Should have an army for an usher, and The neighs of horse to tell of her approach, Oct. Good my lord, To come thus was I not constrain'd, but did it Cas. Which soon he granted, Being an obstruct + 'tween his lust and him. Cas. I have eyes upon him, And his affairs come to me on the wind.. Oct. My lord, in Athens. Cas. No, my most wronged sister; Cleopatra Hath nodded him to her. He hath given his em pire Up to a whore; who now are levying The kings o' the earth for war: he hath assembled Bocchus, the king of Libya; Archelaus, Of Cappadocia; Philadelphos, king Of Paphlagonia; the Thracian king, Adallas: Of Comagene; Polemon and Amintas, Oct. Ah me, most wretched, That have my heart parted betwixt two friends, That do afflict each other! Cas. Welcome hither: Your letters did withhold our breaking forth; Show, token. + Obstruction. But let determined things to destiny Hold unbewail'd their way. Welcome to Rome:" Nothing more dear to me. You are abused Beyond the mark of thought: and the high gods, To do you justice, make them ministers Of us, and those that love you. Best of comfort; And ever welcome to us. Agr. Welcome, lady. Mec. Welcome, dear madam. Each heart in Rome does love and pity you: In his abominations, turns you off; And gives his potent regiment to a trullt, Oct. Is it so, Sir? Cas. Most certain. Sister, welcome: pray you, Be ever known to patience: my dearest sister! [Exeunt. SCENE VII-Antony's Camp, near the Promontory of Actium. Enter CLEOPATRA and ENOBARBUS. Cleo. I will be even with thee, doubt it not. Cleo. Thou hast forspokes my being in these wars; And say'st, it is not fit. Eno. Well, is it, is it? Cleo. Is't not? Denounce against us, why should not we Be there in person? Eno. [Aside] Well, I could reply: If we should serve with horse and mares together, The horse were merely lost; the mares would bear A soldier, and his horse. Cleo. What is't you say Eno. Your presence needs must puzzle Antony; Take from his heart, take from his brain, from his time, What should not then be spared. He is already Traduced for levity; and 'tis said in Rome That Photinus an eunuch, and your maids, Manage this war. Government. § Forbid. VOL. V. Cleo. Sink Rome; and their tongues rot, That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war, Appear there for a man. Speak not against it; Eno. Nay, I have done: Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS. Ant. Ist not strange, Canidius, That from Tarentum, and Brundusium, Cleo. Celerity is never more admired, Ant. A good rebuke, Which might have well becomed the best of men, To taunt at slackness.-Canidius, we Will fight with him by sea. Cleo. By sea! What else? Can. Why will my lord do so?. Eno. So hath my lord dared him to single fight. Can. Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia, Where Cæsar fought with Pompey: but these offers, Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off; And so should you. Eno. Your ships are not well mann'd: Your mariners are muleteers, reapers, people Are those, that often have 'gainst Pompey fought: grace Shall fall you for refusing him at sea, Being prepared for land. Ant. By sea, by sea. Eno. Most worthy Sir, you therein throw away The absolute soldiership you have by land; Distract your army, which doth most consist Of war-mark'd footmen; leave unexecuted Your own renowned knowledge; quite forego Take, subdue. + Because. Pressed in haste. Mule-drivers. The way which promises assurance; and Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard, Ant. I'll fight at sea. Cleo, I have sixty sails*, Cæsar none better. Ant. Our overplus of shipping will we burn; And, with the rest full-mann'd, from the head of Actinm Beat the approaching Cæsar. But if we fail, Enter a MESSENGER. We then can do't at land.-Thy business? Mess. The news is true, my lord; he is descried; Cæsar has taken Toryne. Ant. Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible; Away, my Thetis ?-How now, worthy soldier? And the Phoenicians, go a ducking; we Have used to conquer, standing on the earth, Ant. Well, well, away. [Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus. Sold. By Hercules, I think, I am i' the right. Can. Soldier, thou art: but his whole action grows ot in the power on't: so our leader's led, And we are women's men. Sold. You keep by land The legions and the horse whole, do you not? Publicola, and Cœlius, are for sea: But we keep whole by land. This speed of Cæsar's Carries beyond belief. Sold. While he was yet in Rome, His power went out in such distractions T, as Can. Who's his lieutenant, hear you? Can. Well I know the man. Enter a MESSENGER. Mess. The emperor calls for Canidius. Can. With news the time's in labour; and throes forth, Each minute, some. [Exeunt. SCENE VIII-A Plain near Actium. Enter CESAR, TAURUS, Officers, and others. 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 t.. Enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS. [Exeunt. Ant. Set we our squadrons on yon' side o' the hill, In eye of Caesar's battle; from which place We may the number of the ships behold, And so proceed accordingly. [Exeunt. Enter CANIDIUS, marching with his Land Army one way over the Stage; and TAURUS, the Lieutenant of CESAR, the other way. After their going in, is heard the Noise of a Sea-fight. Alarum.- Eno. Naught, naught, all naught! I can behold no longer : The Antoniad, the Egyptian admiral, With all their sixty, fly, and turn the rudder; Enter SCARUS. Scar. Gods, and goddesses, All the whole synod of them! Eno. What's thy passion? Scur. The greater cantle of the world is lost With very ignorance; we have kiss'd away Kingdoms and provinces. Eno. How appears the fight? * Emits. + Hazard. + Sight, Name of Cleopatra's ship. |