Cleopatra

I will be even with thee, doubt it not.

Enobarbus

But why, why, why?

Cleopatra

Thou hast forspoke my being in these wars,

And say'st it is not fit.

Enobarbus

Well, is it, is it?

Cleopatra

If not denounced against us, why should not we

Be there in person?

Enobarbus

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.

Cleopatra

What is't you say?

Enobarbus

Your presence needs must puzzle Antony;

Take from his heart, take from his brain, from's 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.

Cleopatra

Sink Rome, and their tongues rot

That speak against us! A charge we bear i' the war,

And, as the president of my kingdom, will

Appear there for a man. Speak not against it

I will not stay behind.

Enobarbus

Nay, I have done.

Here comes the emperor. Enter ANTONY and CANIDIUS.

Antony

Is it not strange, Canidius,

That from Tarentum and Brundusium

He could so quickly cut the Ionian sea,

And take in Toryne? You have heard on't, sweet?

Cleopatra

Celerity is never more admired

Than by the negligent.

Antony

A good rebuke,

Which might have well becomed the best of men,

To taunt at slackness. Canidius, we

Will fight with him by sea.

Cleopatra

By sea! what else?

Canidius

Why will my lord do so?

Antony

For that he dares us to't.

Enobarbus

So hath my lord dared him to single fight.

Canidius

Ay, and to wage this battle at Pharsalia.

Where Caesar fought with Pompey: but these offers,

Which serve not for his vantage, he shakes off;

And so should you.

Enobarbus

Your ships are not well manned;

Your mariners are muleters, reapers, people

Ingrossed by swift impress; in Caesar's fleet

Are those that often have 'gainst Pompey fought:

Their ships are yare; yours, heavy: no disgrace

Shall fall you for refusing him at sea,

Being prepared for land.

Antony

By sea, by sea.

Enobarbus

Most worthy sir, you therein throw away

The absolute soldiership you have by land;

Distract your army, which doth most consist

Of war-marked footmen; leave unexecuted

Your own renowned knowledge; quite forgo

The way which promises assurance; and

Give up yourself merely to chance and hazard,

From firm security.

Antony

I'll fight at sea.

Cleopatra

I have sixty sails, Caesar none better.

Antony

Our overplus of shipping will we burn;

And, with the rest full-manned, from the head of Actium

Beat the approaching Caesar. But if we fail,

We then can do't at land. Enter a Messenger. Thy business?

Messenger

The news is true, my lord; he is descried;

Caesar has taken Toryne.

Antony

Can he be there in person? 'tis impossible;

Strange that his power should be. Canidius,

Our nineteen legions thou shalt hold by land,

And our twelve thousand horse. We'll to our ship:

Away, my Thetis! Enter a Soldier. How now, worthy soldier!

Soldier

O noble emperor, do not fight by sea;

Trust not to rotten planks: do you misdoubt

This sword and these my wounds? Let the Egyptians

And the Phoenicians go a-ducking; we

Have used to conquer, standing on the earth,

And fighting foot to foot.

Antony

Well, well: away! Exeunt Antony, Cleopatra, and Enobarbus.

Soldier

By Hercules, I think I am i' the right.

Canidius

Soldier, thou art: but his whole action grows

Not in the power on't: so our leader's led,

And we are women's men.

Soldier

You keep by land

The legions and the horse whole, do you not?

Canidius

Marcus Octavius, Marcus Justeius,

Publicola, and Caelius, are for sea:

But we keep whole by land. This speed of Caesar's

Carries beyond belief.

Soldier

While he was yet in Rome,

His power went out in such distractions as

Beguiled all spies.

Canidius

Who's his lieutenant, hear you?

Soldier

They say, one Taurus.

Canidius

Well I know the man. Enter a Messenger.

Messenger

The emperor calls Canidius.

Canidius

With news the time's with labour, and throes forth,

Each minute, some. Exeunt.