Cleo. Haue you done yet?
Ant. Alacke our Terrene Moone is now Eclipst, And it portends alone the fall of Anthony
Cleo. I must stay his time?
Ant. To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes With one that tyes his points
Cleo. Not know me yet?
Ant. Cold-hearted toward me?
Cleo. Ah (Deere) if I be so, From my cold heart let Heauen ingender haile, And poyson it in the sourse, and the first stone Drop in my necke: as it determines so Dissolue my life, the next Caesarian smile, Till by degrees the memory of my wombe, Together with my braue Egyptians all, By the discandering of this pelleted storme, Lye grauelesse, till the Flies and Gnats of Nyle Haue buried them for prey
Ant. I am satisfied: Caesar sets downe in Alexandria, where I will oppose his Fate. Our force by Land, Hath n.o.bly held, our seuer"d Nauie too Haue knit againe, and Fleete, threatning most Sea-like.
Where hast thou bin my heart? Dost thou heare Lady?
If from the Field I shall returne once more To kisse these Lips, I will appeare in Blood, I, and my Sword, will earne our Chronicle, There"s hope in"t yet
Cleo. That"s my braue Lord
Ant. I will be trebble-sinewed, hearted, breath"d, And fight maliciously: for when mine houres Were nice and lucky, men did ransome liues Of me for iests: But now, Ile set my teeth, And send to darkenesse all that stop me. Come, Let"s haue one other gawdy night: Call to me All my sad Captaines, fill our Bowles once more: Let"s mocke the midnight Bell
Cleo. It is my Birth-day, I had thought t"haue held it poore. But since my Lord Is Anthony againe, I will be Cleopatra
Ant. We will yet do well
Cleo. Call all his n.o.ble Captaines to my Lord
Ant. Do so, wee"l speake to them, And to night Ile force The Wine peepe through their scarres.
Come on (my Queene) There"s sap in"t yet. The next time I do fight Ile make death loue me: for I will contend Euen with his pestilent Sythe.
Exeunt.
Eno. Now hee"l out-stare the Lightning, to be furious Is to be frighted out of feare, and in that moode The Doue will pecke the Estridge; and I see still A diminution in our Captaines braine, Restores his heart; when valour prayes in reason, It eates the Sword it fights with: I will seeke Some way to leaue him.
Exeunt.
Enter Caesar, Agrippa, & Mecenas with his Army, Caesar reading a Letter.
Caes He calles me Boy, and chides as he had power To beate me out of Egypt. My Messenger He hath whipt with Rods, dares me to personal Combat.
Caesar to Anthony: let the old Ruffian know, I haue many other wayes to dye: meane time Laugh at his Challenge
Mece. Caesar must thinke, When one so great begins to rage, hee"s hunted Euen to falling. Giue him no breath, but now Make boote of his distraction: Neuer anger Made good guard for it selfe
Caes Let our best heads know, That to morrow, the last of many Battailes We meane to fight. Within our Files there are, Of those that seru"d Marke Anthony but late, Enough to fetch him in. See it done, And Feast the Army, we haue store to doo"t, And they haue earn"d the waste. Poore Anthony.
Exeunt.
Enter Anthony, Cleopatra, En.o.barbus, Charmian, Iras, Alexas, with others.
Ant. He will not fight with me, Domitian?
Eno. No?
Ant. Why should he not?
Eno. He thinks, being twenty times of better fortune, He is twenty men to one
Ant. To morrow Soldier, By Sea and Land Ile fight: or I will liue, Or bathe my dying Honor in the blood Shall make it liue againe. Woo"t thou fight well
Eno. Ile strike, and cry, Take all
Ant. Well said, come on: Call forth my Houshold Seruants, lets to night Enter 3 or 4 Seruitors.
Be bounteous at our Meale. Giue me thy hand, Thou hast bin rightly honest, so hast thou, Thou, and thou, and thou: you haue seru"d me well, And Kings haue beene your fellowes
Cleo. What meanes this?
Eno. "Tis one of those odde tricks which sorow shoots Out of the minde
Ant. And thou art honest too: I wish I could be made so many men, And all of you clapt vp together, in An Anthony: that I might do you seruice, So good as you haue done
Omnes. The G.o.ds forbid
Ant. Well, my good Fellowes, 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
Cleo. What does he meane?
Eno. To make his Followers weepe
Ant. 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"l serue another Master. I looke on you, As one that takes his leaue. Mine honest Friends, I turne you not away, but like a Master Married to your good seruice, stay till death: Tend me to night two houres, I aske no more, And the G.o.ds yeeld you for"t
Eno. What meane you (Sir) To giue them this discomfort? Looke they weepe, And I an a.s.se, am Onyon-ey"d; for shame, Transforme vs not to women
Ant. 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 burne this night with Torches: Know (my hearts) I hope well of to morrow, and will leade you, Where rather Ile expect victorious life, Then death, and Honor. Let"s to Supper, come, And drowne consideration.
Exeunt.
Enter a Company of Soldiours.
1.Sol. Brother, goodnight: to morrow is the day
2.Sol. It will determine one way: Fare you well.
Heard you of nothing strange about the streets
1 Nothing: what newes?
2 Belike "tis but a Rumour, good night to you
1 Well sir, good night.
They meete other Soldiers.
2 Souldiers, haue carefull Watch
1 And you: Goodnight, goodnight.
They place themselues in euery corner of the Stage.