservedtentimesasmuchAsIhavesaidyoudid。POMPEYEnjoythyplainness,Itnothingillbecomesthee。
AboardmygalleyIinviteyouall:
Willyoulead,lords?OCTAVIUSCAESARMARK
ANTONYLEPIDUSShowustheway,sir。POMPEYCome。
ExeuntallbutMENASandENOBARBUSMENAS[Aside]Thyfather,Pompey,wouldne’erhavemadethistreaty。——YouandIhaveknown,sir。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSAtsea,Ithink。MENASWehave,sir。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSYouhavedonewellbywater。MENASAndyoubyland。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIwillpraiseanymanthatwillpraiseme;thoughitcannotbedeniedwhatIhavedonebyland。MENASNorwhatIhavedonebywater。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSYes,somethingyoucandenyforyourownsafety:youhavebeenagreatthiefbysea。MENASAndyoubyland。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSThereIdenymylandservice。Butgivemeyourhand,Menas:ifoureyeshadauthority,heretheymighttaketwothieveskissing。MENASAllmen’sfacesaretrue,whatsome’ertheirhandsare。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSButthereisneverafairwomanhasatrueface。MENASNoslander;theystealhearts。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSWecamehithertofightwithyou。MENASFormypart,Iamsorryitisturnedtoadrinking。
Pompeydoththisdaylaughawayhisfortune。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIfhedo,sure,hecannotweep’tbackagain。MENASYou’vesaid,sir。WelookednotforMarkAntonyhere:prayyou,ishemarriedtoCleopatra?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSCaesar’ssisteriscalledOctavia。MENASTrue,sir;shewasthewifeofCaiusMarcellus。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSButsheisnowthewifeofMarcusAntonius。MENASPrayye,sir?DOMITIUSENOBARBUS’Tistrue。MENASThenisCaesarandheforeverknittogether。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIfIwereboundtodivineofthisunity,Iwouldnotprophesyso。MENASIthinkthepolicyofthatpurposemademoreinthemarriagethantheloveoftheparties。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIthinksotoo。Butyoushallfind,thebandthatseemstotietheirfriendshiptogetherwillbetheverystrangleroftheiramity:Octaviaisofaholy,cold,andstillconversation。MENASWhowouldnothavehiswifeso?DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNothethathimselfisnotso;whichisMarkAntony。
HewilltohisEgyptiandishagain:thenshallthesighsofOctaviablowthefireupinCaesar;
and,asIsaidbefore,thatwhichisthestrengthoftheiramityshallprovetheimmediateauthoroftheirvariance。Antonywillusehisaffectionwhereitis:
hemarriedbuthisoccasionhere。MENASAndthusitmaybe。Come,sir,willyouaboard?
Ihaveahealthforyou。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSIshalltakeit,sir:wehaveusedourthroatsinEgypt。MENASCome,let’saway。
ExeuntSCENEVII。OnboardPOMPEY’sgalley,offMisenum。Musicplays。EntertwoorthreeServantswithabanquetFirstServantHerethey’llbe,man。Someo’theirplantsareill—rootedalready:theleastwindi’theworldwillblowthemdown。SecondServantLepidusishigh—coloured。FirstServantTheyhavemadehimdrinkalms—drink。SecondServantAstheypinchoneanotherbythedisposition,hecriesout’Nomore;’reconcilesthemtohisentreaty,andhimselftothedrink。FirstServantButitraisesthegreaterwarbetweenhimandhisdiscretion。SecondServantWhy,thisistohaveanameingreatmen’sfellowship:IhadasliefhaveareedthatwilldomenoserviceasapartisanIcouldnotheave。FirstServantTobecalledintoahugesphere,andnottobeseentomovein’t,aretheholeswhereeyesshouldbe,whichpitifullydisasterthecheeks。
Asennetsounded。EnterOCTAVIUSCAESAR,MARKANTONY,LEPIDUS,POMPEY,AGRIPPA,MECAENAS,DOMITIUSENOBARBUS,MENAS,withothercaptainsMARKANTONY[ToOCTAVIUSCAESAR]Thusdothey,sir:
theytaketheflowo’theNileBycertainscalesi’thepyramid;theyknow,Bytheheight,thelowness,orthemean,ifdearthOrfoisonfollow:thehigherNilusswells,Themoreitpromises:asitebbs,theseedsmanUpontheslimeandoozescattershisgrain,Andshortlycomestoharvest。LEPIDUSYou’vestrangeserpentsthere。MARKANTONYAy,Lepidus。LEPIDUSYourserpentofEgyptisbrednowofyourmudbytheoperationofyoursun:soisyourcrocodile。MARKANTONYTheyareso。POMPEYSit,——andsomewine!AhealthtoLepidus!LEPIDUSIamnotsowellasIshouldbe,butI’llne’erout。DOMITIUSENOBARBUSNottillyouhaveslept;Ifearmeyou’llbeintillthen。LEPIDUSNay,certainly,IhaveheardthePtolemies’
pyramisesareverygoodlythings;withoutcontradiction,Ihaveheardthat。MENAS[AsidetoPOMPEY]Pompey,aword。POMPEY[AsidetoMENAS]Sayinmineear:
whatis’t?MENAS[AsidetoPOMPEY]Forsakethyseat,I
dobeseechthee,captain,Andhearmespeakaword。POMPEY[AsidetoMENAS]Forbearmetillanon。
ThiswineforLepidus!LEPIDUSWhatmannero’thingisyourcrocodile?MARKANTONYItisshaped,sir,likeitself;anditisasbroadasithathbreadth:itisjustsohighasitis,andmoveswithitsownorgans:itlivesbythatwhichnourishethit;andtheelementsonceoutofit,ittransmigrates。LEPIDUSWhatcolourisitof?MARKANTONYOfitowncolourtoo。LEPIDUS’Tisastrangeserpent。MARKANTONY’Tisso。Andthetearsofitarewet。OCTAVIUSCAESARWillthisdescriptionsatisfyhim?MARKANTONYWiththehealththatPompeygiveshim,elseheisaveryepicure。POMPEY[AsidetoMENAS]Gohang,sir,hang!Tellmeofthat?away!
DoasIbidyou。Where’sthiscupIcall’dfor?MENAS[AsidetoPOMPEY]Ifforthesakeofmeritthouwilthearme,Risefromthystool。POMPEY[AsidetoMENAS]Ithinkthou’rtmad。
Thematter?
Rises,andwalksasideMENASIhaveeverheldmycapofftothyfortunes。POMPEYThouhastservedmewithmuchfaith。What’selsetosay?
Bejolly,lords。MARKANTONYThesequick—sands,Lepidus,Keepoffthem,foryousink。MENASWiltthoubelordofalltheworld?POMPEYWhatsay’stthou?MENASWiltthoubelordofthewholeworld?
That’stwice。POMPEYHowshouldthatbe?MENASButentertainit,And,thoughthouthinkmepoor,IamthemanWillgivetheealltheworld。POMPEYHastthoudrunkwell?MENASNow,Pompey,Ihavekeptmefromthecup。
Thouart,ifthoudarestbe,theearthlyJove:
Whate’ertheoceanpales,orskyinclips,Isthine,ifthouwiltha’t。POMPEYShowmewhichway。MENASThesethreeworld—sharers,thesecompetitors,Areinthyvessel:letmecutthecable;
And,whenweareputoff,falltotheirthroats:
Allthereisthine。POMPEYAh,thisthoushouldsthavedone,Andnothavespokeon’t!Inme’tisvillany;
Inthee’thadbeengoodservice。Thoumustknow,’Tisnotmyprofitthatdoesleadminehonour;