Cleopatra

What shall we do, Enobarbus?

Enobarbus

Think, and die.

Cleopatra

Is Antony or we in fault for this?

Enobarbus

Antony only, that would make his will

Lord of his reason. What though you fled

From that great face of war, whose several ranges

Frighted each other? why should he follow?

The itch of his affection should not then

Have nicked his captainship; at such a point,

When half to half the world opposed, he being

The mered question: 'twas a shame no less

Than was his loss, to course your flying flags,

And leave his navy gazing.

Cleopatra

Prithee, peace. Enter ANTONY with EUPHRONIUS, the Ambassador.

Antony

Is that his answer?

Euphronius

Ay, my lord.

Antony

The queen shall then have courtesy, so she

Will yield us up.

Euphronius

He says so.

Antony

Let her know't.

To the boy Caesar send this grizzled head,

And he will fill thy wishes to the brim

With principalities.

Cleopatra

That head, my lord?

Antony

To him again: tell him he wears the rose

Of youth upon him; from which the world should note

Something particular: his coin, ships, legions,

May be a coward's; whose ministers would prevail

Under the service of a child as soon

As i' the command of Caesar: I dare him therefore

To lay his gay comparisons apart,

And answer me declined, sword against sword,

Ourselves alone. I'll write it: follow me. Exeunt Antony and Euphronius.

Enobarbus

Aside

Yes, like enough, high-battled Caesar will

Unstate his happiness, and be staged to the show,

Against a sworder! I see men's judgements are

A parcel of their fortunes; and things outward

Do draw the inward quality after them,

To suffer all alike. That he should dream,

Knowing all measures, the full Caesar will

Answer his emptiness! Caesar, thou hast subdued

His judgement too. Enter an Attendant.

Attendant

A messenger from Caesar.

Cleopatra

What, no more ceremony? See, my women!

Against the blown rose may they stop their nose

That kneeled unto the buds. Admit him, sir. Exit attendant.

Enobarbus

Aside

Mine honesty and I begin to square.

The loyalty well held to fools does make

Our faith mere folly: yet he that can endure

To follow with allegiance a fall'n lord

Does conquer him that did his master conquer

And earns a place i' the story. Enter THIDIAS.

Cleopatra

Caesar's will?

Thyreus

Hear it apart.

Cleopatra

None but friends: say boldly.

Thyreus

So, haply, are they friends to Antony.

Enobarbus

He needs as many, sir, as Caesar has;

Or needs not us. If Caesar please, our master

Will leap to be his friend: for us, you know,

Whose he is we are, and that is, Caesar's.

Thyreus

So.

Thus then, thou most renowned: Caesar entreats,

Not to consider in what case thou stand'st,

Further than he is Caesar.

Cleopatra

Go on: right royal.

Thyreus

He knows that you embrace not Antony

As you did love, but as you feared him.

Cleopatra

O!

Thyreus

The scars upon your honour, therefore, he

Does pity, as constrained blemishes,

Not as deserved.

Cleopatra

He is a god, and knows

What is most right: mine honour was not yielded,

But conquered merely.

Enobarbus

Aside

To be sure of that,

I will ask Antony. Sir, sir, thou art so leaky,

That we must leave thee to thy sinking, for

Thy dearest quit thee. Exit.

Thyreus

Shall I say to Caesar

What you require of him? for he partly begs

To be desired to give. It much would please him,

That of his fortunes you should make a staff

To lean upon: but it would warm his spirits,

To hear from me you had left Antony,

And put yourself under his shrowd,

The universal landlord.

Cleopatra

What's your name?

Thyreus

My name is Thidias.

Cleopatra

Most kind messenger,

Say to great Caesar this: in deputation

I kiss his conquering hand: tell him, I am prompt

To lay my crown at's feet, and there to kneel:

Tell him, from his all-obeying breath I hear

The doom of Egypt.

Thyreus

'Tis your noblest course.

Wisdom and fortune combating together,

If that the former dare but what it can,

No chance may shake it. Give me grace to lay

My duty on your hand.

Cleopatra

Your Caesar's father oft,

When he hath mused of taking kingdoms in,

Bestowed his lips on that unworthy place,

As it rained kisses. Re-enter ANTONY and ENOBARBUS.

Antony

Favours, by Jove that thunders!

What art thou, fellow?

Thyreus

One that but performs

The bidding of the fullest man, and worthiest

To have command obeyed.

Enobarbus

Aside

You will be whipped.

Antony

Approach, there! Ah, you kite! Now, gods and devils!

Authority melts from me: of late, when I cried “Ho!”

Like boys unto a muss, kings would start forth,

And cry “Your will?” Have you no ears? I am

Antony yet. Enter Attendants. Take hence this Jack, and whip him.

Enobarbus

Aside

'Tis better playing with a lion's whelp

Than with an old one dying.

Antony

Moon and stars!

Whip him. Were't twenty of the greatest tributaries

That do acknowledge Caesar, should I find them

So saucy with the hand of she here, what's her name,

Since she was Cleopatra? Whip him, fellows,

Till, like a boy, you see him cringe his face,

And whine aloud for mercy: take him hence.

Thyreus

Mark Antony!

Antony

Tug him away: being whipped,

Bring him again: the Jack of Caesar's shall

Bear us an errand to him. Exeunt Attendants with Thidias.

You were half blasted ere I knew you: ha!

Have I my pillow left unpressed in Rome,

Forborne the getting of a lawful race,

And by a gem of women, to be abused

By one that looks on feeders?

Cleopatra

Good my lord,

Antony

You have been a boggler ever:

But when we in our viciousness grow hard

O misery on't! the wise gods seel our eyes;

In our own filth drop our clear judgements; make us

Adore our errors; laugh at's, while we strut

To our confusion.

Cleopatra

O, is't come to this?

Antony

I found you as a morsel cold upon

Dead Caesar's trencher; nay, you were a fragment

Of Cneius Pompey's; besides what hotter hours.

Unregistered in vulgar fame, you have

Luxuriously picked out: for, I am sure,

Though you can guess what temperance should be,

You know not what it is.

Cleopatra

Wherefore is this?

Antony

To let a fellow that will take rewards

And say “God quit you!” be familiar with

My playfellow, your hand; this kingly seal

And plighter of high hearts! O, that I were

Upon the hill of Basan, to outroar

The horned herd! for I have savage cause;

And to proclaim it civilly, were like

A haltered neck which does the hangman thank

For being yare about him. Re-enter Attendants with THIDIAS. Is he whipped?

First Attendant

Soundly, my lord.

Antony

Cried he? and begged 'a pardon?

First Attendant

He did ask favour.

Antony

If that thy father live, let him repent

Thou wast not made his daughter; and be thou sorry

To follow Caesar in his triumph, since

Thou hast been whipped for following him: henceforth

The white hand of a lady fever thee,

Shake thou to look on't. Get thee back to Caesar,

Tell him thy entertainment: look, thou say

He makes me angry with him; for he seems

Proud and disdainful, harping on what I am,

Not what he knew I was: he makes me angry;

And at this time most easy 'tis to do't,

When my good stars, that were my former guides,

Have empty left their orbs, and shot their fires

Into the abysm of hell. If he mislike

My speech and what is done, tell him he has

Hipparchus, my enfranched bondman, whom

He may at pleasure whip, or hang, or torture,

As he shall like, to quit me: urge it thou:

Hence with thy stripes, be gone! Exit Thidias.

Cleopatra

Have you done yet?

Antony

Alack, our terrene moon

Is now eclipsed; and it portends alone

The fall of Antony!

Cleopatra

I must stay his time.

Antony

To flatter Caesar, would you mingle eyes

With one that ties his points?

Cleopatra

Not know me yet?

Antony

Cold-hearted toward me?

Cleopatra

Ah, dear, if I be so,

From my cold heart let heaven engender hail,

And poison it in the source; and the first stone

Drop in my neck: as it determines, so

Dissolve my life! The next Caesarion smite!

Till by degrees the memory of my womb,

Together with my brave Egyptians all,

By the discandying of this pelleted storm,

Lie graveless, till the flies and gnats of Nile

Have buried them for prey!

Antony

I am satisfied.

Caesar sets down in Alexandria; where

I will oppose his fate. Our force by land

Hath nobly held; our severed navy too

Have knit again, and fleet, threatening most sea-like.

Where hast thou been, my heart? Dost thou hear, lady?

If from the field I shall return once more

To kiss these lips, I will appear in blood;

I and my sword will earn our chronicle:

There's hope in't yet.

Cleopatra

That's my brave lord!

Antony

I will be treble-sinewed, hearted, breathed,

And fight maliciously: for when mine hours

Were nice and lucky, men did ransom lives

Of me for jests; but now I'll set my teeth,

And send to darkness all that stop me. Come,

Let's have one other gaudy night: call to me

All my sad captains; fill our bowls once more;

Let's mock the midnight bell.

Cleopatra

It is my birthday:

I had thought to have held it poor: but, since my lord

Is Antony again, I will be Cleopatra.

Antony

We will yet do well.

Cleopatra

Call all his noble captains to my lord.

Antony

Do so, we'll speak to them; and tonight I'll force

The wine peep through their scars. Come on, my queen;

There's sap in't yet. The next time I do fight,

I'll make death love me; for I will contend

Even with his pestilent scythe. Exeunt all but Enobarbus.

Enobarbus

Now he'll outstare the lightning. To be furious,

Is to be frighted out of fear; and in that mood

The dove will peck the estridge; and I see still,

A diminution in our captain's brain

Restores his heart: when valour preys on reason,

It eats the sword it fights with. I will seek

Some way to leave him. Exit.